A blood cancer diagnosis helped me find true happiness – The Guardian

December 2017, and the Christmas party season is in full flow. Everywhere I look are scenes from some hilariously awful Dickens pastiche: revellers squeezed into warm pubs; joyful chatter spilling out on to the street; the sound of carols and the scent of mulled wine in the air. Its as if I am peering in at it all through frosted glass, wishing my own Christmas could be as carefree.

Instead, I have spent a morning turned on my side on a hospital bed while a nervous-looking young doctor works up a sweat attempting to force a long needle into my hipbone. He needs it to go deep enough that he can suck out some of the marrow inside, but my tough bones are making life difficult for him.

I dont feel so tough. My wife and I spend the next fortnight anxiously waiting for the results. Results that should confirm why my body is behaving in unexpected ways: the unusual infections; the crushing fatigue; the old jeans that suddenly slip off my waist.

Christmas is never a nice time to feel alone. Yet, despite the fact I am surrounded by loved ones, that is how I feel: terrifyingly alone. The emotions of the season get warped and amplified. I attempt to go to one party, see a friend who is going through her own hellish time, and we both sob on each others shoulders for five minutes straight. Everything feels raw and heavy. My little girl is not even 18 months old, and I love her more than anything but I find it hard to even be in the same room as her. Its all too much.

If Christmas has lost its religious meaning, then it hasnt for me. I try praying for the first time in about three decades: Er, yes, it has been a while sorry about that but could you just help me out with this one thing? I promise God and Santa Ill be all sorts of good if things turn out OK.

***

My results arrive on 22 December. There is a wait in a hospital corridor that is still too triggering to think about properly. And then a doctor calls me in, sits me down and tells me that I have a rare blood cancer called essential thrombocythemia, which sounds like some cult artist signed to Warp Records in the 90s (the doctor doesnt say that bit). There is no known cure. But dont worry, he says, its manageable. I just need to take some aspirin and keep an eye on it. You will lead a normal life, he says. My wife tells me my face instantly changed colour, the pallid grey lifting for the first time in weeks.

My little girl throws up all over the seat when we pull out of the drive, and it doesnt even feel slightly annoying

Its a strange gift, receiving blood cancer for Christmas. In some ways I preferred the Mr Frosty slushy-making kit I got when I was eight, and maybe even the Scalextric that never quite played out the way you hoped it would from the adverts. And yet what the doctor is telling me you will lead a normal life feels like the biggest and best present I have ever received. Queueing up to be discharged, I let wave after wave of euphoria run through me and think to myself: This has to be the weirdest cancer diagnosis ever.

A day later, we pack up the car and head off to my parents. My little girl throws up all over the back seat as soon as we pull out of the drive, and it doesnt even feel slightly annoying. We laugh. Life is good. That Christmas, for the first time since I can remember, I am truly happy; just living in the moment. The light seems brighter and more beautiful. I notice dew drops on plants and the smell of fresh air. I hug my wife and daughter even more tightly than usual.

***

All this relief is not to last long. In the first week of 2018, I attend a follow-up appointment and am told that, sorry, they hadnt seen all of the bone marrow samples before. My condition is, in fact, developing into a much more serious disease called myelofibrosis, which needs treatment.

A week on from that, I turn up at the hospital, steeled to start chemotherapy. But there is worse news: a team of specialists have discussed my case and they believe I am at high risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia, a swift and deadly cancer. They recommend you have a stem cell transplant, says the doctor. I ask when. As soon as possible. If I can find a match on the stem cell donor register, then I will be dosed up with drugs so intense that my entire immune system will be wiped out; then a strangers cells will be fed into me and we will all cross our fingers and hope that my body doesnt reject them. The chance of survival and the disease not returning does not seem to me to be all that much better than 50/50. Even if it all succeeds, the recovery process will be long and gruelling.

I spend the next few weeks in a state of catatonic depression. Or do I? Because I am somehow getting things done: I organise a will, I arrange a sperm bank visit (the transplant, even if successful, will leave me infertile), I cry myself senseless writing a letter to my daughter in case the worst should happen. I also drink all the good bottles of wine I had been saving for special occasions. A bottle of Domaine Dujac Morey Saint-Denis 2012 on a Tuesday night with defrosted Quorn chilli not the pairing Id had in mind, but saving it for the future seems silly.

Through all the gloom I see something with startling clarity. I realise that what Im mourning is not so much my old life before all this started a life of pointless anxieties, petty rivalries and overthinking but rather the carefree, optimistic version of life I had briefly glimpsed over Christmas. And yet no sooner have I understood all this than the chance to enact it has been snatched away. I feel like an old professor who has finally unravelled the mysteries of the universe with his dying breath.

***

Over the next few months, something happens that I still find hard to believe. I am transferred to a new hospital with a more specialist team on the case. There are more blood tests and scans, and another long needle is forced into my hip. And then I get another gift, this one in time for Christmas 2018: my condition is not so serious as I was led to believe. It appears to be a peculiar version of a peculiar cancer caught somewhere between the relatively benign essential thrombocythemia and the more concerning myelofibrosis. But it is stable, at least for now, with no signs to suggest it will progress any time soon.

***

I like to think that this year I have made good on my promise to live like I did during the Christmas of 2017. My outlook has certainly changed. When people ask how, I always say the same thing: that its great to get older. The idea of panicking about a milestone such as my imminent 40th seems so ridiculous now. Instead, just think what a privilege it is to be able to get there.

I am more present for my family these days, and less consumed with things I cant control. I have returned to the volunteering role I thought I didnt have time for; I have got fit; I dont let work define my happiness; I am kinder to myself. I have bought lots more nice wine to replace the nice wine I drank with defrosted Quorn chilli.

Do I still get annoyed by delayed trains, lost keys or the fact my daughter is taking half an hour to put on a pink tutu, the only item of clothing in the house that shell wear? It would be a lie to say no. But the second I think: But youre not quite likely to die any more, the problem disappears. I am, undeniably, a happier person.

I still have a malfunction inside me and I still have to think about it every day. Its hard not to my spleen, inflated with excess blood cells, gently nudges against my ribs like an annoying acquaintance who would hate me to forget that all is not quite right. At some point in the future and not even the best doctors can predict exactly when the disease might whirr into life and start scarring my bone marrow, turning it into a barren wasteland that can no longer produce enough blood to keep me alive. Im hopeful that science will find a fix before that time comes. There are encouraging signs on the horizon. And if not? Well, these days I try not to dwell on the future. I am here, instead, for the present. I am alive. I am alive with the spirit of Christmas.

MPN Voice provides information and emotional support to people diagnosed with a myeloproliferative neoplasm

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A blood cancer diagnosis helped me find true happiness - The Guardian

Mother and son, together, cope with autism and multiple sclerosis – MLive.com

Jacob Austin depends on his mom, and she depends on him.

April Austin, a 33-year-old Eastern Michigan University student who suffers from blindness and other ailments related to multiple sclerosis, relies on a walking cane, a white cane and often her son to get around.

When she's in pain, 12-year-old Jacob, who is autistic, is there to help with things like carrying groceries up the stairs. Jacob relies on his mom for help with communication, focus, learning and emotional needs.

Hes not mentally capable of doing things in his age range right now, so that keeps me going because I know he depends on me, Austin said. "I need him because he keeps me moving. He gives me a reason to keep moving. I know that he needs me to help him with basic daily tasks like bathing and cutting his hair. No matter how bad I'm feeling, I know that he needs me to do those things, so it pushes me to get up and do those things for him.

Below is a peek inside the day-to-day lives of April and Jacob Austin, in photos.

The mother and son have a co-dependent relationship, Austin said.

"Right now hes going through puberty," she said. "I'm a little worried about that because now were dealing with facial hair and stuff like that, but I say were going to work together and figure it out... Some days, we struggle with regular tasks, like taking a bath and doing his homework, even communicating. I am his voice. I have to think for him and speak for him. Because if I dont do it, I don't think no one else will."

More on the Austins here.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

April and Jacob practice counting on their fingers on an Uber ride home after grocery shopping together. "We sort of need each other," April said. She is unable to drive due to her blindness and relies rely on ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft to get around. Her insurance carrier covers the costs of getting to and from doctors appointments, but not other transportation needs.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

April gives Jacob a haircut at their Belleville home. Because Jacob has autism, it can be hard for him to perform some basic tasks. April does what she can to help Jacob live the most comfortable life he can, including giving him haircuts herself. "It's always just me and him," said April.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

April receives a treatment to help ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014. Since being diagnosed, she's endured partial blindness, bladder infections and pain throughout her body. She undergoes treatments to help ease her pain, although it comes with a cost. After the treatments, which she undergoes a few times a year, she's usually sick for days, making it difficult to care for Jacob. The treatments themselves last an entire day. She no longer brings Jacob with her to the appointments, instead having friends help care for him.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

Jacob covers his face as he walks through a Walmart with April. "He has real bad social anxiety." The mother and son are often subject to strange looks when they venture out in public together. Due to Jacob's autism, he has a tendency to yell out or run around. During one trip to a public pool, a young girl asked Jacob if he was dumb, April said. Jacob stayed by his mom's side the rest of the time they were there. "He's such a sweet person," said April of her son. "When I go to Walmart, when I go to stores, I want to see people like Jacob included and working."

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

Photos of April and Jacob lay out around their home. April is working on a photo album with images of the two giving each other kisses. "I often feel that him and I only exist to each other. I believe our ailments together make us even closer."

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

Jacob sits on April's lap during an appointmentwith a child psychologist. Jacob sees a therapist in their home multiple times a week to help him learn to be more independent. Jacob has learned to cook a few meals for himself and will make himself breakfast some mornings before he goes to school. Jacob learning to be more independent has been a priority for April, who hopes that eventually, on her bad days, Jacob can care for himself and live a more fulfilling life.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

Jacob looks up at April while grocery shopping with her. On days when her pain is bad, Jacob helps support his mom, carrying groceries for her, and giving her the physical support she needs to climbs stairs.

April fastens a brace on Jacob before he gets on the school bus in the morning. The brace is meant to prevent Jacob from running off the bus. Jacob has a history of attempting to run off. It proved to be a challenge for April, especially in recent years as she began to deal with the chronic pain. To keep Jacob from running out of the house, she had a special lock installed on their front door. She said they haven't had to use the lock for some time, as Jacob has gotten older and more responsible.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

Jacob gives April a kiss as he gets home from school one afternoon. "I want to work for people in the community who can't speak for themselves," said April. She currently works as a long-term substitute teacher for nearby schools, while simultaneously working toward a bachelor's degree in social work from Eastern Michigan University. With her degree, she hopes to advocate for policies that would protect people like Jacob who can't speak for themselves. She also hopes to one day open an autism residential facility where teens and adolescents can live an independent, high-quality life with the right resources. "With training, with therapies, the right medications and education, our kids can really function and do well in society," April said.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

April watches over Jacob as he gets ready for bed. "The goal is for him to be independent. Autistic people live and thrive on their own all the time," said April. The pair often rely on each other. April does everything she can to be there for her son as both a mother and a friend, she said, providing him with the resources he needs to succeed.

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

Jacob plays on his tablet in his room by himself. "I don't have a lot of support. That's why I'm trying to push his independence, because I can't take him everywhere."

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

With one hand, April holds onto Jacob, and with the other, her cane as they take an Uber to the grocery store. April doesn't use her cane every day. In fact, she often tries to conceal the pain she is feeling. "(Life) doesn't stop, no matter how much pain you're in," April said.

April leads Jacob toward the bus before school in the early morning. Jacob attends BurgerSchoolfor Students with Autism in Garden City, about a 20-minute drive from their home in Belleville. "It takes a lot of work to get your child the help that they need," April said. When April began looking at programs in which to enroll Jacob to help him, she quickly learned how difficult it can be to get your child the help they need. "I had to really sit down and study and look into stuff. I just about know in every state what resources are available to Autistic children."

Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

April often speaks of living in isolation and how challenging it has been for her, often feeling alone. She is planning on starting a support group for mothers with children with disabilities. "I just started reaching out," she said. She spends her time advocating for children with Autism and helping parents learn what resources are available to them. She also likes to collect donations for children in need to help provide them with more clothes or food.

April Austin is hoping to undergo a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and has raised more than $5,000 in an online

to help with the costs. She's seeking the treatment in Mexico, where she estimates the cost at about $54,000, whereas the procedure at Northwestern University in Chicago would come close to $100,000.

She plans to get the treatment at Clinica Ruiz in Puebla.

More:EMU student seeks stem cell treatment in Mexico for debilitating multiple sclerosis

Originally posted here:
Mother and son, together, cope with autism and multiple sclerosis - MLive.com

Local firm adds a new wrinkle to anti-aging products – Williamson Daily News

HUNTINGTON Serucell Corporation, a cosmeceutical company based in Huntington, has developed the worlds only dual-cell technology to create and produce anti-aging skincare products, and they did it in Huntington.

Serucell KFS Cellular Protein Complex Serum is made start to finish at Serucells laboratory on the south side of Huntington.

This has been one of the best kept secrets in West Virginia, said Cortland Bohacek, executive chairman and a co-founder of Serucell Corporation.

The company soft launch was in September 2018 at The Greenbrier Spas. The Official online launch was April 2019 and is getting exposure with some well known sellers like Neiman Marcus, local dermatologist and plastic surgeons offices and several other retail locations from New York to California. It is also sold online at serucell.com.

One person that has tried the product is Jennifer Wheeler, who is also a Huntington City Council member.

As a consumer I have an appreciation of the quality of the product and the results Ive seen using it, she said. It has been transformative for my skin and seems like its success will be transformative for our city as well.

She said Serucell and the people behind it are impressive on every level.

In my role on council, Im especially grateful for the companys conscious effort to stay and grow in our city, Wheeler said.

A one-ounce bottle of the serum costs $225. The recommended usage is twice per day and it will last on average of about six weeks.

Serucells active ingredient is called KFS (Keratinocyte Fibroblast Serum), which is made up of more than 1,500 naturally derived super proteins, collagens, peptides and signaling factors that support optimal communication within the cellular makeup of your skin.

This is the first and only dual-cell technology that optimizes hydration and harnesses the power of both keratinocytes and fibroblasts, two essential contributors to maintaining healthy skin by supporting natural rejuvenation of aging skin from the inside out, said Jennifer Hessel, president and CEO of the company.

When applied to the skin, KFS helps boost the skins natural ability to support new collagen and elastin, strengthen the connection and layer of support between the upper and lower layers of your skin. The result, over time is firmer, plumper and smoother skin, according to Hessel.

Why it works so naturally with your skin is because it is natural, Hessel said. These proteins play an important role in strengthening the bond between the layers of your skin, and thats where the re-boot happens.

KFS is the creation of Dr. Walter Neto, Serucells chief science officer and co-founder of the company. Neto is both a physician and a research scientist, specializing in the field of regenerative medicine with an emphasis on skin healing and repair.

Neto said Serucells technology unlocks the key to how our cells communicate and harnesses the signaling power actions to produce the thousands of bioactive proteins necessary to support the skins natural rejuvenation.

Originally from Brazil, Neto studied at Saint Matthews University and completed his clinical training in England. His clinical research on stem-cell cancer therapies, bone and tissue engineering and wound and burn healing led to his discovery in cell-to-cell communication, and ultimately the creation of Serucells KFS Cellular Protein Complex Serum.

Neto received multiple patents for the production method of Serucell KFS Serum.

Neto lives in Huntington with his wife and four golden retrievers.

Neto works alongside his longtime friend, Dr. Brett Jarrell.

I have known Brett since I was 18 years old, Neto said.

Jarrell practices emergency medicine in Ashland, Kentucky, and oversees all aspects of quality control for Serucell. He received his bachelors degree in biology from Wittenberg University, his masters degree in biology from Marshall University and his medical degree from the Marshall University School of Medicine. Jarrell completed his residency at West Virginia University and is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Jarrell has served as a clinical instructor of emergency medicine at the Marshall School of Medicine, president of the West Virginia chapter of the American College of Emergency Medicine and he has published a number of peer-reviewed journal articles on stroke research.

Jarrell also lives in Huntington.

Another co-founder of the company is Dr. Tom McClellan.

McClellan is Serucells chief medical officer and director of research and is a well-respected plastic and reconstructive surgeon with a private practice, McClellan Plastic Surgery, in Morgantown.

McClellan completed his plastic and reconstructive surgery training at the world-renowned Lahey Clinic Foundation, a Harvard Medical School and Tufts Medical School affiliate in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, he worked at Lahey Medical Center, Brigham and Womens Hospital, as well as at the Boston Childrens Hospital. McClellan is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

In addition to his practice and role at Serucell, McClellan utilizes his surgical skills through pro bono work with InterplastWV, a non-profit group that provides comprehensive reconstructive surgery to the developing world. He has participated in surgical missions to Haiti, Peru and the Bahamas.

McClellan lives in Morgantown with his family.

All three doctors here have strong connections to West Virginia and we didnt want to leave, Neto said. We all want to give back to West Virginia, so that is the main reason we have our business here in Huntington.

We are building a company we believe can make a difference in the community, Hessel added. Our goal is to grow Serucell and build our brand right here in Huntington. There is a pool of untapped talent here in Huntington. When we expand our business here, we can provide another reason for young people to be able to stay and grow their careers, whether it is in science, operations or manufacturing. The team is a pretty excited to make an impact in the community where it all started.

Hessel decline to give sales numbers, but said the business has been growing each year since the product was introduced. She also declined to give the number of employees at the facility, but did say it has sales representatives across the country.

For more information, visit serucell.com.

Originally posted here:
Local firm adds a new wrinkle to anti-aging products - Williamson Daily News

Miracle recovery of rider and her horse after severe injuries – Yorkshire Post

When Katie Brickman and Flash were hurt, she feared she would never ride again, but the pair have qualified for a top competition. Catherine Scott reports.

Two years ago Katie Brickman was told she would never ride again after a freak accident.

She was devastated and the bad news was compounded when her beloved horse Flash was also injured.

But the determined equine vet, who lives in Welburn, North Yorkshire, has defied expectations and she and Flash have qualified for a top eventing competition.

Katie, 29, who works at Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic in Ripon, refused to give up when doctors told her riding career was over because of a hand injury.

She then used the same determination to help Flash recover from an injury most competition horses would never recover from.

In March 2017, Katie suffered the horrific injury when she fell over while carrying a 500ml glass bottle of antibiotics, severing an artery and nerves in her left hand.

I was lucky that one of the people working in the yard was also a nurse so she helped tourniquet my hand as there was a lot of blood.

She was rushed to hospital in York and then transferred in Hull, where she underwent an eight-hour operation.

She was told the damage was so serious, she might never be able to properly grip reins again and was advised to retire from riding.

For someone who had ridden since she was three, it was devastating.

Two months later, Flash suffered a serious injury when he ripped a ligament in the stifle joint at the top of his leg while in his field.

The prognosis was so bleak, Katie feared he would have to be put down.

When he had a bone scan it was so bad that they said I should even think about having him put down.

But I love that horse. He is really quirky and not easy but for me he is amazing and I wasnt going to give up on him.

Katie and Flash both made a miraculous recovery and returned to competition this year.

Not only have they enjoyed their best-ever year with four wins, they have qualified for Badminton Horse Trials Grassroots Championships, in May, part of one of the biggest events in the world equine sporting calendar.

Katie, who has worked with Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic in York and Malton as well as Ripon for six years, has a particular interest in orthopaedics and the performance of sport horses so was in the ideal position to help Flash.

He was very lame on his left hind leg and, following diagnostics, it was discovered he had split his middle patella ligament, explains Katie.

This is an extremely rare injury, in fact I have only found one other case in America.

I was told Flash may never be sound again, never mind event again.

After six months of rest, Katie took him for a bone scan at Rainbow Equine Hospital, which like Minster Equine Clinic, is owned by VetPartners, a York-based veterinary group. While she feared he would never compete in eventing again, she hoped Flash could at least ride again.

She started giving him laser, shockwave and ultrasound treatment to the injured stifle joint, as well as stem cell therapy.

By August 2018, he was making such good progress, Katie decided to test out his recovery, as well as her own, by jumping then this year started competing.

It was the best feeling ever, she says.

I took it very very slowly as I would never want to anything that would harm him. But he loves to compete.

In October 2018, she competed at Askham Bryan College, in York and won.

After finishing fifth in their first British Evening One-Day Event at Epworth, near Doncaster, Katie and Flash won at Northallerton in April, finished second at Richmond in May, before winning a qualifier for the Three-Day Event National Championships in Oxford in June.

They won that event and then finished fourth in the British Eventing Regional Finals, at Western Park, in October, qualifying for the Badminton Horse Trials Grassroots Championship.

Katie will still have to have physiotherapy on her hand and she will never be able to lay it flat.

I had to have a second operation on my hand and then after that the physio was really painful, but I was told it was crucial.

It actually was easier holding the reins and riding.

Flash and I have both gone from being told neither of us will never compete again to qualifying for the Badminton Grassroots Championships.

He has had an amazing season and its been our best ever year. It goes to show you should never give up and all horses deserve a chance to recover from even the worst kind of injuries.

I never gave up hope on either of us, but to reach Badminton is beyond my wildest dreams.

Flash is a very special horse because he had a tough start as I dont think he was treated well before I got him so hes very nervous.

It was really grim news about his injury as he was extremely lame, but I was determined to do everything to help him recover even though everything was stacked against him.

Katie added: My surgeon says he couldnt believe it, but I am stubborn, and was determined to ride again. I was also determined not to give up on Flash.

We have such a good relationship as a horse and rider, and Im absolutely thrilled at what weve achieved together against all the odds.

Read more here:
Miracle recovery of rider and her horse after severe injuries - Yorkshire Post

Before the 90 Days Stephanie is YouTuber Stepanka. Is she really ill & bi? – Starcasm

TLC dropped the first preview trailer for the fourth season of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days this week, and among the six new couples featured is the franchises first same-sex relationship. After striking up a relationship on social media, 29-year-old Stephanie Matto from Yonkers, New York is flying to Australia to meet her 24-year-old girlfriend, Erika Owens.

In addition to coming out to her family, Stephanie is also taking a huge risk making the trip because she suffers from a life-threatening illness that means a common cold can kill me. But, Stephanie is a popular YouTuber with a long resume of view-grabbing antics, so how much (if any) of her story is just a stunt to get on the show?

Stephanie Matto is better known by her YouTube name Stepanka. Stepankas YouTube channel has been around for at least six years, and she has amassed just under 350,000 subscribers. Scrolling through her channel will reveal a cacophony of clickbaity thumbnails with titles like I Lost My Virginity AGAIN! My Pooping Routine! and Finally Releasing My Nudes! If you go solely by her video titles, it seems Stephanie breaks up once a month and always has a crazy story to go with it. She also buys A LOT of bikinis and lingerie, and tries it ALL on for her viewers. (And looks great while doing it!)

Looking through Stephanies channel will also turn up the video I Was in Love With a Girl | My First Bisexual Experience uploaded in June of 2016. Hmmmmmm

Here is a screen shot of a sampling of Stepanka video thumbnails:

If youre curious as to why Stephanie opted to go with the Czech version of her name, other than it seeming a bit sexier, it appears as though her mother is from the Czech Republic. Stephanies mom Magda graduated from the Palackeho University in Olomouc, Czech Republic in 1984. Stephanies dad was a lifelong resident of Connecticut before passing away in 2013 at just 57 years of age. (Stephanie has several videos about the passing of her father.) Its unclear if Stephanies mother come to the United States on a K-1 spousal visa.

So, is Stephanie and her Australian girlfriend Erikas relationship just a stunt to get on the show? Obviously I cannot know for sure, but I can say with absolute confidence that it is something Stephanie would do. And Im not alone in that opinion.

After Stephanie revealed to her fans that she was going to be dating Erika on the new season of Before the 90 Days, one fan responded by writing: So this is real? I thought it was just a spoof you cleverly put together. Stephanie assured him (and us): Its real!!!

Another fan responded with excitement: Omg yassss! I knew youd be back on reality TV. Cant wait to watch!

Wait, what?!

Stephanie has quite an extensive resume outside of her YouTube channel. She published a book titled Mean Boys & Memories: A Compilation of My Most Outrageous, Hideous, and Embarrassing Stories that is currently available on Amazon. She has also appeared on Nickelodeon and MTV, according to her Backstage profile. That profile also mentions an untitled reality series for ABC Family in which Stephanie played herself.

Here is Stephanies brief About Me from her profile that focuses on her acting background, but once again mentions reality TV:

Stephanie Matto is a young actress, having worked Nickelodeons hit series All That. She is a creative and unique comedian with an extensive training background in acting techniques, dance, acting for camera, and voice production/speech. She has done TV work, film work, as well as reality TV.

I did some digging and I did find a bankruptcy lawsuit involving a third party company that mentions Stephanie being attached to an untitled relationship program in October of 2010. Its unclear if that is the same show as referenced in Stephanies bio.

Stephanie was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in 2016, a rare bone marrow disorder that is often fatal. Here is information on aplastic anemia from the Mayo Clinic:

Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells. Aplastic anemia leaves you feeling fatigued and with a higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding.

A rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia can develop at any age. Aplastic anemia may occur suddenly, or it can occur slowly and get worse over a long period of time. Treatment for aplastic anemia may include medications, blood transfusions or a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant.

Stephanies diagnosis made headlines last year, including an article by The Daily Mail. Heres Stephanie looking back on her symptoms just prior to being diagnosed:

Every single time my body would brush against anything or even carrying my bag would result in a bruise. Someone could put their hand on my arm and within an hour Id have a bruise in the shape of fingerprints.

The most intense bruise I got was when I was carrying shopping bags home one day and a few hours later I looked at my hands and they were a sea of blue-green. It looked as if all the veins in my hands had burst out blood.

After her diagnosis, Stephanie began having blood transfusions every other day. She was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant, but there was no match for her on the registry. With no known cure for her condition, doctors told Stephanie about a new treatment in which horse proteins are injected into a patient to help induce an auto-immune reaction in the body and stop the immune system from attacking blood cells, reports The Daily Mail.

Soon after her diagnosis, Stephanie launched a GoFundMe campaign which managed to exceed her goal of $10,000. From the campaign:

Hey guys,

Just last week I was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a severe blood disorder that causes your bone marrow to fail and not produce enough white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. I will be needing a bone marrow transplant, and until I get one I will be on a course of intense drugs similiar to what chemo-patients receive. When I heard the news, I was in disbelief. I have always eaten healthy and led an active lifestyle. Literally, in the matter of less than a week, my whole life has been turned upside-down. I am devastated. It is going to be a daily struggle, and in addition to that, I have run into issues with insurance. I have state insurance which only covers so much, and am now in the process of trying to get new insurance in the state of NY. During that gap, I am paying for treatments out of pocket. It is my goal to raise enough to get me through the next month or so without the proper insurance I need. Your help means the world to me, and thank you for your support during my difficult time.

If you cannot donate at this time, I completely understand, but please consider joining the national bone marrow donor registry. It may not save my life, but could save someone elses.

The treatment Stephanie received worked well enough that she was declared in remission six months later. Unfortunately, a few months down the line my blood levels went downhill again, Stephanie recalls to The Daily Mail. I felt like I was back to square one when I needed to get a blood transfusion again after being transfusion free for four months.

Stephanie returned to Maryland in September of last year where doctors offered another round of the immunosuppressive treatment.

In August of this year, Stephanie described herself as being in partial remission. Im on a very high dose of immunosuppressive therapy, which means my t-cells are very low, she said in a youTube video. Also, I have a very suppressed immune system in general, so my white blood cell count is not that of a normal persons, so I get sick very, very easily.

With my health condition, a common cold can kill me, Stephanie says in the Before the 90 Days Season 4 preview trailer. As sensational as that may sound, it isnt untrue.

You can follow along with Stephanie and Erikas international relationship journey when Before the 90 Days returns to TLC on Sunday, February 23 at 8/7c. I will wrap up with the trailer and some sexy snaps of Stephanie from her Instagram account:

Asa Hawks is a writer and editor for Starcasm. You can contact Asa via Twitter, Facebook, or email at starcasmtips(at)yahoo.com

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Before the 90 Days Stephanie is YouTuber Stepanka. Is she really ill & bi? - Starcasm

Stem Cell Therapy Treatment – Melbourne Stem Cell Centre

Thank you for contacting Melbourne Stem Cell Centre. We appreciate you taking the time to enquire about our treatment options. On Monday 27th May MSCC notified the media with a press release detailing the great results of our randomised control trial treating knee Osteoarthritis. This release has created a high influx of calls and emails, we ask that you be patient with us getting back to you.

In the meantime, please feel free to browse over the below information to better acquaint yourself with our current therapies and general pricing.

Why Stem Cells?

Mesenchymal stromal Stem Cells are rudimentary cells with the potential to stimulate other cells within the body. Melbourne Stem Cell Centre doctors can harvest your adult stem cells in a small liposuction procedure. The stem cells are then isolated from the other cells extracted during the procedure, including fat cells. The stem cells are then specially prepared and expanded, in the laboratory of our partner Magellan stem cells, before being used for osteoarthritis treatment. Our recent clinical trial has showed both statistical and clinically significant pain and function improvement following stem cell therapy in 85 per cent of patients.

Why MSCC?

MSCCs treatment protocol has been ethically approved by Charles Sturt University. This uses a pure, high-dose stem cell population (as this has had success in recent scientific literature) and verification of the cell number, cell viability, and sterility is conducted off site, prior to injection. All patients are strictly followed up to assess outcome and to add to the growing scientific knowledge regarding stem cell therapies. Your response to treatment will be regularly followed up to maximise potential improvement.

What conditions to we treat?

Currently at Melbourne stem cell centre we treat osteoarthritis. There may be future treatments for other conditions and we regularly inform all our patients of any developments. To keep up to date with upcoming treatments and trials we recommend you visit the ANZCTR trial registry website http://www.anzctr.org.au .

Do I need a consultation first?

Prior to any treatment you will receive a thorough arthritis health care consultation with one of our musculoskeletal specialists. This includes a full biomechanical assessment, discussion of current pain management treatments and review of formal imaging. Your suitability for other biological therapeutic treatment options will be assessed. X-rays or MRI less than 6 months old is preferred for this appointment. The cost of the consultation is $240 on the day; if you bring a GP referral letter, you are eligible for a Medicare rebate of approximately. $70.

How much does it cost?

The cost for stem cell therapy depends on the individualised treatment plan formulated by your physician. Costs typically range from $7,100-$11,650AUD for the treatment of one joint. This includes the lipo-harvest procedure and two stem cell injections. Any additional treatment would be on top of this fee. Unfortunately, there are no Medicare or private health insurance rebates on our treatment.

I live interstate

MSCC offer the option of having the initial consultation and assessment conducted via phone. This would require you to send a CD of your X-rays and/or MRI in the post with a phone registration form. The cost of the phone consult is $150AUD (with no Medicare rebate). If you decide to have stem cell therapy, your treatment will involve at least 3-5 trips to Melbourne over the course of 12 months.

I live overseas

MSCC offer the option of having the initial consultation and assessment conducted via phone. This would require you to send a CD of your X-rays and/or MRI in the post with a phone registration form. The cost of the phone consult is $150AUD. Your stem cell therapy would require 3 separate trips to Melbourne for 2-3 weeks each. You may decide to combine the first two trips into an extended stay in Australia.

*The cost for stem cell therapy is 100% out of pocket. Medicare or private health funds do not subsidize any costs in the treatment of mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

If you would like a call to book an initial consultation with one of our specialists, please click the request a call button on our website and one of our team will give you a call.

With warmest regards,

Reception TeamMelbourne Stem Cell Centre

Originally posted here:
Stem Cell Therapy Treatment - Melbourne Stem Cell Centre

U.S. Stem Cell Training | Regenerative Medicine Training …

In 2011 I attended training and education on adult stem cell harvesting, isolation, and separation techniques led by Kristin Comella. She laid a solid foundation for us by educating us on how stem cells function, practical applications, and current research and results. When we went into the lab portion, Kristin was very thorough and meticulous when walking us through the steps. We were given a detailed, printed protocol to follow that made things very clear and easy to replicate. Kristin was eager to help out, answer questions, and show us the most efficient ways to perform each step of the procedure. Kristin is very knowledgeable and passionate about her research and adult stem cell therapies and has continued to be a valuable resource to us at SouthPointe Family Physicians. She always replies promptly to any questions or concerns we may have and keeps us up-to-date on the latest protocols and findings! Overall, working with Kristin has been a fantastic experience, and I'm excited to continue learning more from her in this field!

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U.S. Stem Cell Training | Regenerative Medicine Training ...

Injectables Are the Future of K-Beauty Trends in America – Yahoo Lifestyle

Before meeting up with me for dinner to celebrate my first time in Korea, my Seoul-based friend Jessica got off the plane after a business trip in Los Angeles and drove straight to her dermatologist or "dermie," as she affectionately calls him for Botox on her nose and jawline. After our stomachs were filled with dak galbi and soju, I scooted closer to Jessica in our booth and asked her about her latest dermie appointment. She began to list the dozen-plus cosmetic procedures she's tried since moving to Seoul from New York City eight years ago. Botox was her gateway injectable, starting with her jawline for a narrower, V-shaped silhouette. Since then, Jessica's gotten fillers in her forehead, chin, nose, and lips.

She also mentioned the "Chanel" injection, a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that is supposed to tighten and brighten skin (she didn't notice a difference, though). I listened to all of this slightly slack-jawed. On the other side of Jessica was our friend who grew up in South Korea he was utterly unfazed. There, the idea of a 33-year-old signing up for regular cosmetic injections is par for the course. An estimated one in three South Korean women between the ages of 19 and 29 has undergone a cosmetic procedure, according to a 2015 Gallup poll.

Earlier in the week, I skipped Seoul's stunning palaces and animal-cafe tourist traps to go straight to Gangnam. The neighborhood's streets are lined with high-rises filled with full-service, multilevel plastic surgery and dermatology clinics, many complete with in-house pharmacies, stem cell laboratories, and hotel rooms for out-of-towners. Hundreds of people cycle in and out daily for touch-ups and treatments, with the nonchalance of stopping by a salon for a blowout. Inside these buildings, the future of injectables is being determined by a discerning audience of South Koreans who prize flawless skin, small faces, and round, youthful features. To maximize efficacy and move patients along, the spaces are divided by treatment (like the "filler room" in one clinic I visited, where chairs are lined up for patients to receive their injections, one next to the other). And unlike in the U.S., where privacy surrounding cosmetic work is prized, waiting rooms are sprinkled with patients wearing a full face of numbing cream as they stand by for their cosmetic procedures.

I met with Korean doctors who spoke very casually of thread-lifting vaginas or injecting Botox into the calves, applications I had never heard of (or even imagined).

In the U.S., we have 32 FDA-approved dermal fillers. It can take many years of testing (and bureaucracy) for a new one to see the light of a doctor's office. In South Korea, however, regulation is less stringent, and a person looking for injectables in Seoul has many more options to choose from. Formulas that the FDA has not approved because of a lack of studies on efficacy and safety or potentially serious side effects, like injectable skin-brighteners spiked with glutathione (an antioxidant that can deactivate the body's melanin-producing enzymes), are used regularly in Korea. And while American doctors certainly use neurotoxins and hyaluronic acid fillers off-label (injecting Botox to lift lips, for example), I met with Korean doctors who spoke very casually of thread-lifting vaginas or injecting Botox into the calves, applications I had never heard of (or even imagined).

"It's common for Koreans to go to the dermatologist weekly, sometimes even daily, for maintenance treatments."

When it comes to the latest trends and technology in injectables, Seoul is ahead of the curve. "A lot of Korean [patients] are first-time adopters," says Yongjoon Noh, a plastic surgeon at Banobagi Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Clinic in Seoul. "New fillers, new materials, new plastic surgery techniques they want to try them all." A big upside to all this: With so many options available, cosmetic injections are vastly cheaper in Korea than they are in the U.S. Alternatives to Botox, like Medytox and Botulax, can be priced as low as $30 for a treatment (compared to about $400 in the U.S.). "It's common for Koreans to go to the dermatologist weekly, sometimes even daily, for maintenance treatments," says Y. Claire Chang, a New York City-based dermatologist who frequently travels to Seoul to learn about the latest advancements in cosmetic dermatology.

Many of the most popular injectable techniques are specific to Korean beauty standards: plump apples of the cheeks and rounded foreheads, as well as the aforementioned V-shaped jawlines. But other techniques, like using Botox to create the impression of poreless skin, or a thin hyaluronic acid filler to softly upturn the corners of the mouth, are likely to start creeping into practices in the U.S. in fact, they've already arrived in some. Want to know what's on the horizon? During my week in Korea, these were the procedures I heard about over and over again.

"Glass skin" is the Korean ideal of a poreless, translucent complexion (like a pane of glass). And the key to getting it is meso-Botox (or colloquially, "skin Botox"). For years, Korean celebrities have sworn by these shallow injections, especially before major events, says Shin Hye Won, a dermatologist at Oracle Clinic in Seoul. Just a few miles east, at Thema Dermatologic Clinic, they have 30 to 40 patients a day who undergo the procedure, says dermatologist Lim Ee Seok. The cost? About $300. (In the U.S., Chang offers it for $950 to $1,200.) Rather than being injected into the muscles to prevent and smooth wrinkles, botulinum toxin is placed just below the skin's surface, at about 40 to 50 sites along the jawline, forehead, and undereye areas. As a result, pores tighten, which makes skin appear smoother and brighter, and excessive acne-causing sebum stops forming. The effects last between three and four months.

The fruity nickname is a reference to the lip shape this filler technique creates. In the past, Angelina Jolie's lips were the most requested look in Seoul (just as they were in the U.S.), says Kang Jong Bum, a dermatologist at JY Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Seoul. But as of 2019, Koreans prefer the more targeted plumping that many K-pop stars are known for. Instead of giving lips an allover fullness, dermatologists administer a hyaluronic acid filler (like Juvederm or Restylane, or domestic options Yvoire or Neuramis) to the middle areas of the upper and lower lip, enhancing the Cupid's bow. Imagine two double-stemmed cherries on their sides, the stems forming the outline of the edges of your smile. The results last for at least six months and cost about $150 to $250 in Korea.

After the center of the lips are plumped, the same hyaluronic acid filler is often administered just above the outer corners of the mouth a technique called lift edge filler. As the name suggests, the treatment raises the edges of the lips into a soft smile. As we age, the area around our mouth loses volume, and the outer corners start falling into an unintentional frown. Lift edge filler counters the droop and balances out all that fruity volume in the center of the lips, explains Kang.

"It's really popular here for people with resting bitch face. It helps them look softer."

My best friend, CJ, who lives in Gangnam and works in the K-pop industry, knows people who get the procedure for other reasons. "It's really popular here for people with resting bitch face," she says. "It helps them look softer." Like other lip injections, lift edge filler lasts about six months to a year; swelling and small bumps can result, usually for two to three days after the injection, before dissolving. Banobagi offers a cherry lip filler and lifts edge filler combination. A permanent smile is also trending in South Korea. One of the coordinators at JY Plastic Surgery & Dermatology mentioned increased requests for surgical smile lifts, where surgeons create incisions in the same areas targeted by lift edge filler, so your face rests naturally with the corners turned up.

My Korean is limited, but I do know the word for thread lift (also, not to brag, egg and grandpa). And that was a good thing because the term came up often in my reporting. At one point, Kang asked if I wanted to try a thread lift myself. I'm 27, with skin that is more plump than saggy, so I was extremely confused by the offer. Thread lifts in Korea, Kang clarified, are not the "facelift lites" that we consider them here.

"We use thread lifting to make it look like a patient has had a nose job without actually doing a nose job,"

Sure, the mechanics of thread lifts in Korea are the same as they are in the U.S.: Dissolvable, fine-barbed threads are passed underneath the skin with a large needle. Then, as the needle is pulled out, the barbs grab onto skin and pull it upward, stimulating collagen and tightening and lifting the skin. Korean-style thread lifts, though, are less invasive because finer threads are used; they alter the shape of the face, slimming the jawline or changing the contours of the nose.

"We use thread lifting to make it look like a patient has had a nose job without actually doing a nose job," says Choi Jun Young, the lead plastic surgeon at JY Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, of his most requested thread lift procedure. The thread is injected between the nostrils, and in about 15 minutes patients can walk out with the bridge and tip of their nose angled higher. The results last around a year or two and run about $250 to $420.

"These days, it's not about fixing a problem but preventing it," says Lim. He believes the future of cosmetic dermatology in Korea is the "booster shot," an injection designed to rev up skin's natural powers of regeneration and moisturize and brighten skin not to change the contours of your face.

The most sought-after booster shot at JY is Jalupro, a solution of amino acids and sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid) manufactured in Switzerland. Kang says it builds up collagen (to best effect when done as a series of injections over several weeks), so the skin becomes plumper and acne scars start to fade away. Jalupro can be injected all over your face, but Kang likes to target wrinkle-prone areas like the forehead, around the mouth, and around the eyes. It can also supplement laser treatments for stretch marks. My friend Jessica loved the results so much that she got it once a week for three months.

Rejuran which contains PDRN, short for polydeoxyribonucleotide is the booster shot that many doctors in Korea believe holds the most promise. PDRN is extracted from a segment of salmon DNA that is a 95 percent match to that of humans. This small DNA chain is known for its anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing properties. When injected into the skin, Rejuran is said to shrink pores, diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, even skin tone, and balance oil production. Unlike skin Botox, which focuses on instantly smoothing the surface, PDRN could heal sun damage or acne overtime at the cellular level, based on early in vitro research. Typically, patients get three monthly injections ($100 to $340 each), for results that last up to a year.

Read more about injectables:

Now, watch a dermatologists entire skin-care routine:

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Originally Appeared on Allure

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Injectables Are the Future of K-Beauty Trends in America - Yahoo Lifestyle

ASH 2019 Roundup: The Latest on CAR T, New Treatments for CLL, and Using Genes to Predict a Common Side Effect – On Cancer – Memorial Sloan Kettering

The annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) brings together leaders from around the world who treat people with blood cancers and other blood disorders. Doctors and researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering presented their research at the meeting,held this year in Orlando. Below are some highlights from the past few days.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have been in the spotlight at the ASH meeting. Many scientists in the field are excited by the prospect of using the genome-editing tool CRISPR to engineer more-potent CAR T cells.

At MSK, researchers Michel Sadelain, Renier Brentjens, and Isabelle Rivire and their colleagues are at the forefront of CAR T science. Just last year, the team published results from the longest-running clinical trial of CAR therapy, showing which patients benefitted most. This year at ASH, another member of that team, MSK medical oncologist Jae Park, presented the results of a retrospective study that provides clues into who may benefit most from a stem cell transplant following CAR therapy.

A stem cell transplantreplaces a persons blood-forming stem cells with those from a donor. It can be a cure for some people with cancer, yet it comes with serious potential risks, such as life-threatening infections and graft-versus-host disease. Previous research from Dr. Park and his colleagues had suggested that there was no clear survival advantage to a stem cell transplant in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were treated with CAR T cells. But the scientists were curious to find out if a group of patients would benefit from the procedure.

Of 53 adults with ALL who received CAR T cells at MSK, 16 of those who had a complete response to the CAR therapy went on to have a stem cell transplant. Dr. Park and his colleagues looked for correlations between how well these patients did and several variables: age, a prior stem cell transplant, the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome, the amount of disease measurable at the time of the CAR therapy, the severity of cytokine release syndrome, and neurotoxicity.

The only variables that seemed to make a difference were age and neurotoxicity. Specifically, being younger and having no severe neurotoxicity during CAR therapy were associated with improved overall survival following a stem cell transplant. Dr. Park cautioned that the small size of the study limits drawing firm conclusions. Nevertheless, the results point to a group of people for whom the potential benefits of a stem cell transplant may outweigh the risks. Further research is needed.

MSK hematologist-oncologist Anthony Mato presented the results of several studies aimed at improving care for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). One study dealt with identifying the best treatment options for people with CLL who have had to stop taking the targeted drug venetoclax (Venclexta). Dr. Mato and colleagues conducted a retrospective study of 326 people with CLL from around the world who received venetoclax and then switched to another drug.

They looked at how well these people did on various treatments specifically BTK inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, CAR T therapy, and stem cell transplantation. Of these, they found that BTK inhibitors were an effective post-venetoclax treatment, provided the patients had not yet received BTK inhibitors or had not developed resistance to these drugs. They also found that a stem cell transplant was a good option that provided lasting benefits.

Together, these studies show the progress we at MSK are making in developing much-needed therapies for people with CLL.

In a second presentation, Dr. Mato discussed the results of a first-in-human trial of a BTK inhibitor called LOXO-305. This targeted drug works differently than existing BTK inhibitors. The trial, which enrolled 13 people, showed that LOXO-305 was safe. It also provided proof of concept that this approach may be effective at helping people with CLL and other B cell cancers, including those who have developed resistance to existing BTK inhibitors.

Finally, Dr. Mato discussed results from a study that tested a combination of targeted drugs given at lower dosages to people with CLL. Combination approaches have the potential to preempt the emergence of drug resistance but are often too toxic when each drug is given at full strength.

The phase I study tested a lower-dose combination of the BTK inhibitor everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst). It included 33 people with CLL and lymphoma who lacked an approved treatment option. Dr. Mato and his colleagues found that this combination, named DTRM-555, was generally safe and showed signs of effectiveness in several people. A phase II study of the combination is underway.

Together, these studies show the progress we at MSK are making in developing much-needed therapies for people with CLL, Dr. Mato says.

Blood clots are a life-threatening side effect in people being treated for cancer. Known risk factors for blood clots include cancer type and stage, obesity, blood cell counts, and treatment with chemotherapy. However, it is still difficult for doctors to predict the risk of blood clots in individual people.

To find out if a tumors molecular profile could predict the risk of blood clots, MSK hematologist Simon Mantha and colleagues conducted a study in which they analyzed tumor DNA sequences for 341 genes in 11,695 people with cancer.

As Dr. Mantha presented at the ASH meeting, the scientists found that mutations in several genes STK11, MET, KEAP1, CTNNB1, and KRAS increase the risk of blood clots in people with cancer.

Dr. Mantha hopes these findings will ultimately translate into better methods to predict who is most at risk for this dangerous complication.

Read about other MSK science at ASH hereand here.

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ASH 2019 Roundup: The Latest on CAR T, New Treatments for CLL, and Using Genes to Predict a Common Side Effect - On Cancer - Memorial Sloan Kettering

Orgenesis and Theracell to Launch Point of Care Cell and Gene Therapy Centers within HYGEIA Group’s Hospital Network in Greece – GlobeNewswire

GERMANTOWN, Md., Dec. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orgenesis Inc. (NASDAQ: ORGS)(Orgenesis or the Company), a leading cell and gene therapy enabling company providing centralized CDMO manufacturing and development services through its subsidiary Masthercell Global, Inc., as well as localized point-of-care(POCare) development and processing centers for therapeutic treatments, today announced a strategic partnership agreement (Partnership) between the HYGEIA Group and the TheracellOrgenesis joint venture (JV). Under the Agreement, the JV will implement Orgenesis POCare cell therapy platform for clinical development and commercialization of cell and gene therapies within HYGEIA Groups network of three hospitals in Greece. As previously announced, Orgenesis and TheraCell Advanced Biotechnology formed a JV to advance Orgenesis POCare platform in Greece, Cyprus, the Balkan region and selected Middle Eastern countries.

The POCare platform is designed to collect, process and supply cells within the patient care setting for various therapeutic treatments. The goal of the platform is to reduce the cost and complexity of supplying cell and gene therapies, as well as elevate quality standards by integrating automated processing units and proprietary technologies.

HYGEIA is the first hospital network in this region to implement Orgenesis POCare cell therapy platform. The Partnership is intended to provide HYGEIA Group with resources to advance clinical development and deliver personalized, advanced therapies across its network for a wide range of diseases in oncology, hematology, orthopedics, nephrology, dermatology and diabetes.

This partnership with the HYGEIA Group further validates the significant value proposition of our POCare platform, as it enables the development and delivery of cell and gene therapies onsite at hospitals. We believe this platform has the potential to transform the cell and gene therapy market, by bringing life-saving therapies to market in a much more time and cost-effective manner, said Vered Caplan, CEO of Orgenesis. Theracell has proven to be an ideal partner with extensive experience and capabilities in autologous cell therapy and regenerative medicine, with operations in Greece and strong relationships throughout the region. We are in active discussions to establish PoCare locations and partnerships with hospitals and healthcare networks in other countries and regions across the world.

Andreas Kartapanis, CEO, HYGEIA Group, commented, HYGEIA Group is honored to work with Theracell and Orgenesis to become the first hospital network in Greece to provide advanced cell and gene therapies for both clinical research and patient treatment utilizing the POCare platform. We believe this Partnership will provide us a strong competitive advantage in this rapidly developing field. More importantly, this Partnership will benefit patients that will now have greater access to these important therapies.

About HYGEIA Group

HYGEIA Group operates three hospitals in Greece, with a total capacity of 1,261 beds, 52 operating rooms, 19 delivery rooms and 10 intensive care units. More than 3,100 employees and approximately 3,900 associate physicians offer their services to the HYGEIA Group, which was founded in 1970 by medical doctors, most of which were professors at the University of Athens and have since been active in providing primary and secondary care services. The following hospitals are also part of the HYGEIA Group: MITERA General, Obstetrics - Gynecology & Pediatrics Hospital and LITO Obstetrics, Gynecology & Surgical Center, licensed for 459 and 100 hospital beds, respectively.

About Theracell

TheraCell is a regenerative biotechnology company with operations in Greece, where its laboratories and primary facilities are located. The Company focuses in the areas of autologous cell therapy and regenerative medicine. TheraCell has extensive experience in the isolation, processing and application of adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs), as well as somatic cells and has developed a patented platform for tissue engineering and cell therapies in the areas of Dermatology, Chondral Defects and Chronic Kidney Injury.

About Orgenesis

Orgenesis is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing and processing of technologies and services in the cell and gene therapy industry. The Company operates through two platforms: (i) a point-of-care (POCare) cell therapy platform (PT) and (ii) a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) platform conducted through its subsidiary, Masthercell Global. Through its PT business, the Companys aim is to further the development of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) through collaborations and in-licensing with other pre-clinical and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies and research and healthcare institutes to bring such ATMPs to patients. The Company out-licenses these ATMPs through regional partners to whom it also provides regulatory, pre-clinical and training services to support their activity in order to reach patients in a point-of-care hospital setting. Through the Companys CDMO platform, it is focused on providing contract manufacturing and development services for biopharmaceutical companies. Additional information is available at: http://www.orgenesis.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve substantial uncertainties and risks and are based upon our current expectations, estimates and projections and reflect our beliefs and assumptions based upon information available to us at the date of this release. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the success of our reorganized CDMO operations, the success of our partnership with Great Point Partners, our ability to achieve and maintain overall profitability, the sufficiency of working capital to realize our business plans, the development of our transdifferentiation technology as therapeutic treatment for diabetes which could, if successful, be a cure for Type 1 Diabetes; our technology not functioning as expected; our ability to retain key employees; our ability to satisfy the rigorous regulatory requirements for new procedures; our competitors developing better or cheaper alternatives to our products and the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "RISK FACTORS" in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2018, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason.

Investor contact for Orgenesis:David WaldmanCrescendo Communications, LLCTel: 212-671-1021Orgs@crescendo-ir.com

Media contact for Orgenesis:Image Box CommunicationsNeil Hunter / Michelle BoxallTel +44 20 8943 4685neil@imageboxpr.co.uk/michelle@imageboxpr.co.uk

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Orgenesis and Theracell to Launch Point of Care Cell and Gene Therapy Centers within HYGEIA Group's Hospital Network in Greece - GlobeNewswire