Monthly Archives: July 2022

High-flying experiment: Do stem cells grow better in space? – ABC News

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:01 am

Researcher Dhruv Sareens own stem cells are now orbiting the Earth. The mission? To test whether theyll grow better in zero gravity.

Scientists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles are trying to find new ways to produce huge batches of a type of stem cell that can generate nearly any other type of cell in the body and potentially be used to make treatments for many diseases. The cells arrived over the weekend at the International Space Station on a supply ship.

I dont think I would be able to pay whatever it costs now" to take a private ride to space, Sareen said. At least a part of me in cells can go up!"

The experiment is the latest research project that involves shooting stem cells into space. Some, like this one, aim to overcome the terrestrial difficulty of mass producing the cells. Others explore how space travel impacts the cells in the body. And some help better understand diseases such as cancer.

By pushing the boundaries like this, its knowledge and its science and its learning, said Clive Svendsen, executive director of Cedars-Sinais Regenerative Medicine Institute.

Six earlier projects from the U.S., China and Italy sent up various types of stem cells including his teams study of the effects of microgravity on cell-level heart function, said Dr. Joseph Wu of Stanford University, who directs the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. Wu helped coordinate a series of programs on space-based stem cell research last year.

Earthly applications of much of this research may be a little ways off.

At this point, the only stem cell-based products approved by the Food and Drug Administration contain blood-forming stem cells from umbilical cord blood for patients with blood disorders such as certain cases of lymphoma. There are no approved therapies using the kind of stem cells being sent to space or others derived from them, said Jeffrey Millman, a biomedical engineering expert at Washington University in St. Louis.

But clinical trials underway involving stem cells target conditions such as macular degeneration, Parkinsons disease and heart attack damage. And Millman is involved in research that could lead to a new approach for treating Type 1 diabetes.

Scientists see great promise in stem cells.

THE GRAVITY DILEMMA

That promise is tempered by a frustrating earthly problem: The planets gravity makes it tough to grow the vast quantities of cells necessary for future therapies that may require more than a billion per patient.

With current technology right now, even if the FDA instantly approved any of these therapies, we dont have the capacity to manufacture what's needed, Millman said.

The issue? In large bioreactors, the cells need to be stirred vigorously or they clump or fall to the bottom of the tank, Millman said. The stress can cause most cells to die.

In zero G, theres no force on the cells, so they can just grow in a different way, Svendsen said.

The Cedars-Sinai team has sent up what are called induced pluripotent stem cells. Many scientists consider them the perfect starting materials for all sorts of personalized, cell-based treatments. They carry a patients own DNA, and their versatility makes them similar to embryonic stem cells, only they are reprogrammed from adults' skin or blood cells.

For their experiment, which is being funded by NASA, a shoebox-sized container holds bags filled with spheres of cells and all of the pumps and solutions needed to keep them alive for four weeks. The cargo will also include neural stem cells originating from Svendsen. The scientists used stem cells derived from their own white blood cells because it was easy for them to give consent.

They will run the experiment remotely with a box of cells on Earth for comparison. They'll get the space experiment back in five weeks or so, when it returns in the same SpaceX capsule.

The work is designed to pave the way for more NASA-funded research. If they are able to figure out how to make billions of cells in orbit, Svendsen said, the impact could be huge.

A HIGH-FLYING FUTURE

During the same cargo launch, researchers from the University of California, San Diego, sent blood stem cells to the space station, a repeat of an experiment they did last year. They want to find out if low Earth orbit induces faster aging in the cells, leading to problems that set the stage for precancerous changes. One goal is to protect astronauts' health.

Afshin Beheshti, a researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, said scientists are just beginning to understand some of the risks of space travel.

Theres more unknowns in space than there are knowns," he said. Any new type of experiment is going to shed light on how the body responds to the space environment.

Ultimately, Beheshti said, the research should yield more than practical, earthly solutions like new medicines. It will also help with far-off human aspirations, like living on other planets.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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High-flying experiment: Do stem cells grow better in space? - ABC News

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Paracrine-mediated rejuvenation of aged mesenchymal stem cells is associated with downregulation of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway | npj Aging -…

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:01 am

Mesenchymal stem cell isolation and expansion

Bone marrow-derived MSCs were isolated from young (6 weeks) and old (1824 months) C57 black male mice using established techniques42,43 under a protocol approved by the Johns Hopkins University Animal Care and Use Committee. Briefly, immediately following euthanasia, whole bone marrow was flushed out from the bilateral tibias and femurs. After washing by centrifugation at 400g for 10min, cells were plated at 5 106 viable cells per ml. The culture was kept in humidified 5% CO2 incubator at 37C for 72h, when non-adherent cells were removed by changing the media.

All MSC preparations were evaluated using flow cytometry with PE or FITC-conjugated antibodies against murine Sca-1 (1:200; BioLegend 122507), CD31 (1:200; Fisher Scientific BDB554473), CD34 (1:100; eBioscience 14-0341-82), CD44 (1:100; BioLegend 103007), CD45 (1:100; BioLegend 103105), and IgG (1:100; BioLegend 400607) performed on BD LSRII (Becton Dickinson) using DIVA software. At least 10000 events were collected. FlowJo software was used to analyze and create the histograms.

Assessment for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation was performed using established techniques43. Briefly, to induce osteogenic differentiation, old and young MSCs were seeded into 6-well plates at 1.3 104 cells/well. After 24h the media was replaced with osteogenic differentiation medium containing Iscoves medium supplemented with 100nM dexamethasone, 10mM beta-glycerophosphate, 50 M ascorbic acid, and 1% antibiotic/antimycotic. Cells were maintained in induction media with media changes every 2 days. After 14 days cells fixed in 10% formalin for 15min and calcium deposition was assessed using von Kossa staining. Calcium deposition was then quantified using a colorimetric calcium assay (Calcium CPC Liquicolour Kit StanBio, Boerne, TX) according to the manufacturers instructions. To induce adipogenic differentiation, old and young MSCs were seeded in 6-well plates at 2 105 cells/well. When confluent the media was replaced with adipogenic induction medium containing DMEM-HG, 10% FBS, 5% rabbit serum, 1uM dexamethasone, 10g/mL insulin, 200 M indomethacin, 500 M isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), and antibiotic/antimycotic for 3 days followed by exposure to followed by exposure to adipogenic maintenance medium (DMEM-HG, 10% FBS, insulin 10g/ml and P/S) for 3 days. After 3 cycles of induction and maintenance exposure cells were rinsed with PBS and fixed in 10% formalin for 10min. The cells were then stained with Oil Red O to assess for lipid droplets. After imaging Oil Red O extraction was performed using 100% isopropanol. Extract samples were transferred to a 96-well plate and absorbance readings were taken at 490nm to quantify extracted Oil Red O.

Confirmed MSCs were expanded in culture in media prepared by combining 490ml Medium 200 PRF (Gibco Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA), a standard basal medium intended for culture of large vessel human endothelial cells, with 10ml Low Serum Growth Supplement (LSGS; Gibco Invitrogen). The final preparation contained 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 3ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), 10ng/ml human epidermal growth factor, 10g/ml heparin, and 1g/ml hydrocortisone. Cells were incubated under standard conditions (5% CO2 and 37C). Expanded MSCs at low passage numbers (P2-P5) were used for the experiments. In the event frozen cells were used, they were thawed and grown for one passage prior to use in the experiments.

To prevent cell-cell interaction and assess only paracrine-mediated effects (i.e. those resulting from release of soluble factors), angiogenesis experiments were performed using bioreactor tubes (BT) constructed with CellMax semi-permeable polysulfone membrane tubing (Spectrum Labs, Rancho Dominguez, CA). These allowed the free diffusion of soluble proteins and other molecules released by the cells up to a 500kDa molecular weight cut-off, but not of the cells themselves. To load BTs, MSCs were trypsinized and suspended in Medium 200 PRF without LSGS supplementation (i.e. media devoid of stimulatory growth factors). MSCs were counted using a Scepter automated cell counter (Millipore, Billerica, MA), which had been previously standardized for accuracy. The desired number of MSCs was spun down and resuspended to a total volume of 100 ul that was injected into the BTs using a 0.5mL syringe. To compare paracrine-mediated angiogenesis by old and young MSCs, BTs were loaded with either 105 old or 105 young MSCs. Once cell injection was complete, the tubes were heat-sealed at both ends and the MSC-loaded tubes, fully submerged in media, were grown at standard culture conditions (37C, 5% CO2) for 7 days (Fig. 3a).

ELISA assays were performed to measure paracrine factor (PF) production by the MSCs contained within the BTs grown in culture. Tubes loaded with 2 105 MSCs were submerged in 5mL of alpha-MEM basal medium (Stemcell Technologies, Tukwila, WA) supplemented with 20% FBS (Gibco Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) in a 6-well plate. At day 7, conditioned media was collected from each well, spun down for 1min to pellet any debris, and then flash frozen at 80C. Conditioned media samples were assessed for the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stromal derived factor-1 (SDF1) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) by ELISA (Quantikine, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) according to the manufacturers instructions.

BTs were removed at day 7 and placed in separate wells of a 6-well plate containing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)44. Briefly, 105 HUVECs (Gibco Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) suspended in Medium 200PRF were plated per well in Geltrex (Gibco Invitrogen) coated 6-well plates. Negative control wells received a bioreactor loaded with un-supplemented Medium 200PRF only (i.e. no cells). Positive control wells were plated with 105 HUVECs suspended in 1mL of Medium 200PRF supplemented with LSGS, which is known to induce HUVEC tubule formation. After 18h at standard culture conditions (37C, 5% CO2), the wells were imaged to allow quantitative analysis of the resultant HUVEC tubule network. Images were taken in the center of each well and in all four quadrants at pre-determined locations (5 pictures total), at 100x magnification. The total length of the tubule networks captured in the images of each well was measured using ImageJ software. To allow for comparisons between experiments, the total length of the tubule network in each well was normalized to the average length of the tubule network in the negative control wells, and reported as a normalized ratio.

To assess the effect of young MSC-generated PFs on PF-mediated angiogenesis by old MSCs, BTs were prepared as described above containing either 105 young or 105 old MSCs. Two BTs were placed together in a 6-well plate in 5mL MSC media and incubated for 7 days at standard culture conditions (Fig. 3b) using a BT containing old MSCs paired with either a separate BT with other old MSCs (control) or a separate BT with young MSCs. After 7 days the tubes were removed, washed with un-supplemented Medium 200 PRF, and then used separately in the HUVEC assay as described above. After the HUVEC assay was complete (18h) the BTs were placed in separate wells of 6-well plates and grown in culture for 7 additional days with collection of conditioned media for PF release.

Replicates of 105 old MSCs were cultured separately, or in co-culture with young MSCs, for 7 days using a 0.4m Transwell system in 6-well plates (Corning), which allow transfer of soluble paracrine factors released by the cells, but not of the cells themselves. Following RNA purification, library preparation, amplification, and Illumina sequencing, the open source Galaxy pipeline was used for data processing and analyses. After alignment of raw sequencing reads to the UCSC mm10 genome using HISAT2, transcript assembly, alignment quantification, count normalization, and differential expression analyses were conducted with StringTie, featureCounts, DESeq2, and Genesis. Quantitative PCR (KAPA SYBR FAST One-Step qRT-PCR, Wilmington, MA) was used to validate 24 transcripts identified by RNA sequencing. Target genes were selected based on their presence in significantly regulated pathways and quantified relative to 18S ribosomal RNA using the 2Ct method45.

To validate the results of the RNA sequencing and RT-PCR results, a functional autophagy assay was performed to assess relative autophagy between old, young, and rejuvenated old MSCs. Old, young and rejuvenated cells were cultured (or co-cultured, in the case of rejuvenated cells) for 7 days in 6-well plates (105 cells per well). On Day 8, cells were trypsinzed, counted and 104 cells were transferred to each well of a 96-well black plate with clear bottom and incubated for 6h. The Autophagy Assay Kit (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) measures autophagy using a proprietary fluorescent autophagosome marker in a microplate reader (ex=360; em=520nm). Three separate experiments were performed in triplicate each for each condition. To account for possible differences introduced by counting cells, results for each cell type were normalized based on absorbance (450nm) of a Cell Counting Kit-8 (Dojindo Molecular Technologies, Inc. Rockville, MD).

Data are reported as mean standard error of the mean (SEM) unless otherwise indicated. Comparisons between groups for the HUVEC experiments were performed using the permutation test. For the PF ELISA data, groups were compared using the MannWhitney test. The autophagy assay and rt-PCR results were assessed using two-tailed t tests. For these experiments a p-value < 0.05 was deemed significant. In the RNA sequencing differential expression analysis, a false discovery rate (FDR) of <0.05 was considered significant.

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Stem cell donors volunteer in hopes of saving Montreal toddler with rare blood disease – CBC.ca

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:01 am

For the past seven weeks, four-year-old Minh Nguyen has spent most of her time in hospital, receiving regular blood transfusions because her doctors have not been able to find acompatible stem cell donor.

Minh was diagnosed with bone marrow aplasia, arare blood disease that affects her bone marrow's ability to generate white blood cells. She hasspent the last three weeks in hospital full-time.

"It's been hard for her because she doesn't have the life of a four-year-oldchild anymore," said Minh's mother, Diem Nguyen.

Nguyen was speaking at an event organized for Minh at a Montreal restaurant Saturday, where dozens of people with similar genetic makeups to Minh showed up to volunteer as potential stem cell donors.

There is an international registry of 25millionpeople who have provided consent and genetic information in order to donate stem cells, which come from the bone marrow of a healthy adult.

But about 70 per cent of those on the registry are white, putting donor recipients of from other ethnic backgroundsat a significant disadvantage.

Before Saturday's event, Minh's mother described her daughter's chances as one in a million.

Marie-Cindel Surprenant says she felt a personal connection to Minh Nguyen's story when learned about it from a colleague.

"I think that if somehow I can help her, I'll do it, so I think it's a good purpose in my life," she said.

Surprenant is half-Asian, half-white, like Minh.

The toddler's condition can be treated with stem cells from a compatible donor but because of the lack of diversity in the global donor registry, finding a match has been incredibly difficult.

Nguyen said she was moved by the amount of people who came to get swabbed and show their support on Saturday.

"I'm really grateful. These are complete strangers coming to help Minh," she said.

Nguyen said her daughter has shown incredible resilience throughout her time in hospital.

"She's laughing, she's reading, she's playing as much as she can," the mother said.

Friday evening, Nguyen said she started crying at the thought "that she might not outlive me, in terms of lifespan" and Minh asked her why she was sad.

"I said, 'No, I'm just having a bit of allergies,' and she said, 'Please, don't say that, mom, I know you're crying.' I said, 'I just want to stay with you as long as I can.' And she said, 'I'm here for you mom, I'm not leaving you,'" Nguyen recounted.

"She is incredible."

Samuel Sassine, a University of Montreal medical school student who attended Saturday's event, works for a foundation called Swab the World, which was founded by Mai Duong, a woman of Vietnamese descent who also struggled to find a stem cell donor, to encourage people from diverse ethnic backgrounds to become donors.

Sassine said there is currently no one in the world registered with the same DNA background as Minh.

"White people have more chances of living through this disease than other people from other ethnic backgrounds and thatis unacceptable," he said.

"In 2022, ethnic non-equity should not exist, and to live or to not live based on your skin colour should not exist either."

Alex Fong, wholike Surprenant, came to get swabbed on Saturday to see if he could be a potential donor, said Minh's story had move him.

"When I found out that not a lot of Asian donors were doing stem cells, I thought it would be a good idea to come and just participate," said Fong.

Sassinesays he hopes to see more awareness spread in schools about theof the lack of diversity in stem cell donor registries.

He encourageseveryone who is eligible, regardless of ethnicity, to register as a stem cell donor.

In Quebec, stem cell donor registrations are carried out through Hma-Qubec.It involves filling in a questionnaire online and then swabbing cells in your mouth with a kit sent by mail. Once you send it back, you can be part of the donor bank, Sassine explained.

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Stem cell donors volunteer in hopes of saving Montreal toddler with rare blood disease - CBC.ca

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Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapy Market: Rise in Prevalence of Different Chronic Diseases across the World to Drive the Market – BioSpace

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:01 am

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Transparency Market Research Inc.: Stem cells are bodys raw materials or cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. These cells can be guided to become specific cells that regenerate and repair diseased or damaged tissues in patients suffering from various diseases.

Read Report Overview - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/stem-cell-and-regenerative-therapy-market.html

This stem cell therapy is called regenerative medicine or regenerative therapy to treat several diseases. Stem cell and regenerative therapy promotes the repair response of diseased, injured, or dysfunctional tissue using stem cells or derivatives of stem cells.

Stem cell therapies can be used to treat patients with Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, diabetes type 1, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer, and osteoarthritis

In advanced therapies, stem cells are used to replace damaged cells and serve as a replacement method for the donor's immune system to fight several types of blood-related diseases and cancer

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Key Drivers and Restraints of Global Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapy Market

Unclear Regulatory Guidelines Hampers Global Market

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Cell Therapy Segment to Dominate Global Market

Oncology to be Highly Promising Segment

Hospitals to be Major End-user Segment

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North America to Lead Global Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapy Market

Key Manufacturers Operating in Global Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapy Market

Key manufacturers operating in the global market are:

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Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapy Market: Rise in Prevalence of Different Chronic Diseases across the World to Drive the Market - BioSpace

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Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market | Incredible Possibilities, Growth, Trend, Opportunities Detailed Analysis and Forecast to 2030 Travel…

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:00 am

Rising incidence of testosterone deficiency: Key Drivers

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Key players in the global testosterone replacement therapy market are engaged in regulatory approvals, technologically advanced products, launch of new products, and acquisition & collaborative agreements with other companies. These strategies are likely to fuel the growth of the global testosterone replacement therapy market. A few product launches in the global testosterone replacement therapy market are:

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Transparency Market Research registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, is a global market research company providing custom research and consulting services. TMR provides in-depth insights into factors governing demand in the market. It divulges opportunities across various segments based on Source, Application, Sales Channel, and End-Use that will favor growth in the market over the next 9 years.

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Low on the Male Hormone? 5 Effective Ways to Boost It – Times Square Chronicles

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:00 am

You might have heard the saying, you are what you eat. Well, its true. If your diet contains processed foods, sugar, and other unhealthy things, then you wont feel very healthy. And if you are experiencing trouble growing hair or building muscle mass, these foods may be to blame. Men should have an optimal level of testosterone in order to have thicker hair on their heads and bodies as well as more energy throughout the day.

However, there are some things that can make this hormone worse than others. Its crucial for men over 30 years old to monitor their testosterone levels regularly so they can take action quickly if required.

Testosterone replacement therapy is a form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that makes use of testosterone as a way to treat hypogonadism and other diseases related to a deficiency in testosterone.

The treatment has been shown to be effective at managing these conditions and enhancing the quality of life. However, there are some side effects associated with testosterone replacement therapy, so its always a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking the treatment.

Various factors, such as the growing adoption of a hectic and sedentary lifestyle, high consumption of fast food, increased rate of smoking, and others, can be ascribed to the low level of testosterone in modern times. These situations are particularly prevalent in developed countries like the US. If you belong to Arizona and are facing similar problems, then you might want to try testosterone replacement therapy in Gilbert, Arizona.

Regular exercise is extremely important for a healthy body and mind. It helps to keep your body fit, and it can also help to boost testosterone levels. The following exercises are the most effective ways to increase your testosterone levels:

Excessive body fat is one of the common causes of low testosterone. When you have more than 10 percent body fat, this can be a sign of low testosterone levels.

The good news is that losing extra weight can help boost your T-levels and make you feel better about yourself. Moreover, some studies have proved that losing excessive fat helps improve sexual performance and overall health.

Its important to know how much fat is too much for your body when it comes to boosting testosterone levels and improving health.

Quality sleep leads to higher testosterone production. During sleep, the body repairs and regenerates itself in preparation for another day of activity. Its also a crucial part of your circadian rhythm, which helps regulate other crucial functions like temperature, hormone levels, and more.

Sleep is helpful to your body because it enables it to produce growth hormones that are necessary for muscle mass development and repair. In addition, melatonin is produced during deep sleep cycles known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep; this hormone helps regulate your immune system, moods, and moreall of which can influence building muscle mass over time.

Supplements can be an excellent way to boost testosterone levels. Supplements come in the form of natural herbs, vitamins, and minerals that are known to boost your bodys production of testosterone.

When selecting a supplement for testosterone boosting, it is crucial to choose one that has been tested and proven effective. Some supplements have side effects which may not be worth it just for an increase in testosterone levels alone. Your best bet when looking at supplements is something backed by scientific studies.

It may take daily consumption of 2-3 months before you start seeing the results; however, some people may experience increased energy within a week of starting supplementation with these products.

I hope these five effective tips have given you some idea about how to boost your testosterone levels. Through testosterone replacement therapy, performing regular exercises, losing the extra fat, optimizing your sleep, and taking testosterone-boosting supplements, you will be able to see results quickly and easily.

Along with these five tips, diet also plays a major role in boosting testosterone levels. Some foods help you produce more male hormones, while others just hamper their development. Hence, its important to be careful while eating anything.

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Low on the Male Hormone? 5 Effective Ways to Boost It - Times Square Chronicles

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Trans teens: We need to be heard, counted. In Michigan, the backlash is harsh – Bridge Michigan

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:00 am

You cant understand what you dont measure

Numbers are hard to come by, but Prins is one of about 3,950 Michigan youths between ages 13 and 17 who identified as transgender in 2020, according to the Williams Institute of UCLA.

Nationwide, there are more than 60 gender clinics treating transgender and nonbinary adolescents using gender-affirming care, nine of which are in Michigan.

Overall, nonbinary youths are believed to represent less than 1 percent of the more than 640,000 adolescents in Michigan. Nationally, their numbers are believed to be rising fast, as more come out, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cataloging their population is tough, though, because the federal government has not allowed school districts to report data on nonbinary students, just males and females.

That may soon change as federal officials consider changing policies to allow but not require schools to collect the data.

The proposal comes from the federal Office of Civil Rights, which is considering collecting data on nonbinary students for its 2021-22 report in December, which identifies chronic absenteeism, sexual assault, school safety, harassment and bullying.

Such information could steer help to trans students who report high rates of bullying and harassment, according to Cody Venzke, senior counsel for the Center of Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit based in Washington D.C. that focuses on technology policy.

You cant understand what you dont measure, but with any sensitive data, there are risks to the students and families youre collecting data on, said Venzke, who proposes the policy change..

Someone could collect that data for a legitimate purpose but then later on it is used for a different purpose, such as a state agency identify trans students and reporting it to Child Protective Services, Venzke said, pointing out that some states have passed laws that consider transgender care as child abuse.

That is the No. 1 risk that schools face when they try to be a responsible steward of students data, he said.

Parents Defending Education, a Virginia-based group that opposes LGBTQ education in schools, objected to the proposal, stating it would empower schools to actively question and engage with children on gender and sexual identification issues that fall outside of the purview of public schools and are matters to be dealt with exclusively by parents.

Jennie Knight, vice president of the Grand Rapids LGBTQ Healthcare Consortium, said collecting data on transgender youths is important at a time when people are ringing alarm bells about more people coming out.

Knight said she has a 9-year-old son who just finished third grade and she does not want anyone at school talking to him about sex right now.

But I do think he should learn about all the different kinds of families there are, Knight said.

Being able to talk about gender at an age when children developmentally notice differences between themselves and others is not harmful, said Jennifer Schwartz, behavioral program manager at Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, which offers health services and support for young people.

It helps them learn who they are as people later on, Schwartz said.

In the absence of schools, Michigan counties have begun expanding surveys to include information on LGBTQ people in health reports used to identify community needs.

In the last four years, at least 11 of 83 counties have collected such information, but the number of LGBTQ respondents is still very low, which makes it hard to accurately represent the community.

Accurately representing the community not only makes people feel safer coming out, but it also helps health departments tailor their services to meet those peoples needs, said Maris Brummel, an epidemiologist for the Kent County Health Department.

In 2020, for the first time, Kent County included demographics on its LGBTQ community in a county health report that lays out its residents health status, needs and issues.

Of the people surveyed, 4 percent identified as LGBTQ and about 1 percent of them are transgender. The report found 6 percent of the countys surveyed middle schoolers and 8 percent of its high schoolers identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. The report excluded information on transgender youths.

One barrier is that many LGBTQ males and non-binary people dont feel comfortable responding to the survey, Brummel said.

Eaton County, for instance, is among the counties in Michigan that dont include LGBTQ residents in their community health reports because so few people responded that they identify as LGBTQ, said Milea Burgstahler, the countys quality improvement coordinator.

Less than six people identified as LGBTQ in the survey of Eaton County, which has a population of about 109,000. Burgstahler said, we couldnt analyze the data to represent a sample that is representative of the population.

Estimates vary nationwide, but the percentage of people nationwide identifying as lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender has steady increased since Gallup began polling in 2012. The firm now estimates 7 percent of the public identifies as something other than straight.

In Michigan, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated in 2019 there are about 24,000 same-sex households, about 1.1 percent of Michigan couples. Nationwide, the rate is 1.5 percent.

The national wave of legislation involving trans youths is exacerbating mental health risks plaguing them, said Erin Knott, the executive director of Equality Michigan, the states largest LGBTQ advocacy group.

We have seen in Michigan an uptick in harmful rhetoric aimed at our trans and nonbinary youth, Knott said.

She works with The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ young people. Last year, its hotline received 6,200 calls from Michigan kids, Knott said.

That year, a national survey by The Trevor Project found that 42 percent of the 35,000 LGBTQ youths who were surveyedand over half of them being trans and nonbinary youthsseriously considered suicide within the prior year.

Social media is elevating more transgender roles models, but how safe a person feels depends on where they live, said Leisha Taylor, a bisexual woman in Hillsdale. Taylor said historically, religious and conservative communities like Hillsdale have not welcomed gender diverse people.

The words they have used to describe us are abomination and abhorrent, Taylor said.

Taylor noted recent controversies in Hillsdale targeting the LGBTQ community as a reason why friends and family who identify as transgender have to hide it because they dont feel safe coming out.

In May, one member of the Hillsdale Community Library Board suggested forbidding the library from buying books for people under age 18 that discuss sexual identity and gender identity.

Gender diverse people can become confused about their identity when their communities are not welcoming or lack representation of transgender people, according to Jay Dunn, a 38-year-old man who transitioned in his late 30s.

Dunn grew up in Galesburg, a small city in Kalamazoo County, and came out to his parents as a lesbian at age 17.

It was tough growing up there, said Dunn, adding he was one of three openly gay students at his high school and they were frequently bullied.

While Dunn identified as a lesbian because he liked girls, he said his adolescence was a confusing time and something always felt off. It was not until a family friend came out as transgender that Dunn realized his authentic self.

Today, Dunn is receiving hormone therapy and had his breasts removed. He says it is the happiest he has ever been, noting that his wife now says your confidence is through the roof.

The only thing I regret is not being able to start transitioning sooner, Dunn said.

One of the most effective methods of treating gender-associated distress is providing adolescents access to gender-affirming care, according to endocrinologist Daniel Shumer who founded the states first pediatric gender clinic at Motts Childrens Hospital in 2015.

Gender-affirming care was first founded in Germany in 1918, began in the United States in the late 1940s and was made available to adolescents in 2007.

There are three forms of gender-affirming care: puberty blocking medicine, hormone therapy and gender-confirmation surgery, like breast removal or implants.

Puberty blocking medicine is a non-invasive, reversible process that desensitizes the brain gland that releases puberty hormones and allows kids time and space to explore their gender identity, according to Shumer.

Natural puberty would pick up where it left off if a patient chooses to stop taking puberty blockers.

Hormone replacement therapy produces more testosterone or estrogen depending on the sex features a person wants expressed. Both forms of treatment cost thousands of dollars a year without insurance.

Shumer said transgender and nonbinary adolescents experience gender dysphoria, unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.

Children generally feel this discomfort around age 10 when they are about to hit puberty and their bodies change in ways that make them uncomfortable, according to Shumer. At that time, transgender children who are out start asking their parents about getting gender-affirming care.

Shumer said a vast majority of the kids who are distressed about puberty and receive treatment grow into happy, healthy, successful, well-adjusted adults.

They really feel like the treatment theyre getting is making a huge difference and its potentially life-saving for a lot of these young people, Shumer said.

Shumer said he was exposed to a pediatric gender clinic during his medical training and saw how helpful providing high quality care to transgender and gender diverse young people can be.

There was quite clearly a need for these services in Michigan, Shumer said, noting that when the clinic opened, he was getting referrals from all over the state and the clinic became very busy quite quickly.

Over time, Shumer said the number of referrals increased to 100 new patients each year and more adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 were seeking care.

Its clear that in Michigan and across the country, young people are thinking more critically about gender identity and exploring gender identity is a normal process of adolescence, he said.

Before Shumers clinic opened, families like Roz Keiths often traveled out of state seeking such care. Keith is the board president of Stand With Trans, a nonprofit support group for transgender kids and families with transgender members.

Keith said she was getting transferred all over the place because Michigan did not have resources for transgender youths when her son Hunter Keith came out as a transgender male in 2012.

Hunter Keith said it took a year for him to be seen by a specialist who was based in Boston, Massachusetts and had a very long waiting list.

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Ostarine MK-2866 | Review, Alternatives,Side Effects and Results-Health News – Firstpost

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 2:00 am

It works by combining the androgen receptors in the body, which assists in lowering body fat and promoting muscular building.

Ostarine is a SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) of the second generation, also known as Enobosarm or MK-2866. You are thus at the correct spot since this article will provide you with information on Ostarine and amazing Ostarine MK-2866 alternatives.

Ostarine is a specific sort of androgen receptor modulator (SARM). It works by combining the androgen receptors in the body, which assists in lowering body fat and promoting muscular building. It is a non-toxic substance with minimal adverse effects.

Therefore, let's go more into Ostarine; at the end of this section, you will be aware of all the essential facts and other facets associated with the use of this substance.

In an effort to prevent the problem, a concerted effort was undertaken to devise a realistic, safer alternative. SARMs represent the next generation of T-Boosting medications.

SARM is an acronym for selective androgen receptor modulators. SARM pharmaceuticals are anabolic chemicals intended to bind to androgen receptors.

SARM compounds are being studied by medical experts as a possible treatment for complicated conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, sexual impairments, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and muscle wasting.

Ostarine MK-2866 and other SARMs are often utilized by athletes for performance enhancement, lean muscle growth, fat loss, a rapid recovery rate, and enhanced strength and endurance.

Ostarine and SARMs were believed to have much fewer negative effects than steroids. However, the reality is exactly the reverse.

Prior to discussing what Ostarine is, it is necessary todefine a SARM. Androgens are a class of sexual habitats. The most prominent are testosterone and estrogen.

These androgens exert their effects via proteins known as androgen receptors.

The multiple functions of your body's androgen receptors include developing muscular growth and strength.

The acronym SARM stands for selective androgen receptor modulator. This family of medicinal drugs modulates the behavior of androgen receptors. In other words, SARMs (Ostarine,Rad 140,Ibutamorenetc..) induce your DNA to alter, resulting in quicker, larger, and stronger muscular growth.

The word selective is a crucial component of the SARM concept. If anabolic steroids are blunt instruments, SARMs are scalpels. Steroids also bind and modify androgen receptors. However, they may bind elsewhere in the body, leading to acne, hair loss, prostate issues, etc. SARMs, on the other hand, target androgen receptors exclusively and do not bind anywhere else in the body.

In the 1990s, SARMs were produced by accident. As a result of exploring therapies for numerous malignancies and muscle-wasting disorders, such as those connected with AIDS, this incident occurred. James T. Dalton, a scientist, and professor researching prostate cancer therapy discovered the first ever.

Through this procedure, he found the first SARM, the chemical andarine. Its benefits on muscle development were amazing, and he focused nearly exclusively on that chemical.

Dalton spent the next many years perfecting it, and Ostarine was the outcome of this work. It would shortly enter clinical trials, where it would again exhibit its potential to increase lean muscle mass, but would not reach the desired outcomes in terms of curing cancer.

Immediately after this study, Ostarine would be accessible on the illegal market. While it is currently an experimental medicine undergoing various clinical studies, bodybuilders utilize it all over the globe. TheWorld Anti-Doping Agencycontinues to classify it as a restricted drug around the globe.

Ostarine has connected itself to the body's androgen receptor. When it combines, the receptors are designated to expand muscles more rapidly. The process of focusing muscle development modifies genes. This technique further enhances muscle development by boosting protein synthesis.

The functioning mechanism is related to the anabolism in which tiny molecules are split to generate a superior, more complex molecule. All of these actions need additional energy, therefore Ostarine functions as an external force.

This enables the body's protein to work harder, resulting in an increase in lean muscle mass during intense exercises.

Additionally, the supplement assists in enhancing endurance and energy for extended training sessions.

This is good for you if a fat-burning diet has left you feeling very exhausted. Consequently, your lost muscles recover rapidly via exercise. Your body's muscular mass activity also increased. Thus, your physique will seem slimmer and more refined.

Several distinct kinds of amino acids are contained in this medicine, according to certain sources. One of the amino acids contained in Ostarine is leucine.

Leucine was used by bodybuilders as a meal replacement supplement. It is excellent foraccelerating muscle recoveryand lowering lactic acid buildup after intense training sessions.

The bodybuilders who use Ostarine MK2866 to grow muscle say that this supplement provides them a tremendous edge over their rivals. It not only increases the intensity of their training but also promotes faster muscle recovery.

Ostarine is a non-toxic dietary supplement with minimal adverse effects. Some potential adverse effects include:

Some may have headaches at first use. If someone has this issue, he must reduce the dose. It is recommended to take aspirin before taking this supplement.

Some individuals reported experiencing nausea after ingestion. This occurs when estrogen levels are adjusted to modify the dosage of a drug inside the body.

Some individuals claim that following extended usage of large dosages, they get despondent. However, this state is only brief. If someone is seeing an increase in emotional problems, he should stop using this SARM.

Some users develop joint aches. Since this supplement is meant to develop muscle, this issue should occur naturally. If this issue causes you pain, you should avoid using it for at least one to three weeks. Until your joint discomfort disappears totally.

Some users report gastrointestinal discomfort. Which results in an abundance of weakness.

At the conclusion of the cycle, several individuals complain about their facial acne and hyperpigmentation.

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [Osta 2866 CrazyBulk]

OSTA 2866 is a 100 percent natural dietary supplement that inundates the body with herbs and essential minerals that mimic the performance-enhancing and muscle-building capabilities of Ostarine MK-2866 without causing severe health effects. The dietary supplement enhances muscle development by increasing testosterone production, promoting muscular blood flow, boosting energy, and accelerating fat loss.

People who want rapid muscle growth in a couple of weeks could begin utilizing OSTA 2866, which replicates the controversial bodybuilding component Ostarine perfectly. As the Food and Drug Administration of the United States has not approved Ostarine, its replacement is the safest option.

CrazyBulk, a health and wellness company with over a decade of expertise in the industry, is the manufacturer of OSTA 2866. The company has sold over two million bottles abroad. It is a strong ergogenic aid that enhances power output at constant perceived effort levels and delays the onset of fatigue after strenuous physical activity.

Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 comprises scientifically effective doses of performance-enhancing chemicals and essential minerals, which together promote lean muscle development.

Reishi Fungus Extract

Reishi mushroomsare powerful adaptogens that boost the production of metabolic energy (ATP), increase physical strength, and speed up muscle recovery. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 200 milligrams of Reishi mushroom extract.

Cinnamon (30:1 Extract)

Cinnamon moderates the insulin response and decreases post-meal glucose spikes. This decreases the body's storage of sugar as fat. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 200 mg of cinnamon.

Fennel (4:1 Extract)

Fennel is a dietary item that supplies the body with the necessary levels of vitamin C. It acts as a supplement to combat weariness and exhaustion during activity. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 400 mg of fennel.

Southern Ginseng

Southern ginseng, a herbaceous climbing vine native to South and East Asia, enhances adrenal gland function during exercise in order to boost endurance and build strength. CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 550 mg of southern ginseng.

Salacia

The medicinal herb Salacia, which is native to India and Sri Lanka, enhances insulin sensitivity, boosts glucose metabolism, and promotes weight loss. The Salacia extract inside OSTA 2866 is responsible for its fat-burning effects. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 600 mg of Salacia.

Zinc (Zinc Citrate)

Zinc enhances muscular growth by boosting aerobic capacity, which measures the quantity of oxygen supplied to the muscles. A shortage of oxygen in the muscles may inhibit the ability to build muscle. The minerals also help in post-exercise tissue repair. OSTA 2866 from CrazyBulk includes 10 mg of the most bioavailable type of zinc, zinc citrate, in each dosage.

Magnesium (As Magnesium Oxide)

Magnesium improves exercise performance and promotes muscle development. Each serving of CrazyBulk's OSTA 2866 includes 35 mg of magnesium.

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [Osta 2866 CrazyBulk]

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [OstaBulk Brutal Force]

OstaBulk is a natural substitute for the now-prohibited SARM Ostarine MK28660.

It has the same results without negative side effects. It functions as an anabolic steroid and promotes muscular growth.

OstaBulk is made in the United States by Muscles Club Limited and distributed under the Brutal Force brand.

In the United Kingdom, Health Nutrition Limited owns the brand, Brutal Force.

Multiple products are available to meet the diverse needs of both professional and amateur bodybuilders. OstaBulk is 100% natural and fully safe to use.

It is formulated by combining numerous components. It encourages lean muscle development.

It is made and sold by well-known companies in the sector of dietary supplements.

B6 vitamin:

This product contains a substance that may help in the body's natural testosterone production. Additionally, it may assist in the decrease of recovery time and the enhancement of sleep habits. It may aid in muscle building and endurance.

D3 (calcium iodide):

Vitamin D3 from Ostabulk may help you restore the quality and strength of your muscular fibers. The recuperation period of bodybuilders is a drawback. This component may facilitate quicker recovery and enhanced muscle development.

K1 vitamin:

The quantity of vitamin K1 in the body affects muscular strength and performance. According to research, this element in Ostabulk may help maintain a high level of K1 in plasma and promote the development of enormous muscles.

Magnesium:

This substance comprises both magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide. This might assist in maintaining muscular flexibility and preventing cramping. This product's citrate content may improve magnesium digestion in the body.

Zinc Citrate

This product's zinc citrate may help boost the immune system. It may boost endurance and facilitate severe exercise.

D-Aspartic Acid (DAA):

According to the study, D-AA may stimulate the brain's hormone production. This hormone boosts the synthesis of testosterone throughout the body. This may contribute to the growth of stronger muscles.

Stinging Nettle Leaf:

This contributes to the development of muscles. According to research, it may boost muscle development naturally and is safe to consume.

Korean Red Ginseng Root Extract:

Multiple studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng assists sportsmen and bodybuilders in exercise, bulking, and injury recuperation. It may also increase the body's endurance and energy levels.

Seed Extract of Fenugreek:

It has the ability to develop strength and endurance naturally and safely. It may also help in increasing the body's testosterone level, which may promote muscular building.

Citrate of Boron:

This ingredient in Ostabulk may improve muscular coordination. Additionally, it may assist in the growth of strong bones and the production of testosterone.

Black Pepper Fruit Extract with BioPerine:

The mineral BioPerine is produced from black pepper berries. According to a number of observational studies, it may aid in weight reduction and energy levels, and sportsmen and bodybuilders are fond of it.

Click Here to Order the Legal Ostarine Alternative [OstaBulk Brutal Force]

MK 2866's effects are comparable to those of anabolic steroids. However, it must be remembered that the medicine is in no way a steroid.

The comparison between the two is based on their capacity to interact with Androgen Receptors. However, in contrast to anabolic steroids, its propensity to bind to the AR is limited to those in muscles and bones and no other organ.

Due to its limiting nature, MK 2866 functions similarly to steroids but does not have the same adverse effects.

Ostarine is a banned dietary supplement for a variety of reasons. It aids muscle development and quality that may have been impaired by an autoimmune illness or cancer.

Regarding recreational usage, it is advantageous for both men and women with muscle-building or muscle-definition objectives.

It burns fat beautifully to reveal a lean, muscular figure and provides superhuman power to improve your training volume.

It is reasonable to presume that MK 2866 may inhibit your hormones like other medications in its class. However, its effects are not as suppressive as those of several widely used SARMs that alter hormone levels globally.

Despite this, the chemical might obliterate your natural testosterone levels, which you can subsequently address with a PCT.

Although Ostarine is less potent than the original steroids, we cannot say that it is completely devoid of adverse effects.

There are potential risks associated with the usage of MK 2866.

It is also banned in the USA.

Some of them may include:

In general, Ostarine's bulking effects as a performance-enhancing medication are noteworthy.

Due to the fact that it stimulates the process of muscle regeneration, the majority of individuals like to utilize it to experience enormous muscular increases.

Originally posted here:
Ostarine MK-2866 | Review, Alternatives,Side Effects and Results-Health News - Firstpost

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New treatment changing outlook for those with blood cancers – WBAL TV Baltimore

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 1:58 am

Ten percent of all diagnosed cancers in the United States are blood cancers, and they can be deadly. There are exciting new treatments and research happening in Baltimore that are giving patients hope."These therapies cure the patients that have no other treatment options. It's been a remarkable breakthrough," said Dr. Aaron Rapoport, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.Cutting-edge technology will treat many types of cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Traditional treatments include chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell therapy, but what if those treatments don't work?Now, there is an immunotherapy for aggressive blood cancers that is seeing remarkable results.Chip Baldwin, who has a big laugh and immense love for his grandchildren, thought it was the end when he was told in January 2018 that chemotherapy was no longer working to treat his lymphoma."This is Kyle, he's about 3 1/2 years old and he lives in Florida. (My) granddaughter Maple. She and her family live in Fells Point. And this is (my) granddaughter Rosemary and she's a doll, and they call me Pop-pop," Baldwin said.But Baldwin almost never met two of his grandchildren.Baldwin said he had difficulty "leaving (his wife), Angela, and leaving the family, trying to figure out how they're going to get by."He was out of options, or so he thought. Not willing to give up, his wife, Angela Baldwin, began researching and came across a promising new treatment."(It was) probably the last treatment that I could have received. Had I not received it and had it not been positive to put me in remission, I probably wouldn't be talking to you today," Baldwin said.The treatment he received had just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration months earlier. It's called "CAR T-cell Therapy," and it uses the patient's own, re-engineered immune cells to kill cancer. Rapoport helped pioneer the development of CAR T-cell at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Baldwin was just the second patient to receive it."The notion that one could perhaps harness the immune system, or educate the immune system, to better protect us from cancer, but also to recognize and fight against cancer, has been a goal for decades, centuries really," Rapoport said.It appears that goal has been reached. Here's how it works: The medical team extracts immune cells, called T-cells, out of the patient's blood. The cells are sent to a special lab in California, where scientists change the cells' DNA to put receptors on them called "CAR" - Chimeric Antigen Receptors. They enable the immune cells to recognize, hunt down and kill the cancer cells. The California lab then sends the now-re-engineered immune cells back to the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center."These are CAR T-cells growing in the flask here. These are CAR T-cells that were made in the lab," said Dr. Djordje Atanackovic, a hematology oncologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center.Under a microscope, spots on a cancer cell can be seen that are the killer CAR T-cells. "You could use these right now to treat a patient," Atanackovic said.For the final step, patients are admitted to the hospital and the medical team puts the T-cells back into the patient, where the cells multiply by the millions and destroy the cancer. For Baldwin, that was the day after Easter 2018."Then, about four months later, they determined that all the cancer cells had died, " Baldwin said."Being told that their scans are negative is a really overwhelming experience -- not just for the patients, but for the families and also the nurses and physicians, the team members that are involved in their care," Rapoport said.When looking at CT scan images of two other lymphoma patients, black areas seen on one of the images is extensive cancer. The other image shows the same patient after CAR T-cell therapy, and the cancer is gone. Right now, CAR T-cell Therapy is approved to treat aggressive blood cancers Lymphoma, B-cell Leukemia and Myeloma. But Atanackovic believes that's just the beginning."I'm pretty optimistic that, in 10 years from now, we'll have novel immunotherapies that we can't even imagine at this point for everyone, or at least most of our patients with cancer," Atanackovic said.Four years after his treatment, Baldwin is still in remission. He doesn't like the word "cure" because he's afraid it's bad luck. The word Baldwin keeps saying is: "'Unbelievable.' And even to this day, I kind of can't believe I'm in remission and I'm able to live my life. Since then, I've had two grandchildren and it's been wonderful. Had it not been for the university and the treatment, I would never have seen the two kids."So far, 250 patients have been treated with CAR T-cell Therapy at the University of Maryland, but it's not perfect and researchers are still working to improve it. The success rate for patients with aggressive lymphoma, for example, is 50% and some patients have side effects, like flu-like symptoms, so they typically stay in the hospital for days or even weeks.Many may wonder whether this is covered by insurance. The answer is yes. Keep in mind, right now, it is approved by FDA as a second-line therapy, so patients have to try a different treatment first. But, immunotherapy like CAR-T is the future of cancer treatment.

"These therapies cure the patients that have no other treatment options. It's been a remarkable breakthrough," said Dr. Aaron Rapoport, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Cutting-edge technology will treat many types of cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Traditional treatments include chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell therapy, but what if those treatments don't work?

Now, there is an immunotherapy for aggressive blood cancers that is seeing remarkable results.

Chip Baldwin, who has a big laugh and immense love for his grandchildren, thought it was the end when he was told in January 2018 that chemotherapy was no longer working to treat his lymphoma.

"This is Kyle, he's about 3 1/2 years old and he lives in Florida. (My) granddaughter Maple. She and her family live in Fells Point. And this is (my) granddaughter Rosemary and she's a doll, and they call me Pop-pop," Baldwin said.

But Baldwin almost never met two of his grandchildren.

Baldwin said he had difficulty "leaving (his wife), Angela, and leaving the family, trying to figure out how they're going to get by."

He was out of options, or so he thought. Not willing to give up, his wife, Angela Baldwin, began researching and came across a promising new treatment.

"(It was) probably the last treatment that I could have received. Had I not received it and had it not been positive to put me in remission, I probably wouldn't be talking to you today," Baldwin said.

The treatment he received had just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration months earlier. It's called "CAR T-cell Therapy," and it uses the patient's own, re-engineered immune cells to kill cancer.

Rapoport helped pioneer the development of CAR T-cell at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Baldwin was just the second patient to receive it.

"The notion that one could perhaps harness the immune system, or educate the immune system, to better protect us from cancer, but also to recognize and fight against cancer, has been a goal for decades, centuries really," Rapoport said.

It appears that goal has been reached. Here's how it works: The medical team extracts immune cells, called T-cells, out of the patient's blood. The cells are sent to a special lab in California, where scientists change the cells' DNA to put receptors on them called "CAR" - Chimeric Antigen Receptors. They enable the immune cells to recognize, hunt down and kill the cancer cells. The California lab then sends the now-re-engineered immune cells back to the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"These are CAR T-cells growing in the flask here. These are CAR T-cells that were made in the lab," said Dr. Djordje Atanackovic, a hematology oncologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Under a microscope, spots on a cancer cell can be seen that are the killer CAR T-cells.

"You could use these right now to treat a patient," Atanackovic said.

For the final step, patients are admitted to the hospital and the medical team puts the T-cells back into the patient, where the cells multiply by the millions and destroy the cancer.

For Baldwin, that was the day after Easter 2018.

"Then, about four months later, they determined that all the cancer cells had died, " Baldwin said.

"Being told that their scans are negative is a really overwhelming experience -- not just for the patients, but for the families and also the nurses and physicians, the team members that are involved in their care," Rapoport said.

When looking at CT scan images of two other lymphoma patients, black areas seen on one of the images is extensive cancer. The other image shows the same patient after CAR T-cell therapy, and the cancer is gone.

Right now, CAR T-cell Therapy is approved to treat aggressive blood cancers Lymphoma, B-cell Leukemia and Myeloma. But Atanackovic believes that's just the beginning.

"I'm pretty optimistic that, in 10 years from now, we'll have novel immunotherapies that we can't even imagine at this point for everyone, or at least most of our patients with cancer," Atanackovic said.

Four years after his treatment, Baldwin is still in remission. He doesn't like the word "cure" because he's afraid it's bad luck.

The word Baldwin keeps saying is: "'Unbelievable.' And even to this day, I kind of can't believe I'm in remission and I'm able to live my life. Since then, I've had two grandchildren and it's been wonderful. Had it not been for the university and the treatment, I would never have seen the two kids."

So far, 250 patients have been treated with CAR T-cell Therapy at the University of Maryland, but it's not perfect and researchers are still working to improve it. The success rate for patients with aggressive lymphoma, for example, is 50% and some patients have side effects, like flu-like symptoms, so they typically stay in the hospital for days or even weeks.

Many may wonder whether this is covered by insurance. The answer is yes. Keep in mind, right now, it is approved by FDA as a second-line therapy, so patients have to try a different treatment first. But, immunotherapy like CAR-T is the future of cancer treatment.

Continue reading here:
New treatment changing outlook for those with blood cancers - WBAL TV Baltimore

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How psilocybin, the psychedelic in mushrooms, may rewire the brain to ease depression, anxiety and more – KYMA

Posted: July 19, 2022 at 1:57 am

(CNN) - Shrooms, Alice, tweezes, mushies, hongos, pizza toppings, magic mushrooms -- everyday lingo for psychedelic mushrooms seems to grow with each generation. Yet leading mycologist Paul Stamets believes it's time for fans of psilocybin mushrooms to leave such childish slang behind.

"Let's be adults about this. These are no longer 'shrooms.' These are no longer party drugs for young people," Stamets told CNN. "Psilocybin mushrooms are nonaddictive, life-changing substances."

Small clinical trialsthat have shown thatone or two doses of psilocybin, given in a therapeutic setting, can make dramatic and long-lasting changes in people suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, which typically does not respond to traditional antidepressants.

Based on this research, the US Food and Drug Administration has described psilocybin as abreakthrough medicine, "which is phenomenal," Stamets said.

Psilocybin, which the intestines convert into psilocin, a chemical with psychoactive properties, is also showing promise in combatingcluster headaches,anxiety,anorexia,obsessive-compulsive disorderand various forms ofsubstance abuse.

"The data are strong from depression to PTSD to cluster headaches, which is one of the most painful conditions I'm aware of," said neurologist Richard Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic in the Center for Brain Health at Florida Atlantic University.

"I'm excited about the future of psychedelics because of the relatively good safety profile and because these agents can now be studied in rigorous double-blinded clinical trials," Isaacson said. "Then we can move from anecdotal reports of 'I tripped on this and felt better' to 'Try this and you will be statistically, significantly better.'"

Classic psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD enter the brain via the same receptors as serotonin, the body's "feel good" hormone. Serotonin helps control body functions such as sleep, sexual desire and psychological states such as satisfaction, happiness and optimism.

People with depression or anxiety often have low levels of serotonin, as do people with post-traumatic stress disorder, cluster headaches, anorexia, smoking addiction and substance abuse. Treatment typically involves selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which boost levels of serotonin available to brain cells. Yet it can take weeks for improvement to occur, experts say, if the drugs even work at all.

With psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD, however, scientists can see changes in brain neuron connectivity in the lab "within 30 minutes," said pharmacologist Brian Roth, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"One of the most interesting things we've learned about the classic psychedelics is that they have a dramatic effect on the way brain systems synchronize, or move and groove together," said Matthew Johnson, a professor in psychedelics and consciousness at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

"When someone's on psilocybin, we see an overall increase in connectivity between areas of the brain that don't normally communicate well," Johnson said. "You also see the opposite of that -- local networks in the brain that normally interact with each other quite a bit suddenly communicate less.

"It creates a "very, very disorganized brain," ultimately breaking down normal boundaries between the auditory, visual, executive and sense-of-self sections of the mind -- thus creating a state of "altered consciousness," said David Nutt, director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London.

And it's that disorganization that is ultimately therapeutic, according to Nutt: "Depressed people are continually self-critical, and they keep ruminating, going over and over the same negative, anxious or fearful thoughts.

"Psychedelics disrupt that, which is why people can suddenly see a way out of their depression during the trip," he added. "Critical thoughts are easier to control, and thinking is more flexible. That's why the drug is an effective treatment for depression."

There's more. Researchers say psychedelic drugs actually help neurons in the brain sprout new dendrites, which look like branches on a tree, to increase communication between cells.

"These drugs can increase neuronal outgrowth, they can increase this branching of neurons, they can increase synapses. That's called neuroplasticity," Nutt said.

That's different from neurogenesis, which is the development of brand new brain cells, typically from stem cells in the body. The growth of dendrites helps build and then solidify new circuits in the brain, allowing us to, for example, lay down more positive pathways as we practice gratitude.

"Now our current thinking is this neuronal outgrowth probably doesn't contribute to the increased connectivity in the brain, but it almost certainly helps people who have insights into their depression while on psilocybin maintain those insights," Nutt said.

"You shake up the brain, you see things in a more positive way, and then you lay down those positive circuits with the neuroplasticity," he added. "It's a double whammy.

"Interestingly, SSRIs also increase neuroplasticity, a fact that science has known for some time. But in a 2022 double-blind phase 2randomized controlled trialcomparing psilocybin to escitalopram, a traditional SSRI, Nutt found the latter didn't spark the same magic.

"The SSRI did not increase brain connectivity, and it actually did not improve well-being as much as psilocybin," Nutt said. "Now for the first time you've got the brain science lining up with what patients say after a trip: 'I feel more connected. I can think more freely. I can escape from negative thoughts, and I don't get trapped in them.' "Taking a psychedelic doesn't work for everyone, Johnson stressed, "but when it works really well it's like, 'Oh my god, it's a cure for PTSD or for depression.' If people really have changed the way their brain is automatically hardwired to respond to triggers for anxiety, depression, smoking -- that's a real thing.

"How long do results last? In studies where patients were givenjust one doseof a psychedelic "a couple of people were better eight years later, but for the majority of those with chronic depression it creeps back after four or five months," Nutt said.

"What we do with those people is unknown," he added. "One possibility is to give another dose of the psychedelic -- we don't know if that would work or not, but it might. Or we could put them on an SSRI as soon as they've got their mood improved and see if that can hold the depression at bay.

"There are all sorts of ways we could try to address that question," Nutt said, "but we just don't know the answer yet."

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How psilocybin, the psychedelic in mushrooms, may rewire the brain to ease depression, anxiety and more - KYMA

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