When nurse Neri Pucci suddenly felt ill during a hospital shift his first thought was that hed picked up Covid-19.

Working long shifts on an A&E ward, the 28-year-oldpresumed being exposed to patients with the virus was the reason he was suffering a fever, night sweats, a cough, a sore throat, breathlessness and a headache.

But several tests for coronavirus were negative and blood analysis showed his white blood cells had sky rocketed.

Medics quickly determined he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer that progresses quickly and aggressively and requires immediate treatment.

And so instead of finishing the shift he was due to work, the Italian, who has worked for the NHS for five years, was kept in hospital as an in-patient.

Hes been undergoing gruelling chemotherapy over the last 12 weeks and remains isolated in a room with restricted visitors.

Because Neri took a career break and returned as temporary staff, he is not entitled to NHS sick pay. His colleague has set up a GoFundMe appeal to support him which has so far raised more than 9,400.

Ive had a lot of love and support from family, friends, colleagues and people around the world, its fantastic, said Neri.

Neri has worked at Londons The Royal Free Hospital A&E since 2014 and last year, for a change of scene, took a post as a nurse on a cruise ship. He returned to the hospital in June and took ill after just six weeks.

I knew my colleagues were struggling during the pandemic and I felt I should come back and help, he said. Wearing full PPE for a 12-hour shift is quite exhausting, it makes you hot and sweaty. I had seen patients who had Covid, and of course took all precautions. So when I got ill I thought it must be the virus. I felt dizzy, short of breath and my heart was racing and then my knees went purple.

It was a lot to take in when they said it was leukaemia and I needed to stay in hospital.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is rare, with around 790 people diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK, according to the NHS. Most cases develop in children, teenagers and young adults.

The disease is caused by a genetic mutation in the stem cells, although why this happens is not yet fully understood but there are certain risk factors.

Symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

The disease usually starts slowly before rapidly becoming severe. Symptoms listed by the NHS are pale skin, feeling tired and breathless, repeated infections over a short time, unusual and frequent bleeding, such as bleeding gums or nosebleeds, high temperature and night sweats.

Sufferers can also get bone and joint pain, easily bruised skin, swollen lymph nodes, tummy pain) caused by a swollen liver or spleen, unintentional weight loss and a purple skin rash.

In some cases, the affected cells can spread from your bloodstream into your central nervous system. This can cause neurological symptoms, including headaches, seizures or fits, being sick, blurred vision and dizziness.

Neri was transferred to University College Hospital and his parents left their home town of Florence to stay in London to support their only child.

He has suffered side effects from the chemotherapy including nausea, fatigue, numb fingers and headaches and says hes found isolation difficult.

Im extremely vulnerable to infections and even more so with Covid around, he said. Im in a side room and there is strict visitation.Im allowed one visitor a week for just two hours, so that means only my mum can come one week and then my dad the next. Its very hard. The nurses have been so kind and I feel very well looked after.

Neri is now waiting on a bone marrow transplant, which will leave him immunocompromised for months. He will likely need at least a year off work, depending on how soon he has the procedure.

His friend who set up the fundraising appeal, Miguel Montenegro, wrote: The funds we raise will be used to support his accommodations costs and bills so that he can carry on focusing on his recovery and can remain in the country to obtain the best care possible.

He is looking forward to getting better as soon as possible as he wishes to return to work promptly and continue providing people with the best care he is capable of.

Do you have a real life story? Email claudia.tanner@inews.co.uk.

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Nurse working on Covid-19 frontline had 'virus symptoms' that turned out to be leukaemia - iNews

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Nurse working on Covid-19 frontline had ‘virus symptoms’ that turned out to be leukaemia – iNews | August 27th, 2020

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today the acceptance of a clinical abstract documenting an association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures and functional improvement in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The data, to be presented as a poster on September 11-13 at the forthcoming MSVirtual2020 meeting the eighth joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) will inform analysis of clinical outcomes in the Company's ongoing Phase 2 trial of NurOwn (MSC-NTF cells) in patients with progressive MS.

"Although disability improvement is an important measure of function in individuals with progressive MS, the MRI features that correlate with disability improvement had not previously been explored," noted Tanuja Chitnis, M.D., FAAN, Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Senior Neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Director of the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigations in MS at the Brigham (CLIMB Study). "In this analysis, we have demonstrated a correlation between specific brain and spinal cord MRI measures and observed functional improvements in progressive MS patients. We are grateful to the joint ACTRIMS/ECTRIMS abstract committee for allowing us to present these data, which we hope will facilitate analysis of clinical trial outcomes that specifically evaluate functional improvements in progressive MS."

Dr. Chitnis and colleagues evaluated MRI features of 48 participants in the SysteMS substudy of the CLIMB study, a nested cohort selected to match the inclusion criteria of the Phase 2 NurOwn trial in progressive MS (NCT03799718). The participants underwent brain and lesion volumetric analysis, as well as mean upper cervical cord (MUCCA) analysis, 12-24 months following baseline 3 Tesla MRI. These analyses generated 34 MRI data measures performed by ICOMETRIX, which the investigators compared in patients with improved function versus those with worsening or stable function, as measured by 9-hole peg test (9HPT) or timed-25-foot-walk (T25FW) scores, two well-established measures of function in progressive MS.

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BrainStorm to present data linking MR measures to functional improvement in progressive multiple sclerosis - DOTmed HealthCare Business News

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on BrainStorm to present data linking MR measures to functional improvement in progressive multiple sclerosis – DOTmed HealthCare Business News | August 26th, 2020

According to a young Mancunian woman festooned with eyeliner, tattoos and pumped-up lips, a major motivation for having cosmetic treatments is to make yourself look more like Kylie Jenner and the Kardashians. Big lips, square jaw, tiny waist, big bum, big boobs now its become commercial enough that we can get it, she explained.

This may not be an aspiration shared by everyone but you might expect that the people who provide these appearance-altering procedures would be subject to strict regulation. Not so, as medical journalist Michael Mosley was horrified to discover in the startling documentary, The Truth about Cosmetic Treatments. You dont need a licence or even any training to start injecting somebodys face with fillers, despite the risks of disfiguring infections or blindness.

The rush for self-renovation has been accelerated by social media and the way that established treatments, such as face-lifts and nose jobs, requiring full-scale surgery, are being replaced by less invasive techniques.

Teaming up with blogger Mehreen Baig, Mosley explored the freaky world of lip and nose fillers, microneedling and botox, and bravely volunteered to have his own crows feet blitzed by a gadget which, as its operator enthused, melts the skin instantaneously. Once the rawness and swelling on his face had subsided, Mosley was disgruntled to find that it hadnt made much difference.

Other customers were left similarly deflated. Julie, whose fractionated CO2 laser treatment left her face covered in tatters of dead skin, enjoyed some improved skin elasticity, but tests revealed no noticeable dermatological changes. The only treatment that seemed to have a significant effect was the stem-cell facelift undergone by Kim, who paid 6,000 for the privilege of having the cells injected into her cheekbones. She was delighted with her smoother, younger-looking face.

Mosley had assembled a panel of punters to look at before and after photos and assess whether the treatments had made the contestants look more attractive. They lost their personality, one man said. As dermatologist Tamara Griffiths warned, then, its a case of buyer beware.

THEARTSDESK.COM

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The Truth About Cosmetic Treatments was a startling and sad documentary - iNews

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on The Truth About Cosmetic Treatments was a startling and sad documentary – iNews | August 26th, 2020

Myelofibrosis or osteomyelofibrosis is a myeloproliferative disorder which is characterized by proliferation of abnormal clone of hematopoietic stem cells. Myelofibrosis is a rare type of chronic leukemia which affects the blood forming function of the bone marrow tissue. National Institute of Health (NIH) has listed it as a rare disease as the prevalence of myelofibrosis in UK is as low as 0.5 cases per 100,000 population. The cause of myelofibrosis is the genetic mutation in bone marrow stem cells. The disorder is found to occur mainly in the people of age 50 or more and shows no symptoms at an early stage. The common symptoms associated with myelofibrosis include weakness, fatigue, anemia, splenomegaly (spleen enlargement) and gout. However, the disease progresses very slowly and 10% of the patients eventually develop acute myeloid leukemia. Treatment options for myelofibrosis are mainly to prevent the complications associated with low blood count and splenomegaly.

The global market for myelofibrosis treatment is expected to grow moderately due to low incidence of a disease. However, increasing incidence of genetic disorders, lifestyle up-gradation and rise in smoking population are the factors which can boost the growth of global myelofibrosis treatment market. The high cost of therapy will the growth of global myelofibrosis treatment market.

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The global market for myelofibrosis treatment is segmented on basis of treatment type, end user and geography:

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As myelofibrosis is considered as non-curable disease treatment options mainly depend on visible symptoms of a disease. Primary stages of the myelofibrosis are treated with supportive therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, there are serious unmet needs in myelofibrosis treatment market due to lack of disease modifying agents. Approval of JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor Ruxolitinib in 2011 is considered as a breakthrough in myelofibrosis treatment. Stem cell transplantation for the treatment of myelofibrosis also holds tremendous potential for market growth but high cost of therapy is foreseen to limits the growth of the segment.

On the basis of treatment type, the global myelofibrosis treatment market has been segmented into blood transfusion, chemotherapy, androgen therapy and stem cell or bone marrow transplantation. Chemotherapy segment is expected to contribute major share due to easy availability of chemotherapeutic agents. Ruxolitinib is the only chemotherapeutic agent approved by the USFDA specifically for the treatment of myelofibrosis, which will drive the global myelofibrosis treatment market over the forecast period.

Geographically, global myelofibrosis treatment market is segmented into five regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Northe America is anticipated to lead the global myelofibrosis treatment market due to comparatively high prevalence of the disease in the region.

Some of the key market players in the global myelofibrosis treatment market are Incyte Corporation, Novartis AG, Celgene Corporation, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Ulc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Taro Pharmaceuticals Inc., AllCells LLC, Lonza Group Ltd., ATCC Inc. and others.

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Demand for Myelofibrosis Treatment Market to Witness Rapid Surge During the Period 2016 2022 - Scientect

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Demand for Myelofibrosis Treatment Market to Witness Rapid Surge During the Period 2016 2022 – Scientect | August 26th, 2020

Neutrophils are the warriors of the immune system. They are always ready to spring to action to help heal injuries or fight off disease. Unless, that is, something goes wrong in their developmental process.Immature neutrophils arent all warriors they can be dangerous turncoats. High levels of immature neutrophils in the bloodstream can be a tell-tale sign of cancer and may even be a biomarker for COVID-19.

Now scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have tracked down the rare stem cells that generate neutrophils in human bone marrow. This research, published in Immunity, gives researchers a potential path for intervening in diseases where neutrophil development goes awry.

We have identified the stem cells that are the early origins of neutrophils, the most abundant blood cell type in humans, says Huy Dinh, Ph.D., a former LJI postdoctoral associate who recently moved to a faculty position at The University of WisconsinMadison. Dinh led the study with LJI Professor Catherine C. Hedrick, Ph.D. Knowing how human neutrophils develop is especially relevant today because immature neutrophils have been found to be elevated in both the blood and lungs of severe COVID-19 patients.

Despite their importance, neutrophils have proven very hard to study. They dont hold up well outside the body, and the stem cells that make them are even harder to investigate because they only live in bone marrow.

In 2018, the Hedrick Lab reported the discovery of a group of progenitor stem cells that give rise to mature neutrophils. These progenitors sole job was to generate neutrophils, yet they appeared to also promote tumor growth. The researchers believed that detecting these progenitors could give doctors a better way to catch early cancer cases. But first, the team needed to know a lot more about neutrophil development.

The new research revealed a progenitor cell type that exists even earlier in human neutrophil development. Dinh, a past SPARK Award recipient, together with Tobias Eggert, Ph.D., a LJI visiting scientist and Melissa Meyer, Ph.D., a LJI postdoc, who served as the co-first authors in the study, spearheaded the effort to use a tool called cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) to distinguish these rare cells from other types of immune progenitor cells. This work also made it possible for the researchers to identify more specific protein markers on this early progenitor cell surface.

The discovery of these protein markers was important because until now, scientists have used only a few of markers to track neutrophils over time. The new study gives scientists specific markers for tracking neutrophil development from day one.

The researchers also found that cases of skin and lung cancers are often accompanied by a flood of immature neutrophils including the early progenitor cells into the bloodstream. These immature neutrophils change as they interact with tumor cells, though the researchers arent sure yet how these changes affect cancer progression.

Dinh likens the stages of neutrophil development to the cars on a train. The early progenitors are like the train engine, keeping everything going smoothly along the track to maturity. Cancer shakes everything up, and immature neutrophils jump off the track before they reach maturity. Its like the train is falling apart, Dinh says.

Neutrophil development has been in the news recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as studies have shown immature neutrophils are also more abundant in some patients with COVID-19. Dinh and Hedrick think perhaps the threat of the virus prompts the body to churn out neutrophils too quickly, again forcing immature cells off the track to maturity.

We need to study this phenomenon further to see if these neutrophils can be tied to case prognosis or if they can be a drug target for COVID-19, says Dinh.

The researchers hope to continue their work to discover the exact mechanisms that stop neutrophils from reaching maturity. Knowing the earliest cell that gives rise to neutrophils is really critical for trying to target and control these cells, says Hedrick. But we dont know exactly how to do that yet.

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

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Researchers Get First-Ever Look at a Rare but Vital Stem Cell in Humans - Technology Networks

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Researchers Get First-Ever Look at a Rare but Vital Stem Cell in Humans – Technology Networks | August 25th, 2020

Background:Microfracture is a surgical technique that involves creating multiple holes of 3-4 mm depth in the subchondral bone to recruit stem cells in the bone marrow to the lesion, inducing fibrocartilage repair and knee cartilage regeneration. Recently, it has been reported that increasing the exposed area of the lower cartilaginous bone (drilling a lot of holes) increases the outflow of stem cells, which is expected to affect the physical properties of the subchondral bone when the exposed area is large. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of the distance between the holes in the microfracture procedure on the structural stability of the osteochondral bone using a finite element method.

Methods:In this study, lateral aspects of the femoral knee, which were removed during total knee arthroplasty were photographed using microtomography. The model was implemented using a solitary walks program, which is a three-dimensional simplified geometric representation based on the basic microtomography data. A microfracture model was created by drilling 4 mm-deep holes at 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, and 5 mm intervals in a simplified three-dimensional (3D) geometric femoral model. The structural stability of these models was analysed with the ABAQUS program. We compared the finite element model (FEM) based on the microtomography image and the simplified geometric finite element model.

Results:Von Mises stress of the subchondral bone plate barely increased, even when the distance between holes was set to 1 mm. Altering the distance between the holes had little impact on the structural stability of the subchondral bone plate. Safety factors were all below 1.

Conclusions:Although we did not confirm an optimal distance between holes, this study does provide reference data and an epidemiological basis for determining the optimal distance between the holes used in the microfracture procedure.

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The effect of distance between holes on the structural stability of subchondral bone in microfracture surgery: a finite element model study - DocWire...

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on The effect of distance between holes on the structural stability of subchondral bone in microfracture surgery: a finite element model study – DocWire… | August 25th, 2020

An investigational treatment called AST-OPC1 (oligodendrocyte progenitor cells) may give new hope to people with a recent spinal cord injury. Researchers are examining whether AST-OPCI injected directly into the spinal cord helps repair damage in people with cervical (neck) spinal cord injury.

Researchers are examining whether AST-OPCI injected directly into the spinal cord helps repair damage in people with cervical (neck) spinal cord injury. Photo Source: 123RF.com.Until now, there have been no new treatment options for the 17,000 new spinal cord injuries that happen each year, said primary investigator Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurological Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. We may be on the verge of making a major breakthrough after decades of attempts.

AST-OPC1 is developed from stem cells and is believed to work by supporting the proper functioning of nerve cells. After a spinal cord injury, many nerve cells are severed and beyond repair; however, many nerve cells have the potential to work again but have lost their protective coating (known as myelin) that helps nerves transfer messages to the arms and legs.

What AST-OPC1 does is recoat those potentially functional cells and allows them to work more normally, Dr. Fessler told SpineUniverse.

Left: Normal myelin sheath Right: Damaged myelin sheath. Photo Source: 123RF.com.

Dr. Fessler and colleagues are part of a larger multicenter trial designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of three doses of AST-OPC1 (2-, 10-, or 20-million cells) injected into the injured area of the spinal cord between 14 and 30 days following a cervical spinal cord injury. These individuals have essentially lost all sensation and movement below their injury site with severe paralysis of the arms and legs.

Thus far, Dr. Fessler and colleagues have injected three patients at the first dose level and five patients at the intermediate dose level.

Our preliminary results show that we may, in fact, be getting some regeneration. Some of those who have lost use of their hands are starting to get function back. That is the first time in history that has ever been done, Dr. Fessler said. The improvements are seen within the 30 to 60 days, he noted.

I have been doing this kind of research for more than 20 years, and Ive never seen anything as encouraging as AST-OPC1, Dr. Fessler said. Just as a journey of a thousand miles is done one step at a time, repairing spinal cord injuries is being done one step at a time. And, now, we can say that weve taken that first step.

The injections are safe, as determined by an earlier study of AST-OPC1 that involved patients with thoracic (mid-back) spinal cord injury. Dr. Fessler said it important for the spinal cord injury to be recent in order for the therapy to work. In addition, the spinal cord needs to be in continuity and not severed. The injections are unlikely to be effective in people who have had spinal cord injuries for years, although future trials are needed to know for sure.

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AST-OPC1 Stem Cell Therapy Offers Hope for Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on AST-OPC1 Stem Cell Therapy Offers Hope for Spinal Cord Injury | August 25th, 2020

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an intractable and worldwide difficult medical challenge with limited treatments. Neural stem/progenitor cell (NS/PC) transplantation derived from fetal tissues or embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has demonstrated therapeutic effects via replacement of lost neurons and severed axons and creation of permissive microenvironment to promote repair of spinal cord and axon regeneration but causes ethnical concerns and immunological rejections as well. Thus, the implementation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can be generated from adult somatic cells and differentiated into NS/PCs, provides an effective alternation in the treatment of SCI. However, as researches further deepen, there is accumulating evidence that the use of iPSC-derived NS/PCs shows mounting concerns of safety, especially the tumorigenicity. This review discusses the tumorigenicity of iPSC-derived NS/PCs focusing on the two different routes of tumorigenicity (teratomas and true tumors) and underlying mechanisms behind them, as well as possible solutions to circumvent them.

Spinal cord injury is a devastating neurological condition, which results in the disruption of signals between the brain and body yielding severe physical, psychological, and social dysfunction [1, 2]. Patients who have suffered a SCI not only become increasingly dependent on others for daily life but are more likely to die prematurely and are at risk for social exclusion [1, 2]. What is worse is that, due to the complex pathophysiological processes, significant treatment for SCI has progressed slowly.

Originally, glucocorticoid drugs like methylprednisolone were regarded as the classic therapeutic treatment for SCI [3], as they had been found to stabilize the plasma membrane of damaged cells by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and hydrolysis [3]. However, their application gradually became controversial because they had serious side effects like mounting vulnerability to acute corticosteroid myopathy or serious infection [4, 5]. Other clinical approaches to SCI included early surgical interventions [6] and alternative pharmacological therapy (e.g., GM-1 [7] and thyrotropin-releasing hormone [8]). However, these methods either had their own side effects or demonstrated weakly therapeutic efficacy.

Recent progress in cell transplantation has opened up new opportunities to understand and treat SCI. Among the several types of candidate cells, NS/PC holds great therapeutic potential for SCI, as it can replace the lost neurons and glia as well as create a growth-promoting environment [9]. Nevertheless, the acquisition of NS/PCs can be a difficult task since they are usually located deep in the brain so their isolation is a highly invasive procedure. To bypass this problem, people have also used ESCs from which they can generate sufficient NS/PCs. Indeed, ESC-derived NS/PCs were initially reported to have optimistic effects on SCI [10, 11]. Unfortunately, the application of ESC-based strategy, accompanied by immune rejections and ethical concerns [12], was less likely to be transformed into clinical practice. Subsequently, the advent of iPSCs appears to signal the future of stem cell treatments for SCI. However, while the therapeutic effects of iPSCs on SCI have been discussed by many studies, the side effects are rarely mentioned and talked over exclusively, especially the tumorigenicity of iPSCs. In this paper, we briefly summarized the application of iPSCs, elucidated the tumorigenicity in detail, and described possible strategies to address it.

In 2006, Takahashi and Yamanaka showed that fibroblasts from mouse somatic cells could regain pluripotency after expressing four transcriptional factors [13], thus developing iPSCs. It stands to reason that iPSCs may have the greatest potential for regenerative medicine, because they have abilities to indefinitely self-renew and differentiate into most if not all cell types [13, 14]. Compared to ESCs, autologous iPSCs also circumvent the ethical issues associated with embryonic tissue harvesting and free patients of immunosuppression, which is critical since SCI patients are at high risk for infection [15].

Of late, an increasing number of research groups have applied iPSCs to SCI and achieved interesting results (Table 1). In 2010, Tsuji et al. managed to produce neurospheres from mouse iPSCs and showed that transplantation of these cells promoted functional improvement in mice with SCI [16]. As a proof of principle, they also used human iPSCs (hiPSCs) and demonstrated significant therapeutic effects like the better recovery of motor function, synapse formation between the grafts and hosts, and enhanced axonal regrowth [17]. Kobayashi et al. transplanted hiPSC-derived NS/PCs into a nonhuman primate following cervical SCI and revealed behavioral improvements consistent with rodent studies [18]. Lu et al. reported that not only can the derivatives of iPSCs extend axons over nearly the whole length of the rat CNS [19] but can also form extensive synaptic connections with the host. More recently, several studies have elucidated potential mechanisms underlying behavioral improvement from SCI following transplantation of iPSC derivatives [20, 21]. They speculated that iPSC derivatives exerted their effects on SCI by substitution of lost neural cells, promotion of axonal remyelination, and regrowth as well as tissue sparing through trophic support.

There are also some negative reports on iPSC approaches to SCI. Two reports revealed that despite the ability to differentiate into neural cells [19, 22], iPSC-derived NS/PCs did not show any substantial improvement in function. Besides, it takes a long time to generate and evaluate iPSCs [23], making it unrealistic for individualized iPSC-based therapy because the optimal time for stem cell transplantation is the subacute phase [24]. As a result, either iPSCs would have to be generated from donor tissue, missing out on the major factor that makes them attractive in the first place, or transplanted at more chronic phases of injury [25], which showed a poor result after transplantation into the chronic SCI model. More importantly, like ESCs, there are widely found issues with respect to safety of iPSCs, particularly the possible tumorigenicity [16, 21, 26].

Tumorigenicity of any stem cell transplants remains a major concern for clinical applications, and there is an urgent need for it to be addressed before translation of iPSC techniques into SCI treatment. From several reports [26, 27], tumorigenicity of iPSCs can be classified into two distinct types: teratoma and true tumors due to their different features and developmental processes, which we will discuss further below (Figure 1).

Teratoma is a relatively common potential risk in grafts of iPSCs especially when individual iPSC clones were preevaluated as unsafe [16, 17, 28]. While the mechanism is not fully understood, most reports share the idea that undifferentiated iPSCs lead to teratoma formation [26, 29]. Teratoma formation requires the ability to escape or silence the immune responses for the purpose of survival in the host. Tumor cells could take effective measures to avoid immune responses by alteration of MHC-I, mutations in Fas or Trail, and so forth [30]. These traits are well shared with undifferentiated iPSCs. Besides, like tumor cells, iPSCs possess a virtually unlimited proliferation potential, by which they are vulnerable to the formation of a cell mass. Therefore, we reasonably postulate that residual-undifferentiated cells contribute greatly to teratoma formation. Moreover, Miura et al. discovered that the presence or absence of c-Myc in iPSCs and drug selection for NANOG or Fbxo15 expression [28, 31], all of which are considered closely associated with tumorigenesis, showed no correlation with teratoma formation. Namely, the underlying mechanism of teratoma formation is different from that of tumor, as they do not correlate with these tumor makers.

It is still unclear why undifferentiated cells remain in iPSC grafts. However, iPSC derivatives of different origins do demonstrate different teratoma-forming propensity [16, 28]. For instance, iPSCs derived from tail-tip fibroblasts showed the highest propensity for teratoma formation while iPSCs from embryonic fibroblasts and gastric epithelial cells showed the lowest. Since iPSCs from different origins exhibited distinctive features, it is possible that epigenetic memory, the residual features of somatic tissues, plays a role in teratoma formation. And due to epigenetic memory, iPSCs from certain cell lines may be likely to redifferentiate back into their initial cell type [32, 33]. Therefore, we might as well hold the belief that if we created a certain type of microenvironment supporting certain iPSCs to differentiate into NS/PCs, those derived from any other cell lines except neural ones may not be able to well differentiate and have to maintain undifferentiated status under this unfavorable condition. Besides, the inefficient methods of purifying the contaminated undifferentiated cells also aggravate the situation.

Several studies have found that even if all undifferentiated cells are purged [26, 34], iPSC derivatives remain tumorigenic, as substantial tumors were present instead of teratomas. Such cases can be much worse because they are usually malignant and able to progress, invade, and metastasize. As such, understanding the mechanisms behind tumorigenesis is imperative.

The exact mechanism underlying iPSC tumorigenesis is still not clearly defined, but several factors are thought to contribute to it. Collectively, genomic and epigenomic instability correlates largely with tumorigenicity of iPSCs [35, 36]. Many factors can account for genomic instability. For instance, several oncogenes (like c-Myc and KLF4) or genes sometimes associated with tumorigenesis (like SOX2 and Oct-4) are used in the reprogramming process. Additionally, retroviral or lentiviral gene delivery systems are used in the reprogramming process and can be integrated into the genome-disrupting tumor suppressor genes and pathways. For example, the activation of transgenic Oct-4 and KLF4 has been found to induce tumor formation of NS/PCs via the Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway [34]. This pathway was found to be able to enhance stabilization of telomeres, a signature of tumorigenesis, by increasing TERT expression. Furthermore, the mature cells harvested for iPSC induction have themselves already undergone multiple rounds of division and might possess their own genetic instability before induction [37]. Also, the low-efficiency reprogramming process and incomplete suppression of transgenic factors result in some partially reprogramming cells, which take part in tumor forming.

On the other hand, epigenomic instability, especially DNA methylation, also plays a role in the formation of true tumors [26]. DNA methylation has been found to have strong association with tumorigenesis in cancer tissues [38]. For instance, if oncogenes possess hypomethylation in a cell sample, such cells may show a higher likelihood to form tumors and vice versa. Consistent with this idea, 253G1-hiPSCs as well as 253G1-iPSC-NS/PCs, which had DNA hypomethylation mainly in oncogenes and hypermethylation in tumor suppressor genes, were more likely to develop tumors when compared with 207B1-hiPSCs and NS/PCs, which did not. In addition, tumorigenicity can be enhanced as induced cells are passaged because the passage of iPSCs and iPSC-derived NS/PCs further alters the epigenetic profiles via DNA methylation.

As mentioned above, the formation of teratomas is largely attributed to undifferentiated cells. Based on this, some reports proposed various methods to address this problem including the following:(1)Increased number of passages to weaken epigenetic memory. Several studies observed the loss of epigenetic memory with increased passage number [33, 39]. iPSCs at late passage and ESCs became indistinguishable and acquired similar ability of differentiation. Therefore, the undifferentiated cell correspondingly reduced when iPSCs were capable enough of differentiation into other cells. While the underlying mechanism is not quite clear, two possible aspects may account for this phenomenon: (i) most of the iPSCs will gradually erase somatic marks as those cells passaged and/or (ii) those rare, fully reprogrammed cells become superior and then are picked up step by step [39].(2)Take advantage of epigenetic memory characteristics and use it to reprogram iPSCs away from a teratoma-inducing lineage. The propensity of iPSCs to differentiate bias into their starting cell lineage could be exploited to produce certain cell types. For example, to get more NS/PCs from iPSCs, we may ideally think of the utilization of neural cells. Some previous reports [40, 41] also confirmed that, in comparison with other cell lineages of origin, iPSCs from neural tissue are more likely and efficient to differentiate into NS/PCs. The more likely to differentiate into other cells, the less possibility of forming teratomas.(3)Improve the ability to purify iPSC-NS/PCs. It is essential to better gain bona fide iPSC-NS/PCs, as the potential for contamination with undifferentiated iPSCs presents a big chance of forming teratomas. Therefore, scientists have tried many ways to achieve the common goal including finding more specific cell surface makers and diminishing residual undifferentiated cells like inhibiting DNA topoisomerase II or stearoyl-coA desaturase [21, 42]. Accordingly, it does help but it still urgently needs to pan for desired unique makers or proper methods of depleting undifferentiated cells.(4)Transplant more mature cells instead of naive ones. It has been observed that teratomas formed from iPSC-derived NS/PCs were much smaller than those directly from iPSCs, indicating that predifferentiation of iPSCs can reduce certain aspects of tumorigenicity [43]. Consequently, grafting iPSCs directly in the treatment of SCI is not recommended.

Taken together, these ways to address undifferentiated cell contamination in iPSC-derived NS/PC transplants are, at least in part, currently effective, but it seems impossible for some of these methods to be translated into clinical application due to either the invasive operation or time-consumed culture to weaken epigenetic memory. And we had better transplanted relatively mature iPSC-derived NS/PCs instead of iPSC itself.

As for substantial tumors, we also have several effective steps to reduce the risk including the following:(1)Change the reprogramming methods into integration-free methods. Virally induced iPSCs with genomic integrations of transcriptional factors easily cause insertional mutagenesis and result in continual expression of residual factors in iPSCs [44]. Thus, instead of using integrative vectors like retrovirus or lentivirus, we need to pursue integration-free methods, not perturbing the genome. Episomal vector and Sender virus vector were once thought to be ideal nonintegrating methods, as the former works as extrachromosomal DNA in the nucleus while the latter is a method of transgene-free induction. But as the potential spontaneous integration by episomal vector and the involvement viral particles, both are limited to clinical applications. Subsequently, Woltjen et al. discovered that piggyBac transposons could be integrated into genomes of the host so the reprogramming factors that they carried were able to express continuously and stably [45]. Furthermore, the piggyBac transposons could be cut out of the genomes completely [45]. Afterwards, the advent of DNA-free and viral-free methods like recombinant proteins, messager RNA, and mature microRNA made iPSCs stride towards clinical use despite being technically challenging or inefficient. Of note, iPSCs of the first clinical trial were generated by the nonintegrative method of reprogramming with recombinant proteins [46].(2)Avoid using transgenic factors of oncogenesis. The Yamanaka factors are competent enough to induce tumorigenesis playing important roles in the development and maintenance of cancer. It appears quite necessary to reduce reprogramming factors in order to decrease the possibility of tumor formation and hasten the clinical use. Nakagawa et al. initiated a series of experiments to test whether fewer factors are capable enough of inducing the stem cell. It was found that exogenous c-Myc was not necessarily needed to generate iPSCs [31]. They then found that exogenous Oct-4 together with KLF4 or SOX2 could produce iPSCs from NSC. Furthermore, they discovered that transcriptional factor Oct-4 alone is sufficient to acquire iPSCs [41]. Although the low-reprogramming efficiency of them limits their applications, their attempt provides us with new ideas.(3)Reduce undesirable DNA methylation. Decreasing DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes and increasing that of oncogenes can certainly reduce the rate of tumor formation from iPSCs. The application of knocking down the maintenance methyltransferase DNMT1 or the demethylating agent like 5-AZA can reduce residual methylation of resulting cells and convert them to authentic pluripotent cells [33]. Besides, Mikkelsen et al. found that demethylation appears passage dependent [47]. Some reports showed that DNA methylation could be gradually erased as the cells were passaged [33, 39]. Iida et al. [26], however, found that DNA methylation patterns became more unstable with cells passaged. Maybe, this can be accounted for the fact that the cell clones that they used were different indicating that the ability of passaging to gradually diminish methylation cannot be applicable to all clones.(4)Establish reliable ways to distinguish the safe and unsafe cell clones. By virtue of the teratoma-forming activity of the iPSC derivatives after their transplantation [28], we are capable of differentiating the safe iPSC clones from all cultured cell clones. Preevaluated safe clones can show significant therapeutic effects without tumor formation [1618], while preevaluated unsafe clones demonstrate high rates of tumor formation. Iida discovered that methylation states of CAT and PSMD5 genes can be applied to discriminate between safe and unsafe hiPSC-NS/PCs [26].

In brief, across the entire process of iPSC generation and NS/PC differentiation, there are steps that can be taken to reduce nonteratoma tumor formation. These strategies mentioned above just provide some possible way to circumvent the tumorigenicity, but I am afraid that there is still a long way from clinical applications.

Despite numerous therapeutic discoveries in the laboratory, to our knowledge, faithfully effective treatment for spinal cord injury remains unavailable. iPSC transplantation for SCI is currently an unrealistic strategy, but we have already recognized the huge potential of iPSCs for SCI because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into various types of neural cells. In addition, iPSCs also avoid the ethical issues associated with some transplant sources and importantly can be performed in an autologous manner removing the need for immune suppression.

However, although the Takahashi group claimed that they were warranted to restart their clinical trials on iPSCs, safety concerns, especially tumorigenicity, still seriously limit considerations for clinical application, at least on SCI [48]. They once carried out the first clinical application of iPSCs in 2014, but were required to halt for some reasons. In this review, we focused on the two different routes of tumorigenicity and underlying mechanisms behind them. We also put forward some potential solutions to tumorigenesis. But in the current state, not enough is understood about underlying causes of tumor genesis from iPSC derivatives to completely elucidate the issue. More explorations and attempts need to be done in the future.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Junhao Deng wrote the initial manuscript. Yiling Zhang, Yong Xie, and Licheng Zhang participated in drafting the manuscript. Peifu Tang revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The authors thank Xie Wu and their laboratory members for their dedicated work. They are supported by the projects of the international cooperation and exchanges of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81520108017).

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Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Injury ...

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Injury … | August 25th, 2020

The spinal column consists of 33 individual vertebrae with dozens of joints between them. Strong enough to withstand the rigors of daily wear and tear, but doing so decade after decade may be asking a lot. Deterioration can happen for a number of reasons - accidents, sports, hard labor, osteoarthritis, immune disorders, etc. Regardless of cause, sudden or gradual, the common denominator is usually severe pain.

There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical region which is your neck area, then 12 in the thoracic region which is your back, followed by 5 going down in the lumbar region or lower back, and another 5 in the sacral region and 4 in the coccygeal region which is technically your tail bone area. Any inflammation within these areas can potentially result in a domino-effect of radiating pain.

Any injury or disease involving the spine quickly affects mobility.Individuals unfortunate enough to be affected live in a world of perpetual hurt. The simple acts of sitting, walking, gripping, voiding, etc. can become cumbersome and daily reminders of injury.

The last ray of hope - surgery - has been shown to be ineffective in providing effective reprieve from symptoms in a significant proportion of patients.Whats more is that such invasive measures can prove to be a bigger setback than the pathology itself.

For the right patient, in the right context, minimally invasive stem cell therapies can change the course of many lives for the better.

What is Chronic Back and Neck pain?

Chronic back painis a broad term that pertains to inflammation, nerve impingement, degenerative disc damage and tissue breakdown in the spine. Such pain typically lasts 12 weeks or longer.

Neck pain is one of the most pervasive problems in the world today. Repetitive strain associated with most modern jobs is truly not kind to our necks. We spend a great deal of time viewing our screens at uncomfortable angles.Its no surprise that signs of osteoarthritis can be seen in 50% of the population of people over 50.

Spinal injuries of all types have the potential to make life a struggle for those living in its clutches. Depression is not uncommon as the stark reality of a completely altered quality of life sets in.

Relieving back and neck pain without surgery is now possible with new avenues in regenerative medicine - includingPlatelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), stem cell, and exosome therapies.

Advantages of these biological therapies over standard surgical options include their relative simplicity, the fact that they can be performed on an outpatient basis, are minimally invasive, can be done much faster, with fewer complications and a higher success rate in the right patient population. Biological therapies are ideal for patients between 20 and 70 years of age with mild to moderate disease burden.

Overview of Biological Therapies

Biological therapies (e.g. PRP, stem cell, exosome therapies) mark a new dawn in the field of healthcare.

The actual procedures involving such therapies are all pretty straightforward.With respect to PRP and stem cells, thecells are extracted from the patient, processed, and then administered back into the same patient at the intended target site. PRP is derived from peripheral blood, whereas stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow or one's own fat tissue.Stem cells may also be derived from a separate donor (e.g. umbilical cord).Exosomes are microscopic packets of instructions from one cell to another.In this instance, the exosomes are derived from donated stem cells and the message they're conveying is induction of tissue repair and regeneration at the target site.

Words of Caution

Important caveats include the following.When PRP science was in its infancy, providers would draw a patient's blood into a test tube similar to what you may be used to seeing at a commercial lab today.They would then isolate the PRP from that sample.It's important to note that regenerative medicine has progressed tremendously since those bygone days.A significant majority of clinics unfortunately continue to cling to the dated method of PRP processing despite much superior methods being available.

The main drivers for this inability to adapt has been that the newer methods are more skill intensive and costlier.To fully harness the benefits of PRP therapy, take the time research your provider and their methods.If blood collection tubes are used at any point in the procedure, it's a cheaper outdated method.If you're being offered "rock bottom prices," the quality of the procedure probably matches that price.

One of the biggest caveats regarding stem cells involves donated cells.Make sure the cells originate within the United States.Stateside labs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).As such, they have to abide by fairly strict standards of cleanliness and protocol.Clinics import cells from abroad easily and cheaply.However, you're truly rolling the dice when it comes to your health when you subject yourself to procedures at such clinics.

While on the topic of offshore stem cell therapy, prospective patients are often marketed a familiar line - "we can do special procedures at offshore sites that are disallowed by the FDA here in the states."Indeed clinics have garnered a supernatural aura about their methods through these marketing campaigns.As a consumer, you should understand that its generally a bad idea to trade world class health for third world health.More specifically, no credible data has been published to vouch for the effectiveness of these "too good to be legal" methods.

Such offshore arrangements protect the clinic in the event of gross negligence.The FDA is certainly stringent, but they also allow for legitimate avenues for pursuing investigational therapies.These clinics have opted to not pursue those processes as it's easier to find havens abroad where anything goes without repercussions.That's not to say success is impossible to get reasonable care at such sites, but if you lament a crosstown doctor's appointment, you might want to reconsider flying to a different country on short notice in the event of an unexpected post-procedural complication.

Finally, it needs to be stressed that Regenerative Medicine is a field of medicine.If a clinic chooses to perform just PRP therapy or commit to one form of stem cell therapy, it is not a Regenerative Medicine practice despite glossy marketing that suggests otherwise.One mode of therapy cannot possibly treat all ailments any more than one tool can fix all mechanical problems with one tool.It would behoove you as a patient to interview your provider and get a sense of their depth and breadth of understanding of this field of Medicine.

Make Neck and Spinal Pain Relief Happen

That's right...take a proactive role.Initial steps start before the injury even happens.Maintain a healthy weight by being mindful of a healthy diet.This may entail testing to ensure you're not mounting a low-grade inflammatory response to certain foods as well as checking to see if your calcium and vitamin levels are supportive of appropriate bone density.Exercise your neck and back.This will help with mobility, and musculoskeletal strength.Adopt practices in your daily activities that avoids injury rather than react to it once it happens.

If you do injure your neck or back, take an adequate amount of time off to recover fully.Don't cut corners as you risk significantly prolonging recovery - the opposite of the desired effect.

Finally, despite the pain being acute or chronic, learn to act early."Toughing it out" can be detrimental as over months and years, at the microscopic level, the injury can not only progress but lead to further damage that becomes unresponsive to conservative measures including to biological therapies.

Do your homework, research and meet with Regenerative Medicine specialists early.Share your goals and expectations with them and get a sense for what's realistic.Don't settle for cheap or lofty promises.Once the disease has advanced beyond the point of no return and surgery is the only option, repeat this process with more than one spine surgeon.Surgery is a major endeavor and being at your health optimum is paramount.Regenerative Medicine specialists can still offer vital help here - for example with a supportive post surgical injection to help shorten recovery time.

By Vasilly Eliopoulos and Khoshal Latifazai, Founders of Rocky Mountain Regenerative Medicine, is the only full-service integrative and regenerative medicine clinic of its kind in the nation specializing in Stem Cells for Spinal Disorders.

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Stem Cells for Spinal Disorders - A Nonsurgical, Minimally ...

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem Cells for Spinal Disorders – A Nonsurgical, Minimally … | August 25th, 2020

Cell Therapy Market Highlights

Acknowledging the increasing traction that the market is garnering currently, Market Research Future (MRFR) in its recently published analysis asserts that the global cell therapy market is expected to witness significant accruals, growing at a 10.6% CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023).

Cell therapy has evolved as a recent phase of the biotechnological revolution in the medical sector. The key aim of cell therapy is to target various diseases at the cellular level by restoring a specific cell population as carriers of therapeutic cargo. Besides, cell therapy is used in combination with gene therapy for the treatment of several diseases.

Potential applications of this therapy include treatment of urinary problems, cancers, autoimmune disease, neurological disorders, and infectious disease. In the future, cell therapy will also be used for rebuilding damaged cartilage in joints, repairing spinal cord injuries, and improving the immune system.

Globalcell therapy marketis proliferating rapidly. Factors predominantly driving the growth of the market include the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and disorders, increasing geriatric population, increasing government assistance, and replacement of animal testing models. Besides, technological advancements transpired in the field of biotechnology are escalating the market on the global platform.

Additional factors pushing up the growth of the market include the growing number of neurological disorders and the improvement in the regulatory framework. Other dominant driving forces behind the growth of the global cell therapy market are the regulation of tissue engineering and the exciting possibilities that this therapy is offering in the field of therapeutics.

Conversely, factors such as the challenges that occurred during research and development activities impede the growth of the market. Also, the high cost associated with the development and reconstruction of cells is hampering the market growth especially in the developing and under-developed countries.

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Global Cell Therapy Market Segmentation

For enhanced understanding, the market has been segmented into six key dynamics:

By Type:Autologous and Allogeneic

By Technology:Somatic Cell Technology, Cell Immortalization Technology, Viral Vector Technology, Genome Editing Technology, Cell Plasticity Technology, and Three-Dimensional Technology among others.

By Source:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), Bone Marrow, Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Cells, Adipose Tissue, and Neural Stem Cell among others.

By Application:Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Neurological, Oncology, Dermatology, Wounds & Injuries, and Ocular among others.

By End-users:Hospital & Clinics, Regenerative Medicine Centers, Diagnostic Centers, and Research Institutes among others.

By Regions:North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest-of-the-World.

Major Players

Key players leading the global cell therapy market include GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novartis AG, MEDIPOST, PHARMICELL, Osiris,NuVasive, Inc.,Anterogen.Co., Ltd., JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, CELLECTIS,Cynata,BioNTechIMFS, Cognate, EUFETS GmbH,Pluristem, Genzyme Corporation, Grupo Praxis, and Advanced Tissue among others.

Global Cell Therapy Market Regional Analysis

The North American region, heading with the successful advancements in therapies dominates the global cell therapy market with a significant share. The market is further expected to grow phenomenally, continuing its dominance from 2017 to 2023. Moreover, the growing number of patients suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders and well-defined per capita healthcare expenditure are acting as major tailwinds, driving the growth of the regional market.

The US, backed by its huge technological advancements, accounts for the major contributor to the cell therapy market in North America. Furthermore, an increasing number of care facilities offering cell therapies alongside the advanced devices contribute to the growth of the regional market. Also, factors such as the presence of the well-established players, availability of funding for the development of new therapeutics, and treatment positively impact the growth of the market.

The cell therapy market in the European region accounts for the second largest market, globally, expanding at a phenomenal CAGR. The resurging economy in Europe is undoubtedly playing a key role in fostering the growth of the regional market. Additionally, factors such as the availability of technologically advanced devices and the proliferation of quality healthcare along with the increasing healthcare cost contribute to the market growth in the region. Besides, the accessibility to the advanced technology and increasing government support for the R&D activities, propel the market growth in the region.

The Asia Pacific cell therapy market is rapidly emerging as a profitable market, globally. Factors such as the support provided by the government and private entities for research & development will drive the market in the region. Moreover, factors such as the vast advancements in biotechnology and cell reconstructive methods are fostering the growth in the regional market. Furthermore, the rapidly growing healthcare sector led by improving economic conditions positively impacts the regional market. Also, developing healthcare technology and the large unmet needs will foster the growth of the market in the region.

GlobalCell TherapyMarket Competitive Analysis

Highly competitive, the cell therapy market appears to be widely expanded and fragmented characterized by several small and large-scale players. To gain a competitive edge and to sustain their position in the market, these players incorporate various strategic initiatives such as partnership, acquisition, collaboration, expansion, and product launch.

The structure of the market is changing due to the acquisition of local players by multinational companies. Because of the increasing competition in the market, multinational companies are using the strategy of acquisition, which increases the profit of the company while significantly reducing the competition.

Industry, Innovation & Related News

March 12, 2019 -Cell Medica Ltd. (the UK), a leading global company engaging in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of cellular immunotherapy products for the treatment of cancer and viral infections announced the receiving of a grant of USD 8.7 MN from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT the US) to accelerate off-the-shelf CAR-NKT cell therapy.

In addition to being available off-the-shelf, the new cell-based therapy CMD-502 uses donor-derived natural killer T-cells to fight cancer and is expected to have a better safety profile than current chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. The therapy is being developed and refined in collaboration with the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM Texas, the US).

Browse Complete Report with TOC athttps://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cell-therapy-market-5066

About Market Research Future:

AtMarket Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

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Market Research Future

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Knowing the Global Cell Therapy Market; MRFR Reveals Insights for 2017 2023 - The Daily Chronicle

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Knowing the Global Cell Therapy Market; MRFR Reveals Insights for 2017 2023 – The Daily Chronicle | August 25th, 2020

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytovia Therapeutics, an emerging biopharmaceutical company and the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research institute today announced the filing of a provisional patent application with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) for the differentiation of Natural Killer (NK) cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The NYSCF Research Institute is a pioneer and acknowledged leader in stem cell technology, having developed the NYSCF Global Stem Cell Array, the premier automated robotic platform for reprogramming skin or blood into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiating them into disease-relevant cell types.

Cytovia and NYSCF are also collaborating on the process development of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) of iPSC NK and CAR-NK cells with the potential to file additional patents on the engineering, expansion and GMP manufacturing processes of iPSC NK cells to treat cancer.

Dr. Daniel Teper, CEO of Cytovia commented, This first patent application filing on iPSC-NK cells is an important milestone for Cytovia, positioning us as a pioneer in this emerging field. The use of iPSC-NK cells constitutes a transformational approach to cancer treatment, enabling the use of precision cell therapy for many patients. Cytovia plans to initiate first clinical trials with iPSC NK-cells in 2021.

Susan L Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of NYSCF added, We are delighted by the progress made by the NYSCF and Cytovia team in the differentiation and expansion of NK cells from an iPSC source. These iPSC-NK cells can be genetically modified to create iPSC-CAR-NK cells. In the coming months, the collaboration will focus on developing a standardized GMP process to support Cytovias iPSC-NK and iPSC-CAR NK therapeutic candidates for cancer.

ABOUT CAR NK CELL THERAPYChimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) are fusion proteins that combine an extracellular antigen recognition domain with an intracellular co-stimulatory signaling domain. Natural Killer (NK) cells are modified genetically to allow insertion of a CAR. CAR-NK cell therapy has demonstrated initial clinical relevance without the limitations of CAR-T, such as Cytokine Release Syndrome, neurotoxicity or Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD). Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) - derived CAR-NKs are naturally allogeneic, available off-the-shelf and may be able to be administered on an outpatient basis. Recent innovative developments with the iPSC, an innovative technology, allow large quantities of homogeneous genetically modified CAR NK cells to be produced from a master cell bank, and thus hold promise to expand access of cell therapy for many patients.

ABOUTTHE NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute is an independent non-profit organization accelerating cures and better treatments for patients through stem cell research. The NYSCF global community includes over 190 researchers at leading institutions worldwide, including the NYSCF Druckenmiller Fellows, the NYSCF Robertson Investigators, the NYSCF Robertson Stem Cell Prize Recipients, and NYSCF Research Institute scientists and engineers. The NYSCF Research Institute is an acknowledged world leader in stem cell research and in the development of pioneering stem cell technologies, including the NYSCF Global Stem Cell Array, which is used to create cell lines for laboratories around the globe. In 2019, NYSCF launched the Womens Reproductive Cancers Initiative, which aims to shift paradigms in the way these cancers are studied and treated, in collaboration with leading cancer experts across the globe. NYSCF focuses on translational research in an accelerator model designed to overcome barriers that slow discovery and replace silos with collaboration. For more information, visitwww.nyscf.org

ABOUT CYTOVIA THERAPEUTICS, INCCytovia Therapeutics Inc is an emerging biotechnology company that aims to accelerate patient access to transformational immunotherapies, addressing several of the most challenging unmet medical needs in cancer and severe acute infectious diseases. Cytovia focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cell biology and is leveraging multiple advanced patented technologies, including an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform for CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptors) NK cell therapy, next-generation precision gene-editing to enhance targeting of NK cells, and NK engager multi-functional antibodies. Our initial product portfolio focuses on both hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma and solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma and glioblastoma. The company partners with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and CytoImmune Therapeutics. Learn more atwww.cytoviatx.com

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Cytovia Therapeutics and NYSCF Announce Filing of Provisional Patent for iPSC-Derived NK Cells to Produce Unlimited On-Demand NK and CAR-NK Cells for...

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cytovia Therapeutics and NYSCF Announce Filing of Provisional Patent for iPSC-Derived NK Cells to Produce Unlimited On-Demand NK and CAR-NK Cells for… | August 25th, 2020

Transparency Market Research (TMR)has published a new report titled, Autologous cell therapy Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20192027. According to the report, the globalautologous cell therapy marketwas valued atUS$ 7.5 Bnin2018and is projected to expand at a CAGR of18.1%from2019to2027.

Get PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) :https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=715

Overview

Rise in Prevalence of Neurological Disorders & Cancer and Others to Drive Market

REQUEST FOR COVID19 IMPACT ANALYSIS https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=715

Bone Marrow Segment to Dominate Market

Neurology Segment to be Highly Lucrative Segment

Hospitals Segment to be Highly Lucrative Segment

North America to Dominate Global Market

Competitive Landscape

Read our Case study at :https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/casestudies/innovative-medical-device-manufacturing-start-up

The global autologous cell therapy market has been segmented as follows:

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Autologous Cell Therapy Market Along With Covid-19 Impact Analysis and Business Opportunities Outlook 2027 - Scientect

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Autologous Cell Therapy Market Along With Covid-19 Impact Analysis and Business Opportunities Outlook 2027 – Scientect | August 25th, 2020

Despite significant progress in treating cancer in recent years, the need for further improvements has persisted particularly for some of the most challenging forms of the disease, such as lung cancer. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, and is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.

The majority of lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a complex disease that can affect each patient differently. Most cases of NSCLC are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced meaning it has metastasized or spread which can make it more challenging to treat.

The impact of lung cancer, and advanced NSCLC in particular, continues to be felt across our communities, explained Andrea Ferris, president and chairman of LUNGevity Foundation. While every persons experience with the disease is unique, many patients hope they can retain a sense of normalcy in their lives and are seeking more treatment options that offer a chance at a longer life.

Research Driving New Progress for Certain Patients

Researchers have accelerated their pursuit of new and differentiated approaches that address this critical unmet need, focusing on options that may offer patients a chance at a longer life. One area of research that has shown potential is combining treatments, such as immunotherapies, for certain patients with previously untreated advanced disease.

Hossein Borghaei, D.O., chief of thoracic medical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia explains, Progress in treating advanced lung cancer has led to more options for patients with newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC. Some of the most recent developments in the field of immunotherapy are particularly exciting.

One example is the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of the first and only dual immunotherapy approach for newly diagnosed patients. Opdivo (nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab) for adults with advanced stage NSCLC that has spread to other parts of your body (metastatic) and tests positive for PD-L1 and do not have an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene.

Opdivo can cause problems that can sometimes become serious or life threatening and can lead to death. Serious side effects may include lung problems (pneumonitis); intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine; liver problems (hepatitis); hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas); kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure; skin problems; inflammation of the brain (encephalitis); problems in other organs; and severe infusion reactions; and complications of stem-cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). Additional serious side effects of Yervoy alone include: nerve problems that can lead to paralysis; eye problems; and complications of stem-cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). Please see Important Facts about side effects for Opdivo and Yervoy below.

Opdivo and Yervoy work with your immune system to help fight cancer in two ways. Yervoy stimulates the kind of cells that help fight cancer, while Opdivo may help these cells to find and fight the cancer cells again. While doing so, Opdivo and Yervoy can also affect healthy cells. These problems can sometimes become serious or life threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after treatment has ended. Some of these problems may happen more often when Opdivo is used in combination with Yervoy.

Clinical Trial Findings: A Chance to Live Longer

Opdivo + Yervoy was studied in a clinical trial and compared to platinum-based chemotherapy among certain patients with previously untreated, advanced NSCLC that tested positive for PD-L1.

In the trial, 396 patients received Opdivo + Yervoy and 397 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients who were treated with Opdivo + Yervoy lived longer than those treated with platinum-based chemotherapy:

In the trial, 396 patients received Opdivo + Yervoy and 397 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients who were treated with Opdivo + Yervoy lived longer than those treated with platinum-based chemotherapy:

An additional analysis showed:

The data supporting this dual immunotherapy approach are encouraging, particularly as one third of the patients who responded to treatment with Opdivo + Yervoy were still alive at three years, said Dr. Borghaei. Further, Opdivo + Yervoy offers a non-chemotherapy option, which can be important to some patients.

The most common side effects of Opdivo, when used in combination with Yervoy, include: feeling tired; diarrhea; rash; itching; nausea; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; fever; cough; decreased appetite; vomiting; stomach-area (abdominal) pain; shortness of breath; upper respiratory tract infection; headache; low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism); decreased weight; and dizziness. Please see Important Facts about side effects for Opdivo and Yervoy below.

Evolving Outlooks and Adapting Support for Patients

Facing a lung cancer diagnosis and beginning treatment can be life-altering in many ways and todays unique environment as a result of the coronavirus has brought about additional considerations for patients, caregivers and the broader healthcare community, with telemedicine and other forms of remote support playing an increasingly vital role.

Patients should know there are resources available and ways to stay connected, even during times when maintaining physical distance from others is important, said Ferris. We have transformed many of our patient support and education offerings into virtual formats, which we are updating frequently to provide the most recent information and reach and connect as many people as possible.

Dr. Borghaei also urges patients to reach out to their doctor or care team to learn about and take advantage of available remote support offerings. Advances in cancer research are still happening every day, with Opdivo + Yervoy being one example. Its as important as ever that people diagnosed with lung cancer speak with their doctor to fully understand their treatment options. While how we deliver care might look different now in some ways, our commitment to helping patients live longer hasnt changed.

To learn more about Opdivo + Yervoy, please visit http://www.Opdivo.com.

INDICATION

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab) as a first treatment for adults with a type of advanced stage lung cancer (called non-small cell lung cancer) when your lung cancer has spread to other parts of your body (metastatic) and your tumors are positive for PD-L1, but do not have an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene.

It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 18 years of age.

OPDIVO (10 mg/mL) and YERVOY (5 mg/mL) are injections for intravenous (IV) use.

ImportantSafetyInformationforOPDIVO(nivolumab) + YERVOY (ipilimumab)

OPDIVO is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. OPDIVO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. Some of these problems may happen more often when OPDIVO is used in combination with YERVOY.

YERVOY can cause serious side effects in many parts of your body which can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment with YERVOY or after you have completed treatment.

Serious side effects may include:Lung problems (pneumonitis). Symptoms of pneumonitis may include: new or worsening cough; chest pain; and shortness of breath. Intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine. Signs and symptoms of colitis may include: diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual; blood in your stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools; and severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness. Liver problems (hepatitis). Signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); drowsiness; dark urine (tea colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal; feeling less hungry than usual; and decreased energy.Hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas). Signs and symptoms that your hormone glands are not working properly may include: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; voice gets deeper; and excessive thirst or lots of urine. Kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure.Signs of kidney problems may include: decrease in the amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; and loss of appetite. Skin problems.Signs of these problems may include: rash; itching; skin blistering; and ulcers in the mouth or other mucous membranes. Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Signs and symptoms of encephalitis may include: headache; fever; tiredness or weakness; confusion; memory problems; sleepiness; seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations); seizures; and stiff neck. Problems in other organs. Signs of these problems may include: changes in eyesight; severe or persistent muscle or joint pains; severe muscle weakness; and chest pain.

Additional serious side effects observed during a separate study of YERVOY alone include: Nerve problems that can lead to paralysis. Symptoms of nerve problems may include: unusual weakness of legs, arms, or face; and numbness or tingling in hands or feet. Eye problems.Symptoms may include: blurry vision, double vision, or other vision problems; and eye pain or redness.

Get medical help immediatelyif you develop any of these symptoms or they get worse. It may keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for side effects during treatment and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. If you have a serious side effect, your healthcare team may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment.

OPDIVO and OPDIVO + YERVOY can cause serious side effects, including: Severe infusion reactions. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; difficulty breathing; dizziness; fever; and feeling like passing out.Graft-versus-host disease, a complication that can happen after receiving a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic), may be severe, and can lead to death, if you receive YERVOY either before or after transplant. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for the following signs and symptoms: skin rash, liver inflammation, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, and diarrhea.

Pregnancy and Nursing: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. OPDIVO and YERVOY can harm your unborn baby. If you are a female who is able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start receiving OPDIVO. Females who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control duringtreatmentand for at least 5 months after the last dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment. You or your healthcare provider should contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-800-721-5072 as soon as you become aware of the pregnancy. Pregnancy Safety Surveillance Study: Females who become pregnant during treatment with YERVOY are encouraged to enroll in a Pregnancy Safety Surveillance Study. The purpose of this study is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. You or your healthcare provider can enroll in the Pregnancy Safety Surveillance Study by calling 1-844-593-7869. Before receiving treatment, tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if either treatment passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose.

Tell your healthcare provider about: Your health problems or concerns if you: have immune system problems such as autoimmune disease, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, or sarcoidosis; have had an organ transplant; have lung or breathing problems; have liver problems; or have any other medical conditions. All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of OPDIVO, when used in combination with YERVOY, include: feeling tired; diarrhea; rash; itching; nausea; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; fever; cough; decreased appetite; vomiting; stomach-area (abdominal) pain; shortness of breath; upper respiratory tract infection;headache; low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism); decreased weight; and dizziness.

These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatchor call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide forOPDIVO and YERVOY.

2020 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

OPDIVO and YERVOY are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

7356US2001251-01 08/20

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The Science of Survival: Evolving Research in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - Reuters

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on The Science of Survival: Evolving Research in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer – Reuters | August 25th, 2020

Much like vitamin C, retinol (or retinoids, retinoic acid, or Retin-A), is a favorite ingredient for skin care professionals thanks to its renowned efficacy. It also works to help even skin tone twofold.

First up: Retinol spurs collagen production: "Retinol binds to retinoid receptors within skin cells," says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. This "activates genes that upregulate collagen production."

Second, it also increases cell turnover at the cellular level. "Besides stimulating production of new collagen, retinol enhances cell turnover," says Zeichner. "This means it sheds dead and damaged cells that make the skin look dull." And while retinol thickens the lower layers of the skin, he says, it thins out the top layer (the stratum corneum), which creates a dewy glow.

Retinol, however, tends to have less tolerability, although modern formulas are usually more gentle and sophisticated. Adding one to your routine usually takes an adjustment period where the skin may experience peeling, flaking, redness, and dryness. Some with highly sensitive skin are never fully able to tolerate the ingredient, while others will do so quickly.

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From Good Housekeeping

Mary Kay, the mega-famous beauty company founded in 1963 by entrepreneur Mary Kay Ash, has earned its stripes with its devoted fan base thanks, in part, to its effective formulas. Not only does the company known for its iconic pink Cadillacs invest millions in research and testing, but the brand has at least 1,500 patents.

Three particular areas where the brand shines are anti-aging products, moisturizing formulas, and bold cosmetics. Below were sharing the products in those categories that any MK devotee will tell you is a must-shop, whether youre looking to expand your collection or start a stash from scratch.

If youre battling dryness, genetics, the weather, and even soaking too long in a hot bath can be to blame. But regardless of the cause ask your derm what they think the culprit is for you these three wonders will come to the rescue with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, and squalane. And the clincher? The brands high-tech formulations will help your skin stay hydrated.

Mary Kay Hydrogel Eye Patches, pk./30 pairs, $40

These pretty pink patches are the perfect slip-on fix any time your eyes could use a moisture boost. According to an independent consumer study of 157 people, these patches, loaded with the humectant glycerin, boosted skin hydration upon application. Translation: youll see the effects right away. They leave the delicate eyelid skin feeling cool and soothed, and can help reduce the look of puffiness and dullness.

Mary Kay White Tea & Citrus Satin Body Whipped Shea Crme, $22

This cream is luxe. Loaded with shea and mango butter and sunflower and apricot kernel oil, it feels unbelievably smooth and creamy and, based on biophysical testing, was proven to moisturize for 24 hours. The light, energizing scent? Thats just a bonus.

Mary Kay Naturally Nourishing Oil, $48

We love this oil not only for the hydrators it contains (squalane, sweet almond oil, sesame oil, and olive oil) but what it doesnt (parabens and synthetic dyes and fragrances). Glide it on your face, elbows, cuticles, the ends of your hair, or wherever you need an extra dose of moisture for instant relief.

Turning back the clock is all about lifting and firming to blur and soften lines while protecting the skin from collagen-depleting damage. And this is an area where MKs science-backed, award-winning family of anti-aging products shines. Read on for some of the stand-outs in the range.

Mary Kay TimeWise Miracle Set 3D, $110

If youre looking for an all-in-one skin-perfecting system, well, here you go. This set (which comes in normal/dry and combination/oily versions) contains a cleanser, SPF day cream, night cream, and eye cream, all packed with encapsulated resveratrol, vitamin B3, and peptides to both treat existing signs of aging and protect the skin against free radicals that can cause further signs of aging. And the combination is effective in a 12-week independent clinical study, participants found that there was a visible improvement of multiple signs of aging in just four weeks, with more results coming after prolonged use.

Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Lifting Bio-Cellulose Mask, $70 (pack of four)

Use this Korean beauty-inspired sheet mask just once for 20 to 30 minutes to help boost the radiance of your complexion. Use it twice weekly for 14 days and youll get visibly firmer and more lifted skin, according to clinical trials. You can address your thank you note to the blend of oat kernel extract, orchid extract, and skin-conditioning sodium hyaluronate and the plant-based bio-cellulose material that helps all that goodness absorb into the skin.

Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Advanced Lifting Serum, $70

The serum was formulated to enhance what the brand dubbed the triangle of youth, meaning full cheeks, a defined jawline, and a taut neck. If the ingredients sound fancy peptides, plant stem cells derived from gotu kola, and alpinia galanga leaf and schisandra extracts thats because they are. They were specifically chosen to support your skins hyaluronic acid, elastin, and collagen levels, which are required for the firm, bouncy skin associated with youth.

Getting all done-up doesnt have to be a big production. By choosing the right high-performing products, you can make a major impact with a just few must-haves. Thats why weve selected these three Mary Kay products as your makeup MVPs they work. Theres a pigment-packed liquid shadow, a high-shine lip gloss, and a volumizing mascara, each clocking in under $20.

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Mary Kay Unlimited Lip Gloss, $16

With a shine thats out of this world and a formula thats intensely moisturizing (due to patent-pending technology), this brand new non-sticky gloss is a statement lip in the making. Oh, and it comes in 14 shades and three finishes (cream, pearl, and shimmer), so theres one to fit every mood.

Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara, $15

Ultimate, indeed. When you want LASHES in all caps, this is the mascara to reach for. This ultra-thickening, smooth formula manages to give major volume without flaking, smudging, or clumping. Its also ophthalmologist-tested to ensure that its suitable for contact lens wearers and people with sensitive eyes, so everyone can swipe safely.

Mary Kay Liquid Eye Shadow, $14

All four of the light-catching celestial-inspired shades (Pink Starlight, Light Beam, Purple Nova, and Meteor Shower) of this creamy shadow are packed with pigment for a rich pop of color, but they feel weightless on your lids. Even better: The formula is blendable, so you can sweep on with the doe foot applicator and sheer out with your finger when youre going for a more subdued look.

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Your Ultimate Guide to Shopping Some of the Best Mary Kay Products - Yahoo Canada Shine On

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This article was originally published here

Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2020 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s12015-020-10033-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic clinical and preclinical studies using cultured cells are on the rise, especially now that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a public health emergency of international concern, in January, 2020. Thus, this study aims to review the outcomes of ongoing clinical studies on stem cells in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The results will be associated with possible applications to COVID-19. Only three clinical trials related to stem cells are considered complete, whereby two are in Phase 1 and one is in Phase 2. Basically, the ongoing studies on coronavirus are using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow or the umbilical cord to demonstrate their feasibility, safety, and tolerability. The studies not related to coronavirus are all in ARDS conditions; four of them are in Phase 1 and three in Phase 2. With the COVID-19 boom, many clinical trials are being carried out using different sources with an emphasis on MSC-based therapy used to inhibit inflammation. One of the biggest challenges in the current treatment of COVID-19 is the cytokine storm, however MSCs can prevent or mitigate this cytokine storm through their immunomodulatory capacity. We look forward to the results of the ongoing clinical trials to find a treatment for the disease. Researchers around the world are joining forces to help fight COVID-19. Stem cells used in the current clinical studies are a new therapeutic promise for COVID-19 where pharmacological treatments seem insufficient.Graphical Abstract.

PMID:32827081 | DOI:10.1007/s12015-020-10033-6

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Review of Trials Currently Testing Stem Cells for Treatment of Respiratory Diseases: Facts Known to Date and Possible Applications to COVID-19 -...

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Review of Trials Currently Testing Stem Cells for Treatment of Respiratory Diseases: Facts Known to Date and Possible Applications to COVID-19 -… | August 24th, 2020

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is composed of three layers: epidermis-the outermost layer; dermis-contains sweat glands, hair follicles and connective tissue and hypodermis-made up of fat and connective tissue. The main functions of the skin includes protection, sensation and regulation. The skin acts as a barrier and provides protection against harmful chemicals, radiation, microorganism and changing environmental conditions. It also helps regulate body temperature and maintain fluid balance. Skin is an extensive network of nerve cells and contains various receptors to detect changes in the environment such as touch, pain, heat and cold. Damage to skin due to burn or trauma can disrupt all the vital functions performed by the skin.

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Currently, topical antibiotics, skin grafting, wound dressings and tissue-engineered substitutes are available in the market that are used to treat skin-related disorders. A skin graft can be done by natural substitute such as amniotic membrane, potato peel or artificial material that includes synthetic polymer sheet, polymer foam or spray. These substitute helps in the healing process. Skin regeneration refers to the regrowth of the damaged skin from the remaining tissue. Stem cell therapy has a vital application in skin regeneration.

Dermal regeneration matrix device provides an appropriate environment that is necessary for the proliferation and differentiation of skin cells. It helps in triggering the bodys own repair mechanism by cell signaling, that drive the matrix environment in wound healing process. Dermal regeneration matrix device is used to treat skin burns and is also finds application in reconstructive surgery for contractures (scars). The dermal regeneration matrix device is placed over the damaged skin which provides an environment for regeneration of new skin and tissue. The matrix is made of cow collagen, silicone and shark cartilage.

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In 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved integra dermal regeneration matrix device for treatment of burn injuries. In 2002, dermal regeneration matrix device was approved for use in reconstructive surgery for burn scars. About 30 million people in the U.S. are suffering from diabetes, of which 15% experience a diabetic foot ulcer in their lifetime. In January 2016, FDA approved the use of dermal regeneration matrix for treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The usage of dermal regeneration matrix device is expected to expand the growth of dermal regeneration matrix device owing to increase usage in chronic foot ulcer.

Technological advancement and continued research in the development of artificial skin promises to bring more products to the marketplace. Increasing adoption of the device and long-term benefits associated with its application are some of the factors expected to fuel growth of the global dermal regeneration matrix device market over the forecast period. However, less awareness among the consumers and high cost of device are some of the key factors that could hamper growth of the market.

The global dermal regeneration matrix device is segmented on the basis of source, application, end user and geography.

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On the basis of source, the global dermal regeneration matrix device market is segmented into cow collagen, silicone and shark cartilage. On the basis of end user, the global dermal regeneration matrix device market is segmented into hospitals and dermatology centers. The hospital segment is expected to contribute significantly to the total market in terms of market share. According to World Health Organization, over 265,000 deaths are caused due to burns each year. The majority of the burn cases occur in low and middle-income countries. Injuries such as traffic collisions, falls, burns, drowning, poisoning and others are expected to kills around five million people worldwide. Thus, the demand for dermal regeneration growth matrix is expected to be high in the low and middle-income countries over the forecast period.

On the basis of region, the global dermal regeneration matrix device market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa.

Some of the major players in the global dermal regeneration matrix device market include

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To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.

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Global Dermal Regeneration Matrix Device Market to Witness Stellar CAGR During the Forecast Period - The News Brok

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Not all eye creams are made the same. Heres how to choose the best one for everything youre looking to fix.

Picture this: Youve been staying up late from all the Netflix bingeing and it shows with the heavy eye bags youre carrying under your peepers. You slap on some eye cream thats gotten rave reviews online, only to find that it doesnt help reduce those bags at all. What gives?

The key here is to read the fine print: Specifically, the ingredients list. No, were not asking you to check out which ingredients you might be sensitive to. In fact, the key ingredients in your eye cream actually play a big factor in determining which eye care woes youd like to solve.

Allow us to elucidate.

Fine lines and crows feet around the eye area are, unfortunately, where the first signs of ageing appear. Chalk it up to the skin around the eye area being the thinnest. It also doesnt help that youre probably tugging and pulling at your eyes more than you should putting on contact lenses, drawing your eyeliner, and even the act of removing your eye makeup contributes to this.

If you want to alleviate or diminish fine lines around the eye area, youll want to pick an eye cream that has retinol or peptides, as well as hyaluronic acid in it.

Retinol, as you may already know, is a super ingredient perfect for anti-ageing. The Vitamin A derivative helps increase collagen production and cell turnover rate, though have a bad rap of sensitising skin and making it susceptible to irritation (especially if youve just started using it). Peptides are arguably less invasive, and also do the job of helping your skin create collagen, though some researchers say its effects are much milder. As for hyaluronic acid, it helps plump skin with hydration, which will help fill out those wrinkles.

There are many reasons why you have dark eye circles. It could be hereditary or an underlying health condition both of which you should probably consult a doctor about. But if your dark eye circles stem from a bad lifestyle and lack of sleep, we might be able to help you out. The best eye cream you need to look out for should contain Vitamin C, niacinamide, liquorice, kojic acid, or retinol.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and having it in your skincare will help protect skin cells from free radicals caused by UV exposure. In eye creams, Vitamin C will hinder melanin production while lightening pigmentation and brown spots. Your dark eye circles will eventually be evened out with a more radiant outlook. Niacinamide is typically great for blemishes as it controls sebum production in the skin. It also works to reduce hyper-pigmentation and bolsters your skins ceramide production, meaning it helps even out and protect the skins barrier function. In eye creams, this hero ingredient will help improve uneven skin tone.

For those who want a plant-derivative option, liquorice or liquorice root is a popular all-natural option to lighten skin that has gone through sun damage. Thanks to the Glabridin compound in liquorice, any eye cream with this ingredient will also have UV-blocking enzymes to protect against future damages. Similarly, kojic acid also helps to lighten sun-damaged skin, as well as age spots and scars.

Are puffy eyes the bane of your existence? Do people always give you a concerned look and ask if youve been crying? Weve got the solution for you. The best eye cream you can get to remedy this problem is one that contains caffeine.

Caffeine, as you already know, is a diuretic, which increases the excretion of water from bodies. Most eye creams that have caffeine in it claims to help awaken your eyes, but what it actually does is to relieve water retention from your eyes, a common cause of puffiness. It also helps with certain types of dark eye circles by reducing the build-up of blood which causes the dark discolouration under your eyes. For that all-important de-puffing function, youll want to look for ingredients that target skin elasticity and water retention.

(Header image credit: Hadi Safari/Unsplash)

This article was first published on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur.

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How to choose the right eye cream to target your skin concerns - Lifestyle Asia

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When Ralph Fisher,a Texas cattle rancher, set eyes on one of the worlds first cloned calves in August 1999, he didnt care what the scientists said: He knew it was his old Brahman bull, Chance, born again. About a year earlier, veterinarians at Texas A&M extracted DNA from one of Chances moles and used the sample to create a genetic double. Chance didnt live to meet his second self, but when the calf was born, Fisher christened him Second Chance, convinced he was the same animal.

Scientists cautioned Fisher that clones are more like twins than carbon copies: The two may act or even look different from one another. But as far as Fisher was concerned, Second Chance was Chance. Not only did they look identical from a certain distance, they behaved the same way as well. They ate with the same odd mannerisms; laid in the same spot in the yard. But in 2003, Second Chance attacked Fisher and tried to gore him with his horns. About 18 months later, the bull tossed Fisher into the air like an inconvenience and rammed him into the fence. Despite 80 stitches and a torn scrotum, Fisher resisted the idea that Second Chance was unlike his tame namesake,telling the radio program This American Life that I forgive him, you know?

In the two decades since Second Chance marked a genetic engineering milestone, cattle have secured a place on the front lines of biotechnology research. Today, scientists around the world are using cutting-edge technologies, fromsubcutaneous biosensorstospecialized food supplements, in an effort to improve safety and efficiency within the$385 billion global cattle meat industry. Beyond boosting profits, their efforts are driven by an imminent climate crisis, in which cattle play a significant role, and growing concern for livestock welfare among consumers.

Gene editing stands out as the most revolutionary of these technologies. Although gene-edited cattle have yet to be granted approval for human consumption, researchers say tools like Crispr-Cas9 could let them improve on conventional breeding practices and create cows that are healthier, meatier, and less detrimental to the environment. Cows are also beinggiven genesfrom the human immune system to create antibodies in the fight against Covid-19. (The genes of non-bovine livestock such as pigs and goats, meanwhile, have been hacked togrow transplantable human organsandproduce cancer drugs in their milk.)

But some experts worry biotech cattle may never make it out of the barn. For one thing, theres the optics issue: Gene editing tends to grab headlines for its role in controversial research and biotech blunders. Crispr-Cas9 is often celebrated for its potential to alter the blueprint of life, but that enormous promise can become a liability in the hands of rogue and unscrupulous researchers, tempting regulatory agencies to toughen restrictions on the technologys use. And its unclear how eager the public will be to buy beef from gene-edited animals. So the question isnt just if the technology will work in developing supercharged cattle, but whether consumers and regulators will support it.

Cattle are catalysts for climate change. Livestockaccount for an estimated 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, of which cattle are responsible for about two thirds, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). One simple way to address the issue is to eat less meat. But meat consumption is expected to increasealong with global population and average income. A 2012reportby the FAO projected that meat production will increase by 76 percent by 2050, as beef consumption increases by 1.2 percent annually. And the United States isprojected to set a recordfor beef production in 2021, according to the Department of Agriculture.

For Alison Van Eenennaam, an animal geneticist at the University of California, Davis, part of the answer is creating more efficient cattle that rely on fewer resources. According to Van Eenennaam, the number of dairy cows in the United Statesdecreasedfrom around 25 million in the 1940s to around 9 million in 2007, while milk production has increased by nearly 60 percent. Van Eenennaam credits this boost in productivity to conventional selective breeding.

You dont need to be a rocket scientist or even a mathematician to figure out that the environmental footprint or the greenhouse gases associated with a glass of milk today is about one-third of that associated with a glass of milk in the 1940s, she says. Anything you can do to accelerate the rate of conventional breeding is going to reduce the environmental footprint of a glass of milk or a pound of meat.

Modern gene-editing tools may fuel that acceleration. By making precise cuts to DNA, geneticists insert or remove naturally occurring genes associated with specific traits. Some experts insist that gene editing has the potential to spark a new food revolution.

Jon Oatley, a reproductive biologist at Washington State University, wants to use Crispr-Cas9 to fine tune the genetic code of rugged, disease-resistant, and heat-tolerant bulls that have been bred to thrive on the open range. By disabling a gene called NANOS2, he says he aims to eliminate the capacity for a bull to make his own sperm, turning the recipient into a surrogate for sperm-producing stem cells from more productive prized stock. These surrogate sires, equipped with sperm from prize bulls, would then be released into range herds that are often genetically isolated and difficult to access, and the premium genes would then be transmitted to their offspring.

Furthermore, surrogate sires would enable ranchers to introduce desired traits without having to wrangle their herd into one place for artificial insemination, says Oatley. He envisions the gene-edited bulls serving herds in tropical regions like Brazil, the worldslargestbeef exporter and home to around 200 million of the approximately 1.5 billion head of cattle on Earth.

Brazils herds are dominated by Nelore, a hardy breed that lacks the carcass and meat quality of breeds like Angus but can withstand high heat and humidity. Put an Angus bull on a tropical pasture and hes probably going to last maybe a month before he succumbs to the environment, says Oatley, while a Nelore bull carrying Angus sperm would have no problem with the climate.

The goal, according to Oatley, is to introduce genes from beefier bulls into these less efficient herds, increasing their productivity and decreasing their overall impact on the environment. We have shrinking resources, he says, and need new, innovative strategies for making those limited resources last.

Oatley has demonstrated his technique in mice but faces challenges with livestock. For starters, disabling NANOS2 does not definitively prevent the surrogate bull from producing some of its own sperm. And while Oatley has shown he can transplant sperm-producing cells into surrogate livestock, researchers have not yet published evidence showing that the surrogatesproduceenough quality sperm to support natural fertilization. How many cells will you need to make this bull actually fertile? asks Ina Dobrinski, a reproductive biologist at the University of Calgary who helped pioneer germ cell transplantation in large animals.

But Oatleys greatest challenge may be one shared with others in the bioengineered cattle industry: overcoming regulatory restrictions and societal suspicion. Surrogate sires would be classified as gene-edited animals by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning theyd face a rigorous approval process before their offspring could be sold for human consumption. But Oatley maintains that if his method is successful, the sperm itself would not be gene-edited, nor would the resulting offspring. The only gene-edited specimens would be the surrogate sires, which act like vessels in which the elite sperm travel.

Even so, says Dobrinski, Thats a very detailed difference and Im not sure how that will work with regulatory and consumer acceptance.

In fact, American attitudes towards gene editing have been generally positive when the modification is in the interest of animal welfare. Many dairy farmers prefer hornless cows horns can inflict damage when wielded by 1,500-pound animals so they often burn them off in apainful processusing corrosive chemicals and scalding irons. Ina study published last yearin the journal PLOS One, researchers found that most Americans are willing to consume food products from cows genetically modified to be hornless.

Still, experts say several high-profile gene-editing failures in livestock andhumansin recent years may lead consumers to consider new biotechnologies to be dangerous and unwieldy.

In 2014, a Minnesota startup called Recombinetics, a company with which Van Eenennaams lab has collaborated, created a pair of cross-bred Holstein bulls using the gene-editing tool TALENs, a precursor to Crispr-Cas9, making cuts to the bovine DNA and altering the genes to prevent the bulls from growing horns. Holstein cattle, which almost always carry horned genes, are highly productive dairy cows, so using conventional breeding to introduce hornless genes from less productive breeds can compromise the Holsteins productivity. Gene editing offered a chance to introduce only the genes Recombinetics wanted. Their hope was to use this experiment to prove that milk from the bulls female progeny was nutritionally equivalent to milk from non-edited stock. Such results could inform future efforts to make Holsteins hornless but no less productive.

The experiment seemed to work. In 2015, Buri and Spotigy were born. Over the next few years, the breakthrough received widespread media coverage, and when Buris hornless descendant graced thecover of Wired magazine in April 2019, it did so as the ostensible face of the livestock industrys future.

But early last year, a bioinformatician at the FDA ran a test on Buris genome and discovered an unexpected sliver of genetic code that didnt belong. Traces of bacterial DNA called a plasmid, which Recombinetics used to edit the bulls genome, had stayed behind in the editing process, carrying genes linked to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. After the agency publishedits findings, the media reaction was swift and fierce: FDA finds a surprise in gene-edited cattle: antibiotic-resistant, non-bovine DNA,readone headline. Part cow, part bacterium?readanother.

Recombinetics has since insisted that the leftover plasmid DNA was likely harmless and stressed that this sort of genetic slipup is not uncommon.

Is there any risk with the plasmid? I would say theres none, says Tad Sonstegard, president and CEO of Acceligen, a Recombinetics subsidiary. We eat plasmids all the time, and were filled with microorganisms in our body that have plasmids. In hindsight, Sonstegard says his teams only mistake was not properly screening for the plasmid to begin with.

While the presence of antibiotic-resistant plasmid genes in beef probably does not pose a direct threat to consumers, according to Jennifer Kuzma, a professor of science and technology policy and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, it does raise the possible risk of introducing antibiotic-resistant genes into the microflora of peoples digestive systems. Although unlikely, organisms in the gut could integrate those genes into their own DNA and, as a result, proliferate antibiotic resistance, making it more difficult to fight off bacterial diseases.

The lesson that I think is learned there is that science is never 100 percent certain, and that when youre doing a risk assessment, having some humility in your technology product is important, because you never know what youre going to discover further down the road, she says. In the case of Recombinetics. I dont think there was any ill intent on the part of the researchers, but sometimes being very optimistic about your technology and enthusiastic about it causes you to have blinders on when it comes to risk assessment.

The FDA eventually clarified its results, insisting that the study was meant only to publicize the presence of the plasmid, not to suggest the bacterial DNA was necessarily dangerous. Nonetheless, the damage was done. As a result of the blunder,a plan was quashedforRecombinetics to raise an experimental herd in Brazil.

Backlash to the FDA study exposed a fundamental disagreement between the agency and livestock biotechnologists. Scientists like Van Eenennaam, who in 2017 received a $500,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture to study Buris progeny, disagree with the FDAs strict regulatory approach to gene-edited animals. Typical GMOs aretransgenic, meaning they have genes from multiple different species, but modern gene-editing techniques allow scientists to stay roughly within the confines of conventional breeding, adding and removing traits that naturally occur within the species.

That said, gene editing is not yet free from errors and sometimes intended changes result in unintended alterations, notes Heather Lombardi, division director of animal bioengineering and cellular therapies at the FDAs Center for Veterinary Medicine. For that reason, the FDA remains cautious.

Theres a lot out there that I think is still unknown in terms of unintended consequences associated with using genome-editing technology, says Lombardi. Were just trying to get an understanding of what the potential impact is, if any, on safety.

Bhanu Telugu, an animal scientist at the University of Maryland and president and chief science officer at the agriculture technology startup RenOVAte Biosciences, worries that biotech companies willmigrate their experimentsto countries with looser regulatory environments. Perhaps more pressingly, he says strict regulation requiring long and expensive approval processes may incentivize these companies to work only on traits that are most profitable, rather than those that may have the greatest benefit for livestock and society, such as animal well-being and the environment.

What company would be willing to spend $20 million on potentially alleviating heat stress at this point? he asks.

On a windywinter afternoon, Raluca Mateescu leaned against a fence post at the University of Floridas Beef Teaching Unit while a Brahman heifer sniffed inquisitively at the air and reached out its tongue in search of unseen food. Since 2017, Mateescu, an animal geneticist at the university, has been part of a team studying heat and humidity tolerance in breeds like Brahman and Brangus (a mix between Brahman and Angus cattle). Her aim is to identify the genetic markers that contribute to a breeds climate resilience, markers that might lead to more precise breeding and gene-editing practices.

In the South, Mateescu says, heat and humidity are a major problem. That poses a stress to the animals because theyre selected for intense production to produce milk or grow fast and produce a lot of muscle and fat.

Like Nelore cattle in South America, Brahman are well-suited for tropical and subtropical climates, but their high tolerance for heat and humidity comes at the cost of lower meat quality than other breeds. Mateescu and her team have examined skin biopsies and found that relatively large sweat glands allow Brahman to better regulate their internal body temperature. With funding from the USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the researchers now plan to identify specific genetic markers that correlate with tolerance to tropical conditions.

If were selecting for animals that produce more without having a way to cool off, were going to run into trouble, she says.

There are other avenues in biotechnology beyond gene editing that may help reduce the cattle industrys footprint. Although still early in their development,lab-cultured meatsmay someday undermine todays beef producers by offering consumers an affordable alternative to the conventionally grown product, without the animal welfare and environmental concerns that arise from eating beef harvested from a carcass.

Other biotech techniques hope to improve the beef industry without displacing it. In Switzerland, scientists at a startup called Mootral areexperimenting with a garlic-based food supplementdesigned to alter the bovine digestive makeup to reduce the amount of methane they emit. Studies have shown the product to reduce methane emissions by about 20 percent in meat cattle, according to The New York Times.

In order to adhere to the Paris climate agreement, Mootrals owner, Thomas Hafner, believes demand will grow as governments require methane reductions from their livestock producers. We are working from the assumption that down the line every cow will be regulated to be on a methane reducer, he told The New York Times.

Meanwhile, a farm science research institute in New Zealand, AgResearch, hopes to target methane production at its source by eliminating methanogens, the microbes thought to be responsible for producing the greenhouse gas in ruminants. The AgResearch team isattempting to developa vaccine to alter the cattle guts microbial composition, according to the BBC.

Genomic testing may also allow cattle producers to see what genes calves carry before theyre born, according to Mateescu, enabling producers to make smarter breeding decisions and select for the most desirable traits, whether it be heat tolerance, disease resistance, or carcass weight.

Despite all these efforts, questions remain as to whether biotech can ever dramatically reduce the industrys emissions or afford humane treatment to captive animals in resource-intensive operations. To many of the industrys critics, including environmental and animal rights activists, the very nature of the practice of rearing livestock for human consumption erodes the noble goal of sustainable food production. Rather than revamp the industry, these critics suggest alternatives such as meat-free diets to fulfill our need for protein. Indeed,data suggestsmany young consumers are already incorporating plant-based meats into their meals.

Ultimately, though, climate change may be the most pressing issue facing the cattle industry, according to Telugu of the University of Maryland, which received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve productivity and adaptability in African cattle. We cannot breed our way out of this, he says.

Dyllan Furness is a Florida-based science and technology journalist. His work has appeared in Quartz, OneZero, and PBS, among other outlets. Follow him on Twitter @dyllonline

This article was originally published at Undark and has been republished here with permission. Follow Undark on Twitter @undarkmag

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Researchers have created, for the first time, a miniature human heart model in the laboratory.

The mini-hearts are complete with all primary heart cell types and a functioning structure of chambers and vascular tissue.

The organoids are small models of the fetal heart with representative functional and structural features. They are, however, not as perfect as a human heart yet. That is something we are working toward.

These mini-hearts constitute incredibly powerful models in which to study all kinds of cardiac disorders with a degree of precision unseen before, says Aitor Aguirre, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Michigan State Universitys Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering and senior author of the study on the work on the bioRxiv preprint server. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death.

The researchers created the human heart organoids, or hHOs for short,by way of a novel stem cell framework that mimics the embryonic and fetal developmental environments.

Organoidsmeaning resembling an organare self-assembling 3D cell constructs that recapitulate organ properties and structure to a significant extent, says first author Yonatan Israeli, a graduate student in Aguirres lab.

The innovation deploys a bioengineering process that uses induced pluripotent stem cellsadult cells from a patient to trigger embryonic-like heart development in a dishgenerating a functional mini-heart after a few weeks. The stem cells are obtained from consenting adults and therefore free of ethical concerns.

This process allows the stem cells to develop, basically as they would in an embryo, into the various cell types and structures present in the heart, Aguirre says. We give the cells the instructions and they know what they have to do when all the appropriate conditions are met.

Because the organoids followed the natural cardiac embryonic development process, the researchers studied, in real time, the natural growth of an actual fetal human heart.

This technology allows for the creation of numerous hHOs simultaneously with relative ease, contrasting with existing tissue engineering approaches that are expensive, labor intensive and not readily scalable.

One of the primary issues facing the study of fetal heart development and congenital heart defects is access to a developing heart. Researchers have been confined to the use of mammalian models, donated fetal remains, and in vitro cell research to approximate function and development.

Now we can have the best of both worlds, a precise human model to study these diseasesa tiny human heartwithout using fetal material or violating ethical principles. This constitutes a great step forward, Aguirre says.

Whats next? For Aguirre, the process is twofold. First, the heart organoid represents an unprecedented look into the nuts and bolts of how a fetal heart develops.

In the lab, we are currently using heart organoids to model congenital heart diseasethe most common birth defect in humans affecting nearly 1% of the newborn population, Aguirre says. With our heart organoids, we can study the origin of congenital heart disease and find ways to stop it.

And second, while the hHO is complex, it is far from perfect. For the team, improving the final organoid is another key avenue of future research.

The organoids are small models of the fetal heart with representative functional and structural features, Israeli says. They are, however, not as perfect as a human heart yet. That is something we are working toward.

The researchers are excited about the wide-ranging applicability of these miniature hearts. They enable an unprecedented ability to study many other cardiovascular-related diseasesincluding chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and the effect of diabetes, during pregnancy, on the developing fetal heart.

Additional researchers from Michigan State and Washington University in St. Louis contributed to the work.

The American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health funded the study.

Source: Michigan State University

Original Study DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.25.171611

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First lab-made 'mini-hearts' mimic the real thing - Futurity: Research News

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