Monthly Archives: November 2020

Global research trends at the intersection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and traditional, integrative, and complementary and alternative…

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:56 pm

BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Nov 23;20(1):353. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-03151-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and responsible for a global pandemic. Despite there being no known vaccines or medicines that prevent or cure COVID-19, many traditional, integrative, complementary and alternative medicines (TICAMs) have been touted as the solution, as well as researched as a potential remedy globally. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of global research trends at the intersection of TICAM and COVID-19.

METHODS: SCOPUS, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED and PSYCINFO databases were searched on July 5, 2020, with results being exported on the same day. All publication types were included, however, articles were only deemed eligible if they made mention of one or more TICAMs for the potential prevention, treatment, and/or management of COVID-19 or a health issue indirectly resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The following eligible article characteristics were extracted: title; author names, affiliations, and countries; DOI; publication language; publication type; publication year; journal (and whether it is TICAM-focused); 2019 impact factor, and TICAMs mentioned.

RESULTS: A total of 296 eligible articles were published by 1373 unique authors at 977 affiliations across 56 countries. The most common countries associated with author affiliation included China, the United States, India and Italy. The vast majority of articles were published in English, followed by Chinese. Eligible articles were published across 157 journals, of which 33 were TICAM-focused; a total of 120 journals had a 2019 impact factor, which ranged from 0.17 to 60.392. A total of 327 TICAMs were mentioned across eligible articles, with the most common ones including: traditional Chinese medicine (n = 94), vitamin D (n = 67), melatonin (n = 16), phytochemicals (n = 12), and general herbal medicine (n = 11).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides researchers and clinicians with a greater knowledge of the characteristics of articles that been published globally at the intersection of COVID-19 and TICAM to date. At a time where safe and effective vaccines and medicines for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 have yet to be discovered, this study provides a current snapshot of the quantity and characteristics of articles written at the intersection of TICAM therapies and COVID-19.

PMID:33225948 | DOI:10.1186/s12906-020-03151-8

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Holiday Gift Guide 2020: This Year’s Best Cannabis Books For Every Consumer On Your List – Forbes

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:56 pm

Two books on the 2020 list of cannabis books for the holidays are Jamie Hall's Alternative Alchemy ... [+] and Ashley Manta and Merry Jane's The CBD Solution: Sex: How Cannabis, CBD, and Other Plant Allies Can Improve Your Everyday Life.

Cannabis may still be federally illegal in the United States, but reading about it certainly is not. Each year, the literature available on this revered plant becomes more and more informed, and with a number of additional states legalizing adult-use and medical cannabis in 2020, education around it is more important than ever.

Weed books published in 2020 cover such a broad range of subjects that this list has been broken down by consumers you might be shopping for this holiday season. Because just like strains of pot and the books being written about it, no two cannabis consumers are the same.

Merry Jane's The CBD Solution: Sex: How Cannabis, CBD, and Other Plant Allies Can Improve Your ... [+] Everyday Life by Ashley Manta explores cannabis and sexual wellness.

This beautifully designed book, one of three in a series by cannabis magazine Merry Jane, dives into the multitude of ways in which cannabis and specifically CBD can be used to rev up your experience in the bedroom. Author of the book Ashley Manta says CBD can help address the things that get in the way of enjoying sex, like pain and anxiety.

This book is for people who are curious about how to incorporate CBD and other cannabinoids into their solo and partnered pleasure explorations. It meets readers who are approaching with a beginner's mind, but quickly moves into advanced insights, techniques, and reframes for maximizing your erotic potential, says Manta. Two of the authors favourite ways to incorporate CBD and sex are by using CBD topicals and tinctures, the former to be applied for intimate stimulation and the latter ingested to easy anxiety. If you can quiet down whatever is swirling in your head, it makes it much easier to feel present in your body, she says.

Murph Wolfson's latest book offers a simple approach to growing cannabis at home.

There are many books on the market that explain the process of growing cannabis, but with so many different approaches to growing, this one stood out for being the most up-to-date. Written by Murph Wolfson, a master grower who has grown cannabis since he was 13, its a great choice for beginners that may already be familiar with gardening but are interested in learning the finer points of growing cannabis, such as picking seeds and seedlings, germinating, the differences between hydroponics, outdoor growing and indoor growing, as well as options around pest control.

The blunt, practical handbook features straightforward instructions, detailed definitions and diagrams that help break down what can be a challenging and complicated process into a fun hobby that can save you money.

Jamie Hall's Alternative Alchemy: Recipes & Mindful Baking with CBD, Herbs & Adaptogens is a great ... [+] addition to the library (or kitchen) this holiday season.

Jamie Halls elegant and modern cookbook will leave any memory you might have of overpowered special brownies in the dust. Hall is the founder of Alternative Alchemy, an L.A.-based baked goods company, and began using CBD to help treat her postpartum depression. She releases some of her best-kept secrets to the world in a collection of wholesome recipes that integrate CBD oil, herbs and adaptogens. Just a few flips through this thoughtfully photographed compendium of CBD baked goods (complete with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options) are sure to leave your mouth watering.

The book begins with a handy section on essentials, including easy-to-follow recipes for different nut-based milks, butters, and creams, followed by a chapter on drinks that includes recipes for lattes, kombucha, and smoothies. But the real gems in this collection are the baked goods, an incredible range of delicately spiced cookies, bars, cakes, pies, tarts, and puddings that are only made better by the addition of CBD and adaptogenic ingredients like cocoa, maca, turmeric, and others.

High on Design: The New Cannabis Culture, gestalten & Santiago Tarditi, 2019

This book isnt exactly heavy on words, so I wont be either. Add High on Design to the list of perfect coffee table books for the artist or designer in your life who has an affinity for cannabis. Berlin-based publishing company gestalten has found a visually orgasmic story in the way modern aesthetics have redefined what society now puts under the cannabis culture umbrella, trading in Cheech and Chong bongs for crystal pipes and issues of High Times for the smooth, matte pages of Broccoli.

To appeal to the marijuana-inclined millennial, according to High on Design, companies promote pot as a medium for higher education and intercultural understanding. That sentiment is reflected throughout the colorful pages of this book, which showcases new brands, designers, and creators behind the ongoing (and growing) cannabis movement.

Choose The CBD Bible: Cannabis and the Wellness Revolution that Will Change Your Life for those in ... [+] your life who might still be afraid of the effects of THC.

This CBD-specific look at how cannabis can be used to improve health is written by Dr. Dani Gordon, an American board-certified doctor and integrative medicine physician based in the U.K, where she works as a consultant to cannabis clinics. Gordon takes a deep dive into what has arguably become the worlds most in-demand cannabinoid, first explaining the history of cannabis use, the plant, and the path its compounds take in the body. Although the book does focus on CBD, it offers a look into the other valuable compounds found in the cannabis plant, not to mention an entire chapter dedicated to addressing the safety of the compound.

The second part of the book discusses the multitude of potential uses for CBD from a clinical perspective, and includes 12 chapters on brain health and neurological disorders, stress and fatigue, improving sleep, managing pain, better gut health, epilepsy and seizures and more. (Each chapter offers references to clinical research and papers for eager readers who want to verify information for themselves.) These chapters also offer guidance around different methods of consumption including appropriate dosages and application methods.

The Cannabis Apothecary: A Pharm to Table Guide for Using CBD and THC to Promote Health, Wellness, ... [+] Beauty, Restoration, and Relaxation offers a wealth of information on hands-on applications of cannabis.

In The Cannabis Apothecary, author Laurie Wolf and daughter-in-law Mary Wolf of the award-winning edibles company Laurie + MaryJane give readers an easy-to-digest introduction into how cannabis can be used, in short, to feel better. Complete with everything from information about its medicinal uses to sections on strains, growing and even bath soak recipes, its an all-encompassing look at the multiple at-home uses of the cannabis plant with a feminine touch.

The 129-page book also includes a generous selection of recipes and several ways to enhance existing practices such as yoga and massage. Laurie Wolfs history as a food stylist shines in this book, as husband Bruce Wolfs expertly styled photographs beautifully complement Laurie and Marys clear language and the books simple design.

Dr. Bonni Goldstein is renowned for her work with cannabis in California. Her book makes a great ... [+] gift for someone in your life who might doubt the efficacy of cannabis as medicine.

If Dr. Dani Gordons look at CBD is a little too focused, this brand new publication by renowned cannabis specialist Dr. Bonni Goldstein is the book for you. Goldstein has been working with cannabis since 2008, helping thousands of patients in the state of California access the medicine they need to overcome conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, or one of the 23 other conditions or symptoms she covers in the book. The comprehensive look at cannabis as medicine first offers a deep dive into the science behind the plant, explaining the bodys endocannabinoid system, the medicinal effects of cannabis and its compounds, and the potential risks associated with its use.

Part II gives readers an in-depth look at the many ways in which cannabis has been shown to improve specific symptoms and ailments, and offers educational and practical insights into the best ways cannabis can be used to improve them. Goldsteins honest and informed look at the subject is a refreshing perspective from a physician and one recommended for anyone who might still have doubts about how effective a medicine cannabis can be.

Highly Inventive offers a funny and satirical look into the ways cannabis has been used throughout ... [+] history.

Because every list of booksand particularly one about cannabisrequires something comical. Highly Inventive is an offering that packs up all the potentially true historical references of cannabis use youve ever heard into a well-illustrated, humorous book that you might find in a stoners bathroom reading collection. A highlight includes an early entry in the chronological book that describes King Tuts use of cannabis, suggesting the Ancient Egyptian king was particularly thankful for cannabis suppositories, which allowed him to conduct his business on the throne more easily.

Later entries describe everything from the first-ever Zig-Zag paper, a version of the Spanish folk song La Cucaracha popularized during the Mexican Revolution, and even the origin story of Cheetos Chester Cheetah, weaving weed in at every turn. Consider it a choice stocking stuffer for that friend of yours who is chock full of sometimes-funny and generally useless trivia.

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Breaking News | Oregon man sues after seeking depression treatment from doctor who was ‘having affair with his wife’ – The Streetjournal

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:56 pm

An Oregon man is suing his doctor after he sought treatment for depression fueled by his failing marriage and says he later learned that the doctor was having an affair with his wife.

Peirson Tone, 47, filed his lawsuit seeking $2.9million from Dr Ronald Rosen for professional negligence last week in Deschutes County Circuit Court, according to The Bend Bulletin.

Tone claims that he, his wife and their two children were patients of Rosens at his practice in Bend,Open Paths Integrative Medicine, from 2015 to 2018.

At some point during that period Rosen allegedly became involved with Tones wife, according to the suit.

Tone, who goes by his middle name Franchot, went to Rosen in November 2018 to treat depression he was experiencing because of issues with his marriage.

Rosen then prescribed marijuana and CBD and offered Tone counseling on how he could improve his relationship, the suit claims.

After the appointment, Tones wife allegedly informed him that she had been having an affair with the physician who is married and has two daughters of his own for an extended period of time. Tone and his wife divorced in 2019, according to court records.

Peirson Tone filed a lawsuit seeking $2.9million from Dr Ronald Rosen for professional negligence last week in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Tone claims he sought treatment from Rosen for depression fueled by his failing marriage in 2018 and he later learned that the doctor was having an affair with his wife. Pictured: Tone, his now ex-wife and their two children

Dr Ronald Rosen is pictured with his wife Melanie, who works as a registered nurse at his practice. Rosen has not publicly responded to Tones negligence lawsuit

As a result of [Rosens] conduct, [Tone] sustained emotional distress including the loss of his marriage and emotional and social destruction of his family, the suit states.

The suit was first reported by The Bend Bulletin, which described Tone as a musician and financial adviser for Merrill Lynch.

Tones attorney, James D Huegli, declined to comment when approached by the outlet and did not immediately return messages from DailyMail.com.

Rosen also has not returned messages left at his office in Bend. His wife Melanie also works at the practice as a registered nurse.

Tone and his wife (pictured together) divorced after her alleged affair with Rosen

Records show Rosen has been licensed to practice medicine in Oregon since 1991 and has no prior cases of medical malpractice.

According to his website Rosen specializes in integrative medicine, which mixes traditional medicine with a range of holistic alternatives including acupuncture, nutrition and herbology.

My philosophy is to promote wellness and personal responsibility and avoid the use of pharmaceuticals or other invasive approaches if other, gentler, less invasive ones are available, Rosen states on the site.

Rosen is also a certified laughter yoga teacher, per his website.

Records show Rosen has been licensed to practice medicine in Oregon since 1991 and has no prior cases of medical malpractice. His practice,Open Paths Integrative Medicine, is pictured

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Breaking News | Oregon man sues after seeking depression treatment from doctor who was 'having affair with his wife' - The Streetjournal

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Traditional Chinese Medicine company Eu Yan Sang to provide online consultations through partnership with MyDoc – Mobihealth News

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:56 pm

Eu Yan Sang, a Singapore-headquartered private Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and wellness company, has partnered with MyDoc, a B2B digital healthcare company also based in Singapore, to bring consultations online.

WHATS IT ABOUT

Under the partnership, Eu Yan Sang physicians will be able to use MyDocs platform to easily communicate with their patients without being restricted to their location or needing an in-person visit. Patients currently registered with Eu Yan Sang would also be able to get convenient access to their preferred TCM physician no matter where they are. With MyDoc, patients seeking TCM care may now choose to minimize exposure to unnecessary risks of person-to-person transmission when traveling to or from the clinic.

Prior to performing video consultations, Eu Yan Sang physicians are required to go through MyDocs in-house skills training, to ensure a safe and effective delivery of online diagnosis for patients. The training program covers content specific to the workflows of providing care online, as well as clinical skills relevant for online video consultations.

Patients currently registered with Eu Yan Sang will be able to access the services today from the MyDoc app.

THE LARGER TREND

TCM practices and shops are quite common place in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries with predominantly Chinese population such as Singapore. TCM is a broad range of medicine practices sharing common concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage (tui na), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy.

Eu Yan Sangs move to provide online TCM consultations not only brings convenience and peace of mind to its patients it could also provide opportunities for them to provide TCM related services to a wider, younger and more digitally connected audience.

In July this year, Singapore medical start-up Oncoshot partnered with MyDoc to give cancer patients access to second opinion advice from leading oncologists, MobiHealthNews reported.

ON THE RECORD

Eu Yan Sangs enduring innovation track record has allowed the company to pass on the philosophy of Care from generation to generation, something we will continue to do. Off-premise care is a huge trend now and we see care experiences moving from a doctor-centric, to a more patient-centric delivery model. At Eu Yan Sang, we have responded with new offerings like AskSinseh for e-TCM advice.

The partnership with MyDoc represents another milestone in our transformation journey to build frictionless, yet highly personalized care experiences that let customers have their follow-ups without the need to leave home, said Lim Swee Cheng, General Manager of Clinic Services & Operational Excellence at Eu Yan Sang Integrative Health, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eu Yan Sang.

Dr Matthew Lee, Director of Clinical Operations at MyDoc said, We are excited to be partnering with Eu Yan Sang, to expand our ecosystem of care to provide more convenience and treatment options to patients. By working together, we can ensure a seamless transition of care for Eu Yan Sangs patients from offline to online. This continuous care journey means patients are cared for every step of the way, allowing us to provide safe and effective care for the patients.

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Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems adopts the shop-in-shop model to revolutionize its retail presence – Indulgexpress

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:56 pm

Luke Coutinho with Simran Mahatme and Somin Mahatme, Founders of Saukhyam Store, Goa

Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems, a company that focuses on integrative and preventive medicine, disease and coaching has recently joined forces with conscious lifestyle store Saukhyam by adopting the shop-in-shop concept into their business model. With its retail presence in Goa, Saukhyam has established a holistic and wellness product line that connects farmers and vendors across the country. The collaboration aims to showcase a part of Lukes Wellness Market within the store. With Saukhyams vision of creating a sustainable food chain being in line with Luke Wellness Markets approach, the tie-up aims to strengthen the brands coveted retail presence in the micro-markets of Goa as well as across the country.

This launch comes close on the heels of success achieved by Lukes Wellness Market that is committed to sourcing products and connects farmers and vendors across the country doing ethical work in the food and lifestyle space. This is the first timeever that the brand is working with a lifestyle and wellness retailer in this capacity to have a concurrent retail presence in multiple markets.The brand has put up Lukes Wellness Market section within the store that will be revised on a monthly basis. The section displays a variety of hand-selected and handpicked products by the holistic mastermind himself. The brand has also infused products ranging from lifestyle categories like food, nutrition, utensils, skincare, cosmetics, books, clothing and fitness accessories, to lend a more holistic appeal.

The shop-in-shop model will enable buyers to touch and feel the product before buying. This initiative is aimed at translating Lukes Wellness Markets holistic approach into a tangible experience. With this strategic move, the brand aims to strengthen its multi-country presence through such models and is looking at scaling the business across various food, wellness and lifestyle stores in the country.

Speaking about the association, Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach-Integrative Medicine says, Through this launch, we are very passionate about bringing an unparalleled level of trust, integrity and expertise to our clients, patients and followers. With this tie-up, we aim to expand and create an ethical food chain with complete transparency to support the farmers and local vendors sourcing quality and authentic health products. This collaboration allows us to provide wellness in an engaging way, enabling to touch new markets and shoppers in the process.

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COLUMN: Surveys bring Thanksgiving | Opinion | montrosepress.com – Montrose Daily Press

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:55 pm

The arrival every October of a survey from the long-term follow-up care unit (LTFU) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle sets in motion a routine. I walk it back from the mailbox, putting it on the kitchen table where it sits unopened for four or five days. Then its moved to the dining room table where it sits for another few days. Then its taken downstairs, still unopened, where its put in a stack of other stuff for a week-plus. The routine continues when a follow-up to the follow-up comes in the mail.

Paraphrasing, the second LTFU letter reads: cmon, man. Take 15 minutes, fill it out, mail it back. Which I do. Could this be avoidance behavior, as per psychologists? Quoting Bill Murray, the casual philosopher, (Stripes, 1981), thats a fact, Jack!

Ive been in remission for 17 years after a stem cell transplant from the Hutch a day after my 51st birthday. The LTFU began following patients in 1990, citing improvement in the mortality of transplantation.

There are about 6,800 people enrolled currently in LTFU. In 2019, 4,764 former patients received the survey and about half of them returned it, said Molly McElroy, the communications director for the Hutch. She added how theres one transplant patient ambulatory and upright from 1971; 100-plus from before 1980.

I was diagnosed in 1998 with a friendly leukemia, but during an annual checkup a few years later, the diagnosis changed, and: the prognosis isnt as promising.

Conversations like that are ineradicable, along with related reminiscences of hallway walks with chemo poles and technicians who warn, youre going to feel a little prick. This is before they draw blood or remove bone marrow. (The first time I heard it, I thought it funny; after the umpteenth, not so much.) Treatment of mantle cell lymphoma required difficult, four-cocktail, hospitalized chemotherapy at St. Marys in Grand Junction. Soon thereafter, we left for the Hutch and transplant.

Hokey and contrived as it sounds, remission from cancer is indeed about some of the people you meet along the way.

Lee Bradley fruit farmer, wine maker, country marketer, located in the northern suburbs of Paonia calmed the hothouse of my mind after diagnosis. We talked about what was coming, sharing common stories about doctors, the Hutch, the determination of it all. Last month, Bradley celebrated 20 years of good health. (His familys market, which sits alongside the north fork of the Gunnison river, is a good place to grab an easy chair and enjoy a summers day under the cottonwoods.)

Early on at the Hutch, a physician who looked like she had just left a Grateful Dead concert with her long hair, granny-glasses and leather-fringed jacket, calmly explained options. Including a clinical trial for which she had written the protocol. As a result, Im still getting mail from the LTFU. Dr. Leona Holmberg, MD, PhD., continues to get it done as a physician, researcher and oncology professor at the U. of Washington.

We also met a nattily dressed doctor with great humor. He was placing into my chest a dual Hickman catheter which would expeditiously transport stem cells, chemo, nutrition, blood products and whatever else. (A terrific invention, but not a good look on a beach. It flops around a lot.) He flirted good-naturedly with Susan, who was maybe 10 inches taller. Are you the same guy whose name is on this? I cracked wise about him getting a commission; smiling, he replied that hed done all right. Dr. Robert O. Hickman, who was a founding member of the Hutch bone marrow transplant team, died last year at 92, his invention still widely used.

After transplant, my blood counts were stubbornly stuck at zero. The body language of the doctor-posse when they rolled through my room in the mornings wasnt encouraging. Then I caught an infection and spent 10 days in isolation. My nurse recognized despair. On a rainy Saturday afternoon, she sat on the bed and without saying a word, pulled me close. For less than a minute. She likely broke a slew of HR rules, but Corinne Vaniers humanity was the tonic. The next day, my counts started to move north. Ten years after the transplant, we had lunch in Seattle and continue to be in touch.

Julia Vega, the daughter of longtime friends and a newspaper publisher pal, was a year younger than our son. She had a pelvic cancer and enjoyed some initial remission. Her dad and I shared stories about the Hutch, the Pete Gross House (apartments) and Dr. Holmberg, also her physician.

Vega was a theater student at Arizona State U. when diagnosed and instead of dropping out and taking it easy, she forged through doing the chemo, going to classes, participating in productions, graduating. I enjoyed her company as a middle schooler in North Carolina, and again at a newspaper convention where she accompanied her father, fragile thin and wearing a wig. We have a photo together from that meeting. Whenever I hear one of her favorite songs, Bob Dylans Shooting Star, I recall her grace.

A story about Chris Mesaric was framed and placed along the walls of a Hutch examination clinic. My brother and I had flown to Seattle to nail down the second opinion and I happened on it while he was wrapping up a conversation with yet another oncologist. Mesaric had grown up here, MHS Class of 1987, and had worked as an airframe mechanic for Boeing in Seattle before returning to Montrose. The docs had given him little chance in 1992 of surviving aplastic anemia, a rare bone marrow disease. He was also told that there would be no children, either. Yet he and Robin are the parents of two lovely daughters.

Mesarics brave fight went on for 11 years, receiving a Hutch transplant in 2001. He was inspirational, although we never met. We left the Hutch after five months, arriving home the day before Thanksgiving, 2003; Mesaric, 35, passed three weeks later. I know his folks, Frank and Linda Mesaric, and whenever I see Frank around town, his big, welcoming voice is at once a comfort and a knowing.

There were good times, of course, during the procedures, before the transplant. Routines that got us away from the grimness. After morning bloodwork, we had a daily 16-block hike to the Barnes & Noble bookstore in downtown Seattle. One day, former Sen. Gary Hart was spotted in the shelves, browsing, and we chatted. There were plenty of windows to look into, galleries of all sorts, and all the bits and bobs and fish tossing from the Pike Place Market. Even a free monorail to ride. We enjoyed a couple of nights out with live music at Dimitrious Jazz Alley. William visited from Alaska and the three of us caught a Mariners/White Sox game at Safeco Field. Ryanns down-the-elevator, in-the-building interim school provided friendships and field trips. There was retail therapy. The downtown flagship Nordstroms store provided almost 400,000 square feet of distraction and attraction. (After we returned to Montrose, they had to lay off the lobbys pianist. Jes kidding.)

Theres a picture of the four of us on the refrigerator from Day One. Bald and bloated, Im unrecognizable. After Susan declared we can do this, upon turning that apartments front door key, thats when the recovery, like the new bone marrow, began to graft itself.

The piece of mail in October confirms it. Im thankful for those follow-up people who still have my address.

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Middle East & Africa Cell Therapy Instruments Market Forecast to 2027 – COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis By Product ; Cell Type ; Process ;…

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:54 pm

NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Middle East and Africa cell therapy instruments market was valued at US$ 398.23 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 899.62 Million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05989550/?utm_source=PRN

The surge in the number of cell therapy transplantation procedures, growing research and development activities, and rising investments in building production facilities for cell and gene therapy products drive the growth of the Middle East and Africa cell therapy instruments market. However, the low success rate of cell therapies and the high cost of cell-based research is expected to restrain the market growth during the forecast period.

Cell therapy typically involves the administration of somatic cell preparations by injecting or grafting it into the patient's body for the treatment of diseases or traumatic damages.The procedure is used to cure diabetes, neurological disorders, related injuries, several cancer types, bones and joints, and genetic disorders.

Continuous research and development activities have led to unique cell therapeutic instruments for the improvement of immune system and efficient treatment of genetic disorders.Various market players provide several consumables such as reagent kits and enzymes as well as devices, equipment, and software to perform various cell therapy processes.

The cell therapy products are derived from animals or human cells and thus need to be protected from contamination.The instruments used in cell therapies help provide protection against contamination and allow scaling up of transplantation.

Companies such as Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions; Corning Incorporated; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; MiltenyiBiotec, LLC; Invetech; and Cytiva (General Electric Company) have introduced various equipment and consumables for the cell therapy procedures.

Various US-based companies have their manufacturing units in the Middle East and African countries; the lockdown imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple countries has affected the supply of instruments in this region. Therefore, many organizations are collaborating with other companies to overcome the adverse effects of the pandemic by using cell therapies for the treatment of COVID 19.

The Middle East and Africa cell therapy instruments market, by product, is segmented into consumables, software, equipment, and systems.The consumables segment held the largest share of the market in 2019 and is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

On the basis of cell type, the cell therapy instruments market is segmented into animal cells and human cells. The human cells segment held a larger share of the market in 2019 and is estimated to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

On the basis of process, the Middle East and Africa cell therapy instruments market is segmented into cell processing; cell preservation, distribution, and handling; and process monitoring and quality control.The cell processing segment held the largest share of the market in 2019 and is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The Middle East and Africa cell therapy instruments market, based on end user, is segmented into life science research companies, research institutes, and other end users. The life science research companies segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2019 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

A few of the major primary and secondary sources associated with this report on the Middle East and Africa cell therapy instruments market are National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI); World Health Organization (WHO); Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center(ADSCC); South African Stem Cell Institute (SASCI); and Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research (GIOSTAR).

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CDMOs Are the Unsung Heroes of the Gene and Cell Therapy… – Labiotech.eu

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:54 pm

Cell and gene therapy is booming amid the ongoing pandemic, and this is driving up demand for synthetic DNA products, often produced and delivered by CDMOs.

Karen Fallen started her career at Celltech Biologics in the UK, which was acquired in 1996 by Swiss giant Lonza, a world leader in the pharmaceutical manufacturing space. She stayed there for 31 years before moving on to the role of CEO at Touchlight DNA Services in October.

The market in DNA and nucleic acid medicine is just exploding. Cell and gene therapies have the biggest growth of all the biologics out there and DNA is the essential starting material, Fallen told me.

For several years, UK-based company Touchlight Genetics has been producing a form of synthetic DNA, called doggyboneDNA, that is designed to simplify the manufacturing of DNA vaccines and gene therapy.

To meet the ever-increasing demand for its products, Touchlight Genetics created a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) arm of the business called Touchlight DNA Services, which Fallen now leads.

Traditionally, the DNA necessary for these treatments has been produced by bacteria. Touchlight is developing a method to create this DNA enzymatically, which removes the need to include certain genes required by the bacteria and thus makes the final product simpler and safer.

Its really quick to actually produce the DNA, much faster than the bacterial methodology of doing it, Fallen noted. Its also very scalable.

The increasing need for fast, cheap and accurate DNA synthesis in recent years has led a number of biotechs in Europe to try and meet the demand, such as DNAScript, Evonetix, Nuclera, and Camena Bioscience, among others.

The demand has further increased with the Covid-19 pandemic, since many of the companies developing vaccines or treatments for Covid-19 require DNA as a starting material. So do many tests to diagnose Covid-19 infections.

Theres a lot of potential RNA and [DNA] vaccines out there, Fallen said. The demand for DNA was already outstripping supply, and that was just with cell and gene therapy demands. The Covid-19 impact has just accentuated that.

While CDMOs are crucial to the drug development industry, they often dont receive the same level of public and media attention as biotechs and big pharma. But Fallen thinks their importance is only increasing as cutting-edge treatments become commonplace, as many biotechs working on advanced therapies do not have the capacity for advanced manufacturing.

I think that the CDMO industry over the last few years has really come into its own At least 70% of the innovator molecules out there reside with biotechs that dont always have the capability to develop or manufacture them, Fallen told me.

The supply chain is imperative. Its all very well developing a molecule, but if you cant manufacture it or deliver it, then youre going to go nowhere.

Starting a new job as a CEO is a challenge for most people, but particularly so at the moment with the pandemic hanging over everyone and most people working completely remotely.

I met all the people by Zoom, which isnt often the easiest thing to do. But that gives you an idea of the culture of the company.

Thanks to her experience running a business unit at Lonza, Fallen has learned a lot about how to be a good leader. Ive always found that people follow you because they want to, not because youre in a position of power You need to listen to people, see what motivates them, and then you can get people on board.

Youve also got to make tough decisions quickly as well. You cant have an endless amount of data to make decisions on, youve just got to go with it and have the confidence to do that.

Fallen is a strong believer in supporting others. I have become, surprisingly, even to myself, a role model. I spent a fair amount of time talking with some of the more junior people [at Lonza] mentoring them and giving them my perspective on the world. I have shared what Ive learned as Ive been going along and given some advice on how to handle certain situations.

Although she has been lucky in that respect, Fallen recognizes that diversity can be a problem in CDMOs, biotechs, and pharma companies, particularly at higher management levels.

Youve got to try and get rid of unconscious biases. I know a lot of companies are putting people into positions just to get the numbers up, but Im not convinced thats the right way of doing it. I think you just have to have an open mind and give people the opportunity. From my experience, that is mostly successful.

Youve got to take a risk with people sometimes. Ive been in that position of people taking risks with me. Youve got to then support them, youve got to develop them in the right way, dont just talk them into something. But if you do that, I think you get what you want out of people.

Cover illustration by Elena Resko, picture provided by Touchlight DNA Services.

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The South and Central America cell therapy instruments market is expected to reach US$ 462.05 million in 2027 from US$ 1,074.99 million in 2019 -…

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:54 pm

NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The South and Central America cell therapy instruments market is expected to reach US$ 462.05 million in 2027 from US$ 1,074.99 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05989607/?utm_source=PRN

The surge in the number of cell therapy transplantation procedures, growing research and development activities, and rising investments in building production facilities for cell and gene therapy products drive the growth of the South and Central America cell therapy instruments market. However, the low success rate of cell therapies and the high cost of cell-based research is expected to restrain the market growth during the forecast period.

Cell therapy typically involves the administration of somatic cell preparations by injecting or grafting it into the patient's body for the treatment of diseases or traumatic damages.The procedure is used to cure diabetes, neurological disorders, related injuries, several cancer types, bones and joints, and genetic disorders.

Continuous research and development activities have led to unique cell therapeutic instruments for the improvement of immune system and efficient treatment of genetic disorders. Various market players provide several consumables such as reagent kits and enzymes as well as devices, equipment, and software to perform various cell therapy processes.

The cell therapy products are derived from animals or human cells and thus need to be protected from contamination.The instruments used in cell therapies help provide protection against contamination and allow scaling up of transplantation.

Companies such as Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions; Corning Incorporated; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; MiltenyiBiotec; LLC; Invetech; and Cytiva (General Electric Company) have introduced various equipment and consumables for the cell therapy procedures.

Various US-based companies have their manufacturing units in the South and Central America countries; the lockdown imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple countries has affected the supply of instruments in this region. Therefore, many organizations are collaborating with other companies to overcome the adverse effects of the pandemic by using cell therapies for the treatment of COVID 19.

On the basis of product, the South and Central America cell therapy instruments market is further segmented into consumables, software, equipment, and systems.The consumables segment held the largest share of the market in 2019 and is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

On the basis of cell type, the cell therapy instruments market is segmented into animal cells and human cells. The human cells segment held a larger share of the market in 2019 and is estimated to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

The South and Central America cell therapy instruments market, based on process, is segmented into cell processing; cell preservation, distribution, and handling; and process monitoring and quality control.The cell processing segment held the larger share of the market in 2019 and is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on enduser, the South and Central America cell therapy instruments market is segmented into life science research companies, research institutes, and other end users. The life science research companies segment grasped the largest share of the market in 2019 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

A few of the major primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing this report on the South and Central America cell therapy instruments market include National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI);World Health Organization (WHO); Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency(ANVISA); and Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research (GIOSTAR).

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05989607/?utm_source=PRN

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Catamaran Bio Launches with $42 Million Financing to Develop OfftheShelf CAR-NK Cell Therapies to Treat Solid Tumors – BioSpace

Posted: November 25, 2020 at 11:54 pm

In assembling the founding team at Catamaran, we saw an opportunity to pioneer a highly differentiated approach to develop allogeneic cell therapies using CAR-NK cells, said Houman Ashrafian, Managing Partner, SV Health Investors and a founder of Catamaran. To date, the success of autologous CAR T-cell therapies in hematological malignancies has opened the door to the breakthrough potential of cell therapies for cancer, and Catamaran is now well positioned to improve upon this groundwork by developing off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapies capable of reaching solid tumors.

A novel approach to developing off-the-shelf cell therapies to address solid tumors

Catamarans TAILWIND Platform integrates proprietary capabilities to create novel, allogeneic CARNK cell therapies by harnessing the natural cancer-fighting properties of natural killer (NK) cells and enhancing them with the power of synthetic biology and innovative NK cell engineering and manufacturing. With the TAILWIND Platform, CAR-NK cells are programmed with NK cell-specific CAR architectures and potency-boosting switches to neutralize the hostile tumor microenvironment and enable efficacy against diverse cancer types, especially solid tumors. Additionally, the TAILWIND Platform includes proprietary, non-viral NK cell engineering technology for efficient modification of NK cells with customized genetic programs enabled by synthetic biology. Catamarans CAR-NK cell therapies use healthy donor cells that are engineered and manufactured for offtheshelf use, unlike current CAR-T cell therapies that use a patients own genetically modified T cells and require a customized, multi-week manufacturing process.

Catamaran is focused on expanding the frontier of cell therapies to treat solid tumors and provide transformative benefit to cancer patients. We are doing this by creating allogeneic cell therapies that harness the innate cancer-fighting power of NK cells and enhancing them with new biologically-powerful attributes from our leading-edge technologies all originating from our custom-built TAILWIND Platform for designing, engineering and manufacturing off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapies, said Vipin Suri, PhD, MBA, Chief Scientific Officer of Catamaran.

During Catamarans stealth period, the start-up team assembled key components of the TAILWIND Platform and related intellectual property, including a set of potency-boosting cellular switches to enable therapeutic action in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of solid tumors, and it generated early proof of concept using a non-viral transposon system to efficiently deliver large genetic cargos into NK cells. Based on this early work, the company has rapidly advanced two lead CAR-NK cell therapy programs to lead optimization stage.

With its holistic and cutting-edge approach, Catamaran stands out in the rapidly-evolving NK cell field with a platform that addresses the full complement of capabilities necessary to develop CAR-NK cell therapies, while focusing on the high-impact technologies of synthetic biology and innovative gene delivery systems that can enable these new cell therapies to offer extraordinary value in the field of cancer treatment, said Maina Bhaman, Partner, Sofinnova Partners.

Scientific founders and leadership team

Catamarans scientific founders are pioneers in NK cell biology, engineering, manufacturing and clinical application and are proven innovators in the cell therapy field:

Additional founders of Catamaran are Kevin Pojasek, PhD, and Tim Harris, PhD, through their roles as venture partners with SV Health Investors.

The leadership team at Catamaran Bio has deep expertise in cell therapy research and product development, and the team includes: Vipin Suri, PhD, MBA, Chief Scientific Officer, who has more than 20 years of biopharmaceutical experience, including as a co-founder of Obsidian Therapeutics and Serien (formerly Raze) Therapeutics, and earlier in R&D roles at GSK, Pfizer and Wyeth; Mark Boshar, JD, Chief Operating Officer, who has more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning legal, business development, financings and operations for biotechnology companies, including as VP, Legal Affairs at Rubius Therapeutics, Associate General Counsel at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, a senior advisor to a range of venture-backed start-up companies, and earlier as a life sciences attorney with WilmerHale; Chris Carpenter, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, who has 20 years of clinical and laboratory experience in oncology, including as CMO of Rubius Therapeutics, SVP and Head of Cancer Epigenetics Discovery at GSK, and roles at Merck and Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Celeste Richardson, PhD, Senior VP of Research, who has 16 years of experience in research and drug discovery in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including at Obsidian Therapeutics and Novartis; and Bharat Reddy, PhD, MPhil, MA, Senior Director of Business Development, who has served as director of business development at bluebird bio, as well as roles at SV Health Investors and ClearView Healthcare Partners.

Catamaran is positioned to open up new territory for cancer treatments with highly potent CAR-NK cell therapies, and we are confident in the experienced leadership team and the scientific expertise that is propelling the companys research and development, said Caroline Gaynor, Principal, Lightstone Ventures.

Concurrent with the Series A financing, Maina Bhaman of Sofinnova Partners, Caroline Gaynor of Lightstone Ventures and Rob Woodman of Takeda Ventures join Houman Ashrafian and Kevin Pojasek on the Catamaran board of directors.

About Catamaran Bio

Catamaran Bio is developing novel, off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapies designed to treat a broad range of cancers, including solid tumors. Our proprietary capabilities enable us to harness the natural cancer-fighting properties of NK cells and enhance and tailor their effectiveness with the power of synthetic biology and innovative non-viral cell engineering. We are using our TAILWINDTM Platform, an integrated suite of technologies, to specifically address the end-to-end methods of engineering, processing and manufacturing NK cells and rapidly advance our pipeline of CAR-NK cell therapy programs.

Our team combines experienced biopharmaceutical leadership with founding scientists who are pioneers in NK cell biology, engineering, manufacturing and clinical application. Catamaran is backed by leading financial and corporate investors, including SV Health Investors, Sofinnova Partners, Lightstone Ventures, Takeda Ventures and Astellas Venture Management. For more information, please visit http://www.catamaranbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn and @CatamaranBio on Twitter.

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