My agonising two-year wait for a stem-cell donor after being diagnosed with leukaemia – The Telegraph

There is also another option on the table: a technology called haplo-identical, where they could use the stem cells from my brother, who is a 50 per cent match.

But it shouldnt have been this hard to find a match, and thats whyI started my campaign to sign more people up to the transplant list.I want to make a difference for other people who have to go through this.

If I dont make it, I want to leave a legacy that the children can look at when theyre older and know that Mummy did everything she could to fight this thing. There can only be one winner with this disease, and it needs to be me.

As told to Jessica Salter

Leukaemia Care is one of three charities supported by this years Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal. Our others are Wooden Spoon, which works with the rugby community to raise money for disabled and disadvantaged children,and The Silver Line, a telephone support service for lonely elderly people. To donate,visit telegraph.co.uk/charity or call 0151 284 1927 before the end of January

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My agonising two-year wait for a stem-cell donor after being diagnosed with leukaemia - The Telegraph

Top 10 Parkinson’s Stories of 2019 – Parkinson’s News Today

Parkinsons News Today keeps you up-to-date with research into Parkinsons disease as it emerges. We brought you daily coverage of experiments into the basic biology of Parkinsons, results of clinical and pre-clinical trials, and key findings from Parkinsons research around the globe.

We look forward to bringing more such news to those with Parkinsons, their family, friends and caregivers throughout 2020.

Here are our 10 most-read stories of 2019, with a short summary of what makes each one relevant to the Parkinsons community.

No. 10 Active Form of Vitamin B12 Found to Prevent Neurodegeneration in Study of Animal Models

A study found that an active form of the vitamin B12 called AdoCbl can ease the effects of dopamine loss that occurs in Parkinsons disease. Using cell lines and several animal models, researchers showed that by reducing LRRK2 enzyme activity, AdoCbl limits the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells, thereby preventing the appearance of symptoms associated with neurodegeneration. Overactivity of LRRK2 is linked to the development of a hereditary form of Parkinsons. AdoCbl is already an FDA-approved compound, and could be used as a basis to develop new therapies to combat hereditary Parkinsons associated with pathogenic variants of the LRRK2 enzyme, according to Iban Ubarretxena, director of theBiofisika Institute and a study co-author.

No. 9 Onstryv Now Approved for Parkinsons Patients in Canada

Canadian Parkinsons disease patients now have access to Onstryv (safinamide), also known as Xadago. Onstryv increases the amount of active dopamine in the brain by both preventing the enzyme that breaks dopamine down from doing so, and by blocking that enzyme from entering cells. Other available treatments cause debilitating fluctuations between normal motor function (called on episodes) and poorer motor function (off periods) as their effects ebb and flow. Four placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials showed that the combination of Onstryv and levodopa led to more on and fewer off periods, and improved motor function in patients. The approval of [Onstryv] in Canada is a step forward for patients who need new treatment options for Parkinsons disease, said Roberto Tascione, CEO of Zambon, one of the companies involved in commercializing this medication.

Xadago was approvedby theU.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2017 to improvemotor functionin Parkinsons patients who experience off periods while on treatment withlevodopaand/or Lodosyn (carbidopa).

No. 8 Plant Antioxidant Seen to Aid Mitochondria and Ease Motor Problems in Early Parkinsons Study

A pre-clinical study conducted in China showed that alpha-arbutin, an antioxidant found in plants such as the blueberry, might restore mitochondrial function in nerve cells and ease the motor disabilities associated with Parkinsons disease. Treatment with alpha-arbutin partially restored mitochondrial function in nerve cells undergoing oxidative stress (mitochondria act as a cells power house). It also restored these cells ability to remove toxic waste products. Feeding alpha-arbutin to flies carrying a mutated gene known to trigger Parkinsons significantly eased several Parkinsons-like symptoms. Naturally derived-antioxidants might serve as a new class of therapeutic options for [Parkinsons disease], the researchers wrote.

No. 7 Stem Cell Transplants Could Significantly Improve Parkinsons Treatment, Study Suggests

Replacing damaged cells in Parkinsons disease with dopamine-producing stem cells could easemotor symptoms and reduce or eliminate the need for pharmaceutical medicines. As current disease therapies lose their efficacy over time, stem cell therapy might revolutionize Parkinsons treatment, its researchers said.A single surgery could potentially provide a transplant that would last throughout a patients lifespan, reducing or altogether avoiding the need for dopamine-based medications, said Claire Henchcliffe MD, PhD, and Malin Parmar, PhD, co-authors of a study on the benefits of stem cell therapy. However, there are several biological, practical, and commercial hurdles that need circumventing for this to become a routine therapy, according to the editors of theJournal ofParkinsons Disease.

No. 6 Bacteria in Gut Can Promote Parkinsons by Altering Brains Immune Reactions, Study Says

A study found evidence of interaction between the brain and the gut in Parkinsons, in which Gram-negative bacterial infections in the gut trigger an immune response that damages nerve cells. Gut microorganisms are known to communicate with the central nervous system, andstudies suggest that harmful proteins related to Parkinsons may spread to the brain from the gut.Scientists at theUniversit de Montral showed that Gram-negative bacteria, particularly those related to gut infections, triggered an immune response in cells taken from mice. They then showed that mice bred without thePINK1 gene (making them resistant to Parkinsons-like symptoms), when infected with these bacteria, displayed an immune response that led to such symptoms. Mutations in the PINK1 gene cause damage to the mitochondria in brain cells, and are linked to early onsethereditary Parkinsons. The work provides evidence that intestinal infection acts as a triggering event in Parkinsons, andhighlighted the relevance of a gut-brain connection in this disease.

No. 5 Next 20 Years Expected to Bring Message of Hope to Parkinsons Patients, Review Study Finds

By reviewing the past 20 years of research into Parkinsons disease, two scientists see a strong potential for breakthroughs in how this disease is approached over the next 20 years. The review cited developments in better animal models, greater understanding of molecular mechanisms and risk factors, and advances in available and potential therapies as reasons for hope. Among highlights of many advances listed are: 1) the adaptation of existing medicines used in other diseases to treat Parkinsons (drug repurposing); 2) targeting non-motor features such as cognition, speech and balance difficulties that often precede motor symptoms; 3) the use of nanoparticles to block the formation of toxic alpha-synuclein clusters; and, 4) emerging evidence of a link between harmful gut bacteria and brain inflammation. The review also stressed the importance of future trials to test combination therapies.

No. 4 Physical Activity, Coffee, Moderate Alcohol Consumption Protect Against Disease Progression, Study Reports

Good news for lovers of sports, caffeine, and happy hours all of these things, in moderation, may help slow the onset of symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Although how exactly these lifestyle factors affect disease progression remains poorly understood, they correlate strongly with better patient outcomes. Conversely, smoking, heavy drinking and no consumption of alcohol at all were linked to considerably worse outcomes. The study, published in the journalMovement Disorders, needs to be replicated to strengthen the usefulness of its findings. Nonetheless, the work suggests that multiple lifestyle factors potentially modify the rate of symptom progression, its researchers wrote.

No. 3 Dietary Supplement Eases Parkinsons Symptoms, Improves Dopamine Function, Study Shows

The antioxidant dietary supplement N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) may improve dopamine function and ease Parkinsons disease symptoms, according to one study. The body uses NAC to produce an antioxidant called glutathione (GSH), which it uses to prevent the oxidative stress that leads to cell death. Damage due to oxidative stress within dopamine-producing neurons is a key clinical feature of Parkinsons. A trial (NCT02445651), conducted by researchers atThomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, showed that NAC supplementation significantly eased both motor andnon-motor symptoms among 42 Parkinsons patients (21 men and 21 women). These results need to be confirmed in larger and placebo-controlled studies, but offer an encouraging start to a potential low-cost therapy.

No. 2 Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Added Falls, More Sleep Problems, Depression, Study Shows

Low levels of vitamin D were associated with more falls, and greater problems withinsomnia, anxiety, anddepressionin people withParkinsons disease, according to a study by Chinese researchers. Vitamin D deficiency has often been seen in people with Parkinsons, but its relationship to the disease remains controversial. This study, by researchers at theSecond Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityandSoochow University, is one of the few to measure both motor and non-motor outcomes. By conducting detailed clinical evaluations in 182 Parkinsons patients, as well as 185 healthy controls, the group found that low levels of vitamin D were more common in Parkinsons patients than in healthy people, and that vitamin D supplements may ease the diseases nonmotor symptoms.

No. 1 Oral Magnesium Compound Able to Reach Brain Seen to Slow Motor Decline, Neuronal Loss in Early Study

Our years most-read story was of an early stage studyreporting that a type of oral magnesium could enter the brain and ease motor symptoms and nerve cell loss in a mouse model of Parkinsons disease. Mice given magnesium-L-threonate, which can cross the blood-brain barrier (a semipermeable membrane that protects the brain from the outside environment) reduced the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, slowed the decline in motor function, and limited the oxidative stress that is associated with Parkinsons. It is important to note that while magnesium-L-threonate provided therapeutic benefits, magnesium sulfate the first choice as a clinical magnesium supplement did not. [T]he combination of [magnesium] with an agent that promotes its transportation to the brain is essential for the neuroprotection of this element, the studys scientists wrote.

***

AtParkinsons News Today we hope these stories and our reporting throughout 2020 help to better inform and improve the lives of everyone affected by Parkinsons.

We wish all our readers a happy 2020.

Total Posts: 208

Ana holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of Lisbon and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM) in Lisbon, Portugal. She graduated with a BSc in Genetics from the University of Newcastle and received a Masters in Biomolecular Archaeology from the University of Manchester, England. After leaving the lab to pursue a career in Science Communication, she served as the Director of Science Communication at iMM.

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Top 10 Parkinson's Stories of 2019 - Parkinson's News Today

Cell & Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Markets, Forecast to 2030 – In 2018, Approx $13Bn Was Invested in This Domain, Representing a 73%…

DUBLIN, Jan. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Market, 2019-2030: Focus on Technological Solutions" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Market: Focus on Technological Solutions, 2019-2030

report features an extensive study of the growing supply chain management software solutions market.

The focus of this study is on software systems, including cell orchestration platforms (COP), enterprise manufacturing systems (EMS), inventory management systems (IMS), laboratory information management systems (LIMS), logistics management systems (LMS), patient management systems (PMS), quality management systems (QMS), tracking and tracing software (TTS), and other such platforms that are being used to improve / optimize various supply chain-related processes of cell and advanced therapies.

One of the key objectives of the report was to understand the primary growth drivers and estimate the future size of the supply chain management software solutions market. Based on multiple parameters, such as number of cell and advanced therapies under development, expected pricing, likely adoption rates, and potential cost saving opportunities from different software systems, we have developed informed estimates of the evolution of the market, over the period 2019-2030.

In addition, we have provided the likely distribution of the current and forecasted opportunity across:

Advanced therapy medicinal products, such as cell and gene therapies, have revolutionized healthcare practices. The introduction of such treatment options has led to a paradigm shift in drug development, production and consumption. Moreover, such therapies have actually enabled healthcare providers to treat several difficult-to-treat clinical conditions.

In the past two decades, more than 30 such therapy products have been approved; recent approvals include Zolgensma (2019), RECELL System (2018), AmnioFix (2018), EpiFix (2018), EpiBurn (2018), Alofisel (2018), LUXTURNA (2017), Yescarta (2017), and Kymriah (2017). Further, according to a report published by The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine in 2019, more than 1,000 clinical trials are being conducted across the globe by over 900 companies.

In 2018, around USD 13 billion was invested in this domain, representing a 73% increase in capital investments in this domain, compared to the previous year. It is worth highlighting that, based on an assessment of the current pipeline of cell therapies and the historical clinical success of such products, it is likely that around 10-20 advanced therapies are approved by the US FDA each year, till 2025.

The commercial success of cell and advanced therapies is not only tied to whether they are capable of offering the desired therapeutic benefits, but also on whether the developers are able to effectively address all supply chain requirements. The advanced therapy medicinal products supply chain is relatively more complex compared to the conventional pharmaceutical supply chain. As a result, there are a number of risks, such as possible operational inefficiencies, capacity scheduling concerns, process delays leading to capital losses, and deliverable tracking-related issues, which need to be taken into consideration by therapy developers.

This has generated a need for bespoke technological solutions, which can be integrated into existing processes to enable the engaged stakeholders to oversee and manage the various aspects of the cell and advanced therapies supply chain, in compliance to global regulatory standards. Over the years, several innovative, software-enabled systems, offering supply chain orchestration and needle-to-needle traceability, have been developed.

The market has also recently witnessed the establishment of numerous partnerships, most of which are agreements between therapy developers and software solutions providers. Further, given the growing demand for cost-effective personalized medicinal products, and a myriad of other benefits of implementing such software solutions, the niche market is poised to grow significantly in the foreseen future.

Amongst other elements, the report features:

In order to account for the uncertainties associated with some of the key parameters and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three market forecast scenarios portraying the conservative, base and optimistic tracks of the industry's evolution.

The opinions and insights presented in this study were influenced by discussions conducted with several stakeholders in this domain. The report features detailed transcripts of interviews held with the following individuals:

Key Topics Covered

1. PREFACE1.1. Scope of the Report1.2. Research Methodology1.3. Chapter Outlines

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3. INTRODUCTION3.1. Context and Background3.2. An Introduction to Cell and Advanced Therapies3.2.1. Classification of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products3.2.2. Current Market Landscape3.3. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain3.3.1. Key Processes3.3.2. Challenges Associated with the Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain3.4. Software Solutions for Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management3.4.1. Cell Orchestration Platform3.4.2. Enterprise Manufacturing System3.4.3. Inventory Management System3.4.4. Laboratory Information Management System3.4.5. Logistics Management System3.4.6. Patient Management System3.4.7. Quality Management System3.4.8. Tracking and Tracing System3.5. Growth Drivers and Roadblocks3.6. Emergence of Digital Technologies in Supply Chain Management3.6.1. Blockchain Technology3.6.2. Internet of Things3.6.3. Augmented Reality3.6.4. Big Data Analytics3.6.5. Artificial Intelligence

4. CURRENT MARKET LANDSCAPE4.1. Chapter Overview4.2. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management: Overall Market Landscape4.2.1. Analysis by Type of Software Solution4.2.2. Analysis by Key Specification and Benefit4.3.3. Analysis by Application4.3.4. Analysis by End User4.3.5. Analysis by Mode of Deployment4.3.6. Analysis by Scale of Management4.3.7. Analysis by Regulatory Certifications / Accreditations4.3. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management: Developer Landscape4.2.1. Analysis by Year of Establishment4.2.2. Analysis by Location of Headquarters4.2.3. Analysis by Size of Company4.3.4. Analysis by Support Services Offered4.3.5. Leading Developers: Analysis by Number of Software Solutions

5. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS5.1. Chapter Overview5.2. Methodology5.3. Assumptions and Key Parameters5.4. Competitiveness Analysis: Overview of Supply Chain Management Software Solution Providers5.4.1. Small-sized Companies5.4.2. Mid-sized Companies5.4.3. Large Companies

6. CORE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS: COMPANY PROFILES6.1. Chapter Overview6.2. Brooks Life Sciences6.2.1. Company Overview6.2.2. Financial Information6.2.3. BiobankPro: Software Description6.2.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook6.3. Cryoport6.3.1. Company Overview6.3.2. Financial Information6.3.3. Cryoportal: Software Description6.3.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook6.4. MasterControl6.4.1. Company Overview6.4.2. MasterControl Platform: Software Description6.4.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook6.5. SAP6.5.1. Company Overview6.5.2. Financial Information6.5.3. SAP S/4HANA: Software Description6.5.4. Recent Development and Future Outlook6.6. Savsu Technologies6.6.1. Company Overview6.6.2. Financial Information6.6.3. evo Cold Chain 2.0: Software Description6.6.4. Recent Development and Future Outlook6.7. TraceLink6.7.1. Company Overview6.7.2. Financial Information6.7.3. Digital Supply Chain Platform: Software Description6.7.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

7. CELL ORCHESTRATION PLATFORMS: EMERGING TRENDS AND PROFILES OF KEY PLAYERS7.1. Chapter Overview7.2. Supply Chain Orchestration Platforms7.2.1. Key Functions of Supply Chain Orchestration Platforms7.2.2. Advantages of Supply Chain Orchestration Platforms7.2.3. Supply Chain Orchestration Platform Implementation Strategies7.3. Supply Chain Orchestration Platform: Trends on Twitter7.3.1. Scope and Methodology7.3.2. Historical Trends in Volume of Tweets7.3.3. Popular Keywords7.4. Key Industry Players7.4.1. Be The Match BioTherapies7.4.2. Clarkston Consulting7.4.3. Haemonetics7.4.4. Hypertrust Patient Data Care7.4.5. Lykan Bioscience7.4.6. MAK-SYSTEM7.4.7. sedApta Group7.4.8. Stafa Cellular Therapy7.4.9. Title 21 Health Solutions7.4.10. TrakCel7.4.11. Vineti

8. FUNDING AND INVESTMENT ANALYSIS8.1. Chapter Overview8.2. Types of Funding8.3. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management: Recent Funding Instances8.3.1. Analysis by Number of Funding Instances8.3.2. Analysis by Amount Invested8.3.3. Analysis by Type of Funding8.3.4. Analysis by Number of Funding Instances and Amount Invested across Different Software Solutions8.3.5. Most Active Players: Analysis by Amount Invested8.3.6. Most Active Investors: Analysis by Participation8.3.7. Geographical Analysis by Amount Invested8.4. Concluding Remarks

9. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS9.1. Chapter Overview9.2. Partnership Models9.3. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management: Recent Collaborations and Partnerships9.3.1. Analysis by Year of Partnership9.3.2. Analysis by Type of Partnership9.3.3. Analysis by Partner's Focus Area9.3.4. Analysis by Type of Software Solution9.3.5. Most Active Players: Analysis by Number of Partnerships9.3.6. Analysis by Regions

10. PLATFORM UTILIZATION USE CASES10.1. Chapter Overview10.2. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management: Recent Platform Utilization Use Cases10.2.1. Analysis by Year of Utilization10.2.2. Analysis by User's Focus Area10.2.3. Analysis by Type of Software Solution10.2.4. Most Active Players: Analysis by Number of Utilization Instances10.2.5. Most Active Players: Regional Analysis by Number of Utilization Instances

11. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS11.1. Chapter Overview11.2. Cell and Advanced Therapies Value Chain11.2. Cell and Advanced Therapies Value Chain: Cost Distribution11.3.1. Donor Eligibility Assessment11.3.2. Sample Collection11.3.3. Manufacturing11.3.4. Logistics11.3.5. Patient Verification and Treatment Follow-up

12. STAKEHOLDER NEEDS ANALYSIS12.1. Chapter Overview12.2. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management: Needs of Different Stakeholders12.2.1. Comparison of Stakeholder Needs

13. COST SAVINGS ANALYSIS13.1. Chapter Overview13.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology13.3. Overall Cost Saving Potential of Supply Chain Management Software Solutions, 2019-203013.3.1. Cost Saving Potential in Donor Eligibility Assessment, 2019-203013.3.2. Cost Saving Potential in Sample Collection, 2019-203013.3.3. Cost Saving Potential in Manufacturing, 2019-203013.3.4. Cost Saving Potential in Logistics, 2019-203013.3.5. Cost Saving Potential in Patient Verification and Treatment Follow-up, 2019-2030

14. MARKET FORECAST14.1. Chapter Overview14.2. Key Assumptions and Forecast Methodology14.3. Overall Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market, 2019-203014.3.1. Overall Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market: Distribution by Application14.3.2. Overall Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market: Distribution by End User14.3.3. Overall Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market: Distribution by Type of Software Solution14.3.4. Overall Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market: Distribution by Mode of Deployment14.3.5. Overall Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market: Distribution by Geography14.4. Overall Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market: Distribution by Application, Type of Software Solution and Mode of Deployment14.4.1. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market for Donor Eligibility Assessment, 2019-203014.4.2. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market for Sample Collection, 2019-203014.4.3. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market for Manufacturing, 2019-203014.4.4. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market for Logistics, 2019-203014.4.5. Cell and Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Solutions Market for Patient Verification and Treatment Follow-up, 2019-2030

15. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS15.1. Chapter Overview15.2. Thermo Fisher Scientific15.2.1. Company Snapshot15.2.2. Interview Transcript: Bryan Poltilove, Vice President and General Manager15.3. Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult15.3.1. Company Snapshot15.3.2. Interview Transcript: Jacqueline Barry, Chief Clinical Officer15.4. McKesson15.4.1. Company Snapshot15.4.2. Interview Transcript: Jill Maddux, Director, Cell and Gene Therapy Product Strategy, and Divya Iyer, Senior Director, Corporate Strategy and Business Development15.5. TrakCel15.5.1. Company Snapshot15.5.2. Interview Transcript: Martin Lamb, Chief Business Officer

16. CONCLUDING REMARKS16.1. Chapter Overview16.2. Key Takeaways

17. APPENDIX 1: LIST OF ADDITIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

18. APPENDIX 2: TABULATED DATA

19. APPENDIX 3: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2c3a4h

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

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Cell & Advanced Therapies Supply Chain Management Markets, Forecast to 2030 - In 2018, Approx $13Bn Was Invested in This Domain, Representing a 73%...

ASTRONOMICAL ODDS: Stem cell recipient and her donor both from Ottawa – Ottawa Sun

Colleen LeCours lay in a hospital bed at the General campus of The Ottawa Hospital on August 12, 2016, waiting for the only thing that could save her life a stem cell transplant from a stranger.

The donor could be anywhere in the world if a related blood donor cant be found, the call to find a match goes out to registries all over the globe and the donated stem cells are rushed across international borders.

What LeCours didnt know is that her donor, an 18-year-old Carleton University student named Timothy White, was just one floor below. Similarly, White didnt know that his recipient was in the same hospital.

There are currently more than 450,000 people on the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry formerly known as OneMatch and 36 million on affiliated international registries. Still, some people never find a match. There are more than 900 Canadians in need of a transplant who have not found a match anywhere in the world.

What were the odds that the match for LeCours, now 57, would be found in the same city?

Astronomical, she said.

The chances that White would even ever be asked to donate were also very low only about one in a thousand. After he agreed to donate, he was not told where the recipient might be. I was told the recipient could be anywhere. They could be in Africa, said White, now 22 and a recent graduate in computer science.

White had signed up for the registry through a cheek swab booth at ComiCon less than six months earlier. A smart place to recruit would-be stem cell donors, he notes. The optimal donor is a male between the age of 17 and 35 and thats the ComiCon demographic.

He decided to register as a potential donor because he grew up in the scouting movement. One of the main philosophies is to do a good turn every day, he said.

The donation was a non-surgical procedure in which Whites blood was removed though a needle, the stem cells were separated from his blood and the remaining blood components returned to his body through another needle. The procedure started at about 8 a.m. and was over by about 5 p.m.

I figured if I gave someone a day for a thousand more days (of life) then I felt it was a fair trade. I have many years of life. Why not spend one day? said White.

LeCourss medical journey started in 2009 with an emergency room visit for abdominal pain. She was eventually diagnosed with Stage 4 follicular lymphoma, a blood cancer that affects infection-fighting white blood cells. At the time, LeCours was working for Gov.-Gen. Michalle Jean and was able to stay on the job most of the time during her six months of treatment.

Four years later, the lymphoma returned. It was back again two years after that, in a more aggressive form. The only treatment was stem cell transplant.

There are two main kinds of stem cell transplants autologous and allogenic. In an autologous transplant, stem cells are collected from a patients own blood and reintroduced after being treated to remove cancer cells. In an allogenic stem cell transplant, the stem cells come from a donor.

At this point, LeCours was a candidate for an autologous transplant. Once again, she underwent aggressive chemotherapy. A year later, the cancer returned.

Doctors told LeCours there wasnt much else they could do and advised her to get her affairs in order. But the hospitals transplant team felt she could be a candidate for an allogenic transplant. Theres risk rejecting donated stem cells can be fatal to the patient.

LeCours learned that her brother was a match. But the medical work-up would last about three months and she couldnt wait that long.

I wasnt sure I wanted to do it but I didnt have much choice, she said. They said, We have someone waiting in the wings.

And I said, He probably has wings.

After the transplant, LeCours recovered as an outpatient in the home of her brother and sister-in-law. It took three months to rebuild her immune system. Her only rejection symptoms were a bit of skin irritation.

In January 2018, LeCours received an email asking if she would like to exchange contact information with her donor. She replied that she would.

A few months later, she got a message with Whites co-ordinates and was astonished to find that her donor was in Ottawa. It took her a few weeks to formulate an email.

I didnt want to scare him. I just wanted him to know how incredibly grateful I was. And I wanted to pay it forward, said LeCours.

After careful consideration, she sent White an email on Oct. 8, 2018.

Today, being Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for, namely you giving your stem cells and saving my life and the success of the stem cells grafting to my bone marrow, LeCours wrote. I cant thank you enough for your wonderful selfless act.

Stem cell donor 18-year-old Carleton University student Timothy White at The Ottawa Hospital, General campus, donating stem cells for Colleen LeCours in August 2016. At the time he did not know that LeCours would be the recipient. Courtesy Timothy White.jpg

She added that she didnt know anything about him except for his name and email address, and asked if they could meet. They got together for the first time over lunch in a burger restaurant.

As soon as I saw him, I broke down, said LeCours.

It has been three and a half years since the transplant and LeCours remains in remission. She invited White to her familys Thanksgiving this year, and the two meet to catch up every few months. Its one of the quirks of stem cell donation that the recipient assumes the blood type of the donor. LeCours, once O-positive, now has blood type A-negative, like White.

Im a grandmother. The fact that my grandson has his moma is huge.

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ASTRONOMICAL ODDS: Stem cell recipient and her donor both from Ottawa - Ottawa Sun

Why microneedling facials really work to revive 40+ skin – harpersbazaar.com

I call it peak bleak: its right about now when all of us beyond our thirties are really thinking that our skin looks particularly knackered. Its central heating, its illness, its being overtired, over worked and over partied and it makes for a combination of low-level dryness and dullness that no illuminating make-up seems to ameliorate (highlighter on a dehydrated cheekbone is never flattering). Hydrating sheet masks, richer moisturisers and glycolic peels make some strides to improve exhausted skin, but the thing Ive found to make the single biggest difference is microneedling.

Im not referring to deep derma rolling treatments here (brilliant as they are for long term rejuvenation, they do entail some down-time) but rather facials - and at-home facial treatments - that incorporate a level of gentle needling. What gives these facials the edge on less than young skin is twofold: firstly, as leading facialist Sarah Chapman explains, microneedling is electronic precision engineering, creating thousands of needle columns into the skin, each one penetrating into the dermis layer to rejuvenate your skin by supercharging collagen production, which in turn reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and improves the overall texture of your skin. Which goes to say that it gets right to the root cause of a bleak complexion and directly revs it up.

Secondly, needling is astoundingly effective at aiding absorption of serums applied both during and after treatment (thanks to those tiny channels that Chapman described) and, quite frankly, the more hydrating serum you can get your skin to suck up, the better in terms of improving its plumpness and luminosity in both the short and long term.

Treatment wise, the best facial that incorporates needling is Chapmans Stem Cell Collagen Therapy treatment, 210. Chapman calls it the ultimate youth-boosting facial, a punchy claim that I must say its hard to dispute. The needling itself feels like nothing more than an electric toothbrush being whisked over the skin as it pushes in concentrated doses of botanical stem cells and peptides, while the finishing Dermalux red-light therapy adds to the impressive post-treatment glow. Whether you're looking for a facial that really delivers pre- or post-party, or simply want a fix to rid you of lacklustre skin, this is the facial to book.

At home, I like to needle every other day with a gentle manual 0.2-0.3mm roller: freshly rolled skin sucks in serum incredibly satisfyingly, and the increased microcirculation it induces adds to the don't you look well effect. Environs CIT Roller, 59, and Nannette de Gaspes Art of Noir Roller Noir, 35, both manage to be effective yet gentle. Do not be tempted to buy a cheap roller on Amazon or eBay; the needles are often hooked, which can rip the skin leading to redness and inflammation.

Roller Noir

35.00

Skinesis Intense Hydrating Booster

64.00

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum

40.00

Peptide Veil

115.00

Rolling can be done on bare skin, but I find it more effective and comfortable to apply a thick layer of hydrating serum first, slathering on three times the amount Id usually apply of either Skinesis Intense Hydrating Booster, 64, or Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydrating Serum, 44. Start at the forehead and roll over each area three or four times horizontally, three or four times vertically, then diagonally in each direction, before moving onto the cheeks and finally chin and neck. Finish with a thick veil of cream (Im loving Decree Peptide Emollient Veil, 115) and youll wake up to skin that is anything but bleak.

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Why microneedling facials really work to revive 40+ skin - harpersbazaar.com

Mothers Last Hope To Be Alive, Her Only Cell Donor Son Brutally Battered To Death By Ex-Boyfriend – The Buzz Paper

A mother is requesting a stem cell donor to treat her for cancer, after her child dies, which was probably just a match.

Tania Morris, 49, was betrayed by ex-boyfriend Robert Goodwin in a fast-food fight last year.

The demon went to stab his 19-year-old son, Nathan Bates, while he was released on bail for committing suicide.

In the last twist of terror, Tania now fears that she may suffer Hodgkins Lymphoma shortly after Christmas. She can die according to the diagnosis.

The Burslem pottery worker said: Its heartbreaking. Doctors keep saying that we need a healthy and fit 19-year-old man, and it breaks my heart that Nathan is dead.Dad only has half a game. It is too bad to move alone, but if he becomes life or death, he can take the last resort. They are worried that he will kill him and me.

Only my last option will be to kill myself as theirs no other option. My mother didnt even get tested because she had a cardiac bypass.We hope someone shows up. This is my only chance to win.

Goodwin had to appear in court the day after Nathans murder to face an attack on Tania, but he will no longer face justice for any of the crimes. Since her diagnosis in January, Tania has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy, but it is now reported that the treatment has not worked.

She tells any young donor to come forward that she thinks he can only shoot him while he is alive.

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Mothers Last Hope To Be Alive, Her Only Cell Donor Son Brutally Battered To Death By Ex-Boyfriend - The Buzz Paper

Bilirakis Secures Better Treatment for Blood Cancer Patients – The – The Floridian

Last year,Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R)successfully contributed to passing important bills that strengthened the sunshine state and its residents.

This year, hes hitting the ground running by announcing that he has co-authored a bipartisan bill that has been signed into law.

With the new bill, Rep. Bilirakis has ensured that patients in need of bone marrow and stem cell transplants have access to lifesaving treatments.

Specifically, as reported in a press release,the Patient Access to Cellular Transplant Actallows older Americans with blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and Myelodysplastic Syndromes to have better treatment options than they currently have had.

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In a statement regarding the importance of the bill, Bilirakis commented that medicare policy simply hadnt kept pace with technological advances; and tragically, this disparity threatened the lives of older Americans with blood cancers often stripping them of hope for a cure.

Furthermore, the Florida Rep. added that whereas physicians once had very few options to treat patients, today, blood transplants offer a cure.

So, these treatments can be the difference between life and death, and he expressed great joy at being able to pass a new law that fixes the problem and ensures access.

This actually marks the 8th piece of legislation that Rep. Bilirakis authored to become law in 2019.

Although Republicans are currently in the minority in the House, Rep. Bilirakis asserts that this does not discourage him. Speaking on the matter, he explained that he considers himself a consensus builder, regardless of which party was in power or what distractions may exist.

As well, when it comes to doing the right thing for patients and for our nations heroes, he declared that he would continue to reach across the aisle and get things done for my constituents and my community.

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Bilirakis Secures Better Treatment for Blood Cancer Patients - The - The Floridian

Dr Saw Khay Yong on founding KL Sports Medicine Centre and its revolutionary work in stem cell therapy – Options The Edge

Spectators exclaimed in horror at the 2018 MotoGP Asia Talent Cup race when Danial Syahmi Sharil almost lost his life in a serious accident. The 16-year-old rising star had a terrifying collision that saw him thrown off his motorcycle and then run over by a fellow racer on the Sepang International Circuit that November, suffering serious injuries in his lower left leg. A helicopter immediately rushed him to Hospital Kuala Lumpur where the fractured bones in his leg were removed during emergency surgery. It was thought to be the end of the young talents promising career.

Fast forward a year and Danial is recovering steadily at the Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Centre (KLSMC), reclaiming his mobility with regenerated bones and nursing dreams of getting back to racing again. It is an aspiration the centres founder and director, Dr Saw Khay Yong, thinks is entirely possible. Probable, in fact.

It is a sunny weekday morning and most of the colourful therapy beds facing verdant Bukit Damansara are occupied by patients of all ages and nationalities. This is a medical centre unlike any other. The physiotherapy area we are in is spacious and bright with sunlight pouring in through the large windows. Patients are engaged in a variety of exercises, and the mood seems almost cheerful, unlike the typically sombre atmosphere of a physiotherapy unit.

Carmel Dwan is chattering genially with her therapist as she is put through her paces. She was living in England when she was told she needed a total knee replacement but read about Saws innovative stem cell technology and decided to seek treatment here. Instead of living with a metal knee and restricted mobility, she flies in to Kuala Lumpur a couple of times a year for stem cell injections that, within two years alongside non-invasive surgery, will see her regain ease of movement. Im completely pain-free now and almost as good as new, she testifies.

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Dr Saw Khay Yong on founding KL Sports Medicine Centre and its revolutionary work in stem cell therapy - Options The Edge