Category Archives: Molecular Medicine

The threat of infectious diseases is a reminder about the importance of the global community and global health care, say McMaster researchers Zain Chagla and Karen Mossman.

The threat of infectious diseases is a reminder about the importance of the global community and global health care, says infectious disease specialist Zain Chagla.

Chagla, an associate professor of medicine, was interviewed on TVOs The Agenda about monkeypox.

It is not a new virus, but transmission had previously been focused primarily in West and Central Africa. In the last month and a half, however, there have been a slew of new cases where people acquired it without the epidemiologic and travel links to that part of the world.

There is probably one set of events that occurred either within West and Central Africa or with people from that region in another area of the world that then transmitted to a different network of individuals which is now transmitting in other networks of individuals all over the world, Chagla explained.

Most of the transmission is from short-range and intimate close contact. That includes skin-to-skin contact and contact with open sores, especially when people are going through the pox phase, as the virus is incredibly present within those lesions, he said.

Most people develop symptoms within a week or two, with one to five days of feeling unwell, Chagla said.

Then theres the appearance of the characteristic rash, which often starts out as flat, red areas that start getting raised and then fill with fluid. These can be anywhere on the body.

That said, some newer cases do not fit the typical pattern of symptoms and may be misdiagnosed. This is why testing and understanding where cases are spreading is key, he told CBC News.

You do want to make sure that testing is very broad until were able to link contacts more and more, and that we know where cases are coming from more and more, because at this point it doesnt seem like it.

Most cases that have been described in the last month and a half have been very mild, with most people not requiring hospitalization to make the diagnosis or help with isolation, he said.

With monkeypox coming on the heels of more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chagla said there are important lessons to learn as we deal with this and other infectious diseases that are sure to come.

Part of our efforts moving forward from this pandemic is recognizing global health as a global community, he explained on TVO, adding partnerships between high- and low-income countries are vital for sharing research, knowledge and medicine.

We are a global community and health across both animal and human species is important and is going to be a very fundamental investment moving forward for the entirety of our world.

There are also lessons in terms of public health messaging, especially as the cases of monkeypox in Canada have been concentrated in men between 20 and 63-years-old. Most of them had sexual contact with other men.

I think this does start the discussion about really making sure that positive, non-stigmatizing, non-discriminatory efforts are put forward first and foremost and that we embrace communities in a positive public health approach, Chagla said.

We need the public as a stakeholder as we move forward in pandemics. We do have to think about the consequences of more punitive measures as they may lose public trust. We need the public back as to help deal with other emerging infectious disease threats.

Its a sentiment echoed by Karen Mossman, virologist and professor of pathology and molecular medicine.

I think there needs to be a balance between transparency and awareness, with reality based on the best available data and knowledge. The public has a right to be aware of what viruses are circulating, and could potentially form a new outbreak, Mossman told CBC News.

This is where it gets challenging, as we often dont know what we dont know, and as we gather more information, those messages change. We absolutely experienced this during COVID, explained Mossman, who is McMasters vice-president of Research.

By using the adage of Trust me, Im a doctor, we arent doing our job in really educating the public of why and how decisions/recommendations are made, which I think is critically important so that when the next pandemic happens, the public has a general awareness and can better understand what is happening, why, and should they be concerned or not.

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Monkeypox and COVID show the need for global health efforts: Experts weigh in - Brighter World

Scientists have discovered that themolecular profiling of diseased joint tissue may considerably influence whether certain drug treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients will work.

According to a new study from the Queen Mary University of London, molecular profiling of diseased joint tissue might greatly impact whether certain drug treatments will be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine on May 19th, 2022. The researchers also found certain genes related to resistance to most present drug therapies, often known as refractory disease, which might give the key to finding new, effective medicines to assist these patients.

While there has been substantial improvement in treating arthritis over the last decades, a large proportion of individuals (about 40%) do not respond to particular drug treatments, and 5-20% of persons with the condition are resistant to all existing kinds of medicine.

The researchers conducted a biopsy-based clinical study with 164 arthritis patients, testing their reactions to rituximab or tocilizumab two medications routinely used to treat RA. The original trials findings, published in The Lancet in 2021, showed that in individuals with a low synovial B-cell molecular signature, just 12% reacted to a treatment that targets B cells (rituximab), whereas 50% responded to an alternate medication (tocilizumab). Both medications were equally effective when patients had high amounts of this genetic signature.

As part of the first-of-its-kind study, funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, an MRC and NIHR partnership, the Queen Mary team also looked at the cases where patients did not respond to treatment via any of the drugs and found that there were 1,277 genes that were unique to them specifically.

Building on this, the researchers applied a data analysis technique called machine learning models to develop computer algorithms that could predict drug responses in individual patients. The machine learning algorithms, which included gene profiling from biopsies, performed considerably better at predicting which treatment would work best compared to a model which used only tissue pathology or clinical factors.

The study strongly supports the case for performing gene profiling of biopsies from arthritic joints before prescribing expensive so-called biologic targeted therapies. This could save the NHS and society considerable time and money and help avoid potential unwanted side effects, joint damage, and worse outcomes that are common among patients. As well as influencing treatment prescription, such testing could also shed light on which people may not respond to any of the current drugs on the market, emphasizing the need for developing alternative medications.

Professor Costantino Pitzalis, Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology at the Queen Mary University of London, said: Incorporating molecular information prior to prescribing arthritis treatments to patients could forever change the way we treat the condition. Patients would benefit from a personalized approach that has a far greater chance of success, rather than the trial-and-error drug prescription that is currently the norm.

These results are incredibly exciting in demonstrating the potential at our fingertips, however, the field is still in its infancy and additional confirmatory studies will be required to fully realize the promise of precision medicine in RA.

The results are also important in finding solutions for those people who unfortunately dont have a treatment that helps them presently. Knowing which specific molecular profiles impact this, and which pathways continue to drive disease activity in these patients, can help in developing new drugs to bring better results and much-needed relief from pain and suffering.

The incorporation of these signatures in future diagnostic tests will be a necessary step to translate these findings into routine clinical care.

Reference: Rituximab versus tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis: synovial biopsy-based biomarker analysis of the phase 4 R4RA randomized trial by Felice Rivellese, Anna E. A. Surace, Katriona Goldmann, Elisabetta Sciacca, Cankut ubuk, Giovanni Giorli, Christopher R. John, Alessandra Nerviani, Liliane Fossati-Jimack, Georgina Thorborn, Manzoor Ahmed, Edoardo Prediletto, Sarah E. Church, Briana M. Hudson, Sarah E. Warren, Paul M. McKeigue, Frances Humby, Michele Bombardieri, Michael R. Barnes, Myles J. Lewis, Costantino Pitzalis, and the R4RA collaborative group, 19 May 2022, Nature Medicine.DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01789-0

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Genes Can Predict the Success of Arthritis Treatment - SciTechDaily

HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science is one of the leading life science research institutes in the Nordics. It fosters outstanding research and generation of innovations across the University of Helsinki campuses and Faculties to create an attractive international environment where todays grand challenges in health and environment are solved together. In HiLIFE, we believe that breakthroughs emerge by giving talented researchers sufficient resources and freedom to pursue their ambitions and expertise towards higher goals.

HiLIFE tenure track program aims to attract the most talented and motivated individuals. In the previous two calls HiLIFE has recruited 10 assistant/associate professors, who to date have been able to achieve 6 ERC grants during their years at the University of Helsinki.

We are now recruiting

three TENURE TRACK ASSISTANT / ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

to join this excellent crowd. The HiLIFE tenure track positions start 2023 at the earliest and are initially for three to five years with a possibility for promotion and tenuring following successful evaluation. The aim is to recruit three scientists, but additional places may be available in collaboration with HiLIFE operational units.

The positions are shared between one of the HiLIFE units (Institute of Biotechnology, Neuroscience Center and Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM)) and one of the participating life science faculties in Viikki, Meilahti and Kumpula campuses. We encourage applicants from all fields of life science to apply. The faculties participate in the call and encourage applications especially from the following fields:

Position requirements

We seek talented candidates with a doctorate degree, post-doctoral experience, and recent demonstration of excellence in research in life sciences according to career stage. We build on scientific excellence; a suitable candidate has for example already produced early-career scientific track record, attracted funding, and is now ready to start working independently. The successful candidate shows potential to be a future research leader, and is expected to develop an independent externally funded line of research in current or emerging areas of life sciences. We are looking for individuals also capable of contributing to the development of life science infrastructures and/or higher education in evolving areas of life sciences. Early-stage independent researchers are especially encouraged to apply.

For formal qualifications, please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/academic-careers/tenure-track. The degree requirement must be met by the end of the application deadline.

What we offer

Want to work in the worlds happiest country in a dynamic and international institute? Finland has been nominated as the happiest country in the world four times in a row. https://media.visitfinland.com/en/media-press-releases/five-ultimate-reasons-travel-finland-happiest-country/

The positions come with an attractive negotiable startup package, and are initially for three to five years with a possibility for extension or tenuring following successful evaluation. All positions are shared between HiLIFE units and one of the participating faculties. Contracts during the tenure track are with HiLIFE and following tenuring at the faculty. The salary is negotiable within the framework of the University of Helsinki regulations.

HiLIFE takes a proactive and transformative role in ensuring that our institute is the best place for everyone to conduct their work. Our Code of Conduct translates the University of Helsinki values and principles into practical guidelines that define how we behave and wish to be treated with zero tolerance against inappropriate behavior, bullying, harassment, or discrimination.

Application & recruitment process

Applications are submitted as a single pdf attachment via the link at the bottom of the page. On the separate attached pdf, the applicant includes the following:

Applications are submitted by August 25, 2022.

Evaluation of applications is carried out by an Appointment Committee and includes external referee statements and interviews of shortlisted applicants. Finalists must successfully complete an interview process that includes a research seminar and teaching demonstration. The interviews are expected to take place on January 9 11, 2023. The recruitment is expected to be completed in March 2023.

Further information

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/hilife-helsinki-institute-life-science/call-hilife-tenure-track-assistantassociate-professor-positions

HiLIFE director Olli Silvennoinen, tel:+358 50 359 5740 , e-mail: olli.j.silvennoinen@helsinki.fi

Human Resources Partner Anu Roine, tel: +358 50 556 0633, e-mail: anu.roine@helsinki.fi (out of office June 24 July 31)

Head of Administration Jonna Katajisto, tel: +358 50 415 1096, e-mail: jonna.katajisto@helsinki.fi (out of office July 11 - 22 and August 15 ->)

In case you need support with the recruitment portal, please contact recruitment@helsinki.fi

HiLIFE

Life Science research in at the University of Helsinki covers broad scope from structure, function and dynamics of molecules, microbes and cells to entire organisms and ecosystems. Multiple units at all four Universitys campuses, but mainly Viikki and Meilahti, host life science researchers. HiLIFE was established in 2017 to bridge over Universitys units and campuses and thus build even more vibrant life science community.

HiLIFE contains the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, Institute of Biotechnology (BI) and Neuroscience Center (NC). These units play an important role in developing a strong international research environment in their focus areas and bring important expertise to HiLIFE in recruitment, training, core facilities, innovation, and international cooperation. HiLIFE also takes responsibility of cross-campus needs and the development in the Life Science area. This dual role makes HiLIFE a unique entity in the University.

HiLIFE employs more than 650 diverse scientists and support staff. With about 50% international staff the daily working language is English. HiLIFEs budget exceeds 60 M of which about 65% is external competed research funding. HiLIFE hosts about 80 principal investigators including multiple ERC grantees. Measured by CNCI (Category Normalized Citation Impact 2017-2020) HiLIFE is the top research unit at the University. It is also forerunner in the open publishing.

Whats life like as a HiLIFE assistant / associate professor?Watchthe story of one of our tenure track professors and hear what she has discovered during her years in Helsinki.

Curious to know more about HiLIFE or the assistant/associate professor positions? https://www.helsinki.fi/en/hilife-helsinki-institute-life-science

University of Helsinki & Finland

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minorities. HiLIFE employs more than 650 diverse scientists and support staff. With about 50 % of international staff the daily working language is English.

The University of Helsinki is a vibrant and international scientific community of 40 000 students and researchers. It is one of the leading multidisciplinary research universities in Europe and ranks among the top 100 international universities in the world. Through the power of science, the University has contributed to society, education, and welfare since 1640. The University of Helsinki is currently investing heavily in life sciences research. UH offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development.

Our vision 2030 is to be one of the worlds leading universities that generates understanding through research and teaching for the benefit of the global community. Everyday activities and interaction are founded on the shared values of truth, Bildung, freedom and inclusivity. Our research and teaching draw inspiration from four themes that spur collaboration between fields and disciplines and renew research and learning: A meaningful life, human wellbeing and a healthy environment; A humane and fair world; A sustainable and viable future for our globe; and A universe of ideas and opportunities.

Finland is a member of the EU, has high quality free schooling (also in English), generous family benefits and healthcare, and was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families and in the worlds top ten most liveable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region possess top expertise in sciences in terms of a vibrant talent pool, leading research, strong support services and functioning collaboration networks. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers.

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HiLIFE Tenure Track Assistant / Associate Professor Position job with UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI | 297858 - Times Higher Education

A team of University of Tennessee Health Science Center researchers has been awarded $2.19 million from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for their investigation of the neurotoxic effects of toluene, a common chemical found in many household products.

Alex M. Dopico, MD, Van Vleet Chair of Excellence and professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology (PHAST) in the College of Medicine, and Anna N. Bukiya, PhD, professor in the same department, are principal investigators on the award. Jeff Steketee, PhD, also a professor in the PHAST Department and chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, is a co-investigator.

Toluene reaches the brain through inhalation. Intoxication with toluene, whether accidental or following recreational use (e.g., glue sniffing), leads to dizziness, blurred vision and even neurological deficits with catastrophic outcomes, including death. A reduction in blood flow to the brain is thought to contribute to these toxic effects, but how and why toluene exposure affects the brain circulation is not known.

The team hypothesizes that toluene reduces the activity of a protein (the BK channel) located in the cerebral artery muscle cells, causing the brain arteries to constrict upon exposure. Performing tests at the molecular level using computational methods, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of BK channel function in animal models, the team aims to identify the specific mechanism and site of action in BK channels that makes cerebral arteries constrict in the presence of toluene. Their tests will include delivering new selective drug therapies for early intervention in toluene-induced brain ischemia.

The project, titled Ionic mechanisms of toluene cerebrovascular actions, is being funded over five years.

Related

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UTHSC Team Receives $2.19 Million To Study Neurotoxicity of Commonly-Used Chemical Solvent - UTHSC News - UTHSC News

June 21, 2022 Krystle W. Glasgow, MIS, CNMT, NMTCB(CT), NMAA, FSNMMI-TS, instructor and clinical coordinator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama, has been elected as the 2022-23 president for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imagings 2022 Annual Meeting held June 11-14.

Retaining and increasing membership in SNMMI-TS is Glasgows top priority as Technologist Section president. We have had great momentum in the past year in bringing in more members to our great society, said Glasgow. As president, I will continue working to engage with technologists and build excitement for our field.

Glasgow also plans to strengthen the societys support for nuclear medicine technologists through enhanced communication and educational offerings. By making SNMMI-TS a one-stop shop for technologists, Glasgow hopes that more technologists will take advantage of all of the opportunities offered by the society.

Glasgow received her Bachelor of Sciencedegree in nuclear medicine technology with a concentration in computed tomography in 2010 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her Masters of Imaging Science degree and was certified as a Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. Currently, Glasgow is pursuing her doctorate degree in health services administration with a concentration in health informatics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

An active member of the SNMMI-TS, Glasgow was president-elect for the Technologist Section from 2021-22. She serves on the SNMMI-TS Membership, Finance and Publications committees. She has been a member and chair of numerous task forces and working groups, including the SNMMI-TS Executive Board,UptakeNewsletter Editorial Board, Nuclear Medicine Week Working Group, Women in Nuclear Medicine Committee, Advocacy Committee and more. She is also an article reviewer for theJournal of Nuclear Medicine Technology.

Glasgow, an SNMMI-TS fellow, is an SNMMI-TS 2016 Leadership Academy graduate as well as a 2021 Advanced Leadership Academy graduate. She was the 2018 American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Kleiner Award winner and has been awarded several grants from SNMMI-TS. Glasgow has also contributed to several books and has published four journal articles.

The SNMMI Technologist Section president-elect for 2022-23 is Dmitry Beyder, CNMT, MPA, St. Louis, Missouri. Elected to leadership of SNMMI for 2022-23 were Munir Ghesani, MD, FACNM, FACR, New York, New York, as president; Helen Nadel, MD, FRCPC, Stanford, California, as president-elect; and Cathy Sue Cutler, PhD, FSNMMI, Upton, New York, as vice president-elect.

For more information:www.snmmi.org

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SNMMI Announces President of the Technologist Section During 2022 Annual Meeting - Imaging Technology News

image:Senior author Thomas Hawke is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine. view more

Credit: McMaster University

Hamilton, ON (June 10, 2022) Older adults with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at significantly higher risk of both muscle weakening and cardiovascular complications, say McMaster University researchers.

Using gripping power as a measure, researchers compared the muscle strength of 63 participants from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging with T1D to a control group of 63 without diabetes, tracking them over a three-year period. The average age of those surveyed was 59 when first assessed.

The research has been published in The Canadian Journal of Diabetes.

The study authors also found that older patients with T1D had abnormally low diastolic blood pressure when the heart muscle is relaxed between beats which might be an indicator of early increased cardiovascular disease risk.

The study follows related research showing that T1D patients over 40 had reduced leg-muscle strength. Taken together, the studies suggest patients should be trying to preserve their strength with resistance-based exercises such as resistance bands and weights.

We now have two pieces of evidence showing that patients with T1D have reduced strength and undertaking resistance-based exercises can compensate for this loss, said senior author Thomas Hawke, a professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine.

Hawke explained that some people with T1D avoid exercise, fearing it will lower their blood sugar.

Unlike aerobic exercise, resistance training is not usually associated with lowering blood sugar in T1D. In fact, it can even increase blood sugar levels a little. More and more studies are proving the benefits of resistance exercise. The benefits are multifaceted, he said.

Hawke said the evidence is now overwhelming clear that diminishing muscle strength is strongly associated with higher mortality.

It is also significantly correlated with your frailty and ability to live independently. Can you carry a grocery bag, pick up that laundry basket, or even get up from your toilet unassisted? We need to identify these issues before a person suffers a serious fall and requires hospitalization or institutionalization.

Maureen MacDonald, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology said that the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging is providing important data to help identify areas for future research.

We have now received a grant to follow-up this research with an exercise training study to determine if we can lessen some of the negative health impacts of T1D we observed in this study.

Co-author Lauren Turner, who has T1D herself, said the research can guide clinical practice and help patients with diabetes make better decisions about their health.

This study shows the importance of being active and maintaining ones muscle health to ensure longevity, as well as using insulin and monitoring blood sugar levels, said Turner, who completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology in Hawkes lab. She is now completing her masters degree at York University.

As someone with diabetes, I enjoy running and being active, and it is all about finding the balance between what is good for you and what you like."

An estimated 300,000 Canadians live with T1D. The disease typically presents in childhood/adolescence and is one of the most common chronic pediatric diseases, resulting in serious complications and reducing life expectancy by as much as 15 years.

The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Canadian Journal of Diabetes

Decreased Diastolic Blood Pressure and Average Grip Strength in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Compared to Controls: An Analysis of Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Older persons with Type 1 diabetes face risk of reduced muscle strength and more cardiovascular issues, researchers find - EurekAlert

CHICAGO & VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Healthcare is proud to provide cutting-edge molecular imaging solutions that enable and increase access to precision health and theranostics to help improve patient outcomes across care areas, including prostate cancer the most prevalent cancer in men and the third most prevalent cancer overalli.

Where most medical therapies are designed with the average patient in mind, theranostics brings together diagnoses and treatment in one application, providing a more targeted and personalized therapy than ever before. Clinicians and patients are especially seeing much success with theranostics in prostate cancer a highly manageable disease, but one that is difficult to treat when diagnosed at a late stage claiming more than 1.4 million lives annuallyii.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical adoption of theranostics slowed due to a delay in elective procedures and the increased risk posed to its often-immunocompromised patients. However, a surge in demand for theranostics infrastructureiii is now anticipated following the U.S. Federal Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of several new drugs and therapies. This includes the diagnostic tracer Gallium-68 PSMA-11 and therapy drug Lutetium-177 PSMA-617, which are key to applying theranostics in prostate cancer.

Healthcare is timely and personal and its delivery should be too, explains Jean-Luc Procaccini, President & CEO, Molecular Imaging & Computed Tomography, GE Healthcare. Theranostics has the potential to transform care from a look at the average patient to a precise look at each individual. Already, it is providing hope to late-stage prostate cancer patients by aiding with the diagnosis of the disease, the accurate quantification of its progression, and the delivery of targeted, personalized therapies all in the same session. And soon, we hope to see it adopted earlier in the disease care pathway and across oncology to benefit more patients around the world.

To prepare for the creation of dedicated theranostics centers, SNMMI and related international molecular imaging societies recently published a new guide for healthcare systems globallyiii. Focusing on safety protocols and operational procedures, the guide provides a framework that highlights best practices that can be applied across care areas.

Nuclear medicine is entering a new age of precision theranostics, in which next-generation alpha- and beta-labeled radiotherapeutics are tailored to individual cancer patients using the latest diagnostic PET radiopharmaceuticals, explains Dr. Peter Scott, Associate Professor of Radiology, Division Director of Nuclear Medicine, University of Michigan. With the FDA approval of a new PSMA-agent for treatment of prostate cancer, the future is here. Patients, their families and referring physicians are all demanding access to theranostics, creating an unprecedented demand for higher and higher amounts of radioactive metals. The only way to meet the global need for PET radionuclides like Gallium-68 and Copper-64 is through commercial solid-target solutions suitable for routine use.

As the industry prepares to usher in this new era of precision health and personalized medicine, GE Healthcare is proud to offer innovative molecular imaging solutions to healthcare systems around the world.

Discovery with the Molecule Journey: Enabling Precision Health: The enablement of theranostics in prostate cancer care begins with the production of radioisotopes for use in diagnostic tracers namely Gallium-68 PSMA-11 which is administered to the patient, attaches to specific cancer cells, and releases radioactive emissions to provide detailed molecular information unique to each patient.

However, shortages of the generators that produce Gallium-68 historically have created serious challenges for clinicians and limited patient access. In response, GE Healthcare is proud to introduce a new Solid Target Platform for its PETtrace cyclotron which in combination with its FASTlab 2 New Edition platform can produce 100x the amount of Gallium compared to a generator for increased theranostics capabilities and access in prostate cancer patient careiv.

While solid targets have been around for some time, they have traditionally been viewed as research tools and required complicated infrastructure and highly trained operators. Now, with GE Healthcares TRACERcenter Solutions and new PETtrace Solid Target Platform, healthcare systems can more easily access the equipment, tracers and staff training necessary to deliver a more cost-effective, personalized solution.

Diagnosis: Accurately Staging & Quantifying Disease: To read the emissions released by the Gallium-68 PSMA-11 tracer, the patient must be imaged using a highly sensitive PET/CT scanner. This technology provides the clinician detailed information that is used to better understand the structure and function of each patients tissue and disease state to help form personalized therapy recommendations. The more sensitive the PET/CT, the more accurate the images and quantification.

To this end, GE Healthcare is now shipping its Discovery MI Gen 2 premium digital PET/CT system, which provides next-level digital detection with an axial field of view (FOV) scalable up to 30 centimeters to achieve a 125 percent increase in sensitivityv. This helps translate to 33 percent improvement in scan times or dose amountsvi.

These capabilities are further supported by Q.Clear, which offers up to 2x improvement in both image quality (SNR) and quantitation accuracy (SUVvii), and MotionFree for up to 67 percent improvement in lesion volume measurements, helping inform clinicians prostate cancer therapy recommendationsviii.

Additionally, this scanner includes a CT that is designed to allow TrueFidelity deep-learning image reconstruction to enable image sharpness and improved noise textureix. Discovery MI Gen 2 proclaims up to a 41 percent increase in small lesion detectabilityx.

Treatment: Delivering & Monitoring Targeted Therapy: With regard to therapy, the FDA recently approved Lutetium-177 PSMA-617 an exceptional therapy for advanced prostate cancer in March 2022. It works by binding to and delivering a small amount of radiation to prostate cancer cells anywhere in the body to help patients with advanced prostate cancer live longer and maintain quality of lifexi.

To help clinicians evaluate the success of these therapies, GE Healthcare developed its breakthrough StarGuide SPECT/CT system with 12 cutting-edge CZT detectors that not only scan patients in 3D to provide more information to clinicians but are also optimized for Theranostics procedures including imaging this latest Lutetium-177-based prostate cancer therapy.

Compared to conventional technologies, StarGuides Digital Focus CZT detectors offer improved volume sensitivity and SPECT resolutionxii, which is especially valuable for imaging both peaks of Lutetium-177 emissions, which in turn helps clinicians pinpoint the size, shape, and position of lesions with exceptional accuracy. Paired with GE Healthcares innovative Q.Clear solution for SPECT reconstruction, the resulting images provide outstanding quantification for the diagnosis and staging of disease and monitoring of treatment.

Increasing Accuracy & Efficiency: Artificial intelligence (AI) also offers new opportunities to streamline workflows, provide accurate data, and help expedite diagnoses across care areas all valuable offerings in todays resource constrained healthcare environment.

Thats why GE Healthcare also offers the Xeleris V image processing solution with a collection of AI-enabled clinical applications to help simplify and enhance workflows. This includes Q.Thera AIxiii, which is designed to leverage Q.Volumetrix MI to help clinicians automatically and accurately segment areas of interest including AI-based kidney segmentation for quantitation and dosimetry calculations, all with the goal to help reduce the time required for the user to process and calculate dose enabling them to spend more time with patients.

The advancement of imaging technologies and continuous evolution and discovery of new tracers and targeted therapies is ushering in a new era in healthcare one in which precision health and theranostics exist at its core. Prostate cancer is only the beginning, with many more applications under development for the future.

GE Healthcare is proud to offer clinicians unique opportunities to make personalized care decisions and treatment response assessments for the benefit of patients around the world. The company is uniquely positioned to advance these efforts as the only partner with solutions spanning from molecular imaging diagnostics, cyclotrons, chemistry synthesis, PET/CT, PET/MR, nuclear medicine, advanced digital solutions, and pharma partnerships to cover the breadth of steps from discovery to diagnosis to treatment.

For more information on GE Healthcares Molecular Imaging portfolio, visit gehealthcare.com or our SNMMI 2022 event overview page.

About GE Healthcare:

GE Healthcare is the $17.7 billion healthcare business of GE (NYSE: GE). As a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics and digital solutions innovator, GE Healthcare enables clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions through intelligent devices, data analytics, applications, and services, supported by its Edison intelligence platform. With over 100 years of healthcare industry experience and around 48,000 employees globally, the company operates at the center of an ecosystem working toward precision health, digitizing healthcare, helping drive productivity and improve outcomes for patients, providers, health systems and researchers around the world.

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i International Agency for Research on Cancer. Accessed Jun 3, 2022. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/online-analysis-multi-bars?v=2020&mode=cancer&mode_population=countries&population=900&populations=900&key=total&sex=0&cancer=39&type=0&statistic=5&prevalence=0&population_group=0&ages_group%5B%5D=0&ages_group%5B%5D=17&nb_items=10&group_cancer=0&include_nmsc=0&include_nmsc_other=1&type_multiple=%257B%2522inc%2522%253Afalse%252C%2522mort%2522%253Afalse%252C%2522prev%2522%253Atrue%257D&orientation=horizontal&type_sort=0&type_nb_items=%257B%2522top%2522%253Atrue%252C%2522bottom%2522%253Afalse%257D ii Cancer. World Health Organization. Feb 3, 2022. Accessed Jun 1, 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer iii JNM Publishes Joint Guide for the Establishment of Theranostics Centers. Society of Nuclear Medicine. Apr 29, 2022. https://www.snmmi.org/NewsPublications/NewsDetail.aspx?ItemNumber=40416 iv Svedjehed et al. Demystifying solid targets: Simple and rapid distribution-scale production of [68Ga]GaCl3 and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11. Nuclear Medicine and Biology. Volumes 104105, JanuaryFebruary 2022, Pages 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2021.10.002 v Sensitivity (cps/kBq) as compared to Discovery MI 20 cm.vi With Discovery MI Gen 2 30 cm configuration compared to 25 cm configuration. 33% reduction in scan time or injected dose, as shown in phantom testing.vii SNR and SUV improvement as compared to OSEMviii Compared to non-processed (STATIC, no motion correction) data. As demonstrated in phantom testing using a typical and fast respiratory model, 18 mm Ge-68 spheres, and OSEM reconstruction.ix As demonstrated in a clinical evaluation consisting of 60 cases and seven physicians, where each case was reconstructed with both DLIR and ASiR-V and evaluated by three of the physicians. In 90 percent of the reads, DLIRs noise texture was rated better than ASiR-Vs. In 99 percent of the reads, DLIRs image sharpness was rated the same as or better than ASiR-Vs.x Discovery MI Gen 2 30 cm compared to Discovery MI 25 cm with matched scan time/injected dose. As demonstrated in phantom testing.xi Breaking News: First-in-Class Radioligand Therapy Approved for Advanced Prostate Cancer, Prostate Cancer Foundation. March 23, 2022. https://www.pcf.org/c/breaking-news-first-in-class-radioligand-therapy-approved-for-advanced-prostate-cancer/#:~:text=Lutetium%2DPSMA%2D617%20(Lu%2DPSMA)%20is%20now,and%20taxane%2Dbased%20chemotherapy xii StarGuide SPECT reconstruction with scatter used the systems factory NEMA NU 1-2018 resolution protocol which uses the same method (BSREM with Clarity 3D) as its clinical bone protocol. NM/CT 870 DR and NM/CT 870 CZT SPECT reconstruction used Evolution for Bone (OSEM). NM/CT 870 DR used LEHR/LEHRS collimators and NM/CT 870 CZT used the WEHR collimator.xiii CE marked. 510k pending with the FDA. Not available for sale in all regions.

Note: Radiopharmaceuticals may not be approved by ministers of health in all regions. Gallium-68 PSMA-11 and Lutetium-177 PSMA-617 are not approved in Canada.

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Healthcare Is Personal: GE Healthcare's Total Molecular Imaging Solutions Enable Precision Health & Theranostics for Personalized Prostate Cancer...

There are now 110confirmed cases of monkeypox in Canada, including at least nine in Ontario, according to Health Canada.

As of June 9, at least23 other cases were under investigation in Toronto and Halton Region Public Health confirmed its first case, whilethere have been noconfirmed cases in Hamilton, said Hamilton Public Health Services.

Karen Mossman, a virologist and professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at McMaster University, said the silver lining in a potential monkeypox outbreak could be the lessons we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said COVID-19 has increased awareness on how we should proceed with a potential outbreak.

"Many general practices put in place during COVID will help limit infection with monkeypox," she wrote in an email to CBC Hamilton.

"Hopefully COVID will normalize mask wearing, new working arrangements (and associated technologies), better ventilation systems, etc."

But she also warns that concern around an increase in local cases is warranted.

That concern could be linked to few people having immunity against monkeypox, Dr. Mossman explained.

"While the smallpox vaccine is thought to provide protection, vaccination for smallpox ended circa 1970 when the virus was effectively eradicated, and those vaccinated likely have limited remaining immunity," she said.

Fortunately, she said monkeypox doesn't spread as quickly as SARS-CoV-2, and doesn't mutate as quickly as coronaviruses.

"Monkeypox spreads through bites or scratches from an infected animal, or through direct contact with sores or bodily fluids from infected people (example during sex) or contaminated clothing, bedding etc.," she said.

Mossman says there were also lessons to be learned from COVID-19 about how doctors communicate with the public.

"I think there needs to be a balance between transparency and awareness, with reality based on the best available data and knowledge. The public has a right to be aware of what viruses are circulating, and could potentially form a new outbreak," she said.

"This is where it gets challenging, as we often don't know what we don't know, and as we gather more information, those messages change. We absolutely experienced this during COVID at the beginning there was a lot we did not know, but made assumptions (or best guesses) based on how similar SARS-CoV-2 was to SARS-CoV, and our experience with the pandemic in 2003."

Mossman says the general public needs to have more information in order to assess risk when it comes to outbreaks.

"By using the adage of 'trust me, I'm a doctor,'we aren't doing our job in really educating the public of why and how decisions/recommendations are made, which I think is critically important so that when the next pandemic happens, the public has a general awareness and can better understand what is happening, why, and should they be concerned or not," she said.

At the moment, Niagara Region Public Health is not aware of any local cases, according to an email to CBC Hamilton on Wednesday.

Dr. Azim Kasmani, associate medical officer of health at Niagara Region Public Health, said that it's "unlikely" that a pandemic could arise from the current outbreak.

"From what we know about monkeypox so far, it's unlikely to have the same global impact as COVID-19," he wrote.

"These are different viruses with different spread patterns and different health effects."

For now, Dr. Kasmani suggests steering clear of close and physical contact with others who could be infected with monkeypox, as well as to avoid sharing personal belongings with those individuals.

"As we enter the summer months when large outdoor gatherings and festivals become more common, it is important to think about how much close, skin-to-skin contact you will engage in when attending an event," he added.

Like Dr. Mossman, he agrees that people should be wary of monkeypox but that we could be slightly more prepared for outbreaks this time around.

"COVID-19 was a brand new virus, and humans had no immunity to it when it emerged," he said."Monkeypox, on the other hand, has been known for decades, we have seen it and managed it before."

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Lessons learned from COVID-19 are 'silver lining' as we face Monkeypox virus, expert says - CBC.ca

Scientists at Yale Cancer Center have found that patients with breast cancer and high levels of insulin in the blood may be responsive to metabolism-targeting treatments, which in turn may improve the effectiveness of subsequent chemotherapy treatments.

Scientists at Yale Cancer Center have found that patients with breast cancer and high levels of insulin in the blood may be responsive to metabolism-targeting treatments, which in turn may improve the effectiveness of subsequent chemotherapy treatments. The findings were published today in Communications Biology.

The incidence of breast cancer is projected to increase more than 50% between 2011 and 2030. This forecast is partially attributable to rising rates of obesity, which accelerate the incidence and progression of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. At the same time, metabolism-targeting therapies such as the diabetes drug metformin have gained increasing popularity in breast cancer treatment, with mixed outcomes in clinical trials.

Using a new class of diabetes drug, SGLT2 inhibitors, Yale researchers studied the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin as an alternative to metformin. The research was done in animal models to determine the responsiveness to dapagliflozin in addition to chemotherapy in breast tumors. Their findings were mutation-specific. The study revealed that dapagliflozin improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy in slowing breast tumor growth in models with breast cancer driven by mutations upstream of the insulin signaling pathway. Models with breast cancer driven by mutations downstream of the insulin pathway or in pathways with other driver mutations were not improved with the combined therapy.

Our data supports the development of insulin-lowering approaches to breast cancer treatment in hyperinsulinemic patients, said Rachel Perry, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) and Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale Cancer Center and lead author on the paper. The next step will be to move this research into early clinical trials at Smilow Cancer Hospital, which should position SGLT2 inhibitors as an attractive target to fill this niche.

Funding for the study was provided by the Lionheart Foundation.

The following Yale authors contributed to this study: Ngozi D. Akingbesote, Aaron Norman, Wanling Zhu, Alexandra A. Halberstam, Xinyi Zhang, Julia Foldi, and Maryam B. Lustberg.

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Yale Scientists Develop Precision Medicine Approach to Metabolic Therapy for Breast Cancer - OncLive

Pitt employees who reached the milestones of 20, 30, 40 and 50 years of service between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, were honored at an in-person ceremony on June 2 at the William Pitt Union.

The longer than normal list reflects a year and a half of work anniversaries. Last June, the ceremony, which is normally held each year, honored those who hit milestones in 2020. That ceremony had been delayed because of the pandemic.

The one person marking 50 years at Pitt Torran King hit that mark last year and then decided to retire after a long career in Facilities Management.

Torran A. King, work-in process labor, Facilities Management

Marissa Arlet, Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, SVC Research

David P. Bolette, Veterinary Services, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Health Sciences

Marie Elena Bresz, Office of the Dean, School of Computing and Information

Carl Daugherty, Animal Husbandry, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Health Sciences

Robin A. DeAngelo, Radiology, School of Medicine

Judith L. DeNinno, Animal Husbandry, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Health Sciences

Trudy Newring Evans, Office of the Dean, School of Computing and Information

Charles Fleishaker, Research Support Services, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Edward Gyurisin, University Center for Teaching and Learning

Susan E. Johnson, fiscal, UPMC Hillman Cancer Institute

Edward F. Kuchar, Medicine, School of Medicine

Leigh Ann Kuchar, Pitt IT Telecom

Lisa Kubick, Office of the Dean, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Sandra G. Latini, Office of Technology Management, SVC Research

Judy Malenka, Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health

John F. McKnight, Johnstown Physical Plant, maintenance

Mary Murock, Animal Husbandry, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Health Sciences

Karen O'Brien, Facilities Management AVC

Dave Rahuba, Moving Services, Business and Auxiliary Services

James J. Roskowski, Prosthodontics, Dental Medicine

Jim Segneff, Information Technology, Swanson School of Engineering

Bruce Steele, Office of University Communications

Joanne Stumme, Student Financial Services, CFOs office

Frederick W. Tylka, Information Technology, Swanson School of Engineering

Karen A. Whitehead, Operations and Quality Administration, SVC Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement

John Ziats, Johnstown Office of Student Life

Douglas Ziegler, University Center for Teaching and Learning

Greg L. Adametz, Pediatrics Research Administration, School of Medicine

Lisa M. Bailey, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine

Karen Bassett, Office of the Dean, School of Education

Donna L. Baxter, Student Financial Services, CFOs office

Sharon Hixson Bindas, Office of the Dean, School of Computing and Information

Natalie K. Bird, Departmental Libraries, University Library System

David J. Browning, Dental Instruments, School of Dental Medicine

Carmella Campbell, Basic Research Administration, UPMC Hillman Cancer Institute

Katheryn Carr, Office of Sponsored Programs, SVC Research

Lynda M. Connelly, University Center for Social and Urban Research

Roy Cooper Jr., University Store, Business and Auxiliary Services

Robert A. Crawford, Facilities Management Pittsburgh Campus Buildings

Babeth V. Crockett, Public Safety and Emergency Management

Allen A. DiPalma, Office of Trade Compliance, SVC Research

Kelly L. Dornin-Koss, Educational and Compliance Office, SVC Research

Janet Famiglietti, UPCI National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, UPMC Hillman Cancer Institute

Donald J. Fedor Jr., Facilities Management Pittsburgh Campus Buildings

Timothy Fitzgerald, Pitt IT Enterprise Applications

Amy Flaugh, Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health

Michael Gaber, Office of the Dean, School of Medicine

Paul A. Guglielmo, Facilities Management Work-in Process Labor

Nadine M. Hamlett, Clinical Programs, School of Law

Scott David Harley, Scaife Hall Waste Processing

Matthew J. Harr, Johnstown Information Systems

Fang He, Pathology, School of Medicine

Richard H. Henderson, Office of Administration, Health Sciences

Carol M. Herko, Real Estate Administration, Planning, Design and Real Estate

Rich Holmes. Office of University Counsel

Nancy Hood, Psychology, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Roy Humphrey, WPTS Radio/Panther Prints, Student Affairs

Wendy M. Jameson, Pathology, School of Medicine

Anthony Jones, Pitt IT Operations

Diane Kline, program coordinator, Graduate School of Public & International Affairs

Shari D. Kubitz, Learning Research & Development Center

Michele Leahy, Craniofacial Regeneration, School of Dental Medicine

Kimberly A. Livingston, Johnstown Operations-Registrar

David Malicki, Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Darla J. McGivern, Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine

Jayne McGoey, Internal Audit , Chancellors office

Elizabeth McNally-Martin, Education Technology and Innovation, School of Nursing

Maureen McNulty, Annual Programs, SVC Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement

Kellie Mitchell, Office of the Dean, Swanson School of Engineering

Jeff Morrison, Office of Administration, Health Sciences

Cara Svitko Nestlerode, Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health

Cindy Niznik, Physics & Astronomy, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Jane Ann Ondo, Pitt IT Portfolio and Project Management Office

Marianne Page, Psychology, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Nancy M. Patuc, Pitt IT Financial Systems

Glenn Peterson, Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering

Nancy I. Petro, Medicine, School of Medicine

George Petrucci, Housing Administration, Business and Auxiliary Services

Paul A. Poland, Medicine, School of Medicine

David Puccio, University Center for Teaching and Learning

Pamela Rall-Johnston, Scaife Hall Housekeeping

Douglas J. Remmick, Pitt IT Telecom

Susan L. Ronczka, Office of the Controller, CFOs office

Elizabeth A. Rush, UPCI Research Lab-Kirkwood, UPMC Hillman Cancer Institute

Laura Schmid, Office of Human Resources

Laurel Ann Povazan Scholnick, Departmental Libraries, University Library System

Adrian Starke, Chemical/Petroleum Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering

Kevin Starke, Payment Processing & Compliance, CFOs office

Jody Stockdill, Medicine, School of Medicine

Carla D. (Crawford) Takacs, Innovation Institute, SVC Research

Jeffrey A. Toporcer, Pitt IT Software Site License

Carol Kinlough Truschel, Medicine, School of Medicine

Pamela D. Vincent, Pediatrics, School of Medicine

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Longtime employees honored at in-person ceremony | University Times | University of Pittsburgh - University Times