Trump and the March for Life – The Bulwark

Over the last couple of decades Ive spent a lot of time wringing my hands about the gradual extinction of pro-life Democrats.

Thats because abortion is a hard enough issue to create consensus on to begin with. It becomes almost impossible once it transmogrifies into an entirely partisan issue.

Because partisan fights dont get resolved. They go on for forever.

But here we are. And today Donald Trump is going to speak at the annual March for Life rally. Good for him. I guess.

Just two questions:

(1) Roughly how many people who are undecided on abortion will be convinced by Trumps grafting himself onto the pro-life movement?

(2) Do you think that number is higher, or lower, than the number of soft abortion supporters who will harden when they see as the face of the pro-life movement not earnest high school kids or Sister Bethany Madonna or Tim Tebow or Russell Moorebut Donald Trump, the most unpopular and polarizing figure in modern American politics?

Podcast January 23 2020

On today's Bulwark Podcast, Senator Chris Coons joins host Charlie Sykes to discuss the impeachment of President Donald ...

One of the ways the pro-life movement has changed peoples minds over the last 20 years is by having science on their side. Another way is that they were more than just anti-abortion.

Pro-lifers made smart, principled arguments about stem-cell research that were vindicated by the discovery of techniques that dont involve the destruction of human embryos.

Pro-lifers led the opposition to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.

Pro-lifers are the first people to speak up for the rights of the disabled and the inherent dignity of all persons.

They spread the gospel of the seamless garment of life and thats how they attracted new people to their cause.

The more the pro-life movement narrows its focus to nothing but abortion, the less effective it will be at changing peoples minds on abortion. And changing an administrative guideline, or an executive order achieves only temporary relief. Lasting progress comes from changing the culture.

Donald Trump is a recent convert on the cause of abortion and thats wonderful. I trust that this conversion is utterly sincere and am grateful that God, in His infinite wisdom, chose to change his heart.

That said, Trump is one of the rare converts who came to oppose abortion without really having much truck with ideas about inherent human dignity.

I could list example after example after example, but that wouldnt really accomplish anything. If youre still on the Trump train at this point, youre not getting off.

But it isnt just Trumps personal remarks. Its policy. It feels like a decade ago, but do you remember how Trumps administration was separating families caught crossing the border illegally? It was one of the most disgraceful moments in our governments recent history.

It was so disgraceful that, after insisting for weeks that there was nothing wrong with the policy, Trump reversed it.

Theres much more. Theres the false imprisonment of Francisco Galicia. Theres the lie about the number of white Americans being murdered by blacks. Theres the Yemeni mother who was kept away from her terminally ill 2-year-old son for a year by Trumps travel ban, only to be granted a waiver the day before he died in a California hospital.

Donald Trump may be opposed to abortionand again, thats greatbut he clearly does not believe in any consistent life ethic. Which means that he is functionally opposed to much of the pro-life movements beliefs.

Should the pro-life movement be welcoming Trump at the March for Life? I dont know. Im not the boss of them.

But I would note that it is not uncommon for conservatives to dismiss entire causes or ideologies because of the presence of a bad actor. For instance, you may recall conservatives dismissing the Womens March in 2017 because of the involvement of Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory.

Why would outside observers not take the same attitude about the March for Life because of Trump?

And pro-lifers have previously insisted that a president who does not align with their beliefs should not be, say, invited to speak at a Catholic university. You may recall that some pro-lifers were furious when Notre Dame invited Barack Obama as a commencement speaker because, they argued, this was a tacit endorsement of his policies.

By which reasoning, in allowing President Trump to speak at the March for Life the pro-life movement would be agreeing to own all of his policies and statements, too.

Before we close this out, do me a favor and watch this clip of President Trump speaking at a campaign rally. He asks how U.S. border guards are supposed to stop the onrushing hordes of illegal immigrants and someone in the audience yells Shoot them!

And the president of the United States then mugs for the crowd and jokes about how you can get away with a comment like that only in the panhandle.

Really, go watch it. Its short.

Pro-lifers should not attach themselves to a man like this.

Trumpism has corrupted every ideology and institution it has come into contact with. There is no reason to think that the pro-life movement will be excepted.

The rest is here:
Trump and the March for Life - The Bulwark

Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market to Witness Robust Expansion Throughout the Forecast Period 2020-2026 – Vital News 24

The Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market is expected to have a highly positive outlook for the next eight years 2018-2026. This Research Reports emphasizes on key industry analysis, market size, Share, growth and extensive industry dynamics with respect to with respect to drivers, opportunities, pricing details and latest trends in the industry.

The global Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market analysis further provides pioneering landscape of market along with market augmentation history and key development involved in the industry. The report also features comprehensive research study for high growth potential industries professional survey with market analysis. Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market report helps the companies to understand the market trends and future market prospective,opportunities and articulate the critical business strategies.

Click To get SAMPLE PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures): https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/2448

Geographical segmentation of Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market involves the regional outlook which further covers United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia and Middle East & Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.

Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market: Competitive Landscape

Leading players operating in the global market include: Theracell Advanced Biotechnology Ltd., Orthocell Ltd., Xintela AB, CellGenix GmbH, Merck KGaA, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., BioTissue SA, and Vericel Corporation.

Scope of the Report

The key features of the Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market report 2018-2026 are the organization, extensive amount of analysis and data from previous and current years as well as forecast data for the next five years. Most of the report is made up from tables, charts and figures that give our clients a clear picture of the Market.

As the report proceeds further, it covers the analysis of key market participants paired with development plans and policies, production techniques, price structure of the Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market. The report also identifies the other essential elements such as product overview, supply chain relationship, raw material supply and demand statistics, expected developments, profit and consumption ratio.

Get Sample Copy with Graphs and Charts @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/2448

Important Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market Data Available In This Report:

About Coherent Market Insights:

Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.

For More Related Reports Visit This Blog: http://bit.ly/Rajkumar123

Go here to read the rest:
Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market to Witness Robust Expansion Throughout the Forecast Period 2020-2026 - Vital News 24

Stem Cell Assay Market Booming by Size, Revenue, Trend and Top Growing Companies 2026 – Vital News 24

Stem Cell Assay Market

New Jersey, United States, The report offers an all-inclusive and accurate research study on the Stem Cell Assay Market while chiefly that specialize in current and historical market scenarios. Stakeholders, market players, investors, and other market participants can significantly have the benefit of the thorough marketing research provided within the report. The authors of the report have compiled an in depth study on crucial market dynamics, including growth drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This study will help market participants to induce a decent understanding of future development of the Stem Cell Assay market. The report also focuses on market taxonomy, regional analysis, opportunity assessment, and vendor analysis to assist with comprehensive evaluation of the Stem Cell Assay market.

Global Stem Cell Assay market was valued at USD 536.53million in 2016 and is projected to reach USD 2858.95millionby 2025, growing at a CAGR of 20.43% from 2017 to 2025.

Request a Sample Copy of this report @https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=24266&utm_source=VN24&utm_medium=002

Top 10 Companies in the Global Stem Cell Assay Market Research Report:

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Competitive Landscape

The research analysts who have authored this report are experts in performing competitive analysis of the global Stem Cell Assay market. They have deeply profiled leading as well as other players of the global Stem Cell Assay market with large emphasis on their market share, recent developments, business overview, markets served, and growth strategies. The report not only provides valuable insights into the competitive landscape but also concentrates on minor as well as major factors influencing the business of players. The product portfolios of all companies profiled in the report are compared in quite some detail in the product analysis section.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Segment Analysis

The global Stem Cell Assay market is segmented according to type, application, and region. The analysts have carefully studied each segment and sub-segment to provide a broad segmental analysis of the global Stem Cell Assay market. The segmentation study identifies leading segments and explains key factors supporting their growth in the global Stem Cell Assay market. In the regional analysis section, the report authors have shown how different regions and countries are growing in the global Stem Cell Assay market and have predicted their market sizes for the next few years. The segmental analysis will help companies to focus on high-growth areas of the global Stem Cell Assay market.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Regional Analysis

This part of the report includes detailed information of the market in different regions. Each region offers different scope to the market as each region has different government policy and other factors. The regions included in the report are North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Information about different region helps the reader to understand global market better.

Ask for Discount @https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=24266&utm_source=VN24&utm_medium=002

Table of Content

1 Introduction of Stem Cell Assay Market

1.1 Overview of the Market 1.2 Scope of Report 1.3 Assumptions

2 Executive Summary

3 Research Methodology of Verified Market Research

3.1 Data Mining 3.2 Validation 3.3 Primary Interviews 3.4 List of Data Sources

4 Stem Cell Assay Market Outlook

4.1 Overview 4.2 Market Dynamics 4.2.1 Drivers 4.2.2 Restraints 4.2.3 Opportunities 4.3 Porters Five Force Model 4.4 Value Chain Analysis

5 Stem Cell Assay Market, By Deployment Model

5.1 Overview

6 Stem Cell Assay Market, By Solution

6.1 Overview

7 Stem Cell Assay Market, By Vertical

7.1 Overview

8 Stem Cell Assay Market, By Geography

8.1 Overview 8.2 North America 8.2.1 U.S. 8.2.2 Canada 8.2.3 Mexico 8.3 Europe 8.3.1 Germany 8.3.2 U.K. 8.3.3 France 8.3.4 Rest of Europe 8.4 Asia Pacific 8.4.1 China 8.4.2 Japan 8.4.3 India 8.4.4 Rest of Asia Pacific 8.5 Rest of the World 8.5.1 Latin America 8.5.2 Middle East

9 Stem Cell Assay Market Competitive Landscape

9.1 Overview 9.2 Company Market Ranking 9.3 Key Development Strategies

10 Company Profiles

10.1.1 Overview 10.1.2 Financial Performance 10.1.3 Product Outlook 10.1.4 Key Developments

11 Appendix

11.1 Related Research

Request Customization of Report @ https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/Stem-Cell-Assay-Market/?utm_source=VN24&utm_medium=002

Highlights of Report

About Us:

Verified market research partners with clients to provide insight into strategic and growth analytics; data that help achieve business goals and targets. Our core values include trust, integrity, and authenticity for our clients.

Analysts with high expertise in data gathering and governance utilize industry techniques to collate and examine data at all stages. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, subject expertise and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research reports.

Contact Us:

Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Call: +1 (650) 781 4080 Email: [emailprotected]

Read the rest here:
Stem Cell Assay Market Booming by Size, Revenue, Trend and Top Growing Companies 2026 - Vital News 24

PRP/Stem Cell Treatment Has Both Functional and Cosmetic Benefits – Haute Living

Dr. Jeffrey Baker based his medical career on continual research and clinical spectrum in Regenerative Medicine since graduating from Medical school at NOVA Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in South Florida. Osteopathic Medicine emphasizes helping each patient achieve a high level of wellness and quality of life by focusing on health promotion. Haute Beauty catches up with Dr. Baker to learn more about PRP/Stem Cell Therapy.

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/drjeffbaker/

PRP and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment and Therapies are terms for regenerative medicine. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma protein derived from whole blood, centrifuged to remove red blood cells. This can then be injected back into the areas of injury or for cosmetic needs in order to increase cell turnover, promote recovery, as well as improve skins overall appearance and elasticity.

When PRP is used in conjunction with Mesenchymal Stem Cells, we are able to regenerate and restore normal function of musculoskeletal injuries without the need for surgery. This type of treatment works best for acute injuries such as tendinitis shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knees, and ankles. It is also best suited for chronic injuries, which are secondary pain injuries due to arthritis in shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers, lower back, hips, knees, ankles, and toes.

The process of PRP/Mesenchymal Stem Cell treatment begins by drawing blood from the patient and then centrifuging the blood in order to remove red blood cells. Once that process is complete, we combine what is now PRP with the Mesenchymal Stem Cells. This is then injected directly into the site of injury. Depending on the location of the injury, the use of an ultrasound may be useful in ensuring the accuracy of the injection site.

Remember, this type of treatment works best for people with tendinitis, tendon tears, ligamentous tears, and sprains/strains and also people with secondary pain due to arthritis.

These regenerative treatments of PRP and Mesenchymal Stem Cells are ideal for boosting general health. Many of my patients who come to me are looking for a way to reduce their daily aches and pains due to the natural aging process so that they are able to feel younger and live more active and fulfilling lifestyles. PRP and Mesenchymal Stem Cells can provide the relief these patients are seeking.

Cosmetically, PRP is used to treat conditions such as acne, acne scars, and melasma among other skin conditions. I often inject PRP to add plumpness to the face, under eyes, and cheeks. I also use PRP as a natural approach to increase cell turnover and elasticity in order to achieve a more youthful look. Then, for optimal benefit, I can micro-needle the PRP all over the face to give an overall glowing appearance.

The majority of my patients start to see results within the first two weeks. The results get increasingly better with time.

Remember, you have undergone regenerative injection treatments in or around injured and weakened ligaments, tendons or joints. The solution injected is designed to heal and strengthen these areas, improve stability and reduce pain. It is NORMAL and expected to experience some pain and swelling at the injection site for a few days after

treatment due to the expected inammatory response that starts the healing process. You will be able to resume light activity as soon as possible such as walking and stretching. It is important to keep the area treated mobilized, if pain tolerates, in order to encourage healing blood ow to the area. This will help to decrease some of your pain and will help improve your range of motion. Inactivity will decrease optimal results. It is vital that you adhere to activity recommendations after your procedure as improper or over strenuous activity may inhibit the healing process or result in re-injury.

I highly recommend my patients to continue to follow up care with not only myself but also with physical therapy and chiropractic treatment. In my experience, these practices used in conjunction with the PRP and Mesenchymal Stem Cell treatment, my patients are able to yield optimal results.

Read more:
PRP/Stem Cell Treatment Has Both Functional and Cosmetic Benefits - Haute Living

Pain treatment using human stem cells a success – News – The University of Sydney

Chronic pain cost an estimated $139.3 billion in 2018. Image: iStock, Top image: Pexels

Researchers at the University of Sydney have used human stem cells to make pain-killing neurons that provide lasting relief in mice, without side effects, in a single treatment. The next step is to perform extensive safety tests in rodents and pigs, and then move to human patients suffering chronic pain within the next five years.

If the tests are successful in humans, it could be a major breakthrough in the development of new non-opioid, non-addictive pain management strategies for patients, the researchers said.

Thanks to funding from the NSW Ministry of Health, we are already moving towards testing in humans, said Associate Professor Greg Neely, a leader in pain research at the Charles Perkins Centre and the School of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Nerve injury can lead to devastating neuropathic pain and for the majority of patients there are no effective therapies. This breakthrough means for some of these patients, we could make pain-killing transplants from their own cells, and the cells can then reverse the underlying cause of pain.

See the rest here:
Pain treatment using human stem cells a success - News - The University of Sydney

Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease Receives Orphan Drug Designation – Monthly Prescribing Reference

Home News Drugs in the Pipeline

The Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug designation to ARU-1801 (Aruvant) for the treatment of sickle cell disease.

The investigational gene therapy is expected to increase functioning red blood cells through proprietary technology that inserts a modified fetal hemoglobin gene into autologous stem cells via a lentiviral vector. A phase 1/2 clinical study in 10 individuals with sickle cell disease is currently examining the efficacy and safety of ARU-1801.

For patients suffering from sickle cell disease, we believe the ultimate promise of gene therapy is a one-time cure without the side effect profile of high intensity myeloablative conditioning. We are committed to providing patients with that option and look forward to presenting more data on our Reduced Intensity Conditioning (RIC) approach, said Will Chou, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Aruvant.

Orphan Drug status is granted to new therapies that treat diseases impacting 200,000 individuals in the US.

For more information visit aruvant.com.

Please login or register first to view this content.

LoginRegister

Read the rest here:
Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease Receives Orphan Drug Designation - Monthly Prescribing Reference

High-Definition View of Diabetes-Related Proteins Obtained, Opening the Door to Future Treatments – SciTechDaily

GLP1R visualized in insulin-secreting beta cells at super-resolution. Credit: University of Birmingham

Scientists have examined a key receptor for the first time at high resolution broadening understanding of how it might function, and opening the door to future improvements in treating conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP1R) are found on insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas and neurons in the brain. The receptor encourages the pancreas to release more insulin, stops the liver from producing too much glucose, and reduces appetite. This combination of effects can helps to control blood sugar levels.

As such, GLP1R has become a significant target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and a range of drugs are now available that are based on it. But much remains unknown about GLP1R function because its small size makes it difficult to visualize.

An international group of scientists led by experts at the University of Birmingham and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, have now conducted a detailed examination of the receptor in living cells.

Researchers used a number of techniques including synthesis of marker compounds, immunostaining, super-resolution microscopy, as well as in vivo examination of mice. They were able to label GLP1R with their developed fluorescent probes so as to show its location in the cells and its response to signal molecules.

Publishing their findings inNature Communications, the researchers who were partly funded by Diabetes UK note that they now provide a comprehensively tested and unique GLP1R detection toolbox, which has updated our view of this receptor, with implications for the treatment of conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

GLP1R visualized in insulin-secreting beta cells at super-resolution. Credit: University of Birmingham

David Hodson, Professor of Cellular Metabolism, at the University of Birmingham, commented: Our research allows us to visualize this key receptor in much more detail than before. Think about watching a movie in standard definition versus 4k, thats how big the difference is. We believe this breakthrough will give us a much greater understanding of GLP1R distribution and function. Whilst this will not immediately change treatment for patients, it might influence how we design drugs in the future.

Johannes Broichhagen, Departmental Group Leader of the Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, commented: Our experiments, made possible by combining expertise in chemistry and cell biology, will improve our understanding of GLP1R in the pancreas and the brain. Our new tools have been used in stem cells and in the living animal to visualize this important receptor, and we provide the first super-resolution characterization of a class B GPCR. Importantly, our results suggest a degree of complexity not readily appreciated with previous approaches.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK commented: The effects of type 2 diabetes are serious and widespread, so finding more effective treatments to help people manage their condition and reduce their risk of its potentially devastating complications is absolutely vital.

Through innovative research like this, we can get to grips with key aspects of type 2 diabetes in unprecedented detail, and blaze a trail towards better treatments.

GLP1R is a member of the so-called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which play a role in many of the bodys functions. An increased understanding of how they work has greatly affected modern medicine, and today, it is estimated that between one-third and one-half of all marketed drugs act by binding to GPCRs.

Reference: Super-resolution microscopy compatible fluorescent probes reveal endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor distribution and dynamics by Julia Ast, Anastasia Arvaniti, Nicholas H.F. Fine, Daniela Nasteska, Fiona B. Ashford, Zania Stamataki, Zsombor Koszegi, Andrea Bacon4 , Ben J. Jones, Maria A. Lucey, Shugo Sasaki, Daniel I. Brierley, Benoit Hastoy, Alejandra Tomas, Giuseppe DAgostino, Frank Reimann, Francis C. Lynn, Christopher A. Reissaus, Amelia K. Linnemann, Elisa DEste, Davide Calebiro, Stefan Trapp, Kai Johnsson, Tom Podewin, Johannes Broichhagen and David J. Hodson, 24 January 2020, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14309-w

The research was funded by Diabetes UK, Medical Research Council (MRC) and European Research Council (ERC).

Originally posted here:
High-Definition View of Diabetes-Related Proteins Obtained, Opening the Door to Future Treatments - SciTechDaily

Cynata Therapeutics to talk stem cell therapies at Proactive"s CEO Sessions – Proactive Investors Australia

Cynatas managing director Dr Ross Macdonald will present at Proactives CEO Sessions in Sydney on February 3 and Melbourne on February 4.

() is focused on using its proprietary Cymerusplatform technology to develop commercially scalable cellular therapeutic products to treat serious chronic disorders.

The trademark Cymerus refers to the patented process of generating cell-based products from intermediate cells

At present, Cynata is focused on the production of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based products using the Cymerus technology.

An example of an MSC product is CYP-001, targeting graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) for which a Phase I clinical trial has been completed.

During 2019, Fujifilm did a licensing deal with Cynata for CYP-001 and GvHD for a US$3 million upfront payment and future payments of up to US$43 million.

Cynata continues to focus on early commercialisation of Cynatas Cymerus MSC products and is in active commercial discussions for numerous therapeutic targets.

During calendar year 2020, Cynata plans tobeprogressing to three Phase II trials in for GvHD (funded by Fujifilm), CLI, and osteoarthritis.

The company also continues to investigate the therapeutic potential in numerous additional target areas.

It is worth noting the Cymerus process has a number of key advantages including being only platform in the world able to produce commercial quantities of MSCs from a single source.

Five companies will present at the Sydney and Melbourne events, including (), () and ().

The Sydney session will also include ().

Register now for the CEO Sessions

Sydney event, Monday, February 3

Melbourne event, Tuesday, February 4

See the article here:
Cynata Therapeutics to talk stem cell therapies at Proactive"s CEO Sessions - Proactive Investors Australia

UAB scientist studies aging through gray hair, says hair could be rejuvenated – AL.com

Gray hair got you down? Scientists may have a cure for that.

Okay, maybe not a cure. But, more information about why youre going gray, and what can be done about it.

Dr. Melissa Harris, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birminghams Department of Biology, has spent the last ten years studying melanocyte stem cells and what happens when they fail.

Harris runs a molecular biology lab at UAB and uses CRISPR gene editing tools, single-cell sequencing studies, and network analysis algorithms. She uses gray hair as a model for aging, because she doesnt always need a microscopeshe can see the state of your melanocyte stem cells right away. If hair is all one color, Harris said, the melanocyte stem cells are healthy; but if there are grays mixed in, something isnt right.

Gray hair isnt always an inevitable part of aging, the university said. Through Harris research, shes learned that age isnt the only reason these cells fail, and now Harris is working with gray-haired mice to show there could be a way to bring the cells- and hair pigments- back to life. Shes doing that by working with a biotech startup to study an experimental compound that appears to restore hair color long-term in those mice.

Harris work applies to autoimmune diseases and to melanoma, but she said her primary goal is to understand why somatic stem cells (those found in muscles, bones, and organs that are responsible for tissue regeneration, immune defense, hair color and more) start to fail as a person ages. Most of those stem cell populations are hard to work with in the lab, Harris said, but melanocyte stem cells are an exception.

Does hair graying cause you to die? Harris said. No, you can watch melanocyte stem cells from birth to the end. But, she added that the same cant be said for cells like hematopoetic stem cells, which pump red blood cells in bone marrow. You cant live long without them, Harris said.

Her research will reveal more about the bodys aging process and the life cycles of those stem cells.

Harris is often known as the gray-hair lady in the lab, but she stresses that her gray hair research has bigger implications. Everyone gets gray hair It is considered a vanity science, she said. I am not an abnormally vain person My lab has picked the model that is the most appropriate method to investigate what happens to stem cells as we age.

The work has earned her a grant from the NIHs National Institute of Aging. A paper published by her lab in 2018 showed that MITF, a certain protein that is the master regulator turning on pigmentation genes also represses the innate immune system, according to UAB. The university said when Harris worked with the MITF-deficient mice with a virus, the melanocyte stem cells suffered and the mice got gray hair. The study was globally recognized, and featured in several publications.

Perhaps, in an individual who is healthy yet predisposed for gray hair, because they produce less MITF, getting an everyday viral infection is just enough to cause the decline of their melanocytes and melanocyte stem cells, leading to premature gray hair, Harris told UAB News.

Harris started working with the biotech startup when she was contacted by them last year. They were developing an experimental compound that would regrow hair, and they wanted to know if she would test it on her mice. Harris said she was skeptical, but she conducted a small trial.

It worked. Harris said when she tests gray-haired mice with the compound, she sees hair color come back.

Some gray hairs could be rejuvenated, the university said, through compounds to stimulate the cells. (Courtesy, UAB)

And we can take these same mice, pluck the hair and when new hairs grow out they retain the higher level of pigmentation, suggesting this is permanent, she said. This compound is reprogramming the stem cells, taking them to a younger state, allowing them to start up again.

Harris and Joseph Palmer, one of her doctoral students, are also studying a theory that the melanocyte stem cells spend most of their time in a dormant state, and that the cells can possibly be stimulated.

(Spanish doctors in a study) suggested that some melanocyte stem cells are retained in gray hairs, Harris said. We thought that once you go gray the stem cells are all lost theres no going back. But presumably they can be reactivated. That study means, according to Harris, there may be therapies to reactive the cells, and the compound shes working with alongside the startup could be a promising way forward, according to UAB.

We have an opportunity with this company to find out what are the potential ways we can fix a broken system, Harris said. Were always looking at whats broken and rarely do we get to go in the other direction, towards tissue rejuvenation. So this is exciting.

See the article here:
UAB scientist studies aging through gray hair, says hair could be rejuvenated - AL.com

Blood drive to honor Franklin child with cancer – Daily Journal

The tiny body seemed consumed by tubes and wires and monitors.

Just one day prior, Stephanie and Cody Smith had learned the terrible truth about why their 18-month-old son, Charlie, had been so sick recently. He had neuroblastoma, a cancer that forms on the nerve endings. Scans revealed cancer was on his kidney, lungs, bone and lymph nodes.

To stem the aggressive cancer, his doctors immediately got to work, putting in catheters, taking bone marrow biopsies and preparing for the start of intense chemotherapy. Charlie lay in his hospital bed eating Cheetos Puffs, his favorite food, and sitting with his parents.

"It was hard when we got the news," Stephanie Smith said. "I tried to be calm and collected; I had to be strong for my baby. But its been hard."

Story continues below gallery

The past two months have come straight out of a nightmare for the Smith family. Since Charlie was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma in November, each day brings uncertainty.

The Franklin family has spent 49 of the last 60 days at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. Charlie has gone through rounds of chemotherapy, suffering through fevers, mouth sores, extreme fatigue and nausea that wracked his small body. His treatment will last over the next 18 months, and will include chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, blood transfusions, radiation and immunotherapy.

But despite everything theyve been through, the Smiths remain resolute that Charlie will get better. They have relied on their faith, and an army of supporters who have stepped forward to help them in their worst time, to get them through.

"It was amazing to see so many people come up and love on us. It has taught us to be generous people; weve always thought we were generous people, but when you see the number of people who care for you and pray for you and support you, its really amazing," Stephanie Smith said.

The Smiths have partnered with Versiti Blood Center of Indiana to host a blood drive in Greenwood Saturday. The Cheering for Charlie event will be held from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help increase blood supplies for patients such as Charlie who rely on transfusions to survive.

Every two seconds, someone needs life-saving blood, whether theyre bravely battling disease like Charlie, undergoing surgery or are victims of trauma," said Duane Brodt, spokesman for Versiti. "People need people since blood cant be manufactured."

For most of his life, Charlie was a happy-go-lucky toddler. He loved to smile and laugh, beaming joy. Where his 3-year-old brother Henry was more of a wild child, Stephanie Smith said, Charlie seemed to always be in a pleasant, good mood.

His parents described him as their "happy baby."

Thats what made his lethargy, lack of appetite and gradual decline in health so concerning.

"He was learning how to walk over the summer, and started getting sick," Stephanie Smith said. "We just thought it was a virus; we didnt think of the worst."

Charlie developed a low-grade fever, wasnt eating well and was falling asleep unexpectedly while playing with toys. He wasnt acting like himself, Stephanie Smith said.

During a visit to his pediatrician, the doctor found a hard area on Charlies abdomen, and recommended doing some blood tests and taking an X-ray. Those tests only led to more questions he had severe range anemia and elevated levels of platelets in his blood. But the doctor didnt have any conclusive answers as to what was causing it.

Stephanie Smith, a nurse at Franciscan Health, started hearing warning bells in her mind. That, combined with a mothers intuition, convinced her that they needed to take Charlie to Riley Hospital for Children. After 12 hours in the emergency room, and dozens of tests, doctors found a large tumor in Charlies abdomen.

"Sometimes, when kids are diagnosed with cancer, they can go home and be in and out of the hospital for treatment, but Charlie was really sick. The tumor was pushing on his kidney, damaging his kidney, so we had to stay in the hospital," Stephanie Smith said.

The pathology lab at Riley Hospital for Children confirmed the tumor was neuroblastoma. The cancer forms in immature nerve endings, often in the adrenal glands located near the kidneys and is most common in children age 5 and under, according to the American Cancer Society.

But the cancer is very rare; only about 800 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Neuroblastomas grow and spread very rapidly, so treatment would have to be aggressive, doctors explained to the family. Charlies oncologist recommended starting with two rounds of focused chemotherapy, followed by the extraction of his red blood cells for stem cell transplants, then another three rounds of chemotherapy.

Two different stem cell transplants would be held about a month apart, and Charlie would start radiation treatment. Immunotherapy, which jolts the immune system into targeting and killing cancer cells, would be the final part of the regimen.

Almost immediately, Charlie started his chemotherapy.

"It grows so quickly, that we had to be aggressive. The beginning was pretty intense," Stephanie Smith said.

The treatment was hard on Charlies young body. He developed mouth sores and didnt want to eat, and his nausea left him miserable. The Smith family essentially relocated to the hospital, staying with him constantly.

But at the same time, their friends and family, as well as complete strangers, stepped up to offer help. A meal train was set up to provide the family with food, and prayers came from all directions.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $36,000 for the family. A community Facebook page has more than 5,000 members.

"We had a rally of people come around us," Stephanie Smith said. "We couldnt have done it without all of the people who have come together."

Charlie has completed his first four rounds of chemotherapy, and on Jan. 20, he was able to return home with his family to wait for surgery to remove the tumor in his abdomen. That operation is tentatively going to be early to mid February.

In the meantime, the family has been soaking in the opportunity to be together somewhere besides the hospital. They have also been working to plan the blood drive being held on Saturday.

Charlie has relied on blood transfusions throughout his treatment, and a blood drive would be a way to raise awareness of the importance of those transfusions to cancer patients, Stephanie Smith said.

"Charlie received quite a few blood products, especially early on in his treatment. He had 12 transfusions in these 2 1/2 months. For his little body, thats a lot," she said. "Being a nurse, I didnt realize the number of cancer patients who need blood products. Its so important. So this was a way to let people know that."

Stephanie Smiths sister, Shelby Richards, knew people who had organized drives with their friends and helped the family get the Cheering for Charlie drive going.

The drive is a perfect opportunity to remind people that blood donations are vitally important, Brodt said. Versiti Blood Center of Indiana needs to collect at least 560 blood donations every day to support the need at its 80 hospital partners throughout the state, he said.

"So our Cheering for Charlie will truly make a difference and help save lives," Brodt said.

For the Smith family, the drive is a way to give back for all the love theyve been shown.

"Its really cool for us to see how many people have signed up, and also be advocates for other people who need blood, to just get the word out there about how important it is," Stephanie Smith said. "Its encouraging for us to see people come out to support Charlie and kids like him."

If you go

Cheering for Charlie blood drive

What: A blood drive honoring Charlie Smith, an 18-month-old Franklin child diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nerve cells.

When: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Versiti Blood Center of Indiana, 8739 U.S. 31 S., Indianapolis

Who can donate: Generally, anyone in good health age 16 and up can donate. Make sure you do not have a cold, flu or sore throat at the time of donation.

How to schedule an appointment: Go to Versiti.org/Indiana

Information: Learn more about Charlie on the Cheering for Charlie! Facebook group page.

Read the original here:
Blood drive to honor Franklin child with cancer - Daily Journal