Skin-Cells-Turned-to-Heart-Cells Help Unravel Genetic Underpinnings of Cardiac Function – UC San Diego Health

Genome-wide association studies have uncovered more than 500 genetic variants linked to heart function, everything from heart rate to irregular rhythms that can lead to stroke, heart failure or other complications. But since most of these variations fall into areas of the genome that dont encode proteins, exactly how they influence heart function has remained unclear.

By examining heart cells derived from the skin samples of seven family members, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have now discovered that many of these genetic variations influence heart function because they affect the binding of a protein called NKX2-5.

The study is published September 30, 2019 in Nature Genetics.

By examining heart cells derived from the skin samples of seven family members, researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine discovered that many genetic variations known to influence heart function do so because they affect the binding of a protein called NKX2-5.

NKX2-5 is a transcription factor, meaning it helps turn on and off genes in this case, genes involved in heart development. To do this, NKX2-5 must bind to non-coding regions of the genome. Thats where genetic variation comes in.

NKX2-5 binds to many different places in the genome near heart genes, so it makes sense that variation in the factor itself or the DNA to which it binds would affect that function, said senior author Kelly A. Frazer, PhD, professor of pediatrics and director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. As a result, we are finding that multiple heart-related traits can share a common mechanism in this case, differential binding of NKX2-5 due to DNA variants.

The study started with skin samples from seven people from three generations of a single family. The researchers converted the skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as an intermediary. Like all stem cells, iPSCs can both self-renew, making more iPSCs, and differentiate into a specialized cell type. With the right cocktail of molecules and growth factors, the researchers directed iPSCs into becoming heart cells.

These heart cells actually beat in the laboratory dish, and still bear the genetic and molecular features of the individuals from which they were derived.

Frazer and team conducted a genome-wide analysis of these patient-derived heart cells. They determined that NKX2-5 can bind approximately 38,000 sites in the genome. Of those, 1,941 genetic variants affected NKX2-5 binding. The researchers investigated the role of those variants in heart gene function and heart-related traits. One of the genetic variants was associated with the SCN5A gene, which encodes the main channel through which sodium is transported in heart cells.

Since related individuals tend to share similar genetic variants, the team was able to validate their findings by analyzing the same variants in multiple samples.

People typically need a large number of samples to detect the effects of common DNA variants, so we were surprised that we were able to identify with high confidence these effects on NKX2-5 binding at so many sites across the genome with just few people, said first author Paola Benaglio, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in Frazers lab.

Yet, she said, this finding may just be the tip of the iceberg.

There are probably a lot more genetic variants in the genome involved with NKX2-5 as well as with other important cardiac transcription factors, Frazer said. We identified almost 2,000 in this study, but thats probably only a fraction of what really exists because we were only looking at seven people in a single family and only at one transcription factor. There are probably many more variants in gene regulation sites across the entire population.

Not only does the team plan to further investigate cardiovascular genetics, they also have their sights set on other organ systems.

We are now expanding this same model system to look at many different transcription factors, across different tissue types, such as pancreas and retina epithelia, and scaling it up to include more families, Benaglio said.

Co-authors include: Agnieszka DAntonio-Chronowska, William W. Young Greenwald, Margaret K. R. Donovan, Christopher DeBoever, He Li, Frauke Drees, Sanghamitra Singhal, Hiroko Matsui, Kyle J. Gaulton, Erin N. Smith, Matteo DAntonio, Michael G. Rosenfeld, UC San Diego; Wubin Ma, Feng Yang, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and UC San Diego; Jessica van Setten, University Medical Center Utrecht; and Nona Sotoodehnia, University of Washington.

This research was funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health (grants HG008118, HL107442, F31HL142151, T32GM008666, P30CA023100, HL116747, HL141989, R01DK114650, DK018477, DK039949), National Science Foundation (grant 1728497), California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (grants GC1R-06673-B, TG2-01154), Swiss National Science Foundation (postdoc mobility fellowships P2LAP3-155105,P300PA-167612), ADA (grant 1-17-JDF-027) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Read the original post:
Skin-Cells-Turned-to-Heart-Cells Help Unravel Genetic Underpinnings of Cardiac Function - UC San Diego Health

3 Houston innovators to know this week – InnovationMap

A new Houston-based startup accelerator is planning to advance companies focusing on regenerative medicine and stem cell treatment.

Houston Healthspan Innovation Group was created by founder and CEO Ed Bosarge, a local entrepreneur who's made millions of developing health care and finance technology.

"From day one, Houston Healthspan will play a significant role in shaping Houston's vibrant life sciences scene with its seasoned leadership and state-of-the-art facilities," Bosarge says in a news release. "Houston Healthspan may be a tipping point for the region's life sciences community."

The program will provide its participating startups and joint venture partners with expertise and resources in biology, clinical disease, therapeutic delivery systems, finance, and marketing, per the release.

The accelerator will be housed out of the Houston Healthspan Bio Labs 10,000 square feet of lab space just south of the Texas Medical Center. The labs will provide the scientists and researchers with cutting-edge technologies, large cleanrooms, and cGMP cell culture workstations will be used for cell manufacturing, bioprocessing, and therapeutic protocol development. The lab can even handle small-scale biologics manufacturing.

"Gaining access to lab space is a significant hurdle many start-up life sciences companies must overcome," says Dr. Steven Greco, chief science officer at Houston Healthspan. "Our Bio Labs address this need and offer a compelling and ideal setting for start-ups and joint-venture partners to conduct pre-clinical studies and obtain valuable research services."

Houston Healthspan has already started working with two regenerative medicine companies that have both relocated their operations to Houston. Rejenevie Therapeutics, which moved from New Jersey, develops therapies for immune system restoration as well as age-related illnesses. Formerly based in Hawaii, Tissue Genesis created the Icellator X, a technology that focuses on stem cell isolation.

"With two collaborator companies like Rejenevie and Tissue Genesis working out of our Houston Healthspan Bio Labs, we can offer significant resources and expertise for start-up and joint-venture partners to thrive and succeed," says Eric Schaeffer, chief strategy officer, in the release.

Read the original:
3 Houston innovators to know this week - InnovationMap

How Cells Maintain Their Identity – Technology Networks

All of the more than 200 different cell types in our body contain the same DNA. Which of those genes that are expressed determine each cell type. Therefore, it is essential that the activity of the genes is controlled with great precision.

Thus, a stem cell may develop into anything from a skin to a bone cell, depending on which parts of the genome that are expressed.

The researchers in Professor Kristian Helin's research group have for several years worked to understand the mechanisms that control whether a gene is active or inactive. This research is crucial to the understanding of how cells become specialised and maintain their identity, the normal embryonic development, and how various diseases may develop.

In a new study, researchers working at the Biotech Research & Innovation Center (BRIC) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem) at the University of Copenhagen as well as the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York have achieved crucial new results.

The results were recently published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell and provide insight into the ways in which epigenetic mechanisms control the activity of genes.

In addition, the results may have an impact on the future treatment of certain cancers related to the studied protein complex, including lymphoma, leukaemia and a special type of brain cancer that is often seen in children, says Kristian Helin, Professor at BRIC and Director of Research at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Turning On and Off

One of the key protein complexes that regulates whether genes are turned on or off is called PRC2. To ensure that the complex binds to the right places in the genome, a number of other proteins are associated to PRC2.

In the recently published article, the research group has studied the importance of six different proteins associated to PRC2, and the group has shown that all six proteins help direct PRC2 to the right places in the genome.

In 15 different combinations, the researchers removed the associated proteins from embryonic stem cells one by one. In this way, the researchers were able to study the contribution of each protein to the activity and binding of the PRC2 complex to specific areas. It was found that the ability to find the way to the right places in the genome remained intact until all six associated proteins were removed from the stem cells.

That finding surprised the researchers, says the study's lead author, Postdoc Jonas Hjfeldt:

We assumed that each of the associated proteins was responsible for its own area to where the PRC2 complex should be guided. Instead, we saw that they all contributed to the places where the complex binds. As long as just one of the associated proteins were left, the ability remained intact, he says.

Reference:Hjfeldt, J. W., Hedehus, L., Laugesen, A., Tatar, T., Wiehle, L., & Helin, K. (2019). Non-core Subunits of the PRC2 Complex Are Collectively Required for Its Target-Site Specificity. Molecular Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2019.07.031

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

More here:
How Cells Maintain Their Identity - Technology Networks

Cord Stem Cell banking Market is Growing at a CAGR of 22.4% by Market Share and Growth with Top Key Players: National Cord Blood Program, Vita 34,…

GlobalCord stem cell banking marketis estimated to reach USD 13.8 billion by 2026 registering a healthyCAGR of 22.4%.The increasing number of parents storing their childs cord blood, acceptance of stem cell therapeutics, high applicability of stem cells are key driver to the market.

Global Cord Stem Cell banking market report carries out comprehensive study about ABC industry and tells about the market status in the forecast period. The report explains the moves of top market players and brands that range from developments, product launches, acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, trending innovation and business policies. The report conducts thorough competitive research to provide better market insights. This market analysis examines various segments which help for the quickest development amid the estimated forecast frame. It provides statistics on the current state of the industry as a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and investors interested in this market.

Major Key players profiled in this report are:

CBR Systems, Inc., Cordlife, Cells4Life Group LLP, Cryo-Cell International, Inc., Cryo-Save AG, Lifecell, StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd, Viacord, SMART CELLS PLUS., Cryoviva India, Global Cord Blood Corporation, National Cord Blood Program, Vita 34, ReeLabs Pvt. Ltd., Regrow Biosciences Pvt. Ltd. , ACROBiosystems., Americord Registry LLC., New York Blood Center, Maze Cord Blood, GoodCell., AABB, Stem Cell Cryobank, New England Cryogenic Center, Inc. among others

Market Definition:

Cord stem cells banking is nothing but the storing of the cord blood cell contained in the umbilical cord and placenta of a newborn child. This cord blood contains the stem cells which can be used in future to treat disease such as leukemia, thalassemia, autoimmune diseases, and inherited metabolic disorders, and few others.

Major Market Drivers:

Market Restraint

Presentation of the Market

The Cord Stem Cell banking research report includes the presentation of the market by firstly introducing the overview of the market, presenting a detailed study of the market by evaluating the growth drivers, restraining factors and opportunities at length.

Segmentation:

By Storage Type (Private Banking, Public Banking)

By Product Type (Cord Blood, Cord Blood & Cord Tissue)

By Service Type (Collection & Transportation, Processing, Analysis, Storage)

By Source (Umbilical Cord Blood, Bone Marrow, Peripheral Blood Stem, Menstrual Blood), Indication (Cerebral Palsy, Thalassemia, Leukemia, Diabetes, Autism)

By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa)

Reasons to Purchase this Report

Contact:

Data Bridge Market Research

US: +1 888 387 2818

UK: +44 208 089 1725

Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475

Email:[emailprotected]

Go here to see the original:
Cord Stem Cell banking Market is Growing at a CAGR of 22.4% by Market Share and Growth with Top Key Players: National Cord Blood Program, Vita 34,...

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Bone marrow transplants save lives more donors are needed – TribLIVE

You are solely responsible for your comments and by using TribLive.com you agree to ourTerms of Service.

We moderate comments. Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership. By screening submissions, we provide a space where readers can share intelligent and informed commentary that enhances the quality of our news and information.

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderating decisions are subjective. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can. Because of the volume of reader comments, we cannot review individual moderation decisions with readers.

We value thoughtful comments representing a range of views that make their point quickly and politely. We make an effort to protect discussions from repeated comments either by the same reader or different readers

We follow the same standards for taste as the daily newspaper. A few things we won't tolerate: personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity (including expletives and letters followed by dashes), commercial promotion, impersonations, incoherence, proselytizing and SHOUTING. Don't include URLs to Web sites.

We do not edit comments. They are either approved or deleted. We reserve the right to edit a comment that is quoted or excerpted in an article. In this case, we may fix spelling and punctuation.

We welcome strong opinions and criticism of our work, but we don't want comments to become bogged down with discussions of our policies and we will moderate accordingly.

We appreciate it when readers and people quoted in articles or blog posts point out errors of fact or emphasis and will investigate all assertions. But these suggestions should be sentvia e-mail. To avoid distracting other readers, we won't publish comments that suggest a correction. Instead, corrections will be made in a blog post or in an article.

The rest is here:
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Bone marrow transplants save lives more donors are needed - TribLIVE

After ‘Hail Mary,’ Leukemia Patient is in Remission With Help of Donor – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Family is the most important part of Michelle Nagels life. When she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in May 2007, her mind instantly went to her children; all she wanted was to see them grow up and have children of their own.

When she learned of her condition, Nagel and her family were allover the map; she was living in Germany, her husband was in Ireland, her sonwas on his high schools field trip to Paris, her daughter was going to collegein New York City, and her parents and siblings were in the United States.

Little did she know, when she wasin Ireland, she was in closest proximity to the stem cell donor who wouldeventually save her life.

Though she had been feeling sick for a few months, Nagelsdiagnosis came as a surprise.

There were peculiar things happening in and with my body that Ihad not experienced before, and I had no explanation for, she recalls. ButIm not one to run quickly to a doctor for every little thing.

This was until a bug bite on her ankle turned into a bad infectionthat spread through her foot and wasnt healing. Nagel went to the doctor inGermany, who stabilized her condition enough that she could travel to Irelandto visit her husband for their 24th wedding anniversary. When shegot there, however, things got worse.

I woke up with a terrible fever and I was quite literally whiteas a ghost, she remembers. Even my lips were white, and I had an unexplainedbump on the side of my face.

After reviewing her symptoms and running blood tests, a doctor inGalway called Nagel and told her to go to the emergency room, where two doctorswould be waiting for her.

When I asked what was wrong, she simply told me I was anemic. Iknew well enough that one is not sent to the emergency room for anemia, Nagel says.

She spent the night in the hospital, where the next morning, shelearned she had acute myeloid leukemia. The doctors further explained to Nagelthat the only possible cure for her disease was a bone marrow transplant. Herinitial reaction was to tell her family.

My first thought was to organize my life. I didnt panic oroverreact. I took charge and planned; I did what needed to be done for myfamily, says Nagel.

She remembers being glad that she had the diagnosis, rather than anyone she loved. She then told herself she would take it one day at a time.

Nagel began her treatment in Ireland, where she was placed on achemotherapy regimen. When this treatment failed, her doctors switched gearsand put Nagel on a second and then ultimately a third line of a chemotherapy inan effort to achieve remission. However, she wasnt able to stay out of thehospital for very long: due to multiple infections, she had to continue herstay for a few months.

Once she got back home to Germany, Nagel and her husband startedto piece together a plan. She still needed a stem cell transplant, and afterbeing encouraged by her mother to come to Boston for treatment, she decided tocontinue her care at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Womens Cancer Center (DF/BWCC).

By November 2007, six months after her initial diagnosis, Nagelwas in Boston. Shortly after her arrival, she began experiencing the symptomsof a condition known as rigor, which results in a sudden feeling of being cold,shivering, and a rise in temperature. The symptoms landed her back in thehospital, where doctors discovered her AML had returned.

This dealt a major blow to Nagels treatment timeline, as the relapse meant she could not to receive a stem cell transplant. But her team had a plan: Nagel was placed under the of care of Martha Wadleigh, MD, clinical director of adult leukemia at DF/BWCC. For cases of relapsed AML, patients like Nagel are treated with chemotherapy to get into remission first, and then they undergo a transplant.

Nagel was a few months into chemotherapy when she experienced what she calls a bump in the road: she fell, hit her head, suffered a brain injury, and was in a medically induced coma for five weeks. After coming out of the coma, she spent another five weeks rehabbing to build up the strength to walk again.

I would go to the chapel in my wheelchair to pray to live longenough to be a grandmother, she recalls.

She wondered about being able to recover enough to continuetreatment. But after four months of recuperation and a slight adjustment in herchemotherapy, it appeared Nagel would be able to undergo the transplant.

In order to receive the transplant, Nagel would need a donor. Sheconsulted with her medical team, who searched donor registries worldwide forpossible matches. They got back good news.

It turns out I was blessed with multiple possible matches. I feltnumb, she reflects. I was happy and relieved to know I had many potentialdonor possibilities, but all I focused on was moving forward day to day.

Nagel still had another major hurdle to overcome. Although she had improved, she had not achieved complete remission after chemotherapy. Despite having some evidence of minimal disease, she started getting ready for transplant under the watch of John Koreth, MBBS, senior physician at the DF/BWCC Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program.

She had a treacherous course even getting to us for transplant. Dr. Wadleigh did an outstanding job in her preparation, Koreth says. The transplant was a Hail Mary. For someone with active disease, there is a low percentage this will work.

In July 2008, Nagel underwent an allogenic reduced intensity (or mini) transplant. This is a modified form of the procedure that uses lower doses of chemotherapy and no radiation therapy; its suggested for patients who cant tolerate the harsh side effects of a full-intensity treatment.

The transplant was a success, and initially, Nagels AML was inremission. However, six months after the transplant, the cancer returned. Tocounter the cancer, Koreth tapered Nagel off of the immune suppressant she wastaking; it was being used to overpower her old immune system so that her newone could take hold.

The results were remarkable. Nagel achieved remission and continues to be in remission to this day. Now, more than a decade removed from her procedure, shes seen her son graduate high school and college, as well as watched her daughter graduate college, get married, and have a child Nagels first grandchild. Months later, she met the man who she credits with saving her life.

All Nagel knew about her donor at the time of her transplant wasthat he was a 57-year-old man from Great Britain. It wasnt until two yearsafter her transplant that she and her donor agreed to learn each others fullidentities. The Dana-Farber Donor Services team got to work.

When her 60th birthday came around, Nagels familysurprised her with a trip to England to meet her donor, Graham Hawthorne, andhis family.

It was an emotional meeting. Id wanted to give Graham a big hug for his generosity an understatement but I hadnt anticipated that it would be as meaningful or as emotional for him and his family, she explained about their first meeting. They met at a restaurant, where Nagel was introduced to Hawthornes wife, daughter, and 10-year-old granddaughter.

With every milestone I thank God and the blessing of a man whosecells saved me and have kept me alive to see each blessed event, said Nagel ofher experience. This was an answer to my prayers.

Hawthorne joined the registry 40 years ago, little did he know hewould be saving the life of a stranger across the globe.

If Graham had not been selfless enough to donate to a stranger, we would not have known the fulfillment and love this act can bring, Hawthornes wife said of the experience. We have become friends with a family thousands of miles away, who we would otherwise never have met, and both families are very thankful for it.

Read the original:
After 'Hail Mary,' Leukemia Patient is in Remission With Help of Donor - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

September Is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month – Newswise

MEDIA CONTACT

Available for logged-in reporters only

Newswise Vanessa and Brian are typical first-time parents. They adore their 3-year-old daughter, Adeline (Addie for short), and take much pride and pleasure in watching her learn to speak and assert her personality.

Addie is very friendly, Vanessa says. She loves being around other kids, spending time at the park and playing princess dress-up.

In most ways, Addie appears to be a normal toddler. However, Addies young life is far from typical. At 5-months-old Addie was diagnosed with Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR), a serious brain tumor primarily affecting children under 4-years-old. ETMR has less than a 10 percent survival rate.

The first few months of Addies life were uneventful, as she developed normally. Then in December 2016, Vanessa and Brian found themselves at the Pediatric Emergency Department at Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center with baby Addie. She was unable to stay awake, vomiting and severely dehydrated. After performing several tests, including a CT scan, the physicians discovered a 5-centimeter mass in Addies brain.

Emergency surgery was performed, and Addie spent the next 12 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). I had a feeling that something was wrong. When the news came it was devastating. I didnt stop crying the entire time she was hospitalized. We really didnt know what to do, recalls Vanessa.

Vanessa and Brian first met Derek Hanson, M.D., section chief of pediatric neuro-oncology at the Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital, in the PICU.

He visited us every day that we were there. He stayed and spoke to us. He made us feel as comfortable as possible, Vanessa says.

Once the tumor was identified as ETMR, Dr. Hanson knew he had to think outside the box.

Looking back on previously reported cases of ETMR, it was clear that aggressive treatment alone would not lead to success, he says. Instead of hitting Addies tumor hard, I knew we needed to hit it smart and attack the underlying biologic mechanisms that were key to the tumor.

Dr. Hanson reviewed published research on ETMR and found a preclinical drug screen that identified the most effective chemotherapy agents used to treat an ETMR cell line.

I then created a modified treatment plan for Addie using surgery, chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, he says. If this new treatment regimen were to work, Addie would still be at very high risk for relapse. Therefore, following the completion of her upfront treatment, she began an 18-month maintenance chemotherapy regimen with DFMO, a drug we are currently using in a clinical trial to combat neuroblastomas.

Dr. Hansons new protocol proved to be successful. After undergoing four rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, and receiving the experimental drugs, Addie received her first clean scan in September 2017. To date, her scans remain cancer free.

Vanessa and Brian are incredibly grateful to Dr. Hanson and his perseverance.

We could tell that he was personally invested and really cared, Vanessa says. When Addie was first diagnosed, we wanted the best treatment. Ultimately we stayed at Hackensack because Dr. Hanson found the best treatment for her. He was very willing to collaborate with Brian and I and make us part of the care team. He gave us options and consulted with others.

Its obvious that Addie is a fan, too. Vanessa recalls coming to the hospital for Addies speech therapy, and Addie insisting on visiting Dr. Hanson. He came and gave her a hug. It made her day! Vanessa says.

Recently, Addie finished her drug trial and now her family is taking more steps toward having a typical routine.

It feels scaryits not real yet, Vanessa says. After 26 months of chemo and all of the treatments, it is scary to think we are done. We are hopeful that this will be over.

Addie does have some side effects from treatment. Most significantly is a hearing loss that is treated with hearing aids and speech therapy. She is delayed in some of her gross motor skills, but recently learned to run.

After being given the news that your child is most likely going to die, every single day and every single milestone is that much more important and special. We cant take anything for granted. It taught us to be happy with the small things and value family and friendships, Vanessa says.

Addies response to the chemotherapy treatment showed that a biology-based treatment approach can be successful in ETMR, says Derek Hanson, M.D. Now we are looking to make this biological approach available to more children with ETMR.

Tackle Kids Cancer (a philanthropic initiative of Hackensack Meridian Health to raise money for pediatric cancer research and patient care programs) is funding the launch of an international registry and research platform for children with ETMR.

The registry will collect clinical information from ETMR patients from across the globe and available tumor specimens, Dr. Hanson says. This information will serve as a resource for physicians and researchers to improve our understanding of ETMR and develop better approaches to treatment and overall care of children with ETMR.

Addies mom, Vanessa, stresses the importance for research funding.

When we received the prognosis, there was no treatment protocol for ETMR. There are so many rare tumors that need more research. It is not acceptable in this day and age that a child is given a less than 10 percent chance because there is not enough research, she says. Cancer is not as rare as we all like to think it is. It is so important because these kids deserve a chance. Our kids deserve better than that.

The 2019-2020 Best Childrens Hospital rankings by U.S. News & World Report ranked the combined cancer program at Hackensack Meridian Healths two childrens hospitals Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital and K. Hovnanian Childrens Hospital #44 in the U.S. and the only cancer program in New Jersey to be ranked among the top 50 in the nation. In addition, the Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked #49 and the only childrens hospital in New Jersey to be ranked in Neurology and Neurosurgery.

To learn about Tackle Kids Cancer visit http://www.tacklekidscancer.org

Signs of Cancer in Children

Several symptoms could indicate cancer in kids, though many of them are also indicative of other health issues. These include paleness, easy bruising and unexplained, persistent fever. Learn more at http://www.HMHforU.org/CancerInKids.

Learn about Hackensack Meridian Healths commitment to compassionate, personalized cancer care for children at http://www.HMHforU.org/PediatricCancer.

ABOUTHACKENSACKMERIDIAN HEALTH

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.

Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two childrens hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Childrens Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.

Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 35,000 team members, and 7,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The networks notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Beckers Healthcares 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2019 list.

The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University opened in 2018, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its second class of 96 students in 2019 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it.

Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

For additional information, please visit http://www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.

View post:
September Is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month - Newswise

Guest view: Editors untimely death shines light on rare, incurable disease amyloidosis – Stockton Record

Editors note: Luanne Hunt is the widow of Steve Hunt, president, publisher and editor of the Victorville Daily Press until his death on Aug. 27. She wrote this for the Daily Press.

In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would be a widow at age 57. But here I am, alone and without my beloved husband, Steve Hunt, former editor, president and publisher of the Victorville Daily Press. It all feels like a bad dream that I am going to wake up from at any minute.

How did this happen so fast? How did a man with robust health become fatally ill almost overnight with what doctors diagnosed as congestive heart failure (CHF)? Steve, 64, had no risk factors for this condition. He took great care of himself, too, always choosing nutritious foods and opting for natural supplements to cure his minor aches and pains rather than prescription meds.

And then, about a month before Steve died, I came across some information about a disease called amyloidosis. Its extremely rare, with only 4,500 cases diagnosed every year, according to the Amyloidosis Foundation.

Among the celebrities that suffer with amyloidosis are actor Michael York, NBA Hall of Famer Nate Tiny Archibald and Matt Millen, a four-time Super Bowl champion and broadcaster.

In a nutshell, the disease (which is not cancer) is caused by abnormal amyloid proteins that are produced in the bloodstream. The proteins build up in vital organs and essentially shut them down. So far, researchers have been unable to link a direct cause to the condition.

Symptoms include swelling of ankles and legs, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and a number of other things.

Steves symptoms were a near-perfect match to amyloidosis and suddenly, things began to make sense. But sadly, there is no cure for the condition and without treatment, the mortality rate is about one year from the onset of symptoms

The treatment plan for Steve included diuretics to get rid of the fluid buildup in his lungs, legs and feet, which is caused by the declining function of the heart. He also took potassium to keep his levels in check, as the diuretics often cause potassium to drop. His cardiologist opted to skip putting him on medication that would slow down CHF because the pills tend to lower your blood pressure and Steves BP was consistently running very low, sometimes registering a top number in the 70s.

Beyond low blood pressure, my husband also developed a host of other strange symptoms that seemed unrelated to CHF. He was losing fat and muscle mass rapidly, had a swollen tongue and was having trouble swallowing. Intermittently, red blotches appeared on his face and neck that looked like giant, broken blood vessels.

At that point, Steve could have undergone chemotherapy treatments or a stem cell transplant that likely would have prolonged his life.

By the time this came to our attention, his heart and other organs were damaged beyond repair. He also was much too weak to travel to one of the few hospitals in the country that treat the disease, such as the Mayo Clinic or Stanford University Medical Center.

A couple days before Steve died, he asked me to share his story hoping it would help others by bringing greater awareness about amyloidosis.

I pray that one day soon a cause will be identified, and a cure will be found for this dreadful malady.

Donations to the Amyloidosis Foundation can be made on Steves behalf at http://www.amyloidosis.org.

Read more:
Guest view: Editors untimely death shines light on rare, incurable disease amyloidosis - Stockton Record

Steve Hunt’s untimely death shines light on rare, incurable disease – VVdailypress.com

In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would be a widow at age 57. But here I am, alone and without my beloved husband Steve Hunt, former president, publisher and editor of the Victorville Daily Press. It all feels like a bad dream that I am going to wake up from at any minute.

How did this happen so fast? How did a man with robust health become fatally ill almost overnight with what doctors diagnosed as congestive heart failure (CHF)? Steve, 64, had no risk factors for this condition. He took great care of himself, too, always choosing nutritious foods and opting for natural supplements to cure his minor aches and pains rather than prescription meds.

About a month before Steve died, I came across some information about a disease called amyloidosis. Its extremely rare with only 4,500 cases diagnosed every year, according to the Amyloidosis Foundation.

Among the celebrities that suffer with amyloidosis are actor Michael York, NBA Hall of Famer Nate Tiny Archibald and Matt Millen, a four-time Super Bowl champion and broadcaster.

In a nutshell, the disease (which is not cancer) is caused by abnormal amyloid proteins which are produced in the bloodstream. The proteins build up in vital organs and essentially shut them down. So far, researchers have been unable to link a direct cause to the condition.

Symptoms include swelling of ankles and legs, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and a number of other things.

Steve's symptoms were a near-perfect match to amyloidosis and suddenly, things began to make sense. But sadly, there is no cure for the condition and without treatment, the mortality rate is about one year from the onset of symptoms

The treatment plan for Steve included diuretics to get rid of the fluid buildup in his lungs, legs and feet, which is caused by the declining function of the heart. He also took potassium to keep his levels in check, as the diuretics often cause potassium to drop. His cardiologist opted to skip putting him on medication that would slow down CHF because the pills tend to lower your blood pressure and Steves BP was consistently running very low, sometimes registering a top number in the 70s.

Beyond low blood pressure, my husband also developed a host of other strange symptoms that seemed unrelated to CHF. He was losing fat and muscle mass rapidly, had a swollen tongue and was having trouble swallowing. Intermittently, red blotches appeared on his face and neck that looked like giant, broken blood vessels.

At that point, Steve could have undergone chemotherapy treatments or a stem cell transplant that likely would have prolonged his life.

By the time this came to our attention, his heart and other organs were damaged beyond repair. He also was much too weak to travel to one of the few hospitals in the country that treat the disease, such as the Mayo Clinic or Stanford University Medical Center.

A couple days before Steve died, he asked me to share his story hoping it would help others by bringing greater awareness about amyloidosis.

I pray that one day soon a cause will be identified, and a cure will be found for this dreadful malady.

Donations to the Amyloidosis Foundation can be made on Steves behalf at http://www.amyloidosis.org.

Here is the original post:
Steve Hunt's untimely death shines light on rare, incurable disease - VVdailypress.com

How to Get the Most from Stem Cell Therapy – Medical Center

Regenerative Medicineis a fast-growing branch of medicine which focuses on regenerating damaged tissues using human cells. These cells can come from the patients own bone marrow, adipose (fat) tissue or blood, in addition to Whartons Jelly, amniotic, or umbilical cord tissue donated by healthy mothers during C-section births. These cells are injected into the body, bringing with them a host of growth factors, cytokines, and mesenchymal stem cells. The healing properties create an inflammatory response by the body while generating scaffolding and recruiting the cell types necessary to heal the damaged tissues. Regenerative Medicine is proven a viable option for healing damaged tendons, ligaments, muscles and even bone.

The two most commonly-known modalities used in Regenerative Medicine arePlatelet Rich Plasma(PRP) andStem Cell Therapy. PRP uses the growth factors within the patients own blood to provide notable healing for soft-tissue injuries. During this simple, yet effective procedure, the patients blood is drawn, treated to isolate the beneficial nutrients, and injected into the injured area(s). Austin Preferred Integrative Medicine uses this modality alongside Physical Medicine and Rehab services to help patients get the most out of their treatment plans. The focus of this article, however, will be Stem Cell Therapy.

Stem Cell Therapy, while similar in concept to PRP, is a much more advanced treatment option. This technique has generated much discussion in recent years, due to its remarkable results and wide applicability. Stem Cell Therapy can use autologous tissues (derived from the patients body) or allogeneic tissues (derived from an outside source). Both methods can produce excellent results and are even seen as a viable alternative to surgery in many cases. Austin Preferred Integrative Medicine uses aWhartons Jellyproduct which is stored in a liquid nitrogen tank, allowing us to preservelive stem cellsprior to the injection. Many other clinics offering Stem Cell Therapy in Austin cannot offer this to their patients.

Stem Cell Therapy is also being tested as a possible solution to other conditions including strokes, blood disease and diabetes, to name a few.

In addition to the superior products Austin Preferred Integrative Medicine uses for Stem Cell Therapy, we also provide our patients with an abundance of information and guidance to increase the likelihood of a great outcome. Following are some helpful pre and post-injection instructions to enhance the effectiveness of Regenerative Medicine procedures:

Refrain from taking NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Celebrex, Naproxen, Mobic, etc.) for one week prior to the injection. These can interfere with the initial inflammatory response created by the stem cells. Instead, take acetaminophen if necessary.

Stay hydrated prior to your procedure. We recommend that patients drink at least 72 ounces of water per day for three days prior to the injection.

Reduce the amount of sugar, calories and triglycerides in your diet for at least one week prior to the injection.

Allow our healthcare providers to review any diagnostic imaging (MRIs, X-Rays, EMGs) to ensure your candidacy for the procedure.

While soreness should occur, it is best to continue carrying out light activities around your home, or even incorporating some low-impact walking into your daily routine. These are both better options than remaining completely sedentary, but use pain as your guideline for all activities.

Limit your use of the NSAIDs for the first six weeks after the injection. These drugs interfere with the inflammation process. Limiting them allows the body to set up the scaffolding necessary for tissue regeneration.

Consume a diet rich in lean meat, eggs, whole grains, fresh produce and healthy fats. This allows the body to optimize its internal processes, including healing.

ConsiderPhysical Therapy,Laser Therapyandsupportive bracesas options to help facilitate the recovery process.

This is just a fraction of the information Austin Preferred Integrative medicine provides to all Stem Cell patients. Unlike many other practices offering Stem Cell Therapy in Austin, we strive to work hand-in-hand with our patients. This philosophy helps our healthcare providers achieve the best results possible.

Austin Preferred also offers Free Consultations for in Stem Cell Therapy in Austin. Call (512) 442-2727 and email info@austinpreferred.com with questions or to schedule your free consultation. You can also refer to ourServicesandConditionspages for more information on treatment at our practice.

See original here:
How to Get the Most from Stem Cell Therapy - Medical Center