Tiny organs grown from snake glands produce real venom – Science Magazine

Researchers grew tiny venom glands from nine different snake species, including the cape coral cobra.

By Erin MalsburyJan. 23, 2020 , 11:00 AM

Venomous snakes kill or permanently injure more than a half-million people every year. Yet researchers still know surprisingly little about the biology behind venom, complicating efforts to develop treatments. A new advance could help: Researchers have successfully grown miniature organs from snake stem cells in the lab that function just like snake venom glands; they even produce real venom.

Its a breakthrough, says Jos Mara Gutirrez, a snake venom toxicologist at the University of Costa Rica, San Jos, who was not involved in the study. This work opens the possibilities for studying the cellular biology of venom-secreting cells at a very fine level, which has not been possible in the past. The advance could also help researchers study the venom of rare snakes that are difficult to keep in captivity, he says, paving the way for new treatments for a variety of venoms.

Researchers have been creating miniorgansor organoidsfrom adult human and mouse stem cells for years. These so-called pluripotent cells are able to divide and grow into new types of tissues throughout the body; scientists have coaxed them into tiny livers, guts, and even rudimentary brains. But scientists hadnt tried the technique with reptile cells before.

Nobody knew anything about stem cells in snakes, says Hans Clevers, a molecular biologist at the Hubrecht Institute and one of the worlds leading organoid scientists. We didnt know if it was possible at all. To find out, Clevers and colleagues removed stem cells from the venom glands of nine snake speciesincluding the cape coral cobra and the western diamondback rattlesnakeand placed them in a cocktail of hormones and proteins called growth factors.

To the teams surprise, the snake stem cells responded to the same growth factors that work on human and mouse cells. This suggests certain aspects of these stem cells originated hundreds of millions of years ago in a shared ancestor of mammals and reptiles.

Miniature, lab-grown snakevenom glands

By the end of 1 week submerged in the cocktail, the snake cells had grown into little clumps of tissue, a half-millimeter across and visible to the human eye. When the scientists removed the growth factors, the cells began to morph into the epithelial cells that produce venom in the glands of snakes.The miniorgans expressed similar genes as those in real venom glands, the team reports today inCell.

The snake organoids even produced venom; a chemical and genetic analysis of the secretions revealed that they match the venom made by the real snakes. The labmade venom is dangerous as well: It disrupted the function of mouse muscle cells and rat neurons in a similar way to real venom.

Scientists didnt know whether the many toxins found in snake venom are made by one general type of cell or specialized, toxin-specific cells. By sequencing RNA in individual cells and examining gene expression, Cleverss team determined that both real venom glands and organoids contain different cell types that specialize in producing certain toxins. Organoids grown using stem cells from separate regions of the venom gland also produce toxins in different proportions, indicating that location within the organ matters.

The proportions and types of toxins in venom differ amongand even withinspecies. That can be problematic for antivenom production, says study author Yorick Post, a molecular biologist at the Hubrecht Institute. Most antivenoms are developed using one type of venom, so they only work against one type of snakebite.

Now that Clevers and his colleagues created a way to study the complexity of venom and venom glands without handling live, dangerous snakes, they plan to compile a biobank of frozen organoids from venomous reptiles around the world that could help researchers find broader treatments. This would make it much easier to create antibodies, Clevers says. The biobank could also be a rich resource for identifying new drugs, he adds. (Scientists think snake venom may hold the keyfor treatments against pain, high blood pressure, and cancer, for instance.)

Another new study, published earlier this month inNature, could also help. Researchers have assembled anear-complete genome for the Indian cobrathat could aid drug development. The organoids created by Cleverss team will provide an unprecedented and incredibly important new avenue to complement genomic information for venomous snakes, says the senior author of the cobra study, molecular biologist Somasekar Seshagiri of the SciGenom Research Foundation. Theyve done an amazing job making this work.

*Correction, 23 January, 1:35 p.m.: An earlier version of this story misspelledSomasekar Seshagiri's name.

Originally posted here:
Tiny organs grown from snake glands produce real venom - Science Magazine

Asymmetrex Partners in Manufacturing USA Institute January 23, 2020The Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute – PR Web

BOSTON (PRWEB) January 23, 2020

Asymmetrex LLC is part of a new public-private Manufacturing USA initiative, the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI). Headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, ARMI is the 12th Manufacturing USA Institute. ARMI brings together a consortium of over 100 partner organizations from industry, government, academia and the non-profit sector to develop next-generation manufacturing processes and technologies for cells, tissues and organs.

Approximately $80 million from the federal government will be combined with more than $200 million in cost share to support the development of tissue and organ manufacturing capabilities. As part of continuing efforts to help revitalize American manufacturing and incentivize companies to invest in new technology development in the United States, ARMI will lead the Advanced Tissue Biofabrication (ATB) Manufacturing USA Institute on behalf of the Department of Defense.

Under the umbrella of Manufacturing USA, a public-private network that invests in the development of world-leading manufacturing technologies, ARMI will work to integrate and organize the fragmented collection of industry practices and domestic capabilities in tissue Biofabrication technology to better position the US relative to global competition. ARMI will also focus on accelerating regenerative tissue research and creating state-of-the-art manufacturing innovations in biomaterial and cell processing for critical Department of Defense and civilian needs.

We need to develop 21st century tools for engineered tissue manufacturing that will allow these innovations to be widely available similar to how a 15th century tool (the printing press) allowed knowledge to spread widely during the Renaissance, said inventor Dean Kamen, ARMIs chairman.

ARMIs efforts are supported by forty-seven industrial partners, twenty-six academic and academically affiliated partners, and fourteen government and nonprofit partners. The ARMI partnership continues to grow.

About AsymmetrexAsymmetrex, LLC is a Massachusetts life sciences company with a focus on developing technologies to advance stem cell medicine. The companys patent portfolio contains biotechnologies that solve the two main technical problems production and quantification that have stood in the way of successful commercialization of human adult tissue stem cells for regenerative medicine and drug development. Asymmetrex markets the first technology for determination of the dose and quality of tissue stem cell preparations (the AlphaSTEM Test) for use in stem cell transplantation therapies and pre-clinical drug evaluations. For more information, please visit http://www.asymmetrex.com.

About ARMIThe Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), headquartered in Manchester, NH, is the 12th Manufacturing USA Institute. It brings together a consortium of over 150 partners from across industry, government, academia and the non-profit sector to develop next-generation manufacturing processes and technologies for cells, tissues and organs. ARMI will work to organize the current fragmented domestic capabilities in tissue Biofabrication technology to better position the U.S. relative to global competition. For more information on ARMI, please visit http://www.ARMIUSA.org.

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Asymmetrex Partners in Manufacturing USA Institute January 23, 2020The Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute - PR Web

Genmab Announces European Marketing Authorization for DARZALEX (Daratumumab) in Combination with Bortezomib, Thalidomide and Dexamethasone in Frontli…

Copenhagen, Denmark; January 20, 2020 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for DARZALEX (daratumumab) in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). The EC approval follows a positive opinion issued for DARZALEX by the CHMP of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2019. In August 2012, Genmab granted Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab.

With this approval, newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who are eligible for ASCT may have the opportunity for treatment with a DARZALEX-containing regimen. We are extremely pleased that DARZALEX has received this latest approval and we look forward to the combination of DARZALEX plus bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone being launched in Europe, said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.

The approval was based on the Phase III CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) study sponsored by the French Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM) in collaboration with the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology (HOVON) and Janssen R&D, LLC. Data from this study was published in The Lancet and presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

About the CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) studyThis Phase III study is a randomized, open-label, multicenter study, run by the French Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM) in collaboration with the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology (HOVON) and Janssen R&D, LLC, including 1,085 newly diagnosed subjects with previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma who are eligible for high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. In the first part of the study, patients were randomized to receive induction and consolidation treatment with daratumumab combined with bortezomib, thalidomide (an immunomodulatory agent) and dexamethasone (a corticosteroid) or treatment with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone alone. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients that achieve a stringent Complete Response (sCR). In the second part of the study, patients that achieved a response will undergo a second randomization to either receive maintenance treatment of daratumumab 16 mg/kg every 8 weeks for up to 2 years versus no further treatment (observation). The primary endpoint of this part of the study is progression free survival (PFS).

About multiple myelomaMultiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterized by an excess proliferation of plasma cells.1 Approximately 16,830 new patients were expected to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma and approximately 10,480 people were expected to die from the disease in the Western Europe in 2018.2 Globally, it was estimated that 160,000 people were diagnosed and 106,000 died from the disease in 2018.3 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms which can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.4

About DARZALEX (daratumumab)DARZALEX (daratumumab) intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in the United States: in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI); and as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.5 DARZALEX is the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) approval to treat multiple myeloma. DARZALEX intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in Europe: in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; and as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, whose prior therapy included a PI and an immunomodulatory agent and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy6. The option to split the first infusion of DARZALEX over two consecutive days has been approved in both Europe and the U.S. In Japan, DARZALEX intravenous infusion is approved for the treatment of adult patients: in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant. DARZALEX is the first human CD38 monoclonal antibody to reach the market in the United States, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit http://www.DARZALEX.com.

Daratumumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high affinity to the CD38 molecule, which is highly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Daratumumab triggers a persons own immune system to attack the cancer cells, resulting in rapid tumor cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action and through immunomodulatory effects, in addition to direct tumor cell death, via apoptosis (programmed cell death).5,6,7,8,9,10

Daratumumab is being developed by Janssen Biotech, Inc. under an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab from Genmab. A comprehensive clinical development program for daratumumab is ongoing, including multiple Phase III studies in smoldering, relapsed and refractory and frontline multiple myeloma settings. Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess the potential of daratumumab in other malignant and pre-malignant diseases in which CD38 is expressed, such as amyloidosis, NKT-cell lymphoma and B-cell and T-cell ALL. Daratumumab has received two Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA for certain indications of multiple myeloma, including as a monotherapy for heavily pretreated multiple myeloma and in combination with certain other therapies for second-line treatment of multiple myeloma.

About Genmab Genmab is a publicly traded, international biotechnology company specializing in the creation and development of differentiated antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Founded in 1999, the company has two approved antibodies, DARZALEX (daratumumab) for the treatment of certain multiple myeloma indications, and Arzerra (ofatumumab) for the treatment of certain chronic lymphocytic leukemia indications. Daratumumab is in clinical development for additional multiple myeloma indications, other blood cancers and amyloidosis. A subcutaneous formulation of ofatumumab is in development for relapsing multiple sclerosis. Genmab also has a broad clinical and pre-clinical product pipeline. Genmab's technology base consists of validated and proprietary next generation antibody technologies - the DuoBody platform for generation of bispecific antibodies, the HexaBody platform, which creates effector function enhanced antibodies, the HexElect platform, which combines two co-dependently acting HexaBody molecules to introduce selectivity while maximizing therapeutic potency and the DuoHexaBody platform, which enhances the potential potency of bispecific antibodies through hexamerization. The company intends to leverage these technologies to create opportunities for full or co-ownership of future products. Genmab has alliances with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with core sites in Utrecht, the Netherlands and Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.

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Genmab Announces European Marketing Authorization for DARZALEX (Daratumumab) in Combination with Bortezomib, Thalidomide and Dexamethasone in Frontli...

Video: In 40 years, babies could be made in the lab from skin cells – Genetic Literacy Project

The birds and the bees as we know them are changing. A new process called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is currently being developed, and if successful, it will completely transform the way humans think about reproduction.

In 20 to 40 years, people will still have sex. But when they want to make babies, theyll go to a lab, predicts Stanford University Professor Henry T. Greely. Its also the premise of his book The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction.

The process of IVG creates sperm and egg cells in a lab from just about any adult cell. IVG uses skin or blood cells to reverse engineer a special type of cells calledinduced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs).

IVG could eliminate the need for egg and sperm donors. With IVG, post-menopausal women could generate viable eggs. Same-sex couples could make a biological family. Virtually anyone with skin would have the ability to produce eggs or sperm.

Although 40 years might seem a lifetime away, theres a lot to figure out before we can safely, ethically, and responsibly add in vitro gametogenesis to our list of fertility treatment options.

Read full, original post: IVG: Making Babies From Skin Cells

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Video: In 40 years, babies could be made in the lab from skin cells - Genetic Literacy Project

What meat eaters really think about veganism new research – The Conversation UK

Most people in the UK are committed meat eaters but for how long? My new research into the views of meat eaters found that most respondents viewed veganism as ethical in principle and good for the environment.

It seems that practical matters of taste, price, and convenience are the main barriers preventing more people from adopting veganism not disagreement with the fundamental idea. This could have major implications for the future of the food industry as meat alternatives become tastier, cheaper and more widely available.

My survey of 1,000 UK adult men and women found that 73% of those surveyed considered veganism to be ethical, while 70% said it was good for the environment. But 61% said adopting a vegan diet was not enjoyable, 77% said it was inconvenient, and 83% said it was not easy.

Other possible barriers such as health concerns and social stigma seemed not to be as important, with 60% considering veganism to be socially acceptable, and over half saying it was healthy.

The idea that most meat eaters agree with the principles of veganism might seem surprising to some. But other research has led to similar conclusions. One study for example, found that almost half of Americans supported a ban on slaughterhouses.

The prevalence of taste, price, and convenience as barriers to change also mirrors previous findings. One British survey found that the most common reason by far people gave for not being vegetarian is simply: I like the taste of meat too much. The second and third most common reasons related to the high cost of meat substitutes and struggling for meal ideas.

These findings present climate and animal advocates with an interesting challenge. People are largely aware that there are good reasons to cut down their animal product consumption, but they are mostly not willing to bear the personal cost of doing so.

Decades of food behaviour research has shown us that price, taste and convenience are the three major factors driving food choices. For most people, ethics and environmental impact simply do not enter into it.

Experimental research has also shown that the act of eating meat can alter peoples views of the morality of eating animals. One study asked participants to rate their moral concern for cows. Before answering, participants were given either nuts or beef jerky to snack on.

The researchers found that eating beef jerky actually caused participants to care less about cows. People seem not to be choosing to eat meat because they think there are good reasons to do so they are choosing to think there are good reasons because they eat meat.

In this way, the default widespread (and, lets be honest, enjoyable) behaviour of meat eating can be a barrier to clear reasoning about our food systems. How can we be expected to discuss this honestly when we have such a strong interest in reaching the conclusion that eating meat is okay?

Fortunately, things are changing. The range, quality, and affordability of vegan options has exploded. My survey was conducted in September 2018, a few months before the tremendously successful release of Greggs vegan sausage roll.

Since then, we have seen an avalanche of high-quality affordable vegan options released in the British supermarkets, restaurants and even fast food outlets. These allow meat eaters to easily replace animal products one meal at a time. When Subway offers a version of its meatball marinara that is compatible with your views on ethics and the environment, why would you choose the one made from an animal if the alternative tastes the same?

The widespread availability of these options means that the growing number of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians in the UK have more choice than ever. Not only will this entice more people to try vegan options, but it will make it far easier for aspiring vegetarians and vegans to stick to their diets.

With consumer choice comes producer competition, and here we will see the magic of the market. If you think those looking to cut down their meat consumption are spoilt for choice in 2020, just wait to see the effect of these food giants racing to make their vegan offerings better and cheaper as they compete for a rapidly growing customer segment.

We may be about to witness an explosion in research to perfect plant-based meat analogues. Meanwhile, the development of real animal meat grown from stem cells without the animals is gaining pace.

While these replacements get tastier, more nutritious and cheaper over the next ten years, meat from animals will largely stay the same. It is no wonder the animal farming industry is nervous. Demand for meat and dairy is falling drastically while the market for alternatives has skyrocketed.

In the US, two major dairy producers have filed for bankruptcy in recent months, while a recent report estimated that the meat and dairy industries will collapse in the next decade.

This leaves the average meat eater with a dilemma. Most agree with the reasons for being vegan but object to the price, taste, and convenience of the alternatives.

As these alternatives get cheaper, better and more widespread, meat eaters will have to ask themselves just how good the alternatives need to be before they decide to consume in line with their values. Being one of the last people to pay for needless animal slaughter because the alternative was only pretty good will not be a good look in the near future.

Originally posted here:
What meat eaters really think about veganism new research - The Conversation UK

Here’s What Meat-Eaters Really Think of Veganism, According to a New Study – ScienceAlert

Most people in the UK are committed meat eaters but for how long? My new research into the views of meat eaters found that most respondents viewed veganism as ethical in principle and good for the environment.

It seems that practical matters of taste, price, and convenience are the main barriers preventing more people from adopting veganism not disagreement with the fundamental idea.

This could have major implications for the future of the food industry as meat alternatives become tastier, cheaper and more widely available.

My survey of 1,000 UK adult men and women found that 73 percent of those surveyed considered veganism to be ethical, while 70 percent said it was good for the environment.

But 61 percent said adopting a vegan diet was not enjoyable, 77 percent said it was inconvenient, and 83 percent said it was not easy.

Other possible barriers such as health concerns and social stigma seemed not to be as important, with 60 percent considering veganism to be socially acceptable, and over half saying it was healthy.

The idea that most meat eaters agree with the principles of veganism might seem surprising to some. But other research has led to similar conclusions. One study for example, found that almost half of Americans supported a ban on slaughterhouses.

The prevalence of taste, price, and convenience as barriers to change also mirrors previous findings. One British survey found that the most common reason by far people gave for not being vegetarian is simply: "I like the taste of meat too much." The second and third most common reasons related to the high cost of meat substitutes and struggling for meal ideas.

These findings present climate and animal advocates with an interesting challenge. People are largely aware that there are good reasons to cut down their animal product consumption, but they are mostly not willing to bear the personal cost of doing so.

Decades of food behaviour research has shown us that price, taste and convenience are the three major factors driving food choices. For most people, ethics and environmental impact simply do not enter into it.

Experimental research has also shown that the act of eating meat can alter peoples' views of the morality of eating animals. One study asked participants to rate their moral concern for cows. Before answering, participants were given either nuts or beef jerky to snack on.

The researchers found that eating beef jerky actually caused participants to care less about cows. People seem not to be choosing to eat meat because they think there are good reasons to do so they are choosing to think there are good reasons because they eat meat.

In this way, the default widespread (and, let's be honest, enjoyable) behaviour of meat eating can be a barrier to clear reasoning about our food systems. How can we be expected to discuss this honestly when we have such a strong interest in reaching the conclusion that eating meat is okay?

Fortunately, things are changing. The range, quality, and affordability of vegan options has exploded. My survey was conducted in September 2018, a few months before the tremendously successful release of Greggs' vegan sausage roll.

Since then, we have seen an avalanche of high-quality affordable vegan options released in the British supermarkets, restaurants and even fast food outlets. These allow meat eaters to easily replace animal products one meal at a time.

When Subway offers a version of its meatball marinara that is compatible with your views on ethics and the environment, why would you choose the one made from an animal if the alternative tastes the same?

The widespread availability of these options means that the growing number of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians in the UK have more choice than ever. Not only will this entice more people to try vegan options, but it will make it far easier for aspiring vegetarians and vegans to stick to their diets.

With consumer choice comes producer competition, and here we will see the magic of the market. If you think those looking to cut down their meat consumption are spoilt for choice in 2020, just wait to see the effect of these food giants racing to make their vegan offerings better and cheaper as they compete for a rapidly growing customer segment.

We may be about to witness an explosion in research to perfect plant-based meat analogues. Meanwhile, the development of real animal meat grown from stem cells without the animals is gaining pace.

While these replacements get tastier, more nutritious and cheaper over the next ten years, meat from animals will largely stay the same. It is no wonder the animal farming industry is nervous. Demand for meat and dairy is falling drastically while the market for alternatives has skyrocketed.

In the US, two major dairy producers have filed for bankruptcy in recent months, while a recent report estimated that the meat and dairy industries will collapse in the next decade.

This leaves the average meat eater with a dilemma. Most agree with the reasons for being vegan but object to the price, taste, and convenience of the alternatives.

As these alternatives get cheaper, better and more widespread, meat eaters will have to ask themselves just how good the alternatives need to be before they decide to consume in line with their values. Being one of the last people to pay for needless animal slaughter because the alternative was only "pretty good" will not be a good look in the near future.

Chris Bryant, PhD Candidate, University of Bath.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Opinions expressed in this article don't necessarily reflect the views of ScienceAlert editorial staff.

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Here's What Meat-Eaters Really Think of Veganism, According to a New Study - ScienceAlert

Mutations in Donor Stem Cells Could Harm the Health of Patients with Cancer, Study Finds – Curetoday.com

Research findings show that rare mutations from donor stem cells can be passed onto patients who receive them, potentially causing health concerns.

Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis discovered this while analyzing bone marrow samples from 25 adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Heart damage, graft-versus-host disease and, potentially, new leukemias, are the risks associated with these mutations.

There have been suspicions that genetic errors in donor stem cells may be causing problems in cancer patients, but until now we didnt have a way to identify them because they are so rare, senior author Dr. Todd E. Druley, an associate professor of pediatrics, said in a news release. This study raises concerns that even young, healthy donors blood stem cells may have harmful mutations and provides strong evidence that we need to explore the potential effects of these mutations further.

The harmful mutations were found in surprisingly young donors, explained the researchers. Healthy donors ranged in age from 20 to 58, with an average age of 26 years old. Interestingly, the mutations, because they are so rare, were not detected using usual genome sequencing techniques.

In the study, the researchers sequenced 80 genes that are associated with AML using a technique called error-corrected sequencing. They found at least one harmful genetic mutation in 11 of the 25 donors. Eighty-four percent of the mutations identified in the donor samples were potentially harmful and 100% of the harmful mutations were found in the recipients the most common mutation seen is a gene associated with heart disease.

We didnt expect this many young, healthy donors to have these types of mutations, Druley said. We also didnt expect 100% of the harmful mutations to be engrafted into the recipients. That was striking.

These harmful mutations persisted over time, and many increased in frequency, explained the researchers.

In addition, 75% of patients who received at least one harmful mutation developed chronic graft-versus-host disease. In patients who didnt receive a mutation, 50% developed the condition. Graft-versus-host disease either acute or chronic, can occur in patients who receive an allogeneic transplant, which consists of donor stems cells versus a patients own stem cells.

The researchers plan to examine the mutations in a larger study to answer the questions that this study revealed.

Transplant physicians tend to seek younger donors because we assume this will lead to fewer complications co-author Dr. Sima T. Bhatt, an assistant professor of pediatrics who treats pediatric patients with blood cancers at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Childrens Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, said in a news release. But we now see evidence that even young and healthy donors can have mutations that will have consequences for our patients. We need to understand what those consequences are if we are to find ways to modify them.

Originally posted here:
Mutations in Donor Stem Cells Could Harm the Health of Patients with Cancer, Study Finds - Curetoday.com

Role of wearable sensors in the early diagnosis of Graft Versus Host Disease – Verdict Medical Devices – Medical Device Network

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) that occurs when the donated (graft) cells are rejected and attack the hosts cells as foreign. GvHD is a serious condition with high morbidity and mortality. There is a need for new approaches for the diagnosis of GvHD to enable early intervention and reduce mortality. According to a December 2019 study by He and colleagues published in Blood Advances, an accurate prediction of GvHD development could be made by continuous monitoring of body temperature.

The researchers from the University of Michigan, US, developed wearable sensors that monitor body temperature in mice that had undergone HSCT. The technology identifies patterns of temperature fluctuations as a predictor of GvHD development. The mice were monitored using machine learning to detect subtle patterns in temperature fluctuations. The researchers are hopeful that these experiments could be replicated in humans and temperature monitors could offer an efficient and low-cost method for quickly identifying patients developing GvHD.

The global distribution of GvHD is directly dependent on transplantation-related factors, including donor type, the ages of the donor and the recipient, the sex parity between the recipient and the donor, the pre-transplantation conditioning regimen, and the use of GvHD prophylaxis pre- and/or post-transplantation. Around 40%60% of HSCT recipients will develop acute GvHD, and another 40%50% of adult patients will develop chronic GvHD. GlobalData epidemiologists forecast an increase in the diagnosed incident cases of GvHD in the seven major markets (7MM: US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan) from 18,500 cases in 2018 to 22,500 cases in 2028, at an Annual Growth Rate (AGR) of 2.20%.

In the future, the number of HSCT procedures will continue to expand in every market parallel to the increase in the incidence of the spectrum of life-threatening indications treated with HSCT, which includes non-malignant, malignant, genetic, metabolic, and autoimmune disorders. As a direct result of the expansion of HSCT, more patients will be at risk of developing post-transplantation complications such as GvHD. While reducing the incidence of GvHD is essential, the key to ensuring success with HSCT is reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by GvHD. Wearable sensors and machine learning processes that detect fluctuations in temperature patterns could provide low-cost, practical solutions to the early diagnosis of GvHD.

GlobalData is this websites parent business intelligence company.

Originally posted here:
Role of wearable sensors in the early diagnosis of Graft Versus Host Disease - Verdict Medical Devices - Medical Device Network

Stem Cell Therapy for Dogs and Cats Is Innovative at Stafford Veterinary Hospital – By MARIA SCANDALE – The SandPaper

Stafford Township, NJ Stem cell therapy is an incredible process for healing damaged tissue, so it seems remarkable that it is availablefor petsright here in Manahawkin. Stafford Veterinary Hospital, at 211 North Main St., began offering the advanced treatment in 2019, under the direction of Michael Pride, medical director at the facility.

There, stem cell therapy is most commonly applied to osteoarthritis, but can also be used in dogs suffering from hip dysplasia and ligament and cartilage injuries, as well as mobility ailments and some chronic inflammatory issues such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic kidney disease, which is common in cats.

Stem cell therapy is actually the only thing that can help to reverse the process of arthritis, Pride said. Everything else is a Band-Aid.

This process can actually help to rebuild cartilage and really reduce inflammation without the need of using aspirin-type medications, Pride said. Its a newer technology that we can use to avoid chronic use of medications, which might actually be detrimental in the long term for the liver or kidneys.

Stem cell therapy treats the source of the problem by offering the ability to replace damaged cells with new ones, instructs the website staffordvet.com.

Stem cells are powerful healing cells in the pets body that can become other types of cells. For example, in the case of arthritis, stem cells can become new cartilage cells and have natural anti-inflammatory properties, thus reducing pain and increasing mobility.

The stem cells are your primary structural cell for all other cells in the body; they can differentiate into almost any other cell, explained Pride. Were processing it down into that primordial stem cell; were activating it, and were injecting it into where it needs to be, and it just starts taking on the characteristics of the cells around it.

Table-top machines from MediVet Biologics are the first Adipose Stem Cell therapy kits for in-clinic use, a major advancement. Stem cell therapy for animals has been commercially available since 2004. MediVet pioneered in-clinic treatment options around 2010.

Pride believes Stafford Veterinary Hospital offers the only such treatment in the immediate area; another is in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County.

Were always trying to figure out different ways to help the patient without hurting them, he said while petting a kitten that had been a patient for another type of treatment.

As stem cell therapy is more in the news regarding humans, a pet owners first question might be where the stem cells come from that are used in the process. The answer: from fat tissue of the pet itself, extracted and processed the same day.

As the therapy has been refined in the last decade, it has actually started to become a lot easier, more cost-effective more recently, said Pride, since weve been able to process fat tissue instead of actually getting bone marrow.

Fat tissue actually has a much higher concentration of adult stem cells than bone marrow does, so its less painful for the patient, they heal a lot easier, and we dont have to process it in a different facility.

Everything comes from the animal, and we give it back to the animal. Nothing comes from another animal. We dont have to worry about them rejecting the sample; its their own tissue, and were giving it back to them.

The pet typically goes home the same day after about eight hours. First, X-rays and a consultation with the veterinarian can determine whether the pet is a candidate for the treatment.

A pet owner may not even know that their animal has arthritis.

Cats have a lot of inflammatory issues that they tend to be very good at hiding, said Pride. A lot of people dont realize that they have arthritis. They think, oh, my cats just getting older; hes not jumping as much; hes not as strong; hes just sleeping most of the day, but actually he has arthritis. Its very difficult to diagnose in cats. A lot of times you end up having to do X-rays to find where the arthritic joints happen to be.

An inch-and-a-half incision is the minor surgery that harvests the fat tissue from the belly while the pet is anesthetized. For a cat, about 20 gramsare extracted. For a large dog, about 40 gramsare needed. While the pet is recovering from the incision surgery, the veterinary hospital is processing the sample. When the sample is ready, the pet is sedated because we then have to give them the joint injections. Then we can reverse the sedation, and they go home.

We asked the doctor if the process always works. He gave the example that on average, a dog such as a boxer that was hobbled is now able to walk without seeming like its painful. In an extreme positive case, a dog that had been barely walking might be bouncing all over the place in two months.

It doesnt always work to the extent that we would love it to, but we usually notice that there is a positive effect from it, Pride remarked. Every patient will be different in what they experience.

For the same reason that everyones situation is going to be different, cost of treatment was not given for this story.

It generally takes about 30 to 60 days for relief to show, the veterinarian said, and the animals progress will be monitored.

On average, results last about 18 months to two years before more stem cells might have to be injected. The procedure takes about an hour.

The nice thing is once we collect those stem cells (from the first procedure), we can bank the leftovers they are cryogenically stored at MediVet corporate headquarters in Kentucky and we dont have to go through the initial anesthetic surgery, said Pride.

Stem cell therapy is one of several innovative modalities available at Stafford Veterinary Hospital. Laser therapy, acupuncture and holistic medicine are others. Care for exotic pets is available, as is emergency pet care.

Visit the website staffordvet.com or call 609-597-7571 for more information on general and specialized services, including: vaccinations, microchipping, spayingand neutering, dental care, wellness exams, dermatology, gastrology, oncology, opthalmology, cardiology, soft-tissue surgery, ultrasound, radiography, nutrition, parasite control, boarding, laborand delivery, end-of-life care, and cremation.

Stafford Veterinary Hospital has been in business since 1965, founded by Dr. John Hauge. Today, five highly skilled veterinarians are on staff, and a satellite, Tuckerton Veterinary Clinic, is at 500 North Green St. in Tuckerton.

Pride has been medical director at Stafford Veterinary Hospital since 2008. He attended Rutgers University, then earned his Veterinary of Medicine degree at Oklahoma State University.

The mild-mannered doctor feels a great rewardfrom treating animals that cant speak for themselves when they feel bad.

These guys, theyre always thankful; you can see what they think, he said of treated pets. The turnaround in their attitude, the turnaround in their ability to be more comfortable, you can see it in their faces; you can see it in their actions. You learn to read animals over time.

Its knowing that were helping those who cant help themselves, he added, and you can see it in them; thats the most gratifying.

mariascandale@thesandpaper.net

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Stem Cell Therapy for Dogs and Cats Is Innovative at Stafford Veterinary Hospital - By MARIA SCANDALE - The SandPaper

World-first Genomic Analysis of Puberty Provides Insights Into Cancer and Infertility – Technology Networks

In the first-ever genome-scale analysis of the puberty process in humans, researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at theUniversity of Utah(U of U) outline distinct and critical changes to stem cells in males during adolescence. They further outline how testosterone, and the cells that produce testosterone, impact stem cells in male reproductive organs. The researchers believe this study adds dramatically to a foundation of knowledge that may yield insights into critical areas of human health, including infertility and cellular changes that lead to cancer and other diseases.

The study, published today in the journalCell Stem Cell,was led byBradley Cairns, PhD, cancer researcher at HCI and professor and chair of oncological sciences at the U of U, in collaboration with colleagues Jingtao Guo, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Cairns lab at HCI, James Hotaling, MD, associate professor of surgery at the U of U, and Anne Goriely, PhD, associate professor of human genetics at the University of Oxford.

Puberty spurs numerous developmental changes in humans and other mammals. Hallmarks of puberty include physical characteristics easily visible to the naked eye, like rapid growth. These physical and hormonal changes signal the process of a maturing body preparing for reproductive years.

In the testis, the male reproductive organ that makes and stores sperm and produces testosterone, puberty introduces monumental changes at a cellular and physiological level. Thanks to new genomic technologies, researchers are able to examine the expression of thousands of genes in each individual cell in an entire organ, providing unprecedented insights into cellular behavior during puberty.

Several types of cells within the testis regulate reproductive health. Like the human body that changes along the path from infancy to adulthood, these cells undergo major changes as the body matures. These cells include spermatogonial stem cells that ultimately generate sperm production, and niche cells that help form parts of the testis, such as the seminiferous tubule, a tube-like structure within which sperm is formed. In this study, researchers characterized how, just prior to puberty, spermatogonial stem cells first expand significantly in number. These stem cells progress toward meiosis, a special type of cell division that splits the number of chromosomes from the parent cell in half, and also separates the male X and Y sex chromosomes to create cells that, after fertilization of eggs and considerable subsequent development, will ultimately result in either male (Y-containing) or female (X-containing) children. Late in puberty, these stem cells commit to creating mature sperm, which includes a tail piece for motility. The researchers showed how two of the cells that form the stem cell niche and chaperone this processthe myoid cells and Leydig cellsderive from a common precursor, and mature during early puberty.

A major novel insight of this study was the first-ever genomic analysis of the testis of adult transfemales (individuals assigned male at birth, but who self-identify as female). For these individuals, gender confirmation surgery is preceded by hormone therapy that induces long-term testosterone suppression, enabling the examination of testis lacking testosterone. By using samples donated after surgery, researchers uncovered critical insights into the role of testosterone in maintaining testis development. Genomic analysis of the cells from the testis of transfemales showed that stem cells and other cells revert to earlier states of development when compared to samples from male adolescents. Thus, Cairns and his colleagues identified that testosterone is critical to maintaining the mature state of the testis: if testosterone is no longer present, the testis reverts to an earlier developmental state.

The major changes that occur in humans during puberty give rise to numerous functions in normal development, like reproductive health and fertility. But, when these processes go awry, confounding challenges can result. Infertility is a relatively common health issue. About 50 percent of the time, the underlying cause is attributed to the male reproductive functions, which often include errors that occur during puberty. The team hopes these insights into how cells develop will help yield insights into what happens when developmental issues during puberty cause changes that result in infertility.

The study also informs understanding of cancer and other diseases that arise due to errors in cellular processes. The majority of the time, testicular cancers arise when stem cells in the testis are misregulated, said Cairns. We want to understand how these changes can cause testicular tumors; however, we need to know what should normally happen before we can identify ways to prevent or more effectively treat these cancers.

In juveniles, cancers and reproductive health intersect via a medical process called oncofertility; that is, the study of how to retain fertility in adolescent and young adult cancer patients whose reproductive health and fertility may be impacted by their cancer, or as a result of side effects of cancer treatment. Some chemotherapies can result in young men with cancer not being able to have childrenthe chemotherapy can cause changes to their stem cells, said Cairns. My hope and expectation is that our research will provide a foundation for creating options to support the reproductive health of young men affected by cancer through a better understanding of how these stem cells survive, are supported, and develop.

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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World-first Genomic Analysis of Puberty Provides Insights Into Cancer and Infertility - Technology Networks