CytoDyn’s First mTNBC Patient in Phase 1b/2 is in Remission and Oncologist Ordered Termination of Treatment with Carboplatin (chemotherapy drug) and…

VANCOUVER, Washington, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTC.QB: CYDY), (CytoDyn or the Company), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab (PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, announced today that the FDA recommended that the Company request a preliminary Breakthrough Therapy designation meeting. Meanwhile, the Company continues reporting very positive data for its mTNBC and MBC patients.

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC), an aggressive histological subtype, has a poor prognosis. In addition, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other organs in the body (typically the bones, liver, lungs, or brain). Both types of cancer pose significant challenges for patients due to their aggressiveness and limited treatment options. An integral part of CytoDyns mission and purpose is to provide effective therapeutic solutions to these patients. Clinical results from the first cancer patient in the Companys Phase 1b/2 mTNBC trial are as follows:

Patient #1: Enrolled in mTNBC Phase 1b/2 with first treatment in late September 2019. CTC (circulating tumor cells) dropped to zero after two treatments with leronlimab and carboplatin. Total CTC and EMT (Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Tumor Metastasis) dropped to zero after about one month of treatment with leronlimab (once-a-week 350 mg dose). Results from the patients earlier CT scan indicated a more than 25% tumor shrinkage within the first few weeks of treatment with leronlimab and carboplatin. After approximately five months of treatment with leronlimab and carboplatin, the patient not only has zero CTC and zero EMT, but also zero detectible CAML (cancer-associated microphages like cells). The patients oncologist has now ordered this patients treatment to consist only of leronlimab and has discontinued treatment with carboplatin (a chemotherapy drug). Testimony provided to the Company from the patient stated: So far my experience with leronlimab has been very positive. I didnt expect it to be so easy and tolerable with virtually ZERO side effects. The results so far have been super impressive. Im very grateful to be part of this clinical trial study and it really makes me feel hopeful that this otherwise fatal disease can be turned into a manageable disease in the near future.

Bruce Patterson, M.D., chief executive officer and founder of IncellDx, a diagnostic partner and advisor to CytoDyn, commented, The FDA recommendation for a meeting on CytoDyns BTD application is a tremendous opportunity to further discuss the mechanism of action and to summarize the promising results from patients enrolled following the submission of the application. Included in this discussion will be the recent decision by the oncologist of Patient #1 to, based on continued unremarkable changes to her condition, remove carboplatin from the patients regimen with continued therapy with leronlimab. Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of CytoDyn, added: Our first patient in the Phase 1b/2 trial has shown remission of the tumor and her oncologist has attributed this primarily to leronlimab and discontinued the carboplatin (a form of chemotherapy). This patients latest results of zero CTC, EMT, and CAML is unique and we now have another patient with three zeros identical to the first patient. We are very excited to continue enrolling patients and hopeful to have our first patient treated in our basket trial for 22 solid tumor cancers very soon. We are also very hopeful to have several more patients in our Phase 1b/2 mTNBC trial before our preliminary meeting with the FDA for Breakthrough Therapy designation.

About Triple-Negative Breast CancerTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer characterized by the absence of the three most common types of receptors in the cancer tumor known to fuel most breast cancer growthestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) and the hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) gene. TNBC cancer occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of diagnosed breast cancers and can be more aggressive and more likely to spread and recur. Since the triple-negative tumor cells lack these receptors, common treatments for breast cancer such as hormone therapy and drugs that target estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 are ineffective.

About Leronlimab (PRO 140) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have granted a Fast Track designation to CytoDyn for two potential indications of leronlimab for deadly diseases. The first as a combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients and the second is for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Leronlimab is an investigational humanized IgG4 mAb that blocks CCR5, a cellular receptor that is important in HIV infection, tumor metastases, and other diseases including NASH. Leronlimab has successfully completed nine clinical trials in over 800 people, including meeting its primary endpoints in a pivotal Phase 3 trial (leronlimab in combination with standard antiretroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients).

In the setting of HIV/AIDS, leronlimab is a viral-entry inhibitor; it masks CCR5, thus protecting healthy T cells from viral infection by blocking the predominant HIV (R5) subtype from entering those cells. Leronlimab has been the subject of nine clinical trials, each of which demonstrated that leronlimab can significantly reduce or control HIV viral load in humans. The leronlimab antibody appears to be a powerful antiviral agent leading to potentially fewer side effects and less frequent dosing requirements compared with daily drug therapies currently in use.

In the setting of cancer, research has shown that CCR5 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Increased CCR5 expression is an indicator of disease status in several cancers. Published studies have shown that blocking CCR5 can reduce tumor metastases in laboratory and animal models of aggressive breast and prostate cancer. Leronlimab reduced human breast cancer metastasis by more than 98% in a murine xenograft model. CytoDyn is therefore conducting a Phase 1b/2 human clinical trial in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and was granted Fast Track designation in May 2019. Additional research is being conducted with leronlimab in the setting of cancer and NASH with plans to conduct additional clinical studies when appropriate.

The CCR5 receptor appears to play a central role in modulating immune cell trafficking to sites of inflammation and may be important in the development of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and other inflammatory conditions. Clinical studies by others further support the concept that blocking CCR5 using a chemical inhibitor can reduce the clinical impact of acute GvHD without significantly affecting the engraftment of transplanted bone marrow stem cells. CytoDyn is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical study with leronlimab to further support the concept that the CCR5 receptor on engrafted cells is critical for the development of acute GvHD and that blocking this receptor from recognizing certain immune signaling molecules is a viable approach to mitigating acute GvHD. The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to leronlimab for the prevention of GvHD.

About CytoDyn CytoDyn is a biotechnology company developing innovative treatments for multiple therapeutic indications based on leronlimab, a novel humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the CCR5 receptor. CCR5 appears to play a key role in the ability of HIV to enter and infect healthy T-cells. The CCR5 receptor also appears to be implicated in tumor metastasis and in immune-mediated illnesses, such as GvHD and NASH. CytoDyn has successfully completed a Phase 3 pivotal trial with leronlimab in combination with standard anti-retroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients. CytoDyn plans to seek FDA approval for leronlimab in combination therapy and plans to complete the filing of a Biologics License Application (BLA) in the first quarter of 2020 for that indication. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 3 investigative trial with leronlimab as a once-weekly monotherapy for HIV-infected patients and plans to initiate a registration-directed study of leronlimab monotherapy indication, which if successful, could support a label extension. Clinical results to date from multiple trials have shown that leronlimab can significantly reduce viral burden in people infected with HIV with no reported drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs). Moreover, results from a Phase 2b clinical trial demonstrated that leronlimab monotherapy can prevent viral escape in HIV-infected patients, with some patients on leronlimab monotherapy remaining virally suppressed for more than five years. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 2 trial to evaluate leronlimab for the prevention of GvHD and a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial with leronlimab in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. More information is at http://www.cytodyn.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as believes, hopes, intends, estimates, expects, projects, plans, anticipates and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Companys forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and actual results could vary materially from those contained in or expressed by such statements due to risks and uncertainties including: (i) the sufficiency of the Companys cash position, (ii) the Companys ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations, (iii) the Companys ability to meet its debt obligations, if any, (iv) the Companys ability to enter into partnership or licensing arrangements with third parties, (v) the Companys ability to identify patients to enroll in its clinical trials in a timely fashion, (vi) the Companys ability to achieve approval of a marketable product, (vii) the design, implementation and conduct of the Companys clinical trials, (viii) the results of the Companys clinical trials, including the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, (ix) the market for, and marketability of, any product that is approved, (x) the existence or development of vaccines, drugs, or other treatments that are viewed by medical professionals or patients as superior to the Companys products, (xi) regulatory initiatives, compliance with governmental regulations and the regulatory approval process, (xii) general economic and business conditions, (xiii) changes in foreign, political, and social conditions, and (xiv) various other matters, many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Company urges investors to consider specifically the various risk factors identified in its most recent Form 10-K, and any risk factors or cautionary statements included in any subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release.

CYTODYN CONTACTS

Investors: Dave Gentry, CEO RedChip Companies Office: 1.800.RED.CHIP (733.2447) Cell: 407.491.4498 dave@redchip.com

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CytoDyn's First mTNBC Patient in Phase 1b/2 is in Remission and Oncologist Ordered Termination of Treatment with Carboplatin (chemotherapy drug) and...

Lattice Biologics to Evaluate Anti-Inflammatory Stem Cell Therapy Treatment of COVID-19 Lung Disease – BioSpace

AmnioBoost has potential for use in the treatment of ARDS, which is the principal cause of death in COVID-19 infection.1 Mortality in COVID-19 infected patients with the inflammatory lung condition (ARDS) is reported to approach 50%, and is associated with older age, co-morbidities such as diabetes, higher disease severity, and elevated markers of inflammation.1 Current therapeutic interventions do not appear to improve in-hospital survival.1

AmnioBoost is believed to have immunomodulatory properties to counteract the inflammatory processes that are implicated in several diseases by down-regulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and enabling recruitment of naturally occurring anti-inflammatory cells to involved tissues.

Major anti-inflammatory cytokines found in AmnioBoost include: interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1ra, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-16, CCL2, CXCL7, MIF, and GRO a/b/g. Specific cytokine receptors for IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, function as proinflammatory cytokine inhibitors.

This is supported by recently published results from an investigator-initiated clinical study conducted in China which reported that allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cured or significantly improved functional outcomes in all seven treated patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.2

AmnioBoost

AmnioBoost was originally developed for chronic adult inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, but has found multiple uses in the treatment of bone and cartilage repair, as well as soft tissue repair. It is an investigational therapy comprising concentrated allogeneic MSCs and cytokines derived from amniotic fluid.

The amniotic fluid is donated from non-related, healthy mothers and recovered by caesarian section; the baby is not harmed in any way. Additionally, AmnioBoost has been injected in over 1,000 patients with no adverse events, and appears to be well tolerated.

References

1. Liu Y et al. Clinical features and progression of acute respiratory distress syndrome in coronavirus disease 2019. Medrxiv 2020; https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.17.20024166 2. Leng Z, et al. Transplantation of ACE2- Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves the Outcome of Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia[J]. Aging and Disease, 10.14336/AD.2020.0228

About Lattice Biologics Ltd.:

Lattice Biologics is traded on the TSX-V under the symbol: LBL. The Company is an emerging leader in the field of cellular therapies and tissue engineering, with a focus on dental indications.

Lattice Biologics develops and manufactures biologic products to domestic and international markets. The Companys products are used in a variety of surgical applications.

Lattice Biologics maintains its headquarters, laboratory and manufacturing facilities in Belgrade, Montana as well as offices in Phoenix, Arizona. The facility includes ISO Class 1000 clean rooms, and specialized equipment capable of crafting traditional allografts and precision specialty allografts for various clinical applications. The Lattice Biologics team includes highly trained tissue bank specialists, surgical technicians, certified sterile processing and distribution technicians, and CNC operators who maintain the highest standards of aseptic technique throughout each step of the manufacturing process. From donor acceptance to the final packaging and distribution of finished allografts, Lattice is committed to maintaining the highest standards of allograft quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Lattice Biologics maintains all necessary licensures to process and sell its tissue engineered products within the U.S. and internationally. This includes Certificates to Foreign Governments from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and registrations for multiple countries, which allow the export of bone, tendon, meniscus, ligament, soft tissue, and cartilage products outside of the U.S.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of Canadian securities laws. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as planned, potential, future, expected, could, possible, goal, intends, will or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation: information pertaining to the Companys strategy, plans, or future financial performance, such as statements with respect to the Transaction, and other statements that express managements expectations or estimates of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Lattice to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date such statements are made, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The factors and assumptions that could prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: that market prices will be consistent with expectations, the continued availability of capital and financing, and that general economic, market and business conditions will be consistent with expectations. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

United States Advisory: The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered, sold, or resold in the United States or to, or for the account of or benefit of, a U.S. Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in the state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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Lattice Biologics to Evaluate Anti-Inflammatory Stem Cell Therapy Treatment of COVID-19 Lung Disease - BioSpace

HIV patient appears to be cured after stem cell treatment – New York Post

A 40-year-old HIV patient has been declared cured after a promising treatment has left him with no active virus. The man, Adam Castillejo, was the subject of extensive research in early 2019 after doctors failed to find HIV in his body over an 18-month period after previously being diagnosed in 2003.

Castillejo, known by the nickname London Patient lived with the disease for many years, taking medicine to manage it since 2012. That same year he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and later endured a bone marrow transplant. That operation may have ultimately cured him of HIV and appears to have made him only the second person to ever be cured of the disease that causes AIDS.

As ScienceAlert reports, the bone marrow transplant that doctors performed on Castillejo used cells from a donor with a very special genetic quirk. The cells are thought to work against HIV in the body, but there was no guarantee that the transplant would provide any concrete benefits beyond treating the cancer.

However, it appears as though the decision to treat Castillejo with the unique stem cells worked in more ways than one and last year doctors announced they couldnt find the virus in his body after 18 months. At the time, they were hesitant to declare the London Patient cured, but after a new round of testing returned the same results, they are more confident that the active form of the virus has indeed been defeated.

This is a unique position to be in, a unique and very humbling position, Castillejo told the New York Times. I want to be an ambassador of hope.

While this sounds like incredible news and for Castillejo, it certainly is the treatment is not an option for everyone. With cancer limiting their options, doctors used the stem cell transplant as a last resort to keep him alive. Its a serious operation and one that was only performed because Castillejos condition was so dire.

Castillejo and the other HIV patient who had similar results, known as the Berlin Patient, may be uniquely fortunate. The doctors note that there are others who have had the same transplant performed but did not improve as rapidly as the others. There are obviously many factors at work here and as exciting as it is to see a second person cured of this terrible disease, theres a lot more work to be done before we can say HIV has been truly beaten.

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HIV patient appears to be cured after stem cell treatment - New York Post

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Using Stem Cell Therapy to Accelerate Cardiovascular Healing – BioSpace

Researchers are occupied with finding novel strategies to make human stem cells. This is to address the expanding interest for stem cell creation for potential examination in malady administration. This factor is absolutely anticipated that would quicken the improvement of regenerative pharmaceutical, along these lines driving mechanical development. Also, cellular treatments are perceived as the following real progressions in changing social insurance. Firms are extending their cellular therapy portfolio, understanding the future capability of this field in the treatment of Parkinsons ailment, type 1 diabetes, spinal string damage, Alzheimers sickness, and others.

One of the essential variables driving this present Stem Cell Therapy market development is the restrictions in customary organ transplantations. The developing worries with organ transplantations have driven the interest for stem cell therapy items. Traditional organ gift is related with disease hazard, immunosuppression hazard, and dismissal. Additionally, the interest for organs is expanding, and the doctors very subject to organ benefactors. To beat these issues scientists are presently investigating approaches to distinguish the use of stem cell treatments in different transplants. For example, pluripotent stem cells offer a conceivably boundless wellspring of human cells, which can determine the majority of the cells in the body. Besides, the join dismissal can be diminished with the stem cells, as these are developed utilizing a similar individual cells. These points of interest in the transplantations of organs will bring about the development of the worldwide stem cell therapy market.

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Another key variables boosting the development of this market is the constraints of customary organ transplantation, for example, the danger of disease, dismissal, and immunosuppression hazard. Another disadvantage of ordinary organ transplantation is the fact that specialists need to rely upon organ contributors totally. Every one of these problems can be killed, by the utilization of stem cell therapy. The other factor which is helping the development in this market is the developing pipeline and advancement of medications for rising applications. Expanded research thinks about meaning to extend the extent of stem cell will likewise fuel the development of the market. Researchers are continually occupied with endeavoring to discover novel strategies for making human stem cells because of the developing interest for stem cell creation to be utilized for malady administration.

The worldwide market for stem cell therapy can be fragmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. North America rose as the main territorial market, activated by the rising rate of government help and interminable wellbeing conditions. Europe additionally shows huge development potential, as the advantages of this therapy are progressively recognized.

Asia Pacific is known for most extreme development, on account of the monstrous patient pool, main part of interests in stem cell therapy ventures, and the expanding acknowledgment of development openings in nations, for example, Japan, China, and India by the main market players.

The worldwide stem cell therapy market is in an early stage with the nearness of couple of universal merchants. With changing directions regarding transplantations in different created and creating nations, various new players are relied upon to enter the market space. Additionally, the developing pipeline and advancement of medications for rising applications will build the opposition among merchants amid the conjecture time frame.

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Other conspicuous merchants in the stem cell therapy market incorporate VistaGen Therapeutics, AbbVie, Anterogen, Astellas Pharma, Beike Biotechnology, Cellular Dynamics International (a backup of Fujifilm), Cellular Biomedicine Group, Opsis Therapeutics, Mesoblast, Laboratorios Salvat, TWO CELLS, Pharmicell, Ivy Institute of Stem Cells, Pluristem Therapeutics, U.S. Stem Cell, Taiwan Bio Therapeutics, ReNeuron, Translational Biosciences, Nuo Therapeutics, BIOTIME, Promethera Biosciences.

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A Second Person Has Been Cured of HIV – Nerdist

Although most of the news from the world of health and medicine has been quite bleak lately, there are still major strides being made in the sector in an effort to combat the worst illnesses that plague humankind. One such stride was just announced, and its certainly worth celebrating: A second person has been cured of HIV.

In a study published in the medical journal, The Lancet, which comes via Medical News Daily, researchers in London say theyve been able to cure a patient of HIV; meaning the patient tested negative for HIV for an extended period of time (30 months as of March, 2020) despite the lack of antiretroviral therapy.

The person whos been cured, Adam Castillejo, was formerly known only as the London patient in order to protect his identity. But Castillejo, who lives in London, came forward recently, and said that he aims to be an ambassador of hope.

The first person to be cured of HIV, Timothy Ray Brown, an American known originally as the Berlin patient, revealed his identity in 2010, saying that I wanted to do what I could to make [a cure] possible. My first step was releasing my name and image to the public. Brown lived and was treated in Berlin. Incidentally, he is technically the second Berlin patient because the results from treatment of the first one are debatable.

AIDS Policy Project with Timothy Ray Brown (third from left with sunglasses). Griffin Boyce.

Castillejo, as well as Brown, were cured of HIV not by antiretroviral medications, which are often able to drastically mitigate the effects, and transmission rate of, HIV, but rather by stem cell transplants from donor bone marrow. Both Castillejo and Brown hadand may still have, that is unclearcancer along with HIV, and were treated with the stem cell transplants primarily to tackle the former disease. (It seems in Castillejos case doctors and researchers were hoping to cure both simultaneously.)

Both Brown and Castillejo underwent a procedure known as a Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (or HSCT), which involves injecting bone marrow stem cells from a donor, whos often times a parent or sibling, into the recipients bloodstream. Castillejos HSCT treatment was different from Browns, as well as many others, because it was performed with cells that expressed the CCR5 gene.

A video from the MD Anderson Cancer Center that gives a brief outline of how bone marrow stem cell transplants work.

In Castillejos case, stem cells with genomes that express the CCR5 gene were selected because of the fact that it allows for the production of the CCR5 protein: a protein that makes people far more resistant to HIV-1, which accounts for the vast majority of global HIV infections.

While Castillejo received stem cells that did express the CCR5 gene, Brown did notat least according to the study in The Lancet. In fact, according to a 2017 article in New Scientist (which says that Brown received cells with a mutated CCR5 gene, rather than an unexpressed CCR5 gene), some experts believe the curing of Browns HIV was actually due to a potential side effect of his procedure, known as graft-versus-host disease. According to New Scientist, these experts believe that the donor cells attacked Browns native, HIV-infected immune cells, subsequently killing off the virus.

In Castillejos case, on the other hand, it seems there was no graft-versus-host issue that could account for his diminishment of HIV infection levels beyond whats expected to be detectable. Instead, the authors of the study say that one of the implications here is that the Long-term remission of HIV-1 can be achieved utilizing these kinds of cells. The authors also say this method does not require total body irradiation, which would usually be required in cases like these to weaken a recipients immune system in order to allow them to accept donor cells.

An HIV-infected T cell. NIAID

Unfortunately, it seems the treatment that cured Castillejo of HIV is a nonstarter when it comes to mass deployment. There are fatal side effects associated with HSCT, with host-versus-graft chief among them, and doctors say that it should only be performed when there are no other options left.

Prof. Ravindra Kumar Gupta from the University of Cambridge in the U.K., the lead author of the study, told Medical News Daily that [Its] important to note that this curative treatment is high risk and only used as a last resort for patients with HIV who also have life threatening hematological [blood] malignancies.

But Gupta and the other authors of the study still appear to be optimistic that this stands as a proof-of-concept for the idea of using CCR5 gene editing to cure HIV on a larger scale. They warn in their study, however, that several barriers, including the need for increased gene editing efficiency and a lack of robust safety data, still stand in the way of something that could be used as a scalable strategy for tackling HIV.

What do you think about this method of treating HIV? Do you think gene editing will play a big role in curing HIV, or do you think there are other, more promising treatments worth pursuing instead? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Feature image: C. Goldsmith / Eliot Lash

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A Second Person Has Been Cured of HIV - Nerdist

Transcript: Disabled and out of money in North Korea – BBC News

This is a full transcript of Disabled and out of money in North Korea as first broadcast on 13 March and presented by Beth Rose

JITE- I got a few stares of course. I'm bald. I had a beard. I was in a wheelchair. I'm black. The first two that I went to said, "No, no, no, we probably can't do that." I didn't want to do something which was challenging for me only, rather than North Korea. Oh, well that's a tough place to go to.

[jingle: Ouch]

BETH-I've been so excited about bringing you this Ouch podcast. A few months ago I received an email. It said, "Hi Beth, a friend of mine, Jite Ugono has multiple sclerosis, or MS, and uses a wheelchair. He's just about to travel to North Korea. Would you like to talk to him?" "Yes," was my answer, "very much so."

I'm Beth Rose, and you're listening to the BBC Ouch podcast, and for a while Jite has been on my mind. From the day he flew to China to get his visa, to the five days he would spend in the country we know very little about. And finally, he's back. Also, just a quick note to say that this podcast was recorded long before the Corona virus outbreak.

[music]

BETH-Hello.

JITE-Hello, hi.

BETH-So how was the trip?

JITE-Everyone says surreal, but it was surreal. Being inside a communist country and being restricted. Also in a wheelchair, there are no provisions at all for wheelchair access and that kind of stuff. Most of the places I went to were only accessible by stairs, so they carried me, which was nice. And that's one of the good things about having a guide, because I had two guides and a driver.

BETH-So you said you were thinking about this trip a year ago. It's the kind of trip that most people won't even think you can do, so why did you suddenly decide to book your holiday to North Korea?

JITE-Well I've got MS so they said one of the treatments of MS could be stem cell therapy. So stem cell therapy involves chemo and the rest of it. I thought to myself why not do something as rare as stem cell therapy? It was almost like a redefinition of my identity. I didn't really want to be known solely because of MS or the treatment, because everyone's going to ask about the chemo. I wanted to do something else which was kind of equal and opposite.

BETH-It's quite rare, stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis isn't it?

JITE-It is. I hadn't heard of it. Chemo for cancer, we know all about that, but as soon as she said chemo for this For me it was quite emotional because my mum died the year before of cancer and she went through chemo as well. It was a shock, but it was also some hope. It seems less bleak. What I have is Primary Progressive MS, a steady degradation of mobilities. And they have less treatment for that, so most other treatment comes for Secondary Remitting, when you have attacks and then you can recover.

BETH-So what does the chemo do?

JITE-Chemo reduces your immune system. So what they want to do is kind of knock out the immune system and then reintroduce the stem cells and then restart the immune system.

BETH-That sounds quite an intense treatment.

JITE-I was in hospital for a month. So I went in for chemo, I was in hospital for a week or so, first of all, came back out, did the injections, back into hospital for a month. It was tough going through, but easier when you do it in stages. You think, okay I'm going to do this chemo first, in ten days I'll do the injections. Bite size. So by the end of it it's like oh, I've done it. I think it taught me whatever I go through I have to be a bit more patient.

BETH-How long ago were you diagnosed with MS?

JITE-2009.

BETH-So you were quite young?

JITE-I'm 45 now, so yeah, the symptoms got worse maybe six or seven years ago in terms of difficulty walking. And that's the main thing. The first thing was the eyesight, so the eyes were playing up and I thought maybe I should go to the optician. It didn't really make a difference. So it got progressively worse. I did an MRI scan and then the consultant said, "Well, it could be MS." So I was kind of aware and I kind of knew that it was something quite serious. So when he came back and he said MS. You make a decision about how you're going to deal with it.

For me, it was you're not going to feel sorry for yourself because people go through worse. For me, it's only when I'm faced with stuff you realise you can do it. I didn't just want to survive. Because when you're diagnosed with stuff it's like getting through the day. Everyone says, "Oh, you're so brave. You went to work?" For me it's just one life, you can't spend it getting through the day, you want to do something else.

BETH-So was it when you were having your chemo when you were in hospital, the idea for North Korea?

JITE-It was actually the first consultation when she told me, "You're going to do stem cell therapy." They told me that I was going to be able to maybe walk with sticks and I thought, why waste it?

BETH-I feel like a lot of people would have had similar thoughts but maybe thought South of France would be quite nice?

JITE-It would have been challenging. If anyone said they were going to the South of France, oh okay. I didn't want to do something which was challenging for me only, rather than North Korea, oh well, that's a tough place to go to, regardless of whether you're in a wheelchair. It was important to me to do something which was challenging, not because of MS, not because of the wheelchair, but it was challenging.

BETH-So how do you go about booking a trip? Can you go to a travel agent?

JITE-I mean, that's what I did. So the first two that I went to said, "No, no, no. We can't do that, there's no access." And I was probably more determined. That's another lesson it taught me, it's more important for me that I wanted to do it. And no one was coming back to me to say, "Why don't you go?" So when the third person came back and said, "Actually, we could do that," the normal way of going to North Korea is through a group tour, with my condition anyway. You think about what the problems could be. Getting onto the coach. Holding people up.

So my tour was me on my own. I had two guides and a driver and that was it. They sorted out the visa to China and once you get to China you get the visa to North Korea from China.

BETH-Touching upon the issues of getting onto a bus, what is it like for you with MS? How does it manifest itself?

JITE-My balance is a problem. I can't really use my left leg at all. My eyesight's a problem. Maybe sometimes my memory and my vocabulary. They're difficulties which arose mainly because I did chemo. We know that the drugs are quite aggressive and concentrated, so they give you lots of water to dilute and because you're given that you're given drugs to help you relieve that stuff, so you're peeing like every ten minutes.

So it went down to probably once every hour and that became a problem and that affects your confidence, you're afraid to kind of go out, maybe there won't be toilets around, that's kind of what I was thinking about, going to North Korea.

BETH-Did you even know about that? Is there information about toilets or accessibility?

JITE-Not at all, not at all. It's only when I got there that I realised that the And sorry to go on about toilets, but it was important to me. [laughs] Okay, so in North Korea they had two types of toilets, they had the European toilets and then they had the Korean toilets, ground toilets, so you have to kind of balance, which I didn't even attempt. So everywhere we went to it was okay, "Is it a Korean toilet here or a European toilet?" Even the guides started to realise and started to know after a while.

BETH-I mean, that's such a gamble isn't it, not knowing the accessibility, not knowing what the toilet situation's going to be like. I'm guessing this was all in your mind?

JITE-Every problem has to have a solution. So before I went I'd got it up to you can pass an hour now, because I'd gone to the gym, I'd started doing core stuff, even in the plane, because it was ten and a half hours there. You think about the problems that you could face, it's personal of course, but also there are people around that can give you a hand.

And that was another thing, getting vaccinations was a problem, because when you do chemo and your immune system is low they don't advise that you have vaccinations. So I was intending to go to Korea in September but that was super close to my stem cell.

BETH-When you were flying, initially to China, what was going through our mind?

JITE-It was just getting through that first bit, hoping that someone's going to be there to meet me. The luggage I even took I had to make sure that I could carry. That's one of the solutions with a wheelchair, you're going to have to push the luggage as well so it can't be too big. Two pieces of hand luggage is what I took. That's what I was thinking about, I wasn't thinking about Pyongyang yet, I was thinking about how to get to China.

Beijing was packed, traffic everywhere. It was surprisingly western. The cars were German cars. In North Korea I had the guides, in China I didn't have guides, I had a person to take me from the airport to the hotel and that was it. So I didn't really have the confidence to kind of venture out. I got in a day before, so as soon as I landed in China I had to go and get the visa. As soon as you get the visa is when they give you a briefing, what you should and shouldn't do. The chap apparently had been doing it for 28 years, and no one had ever missed a briefing until me.

BETH-Ah! [laughs]

JITE-I mean, only because the person who picked me up said, "Oh, I can get the visa for you."

BETH-So they were being helpful, but actually

JITE-Yeah, so they went out and got the And I was appreciative, because getting in and out of the car was such a pain. And I am quite lazy naturally. If I can do without it then I won't do it, you know. So when they gave me an opportunity not to, oh okay. The travel agent contact in China was almost panicky on the phone, "No one's ever done this."

BETH-Wow, and I bet your heart was racing at that point.

JITE-To an extent, but I kind of knew what not to do. I mean, I'm not rude, and plus I'd seen stuff on YouTube and the guides tell you as well. So I was quite prepared. I flew into Pyongyang. The airport was a surprise. They only have a few planes that land for the day. They had one from Beijing, one from Shanghai and one from Moscow. There are soldiers everywhere, but the soldiers were, "Oh, look at this guy," I suppose maybe because I was a novelty in a sense. They'd never really seen someone in a wheelchair before. They were super helpful.

I'd met the guides at the airport as well. I got a few stares of course. I'm bald, and they have like five haircuts. I had a beard, I was in a wheelchair. I'm black. So all those things together.

BETH-So did you feel like you stuck out?

JITE-I didn't feel like I could relax, only because you feel like you're always on. I couldn't be anonymous, there's always someone watching, and that's tiring.

BETH-And did you feel like you were being watched by your guides?

JITE-Maybe the brief was to watch, but it is different when you have a relationship with people. So I didn't feel that way. I suppose they were constantly on about how great the leader is and after a while it got a bit tedious. Everyone walked around with badges. And it's difficult to tell because they spoke the language quite a bit. I don't know what they're saying.

BETH-They greeted you at the airport.

JITE-Yes.

BETH-Had they had disabled travellers before?

JITE-I don't think they had. What happens is that when you go on your own there is no camaraderie, I was mostly alone, but the advantage is you could probably get closer to people. There's good and there's bad about it.

BETH-What's it like, Pyongyang?

JITE-For me it was super quiet. I mean here we have adverts and stuff, people are selling you stuff all the time, there is different, you have pictures of the leaders surrounded by flowers and you have to respect that. If there's an image of a leader you can't really take a photo of it and you can't stand in front of it obscuring it. Or you can't crop it. Apparently they check people's phones to see what they've taken.

BETH-Did you take photos?

JITE-I took photos but they didn't check. But everywhere was empty. The place is set up for tourists but there are not many tourists. You go into a restaurant and there are people standing around. The restaurants are empty. It's bizarre.

BETH-So it's not really like a bustling city?

JITE-Not at all. Actually I went during King Il Sung who's the grandad of this present leader, it was his birthday, so there were two days of celebrations. I think there were more people on the street than normal, and then they had volunteers picking up stuff or gardening or I mean, because it's a communist environment they pay for everything but you have to work. They've got big roads, no cars.

BETH-Wow.

JITE-Yeah. The days were quite long. Maybe eight o'clock they'll come for me and then eight o'clock in the evening I'd finish. So there was always something to do and you were always with people. I think they had five channels, that was about it.

BETH-TV channels?

JITE-Five TV channels. On the channels they have the leader, Kim, pointing at stuff. He designed the theme park.

BETH-What's the tourist trail like?

JITE-There is an itinerary, so you would go to the war museum, flower exhibition. I went to their subway, it's the deepest subway in the world. So everything's the best in the world or the tallest in the world.

BETH-How did the subway compare to the tube?

JITE-It was more opulent. I only saw two of them and I think those are the two they show people, so maybe the others are less. There are chandeliers and stuff.

BETH-And the restaurants, you said you went into one, but they've got all the staff just waiting around?

JITE-Yeah, the restaurants seem to be for tourists, and because I was on my own, seven, ten people just standing around looking. I went to a casino, which was strange.

BETH-Oh, okay?

JITE-Yeah. But the casino was in the hotel. I think I was the only one in there. So when I went to North Korea I didn't take enough cash, and that was a problem obviously because no cards. So the guys were like, "You need some money? Go to the casino, you can change your money."

BETH-Oh, I thought you were going to say to like gamble and win.

JITE-At first I went to change money, but they didn't take sterling, they took US dollars and euros, but I didn't have either, so they allowed me to gamble, so I did.

BETH-Did you win? Did you get some money?

JITE-Yeah, I did. I don't want to get used to it. [laughs]

BETH-What game did you play?

JITE-Black Jack. I didn't know what was going on, but people around, they were almost cheering, and I was thinking by the time I won a hundred dollars I thought it's time to go, it's time to go. And everyone's around you willing you on and you don't want to disappoint them but you think okay, I'm going guys.

BETH-Is it expensive then, if you ran out of money and you're having to gamble to boost your-?

JITE-To boost. Okay, so I mean they have their own currency and they don't let you take the currency out.

BETH-I bet your guides quite enjoyed being in the casino.

JITE-The guides said, "Oh, we're not allowed in." Even when they came up to my hotel room I had to have Al Jazeera because that's the only English speaking channel, but they were almost transfixed. They were shaking their heads. Look around the world, look how happy we are type of thing. So you kind of understand why they would let Al Jazeera in, because Al Jazeera can be quite, look what's happening around the world, the protests here, the protests there.

BETH-And did you find people were willing to help you?

JITE-I think it was more because they see you as being vulnerable. "Oh, you're not comfortable, let me move your legs." So you always get somebody helping, which is not necessarily what you want all the time. Because you want to be able to be self-sufficient. Certainly in London people are a bit more patient to offer, "Okay, how can I help?" and then they stand back. In Korea it was, "Oh, we can do that for you." [laughs]

BETH-Did you see any other disabled people out and about?

JITE-No, I didn't.

BETH-No one at all?

JITE-I didn't at all. One of the guides was quite insistent on how great their society is. That's why they stay kind of thing, away from everyone else, and they obviously saw it as a good thing.

BETH-Oh, that's interesting. I was going some research, and there's a lot of reports from the UN and different charities where they say basically they send people away in an out of town community.

JITE-Yeah, they don't expect you to try. So maybe that was part of it, they were almost surprised that this person is doing something on their own.

BETH-And were they quite surprised how you just got on with everything?

JITE-Yeah, I suppose. Maybe they were. So even when I'd be going down the road people would lean over and look. They weren't rude about it. They would look, they were curious, but they weren't intrusive. And sometimes you look and they look away, except the kids, so the kids would be staring. But that's normal though, even in London you'll get kids staring. One of the guides took a video of me being lifted up the stairs, and it was quite tough to watch because you don't really see yourself as being vulnerable, except when you see it.

It's like hearing a recording of yourself and you think oh, do I sound like that? Or do I look like that? Am I really that vulnerable kind of thing? No wonder everyone helps. [laughs] It was tough to see. I didn't really see the footage until I got to the hotel and you kind of think, you know, is that how it is? They were helpful, and it sounds ungrateful almost, but it is what you think about.

It's a lack of confidence to think people only help you because you look so vulnerable. Maybe people are just nice. And that was one of the good things about going to North Korea. People say that Londoners are quite cold and I don't find that, Londoners can be helpful, and especially if you're patient enough. And MS for me does that, it allows you to be patient.

BETH-So what kinds of things is nice to have help for?

JITE-Probably getting in and out of cars. In London not so much, in London you kind of want to get strong. I know that I'm going to have to get in a car, and not everybody gives the same level of help, so you have to be self-sufficient. In North Korea there's no need. And I'm never going to be in North Korea again.

BETH-How did the access pan out? Because that was the big mystery wasn't it really? I mean, you had no idea.

JITE-It was just people lifting me. Only one place, the museum was difficult.

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Transcript: Disabled and out of money in North Korea - BBC News

As COVID-19 Spreads, Here Are Disease-Modifying Therapy Guidelines – Multiple Sclerosis News Today

People with multiple sclerosis have unique concerns about the new coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease that it causes. Many of us use disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that suppress our immune systems and give us an extra element to worry about when we plan our defense against this virus.

To help us make wise decisions, the U.K.s MS Trust and the Italian Society of Neurology have created COVID-19 guidelines related to DMTs, and both organizations recommendations are similar. They balance concerns of abruptly ending any MS treatment with those of possibly being more susceptible to this illness because some DMTs suppress the immune system.

According to BartsMS Blog, the Italian neurologists wrote that Given the lack of knowledge or data on the COVID-19 disease course in MS patients receiving DMTs, at present there is no recommendation to stop the different DMTs and therefore expose MS patients to the risk of MS exacerbations. We, therefore, recommend continuing the current DMT specifically with [the following possible modifications]:

DMTs that can be prescribed and used as usual:

DMTs whose start or continuation might be delayed, based upon individual circumstances:

A full translation of the Italian guidance by neurology professor Gavin Giovannoni can be found here.

The MS Trust adds to its guidance Mayzent (siponimod) and Arzerra (ofatumumab), which are available by private prescription in the U.K. According to the Trust, using these DMTs could also affect your risk regarding COVID-19 and should be discussed with your neurologist or healthcare professional.

It also cautions that Gilenya (fingolimod) may increase your chances of having more severe viral and other infections, including COVID-19. However, if you are already taking fingolimod, stopping can lead to rebound MS disease activity, which in many cases would outweigh the risks of the virus. If you are considering beginning a course of fingolimod in the near future, you and your neurologist could consider an alternative DMT for the time being.

Finally, it adds that Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an intense chemotherapy treatment for MS. It aims to stop the damage MS causes by wiping out and then regrowing your immune system, using your stem cells. This treatment greatly hampers your immune system for a period of time and you and your neurologist or healthcare professional should consider delaying this treatment.

The National MS Society in the U.S. is much less specific about DMTs, saying only: People with MS should continue disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and discuss specific risks with their MS healthcare provider prior to stopping a DMT. Neither MS Australia nor the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform offers any DMT-specific guidance.

My wife and I were planning to join our son and his family on a short cruise at the end of April. Two days ago we were still considering making this trip. Even though Im 71 and have been treated with Lemtrada, I thought that with proper precautions the risks would be minimal.

However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the U.S., says that elderly people shouldnt take a cruise. Period. Dr. Fauci is a man whom I reported on for many years when I worked as a journalist I highly respect his judgment and knowledge.

Additionally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance recommending that travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, defer all cruise ship travel worldwide. The U.S. State Department has issued the same message. Former Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb says that Everyone over 60 should become a hermit for a month.

Since then, things have become even more serious.

So, no cruise with the grandkids this year. Were postponing it until 2021. Lets all hope were out of the coronavirus woods by then. Lets hope that a vaccine for this coronavirus has been developed. Lets also hope that people who think that vaccines harm, rather than help, will see the light and get themselves and their children vaccinated for influenza, measles, and other diseases for which prevention is available. Lets do what we can to hold the line on all infectious diseases.

Youre invited to visit my personal blog at http://www.themswire.com.

***

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.

Ed Tobias is a retired broadcast journalist. Most of his 40+ year career was spent as a manager with the Associated Press in Washington, DC. Tobias was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1980 but he continued to work, full-time, meeting interesting people and traveling to interesting places, until retiring at the end of 2012.

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As COVID-19 Spreads, Here Are Disease-Modifying Therapy Guidelines - Multiple Sclerosis News Today

Gene Therapy Reverses Heart Failure in Animal Model of Barth Syndrome – BioSpace

Boston Children's Hospital researchers used an investigational gene therapy to treat heart failure in a mouse model of Barth syndrome. Barth syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in boys that results in life-threatening heart failure. It also causes weakness of the skeletal muscles and the immune system. The disease is caused by a mutation of a gene known as tafazzin or TAZ.

In 2014, William Pu and researchers at Boston Childrens Hospital collaborated with the Wyss Institute to develop a beating heart on a chip model of Barth syndrome. It used heart-muscle cells with the TAZ mutation that came from patients own skin cells. This was able to prove that TAZ was the cause of the cardiac problems. The heart muscle cells did not organize normally and the mitochondria, the cells energy engines, were disorganized, resulting in the heart muscle contracting weakly. By adding healthy TAZ genes, the cells behaved more normally.

The next step was an animal model. The results of the research were published in the journal Circulation Research.

The animal model was a hurdle in the field for a long time, Pu said. Pu is director of Basic and Translational Cardiovascular Research at Boston Childrens and a member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Efforts to make a mouse model using traditional methods had been unsuccessful.

Douglas Strathdees research team at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in the UK recently developed animal models of Barth syndrome. Pu, research fellow Suya Wang, and colleagues characterized the knockout mice into two types. One had the TAZ gene deleted throughout the body; the other had the TAZ gene deleted just in the heart.

Most of the mice that had TAZ deleted throughout their whole bodies died before birth, likely from skeletal muscle weakness. Of those that survived, they developed progressive cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle enlarges and is less able to pump blood. The heart also showed signs of scarring similar to humans with dilated cardiomyopathy, where the hearts left ventricle is dilated and thin-walled.

The mice that lacked TAZ only in their heart tissue that survived to birth had the same features. Electron microscopy indicated that the heart muscle cells and mitochondria were poorly organized.

Pu and Wang and their team then used gene therapy to replace TAZ in the newborn mice and in older mice, using slightly different techniques. In the newborn mice the engineered virus was injected under the skin; in the older mice it was injected intravenously. The mice who had no TAZ in their bodies and received the gene therapy survived to adulthood.

In the newborn mice receiving the gene therapy, the therapy prevented cardiac dysfunction and scarring. In the older mice receiving the therapy, it reversed the cardiac dysfunction.

The study also showed that TAZ gene therapy offered durable treatment of the cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells, but only when at least 70% of the heart muscle cells had taken up the gene via the therapy. Which the researchers point out that when the therapy is developed for humans, that will be the most challenging problem. You cant just scale up the dose because of inflammatory immune responses, and multiple doses wont work either because the body develops an immune response. Maintaining the gene-corrected cell is also a problem. In the heart muscles of the treated mice, the corrected TAZ gene stayed relatively stable, but slowly dropped in skeletal muscles.

The biggest takeaway was that the gene therapy was highly effective, Pu said. We have some things to think about to maximize the percentage of muscle cell transduction, and to make sure the gene therapy is durable, particularly in skeletal muscle.

Excerpt from:
Gene Therapy Reverses Heart Failure in Animal Model of Barth Syndrome - BioSpace

Patricky ‘Pitbull’ reveals ‘X-Men’ style repaired hand, vows to use it to knock out Peter Queally – MMA Junkie

NEW YORK Patricky Freire ended his last fight defeated and injured. But now, after stem-cell treatment to accelerate his recovery from a broken hand, Pitbull says hes ready to showcase his knockout power once again.

Freire (23-9 MMA, 14-7 BMMA), will take on Irelands Peter Queally in the lightweight main event of Bellator Dublin on Oct. 3 as the rivalry between Freires Pitbull Brothers team and Queallys SBG gym continues to grow heading into the summer.

Speaking to MMA Junkie after Bellators 2020 showcase press conference on Monday, Freire was short and to the point when discussing his upcoming matchup.

When Peter Queally signed for Bellator, I said to him, I will give a job for you, dont run from me, thats it, he said. And it happened. Just say, Thank you so much, Patricky Pitbull, for the job, for the work.

While Freires main focus is to prepare to face Queally (12-5-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) at the 3Arena, the long-tenured Bellator lightweight also had words for the Irishmans teammate James Gallagher, who became embroiled in a heated verbal exchange with both Pitbull brothers during the press conference.

He loves to talk (expletive), but he wont accept the fight with Leandro (Higo), he said. All the time he talks (expletive) about me and my brother. Why does he talk (expletive) about me? He just talks (expletive), and runs, talks (expletive) and runs.

The bad blood between the Freires and SBG will come to a head in 2020, starting at Bellator 241 when SBGs Pedro Carvalho takes on two-division Bellator champion and Patrickys younger brother Patricio in the quarterfinals of the featherweight grand prix. Then, seven months later, the rivalry will reignite again when Patricky takes on Queally in Dublin.

The Brazilian warned that all the press-conference posturing between the rival factions wont matter when it comes to the z actual fights, when he believes he and his brother will deliver a clear statement through their performances.

The Pitbull Brothers dont play. Never, he said.

Freires coach Eric Albarracin was also on hand to explain how Patricky had his hand repaired after he sustained an injury during the Rizin FF lightweight grand prix in Japan last December.

He broke his hand between the semis and the finals so he went to Bio Accelerator in Medellin, Colombia and got stem cells, he said. Now hes a bio-X-Man, and this things like steel!

With his hand fully repaired, Freire promised to put it to good use when he faces Queally in Dublin.

Everybody knows the power of my hands, he said. I will knock him out. thats it. This is my job. Its like X-Men.

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Patricky 'Pitbull' reveals 'X-Men' style repaired hand, vows to use it to knock out Peter Queally - MMA Junkie

Stromal Cells May Help to Overcome Resistance to Chemotherapy in Patients with Glioblastoma – Pharmacy Times

Stromal Cells May Help to Overcome Resistance to Chemotherapy in Patients with Glioblastoma

The researchers found that GBM causes these stromal cells to act like stem cells, naturally resisting attempts to kill them and promoting tumor growth instead. They also identified the pathway that makes cancer vulnerable in a lab setting.

GBM is an aggressive form of brain cancer and the tumors are usually heterogenous or contain different genetic mutations. This means that treatments focused on 1 target are ineffective or only partially effective.

There have also been few new treatments over the past few decades for GBM, so its clear that we need to find a way to make current treatments more effective for these patients, said study senior author Yi Fan, MD, PhD.

The study focused on overcoming resistance and researchers found that GBM transforms a type of stromal cells, called endothelial cells, so that they act like stem cells. The researchers then found that the resistance is enabled by a signaling pathway called Wnt. The more that Wnt is activated, the more a cell is able to resist treatment like chemotherapy. Previous research has shown that GBM stimulates Wnt activity. Therefore, these findings show the way in which tumors co-opt their environment to survive an attack.

Blocking Wnt signaling may be an effective way to help the cells overcome resistance to treatment. Therefore, the research team used an experimental approach to shut off Wnt signaling in the stromal cells of tumor samples. They found these cancer cells were vulnerable to chemotherapy once the signal was blocked.

The findings support the development of other cells, including cancer. By targeting them, a treatment would effectively get closer to the cause of the tumors ability to survive, which may make therapy more efficient, according to the study authors. Additionally, the findings indicate that treatments will remain effective even as the tumor changes.

Reference

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Stromal Cells May Help to Overcome Resistance to Chemotherapy in Patients with Glioblastoma - Pharmacy Times