UAB Magazine

Written by Charles Buchanan, Brett Bralley and Jay Taylor with editorial contributions from Matt Windsor and UAB Public Relations. Images from UAB Archives, Rachel Hendrix, Andrea Mabry, Sarah Parcak, Steve Wood and Getty Images. Web design by Tyler Bryant. Reprinted by permission of UAB Magazine.

UABs birth was like a ray of sunlight punching through the smog.

In 1969 the newly independent university, uniting a pioneering academic medical center and a growing extension center, brought the promise of a brighter future to a city eager for change.

Birmingham is better because of UAB. So are Alabama, America, and the world. In the following pages, discover some of the many ways that UAB has fulfilled its promiseby saving lives, solving problems, expanding knowledge, and opening doorsover 50 years.

1

Best of the best

UABs accolades shine a global spotlight on Birmingham and Alabama:

2

A way to retrain the brain

Most scientists once believed that neuroplasticitythe brains ability to grow or repair itselfended in childhood. But research by UAB neuroscientist Edward Taub, Ph.D., contributed to a shift in thinking, and in the 1990s he developed constraint-induced (CI) therapy for stroke patients with poorly functioning limbs. As the intensive training helps patients learn to accomplish tasks with their affected limbs, the brain adapts by strengthening communication with those parts of the body. And the results have been remarkable: Most patients see a clinically significant level of improvement in their ability to use their affected limbs, and brain scans have shown an increase in gray matter. Taub and UAB clinical psychologist Gitendra Uswatte, Ph.D., have used CI therapy to help thousands of stroke patientsand adapted it for patients impacted by cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. Today CI therapy is in use worldwide.

3

Discoveries on ice

UAB scientists conduct a lot of research in the fieldbut none may go as far afield as James McClintock, Ph.D.; Charles Amsler, Ph.D.; and Maggie Amsler. Their investigations take place at Palmer Station, Antarctica6,898 miles from their campus offices. For two decades, the biologists have led teams that dive into the frigid waters surrounding the icy continent to study the chemical ecology of the unique marine algae and invertebrates living there. What theyve discovered could aid the search for new drugs to help humans. The group also chronicles the dramatic impact of climate change, such as ocean acidification, on Antarctic marine life. You can see climate change happening there like no other place on earth, says McClintock.

4

A pinch of prevention

UAB endocrinologist Constance Pittman, M.D., turned her research passioniodines impact on thyroid functioninto a global mission. In the 1990s and 2000s, she teamed up with Kiwanis International and UNICEF to help eradicate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), a prevalent cause of cognitive disabilities. Pittman traveled the world to convince companies to add iodine to table saltthe simplest solution for preventing IDD. And her work helped make a lasting impact.

5

Target: Diabetes

In 1973, UAB opened the nations first public diabetes hospitaland the first linked with an academic medical center. Today physicians on the front lines of the diabetes epidemic have an exciting new option to help their patients, thanks to breakthrough research from UABs Comprehensive Diabetes Center.

6

Sharing stories that matter

WBHM 90.3 FM radio went on the air in 1976 as the 200th National Public Radio (NPR)-affiliated station. A member-supported service of UAB, WBHM provides global news and award-winning local coverage to Birmingham and the surrounding region. The station also recently welcomed StoryCorps, an NPR-affiliated initiative, to collect stories from the Birmingham community that will be housed at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

7

Book of Life

Its tough to find a physician anywhere in the world who hasnt learned a few things from Tinsley Harrison, M.D. The legendary School of Medicine cardiologist and dean created and edited Harrisons Principles of Internal Medicine, which has been reprinted 20 times, translated into 14 languages, and become arguably the most recognized book in all of medicine, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

8

Foresight

The School of Optometry has been a pioneer since it opened in 1969 as the nations first optometry school associated with an academic medical center. Three years later, it became the first optometry teaching program affiliated with a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital, establishing a national model. Today more than 2,500 optometry staff and students from various schools work in the VA system nationwide.

9

Helping our hometown

Living and working in the heart of the city, UAB students, faculty, and staff cant help but feel a connection to Birmingham. Here are just a few ways Blazers have volunteered to support their neighbors:

10

A whole new ball game

Gene Bartow Mens basketball coach1977-1996

UAB started a winning tradition in 1977 when it hired coach Gene Bartow away from powerhouse UCLA to start a mens basketball program. He created a legendary team able to topple top rivals and reach the NCAA Tournament in just its third seasonthe first of 15 NCAA Tournament and 12 National Invitational Tournament appearances on its record. As UABs first athletic director, Bartow also helped UAB compete in other arenas. Today student-athletes in 18 sports give Birmingham reasons to cheer. Take a spin through some of the Blazers most memorable moments:

11

New views of history

Its as if Indiana Jones and Google Earth had a love child. Thats how UAB anthropology faculty member and National Geographic fellow Sarah Parcak, Ph.D., described space archaeology to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show in 2016. She has pioneered the use of high-resolution satellite imagery to search for the buried remains of lost civilizations. And her discoveries have thrilled people worldwide, including Colbert. She was even mentioned in a Jeopardy! answer earlier this year.

12

Defense team

UAB immunologists have been among the first to shed light on the mechanisms powering our bodys defenses:

13

Game changers

Future football helmets may better protect athletes thanks to mechanical engineering professor Dean Sicking, Ph.D. (Before coming to UAB, he developed the lifesaving SAFER barriers used on NASCAR and IndyCar courses.) Analyzing data from thousands of helmet-to-helmet impacts in football, Sicking has developed designs for a new helmet that could address concussionsabsorbing as much energy of the impact as possible so that the athlete has less risk of brain injury.

14

The dividends of discovery

In 2018-2019, UAB received $602 million in research grants and awardsjust one year after surpassing the $500-million milestone for the first time. We are aiming high and exceeding our goals, and it is a testament to the UAB research communitys great ideas, hard work, and will to succeed, says Christopher Brown, Ph.D., vice president for research. A rise in research funding means more opportunities to explore the frontiers of knowledgebut it also enables UAB to attract top minds from around the country in health care, engineering, the sciences, and more, plus create new jobs that boost the local economy. Want to ensure that UAB continues its upward trajectory? Philanthropic support helps position the university to attain competitive research grants.

15

Giant leaps

Space is the place for UAB people and technology:

Researcher Larry DeLucas, O.D., Ph.D., became the first optometrist in orbit with a 1992 mission aboard the shuttle Columbia. There he conducted experiments to grow protein crystals, which give scientists a 3D view of protein structuresand a greater understanding of the roles they play in disease. DeLucas also served as chief scientist for the International Space Station in 1994-1995.

Astrophysicist Thomas Wdowiak, Ph.D., passed away in 2013, but his name lives onon Mars. The Red Planets Wdowiak Ridge honors the physics faculty members role in NASAs Mars Exploration Project. Wdowiak was in charge of operating the Mossbauer spectrometers onboard the Spirit and Opportunity rovers that helped uncover firm evidence that water once existed on Mars.

16

Focus on finances

Would you like to get better at saving, budgeting, or investing? Or do you dream of launching a business? The Regions Institute for Financial Education in the Collat School of Business has been helping people throughout the community develop practical, lifelong financial management skills since 2015. Some of its programs include a Money Math Camp for middle schoolers, a College Bridge Camp to prepare high schoolers for life after graduation, and for adults, a Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair Workshop.

17

Going green

Campus expansions have reshaped Birminghams Southside, and UAB works hard to be a good steward of that spaceand set a sustainable example. In 2008, UAB brought open green space into the heart of Birmingham by converting a city street into the Campus Green. Now UAB is aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent and establish a clean energy standard of 20-percent renewable energy by 2025.

18

Ingenuity vs. Infection

Virus vanguards

Antiviral therapies are essential for treating everything from influenza to HIV. In 1977, UAB pediatrics experts Richard Whitley, M.D., and Charles Alford, M.D., helped spark the antiviral revolution by developing vidarabine, the first drug to treat encephalitis caused by the herpes simplex virus. In the 1990s, Whitley and his team transformed the herpes virus into a genetically engineered weapon against tumors.

Vaccines for everyone

The laboratory of Moon Nahm, M.D., is a national treasure, notes the National Institutes of Health. But its discoveries could help protect millions of children worldwide threatened by S. pneumoniae infections, the leading cause of pneumonia. (Nahms lab also is designated a World Health Organization Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory.) His mission is to make pneumonia vaccines more affordable for use in developing countries.

Global guardian

GeoSentinel is a worldwide network of clinics watching for potential pandemics in an increasingly interconnected world, ready to relay information quickly about new disease outbreaks and effective treatments. And it has Alabama roots. UAB travel medicine expert David Freedman, M.D., cofounded GeoSentinel, a collaboration between the International Society for Travel Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the 1990s. He also directed the network for 20 years.

19

Staying safe on the road

In 2002, UAB public health researchers unveiled the Digital Childa pioneering computer model evaluating the physical consequences of car crashes on young passengers at various stages of developmentto generate data that could lead to improved child safety devices. Shift gears to today, and researchers in UABs TRIP (Translational Research for Injury Prevention) Lab use virtual realitya first-of-its-kind SUV simulator built with Honda Manufacturing of Alabamato study distracted driving in an effort to save lives. The TRIP Lab also has a portable simulator for schools and community events to help educate students and others on the dangers of distracted driving.

20

A home for Birmingham history

Odessa WoolfolkEducator and civic leader

When Birmingham first dreamed of developing a civil rights museum and research center, UABs Odessa Woolfolk, then special assistant to the president and director of community relations, and Horace Huntley, Ph.D., a historian and first director of the African American studies program, helped lead efforts to turn that idea into a reality. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute opened in 1992, with Woolfolk as president of its board of directors. Huntley also directed the institutes Oral History Project, which preserves the accounts of foot soldiers and other witnesses to the Birmingham campaign. Today the BCRI attracts visitors from around the world and is a key component of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

21

Invention in action

Faculty, staff, and students are designing the future for the rest of us. Preview some of their ingenious solutions:

Each year, biomedical engineering and business students develop technologies to help people overcome physical limitations. Examples include a joystick-controlled wheelchair for toddlerswhich won an international awardbuilt for the Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs, and a special scale to help wheelchair users monitor their weight, used by the Lakeshore Foundation. Another design, a mechanical umbrella to protect power wheelchair users from rainy weather, scored second place at the 2018 World Congress on Biomechanics.

Graphic design students in UABs Bloom Studio unleash their talents to support local nonprofits and underserved communities. You can spot their work on license plates and signs that promote and protect the Cahaba Riverpart of a collaboration with the Cahaba River Society.

Solution Studios pairs Honors College, engineering, and nursing students with UAB health professionals to tackle everyday problems affecting patient care. One team has designed a device prototype that could improve quality of life for patients wearing ostomy bags to expel waste. Another has focused on new, more comfortable methods of applying wires to the skin in settings such as intensive care units.

22

Spreading the word

Low literacy levels translate into increased high school dropout rates, a lower-performing workforce, and higher rates of social problems, say UAB School of Education experts. For years UABs Maryann Manning, Ed.D., led the charge to improve literacy across Alabama, launching programs such as a conference that attracted thousands of local schoolchildren to share their writing with authors and illustrators. Today the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center continues her legacy, providing enrichment activities in reading, writing, math, arts, and science for children and helping teachers across Alabama learn innovative strategies to foster literacy skills in their classrooms.

23

The heart of innovation

John Kirklin, M.D.Surgery superstar

John Kirklin, M.D., helped put Birmingham on the medical map when he was recruited in 1966 to chair the Department of Surgery. He already was a superstar at the Mayo Clinic, where he had revolutionized cardiovascular surgery by improving the heart-lung machine and performing the first operations for a variety of congenital heart malformations. At UAB he continued to pursue new methods and techniques, such as the development of a computerized intensive care unit with continuous monitoring of vital functions, which became a model for ICUs worldwide.

When Kirklin passed away in 2004, colleagues estimated his medical innovations had saved millions of lives. And his legacy thrives in other ways: UAB is a world-class medical center in part because of Kirklins work behind the scenes, where he championed the combination of public and private investments to foster growth. His textbook, Cardiac Surgery, remains a must-read for anyone in the field. His name lives on in The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital, which opened in 1992. And his son, cardiothoracic surgeon James Kirklin, M.D., directs UABs James and John Kirklin Institute for Research in Surgical Outcomes.

24

Birthplace of new businesses

UABs ideas and energy are an engine for entrepreneurship. The university was a founder of Birminghams Innovation Depot, where start-up companiessome born from UAB research breakthroughsfind the resources they need to grow. Today Innovation Depot is the Southeasts largest high-tech business incubator, home to more than 100 companies.

25

University of opportunity

In the fall of 2019, underrepresented students made up nearly 42 percent of UABs enrollment, and 20.5 percent of undergraduates were first-generation students. UAB has a long history of widening access to higher educationand potential careers in science and health careamong diverse students. Back in 1978, the Minority High School Research Apprentice Program began matching local students with faculty members for summer research experiences. Today, initiatives such as the Department of Surgerys Pre-College Internship for Students from Minority Backgrounds and the Neuroscience Roadmap Scholars program offer similar opportunities for students along their educational journeys.

26

Successful careers begin here

More than 135,000 alumni call UAB their alma mater. Today youll find them across the United States and around the world, working as leaders in health care, science, business, art, engineering, government, education, and other fields. Many stay connected with UAB through the National Alumni Society, which was established in 1979 and has 63 chapters in locations ranging from Washington, D.C., to Taiwan.

27

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UAB: 50 years of Improving Birmingham, Alabama and the World - Birmingham Times

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on UAB: 50 years of Improving Birmingham, Alabama and the World – Birmingham Times | February 3rd, 2020

I think it was around the time I was in high school that I learned that people were using stem cells to repair otherwise diseased organs. Science is crazy, right? But now, I see plant stem cells touted as skin-care ingredients in beauty productsall the timeand immediately my mind goes back to the laboratories. WTF are they actually?

The term stem cells is a generic phrase which refers to a special type of cell in an organism that can develop into many different types of cells, explains cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski. Embryonic stem cells can be developed into all types of human cells like nerve cells, skin cells, muscle cells, etc. Its important to know that these are human cells that are specific to an individual.

In laymans terms, theyre undifferentiated cells that have not chosen a path as to what cells they are going to be yet, adds Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. More specifically, however, Im looking at plant stem cellswhich are different, but have somewhat similar functions. In plants, these cells live in the meristems of plants, says Dr. Patel. They help and regenerate live plants after they have an injury.

The similarity comes in how the cells act, though. Stem cells have the ability to self renew and self repair, just like human stem cells, says Ginger King, cosmetic chemist. The difference is that the plant ones actually have stronger antioxidant properties than human cells because plants are stationary. They have to protect themselves from the insults of weather.

Thats where the benefits to your skin come into playthese cellular components of plants are packed with antioxidants, which helps your skin to fend off free radicals that might otherwise aim to damage it. Plant stem cell benefits to the skin include anti-aging, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, says King.

These cellular components of plants are protective, and that translates when you apply one to your face.

But while we use the term stem cell it doesnt necessarily mean theyre alive like in the lab. When in skin-care products, the stem cells are not live, but you get the same benefits of antioxidants, amino acid content, and ability to boost collagen synthesis from these stem cell extracts, says King.

Original studies on plant stem cells on skin came using Swiss apple stem cells, according to Dr. Patel. Stem cell extracts were found to reverse the aging process of cultured fibroblasts, she explains. One of the first specific studies showed a decrease in the appearance of crows feet after extract administration. Other studies have followed, and it seems that the major benefit of plant stem cells is in the repair of the skin. These extracts may be beneficial as an anti-aging agent, especially if mixed with tissue exfoliating agents such as retinol, bakuchiol and alpha-hydroxy acids.

That said, even though experts affirm the skin benefits of plant stem cells, Romanowski says to take it with a grain of salt: In my opinion, stem cells are put into cosmetics because consumers hear the words stem cells and think it must refer to some type of advanced biomedical technology, he says. In reality, theyre just plant extracts, albeit super potent ones in many cases.

To find them on beauty product labels, King says to look for the words cell culture extract. Or the packaging will market it as a main ingredient. Product labels will usually have words stem cell on the product to show that they have the extract in them, says Dr. Patel. Other words such as phyto cells, plant extracts, and fruit extracts may be used on the label as well. Remember as with all skin-care ingredients, not all products are created equal and not all plants show efficacy with their stem cells. Look for brands that have clinical trials and results to back up the claims.

To shop the plant stem cell extracts for your own regimen, Ive rounded up some of the most noteworthy products, below.

Other ingredients to add to your skin-care regimen include some form of retinol, along with a trusty vitamin C serum.

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The low-down on plant stem cells in skin care | Well+Good

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on The low-down on plant stem cells in skin care | Well+Good | February 3rd, 2020

During his teen years, Longview native Heath Jordan said, he struggled with skin problems such as rosacea and acne.

Ive always had fair skin, he said, and he sought treatment at a dermatologist. I had a lot of blemishes and outbreaks.

He didnt let his conditions get under his skin. Jordan, 25, said challenges with his own skin inspired him to launch Tend + Temple out of his home in Forth Worth while pursuing a business degree at Texas Christian University.

That was a natural choice for me, he said of the business idea. I learned about skin care.

Jordan, son of Charlotte Hatley and the late Ken Jordan, said he came up with the name for his fledgling business after consulting a branding company that also devised a marketing plan.

He has developed three products with a chemist and dermatologist: a moisturizer, retinol mask (with a Vitamin A formula) and a facial cleanser.

All the products are contained in a tube and use plant stem cells and organic aloe, Jordan said. He also uses exotic ingredients such as snow algae and sea buckthorn oil.

Jordan said his skin-care line will be helpful for both men and women, athletes and people with a variety of skin types.

He plans to market the products at first to three target demographic groups: active-military or veterans (Jordan served in the Air Force), people on the go such as millennials and members of the LGBTQ community. He said he will offer discounts to teachers, active-duty military, veterans and first responders.

Im already talking to some businesses about eventually carrying the brand, he said. Online marketing will come later, then theyll be going into independent pharmacies and medical spas.

Jordan said he plans to formally launch Tend + Temple in June, but first he has to raise financing. Hes launched a campaign on the online fundraising tool Kickstarter that closes at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 29. His goal is raising $60,000.

That will complete the launch and get everything ready and stuff, Jordan said. Ive been using my own money.

If he does not raise the full amount through Kickstarter, Jordan said he would return the money to the contributors. However, he is determined to get his business going, and cited growing up with parents who encouraged ambitions.

There was nothing I could never do, they always kind of instilled in me and my sister (Mackenzie), he said.

His Spanish teacher at Pine Tree High School, Jenny Enriquez, said she recalls Jordan as being a hard worker.

I do not think Spanish was his favorite subject, said Enriquez, now a stay-at-home mom who has remained in touch with Jordan. Even if he struggled with the materials, he was always one of those students who was determined. He was going to get the grade he wanted.

Enriquez said Jordan stayed after class and sought extra credit.

And he remains determined. He joined the Air Force four days after graduating from high school and served six and a half years as a medic before his discharge. He now is a sophomore at TCU.

Once launched, he said, his plan is to expand the skin-care line over the next five years.

Id eventually like to branch off into other product categories such as food and beverages, Jordan said.

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College student from Longview seeks to make the grade with skin-care startup - Longview News-Journal

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on College student from Longview seeks to make the grade with skin-care startup – Longview News-Journal | February 3rd, 2020

Legends from around the world feature characters whose sadness turns their hair grey overnight. Bizarre as they appear to be, those stories actually include an element of truth. Researchers at Harvard University confirmed that stress can indeed lead to grey hair and discovered the reasons behind it.

In a study published in Nature, the authors found that the nerve cells involved in the fight-or-flight response cause permanent damage to the pigment-regenerating stem cells in hair follicles in mice. This finding advances our understanding of how stress impacts the hair, moving researchers one step closer to blocking its negative effects.

To discover the cause of grey hair, researchers tested and eliminated different possible sources. They initially hypothesized immune attacks on pigment-producing cells were the cause, but mice without immune cells were still susceptible to grey hair.

They proceeded to other theories such as cortisol, the hormone elevated by stress. The theory of cortisol was disproved by further experiments on mice. After the mice lost their abilities to produce cortisol, they could still grow grey hairs under stress.

After several rounds of the process of elimination, the scientists landed on the sympathetic nerve system, which is responsible for the body's fight-or-flight response, as the culprit. Sympathetic nerves branch out into every hair follicle on the skin. When stressed, the nerves will release chemicals that are taken up by nearby stem cells, activating them into pigment-generating cells used to color the hair. An excess amount of pigment-generating cells will be activated when under stress, and the pigment reservoirs of these cells will be prematurely depleted. Once depleted, there are no longer cells that can color ones hair.

This finding helps scientists move towards moderating or blocking the effects of stress. In stressful environments, people are going to get grey hair at an earlier age. Currently, there are over 1.5 million posts with the hashtag #Greyhair on Instagram, and research in 2018 shows that 32 percent of British women under the age of 30 have already started to go grey. Indeed, grey hair is beginning to impact even those in their 20s. Even though factors like nutrition, medication, and genetics also play essential roles in greying hair, stress might have the greatest impact overall.

The relationship between stress, hair, and stem cells could also lead to new discoveries about how stress affects organ functions and blood vessels in comparison to stem cells. Scientists across many disciplines hope to ultimately exploit this relationship to find a way to control stem cells.

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Stressful situations cause grey hair - CMU The Tartan Online

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Stressful situations cause grey hair – CMU The Tartan Online | February 3rd, 2020

John T Lear,1 Axel Hauschild,2 Eggert Stockfleth,3 Nicholas Squittieri,4 Nicole Basset-Seguin,5 Reinhard Dummer6

1Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK; 2Klinik Fr Dermatologie, Venerologie Und Allergologie Universittsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; 3Universittshautklinik Bochum, Bochum, Germany; 4Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA; 5Department of Dermatology, Hpital Saint Louis, Paris, France; 6Skin Cancer Center University Hospital, Zrich, Switzerland

Correspondence: John T LearUniversity of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UKTel +44 161 276 4173Fax +44 161 276 8881Email john.lear@srft.nhs.uk

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), or Gorlin syndrome, is a rare hereditary disease characterized by the development of multiple cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) from a young age.1 Loss-of-function germline mutations in the hedgehog-related patched 1 (PTCH1) tumor suppressor gene are the most common cause of NBCCS.1 The hedgehog signaling pathway plays a major role in embryonic development, and in adulthood, is involved in the renewal and maintenance of distinct tissues, including hair follicles, muscle stem cells, and gastric epithelium.2 Its abnormal activation is thought to drive the formation of both sporadic BCCs and those resulting from NBCCS.1 Patients with NBCCS inherit one inactive copy of PTCH1 and then acquire a second-hit mutation, resulting in hedgehog pathway activation and BCC formation.1 Mutations in Suppressor of fused (SUFU) or the PTCH1 homolog PTCH2 have also been found in a subset of patients meeting criteria for NBCCS.1,3

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Efficacy and Safety of Sonidegib in Adult Patients with Nevoid Basal C | CCID - Dove Medical Press

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Efficacy and Safety of Sonidegib in Adult Patients with Nevoid Basal C | CCID – Dove Medical Press | February 3rd, 2020

The market analysis and insights included in the Cosmetic Skin Care market report presents key statistics on the market status of global and regional manufacturers and is an essential source of guidance which provides right direction to the companies and individuals interested in the industry. To prosper in this competitive market place, businesses are highly benefited if they adopt innovative solutions such as this Cosmetic Skin Care market research report. This wide-ranging market research report acts as a backbone for the success of business in any sector. The market drivers and restraints have been explained in the report with the use of SWOT analysis.

Global cosmetic skin care market is set to witness a substantial CAGR of 5.5% in the forecast period of 2019- 2026. The report contains data of the base year 2018 and historic year 2017. Increasing self-consciousness among population and rising demand for anti- aging skin care products are the factor for the market growth.

Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market By Product (Anti-Aging Cosmetic Products, Skin Whitening Cosmetic Products, Sensitive Skin Care Products, Anti-Acne Products, Dry Skin Care Products, Warts Removal Products, Infant Skin Care Products, Anti-Scars Solution Products, Mole Removal Products, Multi Utility Products), Application (Flakiness Reduction, Stem Cells Protection against UV, Rehydrate the skins surface, Minimize wrinkles, Increase the viscosity of Aqueous, Others), Gender (Men, Women), Distribution Channel (Online, Departmental Stores and Convenience Stores, Pharmacies, Supermarket, Others), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2026 ;

Complete report on Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market Research Report 2019-2026 spread across 350 Pages, profiling Top companies and supports with tables and figures

Market Definition: Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market

Cosmetic skin care is a variety of products which are used to improve the skins appearance and alleviate skin conditions. It consists different products such as anti- aging cosmetic products, sensitive skin care products, anti- scar solution products, warts removal products, infant skin care products and other. They contain various ingredients which are beneficial for the skin such as phytochemicals, vitamins, essential oils, and other. Their main function is to make the skin healthy and repair the skin damages.

Key Questions Answered in Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market Report:-

Our Report offers:-

Top Key Players:

Market Drivers:

Market Restraints:

Key Developments in the Market:

Customize report of Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market as per customers requirement also available.

Market Segmentations:

Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market is segmented on the basis of

Market Segmentations in Details:

By Product

By Application

By Gender

By Distribution Channel

By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

South America

Middle East & Africa

Competitive Analysis: Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market

Global cosmetic skin care market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of cosmetic skin care market for Global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

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Cosmetic Skin Care Market Enhancement And Its growth prospects forecast 2019 to 2026 - Dagoretti News

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cosmetic Skin Care Market Enhancement And Its growth prospects forecast 2019 to 2026 – Dagoretti News | February 3rd, 2020

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SASpine is now offering cutting edge Stem Cell Treatments to patients. For the past several years Dr. Steven Cyr, Mayo Clinic Trained Spine Surgeon, has been researching the benefits of stem cells in the treatment of multiple medical conditions including spinal disorders, specifically, conditions which involve spinal cord injury, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and as a supplement to enhance the success of Spinal fusions when treating instability, deformity, and fractures of the spine.

Steven J. Cyr, M.D., is a spine surgeon who has gained a reputation for surgical excellence in Texas, throughout the nation, and abroad.

Dr. Steven Cyr has been treating patients using growth factors and stem cells contained in amniotic tissue and bone marrow aspirate to provide a potential for improved success with fusion procedures, when treating herniated discs, and for arthritic or damaged joints, with remarkable success. "The goal of any medical intervention is to yield improved outcomes with the ideal result of returning a patient to normal function, when possible," states Dr Cyr. He went on to elaborate that there are times when only a structural solution can solve problems related to spinal disorders, but even in that scenario, the use of stem cells or growth factors derived from stem cell products can possibly improve the success of surgical procedures. "I have patients previously unable to jog or run return to normal function and athletic ability after injections of growth factors and stem cell products into the knee joints, hip joints, and shoulder joints," he said. "This includes high-level athletes, professional dancers, and the average weekend warrior."

There may be promise in treating patients with spinal cord injury as well. SASpine CEO, LeAnn Cyr, states, "There are reports of patients gaining significant neurological improvement after being treated with stem cells." Dr Cyr continues, "Most patients with spinal cord injuries resulting from trauma also have mechanical pressure on the nerves that result either from bone fragments or disc material compressing the spinal cord that needs to be removed along with surgical stabilization of the spinal bones. There's significant potential that stem cells bring to the equation when treating these types of patients, and I am excited about the potential that these products offer to the host of treatments to address spinal conditions and arthritic joints."

For more information about SASpine's Stem Cell Treatment Program, visit http://www.saspine.com or call (210) 487-7463 in San Antonio or (832) 919-7990 in Houston.

Related Linkswww.facebook.com/saspinewww.instagram.com/surgical.associates.in.spine

If you've been living with back pain, you're not alone. Here at SASpine, we have experienced spine specialists who are committed to improving your quality of life. (PRNewsfoto/SASpine)

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SASpine to offer Stem Cell Therapy - Yahoo Finance

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on SASpine to offer Stem Cell Therapy – Yahoo Finance | February 3rd, 2020

A patient who received the worlds first transplant of cardiac muscle cells using artificially derived stem cells known as iPS cells this month is in stable condition, an Osaka University team said Jan. 27.

After surgery, doctors closely monitored the patient, who had ischemic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which clotted arteries cause heart muscles to malfunction. But the patient has been moved toa general hospital ward, the team said.

Yoshiki Sawa, a professor of cardiovascular surgery at the university, who led the team that conducted the transplant, said the team aims to put the technique into practical use.

Sawa said the team hopestransplants of heart muscle tissues derived from induced pluripotent stem cellswill be used to save many patients who have heart conditions.

In the clinical trial, three sheets of heart muscle tissues made from iPS cells stocked at Kyoto Universitys Center for iPS Cell Research and Application were attached to affected parts of the patients heart. The iPS cells were created from tissues provided by a healthy donor.

The sheets were 4 to 5 centimeters in diameter and 0.1 millimeter thick.

The transplant's goal is to regenerate cardiac blood vessels using a substance secreted by the sheets of muscle cells. The sheets are degradable and disappear from the body several months after they secrete the substance, according to the team.

The university plans to perform similar transplants on nine other patients who have serious heart problems.

The Osaka University team had planned to conduct the clinical trial of the transplant earlier after the government approved the plan in May 2018.

But it was postponed due to damage from a powerful earthquake that hit Osaka Prefecture the following month that rendered its facility to cultivate cells unusable.

The trial is part of the process toward the future distribution of medical products using cells.

Osaka Universitys announcement of the successful transplant of tissues created from iPS cells marked the fourth such transplantation.

Including Osaka University's trial, Japanese surgeons have now successfully transplanted tissues created from iPS cells four times.

The world's first transplant of iPS-derived cells was conducted in 2014 whenthe Riken research institute transplanted retina cells for a patient with age-related macular degeneration.

In 2018, Kyoto University transplanted nerve cells for a Parkinson disease patient. Osaka University transplanted cornea cells into a patient with a disease of the cornea in 2019.

Patients who undergo transplants using iPS-derived cell must accept the risk that the cells may become cancerous.

The moreiPS-derived cells a patient receives, the higher their risk.

Hundreds of thousands of retina cells were used in the 2014 retina transplant. In the 2018 and 2019 transplants, the number of nerve and cornea cells used soared to between 5 million to 6 million.

Osaka University's latest transplant utilized roughly 100 milliontissues made from iPS cells.

Sawa acknowledged the transplanted heart muscle tissues could turn cancerous, but said the teamhas made great efforts to remove potentially cancerous cells.

Hideyuki Okano, professor of molecular neurobiology at Keio University, who is researching the application of iPS-derived nerve cells to treat patients with spinal cord damage, said the risk was worth it.

Okano said the Osaka University's transplant, using tissues made from iPS cells from a donor, could be more effective than the existing therapy, which uses the patients own muscle tissues.

I understand that the transplanted tissues might become cancerous or cause an erratic heart rhythm, but the transplantation of the iPS-derived heart muscle tissues can be more effective than muscle tissue sheets made from the patients leg, Okano said.

Keio University is also planning to conduct clinical research using iPS-derived cells to regenerate heart tissues.

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Patient in Japan 1st to have iPS cell heart muscle transplant : The Asahi Shimbun - Asahi Shimbun

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Patient in Japan 1st to have iPS cell heart muscle transplant : The Asahi Shimbun – Asahi Shimbun | February 3rd, 2020

By the time Bill Beatty made it to the Emergency Department in Howard County, he was already several hours into a major heart attack. His physicians performed a series of emergency treatments that included an intra-aortic balloon pump, but the 57-year-old engineers blood pressure remained dangerously low. The cardiologist called for a helicopter to transfer him to Johns Hopkins.

It was fortuitous timing: Beatty was an ideal candidate for a clinical trial and soon received an infusion of stem cells derived from his own heart tissue, making him the second patient in the world to undergo the procedure.

Of all the attempts to harness the promise of stem cell therapy, few have garnered more hope than the bid to repair damaged hearts. Previous trials with other stem cells have shown conflicting results. But this new trial, conducted jointly with cardiologist Eduardo Marbn at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, is the first time stem cells come from the patients own heart.

Cardiologist Jeffrey Brinker, M.D., a member of the Hopkins team, thinks the new protocol could be a game-changer. That's based partly on recent animal studies in which scientists at both institutions isolated stem cells from the injured animals hearts and infused them back into the hearts of those same animals. The stem cells formed new heart muscle and blood vessel cells. In fact, says Brinker, the new cells have a pre-determined cardiac fate. Even in the culture dish, he says, theyre a beating mass of cells.

Whats more, according to Gary Gerstenblith, M.D., J.D., the animals in these studies showed a significant decrease in relative infarct size, shrinking by about 25 percent. Based on those and earlier findings, investigators were cleared by the FDA and Hopkins Institutional Review Board to move forward with a human trial.

In Beattys case, Hopkins heart failure chief extracted a small sample of heart tissue and shipped it to Cedars Sinai, where stem cells were isolated, cultured and expanded to large numbers. Hopkins cardiologist Peter Johnston, M.D., says cardiac tissue is robust in its ability to generate stem cells, typically yielding several million transplantable cells within two months.

When ready, the cells were returned to Baltimore and infused back into Beatty through a balloon catheter placed in his damaged artery, ensuring target-specific delivery. Then the watching and waiting began. For the Hopkins team, Beattys infarct size will be tracked by imaging chief Joao Lima, M.D., M.B.A.,and his associates using MRI scans.

Now back home and still struggling with episodes of compromised stamina and shortness of breath, Beatty says his Hopkins cardiologists were fairly cautious in their prognosis, but hell be happy for any improvement.

Nurse coordinator Elayne Breton says Beatty is scheduled for follow-up visits at six months and 12 months, when they hope to find an improvement in his hearts function. But at least one member of the Hopkins team was willing acknowledge a certain optimism. The excitement here, says Brinker, is huge.

The trial is expected to be completed within one to two years.

--by Ramsey Flynn

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A New Path for Cardiac Stem Cells - hopkinsmedicine.org

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on A New Path for Cardiac Stem Cells – hopkinsmedicine.org | February 2nd, 2020

Neuralstem (NASDAQ:CUR) and SpringWorks Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SWTX) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, dividends and risk.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Neuralstem and SpringWorks Therapeutics gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

SpringWorks Therapeutics has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Neuralstem.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

38.3% of Neuralstem shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.1% of SpringWorks Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.4% of Neuralstem shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Neuralstem and SpringWorks Therapeutics net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Neuralstem and SpringWorks Therapeutics, as reported by MarketBeat.

SpringWorks Therapeutics has a consensus price target of $35.50, suggesting a potential upside of 12.77%. Given SpringWorks Therapeutics higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe SpringWorks Therapeutics is more favorable than Neuralstem.

Summary

SpringWorks Therapeutics beats Neuralstem on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

Neuralstem Company Profile

Neuralstem, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the research and development of nervous system therapies based on its proprietary human neuronal stem cells and small molecule compounds. The company's stem cell based technology enables the isolation and expansion of human neural stem cells from various areas of the developing human brain and spinal cord enabling the generation of physiologically relevant human neurons of various types. Its lead product candidate is NSI-189, a chemical entity, which has been completed Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of major depressive disorder, as well as is in preclinical study for the treatment-refractory depression, Angelman Syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, diabetic neuropathy, irradiation-induced cognitive deficit, and long-term potentiation enhancement. The company also develops NSI-566, which has completed Phase II clinical trial for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease; Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of chronic ischemic stroke; and Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of chronic spinal cord injury, as well as is in preclinical study for the traumatic brain injury. In addition, it develops NSI-532, which is in preclinical study for treatment of Alzheimer's disease; and NSI-777 that is in preclinical study for treatment of human demyelinating diseases. Neuralstem, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland.

SpringWorks Therapeutics Company Profile

SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, acquires, develops, and commercializes medicines for underserved patient populations suffering from rare diseases and cancer. Its advanced product candidate is nirogacestat, an oral small molecule gamma secretase inhibitor that is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of desmoid tumors. The company is also developing mirdametinib, an oral small molecule MEK inhibitor that is in Phase 2b clinical trials for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 1-associated plexiform neurofibromas; and Nirogacestat + belantamab mafodotin, which is in Phase 1b clinical trials for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In addition, it is developing Mirdametinib + lifirafenib, a combination therapy that is in Phase 1b clinical trials in patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors; and BGB-3245, an investigational oral selective small molecule inhibitor of specific BRAF driver mutations and genetic fusions, which is in preclinical studies in a range of tumor models with BRAF mutations or fusions. The company has collaborations with BeiGene, Ltd. and GlaxoSmithKline plc to develop combination approaches with nirogacestat and mirdametinib, as well as other standalone medicines. SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

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Neuralstem (NASDAQ:CUR) & SpringWorks Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SWTX) Financial Review - Riverton Roll

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Neuralstem (NASDAQ:CUR) & SpringWorks Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SWTX) Financial Review – Riverton Roll | February 2nd, 2020

Photo Courtesy of Michael MankowichAbove, Michael Mankowich and his wife, Kathleen, in Patagonia

NUTLEY, NJ When Nutley resident Michael Mankowichs lower back started to bother him, he figured it was a souvenir from his earlier athletic days. Mike, 58, had been a top-notch wrestler at 132 pounds at Long Islands Commack North High School. Hed been an all-American, in fact, as well as a two-time all-Ivy, three-time New York state champ and three-time EIWA tournament placer as a wrestler at Cornell University. An old wrestlers injury was all it was, he figured, a physical reminder of a quick takedown of an opponent 40 years long forgotten.

But the pain did not go away.

Mike began to see a doctor and a chiropractor, and eventually he got an MRI. The news he received at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in February 2017 was not good. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks the blood plasma cells responsible for creating disease-fighting antibodies.

They figured it out quickly at Sloan, he said recently, seated with his wife, Kathleen, in their Rutgers Place home. I kept it from Kathleen.

With this news, he became withdrawn, and his wife realized something was wrong. Mike told her what he had learned, and, as so often happens when a couple puts their heads together, they found some reason for hope: multiple myeloma is a blood disease in the bone marrow and, as such, does not metastasize.

Thats where all the action takes place, in the bone marrow, Mike said. You have to keep your chin up.

For treatment, he became part of a six-month chemotherapy clinical study. Mike was glad to be in the study, because most multiple myeloma patients go on chemotherapy for three months and then undergo a stem-cell transplant. He, however, would not.

A stem-cell transplant blows out the immune system, he said.

Kathleen, an administrative coordinator at Felician University School of Nursing, said her husband, a real estate management employee, did not break stride and never missed the commute to New York City during the clinical study.

A member of Nutley High Schools Class of 1976, Kathleen got on the computer.

When your spouse is diagnosed with an incurable cancer, you do a bit of research, she said.

She discovered the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation website and learned it was founded 30 years earlier by a woman named Kathy Giusti, who was living with the disease.

That gave me hope, Kathleen said.

She also learned about a collaboration between MMRF and CURE Media Group called Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma, or MM4MM.

This collaboration promotes endurance events, undertaken by multiple myeloma patients, to places like Mount Fuji, Mount Kilimanjaro and Iceland. The treks raise money for research, as well as public awareness about the disease. A patient selected to participate in one of these exotic treks had to raise funds, but the trip itself was underwritten by Celgene, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Summit.

Mike was interested and applied in November 2018 for a spot on a team going to Patagonia. He was interviewed and accepted on condition of raising $10,000 for MMRF research. He suggested that Kathleen accompany him, and they eventually raised $30,000 through social media and by asking friends, family and neighbors.

The online MMRF page devoted to Mikes fundraising shows a photograph of him with his arms around Kathleen and their daughter, Mary, a Class of 2020 NHS student.

In a letter featured on the page, Mike informs the reader that MMRF is one of the worlds leading private funders of myeloma research, with 10 new treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

In August 2019, Mike and Kathleen were flown to Oregon to meet their teammates and to get a taste of what was in store for them in Patagonia. According to the MM4MM website: Each team is carefully selected, representing a microcosm of the myeloma community patients, caregivers, health care professionals and clinical trials managers, as well as representatives from our pharma partners, from CURE Magazine and the MMRF to emphasize the collaboration necessary to drive toward cures.

The foundation sent the group to Mount Hood, Mike said. It was the first time we met. What a great group of people. There were around 15 from all over the country, and there was one other couple, but no one else from New Jersey.

Four other multiple myeloma patients were in the group, he said. he team climbed for nine hours and then headed home.

To prepare for the trip to Patagonia, a region containing part of the Andes mountain range, Mike and Kathleen began a regime of long walks. For instance, theyd walk from Nutley to South Orange and went hiking in New Yorks Harriman State Park.

The MMRF website described the journey as one of arduous adventure: This team will traverse Patagonia crossing over glaciers, through deep valleys, and ascending challenging peaks. This is a powerful and life-changing experience, as the team overcomes challenges, pushes beyond perceived limits and honors loved ones and friends living with multiple myeloma.

For the trek, the team flew to El Calafate, Argentina. As the team embarked on different climbs, documentary filmmakers accompanied them.

The hiking was physically difficult, Mike said. We hiked in rain and incredible winds. In one particular hike, as soon as you felt the winds, you hit the ground. I was surprised nobody got hurt. Some of those slopes were pretty steep. But the scenery was unworldly, and there were condors.

Both Mike and Kathleen agreed that the most memorable sight was La Condorera, which their itinerary described as a nearly vertical massif, offering a home to one of the greatest concentrations of endangered condors in the world. A massif is a group of mountains standing apart from other mountains.

It was a difficult hike, Kathleen said. Youre ready to pass out getting to the top. But its so worth it. The panorama is a view of glaciers and condors. It was spectacular.

Mike and Kathleen returned home on Nov. 16, but there were no goodbyes at the airport. The team had grown so incredibly close that everyone felt they would be seeing each other again, a feeling grounded in the knowledge that multiple myeloma can be challenged and hopefully, one day, defeated.

Our goal in all of this is that you can have multiple myeloma and still do incredible things, Kathleen said.

Its an incentive to other patients to get out there and enjoy their lives, Mike said. And find a cure for multiple myeloma. I have a little bias. I have it.

FEATURED, MOBILE

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Fighting cancer with every step to Patagonia - Essex News Daily

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Fighting cancer with every step to Patagonia – Essex News Daily | February 2nd, 2020

At left, image shows white blood cells (red) from one of the X-CGD clinical trial participants before gene therapy. At right, after gene therapy, white blood cells from the same patient show the presence of the chemicals (blue) needed to attack and destroy bacteria and fungus.

UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center/Nature Medicine

University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers are part of an international team that reported the use of a stem cell gene therapy to treat nine people with the rare, inherited blood disease known as X-linked chronic granulomatous disease, or X-CGD. Six of those patients are now in remission and have stopped other treatments. Before now, people with X-CGDwhich causes recurrent infections, prolonged hospitalizations for treatment, and a shortened lifespanhad to rely on bone marrow donations for a chance at remission.

"With this gene therapy, you can use a patient's own stem cells instead of donor cells for a transplant," said Dr. Donald Kohn, a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and a senior author of the new paper, published Jan. 28 in the journal Nature Medicine. "This means the cells are perfectly matched to the patient and it should be a much safer transplant, without the risks of rejection."

People with chronic granulomatous disease, or CGD, have a genetic mutation in one of five genes that help white blood cells attack and destroy bacteria and fungus using a burst of chemicals. Without this defensive chemical burst, patients with the disease are much more susceptible to infections than most people. The infections can be severe to life-threatening, including infections of the skin or bone and abscesses in organs such as lungs, liver or brain. The most common form of CGD is a subtype called X-CGD, which affects only males and is caused by a mutation in a gene found on the X-chromosome.

Other than treating infections as they occur and taking rotating courses of preventive antibiotics, the only treatment option for people with CGD is to receive a bone marrow transplant from a healthy matched donor. Bone marrow contains stem cells called hematopoietic, or blood-forming, stem cells, which produce white blood cells. Bone marrow from a healthy donor can produce functioning white blood cells that effectively ward off infection. But it can be difficult to identify a healthy matched bone marrow donor and the recovery from the transplant can have complications such as graft versus host disease, and risks of infection and transplant rejection.

"Patients can certainly get better with these bone marrow transplants, but it requires finding a matched donor and even with a match, there are risks," Kohn said. Patients must take anti-rejection drugs for six to 12 months so that their bodies don't attack the foreign bone marrow.

In the new approach, Kohn teamed up with collaborators at the United Kingdom's National Health Service, France-based Genethon, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and Boston Children's Hospital. The researchers removed hematopoietic stem cells from X-CGD patients and modified the cells in the laboratory to correct the genetic mutation. Then, the patients' own genetically modified stem cellsnow healthy and able to produce white blood cells that can make the immune-boosting burst of chemicalswere transplanted back into their own bodies. While the approach is new in X-CGD, Kohn previously pioneered a similar stem cell gene therapy to effectively cure a form of severe combined immune deficiency (also known as bubble baby disease) in more than 50 babies.

The viral delivery system for the X-CGD gene therapy was developed and fine-tuned by professor Adrian Thrasher's team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, or GOSH, in London, who collaborated with Kohn. The patients ranged in age from 2 to 27 years old; four were treated at GOSH and five were treated in the US, including one patient at UCLA Health.

Two people in the new study died within three months of receiving the treatment due to severe infections that they had already been battling before gene therapy. The seven surviving patients were followed for 12 to 36 months after receiving the stem cell gene therapy. All remained free of new CGD-related infections, and six of the seven have been able to discontinue their usual preventive antibiotics.

"None of the patients had complications that you might normally see from donor cells and the results were as good as you'd get from a donor transplantor better," Kohn said.

An additional four patients have been treated since the new paper was written; all are currently free of new CGD-related infections and no complications have arisen.

Orchard Therapeutics, a biotechnology company of which Kohn is a scientific co-founder, acquired the rights to the X-CGD investigational gene therapy from Genethon. Orchard will work with regulators in the US and Europe to carry out a larger clinical trial to further study this innovative treatment. The aim is to apply for regulatory approval to make the treatment commercially available, Kohn said.

Kohn and his colleagues plan to develop similar treatments for the other forms of CGDcaused by four other genetic mutations that affect the same immune function as X-CGD.

"Beyond CGD, there are also other diseases caused by proteins missing in white blood cells that could be treated in similar ways," Kohn said.

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6 Patients with Rare Blood Disease Doing Well after Gene Therapy Clinical Trial - Lab Manager Magazine

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on 6 Patients with Rare Blood Disease Doing Well after Gene Therapy Clinical Trial – Lab Manager Magazine | February 2nd, 2020

An intriguing experiment has led researchers to conclude that people who develop early-onset Parkinsons disease between the age of 21 and 50 may have been born with abnormal brain cells that go undetected for decades.

These disordered cells allow gradual accumulation of the -synuclein protein that forms abnormal deposits in the brain, and dysregulated lysosomal proteins that ordinarily play a role in clearing abnormal proteins from cells.

The researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center say they are investigating an FDA approved skin cancer drug they believe might help correct these abnormalities before they become symptomatic.

In other words, they suggest that early-onset Parkinsons the form of the disease that Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with at the age of 29 may be treatable or even prevented. Its an astonishing claim.

To perform the study, the research team generate pluripotent stem cells master cells that can potentially produce any cell or tissue the body needs to repair itself from blood cells of three patients with young-onset Parkinsons disease.

The patients were aged 30-39 and had no known familial history of the disease and no Parkinsons disease mutations.

When generated in the laboratory, these master cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In their experiment, the Cedars-Sinai researchers described this process as taking adult blood cells back in time to a primitive embryonic state.

The team used the stem cells to produce dopamine neurons from each patient and then cultured them in a dish and analysed the neurons functions.

In Parkinsons patients, brain neurons that make dopamine a neurotransmitter that works to coordinate muscle movement become impaired or die.

Our technique gave us a window back in time to see how well the dopamine neurons might have functioned from the very start of a patients life, said Dr Clive Svendsen, PhD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, and the studys senior author.

According to a statement from Cedars-Sinai, the researchers detected two key abnormalities in the dopamine neurons in the dish:

Dr Svendsen said the experiment allowed the researchers to see the very first signs of young-onset Parkinsons.

It appears that dopamine neurons in these individuals may continue to mishandle alpha-synuclein over a period of 20 or 30 years, causing Parkinsons symptoms to emerge.

The investigators went further, using their iPSC to test a number of drugs that might reverse the lab-born abnormalities.

They found that that one drug, PEP005 already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating pre-cancers of the skin reduced the elevated levels of alpha-synuclein in both the dopamine neurons in the dish and in laboratory mice.

The drug also countered another abnormality they found in the patients dopamine neurons elevated levels of an active version of an enzyme called protein kinase C. However, the role of this enzyme version in Parkinsons is not clear.

The drug PEP005 is only available in gel form and the researchers plans to investigate how it might be delivered to the brain to potentially treat or prevent young-onset Parkinsons.

In Parkinsons disease, the symptoms including slowness of movement, rigid muscles, tremors, loss of balance and impaired mood control get worse over time. In most cases, the exact cause of neuron failure is unclear, and there is no known cure.

Just about every week, a new insight into the disease is published. Last week, The New Daily reported on new research that found living less than 50 metres from a major road or less than 150 metres from a highway has been linked to significantly higher incidence of dementia and Parkinsons disease.

In 2018, we published an exciting Australian study that suggested subject to clinical testing the inflammation of the brain that causes so much of the progressive damage in Parkinsons disease (PD) could be halted by taking a single pill each day.

Both these studies might eventually prove to be correct. But its a long wait for the more than 10 million sufferers worldwide and their families.

This latest study could be a game-changer. But it could just as easily wither on the vine. Still, better to take heart than not.

Most patients are 60 or older when they are diagnosed, about 10 per cent are between 21 and 50 years old. .

Young-onset Parkinsons is especially heartbreaking because it strikes people at the prime of life, said Dr Michele Tagliati, director of the Movement Disorders Program, vice chair and professor in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai, and co-author of the study.

This exciting new research provides hope that one day we may be able to detect and take early action to prevent this disease in at-risk individuals.

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Early onset Parkinsons might begin in the womb: Prevention a possibility - The New Daily

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Early onset Parkinsons might begin in the womb: Prevention a possibility – The New Daily | February 2nd, 2020

NEW BEDFORD The New Bedford Fire Department is mourning the death of one of their own.

On Monday morning Russ Horn, who worked for the department for over 30 years, died of occupational cancer, according to the president of New Bedford Firefighters Union, Billy Sylvia.

Sylvia said Horn, who was in his 50s, was forced to retire from the department after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

According to a patient blog on the Dana Farber Cancer Institutes website, Horn was diagnosed with cancer of plasma cells in 2014 after a minor slip at work sent him to the emergency room. There they discovered he had two broken ribs and a punctured lung as a result of the cancer already attacking his bones.

After receiving stem cell transplants and participating in clinical trials, Horn retired from the department in 2017.

Firefighters face a 1.53 times greater risk of getting multiple myeloma, according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

Sylvia said he has seen a lot of cancer diagnoses among his colleagues in his 14 years as a firefighter, its adding up really quickly... its more than a handful.

We have active guys dealing with this, we have guys that are contracting it after retirement... studies show how much more susceptible we are, Sylvia said.

Its more than just the smoke theyre breathing thats putting them at risk, according to Sylvia; firefighters also can end up absorbing things through their skin and some of its coming from the gear thats supposed to protect us.

The issue is affecting firefighters across the country, Sylvia said, Were learning more and more, trying to get it under control, but theres still a lot of work that can be done.

Sylvia said Horns family has been proactive about making firefighters aware of their cancer risk and teaching them what to look for and the importance of early cancer screenings.

He was a very strong individual, both mentally and physically, Sylvia said of Horn, Eventually it just took its toll.

In 2019, Horn told Dana-Farber, Id do it all again, referring to his 30 years as a firefighter. This has been really hard, but having the guys behind me 100 percent makes it all a little easier.

Both the New Bedford Fire Department and the union have updated their profile pictures on Facebook to include a black stripe over their logos, honoring Horn.

In a post to the unions Facebook page announcing Horns passing, Sylvia said, Russ was the perfect example of what a firefighter, husband, father, and friend, that anyone could ever be. He was surrounded by his family, friends, brother and sisters firefighters throughout his fight and now beyond.

Sylvia closed the post with, We Love You Russ, Well see you again At the Big One.

On their own Facebook page the New Bedford Fire Department posted, "Our hearts are broken as we learned this morning that our retired brother, FF Russell Horn has lost his brave and courageous battle. We will never forget you and we will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers."

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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New Bedford firefighter dies of occupational cancer - SouthCoastToday.com

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on New Bedford firefighter dies of occupational cancer – SouthCoastToday.com | February 2nd, 2020

The Cosmetic Skin Care report makes available a thoughtful overview of product specification, technology, product type and production analysis taking into account major factors such as revenue, cost, and gross margin. The report is sure to offer brilliant solution to the challenges and problems faced by industry. This business document comprises of extensive study about miscellaneous market segments and regions, emerging trends, major market drivers, challenges and opportunities in the market. This Cosmetic Skin Care business document also displays the key developments in the industry with respect to current scenario and the approaching advancements.

Global cosmetic skin care market is set to witness a substantial CAGR of 5.5% in the forecast period of 2019- 2026. The report contains data of the base year 2018 and historic year 2017. Increasing self-consciousness among population and rising demand for anti- aging skin care products are the factor for the market growth.

Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market By Product (Anti-Aging Cosmetic Products, Skin Whitening Cosmetic Products, Sensitive Skin Care Products, Anti-Acne Products, Dry Skin Care Products, Warts Removal Products, Infant Skin Care Products, Anti-Scars Solution Products, Mole Removal Products, Multi Utility Products), Application (Flakiness Reduction, Stem Cells Protection against UV, Rehydrate the skins surface, Minimize wrinkles, Increase the viscosity of Aqueous, Others), Gender (Men, Women), Distribution Channel (Online, Departmental Stores and Convenience Stores, Pharmacies, Supermarket, Others), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2026 ;

Complete report on Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market Research Report 2019-2026 spread across 350 Pages, profiling Top companies and supports with tables and figures

Market Definition: Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market

Cosmetic skin care is a variety of products which are used to improve the skins appearance and alleviate skin conditions. It consists different products such as anti- aging cosmetic products, sensitive skin care products, anti- scar solution products, warts removal products, infant skin care products and other. They contain various ingredients which are beneficial for the skin such as phytochemicals, vitamins, essential oils, and other. Their main function is to make the skin healthy and repair the skin damages.

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Customize report of Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market as per customers requirement also available.Market Segmentations:Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market is segmented on the basis of

Market Segmentations in Details:By Product

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Global cosmetic skin care market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of cosmetic skin care market for Global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Researchset forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email:corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com

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Cosmetic Skin Care Market 2020: Overview, Trends, Opportunities, Impact of Drivers, Key Vendors, Types, Applications, Forecast by Focusing Companies...

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cosmetic Skin Care Market 2020: Overview, Trends, Opportunities, Impact of Drivers, Key Vendors, Types, Applications, Forecast by Focusing Companies… | February 2nd, 2020

Comparing between SARS, MERS and 2019-nCOv

The Wuhan coronavirus or novel 2019 nCoV, has spread like a wildfire across China and reached the shores of 22 countries as of now. In a bid to stem the spread of the disease, countries have resorted to various preventive and arresting measures. Many laboratories are in the process of formulating a vaccine. However, combating this new pathogen is proving to be a global challenge.

A new study by researchers from the University of Minnesota suggests that understanding the Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS) or SARS-CoV, which caused global panic in 2002-2003 may help combat the new coronavirus.

After a structural study that lasted for ten years, the researchers have been able to demonstrate the manner of interaction between the SARS-CoV and animals, and human hosts that lead to infection in them. The scientists suggest that the mechanism of infection of the Wuhan coronavirus exhibits similarities to the SARS-CoV, which also is a coronavirus.

Using the data and information acquired from multiple strains of SARS-CoV from diverse hosts from different years, and studying the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptors from various species of host animals, the scientists modelled predictions for the Wuhan coronavirus. Normally, the enzyme is associated with the regulation of cardiac functions. However, both these viruses have been found to gain entry into healthy cells by using ACE2.

"Our structural analyses confidently predict that the Wuhan coronavirus uses ACE2 as its host receptor," the researchers wrote in the study. They state that various other structural details of the new coronavirus are consistent with the ability of the SARS-CoV to recognise the ACE2 receptors to infect the cells, playing a determining role in transmission from hosts to human beings, and human to human.

The researchers also stressed that a single mutation has the ability to increase the potency with which the virus can infect humans. "Alarmingly, our data predict that a single mutation [at a specific spot in the genome] could significantly enhance [the Wuhan coronavirus's] ability to bind with human ACE2," they stated in the study.

It is because of this danger that the evolution of the Wuhan virus among patients must be monitored closely to spot novel mutations in its genomes, the scientists add. This continuous examination may help predict the possibility of an outbreak that could be far more serious than the ones being witnessed the authors stress.

"One of the long -term goals of our previous structural studies on SARS -CoV was to build an atomic -level iterative framework of virus-receptor interactions that facilitate epidemic surveillance, predict species-specific receptor usage and identify potential animal hosts and likely animal models of human diseases," highlighted the authors.

They conclude that this study provides translational and public health research communities with a reiterative framework that may help provide predictive insights enabling the better understanding and counter of the novel 2019 -nCoV.

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Coronavirus is similar to SARS and causes infection through a heart regulating enzyme: Study - International Business Times, Singapore Edition

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Coronavirus is similar to SARS and causes infection through a heart regulating enzyme: Study – International Business Times, Singapore Edition | February 2nd, 2020

A team based at Osaka University has conducted the first ever transplant of cardiac muscle cells generated from iPS cells, around the globe, in a clinical trial initiated physician.

A professor in the universitys cardiovascular surgery unit, Yoshiki Sawa, together with his colleagues at the university, in a clinical procedure to verify the efficiency and security of the therapy with the help of induced pluripotent stem cells, intend to transplant heart muscle cell sheets over the time of 3 years into 10 individuals undergoing severe heart malfunction a result of ischemic cardiomyopathy.

The team conducted, the present month, an operation on an individual, in an attempt to take a first step into the project. This operation was successful. The individual has now been moved to a general ward.

It is predicted that the cells on the degradable sheets which attach to the hearts surface will grow and eliminate a protein which has the power to regenerate blood vessels and advance cardiac function. Already, the iPS cells have been stored after being taken from the blood cells of healthy donors.

Every sheet that goes on the hearts surface is 4 to 5 centimeters in width, and 0.1 millimeter in thickness.

The team from Osaka University will be observing the patient throughout the year.

At a news conference, Yoshiki Sawa expressed his hopes of the transplant becoming the medical technology that succeeds in saving as many individuals as it can, since he has come across many lives that he was unable to save.

On Monday, the universitys researchers stated how they chose to carry out a clinical trial in a clinical researchs stead so they could gain timely approval from the health ministry for clinical applications.

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Team based at Osaka University carries out world's first transplant of heart cells generated from iPS cells - Medical Herald

IPS Cell Therapy Comments Off on Team based at Osaka University carries out world’s first transplant of heart cells generated from iPS cells – Medical Herald | January 31st, 2020

NEW YORK Last month, Cytovia Therapeutics unveiled two partnerships in succession: one with the New York Stem Cell Foundation, and one with Justin Eyquem's laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco. These partnerships, which contain a three-year research agreement between the three institutions, will support Cytovia's foray into developing natural killer (NK) cell-based therapies for cancer.

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Cytovia's CAR NK Alliance With NYSCF, UCSF Aims to Overcome Negative Side Effects of CAR T Drugs - Precision Oncology News

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cytovia’s CAR NK Alliance With NYSCF, UCSF Aims to Overcome Negative Side Effects of CAR T Drugs – Precision Oncology News | January 31st, 2020

Parkinson's disease comes with slowness, rigidity, tremors, and loss of balance due to an insufficiency of the dopamine that coordinates muscle movement. This disease, of which the rate of diagnosis is rising, occurs when the neurons responsible for producing dopamine malfunction or die. About 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's each year.

Most of the time, Parkinson's disease is a condition of the elderly, diagnosed in people 60 and older. However, about 10% of the time, it's detected in people between 21 and 50. "Young-onset Parkinson's is especially heartbreaking because it strikes people at the prime of life," says Michele Tagliati, an author of a new study from Cedars-Sinai.

The study of brain cells from Parkinson's younger victims has found that the misbehaving neurons are present long before diagnosis typically taking some 20 or 30 years to produce detectable symptoms and may even be present prior to birth. The revelation raises hope for combatting Parkinson's because there's already an approved drug that can mitigate the damage done by the troublemaking neurons before the disease ever appears.

The research is published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Image source: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock

The authors' investigation began with an examination of neurons based on cells from young-onset Parkinson's (YOPD) patients who had no known mutations. From the cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated and differentiated into dishes containing cultures of dopamine neurons. Senior study author Clive Svendsen says, "Our technique gave us a window back in time to see how well the dopamine neurons might have functioned from the very start of a patient's life."

The scientists observed lysosomes within the YOPD neurons malfunctioning. Since lysosomes are counted on as "trash cans" for unnecessary or depleted proteins, the castoff chemicals began to pile up. In particular, substantial accumulations of soluble -synuclein, a protein implicated in different types of Parkinson's, were seen.

Says Svendsen, "What we are seeing using this new model are the very first signs of young-onset Parkinson's,"revealing that, "It appears that dopamine neurons in these individuals may continue to mishandle -synuclein over a period of 20 or 30 years, causing Parkinson's symptoms to emerge."

The researchers also saw unexpectedly high levels of the enzyme protein kinase C in its active form, though what that has to do with Parkinson's, if anything, is unknown.

Image source: sruilk/Shutterstock

The researchers tested a number of drugs on the cultures to see if any might address the observed accumulations of -synuclein. (They performed parallel tests of laboratory mice.) One drug, PEP005, which is already approved by the FDA for treating skin pre-cancers, did effectively reduce the -synuclein buildup, both in the iPSCs and the mice.

Since PEP005 is currently administered in gel form for treating skin, the researchers are now exploring how the drug might be modified so it can be delivered directly to the brain. The team also plans follow-on research to see if their findings apply equally to forms of Parkinson's beyond YOPD.

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Can Parkinsons be prevented as it stealthily develops? - Big Think

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Can Parkinsons be prevented as it stealthily develops? – Big Think | January 31st, 2020

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Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Market 2020 Global Analysis By CBR Systems, Inc., Cordlife., StemCyte India Therapeutics And Others - Dagoretti News

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Market 2020 Global Analysis By CBR Systems, Inc., Cordlife., StemCyte India Therapeutics And Others – Dagoretti News | January 31st, 2020