Tyto Cares kit includes a connected otoscope among other things

Numerous startups offering telehealth or remote monitoring solutions closed funding rounds this week, despite slowing activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One of them is Tyto Care, a startup with a platform for at-home medical exams. It actually includes a kit with several tools that can allow physicians to remotely listen to a patients heart, measure their temperature, and image their throat and ears. Several hospitals in Israel, including Sheba Medical Center, deployed its technology to care for patients remotely.

On the biotech side, there were some notable rounds, too, including $70 million for Aspen Neuroscience, which is developing a new treatment for Parkinsons disease. The company was founded by Scripps Research Professor Emeritus Jeanne Loring, who developed a way to turn pluripotent skin cells derived from skin cells or other adult cells into neurons that produce dopamine.

Read more about the companies that recently raised funding:

Tyto Care

Funding amount: $50 million

Headquarters: New York, Israel

Tyto Care, a company that lets people conduct at-home medical exams, already saw rising demand before the Covid-19 pandemic. The company said it saw threefold growth in sales last year and has continued to see its users increase during the pandemic. Its at-home telehealth kit includes a handheld device with attachments that allow physicians to remotely listen to the heart and lungs, measure temperature, and look at the throat and ears during an exam.

The company closed an oversubscribed $50 million round, co-led by Insight Partners, Olive Tree Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures. Tyto Care plans to use the additional funds to further expand its footprint in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and add new features to its platform, such as home diagnostics.

Aspen Neuroscience

Funding amount: $70 million

Headquarters: San Diego, California

Aspen Neuroscience is developing a treatment for Parkinsons disease using a patients own cells. The company uses induced pluripotent stem cells to make dopamine-producing neurons, which are affected by the disease.

The company closed a $70 million series A round, led by New York-based healthcare investor OrbiMed, with participation from ARCH Venture Partners, Frazier Healthcare Partners, Domain Associates, Section 32 and Sam Altman.

We are impressed by the progress Aspen has made to date against its goals to develop innovative therapies to treat Parkinson disease and encouraged by the broader investment communitys support of the company, OrbiMed Managing Partner Jonathan Silverstein said in a news release.

The company plans to use the capital to fund the development of its lead candidate, including completing studies needed to submit an investigational new drug application to the FDA, and recruiting for clinical trials.

Tango Therapeutics

Funding amount: $60 million

Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tango Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focusing on developing cancer therapies, closed a $60 million series B round. The company is working on developing treatments to counteract the loss of tumor suppressor genes, reverse cancer cells ability to evade the immune system, and identify new combinations that are more effective than single-agent therapies. The oversubscribed financing was led by Boxer Capital, with additional new investors in Cormorant Asset Management and Casdin Capital.

SonderMind

Funding amount: $27 million

Headquarters: Denver, Colorado

SonderMind, a startup that matches users with in-network therapists, raised $27 million in funding. The series B round was led by prominent VC General Catalyst and F-Prime Capital. Existing investors include the Kickstart Seed Fund, Di?ko Ventures and Jonathan Bush.

The company has a large network of behavioral providers in Colorado, and is expanding in Texas and Arizona. It plans to use the proceeds of the funding round to expand its partnership with payors, employers and health systems.

SilverCloud

Funding amount: $16 million

Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

SilverCloud has seen an uptick in users tapping into its mental health programs for depression, anxiety and other conditions. The company raised a $30 million series B round, led by MemorialCare Innovation Fund, the VC arm of MemorialCare Health System. Other participating investors included LRVHealth, OSF Ventures and UnityPoint Health Ventures.

So far, the company had drummed up partnerships with more than 300 companies. Notably, it was also one of the products selected for Express Scripts first digital health formulary. SilverCloud said it would use the additional funds to expand access to mental health support services for healthcare professionals, as well as their families and their patients.

CyberMDX

Funding: $20 million

Headquarters: New York

Healthcare security startup CyberMDX closed a $20 million funding round. Sham, a French risk management and insurance provider, led the funding round, with participation from Pitango Venture Capital and Oure Ventures.

CyberMDX monitors a providers network for threats to its IT systems, connected medical devices, and other IoT devices. The company said it will use the $20 million to expand its platform to new markets.

Photo credit: Tyto Care

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Funding roundup: At-home medical exams and a Parkinson's treatment - MedCity News

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Funding roundup: At-home medical exams and a Parkinson’s treatment – MedCity News | April 10th, 2020

We can summon our cars with our smart phones, have a drone bring our wildest wishes to our door, and were just an Alexa and Roomba partnership away from having our own The Jetsonsstyle domestic assistant at our beck and call. In the world of aesthetics, futuristic procedures we never knew we needed are here now, too. These are todays top tweaks that prove the future is actually now.

Future FatMoving fat from one part of the body to another is a procedure that has been around since the late 1800s, and because fat transfers have been a reliable source of volume for faces, butts and breasts, their popularity continues to rise. Now, you dont even need your own fat to get a volume boost. Renuva is an alternative way to do fat transfers without liposuction, says Vero Beach, FL plastic surgeon Alan Durkin, MD. It can fill in scars and dimples, and plump hollow cheeks and hands. Instead of creating collagen, it induces natural human fat. When injected, Renuva acts as a scaffold that allows the body to stimulate its own fat cells to grow and divide creating organic fat. So, where does this fat come from? Dr. Durkin says its donated human tissue that is screened extensively and processed for quality and safety. It arrives in dehydrated form and we rehydrate it with saline before injecting it.

Glow GettersThink of microdroplets of filler as the Tiny House Nation of injectable rejuvenation. Although microdroplets have not yet been approved by the FDA in the United States, Juvderm Volite was created for this specific application and is being used extensively and successfully in Europe, says Bloomfield Hills, MI dermatologist Linda C. Honet, MD. Restylane Skinboosters Vital and Vital Lite are also used with the microinjection technique in Canada and marketed with a special microinjection syringe that delivers tiny amounts0.01 milliliters of fillerin a serial injection fashion. The main benefit of this approach? A consistent, superficial glow. We have found that when the hyaluronic acidbased filler is deposited in one area, deeper into the dermis, we still see the plumping and hydration in all areas of the skin,adds Beverly Hills, CA dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD.

A few years ago, under-eye carboxytherapy injection videos were going viral, as the insertion of carbon dioxide under the skin causes skin to inflate like a balloon. That visual hasnt stopped doctors from utilizing carboxytherapy to boost skin rejuvenation. The intent of carboxy injections is to increase oxygen in the skin by increasing capillary blood flow to eliminate carbon dioxide, says San Antonio dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD. Now, a CO2 Lift mask gives similar benefits without the intense skin expansion. The mask is made of two gels that we mix together and apply on the skin, she adds. Although there are no formal studies to show carboxytherapy speeds recovery compared to other topicals, Dr. Bucay uses it after laser treatments, Ultherapy, microneedling and chemical peels to reduce healing time.

Miracle GrowWhen we think of getting something lasered, we tend to think of the skin- resurfacing treatments that obliterate layers of dead skin to reveal baby-fresh skin. But some doctors, like New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD, are harnessing laser energy to help hair grow in places where it hasnt for years. I use the Fotona laserit employs photobiomodulation, a form of gentle deep heatto stimulate the stem cells of dormant hair follicles and encourage regrowth. The laser energy penetrates the tissue, where it interacts with chromophores and induces a complex set of reactions that increases circulation, reduces inflammation and helps restore normal cellular function. Currently, there are no clinical studies to prove the efficacy of this hair growth treatment, but there are controlled studies being planned. Dr. Day has seen results with some patients as part of a long-term plan that also includes Nutrafol, DuoZyme supplements and quercetin, as well as topical treatments and sometimes platelet-rich plasma therapy.

Body MovinBelly buttons get an automatic upgrade during a tummy tuck or Mommy Makeover, but stand-alone umbilicoplasty is trending as patients continue to find small areas of their bodies to tinker with and perfect. And, its not just about turning an outie into an innie. Most of the belly button surgeries performed by Raleigh, NC plastic surgeon Michael Law, MD are on those who have had a tummy tuck with another doctor and are left with visible scarring, or their belly button has an odd, or operated-on look.

For tummies in need of extra tightening, theres a nonsurgical option being explored that involves the same polydioxanone (PDO) threads used in thread lifts for the face. Abdominal thread lifts are essentially retention sutures, which are placed into the lower, mid or upper abdomen to lift tissue, explains Spokane, WA dermatologist Wm. Philip Werschler, MD. Ideal candidates are those who arent surgical candidates, those who dont want surgery, or those whose concerns are less than what a typical tummy tuck would correct. The in-office procedure takes about one hour and is performed under local anesthetic. There are no current studies to show the efficacy or benefits of thread lifts in this area, but Dr. Werschler says he continues to see good results.

To slenderize the legs, calf reduction is actually a thing. Excess fat on the calves may result in the appearance of cankles being a bit shorter can also make the calves appear thicker, says Los Angeles plastic surgeon Peter Lee, MD. We can perform liposuction in order to trim them down to the patients goal size. Excision techniques may also be needed for the removal of excess tissue. To make calves look smaller without surgery, New York dermatologist Tatiana Khrom, MD uses Botox Cosmetic to reshape: We target the back of the lower leg, the gastrocnemius muscles, to slim the calves and help patients fit into their favorite boots or feel more confident in their shorts, with results lasting up to six months.

Important IntelAll the doctors included in this story mentioned how important creative, off-label use is to the medical communityand strongly stressed seeing a board-certified doctor, practicing within scope, who has vast experience and knowledge on the treatments in question. Off-label use can be safe when done by an experienced doctor who specializes in that off-label treatment; that doctor may also produce research showing efficacy of the off-label use, has been trained on the off-label use, or performs it regularly. Of course, all cosmetic treatments can have a potential risk whether on-or off-label and this is why its important to see a properly board-certified doctor.

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Cosmetic Treatments The New New Wave: Trending Treatments You've Never Heard of Until Now Apr - NewBeauty Magazine

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cosmetic Treatments The New New Wave: Trending Treatments You’ve Never Heard of Until Now Apr – NewBeauty Magazine | April 10th, 2020

Bizizz Market Research has recently published a research report, 3D Bioprinting Market By Component (3D Bioprinters (Magnetic 3d bioprinting, Laser-assisted bioprinting, Inkjet 3d bioprinting, Micro extrusion Bioprinters, and Other) Bioprinters Bio inks (Natural bio inks, Synthetic bio inks, and Hybrid bio inks)), Material (Hydrogels, Extracellular Matrices, Living Cells, and Other Biomaterials), Application (Research Applications (Drug Research, Regenerative Medicine, 3d Cell Culture) Clinical Applications (Skin, Bone & Cartilage, Blood Vessels, and Others), End User (Hospitals, Research Organizations and Academic Institutes Biopharmaceutical, and Companies), and Region-Global Industry Trends, Estimation & Forecast, 2019 2027. As per the report,Global 3D Bioprinting Marketwas valued at US$ 623 Mn in 2018 and it is anticipated to reach at market value of US$ 1.4 Bn by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 18.6 % during the forecast period. Key drivers of the market are increasing prevalence of chronic disorders like kidney and heart failures, growing elderly populace, and the insufficient number of organ donors. However, dearth of skilled professionals may hinder the growth of the market during the forecast period.

3D bioprinting technology has witnessed accelerated adoption in the healthcare industry. Bioprinting has emerged as a promising technological know-how for the fabrication of synthetic tissues and organs, which can revolutionize the analysis and cure of more than a few scientific conditions. Bioprinting businesses around the world are constantly innovating in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug therapies, and stem cell therapy, which is gaining attention from healthcare authorities and pharmaceutical agencies to envision a future with higher patient care, custom-made medical treatment, and an alternative to organ transplantation.

Over the previous few years, essential technological advancements in the 3D bioprinting space have taken place for numerous scientific applications, inclusive of skin tissue development, most cancers therapeutics, bone and cartilage development, and liver modeling. Advanced technologies grant players with a competitive area and thereby help in strengthening their function and share in the market. For instance, in 2018, Poietis (France) launched the 3D bioprinted pores and skin model, Poieskin. The total human pores and skin model is made by using the bioprinting of essential human collagen and fibroblast for the dermal layer and major human keratinocytes for the epidermal layer.

The 3D Bioprinting market is anticipated to register a CAGR of over 18.6% during the forecast period.

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By Material, the living cells segment held a prominent share in Global3D BioprintingMarket in 2018.

On the basis of material, the 3D bioprinting market is segmented into hydrogels, extracellular matrices, living cells, and other biomaterials. In 2018, the living cells segment accounted for the biggest market share particularly due to the developing R&D in the fields of regenerative medicine and stem cell research, and increasing public and personal investments to help research

By Application, Skin Printing Segment of Global 3D Bioprinting Market Is Anticipated To Witness the Fastest CAGR during the Forecast Period

The clinical applications market is similarly segmented into skin printing, bone & cartilage printing, blood vessel printing, and other scientific applications. Among these, the pores and skin printing purposes segment is estimated to develop at the best CAGR of 19.8% in the course of the forecast period. This can be attributed to the technological developments and new product launches in this utility segment, and the growing wide variety of aesthetic and reconstruction surgeries across the globe.

North America is anticipated to dominate the Global 3D Bioprinting Market during the Forecast Period

Growing target populace base is in all likelihood to be the crucial cause boosting the regions 3D bioprinting market growth. The existence of well-established corporations and subtle healthcare set-up in consort with high income tiers in the location are also anticipated through the market development. Moreover, huge research and improvement activities carried out inside the place are said to make contributions to market expansion. Additionally, the accessibility of 3D printed drugs that can be tailor-made in accordance with the age and body weight of a person is supporting to boost up the market evolution.

Global 3D Bioprinting market was highly consolidated with key players accounting for significant share in 2018. Prominent players operating in the Global 3D Bioprinting Market are: Solidscape, Inc. (acquired by Prodways Group), TeVido BioDevices, LLC, 3Dynamics Systems Ltd., Bio3D Technologies Pte. Ltd., Aspect Biosystems Ltd., Stratasys Ltd., Luxexcel Group B.V., Materialise N.V., Cyfuse Biomedical K.K., Voxeljet A.G., Envision TEC, and Organovo Holding, Inc., among others.

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Our expanding team of professionals & experts from a wide array of streams and vertical has critical problem solving skills, innovative approaches and research techniques to deliver best solution to our clients. We continuously pushing our capabilities to enhance our services and setting higher quality goals each day. BMR offers syndicated reports, custom reports and consulting services to our clients. We are capable of catering the market research demands of individuals and organizations of various industries across different geographies with utmost data accuracy in minimal turnaround time.

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Global 3D Bioprinting Market is anticipated to reach at market value of US$ 1.4 Bn by 2027 - Galus Australis

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Global 3D Bioprinting Market is anticipated to reach at market value of US$ 1.4 Bn by 2027 – Galus Australis | April 10th, 2020

Stem Cell Assay Market: Snapshot

Stem cell assay refers to the procedure of measuring the potency of antineoplastic drugs, on the basis of their capability of retarding the growth of human tumor cells. The assay consists of qualitative or quantitative analysis or testing of affected tissues and tumors, wherein their toxicity, impurity, and other aspects are studied.

With the growing number of successful stem cell therapy treatment cases, the global market for stem cell assays will gain substantial momentum. A number of research and development projects are lending a hand to the growth of the market. For instance, the University of Washingtons Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM) has attempted to manipulate stem cells to heal eye, kidney, and heart injuries. A number of diseases such as Alzheimers, spinal cord injury, Parkinsons, diabetes, stroke, retinal disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological diseases can be successfully treated via stem cell therapy. Therefore, stem cell assays will exhibit growing demand.

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Another key development in the stem cell assay market is the development of innovative stem cell therapies. In April 2017, for instance, the first participant in an innovative clinical trial at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health was successfully treated with stem cell therapy. CardiAMP, the investigational therapy, has been designed to direct a large dose of the patients own bone-marrow cells to the point of cardiac injury, stimulating the natural healing response of the body.

Newer areas of application in medicine are being explored constantly. Consequently, stem cell assays are likely to play a key role in the formulation of treatments of a number of diseases.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Overview

The increasing investment in research and development of novel therapeutics owing to the rising incidence of chronic diseases has led to immense growth in the global stem cell assay market. In the next couple of years, the market is expected to spawn into a multi-billion dollar industry as healthcare sector and governments around the world increase their research spending.

The report analyzes the prevalent opportunities for the markets growth and those that companies should capitalize in the near future to strengthen their position in the market. It presents insights into the growth drivers and lists down the major restraints. Additionally, the report gauges the effect of Porters five forces on the overall stem cell assay market.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Key Market Segments

For the purpose of the study, the report segments the global stem cell assay market based on various parameters. For instance, in terms of assay type, the market can be segmented into isolation and purification, viability, cell identification, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and function. By kit, the market can be bifurcated into human embryonic stem cell kits and adult stem cell kits. Based on instruments, flow cytometer, cell imaging systems, automated cell counter, and micro electrode arrays could be the key market segments.

In terms of application, the market can be segmented into drug discovery and development, clinical research, and regenerative medicine and therapy. The growth witnessed across the aforementioned application segments will be influenced by the increasing incidence of chronic ailments which will translate into the rising demand for regenerative medicines. Finally, based on end users, research institutes and industry research constitute the key market segments.

The report includes a detailed assessment of the various factors influencing the markets expansion across its key segments. The ones holding the most lucrative prospects are analyzed, and the factors restraining its trajectory across key segments are also discussed at length.

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Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Regional Analysis

Regionally, the market is expected to witness heightened demand in the developed countries across Europe and North America. The increasing incidence of chronic ailments and the subsequently expanding patient population are the chief drivers of the stem cell assay market in North America. Besides this, the market is also expected to witness lucrative opportunities in Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Vendor Landscape

A major inclusion in the report is the detailed assessment of the markets vendor landscape. For the purpose of the study the report therefore profiles some of the leading players having influence on the overall market dynamics. It also conducts SWOT analysis to study the strengths and weaknesses of the companies profiled and identify threats and opportunities that these enterprises are forecast to witness over the course of the reports forecast period.

Some of the most prominent enterprises operating in the global stem cell assay market are Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Hemogenix Inc. (U.S.), Promega Corporation (U.S.), Bio-Techne Corporation (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), STEMCELL Technologies Inc. (CA), Cell Biolabs, Inc. (U.S.), and Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (U.S.).

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Stem Cell Assay Market Highlights On Future Development 2025 - Science In Me

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem Cell Assay Market Highlights On Future Development 2025 – Science In Me | April 8th, 2020

/ AChR subunit KO zebrafish lines

We generated a subunit gene KO zebrafish (KO) using CRISPR-Cas9 (Fig. 1A) and an subunit gene KO zebrafish (KO) using transcription activatorlike effector nucleases (TALEN) (Fig. 1A). The KO zebrafish did not show obvious phenotypes during development and matured in a fashion indistinguishable from wild-type (WT) siblings (fig. S1). In contrast, KO fish generally failed to form swim bladders, and most of them died prematurely within 2 weeks after fertilization. However, a fraction of KO fish (approximately 25%) survived to adulthood. A double KO (DKO) line was generated by crossing KO and K lines. DKO larvae also failed to form swim bladders (Fig. 1B) and died within 2 weeks after fertilization.

(A) Schematic diagram of targeted genes. Arrowheads indicate targeted regions of genome editing. Each box and line indicates an exon and an intron, respectively. Alignment of genomic DNA sequences of WT and KO lines showed a 7base pair (bp) insertion in the AChR subunit gene chrng and a 1-bp insertion in the AChR subunit gene chrne. (B) Photograph showing WT and / DKO larva at 6 dpf. Notice the lack of swim bladder (arrowheads) in DKO. Scale bar, 1 mm. (C) Trunk regions of a WT larva (6 dpf) and a DKO larva (6 dpf) were stained with -BTX conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (green). In WT, AChRs were distributed in myoseptal regions (arrows) and in punctae in middle regions (arrowhead). DKO had -BTX signals only in myoseptal regions. Scale bars, 100 m.

We histologically analyzed the expression of AChRs in the trunk region of 6 days post-fertilization (dpf) larvae by using -bungarotoxin (-BTX) conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488, a toxin that specifically binds to the assembled AChR (Fig. 1C). AChR clusters in DKOs were observed only in boundary regions between body segments (Fig. 1C), where slow muscles form NMJs (16). We initially expected that AChRs in fast muscles of DKO larvae would convert to the slow muscletype AChRs, comprising only , , and subunits. This conversion of subunit composition would not cause a change in AChR distribution visualized by -BTX, because both types of AChRs bind to -BTX. However, -BTX signals were absent in fast muscles, which suggested that fast muscles could not express AChRs composed of , , and subunits.

To correlate the AChR expression pattern observed by the -BTX staining with the synaptic function, we analyzed synaptic activities of fast and slow muscles in the DKO line at 6 dpf. We recorded spontaneous synaptic currents from muscle cells using the whole-cell patch clamp technique (Fig. 2, A to C). Traces show miniature endplate currents (mEPCs) from muscles of WT or DKO larvae (Fig. 2A). Slow muscles in the DKO line exhibited mEPCs. The frequency (14.5 3.1 Hz in WT, 15.5 3.2 Hz in DKO) and the amplitude of slow muscle mEPCs (260.0 74.1 pA in WT, 491.7 105.2 pA in DKO) showed no differences between WT and DKO lines (Fig. 2, B and C). However, fast muscles in DKO failed to produce mEPCs. To confirm that the lack of mEPCs is caused by the absence of functional receptors, we recorded currents in muscles generated by puff application of ACh (Fig. 2D). While fast muscles in WT larvae showed ACh-induced currents (756.4 138.6 pA), those in DKO larvae failed to show any response (0 0 pA). These results, in conjunction with the -BTX staining (Fig. 1C), showed that fast muscles of DKO larvae do not express any AChRs and receive no synaptic input.

(A) mEPC traces from fast or slow muscles of WT and DKO larvae (6 dpf) by whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Fast muscle cells in DKO failed to exhibit mEPCs. (B and C) Frequencies (B) and amplitudes (C) of mEPCs were plotted for each muscle (n = 8 cells). (D) Representative traces of voltage-clamped slow and fast muscles in DKO larvae in response to the application of 30 M ACh. Calibration: 1 s, 500 pA. Amplitudes of ACh-induced currents in slow (n = 7 cells) and fast muscles (n = 7 cells) are shown. Each dot represents a muscle cell. (E) Construct used for Ca2+ imaging. Top: The GCaMP7a coding sequence was fused to the promoter region of the -actin promoter pact. Bottom: Schematic illustration showing the experimental procedure. The gene construct was injected into eggs of DKO at the one cell stage. Ca2+ response was analyzed at 6 dpf. Representative traces showing the increase of F/F in a fast muscle (black line) and a slow muscle (red line) during spontaneous contractions. (F) Overexpression of the subunit fused with an EGFP (-EGFP) in WT (3 dpf). Top panels: -EGFPs were expressed under the control of a slow musclespecific promoter, psmyhc. EGFP signals (green), expressed in the superficial slow muscles, filled the cytoplasm and did not colocalize with -BTX (magenta) signals. Bottom panels: -EGFPs were expressed under the regulation of pact. In deeper layer fast muscles, the clusters of EGFP and -BTX colocalized (arrowheads). Scale bars, 50 m.

We performed in vivo Ca2+ imaging in the DKO larvae at 6 dpf to further support the result of synaptic current recordings. We designed a gene construct in which a pan-muscle promoter, -actin promoter, drives the expression of a Ca2+ indicator, GCaMP7a (17), and injected the construct into fertilized eggs (Fig. 2E). In DKOs, we recorded Ca2+ response associated with spontaneous locomotion activities, induced by the application of N-methyl-d-aspartate (50 M) (18). The results showed that slow muscle cells exhibited Ca2+ transients, while fast muscle cells did not generate any Ca2+ response.

Considering that fast muscles do not allow composition of , , and subunits, we next examined whether slow muscles conversely allow incorporation of subunits in the AChR pentamer, by overexpressing the subunit in slow muscles. We designed a gene construct that expressed an subunit fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (-EGFP) under the regulation of a slow musclespecific promoter, psmyhc (19). We injected the construct into fertilized WT eggs and observed the expression of EGFP at 3 to 4 dpf. EGFP signals typically filled the cytoplasm of the slow muscle cells and never colocalized with -BTX signals (Fig. 2F). In a control experiment, in which -EGFP was driven by the pan-muscle promoter (-actin promoter), the -EGFP signals made clusters in fast muscles, colocalizing with -BTX signals in deeper layers of the trunk region where fast muscles form NMJs. Together, fast muscles and slow muscles express specific types of AChR, and the alternate composition of subunits is prohibited.

To examine how silencing of synapses in fast muscles affect locomotion, we next analyzed swimming of WT and DKO larvae at 6 dpf. We induced escape responses by gentle tactile stimuli. Locomotion was recorded with a high-speed camera, and we measured angles between head and tail trajectories throughout each escape response (Fig. 3A and movie S1). WT fish turned their heads 120 to 140 in the initial stage of escape. The typical startle response of teleosts generally begins with a large turn of the head (termed C-bend), followed by a robust forward propulsion as described in previous studies (20).

(A) Escape behaviors in WT and DKO lines at 6 dpf in response to tactile stimuli. Images of representative larva on the left show superimposed frames of the complete escape response (the duration of movement is indicated in the top right corner). Scale bars, 2 mm. Kinematics for representative traces of 10 larvae are shown for the initial 50 ms of the response. Middle panels represent averaged traces. In the right panels, each trace represents a different larva. Body angles are shown in degrees, with 0 indicating a straight body, and positive and negative values indicating body bends in opposite directions. Scale bars, 10 ms. (B to D) Maximum turn angles, time to reach the maximum angle, and post-startle swimming speed were calculated for each group of fish (6 dpf). In DKO, the turn angle and the swimming speed were notably reduced, and it took longer to reach maximum angles (n = 10 fish). (E and F) Analyses of spontaneous locomotion. Images of representative larva (left) for WT or DKO showed superimposed frames of spontaneous swim bouts (the duration of movement indicated in the bottom right corner). Swimming speed was calculated for WT (n = 5 fish) and DKO (n = 5 fish), which showed no significant difference. Scale bars, 2 mm.

The initial turns of the DKO larvae were in sharp contrast to WT. Averaged maximum head turn angles in DKOs were markedly smaller compared to WT larvae (116.0 5.8 in WT, 20.2 4.0 in DKO; P < 0.001) (Fig. 3B), and time to reach the maximum angle was increased (8.7 0.2 ms in WT, 15.8 0.8 ms in DKO; P < 0.001) (Fig. 3C). In addition to the absence of C-bends, the post-startle swimming speed of the DKO line was also notably slower (84.9 8.1 mm/s in WT, 12.8 1.3 mm/s in DKO; P < 0.001) (Fig. 3D).

In addition to the escape response, we also analyzed spontaneous locomotion, which corresponds to the slow swim described by Budick and OMalley (21) or scoot reported by Burgess and Granato (22) (Fig. 3, E and F). Significant difference in swimming speed was not observed between WT and DKO (16.1 1.60 mm/s in WT, 13.2 0.9 mm/s in DKO; P = 0.20) (Fig. 3F). Thus, the contribution of fast muscles in spontaneous swimming is relatively small. These results strongly suggest that fast muscles in larval zebrafish play a key role in executing quick escape responses including the C-bend and fast forward propulsion behaviors, which corroborate earlier studies (23).

DKO fish die prematurely and do not develop into adults. However, KOs that reached the adult stage are expected to lack both and subunits, because subunit expression terminates early in development.

To dismiss the possibility of compensatory up-regulation of the subunit in adult KOs, we analyzed the expression of subunit mRNA with digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). Subunit mRNA was not detected in adult KOs, which were 3 to 5 months old (Fig. 4A). Interestingly, subunit mRNA was strongly up-regulated in larval KOs (Fig. 4B), which may account for functional escape response behavior at 6 dpf (fig. S1). Thus, our findings suggest that compensation by the subunit expression occurs only in larval KOs and not in adults.

(A) Quantification of or subunit mRNA in adult muscles. Subunit was not detected in WT. or subunit mRNA was not detected in KO (n = 6 fish in WT, n = 5 fish in KO). Sample numbers are shown in parentheses. (B) mRNA expression of subunit in 1-dpf larvae. Subunit was highly up-regulated in the KO (n = 5 fish) compared to WT (n = 5 fish). Sample numbers are shown in parentheses. (C) Schematic illustration of a transverse section of the trunk region. The area shown in micropictograms is indicated with a box. The distribution of AChRs in adults, WT or KO, was visualized by -BTX conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (green). Broken lines indicate the boundary of fast muscle area (arrowheads). Fast muscles in the KO fish lack -BTX signals. (D) Sections of adult fast muscles of WT and KO, stained with the fast musclespecific F310 antibody. Fast muscles in KO fish did not display atrophy. In the right panel, diameters of fast muscles in WT and KO were calculated (87 fibers, n = 3 fish). There was no significant difference. Scale bars, 100 m.

The expression of AChR in adult KO fish, visualized by -BTX, was consistent with the lack of compensation (Fig. 4C). Transverse sections of the trunk region were labeled with -BTX. Slow, intermediate, and fast muscles are spatially segregated (11). Slow muscles are located closest to the surface. WT fish displayed universally distributed, positive -BTX signals. In sharp contrast, -BTX signals in the KO fish were detected only in shallow, lateral regions, and fast muscles of the adult KO lacked AChR expression.

In spite of the absence of -BTXpositive signals, fast muscle fibers in KO fish unexpectedly lacked signs of prominent atrophy (24). A fast musclespecific F310 antibody used via immunohistochemistry allowed the visualization and diameter measurements of fast muscle fibers. Statistical analysis revealed no difference between KO and WT fiber size (58.7 0.5 m in WT, 58.3 0.7 m in KO; P = 0.945) (Fig. 4D).

We observed escape responses induced by objects dropping on water and subsequently analyzed C-bend angles and the swimming speed during escape (Fig. 5A) (25). We compared the maximum C-bend angles between the focal genetic lines. Similar to WT larvae (Fig. 3), WT adults start the escape response with the initial extreme head turn. Unexpectedly, we found that KO adult fish also display robust C-bends (Fig. 5, A and B). Although smaller in amplitude (103.0 7.5 in WT, 53.4 2.5 in KO), their time course did not exhibit any delay compared to WT. This is in sharp contrast to the complete loss of C-bend behavior observed in larval DKOs (Fig. 3). The duration of first turn also showed no significant difference between WTs and KOs (38.9 3.8 ms in WT, 46.6 4.9 ms in KO).

(A) Escape behaviors in WT and KO adults (3 to 4 months old). The startle response was induced by dropping objects on water. Images of representative fish to the left show superimposed frames of the complete escape response (the duration of movement is indicated in the bottom right corner). Kinematics for representative traces from 10 or 9 fish are shown for the initial 50 ms of response. Middle panels represent averaged traces. In right panels, each trace represents a different fish. Body angles are shown in degrees, with 0 indicating a straight body. Positive and negative values indicate body bends in opposite directions. (B) First turn angles were calculated for each group of fish (n = 10 fish in WT, n = 9 fish in KO). Turn angles were reduced in the KO fish. Sample numbers are shown in parentheses. (C) Post-startle swimming speed and total distance traveled were calculated for the first 120 ms. There was no significant difference between WT (n = 10 fish) and KO (n = 9 fish) adults.

Furthermore, the forward propulsion during escape of the KO adult zebrafish was almost intact. When the distance traveled was plotted against the time after stimulation, the curves for WT and KO nearly overlapped (Fig. 5C). The swimming speed (31.7 1.3 cm/s in WT, 25.5 3.0 cm/s in KO; P = 0.08) and total distance traveled (4.0 0.2 cm in WT, 3.2 0.4 cm in KO; P = 0.08) were similar between WT and KO adults.

Suspecting that compensation of locomotion occurred at the level of neural projection, we examined the projections of motor neurons by retrograde labeling using a fluorescent tracer, dextran conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (Fig. 6, A to C). We injected the tracer into muscles of WT and K fish following a method described in a previous report (26). Spinal motor neurons in adult zebrafish are classified on the basis of morphological features. Dorsomedial motor neurons with larger cell somas, which are called primary motor neurons (pMNs), specifically innervate fast muscles. Ventrolateral motor neurons with smaller somas, called secondary motor neurons (sMNs), are grouped in distinct populations depending on the innervation target: fast, intermediate, and slow muscles (2729). We analyzed the location of motor neuron somas in the spinal cord (Fig. 6B) by measuring the distance from the center of spinal cord to cell somas. In WT adults, fast muscles were innervated mainly by dorsomedial motor neurons (located close to the center), and slow muscles were innervated by ventrolateral motor neurons (Fig. 6, A and B).

(A) Schematic illustration of a transverse section of the trunk region showing the sites of dye injections. Right panels showing cell bodies of labeled motor neurons (arrowheads) in spinal cords. Broken lines indicating outlines of spinal cords. Scale bars, 50 m. (B) A graph showing the distance from the center of the spinal cord to cell bodies of motor neurons. In WT, motor neurons located close to the center innervate fast muscles, and ventrolateral motor neurons innervate slow muscles. In KO, slow muscles were innervated by motor neurons located close to the center. Numbers of labeled cells are shown in parentheses. (C) Graph showing the size of cell somas of motor neurons. In WT, large motor neurons innervate fast muscles, and smaller neurons innervate slow muscles. In KO, slow muscles were innervated by large motor neurons. (D) Schematic illustration of a transverse section of the trunk region showing the locations of the DiI crystal insertion. The right panel displays cell body of labeled pMN (arrowhead) in the spinal cord. The broken line indicates the outline of the spinal cord. Scale bar, 50 m. (E) Presynaptic structures were visualized by SV2A antibody. Broken lines indicate the boundary of slow muscle area (left side). Note the reduced signal in the fast muscles of the KO fish. Scale bars, 100 m. (F and G) Fast musclespecific myosins labeled by F310 antibody in WT (F) and KO (G). In (G), the boxed area is enlarged in the right panel. Broken lines indicate the boundary of slow muscle area (left side). Arrowheads indicate muscle cells with F310 signals in the slow muscle region. While a small number of slow muscle cells in WT sometimes showed immunoreactivity, the cell number was markedly increased in KO. Scale bars, 100 m. (H and I) Glycolytic muscle fibers were visualized by GPD staining in WT (H) and KO (I). Black broken lines indicate the boundary between slow and intermediate muscles, and the red broken line indicates the boundary between intermediate and fast muscles. Fast, intermediate, and slow muscle areas are labeled with F, I, and S, respectively. Note that the intermediate muscle region in KO is hard to distinguish from the fast muscle region, blurring the boundary (I). Arrowheads in the right panel indicate muscle cells with GPD signals in the slow muscle region. Scale bars, 100 m. (J) Schematic illustration showing the rerouted innervation of pMNs. In KO adults, synaptic silencing of fast muscles led to the innervation of fast musclespecific pMNs on slow muscle. This reinnervation caused conversion of slow to fast muscles. The projections of sMNs that innervate fast muscles may not change.

Both the location and the size of motor neuron somas suggested that slow muscles in KO adults were innervated by large motor neurons, which innervate only fast muscles in WT adults (Fig. 6C). Ventrolateral neurons did not seem to innervate slow muscles in KOs, as they were absent in retrograde labeling (Fig. 6, B and C). When we injected the tracer into fast muscles of KO adults, pMNs were not labeled (fig. S2). Motor neurons labeled in these preparations were presumably fast sMNs (26).

To rule out the possibility that pMN axons are inadvertently damaged by dye injections into slow muscles of KO adults, we used another method of retrograde labeling using a lipophilic tracer DiI (or DiIC18), which has a minimal possibility of causing pressure injection damage (30). After gently placing crystals of DiI onto slow muscles of KO adults, we found that pMNs were labeled in spinal cords of KO adults (Fig. 6D). We also analyzed the presynaptic input in muscles of WT and KO adults using SV2A antibody to visualize presynaptic proteins (Fig. 6E). The results showed that positive signals within fast muscles were reduced in KO compared to WT adults. Thus, fewer motor neurons innervated fast muscles in KO fish.

The muscle cell type is determined by the motor neuron input (31). Suspecting the signals from pMNs may convert the properties of slow muscles into those of fast muscles in adult KO fish, we examined the characteristics of slow muscle fibers. To do so, we analyzed the F310 antibody immunohistochemistry in adult KO fish, which labels fast musclespecific myosin (Fig. 6, F and G) (19). We also examined the -glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (-GPD) activity, which is a well-established method to visualize glycolytic muscles, i.e., fast muscles (Fig. 6, H and I) (32). Some tissue located in slow muscle regions stained positive for F310 (n = 3 fish; Fig. 6G) and -GPD signals (n = 3 fish; Fig. 6I), suggesting that some slow muscles expressed the fast muscletype isoform of myosin light chain and obtained glycolytic ability. Intermediate muscle fibers in KO also showed higher glycolytic ability compared to WT (Fig. 6, H and I). Thus, a subpopulation of slow and intermediate muscles was converted to fast muscles, presumably due to the innervation of fast muscle motor neurons (31).

In summary, the absence of AChRs in developing KOs is presumed to drive motor neuron axon innervation of fast muscles to instead reroute to slow muscles. These rewired pMNs presumably predominate over original axons in slow muscles, as a result of synaptic competition, and convert some slow and intermediate muscles to fast muscles (Fig. 6J).

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Synaptic silencing of fast muscle is compensated by rewired innervation of slow muscle - Science Advances

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Synaptic silencing of fast muscle is compensated by rewired innervation of slow muscle – Science Advances | April 8th, 2020

PERTH, Australia Australian stem cell therapy company Mesoblast Ltd. announced that the FDA gave it the green light to test its allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) product candidate remestemcel-L in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Were going to be evaluating whether an injection of our cells intravenously can tone down the immune system just enough so it gets rid of the virus but doesnt destroy your lungs at the same time, Mesoblast CEO Silviu Itescu told BioWorld.

What people are dying of is acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is the bodys immune response to the virus in the lungs, and the immune system goes haywire, and in its battle with the virus it overreacts and causes severe damage to the lungs, Itescu said.

The FDA clearance provides a pathway in the United States for use of remestemcel-L in patients with COVID-19 ARDS, where the prognosis is very dismal, under both expanded access compassionate use and in a planned randomized controlled trial.

The company is in active discussions with various governments, regulatory authorities, medical institutions and pharmaceutical companies.

Recently published results from an investigator-initiated clinical study conducted in China reported that allogeneic MSCs cured or significantly improved functional outcomes in all seven treated patients. A post-hoc analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled study in 60 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease demonstrated that remestemcel-L significantly improved respiratory function in patients with the same elevated inflammatory biomarkers that are also observed in patients with COVID-19 ARDS.

Remestemcel-L is being developed for various inflammatory conditions and is believed to counteract the inflammatory processes implicated in those diseases by down-regulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and enabling recruitment of naturally occurring anti-inflammatory cells to involved tissues.

The safety and therapeutic effects of remestemcel-L intravenous infusions have been evaluated in more than 1,100 patients in various clinical trials.

The stem cell therapy was successful in a phase III trial for steroid-refractory acute graft-vs.-host disease (aGVHD) in children, a potentially fatal inflammatory condition due to a similar cytokine storm process as is seen in COVID-19 ARDS.

Cynata in preclinical ARDs studies

Fellow Aussie regenerative medicine company Cynata Therapeutics Ltd. is studying the utility of its Cymerus MSCs as a treatment for ARDS associated with COVID-19 with the Critical Care Research Group at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, Australia.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a huge problem worldwide and is prevalent aside from COVID-19, but suddenly it is on the front page because people are dying of this. The data behooves us to see if MSC treatment can rescue people from this, Cynata CEO Ross Macdonald told BioWorld.

The Critical Care Research Group has long seen the need to improve interventions in patients who have ARDS, and they have an interest in MSCs and came to us, he said.

ARDS is an inflammatory process leading to the build-up of fluid in the lungs and respiratory failure. It can occur due to infection, trauma and inhalation of noxious substances. ARDS often affects previously healthy individuals and accounts for roughly 10% of all ICU admissions, with almost 25% of patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Survivors of ARDS are often left with severe long-term illness and disability.

The study will investigate Cynatas Cymerus MSCs as a treatment for ARDS, in combination with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO circulates blood through an artificial lung, oxygenating the blood before putting it back into the bloodstream of a patient. ECMO has emerged as a treatment adjunct to support the vital organs in patients with severe ARDS, which can provide short- to medium-term mechanical pulmonary support.

MSC therapy could be used as a possible treatment for ARDS due to the ability of MSCs to reduce inflammation, enhance clearance of pathogens and stimulate tissue repair.

The study will first seek to determine if Cymerus MSC treatment improves oxygenation in sheep with ARDS supported by ECMO, and to evaluate the effects on lung mechanics, blood flow, inflammation and lung injury, as well as safety.

If the study is successful, the data would support progression to a clinical trial of Cymerus MSCs in humans with ARDS undergoing ECMO support.

The study is being funded by the Queensland State Government, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Intensive Care Society UK, and the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.

If the FDA or TGA wants us to step in, were all ears. Our product is manufactured in the United States, and supply is not an issue. In theory, were ready to go, Macdonald said.

He was quick to point out that what differentiates Cynatas stem cell product from competitors is that its MSCs are derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and most stem cell companies rely on multiple donors to donate either bone marrow or adipose tissue as their primary tissue sources. From those sources they derive a small number of MSCs, which represent the starting material of their manufacturing process.

Cynatas Cymerus MSC therapy comes from a single donor and can be produced in limitless quantities, giving it the potential to create a new standard, Macdonald said. The platform technology is based on versatile stem cells known as mesenchymoangioblasts (MCAs), which are a precursor of mesenchymal stem cells.

That process allows the company to make MSCs derived from iPSCs in large amounts without losing their potency, and that forms the basis for the companys platform technology, which it calls Cymerus.

Cynata is gearing up for three phase II trials with its Cymerus MSCs in graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD), critical limb ischemia and osteoarthritis.

Mesoblasts remestemcel-L is being studied in clinical trials across several inflammatory conditions, including in elderly patients with lung disease and adults and children with steroid-refractory aGVHD, heart failure and chronic low back pain due to intervertebral disc degeneration.

The FDA recently accepted Mesoblasts BLA for priority review for remestemcel-L for children with aGVHD. It has a PDUFA date of Sept. 30 for the product branded as Ryoncil.

Mesoblast shares (ASX:MSB) were up nearly 34% to AU$1.78 from AU$1.32 per share by market close April 6.

Cynatas shares (ASX:CYP) were trading at AU86 cents on April 7.

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MSC-based therapies from Mesoblast, Cynata advance to tackle COVID-19 ARDS - BioWorld Online

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on MSC-based therapies from Mesoblast, Cynata advance to tackle COVID-19 ARDS – BioWorld Online | April 8th, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a unique challenge for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia, creating many questions that experts tried to answer in a recent webinar from The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation.

The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF) recently hosted a webinar to address the questions of this patient population by connecting them with Dr. Gail J. Roboz, professor of medicine and director of the clinical and translational leukemia program at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

Over the course of the webinar, Dr. Roboz, also a member of the AAMDSIF Medical Advisory Board, answered questions from the audience about the various ways that COVID-19 is impacting patients, from treatment delays to transplant and beyond.

Audience: If a patient with MDS were to be diagnosed with COVID-19, what are the most important things that they should let their medical team know, as they may not be familiar with MDS?Roboz: I think that it's important that if you're being seen in a facility where they don't know you very well or they don't know much about MDS, you can tell them that MDS is a is a bone marrow failure problem. You can tell them about your own blood counts, do I usually run low neutrophils or low hemoglobin or low platelets or all three, so you can tell them about what your specific experience is. But with respect to therapy, it is not completely clear that the underlying diagnosis, in this case MDS, is going to change what they do.

I think one of the questions is going to be about potential interactions with any medications that you're taking for MDS. And that's, of course, something that would be discussed if you're hospitalized.

If you are not getting hospitalized and you are patient with MDS, I certainly think it's reasonable to have, if at all possible, a daily or every other day telemedicine visit, either by video or by phone or by email, or however you're communicating with your doctor as a check in to just see how you're doing, see how your symptoms are evolving.

Should I continue with routine blood tests under the conditions or should I hunker down and not leave the house? If the previous blood test that the patient has had is looking absolutely perfect, and if there is a track record over a period of time that we know that this patient is tolerating the drug well and hasn't had any issues, I would be willing to consider skipping a routine blood test.

That said, I think it's really important to discuss this individually with the physician. First of all, depending on where you are, I'm hearing that in some parts of the country, you can actually drive to the doctor's office and they have a check in system that's allowing you to check in from your car, so that you could actually get into the office, get a lab check and get out without seeing really anybody.

Is there a change in patient protocol for when patient should be concerned about a fever?That is a really important question, especially for neutropenic patients. I think that if you are neutropenic and running a fever, neutropenic fevers do have to be evaluated, especially in hematologic malignancy patients.

If you don't feel too bad, and you're not having shaking chills and you think you can get your doctor's office on the phone quickly, it's not unreasonable to try that. That said, most of the time, it's really tough to get seen urgently in an office at this point. Again, it depends on where you are.

If you're going into the ER, you have to be very specific with them and say, hey, listen, I have leukemia, or I have MDS. This is my doctor. I'm neutropenic. I'm coming in with neutropenic fever, and they will evaluate you simultaneously for all of the routine things for neutropenic fever, as well as for coronavirus.

What are the recommendations regarding patients moving forward with transplant?I think that the issue is that the intensive care units in many areas, and the infectious disease doctors and many of the pulmonary specialists and other supportive specialties that are so critical to get patients safely through transplant, are very occupied at the moment.

But we want to make sure that when you come in for a procedure with curative intent, that all of the backup that we need to get you through the procedure safely is 100% available. So, it is definitely the case that patients are being delayed in their transplant. However, there are situations in which people might proceed. And I think again, this has to be a very individual discussion with the physician.

In the New York area, we are anticipating a surge in mid-April. So we definitely have been making decisions for our transplant patients that we don't want to bring you in here literally at the moment when they're predicting that things are going to get much worse, because maybe things will be better at the end of the month or at the beginning of the next month. And then we can hopefully start breathing a sigh of relief and bring you in much more safely.

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COVID-19 Tips for Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia - Curetoday.com

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on COVID-19 Tips for Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia – Curetoday.com | April 8th, 2020

Since the coronavirus outbreak hit Italy, Francesca Masi has felt her life has been hanging by a thread. She was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer, in 2016 and was due to have a transplant this month, but now fears it will be postponed as the country deals with the pandemic.

Access for thousands of cancer patients in need of chemotherapy, scans, transplants and surgery has become difficult, if not impossible, in Italys Covid-19 emergency.

Across the country, dozens of specialist cancer wards and hospitals have been transformed to treat coronavirus, while others have closed after medical staff and patients were infected. There are now fewer beds in intensive care units for cancer patients.

At the beginning of my diagnosis I underwent other treatments with success, but since my conditions worsened, transplant became my only option. So to be stuck in this situation make me living in a constant state of anxiety, says Masi, who lives and works in Pontedera, in the province of Pisa. She is 46 and the mother of a 10-year-old boy. I now run the risk of dying, which isnt fair, because my doctors had finally located two foreign donors whose marrow was 100% compatible with mine. International flight restrictions to halt the spread ofcoronavirus mean marrow from overseas donors risks not arriving in Italy.

Research led by Codice Viola, a charity that supports pancreatic cancer patients, and seen exclusively by the Guardian, found that of 500 mostly breast or pancreatic patients appointments for chemotherapy or radiotherapy were postponed for 24% (11% with no arranged date), while 64% of surgical procedures were postponed indefinitely. More than half have had follow-up appointments rescheduled.

Dozens of patients and doctors who spoke to the Guardian fear that the restrictive measures to contain the virus are limiting access to proper medical care for cancer patients, who also represent 17% of Italian coronavirus fatalities, according to a recent study.

Francesca Pesce, 54, a professional translator and member of Codice Viola, has been living with metastatic pancreatic cancer for almost three years. This week she will leave Rome for a follow-up in Milan, one of the cities worst affected by the virus.

At least I have this option, which others dont, she said. On the one hand, cancer patients are afraid of contracting the virus in hospitals, so they forgo their treatments; on the other, hospitals have been forced to cancel their appointments as many oncologists and anaesthetists have been moved to other wards to assist in the Covid-19 emergency.

Paolo Ascierto, an oncologist at Naples Pascale hospital now treating coronavirus patients, said converting cancer wards to Covid-19 units could be risky. I understand the state of emergency, but we mustnt forget that cancer patients require dedicated and specialised treatments. There are special conditions, like patients in follow-up, that can be managed safely using online consultations to monitor the patients progress.

But there are other conditions, such as metastatic patients, that must be prioritised, because a lack of constant attention can mean the difference between life and death.

In Ortona, Abruzzo, protests erupted following the announcement by local authorities that the only hospital in the region specialised in womens cancer treatments was to be entirely converted to treat Covid-19 patients.

Where cancer wards are functioning, certain diagnostic procedures, such as endescopies, may be limited, and a decrease in blood donations is limiting surgical options. At the moment, only urgent surgical procedures are being performed, says Pesce. And even urgent procedures are now stymied, because of a shortage of blood due to the coronavirus emergency.

The closure of air routes to and from Italy has also made it virtually impossible for thousands of cancer patients to access treatment in other European hospitals.

Alessandra Capone, 47, a dancer, feminist and human rights activist, has been living with breast cancer for 10 years. In 2015 it spread to her liver and lymph nodes and last year she began a series of treatments at University Hospital in Frankfurt with just 5% of her liver cancer-free. She is now facing enormous difficulties travelling to Germany.

I contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation but the line is always busy and I couldnt speak to anybody. Then I contacted the Italian consulate in Frankfurt. They told me I need a number of certifications for travelling to another country, even for health reasons. Not to mention that in Germany very few hotels are accepting reservations, especially from Italians, during this emergency. Its very stressful.

For the first time, however, the Italian government last week authorised an air force flight to Turkey to secure haemopoietic stem cells from a donor for a two-year-old boy whose condition had worsened.

Travel is also limited within Italy, where patients from Sicily, Puglia and Calabria often undergo treatments and operations in richer Veneto and Lombardy, which are among the worst affected regions in the country for Covid-19.

Grazia De Michele, 39, a blogger and researcher in the history of medicine, lives in Foggia, in Puglia, and has been living with breast cancer since 2010. A few months ago, her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. My mother was supposed to have a CT scan in March to see if the chemo shes on is working, but the scan was postponed, she says. I was supposed to undergo an oophorectomy, and my operation was postponed as well.

You have to imagine what its like for cancer patients, says Capone. Many live in a constant state of anxiety, with the fear of dying. The situation caused by the coronavirus emergency has put them under enormous psychological and physical distress. You see, you can protect yourself from coronavirus by staying at home, but its not the same with cancer. Cancer doesnt follow the diktat of quarantines or decrees. It keeps going, in war and in peace.

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Life 'hanging by a thread' for Italian cancer patients in coronavirus crisis - The Guardian

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Life ‘hanging by a thread’ for Italian cancer patients in coronavirus crisis – The Guardian | April 8th, 2020

Stempeutics Research, a group company of Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), announced today that it has partnered with Global Consortium of cell therapy companies seeking European Commission Funding to Fight Against Corona! (FAC!). Under this partnership, Stempeutics will export its stem cell product Stempeucel (subject to regulatory approvals) for treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with lung disease. First the product will be clinically tested and upon successful outcomes, it intends to export the product on a regular basis. In this connection it is signing up an alliance with Educell Ltd, Slovenia.

Currently, no specific drugs or vaccines are available to cure the patients with COVID-19 infection. Mortality in COVID-19 infected patients with the inflammatory lung condition ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)is reported to approach 50%, and is associated with older age, co-morbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), higher disease severity, and elevated markers of inflammation. Current therapeutic interventions (with the exception of ventilators/respirators which are in very short supply) do not appear to be improving in-hospital survival. Hence, there is a large unmet need for a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19 infected patients, especially in severe cases. A promising new therapy for the ARDS, the terminal stage of COVID-19, using MSCs can quickly (2-4 days) reduce inflammation of the lung tissue, and allow patients to more quickly come off of the ventilatory support and hopefully fully recover with less significant lung damage.

Stempeucel is an allogeneic, off the shelf, pooled mesenchymal stromal cells having anti- inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties which prevents the over activation of the immune system. Stempeucel product exhibits a wide range of potent therapeutic properties. The product exhibits potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties which could help in reducing the inflammation caused due to the cytokine storm elicited by the bodys immune cells in response to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) related infection in the lungs. Also, the growth factor, Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) is effective in reducing alveolar epithelium permeability in the lung. Hence it is envisaged, Stempeucel will reduce the fatal symptoms of COVID 19 induced pneumonia and its progression to ARDS.

Commenting on this initiative, Dr. Miomir Knezevic, Leader of the Global Consortium and Founder of Educell said, We are happy to partner with Stempeutics since its product Stempeucel is already designated as an ATMP1 in Europe and also Stempeucel technology has been patented in many countries in Europe. Stempeutics manufacturing process is scalable and the product is affordable which are key to meet the demands of COVID-19 patients

Mr. BN Manohar, CEO of Stempeutics said, From the clinical data using Stempeucel in different clinical trials in other indications it may be postulated that Stempeucel has the potential capability for treating COVID-19 infection. Together with the safety profile observed from DCGI approved clinical trials involving more than 350 patients injected with Stempeucel by different routes of injection, this therapy may help in mitigating the lung tissue damaging effects of COVID-19 infection.

Dr. Stephen Minger, Scientific Advisor for the Global Consortium and ex Global Director of R&D, Cell Technologies GE Healthcare added The most severely affected CV-2 infected patients will often go on to develop ARDS which necessitates assisted ventilation to preserve breathing and lung function. Moreover, many ARDS patients will also experience an acute but severe life-threatening inflammatory response (cytokine storm) which can result in long-term damage to lung tissue and lung function. Treating ARDS patients with allogeneic expanded bone marrow derived MSCs could alleviate and ameliorate lung inflammation and compromised lung function and significantly reduce the time required for patients to be ventilated.

Dr. Raviraja N S, Sr. Director Business Development and Innovation, Stempeutics, said, Given the severe shortage of ventilators in the world, and the high mortality rate of patients who develop ARDS (approx. 50%), the clinical use of MSCs in COVID-19 ADRS patients could drastically impact on the healthcare burden currently occurring due to very large patient numbers, limited equipment and overworked medical personnel.

Mr. B N Manohar MD & CEO, Stempeutics Research

Manohar is the MD & CEO of Stempeutics Research a leading stem cell research and product development company in India. He earned his B.E. degree in Electronics & Communication from REC Trichy in 1977. Post that he did M.E. in Computer Science from College of Engineering, Guindy. Manohar has transformed Stempeutics a life science start-up from R&D to Commercialization stage with Global recognition. Stempeutics has developed an innovative drug called Stempeucel for addressing major unmet medical needs in India and Globally.

This drug developed by an Indian company has received many Global Recognitions. Fourteen countries including US & Japan has granted patent for the novelty and inventiveness of the drug. Europe has recognized this drug by granting Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product classification and Orphan Drug Designation. Recently it became the FIRST stem cell product to be approved by DCGI for conditional marketing for treating patients suffering from life threatening disease call Buergers Disease. Stempeutics has put India on the World map of Regenerative Medicine. Under Manohars leadership Stempeutics has been recognized as Indias hottest start-ups by Business Today in 2008 and Karnataka Government bestowed Emerging Company of the Year award in 2011 and 2013. In 2017 Manohar was awarded Biotechnologist of the Year award by Wockhardt Foundation, India. He raised US$ 10M in 2009 by establishing business alliance with major pharma company Cipla. Recently Stempeutics has tied up with Alkem Labs for Osteoarthritis indication. Prior to Joining Manipal Group, Manohar has had 12 years successful stints at Wipro GE Medical Systems. At GE Medical he has handled multiple senior assignments including Vice President Customer Service where he received GE Asia Service Award for highest revenue growth in 1998. Currently Manohar serves in the Boards of Stempeutics and MentisSoft.

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India Based Stem Cell Research Firm To Test Its Stem Cell Product For Acute Respiratory Disease Syndrome (ARDS) COVID-19 - IndianWeb2.com

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on India Based Stem Cell Research Firm To Test Its Stem Cell Product For Acute Respiratory Disease Syndrome (ARDS) COVID-19 – IndianWeb2.com | April 8th, 2020

THERES a 70 per cent chance youre going to get a mum without MS for the first time.

Those were the words Amanda Weyman-Jones told her daughter before they hopped on a plane, in a last ditch-attempt for Amanda to take her future back.

In January, Amanda and daughter Chloe travelled halfway across the globe to Moscow, Russia for a life changing and experimental treatment in hopes it would effectively stop her three decade battle with multiple sclerosis in its tracks.

The trip was made possible with the support from the Roma community who banded together to help Amanda raise $80,000 to pay for the treatment only available in the Russian capital.

And according to Amanda, she has already seen a massive improvement with her condition.

Im walking and I would say I have improved 70 per cent already, and its only expected to get better as time goes on, the 58-year-old mother of six said.

They say that the treatment gives you an 80 per cent (chance) of curing your MS and at the moment, I feel like Im in that 80 per cent Im feeling really good about my chances.

Amanda underwent an experimental procedure called Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) treatment, which rebuilds the patients immune system.

Seven weeks on and Amanda says she feels like a new person, and has been walking around the football field everyday, which she states is a miracle as she couldnt even walk to the field before the treatment.

Ever since returning to Roma from Russia in February, all she has wanted to do is shout from the rooftops that others living with MS can also have their lives changed.

I heard about a man on a property in Blackall with MS and hes young so I want him to know he doesnt have to have this disease, you can get better, Mrs Weyman-Jones said.

This treatment gives you that infinity with people. Its life saving stuff.

Amandas brother Hayward and sister Diana were both diagnosed with MS too; Hayward died last year, and Diana is now in a wheelchair.

All too familiar with the devastating effects of MS, Amanda is determined to not become a burden on her loved ones.

Amanda who has Primary Progressive MS was given an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 4.5 which notes a limited walking mobility to approximately 300m without aide prior to treatment. With no action taken, she would probably have continued to progress until she was wheelchair bound. The EDSS is scored zero to 10, with 10 marking a person has died from MS.

Now, with more improvements expected to continue in the next six to 12 months, Amanda is hopeful her quality of life will improve and once her immunity has built up, to continue working at the family-owned-and-run Overlander Motel.

I will be forever grateful to Dr Frederinco, the brilliant medical team in Russia, Roma, its local businesses and the wider community for blessing me with a new life, Amanda said.

Through the generosity and support by all, I have realised how lucky I am to be surrounded by such a caring community.

Amanda said she knew that while there is a long road ahead of her, every passing day she is more feeling more hopeful.

I was told that recovery can be like a rollercoaster, so I will accept the bad days and make sure I remember the good, she said.

My walking is slowly getting safer and less hazardous to myself . and to all other pedestrians. Every morning I wake up, knowing that every days a better day.

I am a new person, it is just a miracle.

Stats about MS

With MS Queensland aware of nearly 4000 people living with Multiple Sclerosis in Queensland and over 25,600 people in Australia living with the neurological condition.

Most people with MS in Australia experience their first symptoms between 20 and 40 years of age, with about three quarters of people living with MS, female.

MS is not considered a classic genetic disease in that there is not one single gene that causes the condition. Rather, there are more than 200 different known genetic factors which contribute to the risk of developing MS. It has been estimated that genes may account for around half of the risk for MS, and those with a family history of MS are at greater risk than the general population. Even so, the majority of people with a family member with MS will not develop the disease so genes on their own are not enough.

MS is caused by a complex interaction between a persons genetics and environment factors.

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) is an immunosuppressive chemotherapy treatment combined with reinfusion of blood stem cells to help rebuild the immune system.

AHSCT has been used for decades for the treatment of blood cancers. However in the past ten or so years a number of international observational studies of several hundred patients have been published with some patients being followed for five to eight years.

The treatment consisted of four days of stimulation before the stem cells were collected and then Amanda was pumped full of high dose chemotherapy.

Amanda then had a rest day, and on January 29, her harvested stem cells were returned to her MS ravaged body, signalling the rebirth of her immune system with no memory of MS.

After that she was given daily steroid infusions and was put into isolation for six nights before one final dose of chemotherapy.

Response from MS Queensland about the treatment

CEO of MS Queensland Zane Ali said MS Queensland and MS Research Australia are continuing to support Australian research in the use of AHSCT to treat multiple sclerosis.

Rigorous evidence for the efficacy and safety of AHSCT in relation to other MS therapies, and the most appropriate circumstances for its use, is required for Australian hospitals and clinicians to provide this intervention with equity and with greater confidence in the potential outcomes, he said.

Australian hospitals and doctors are likely to recommend AHSCT as a possible treatment only if the other approved MS therapies are not working for an individual with MS or cannot be used in an individual for other reasons.

Despite Amandas MRI revealing her Central Nervous System was so progressed (with 35 lesions or more on the spine), she met the criteria for the treatment because of her mobility.

You have to be at a very healthy besides having MS, patients are tested from head to toe when they first arrive in hospital to ensure that they dont have any cancers or illnesses that could effect the viability of the treatment, said daughter Chloe.

The doctor was surprised after he saw how mobile mum still was considering the damage that he saw in her brain.

People arent accepted all of the time, some are told before they go and some are only told after all of the testing is completed in Moscow, then they are then sent home. International studies also suggest AHSCT does not halt or reverse progressive forms of the disease, and is therefore unlikely that

AHSCT would be recommended as a treatment for patients with secondary progressive or primary progressive MS.

Currently the treatment is provided in Australia through two observational clinical trials, at St Vincents, Sydney and Austin Health, Melbourne and by a small number of other centres on a case-by-case basis.

These centres have strict eligibility requirements that have been set by the hospital ethics committees and may only apply to limited numbers of patients with MS, Mr Ali said.

It is for this reason patients need to be referred to these centres by a neurologist, who can provide a detailed clinical history and MRI findings, Mr Ali said.

Mr Ali said that data from the large European Bone Marrow Transplant Registry suggests that in approximately 55 per cent of people with MS, treated with a range of different chemotherapy regimens, at three years of follow-up, inflammatory disease is halted with no evidence during the follow-up period of relapses, active brain lesions or disability progression.

After five years approximately 45 per cent of people remain progression free.

This case series included patients with both relapsing remitting and progressive disease, he said.

Other smaller studies have shown similar results, with remission of disease seen in these studies in at least 63 per cent of patients followed for a minimum of three years.

Most studies also show that the risk of disease activity returning gradually increases over longer periods of follow-up.

Mr Ali said in some but not all, of the people with MS who respond to AHSCT, some reversal of disability has been noted in some studies.

Other patients may continue to experience disease activity and disability progression (worsening) despite treatment with AHSCT, he said.

In people with progressive forms of MS or relapsing remitting MS of longer duration, the benefits of the procedure have been much less clear and accumulation of disability usually continues.

Amanda said they chose Moscow for the treatment because despite other countries offering the experimental procedure, after thorough research they found Russia had the highest rate of treatment success.

They accept advanced progressive MS where most of the other clinics offering it only treat relapsing remitting MS, she said.

I was still on my feet (only just) but people went over in wheelchairs, walkers, walking sticks and many were older than me.

For Chloe, who is training to become a nurse and who spent every spare moment researching AHSCT treatment said while they mostly compared the options available in Mexico and Russia, Russia stood out to them because it was cheaper and they had more experience.

One of the major influencing factors was that in Mexico patients stayed in a complex with they carer and in Russia patients stayed in a hospital, so we felt more reassured knowing that mum would have 24 hour care provided to her at the touch of a buzzer, she said.

Great lengths of a loving daughter

Although Amanda has lived with MS for 34 years, she feels like she is one of the lucky ones.

None of this would have been possible without Chloe. Her drive and determination surprises me every day, she said.

Researching, booking, fundraising and organising the whole trip, proves to me that I am the luckiest mum on earth.

Chloe was the driving force behind the push for treatment and the GoFundMe campaign which raised over half the $80,000 goal was with her mum every step of the journey.

I have found spending a month in Russia very interesting, the first couple of weeks for easy, but after that I just wanted to come home to Australia, the 19-year-old said.

Every day I would go and visit Mum in the morning and stay there with her until dark and then head on back to the hotel, I basically just did that every day.

I made some great friends with some other patients carers and so often we would catch up at the end of the day to recuperate and support each other.

Although the month spent away from her loved ones began to take its toll, Chloe has high hopes for the future.

It was very draining being over there, I felt like I wasnt doing much but I was just always so tired, she said.

Its amazing to see how quickly mum is healing after the treatment, but it will take some time to see what the true outcome for her is going to be.

In the end, we dont know what the future holds for mum and her MS, we are just thinking positively and hope that we see improvements over the next 12 months.

We feel very lucky that we had the opportunity to go over and are now advocating for other people to have the treatment as well.

Chloe and Amanda Weyman-Jones sightseeing in Moscow before the treatment began.

During the treatment.

Amanda Weyman-Jones with Greta and Theresa who were also going through the treatment.

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Roma woman tells of her 'life-changing' MS treatment - Observer

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Roma woman tells of her ‘life-changing’ MS treatment – Observer | April 8th, 2020

CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metrion Biosciences Limited (Metrion), the specialist ion channel CRO and drug discovery company, today announced it has contributed to two new peer-reviewed papers under the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) CiPA (Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay) initiative. The papers, in Nature Scientific Reports1 and Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology2, focus on application of improved cardiac safety testing protocols and recommendations for best practice for the drug discovery industry.

The CiPA Initiative (www.cipaproject.org), which began in July 2013 following a workshop at the US FDA, has the objective to revise and enhance the regulatory framework assessing cardiac safety of new chemical entities. Under current guidelines, new therapeutics undergo initial assessment of proarrhythmic risk by measuring activity against the hERG cardiac ion channel, before progressing to studies in preclinical animal models and ultimately, a Thorough QT interval study in the clinic. The CiPA initiative aims to extend the use of advances in early electrophysiology-based cardiac ion channel screening, in silico predictive modelling, and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes to improve the accuracy and reduce the cost of predicting the cardiac liability of new drug candidates. Metrions research forms part of the first stage of the proposed harmonisation work, to provide clarity on how to standardise cardiac ion channel assays to ensure they deliver consistent data for in silico models of clinical cardiac arrythmia risk.

The first paper1, published in Nature Scientific Reports on 27th March 2020 by an international group of authors drawn from 20 different commercial and academic laboratories, including Metrion Biosciences, was coordinated by the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI). It reviews data from a multi-year, multi-site collaboration across industry, academia and the FDA regulatory agency to optimize experimental protocols and reduce experimental variability and bias. The goal of the study was to guide the development of best practices for the use of automated patch clamp technologies in early cardiac safety screening. High quality in vitro cardiac ion channel data is required for accurate and reliable characterisation of the risk of delayed repolarisation and proarrhythmia in the human heart and to guide subsequent clinical studies and regulatory submissions.

The second paper2, to be published formally in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology paper on 1st May 2020 but currently available online, uses automated patch clamp data from the CiPA consortium to address the lack of statistical quantification of variability, which hinders the use of primary hERG potency data to predict cardiac arrhythmia. The consortium establishes a more systematic approach to estimate hERG block potency and safety margins.

Dr Marc Rogers, CSO, Metrion Biosciences, said: The Metrion team has been a participant in the international CiPA Initiative since inception and we are now pleased to be able to announce the publication of our data from this global collaborative scientific effort. We believe these projects will make a significant contribution to the eventual revision of cardiac safety testing guidelines by the FDA and other international regulatory agencies. They also contribute to deepening our knowledge of the underlying causes of proarrhythmia, which will help prevent early attrition of potentially promising drugs.

Contributing organisations to the Nature Scientific Reports CiPA study include: Charles River Laboratories; Bayer AG; Sophion Bioscience A/S; Nanion Technologies; GlaxoSmithKline PLC; Pfizer; Sanofi R&D; Astra Zeneca; BSYS GmbH; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Eurofins Discovery; Merck; Metrion Biosciences Ltd.; Natural and Medical Science Institute at the University of Tbingen; Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago; Roche Innovation Center Basel; Novoheart; Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Washington, DC; AbbVie.

Contributing organisations to the Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology hERG study include: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration; Eli Lilly and Company; AstraZeneca; CiPA LAB; NMI-TT GmbH; Sophion Bioscience A/S; B'SYS GmbH; The Ion Channel Company; F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; Eurofins Discovery; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Merck & Co., Inc; Metrion Biosciences Ltd.; Nanion Technologies; Charles River Laboratories; Bayer AG; University of Nottingham; Universit de Lille.

For more information on Metrions fully integrated Cardiac Safety Screening / CiPA Screening service, please visit: https://www.metrionbiosciences.com/services/cardiac-safety-screening/

Merion Biosciences comprehensive cardiac safety testing White Paper The changing landscape of cardiac safety will also be available on the Companys website from 13th April 2020.

Link:
Metrion Biosciences and International Scientific Consortium Publish Data and New Recommendations for in Vitro Risk Assessment of the Cardiac Safety of...

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Metrion Biosciences and International Scientific Consortium Publish Data and New Recommendations for in Vitro Risk Assessment of the Cardiac Safety of… | April 8th, 2020

Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market research report covers the existing situation and the development predictions of the industry for 2020. This report has prepared mainly on the basis of a common market assessment with input from industry experts. This estimated report consists of all have observed element about marketplace evaluation, increase Demand and forecast analysis in all over the world. This record gives a few edged examine and solution within the complicated international of polymer-based totally thermal interface materials market.

Report Covers Following Key Players:-

U.S. STEM CELL, INC., Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Cytori, Dendreon Corporation, Fibrocell, Lion Biotechnologies, Caladrius Biosciences, Opexa Therapeutics, Orgenesis, Regenexx, Genzyme, Antria, Regeneus, Mesoblast, Pluristem Therapeutics Inc, Tigenix, Med cell Europe, Holostem, Miltenyi Biotec.

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USAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast Asia

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This study focuses on the global market for Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies especially in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. The report defines the market based on regions, size, manufacturers and applications.

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Market Segment On The Basis Of Product Type Includes:-

Embryonic Stem CellResident Cardiac Stem CellsAdult Bone MarrowDerived Stem CellsUmbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells

Applications Mentioned In This Report:-

Neurodegenerative DisordersAutoimmune DiseasesCancer and TumorsCardiovascular Diseases

The report then estimates 2020 market development trends of Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market. Outline of upstream raw materials, downstream trade and prevailing market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market before evaluating its feasibility.

This report presents an extensive analysis of the current Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies trends and emerging estimations & dynamics of the global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies industry. Likewise, explains the comprehensive analysis of factors that drive and restrict the growth of the Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market. Further covers a detailed analysis of the Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies industry based on type and application help in understanding the Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies trending products across geographies. Then highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to understand the Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market potency. Finally, an extensive analysis of the Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market is conducted by key product positioning and monitoring of top players within the Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market framework.

Table of Contents:

1 Industry Overview of Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies.2 Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Competition Analysis by Players.3 Company (Top Players) Profiles.4 Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Size by Type and Application (2020-2025).5 United States Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Development Status and Outlook.6 EU Ophthalmology DiagnosticsDevelopment Status and Outlook.7 Japan Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Development Status and Outlook.8 China Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Development Status and Outlook.9 India Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Development Status and Outlook.10 Southeast Asia Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Development Status and Outlook.11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type, and Application (2020-2025).12 Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Dynamics.13 Market Effect Factors Analysis.14 Research Finding/Conclusion.15 Appendix.

**Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like United States, Europe, Middle East and Africa or Asia-Pacific.**

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Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market [News 2020] Intelligence and Future Prospects 2025 - Fashion Trends News

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market [News 2020] Intelligence and Future Prospects 2025 – Fashion Trends News | April 8th, 2020

If you notice flakes in your hair or it's simply looking drab, chances are there's something making its home on your head that you definitely don't want there. Depending on your own pH levels, it could be the oil from clogged follicles creating dandruff, but even if you consider your scalp on the normal-to-dry side, product buildup can still linger on the scalp long after you've showered with shampoo and conditioner.

If you'd like to say a final farewell to product buildup, dead skin cells, and excess sebum, using a purifying scalp scrub once a week can exfoliate away dirt and flakes and leave your hair feeling cleaner than you've ever imagined. Beyond scrubs, other treatments like serums and oils can also help fortify follicles so hair grows back in healthier and stronger, plus treat the protective cuticle layer that locks in moisture and keeps hair looking shiny, too.

Check out the best hair-care products at Sephora that tackle everything from itchiness to dullness ahead, and give your scalp the special treat it's not-so-secretly seeking.

Follow this link:
Don't Be Flaky: Try One of These Scalp Treatments From Sephora and Get Your Scalp Right - POPSUGAR

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Don’t Be Flaky: Try One of These Scalp Treatments From Sephora and Get Your Scalp Right – POPSUGAR | April 8th, 2020

Theres a great deal of innovation embedded in todays cutting-edge computer chips, but not much of it is as out-of-the-box as the thinking thats driving Australian startup Cortical Labs. The company, like so many startups with artificial intelligence in mind, is building computer chips that borrow their neural network inspiration from the biological brain. The difference? Cortical is using actual biological neurons, taken from mice and humans, to make their chips.

Were building the first hybrid computer chip which entails implanting biological neurons on silicon chips, Hon Weng Chong, CEO and co-founder of Cortical Labs, told Digital Trends.

This is done by first extracting neurons in two different ways, either from a mouse embryo or by transforming human skin cells back into stem cells and inducing those to grow into human neurons.

We then grow those neurons in our laboratory on high density CMOS-based multi-electrode devices that contain 22,000 electrodes on tiny surfaces no larger than 7mm squared, Chong continued. These neurons form neural networks which then start to spontaneously fire electrical signals, after a two-week incubation period, that is picked up by our multi-electrode device. The multi-electrode device is also able to provide electrical stimulation.

The researchers arent the first to develop neural networks based on real neurons. Recently, scientists in the U.K., Switzerland, Germany, and Italy fired up a working neural network that allowed biological and silicon-based artificial brain cells to communicate with one another over an internet connection.A California startup called Koniku, meanwhile, is building silicon chips, created using mouse neurons, which are able to sense certain chemicals.

For now, research like Cortical Labs is still in a relatively early proof-of-concept stage. According to a recent article in Fortune, Cortical Labs current approach has less processing power than a dragonfly brain. That means that, for now, its pursuing humbler ambitions than its eventual goal.

While were still in the process of building the hybrid computer chip, right now were focused on shaping our neurons behavior to play a game of [Ataris] Pong, Chong said. Thats our next big milestone, which will provide a proof-of-concept similar to DeepMinds demonstration [in 2013] of its A.I. playing Breakout.

Commercialization is still a number of years away, Chong continued. But hes convinced it could be a game-changer. When we eventually take our final product to market we believe it will have a wide array of applications across robotics, cloud computing, and computer brain interfaces, he said. This does not include industries that we might not have thought about yet because of the novelty of such a computation paradigm.

Read the rest here:
Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons - Digital Trends

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons – Digital Trends | April 8th, 2020

The coronavirus crisis is affecting every aspect of our lives, including the condition of our skin. Have you noticed that your skin is particularly spotty, irritated and angry lately? That's another thing you can blame on COVID-19.

Express.co.ukspoke to Dr. Luca Russo, Dermatologist at Urban Retreat, to find out why.Dr. Russo says there are several reasons for your unexpected breakouts.He said: "There might be several reasons for noticing a tendency to break out during this national emergency."It's probably to do with what's going on inside, and what you're putting in your body, says Dr. Russo.

READ MORE- Coronavirus symptoms: Man reveals skin-related warning sign

Are you up all night worrying about the virus?Dr. Russo says: "The most likely cause of your breakout is stress."During such uncertain and stressful times, our system copes with increased production of Cortisol."Cortisol is an androgen hormone that is released when we are facing unusual challenges and prepare us to "fight'."However, it will also increase the sugar level in the bloodstream and production of sebum that might be a cause of the breakout."

In order to prevent breakouts that stem from high levels of stress, you'll need to calm yourself down.Dr Russo recommends doing activities that allow you to relax and unwind, such as yoga.He also suggests exercising regularly, so it's time to start making use of that daily government-approved walk, cycle, or run.

If you hate exercising, don't worry, the antidote to high cortisol levels doesn't have to be physical.Laughing, a solid night of sleep, or practising your favourite hobby are all effective options.

Having a soak in the bath and doing a face-mask may help you feel more in control of your skin.

This relief may cause a decrease in oil production and pimples.

DON'T MISS...How to help your brain through the coronavirus crisis stress [EXPLAINER]Coronavirus: How to look after your mental health during lockdown [EXPLAINER]Lockdown exercise: The eight exercises you can do at home [INFORMER]

Can you honestly say you have been eating well throughout the lockdown?Most people have stocked up on sugary treats and salty snacks in order to cheer themselves up in the face of COVID-19.And what about the good-old "support local businesses" excuse you use every time you order a greasy takeaway?Dr Russo says: "During isolation food becomes one of the few focal points of the day with more consumption of comfort food."Just like any other organ in your body, a poor diet affects your skin negatively.The body breaks down our food into tiny particles of proteins, fats, and carbs, and circulates it to the organs that need them.These nutrients make their way to your skin too, impacting its condition.It makes sense that inflammatory foods, such as sweets, some dairy, processed meat, and refined carbohydrates, will cause a flare-up in your complexion.

Dr. Russo says: "To improve your skin, you must eat well."Eat foods that are packed with vitamins and proteins and snack on fruit and veg."Drinking lots of water will replace the moisture that is lost through sweat and other processes, keeping your skin hydrated.If you fill up on foods rich in healthy oils and omega-3 fatty acids, you will improve the collagen production in your skin.This makes your skin smoother, suppler, and will help you in the longterm by preventing premature ageing.These oils and fats are found in fish, nuts, olive oil, and many more commonly found items.

During the lockdown, we're stuck inside all day and often don't get a chance to let our skin feel the sun.Dr. Russo says: "At the moment, skin isn't being exposed to natural light much at all."When your skin is exposed to natural light, the production of Vitamin D is increased."Endorphins are also produced, and this boosts your immune system and well-being."Make sure you get some fresh air every day, in order to reap these benefits of the sun.The sun is a great natural resource to improve your skin, but make sure you protect yourself with sun protection before you go out.You should wear an SPF of at least 30 on your face whenever you leave the house or are in front of a window for a prolonged amount of time.

Most people are shunning makeup in favour of the natural look since no one other than our household is going to see our faces.This means you may be tempted to skip your cleansing routine and go straight to bed once the day is over.

If you normally get facials and now can't, this may also be why you are breaking out or seeing changes.Dr. Russo explains: "You have probably been unable to receive professional treatments over this time, and this will contribute towards your breakouts."Dr. Russo recommends continuing with your normal skincare routine.He says: "Carry on as normal, but add an exfoliating cleanser to your routine."Exfoliating cleansers make your skincare routine shorter, by combining exfoliating and cleansing in one step.They remove dead skin cells and any build-up of dirt and oil in one go.There are hundreds of physical exfoliating cleansers on the market, as well as chemical exfoliating cleansers, so take your pick!

While surgical masks are thought to protect us against coronavirus, they're not great for our skin, said Dr. Russo.Wearing a mask over your face for many hours is damaging to your skin, especially when it's hot outside.The mask offers the perfect spot for bacteria and germs to harbour.Try double cleansing on the lower half of your face if you've worn a surgical mask for a prolonged period of time.

More:
Lockdown skin: Why is my skin worse even though I'm not wearing any makeup? - Express

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Lockdown skin: Why is my skin worse even though I’m not wearing any makeup? – Express | April 8th, 2020

Theres a great deal of innovation embedded in todays cutting-edge computer chips, but not much of it is as out-of-the-box as the thinking thats driving Australian startup Cortical Labs. The company, like so many startups with artificial intelligence in mind, is building computer chips that borrow their neural network inspiration from the biological brain. The difference? Cortical is using actual biological neurons, taken from mice and humans, to make their chips.

Were building the first hybrid computer chip which entails implanting biological neurons on silicon chips, Hon Weng Chong, CEO and co-founder of Cortical Labs, told Digital Trends.

This is done by first extracting neurons in two different ways, either from a mouse embryo or by transforming human skin cells back into stem cells and inducing those to grow into human neurons.

We then grow those neurons in our laboratory on high density CMOS-based multi-electrode devices that contain 22,000 electrodes on tiny surfaces no larger than 7mm squared, Chong continued. These neurons form neural networks which then start to spontaneously fire electrical signals, after a two-week incubation period, that is picked up by our multi-electrode device. The multi-electrode device is also able to provide electrical stimulation.

The researchers arent the first to develop neural networks based on real neurons. Recently, scientists in the U.K., Switzerland, Germany, and Italy fired up a working neural network that allowed biological and silicon-based artificial brain cells to communicate with one another over an internet connection.A California startup called Koniku, meanwhile, is building silicon chips, created using mouse neurons, which are able to sense certain chemicals.

For now, research like Cortical Labs is still in a relatively early proof-of-concept stage. According to a recent article in Fortune, Cortical Labs current approach has less processing power than a dragonfly brain. That means that, for now, its pursuing humbler ambitions than its eventual goal.

While were still in the process of building the hybrid computer chip, right now were focused on shaping our neurons behavior to play a game of [Ataris] Pong, Chong said. Thats our next big milestone, which will provide a proof-of-concept similar to DeepMinds demonstration [in 2013] of its A.I. playing Breakout.

Commercialization is still a number of years away, Chong continued. But hes convinced it could be a game-changer. When we eventually take our final product to market we believe it will have a wide array of applications across robotics, cloud computing, and computer brain interfaces, he said. This does not include industries that we might not have thought about yet because of the novelty of such a computation paradigm.

Visit link:
Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons - Yahoo Tech

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Meet the sci-fi startup building computer chips with real biological neurons – Yahoo Tech | April 6th, 2020

'Let me tell you about the very rich,' wrote F Scott Fitzgerald. 'They are different from you and me.' Above all, in the lengths they will go to acquire, and preserve, perfect skin.

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the consort of the former Emir of Qatar, may well be the richest person I've ever met. She certainly has skin like no one else on the planet. She's 61 but looks about 40, with a face that seems to have no visible pores, perhaps because it's sculpted out of alabaster.

Admittedly, she is carefully made-up on a regular basis, so she would have been unlikely to want to attend a recent dinner party of Gwyneth Paltrow's in Beverly Hills, at which guests were banned from wearing any cosmetics at all. Kate Hudson and Demi Moore were among those who gamely took the challenge, the idea of which was to allow the assembled LA A-listers to show off their natural glow.

But they don't, of course, rely wholly on nature for their radiance. Moore's evening beauty routine (pared back to the minimum because, she says, "I like to keep it simple") includes eight separate products, with a total cost of 743.50, from a cleansing elixir to a 355 replenishing facial oil and a rose-quartz facial massager in the shape of a butterfly.

No wonder that, far from being petrified at the thought of the make-up-free dinner, she felt 'full of joy', according to her Instagram posts. Her face wasn't coated in foundation, but it was insulated by a thick layer of cash.

With skincare that promises actually to reverse the visible signs of ageing, beauty brands feel entitled to charge impressive sums. La Prairie has one serum, its Platinum Night Elixir, that sells for over 1,000 for 20ml. It costs about 10 more per gram than solid gold. Imagine if your cat knocked that one off the dressing table.

On the other hand, the scientist who developed it says the peptides and amino acids contained in a single daily drop will leave your skin visibly younger-looking and fresher in two weeks. Users say it feels like wrapping your face in cashmere.

La Prairie Platinum Rare Cellular Night Elixir 20ml, 1,018, Harvey Nichols

I rely on Dr Phillip Levy, a Swiss dermatologist and wound-healing specialist based in Geneva, whose moisturisers and serums are proven to revitalise dermal stem cells to kick-start your skin's own production of collagen. Another doctor - German-born Michael Prager, who operates from a clinic in Wimpole Street - emphasises the rejuvenating effects of combating pollution with an antioxidant cream that fights off free radicals.

Neither of these medical-grade ranges comes cheap, but though Dr Prager's day oil contains pure gold, at 225 for 30ml (drmichaelprager.com), it's not actually as expensive as buying the precious metal itself.

If you're going down the Sheikha Moza route to moneyed perfection with a lavish use of make-up, Gucci Westman is a name to conjure with. This make-up artist, who has worked with Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman, has her own range, Westman Atelier.

Lip suede in Les Rouges, 75, Westman Atelier (net-a-porter.com)

Yes, the colours are lush but, even better, the brand is 'clean' - beauty-speak for vegan, against animal-testing, paraben-free and so on. Plus, the products moisturise, plump up collagen and soothe as you apply them. Even the mascara conditions your lashes. So what if it costs 58?

Equally impressive is Shiseido's luxury line, Cl de Peau, which does a foundation that's 250 for 27ml, in 13 shades. Again, it's a beauty treatment with SPF and moisturiser as much as a make-up product, and it's what I'll put on if I want anyone to tell me I look glowing.

But, of course, more precious than any cream or blush stick is a little personal attention. Dr Costas Papageorgiou operates out of Harrods and has fairly expensive-looking skin himself. He makes use of a battery of lasers, Botox, fillers and ultrasound, but the key to his success is the consultation that starts off the process.

The Foundation,250, Cl de Peau Beaut (harrods.com)

Seeing your own face in unforgiving 3D on a computer may be a shock, but it certainly helps pinpoint the areas you'd like him to focus on. He's very hot on correcting facial symmetry, which starts out pretty good in babies, but with time and use, the muscles on the face become less symmetrical as bits start to droop or wrinkle. Generally, the more lopsided you are, the more antique you look, and he can address that with filler, Botox and even thread lifts.

But I'm not one for the injectables. It's his Hybrid Energy Lift - a combination of ultrasound, infrared, light and laser - that I really rate (from 6,000 for 120 minutes, facialplasticslondon.com). It, too, stimulates collagen production, but it also gets rid of visible veins and redness, and even reduces big pores. I have had to change the tone of my foundation for a paler one since he did for my (mild) rosacea.

Radical3 Reboot Pro Peel, 89, Dr Levy (editorslist.co.uk)

The key, says Dr Papageorgiou, is to delay and reverse the "ageing cascade". This slow car crash of fine lines around the eyes, sun damage and heavy jowls is all thanks, he says, to "fat atrophy and bone resorption".

But subtlety is all - "A great result is one that shows no signs of intervention"- and nothing, he warns, can really be achieved unless you have a healthy diet, exercise and take vitamins.

Debbie Thomas, at her D.Thomas clinic in London, has a similarly personalised approach. You don't book in for a single treatment, you book for an hour of her expert time, and she'll use a cocktail of lasers, micro-needling and products depending on what you need (475 for a DNA Laser Complete 2 session, dthomas.com).

"I'm afraid,"she says, "traditional facials are not going to transform your skin for more than a few days. You need to upgrade to more advanced treatments if you want long-term results. And those will be more costly."And who can say it's not worth the money?

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The rise of 'rich woman face': how to halt the ageing process (for a certain price) - Telegraph.co.uk

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Limbs regenerate, embryos grow, and cancers invade.

In each of these processes, cells change dramatically. Betty Hay studied fascinating biological phenomena, relentlessly asking questions with her students and colleagues to understand how cellsbehaved. By the end of her life, she had made enormous research contributions in developmental biology, on top ofcommitting herself to mentoring the next generation of scientists and advocating for more representation of women in science.

She made significant contributions towards understanding cell and developmental biology

Betty Hay began as an undergraduate at Smith College in 1944. She lovedher first biology course and started working for Meryl Rose, a professor at Smith who studied limb regeneration in frogs. I was self-motivated and very attracted to science, she saidin an interview in 2004, Meryl at that time was working on regeneration and by the end of my first year at Smith I was also studying regeneration.

Hay regarded Rose as a significant scientific mentor in her life and followed his advice to apply for medical school instead of graduate school. She ended up attending Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for her medical degree while continuing her research on limb regeneration over the summers with Rose at Woods Holes Marine Biological Laboratory. She stayed at Johns Hopkins after to teach Anatomy and became an Assistant Professor in 1956.

The year after, she moved her studiesto Cornell Universitys Medical College as an Assistant Professor to learn how to use the powerful microscopes located there. Her goal was to use transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a method of taking high-resolution images, toseehow salamanders could regenerate an amputated limb. Nothing couldve kept me from going into TEM, she said later.

With her student, Don Fischman, they concluded that upon amputation, cells with specialized roles,known as differentiated cells and thought to be unchangeable, were able to de-differentiate and become unspecialized stem cells again. These cells without an assigned role could then have the freedom to adopt whatever new roles they required to regenerate a perfectly new limb.

Already making leaps in figuring out an explanation for the process of limb regeneration, Hay turned her attention from salamanders to bird eyes when she moved to Harvard University. She studied the outermost layer of cells on the cornea, known as the cornea epithelium. With the help of a postdoctoral scholar in her lab, Jib Dobson, and a faculty colleague, Jean-Paul Revel, they isolated, grew, and took pictures of cornea epithelium cells and demonstrated the epithelial cells could produce collagen.

Collagen is the main type of protein that weaves together to form the extracellular matrix, a connective tissue (the matrix) found outside of cells (extracellular). The collagen in the extracellular matrix provide structure, acting as a foundation for connective tissues and organs such as skin, tendons, and ligaments. Other scientists in the field were skeptical of the conclusion. They thought that one dedicated cell produced collagen, and nothing else.They dismissed the idea that cells in the cornea could somehow do the same. Despite their doubt, Hay, along with postdoctoral scholar Steve Meier, continued their studies. In 1974, they further showed that not only could epithelial cells produce collagen and extracellular matrix in different organ systems, but that the matrix could also tell other cells what type of cell to become.

She was a committed educator and mentor

Kathy Svoboda and Marion Gordon, two colleagues of hers, wrote about Betty Hay and described her not only as a superb cell and developmental biologist, but also as an educator and beloved mentor.

Limb regeneration in salamanders

Russell et al BMC Biology 2017

She was dedicated to teaching and influenced the careers of many junior and early-career scientists. In addition to working with and training her students to produce successful research and results, others mentioned how she would take the time to introduce students in her department to more established and prominent scientists in the field of cell biology. These actions reflected her belief that every student was worthy of being heard and introduced.

She held influential positions and advocated for more representation of women in science

At the time of her graduation from Johns Hopkins in 1952, she was one of only four women in her graduating class of 74 people. Afterwards, she experienced frequent moves for her career, going from Baltimore, to New York, to Boston. Despite how difficult it felt moving alone and leaving her personal relationships behind every time, she felt it was necessary for her career. In her mind, she strongly believed her research always came first, fueled by her intense desire to find answers, using the scientific approach.

She went on to serve as president for multiple professional societies, such as the American Association of Anatomists, the American Society for Cell Biology, and the Society for Developmental Biology, demonstrating her commitment to leadership and service. In two of these societies, she was the first woman to ever hold the position.

In 1975, she became the first female chair of what is now the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard University and held that position for 18 years. Even with these impressive milestones, she acknowledged one of her biggest obstacles to be achieving acceptance in the male professional world.

In 2004 and nearing retirement, Betty Hay would go on to say, I am very glad to see in my lifetime the emergence of significantly more career women in science, in an interview with editor-in-chief Fiona Watt for the Journal of Cell Science, this so enriches the intellectual power being applied to the field of cell biology.

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Just when you thought the world couldnt get any spookier, say hello to the newly born xenobot, a new kind of living thing.

Its hard to say with certainty who the father is.

Or maybe its just hard to admit whats actually happened: Like a bright child making a weirdo companion from Play-Doh, artificial intelligence has mated with the living cells of a frog to create an eerie hybrid of life and machine.

In a statement from the University of Vermont (UVM), the researchers explain it this way: A team of scientists has repurposed living cells, scraped from frog embryos, and assembled them into entirely new life forms.

These millimetre-wide xenobots can live for weeks, travel about with intent, work in groups autonomously, and heal themselves after being cut.

The idea is they could be set sail in their billions to clean the oceans of microplastics.

The really smart ones could be stationed in your organs, where theyd carry out renovating surgery or deliver drugs.

These are novel living machines, says Professor Joshua Bongard, a computer scientist and robotics expert at the University of Vermont who co-led the research.

Theyre neither a traditional robot, nor a known species of animal. Its a new class of artefact: A living, programmable organism.

The new creatures were designed on the Deep Green supercomputer at UVM and then assembled and tested by biologists at Tufts University.

The Deep Green supercomputer cluster at UVMs Vermont Advanced Computing Core used an evolutionary algorithm to create thousands of candidate designs for the new life forms.

Essentially, the computer was told here are your buildings blocks, literally abstract cubes with the physical parameters and limitations of skin and heart cells of an African frog.

The computer was then given an assignment: Arrange the cells so they could move forward. Or side to side. Or herd tiny sheep (no kidding).

And this is where the Play-Doh analogy comes in: The computer would, over and over, reassemble a few hundred simulated cells into myriad forms and body shapes. Is this one OK? What about this one?

Following the same pattern as human beings leaving behind its long-dead ancestors, Homo Erectus and the other hominins that followed, some of the creatures were selected to survive, but the less-successful species went extinct and were tossed to oblivion.

Eventually, the most promising designs were selected for testing.

And this is where it gets spooky.

Because the next step was to bring those building blocks, those red and green cubes, to life.

Here the research shifted from the UVM supercomputer to the biology labs at Tufts University, where stem cells were harvested from the embryos of African frogs, the species Xenopus laevis. (from which the name xenobot is derived).

The cells were separated into single cells and left to incubate.

The creepy yet wondrous thing is, not kept apart, the cells clump together and try to make something of themselves.

Next step: A microsurgeon, Dr Douglas Blackiston, used tiny forceps and an even tinier electrode, to cut the cells and join them under a microscope into a close approximation of the designs specified by the computer.

Assembled into body forms never seen in nature, the cells began to work together, the researchers advise.

The skin cells formed a more passive architecture, while the once-random contractions of heart muscle cells were put to work creating ordered forward motion as guided by the computers design, and aided by spontaneous self-organising patterns allowing the robots to move on their own.

These reconfigurable organisms were shown to be able move in a coherent fashion and explore their watery environment for days or weeks, powered by embryonic energy stores.

Turned over, however, they failed, like beetles flipped on their backs.

Later tests showed that groups of xenobots would work together like cowboys, moving around in circles, pushing pellets into a central location.

They did this spontaneously and collectively. Others were built with a hole through the centre to reduce drag.

In simulated versions, the scientists were able to repurpose this hole as a pouch to successfully carry an object.

We can imagine many useful applications of these living robots that other machines cant do, said co-leader Professor Michael Levin who directs the Centre for Regenerative and Developmental Biology at Tufts, like searching out nasty compounds or radioactive contamination, gathering microplastic in the oceans, travelling in arteries to scrape out plaque.

That fear is not unreasonable, Dr Levin said. When we start to mess around with complex systems that we dont understand, were going to get unintended consequences.

How might the creatures eventually work together in bigger systems?

As the researchers admit, who the heck knows?

A lot of complex systems, like an ant colony, begin with a simple unit an ant from which it would be impossible to predict the shape of their colony or how they can build bridges over water with their interlinked bodies.

Dr Levin said its an absolute necessity for society going forward to get a better handle on systems where the outcome is very complex.

A first step towards doing that is to explore: How do living systems decide what an overall behaviour should be and how do we manipulate the pieces to get the behaviours we want?

In other words, he suggested: This study is a direct contribution to getting a handle on what people are afraid of, which is unintended consequences.

If this was a horror movie, it would go like this: The world is under siege from a malevolent virus.

The frightened populace can think of nothing else.

Meanwhile, creepy monsters made from frog skin decide to take over the joint

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An article published in Experimental Biology and Medicine(Volume 245, Issue 6, March 2020)examines the safety of stem cell therapy for the treatment of colon cancer.The study, led by Dr. J. Liu in the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design at the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai (China), reports that mesenchymal stem cells from a variety of sources promote the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells in an animal model.

Mesenchymal stem (MSCs), a category of adult stem cells, are being evaluated as a therapy for numerous cancers.MSCs are excellent carriers for tumor treatment because they migrate to tumor tissues, can be genetically modified to secrete anticancer molecules and do not elicit immune responses.Clinical trials have shown that MSCs carrying modified genes can be used to treat colon cancer as well as ulcerative colitis. However, some studies have demonstrated MSCs can differentiate into cancer-associated fibroblasts and promote tumor growth.Therefore, additional studies are needed to evaluate the safety of MSCs for targeted treatment of colon cancer.

In the current study, Dr. Liu and colleagues examined the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from three sources (bone marrow, adipose, and placenta) on colon cancer cells.MSCs from all three sources promoted tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. In vitro studies demonstrated that MSCs promote colon cancer cell stemness and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, which would enhance tumor growth and metastasis respectively.Finally, the detrimental effects of MSCs could be reversed by blocking IL-8 signaling pathways. Dr. Ma, a co-author of the study, said that Mesenchymal stem cells have a dual role: promoting and/or suppressing cancer. Which effect is dominant depends on the type of tumor cell, the tissue source of the MSC and the interaction between the MSC and the cancer cell. This is the major issue in the clinical application research of MSCs, and additional preclinical experimental data will be needed to evaluate the safety of MSCs for colon cancer treatment.

Dr. Steven R. Goodman, Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Biology & Medicine, said: Lui and colleagues have performed elegant studies on the impact of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), from various sources, upon the proliferation, stemness, and metastasis of colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) in vitro and in vivo. They further demonstrate that IL-8 stimulates the interaction between colon CSCs and MSCs, and activates the MAPK signaling pathway in colon CSCs.This provides a basis for the further study of MSCs as a biologic therapy for colon cancer.

Experimental Biology and Medicine is a global journal dedicated to the publication of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research in the biomedical sciences. The journal was first established in 1903. Experimental Biology and Medicine is the journal of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine. To learn about the benefits of society membership, visit sebm.org.

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