Tag: Healthcare

Mayo Clinic destaca los avances en la investigación durante el 2023

[ad_1]

Newswise — ROCHESTER, Minnesota — Los investigadores de Mayo Clinic hacen nuevos descubrimientos, desarrollan tecnologías y herramientas únicas en su clase y mejoran constantemente aquellas existentes para brindar el mejor servicio de atención médica. En las 10 historias a continuación se resumen algunos de los avances más importantes en la investigación médica que sucedieron en Mayo Clinic durante el último año. Los descubrimientos incluyen desde aprovechar la inteligencia artificial (IA) para detectar enfermedades de forma temprana hasta lograr avances en tratamientos para enfermedades raras y complejas.

Los tumores no solo están formados por células cancerosas, sino también por una matriz de pequeños vasos sanguíneos o microvasos que no pueden verse en las imágenes producidas por los ecógrafos convencionales. Para resolver este problema, la Dra. Azra Alizad, médica y científica, y el Dr. Mostafa Fatemi, científico de ingeniería biomédica, se unieron en Mayo Clinic para diseñar y estudiar una herramienta que podría mejorar la resolución de las imágenes por ecografía. Como demuestran los hallazgos de la investigación, desarrollaron un software de imágenes por ecografía de alta resolución, compatible con muchos ecógrafos, que podría mejorar exponencialmente los detalles y la calidad de las imágenes.

“Si podemos visualizar y captar los microvasos en las etapas más tempranas del cáncer, podemos diagnosticarlo y tratarlo antes, lo que mejora el resultado para el paciente”, afirma la Dra. Alizad, quien se especializa en tecnología de ecografía para la obtención de imágenes de cáncer. Obtener más información.

Los investigadores de Mayo Clinic se encuentran en el proceso de biofabricación de una vacuna experimental a base de células contra el cáncer de ovario y la combinan con inmunoterapia para estudiar un método de “doble golpe” con el fin de detener el avance de la enfermedad en las pacientes con cáncer de ovario. Esta investigación comienza con una extracción de sangre de mujeres con cáncer de ovario avanzado cuyos tumores reaparecieron después de una cirugía estándar y quimioterapia. Se extraen los glóbulos blancos de la sangre, se convierten en células dendríticas mediante biofabricación y se devuelven a las pacientes. Las células dendríticas actúan como defensores que marchan por el cuerpo y activan el sistema inmunitario para que reconozca y combata el cáncer.

“Nos estamos basando en un ensayo clínico de fase 1 anterior que mostró resultados prometedores en términos de supervivencia tras la vacuna basada en células dendríticas”, afirma el Dr. Matthew Block, coinvestigador principal y oncólogo médico. “De las 18 pacientes evaluables en el estudio de fase 1, en 11 reapareció el cáncer, pero 7 de ellas (40 por ciento) vivieron sin cáncer por casi 10 años. Por lo general, se espera que en el 90 por ciento de las pacientes con esta afección el cáncer reaparezca”. Obtener más información.

Los investigadores de Mayo Clinic desarrollaron un nuevo tipo de tratamiento con linfocitos T con receptor quimérico para el antígeno (tratamiento con linfocitos T-CAR) destinado a destruir los tipos de cáncer de células B que reaparecieron y ya no responden al tratamiento. Esta tecnología pionera, diseñada y desarrollada en el laboratorio del Dr. Hong Qin, eliminó tumores de células B cultivados en el laboratorio y tumores implantados en ratones modelo. Los hallazgos preclínicos se publicaron en la revista Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy.

“Este estudio demuestra que nuestro tratamiento experimental con linfocitos T-CAR ataca varios tipos de cáncer de sangre, específicamente la leucemia linfocítica crónica”, afirma el Dr. Qin. “Actualmente hay seis tratamientos diferentes con linfocitos T-CAR aprobados para el tratamiento de tipos de cáncer de sangre con recaída. Si bien los resultados son sorprendentes, no todas las personas responden a este tratamiento. Nuestro objetivo es ofrecer tratamientos con linfocitos novedosos adaptados a las necesidades individuales de cada paciente”. Obtener más información.

La colonoscopia sigue siendo el procedimiento por excelencia para detectar y prevenir el cáncer colorrectal. Pero el procedimiento tiene sus limitaciones. Algunos estudios sugieren que más de la mitad de los casos de cáncer de colon detectados por una colonoscopia surgen de lesiones que no se vieron en las colonoscopias anteriores a las que se sometió el paciente.

“La IA, en particular el subconjunto de IA llamado visión artificial, se adapta naturalmente a lo que hacemos a través del endoscopio”, explica el Dr. Michael B. Wallace, quien se autodescribe como un cerebrito de la tecnología.

En el 2022, el Dr. Wallace publicó los resultados de un estudio multicéntrico internacional donde se analizó el impacto de la incorporación de la IA a las colonoscopías de rutina. Su equipo, que incluyó al Dr. James East, un gastroenterólogo de Mayo Clinic Healthcare en Londres, y a investigadores de EE. UU., el Reino Unido, Italia, Alemania e Irlanda, determinó que la incorporación de la IA en las colonoscopías redujo el riesgo de pasar por alto pólipos un 50 por ciento. Obtener más información.

Unos meses después de que la paciente de Mayo Clinic de 9 años Maggie Carmichael comenzara a tomar el medicamento experimental para su enfermedad genética ultrarrara que es parte de una categoría de enfermedades conocida como trastornos congénitos de la glucosilación, la pequeña pudo cambiar su silla de ruedas por un andador. La médica que trata a Maggie es la Dra. Eva Morava-Kozicz, una científica traslacional de Mayo Clinic que se encuentra al frente de la investigación de trastornos congénitos de la glucosilación.

En un descubrimiento reciente, la Dra. Morava-Kozicz y sus colaboradores determinaron que una de las principales causas de los trastornos congénitos de la glucosilación es la acumulación de una sustancia llamada sorbitol, que es un tipo de alcohol de azúcar que se produce en el cuerpo cuando se metaboliza la glucosa. La Dra. Morava-Kozicz afirma que el descubrimiento del sorbitol abrió la puerta a un biomarcador para diagnosticar la enfermedad y determinar la gravedad de la enfermedad. Explica que el avance del biomarcador proporcionó una estrategia que permite implementar posibles medicamentos candidatos. Obtener más información.

Los médicos y los investigadores del mundo están combinando la inteligencia artificial, conocida como IA, con la atención médica para identificar a los pacientes con un mayor riesgo de presentar enfermedades cardiovasculares, como accidentes cerebrovasculares e insuficiencia cardíaca. Sin embargo, a medida que aumenta el uso de estas herramientas mejoradas con IA, los investigadores en Mayo Clinic se preguntan: “¿Estas herramientas funcionan de forma fiable en las personas de color?” y “¿son accesibles en los entornos de atención médica comunitaria?”.

“Con frecuencia se desarrollan y utilizan intervenciones de salud basadas en IA sin analizar ni validar datos específicos de la raza”, afirma el Dr. David Harmon, médico “fellow” de cardiología en Mayo Clinic. “Es importante asegurarse de que estas herramientas sean confiables y accesibles para todas las personas, en particular aquellas de color que se ven afectadas de forma desproporcionada por las enfermedades cardiovasculares”. Obtener más información.

Los investigadores de Mayo Clinic identificaron un amplio rango de sustancias químicas ambientales en la bilis humana de pacientes con colangitis esclerosante primaria, una enfermedad hepática crónica y poco común que afecta los conductos biliares. El estudio, que se publicó en Exposome, representa una nueva frontera de investigación en el Centro de Medicina Personalizada en Mayo Clinic que explora el exposoma, la medida en que el ambiente contribuye a las enfermedades y la salud. Para el estudio, los investigadores observaron muestras de bilis de pacientes con la enfermedad por medio de una espectrometría de masas de alta resolución y encontraron diversas sustancias químicas ambientales. Esta nueva tecnología permitió que los investigadores midieran y analizaran las exposiciones a sustancias químicas externas y sus respuestas biológicas, con la suficiente cobertura para estudiar las relaciones entre posibles iniciadores de enfermedades y sus efectos.

“Los descubrimientos sobre las relaciones de sustancias químicas y metabolómicas en la bilis sirven como punto de partida”, dice el investigador de Mayo Clinic Dr. Konstantinos N. Lazaridis, el director ejecutivo a cargo de Carlson y Nelson para el Centro de Medicina Personalizada en Mayo Clinic. “Son esenciales para comprender los cambios bioquímicos que ocurren debido a la exposición a sustancias químicas ambientales, ya que pueden reflejar la causa y progresión de la colangitis esclerosante primaria y pueden llevar a nuevos tratamientos médicos”. Obtener más información.

Los investigadores del Centro Oncológico Integral de Mayo Clinic descubren evidencia que respalda un menor período de tratamiento para pacientes con cáncer de mama en un ensayo aleatorizado, publicado en la revista The Lancet Oncology. El estudio comparó dos cronogramas de administración de dosis distintos de la terapia de protones con haz concentrado, el tipo más avanzado de terapia de protones conocido por su precisión a la hora de dirigirse a las células cancerosas, al tiempo que preserva el tejido sano para reducir el riesgo de que se produzcan efectos secundarios.

“El estudio proporciona los primeros datos prospectivos que respaldan el uso de la radioterapia de protones después de una mastectomía con protones de ciclo más breve, incluso en pacientes con reconstrucción mamaria inmediata, y los primeros resultados consolidados de un ensayo aleatorizado en el campo de la radioterapia de mama con partículas”, afirma el Dr. Robert Mutter, oncólogo radioterapeuta y médico científico del Centro Oncológico Integral de Mayo Clinic. “Ahora podemos considerar la opción de 15 días de terapia con pacientes en función de resultados similares del tratamiento observados en el ciclo convencional más largo. Cabe destacar que el ciclo breve en realidad redujo los efectos secundarios en la piel durante y después del tratamiento”. Obtener más información.

Con un procedimiento de diagnóstico llamado electromiografía, los científicos de Mayo Clinic y sus colaboradores internacionales usaron electrodos para registrar la respuesta eléctrica de los músculos durante cada movimiento. Las pruebas demostraron que un área profunda del surco central estaba activa durante todos los tipos de movimiento, lo que cuestionaba la creencia arraigada de que el tejido de esta parte del cerebro está coordinado con regiones específicas del cuerpo.

“Esperábamos encontrar el mapa conocido de la organización corporal hasta las profundidades del cerebro, pero nos sorprendió encontrar también esta área que está activa durante todos los diferentes movimientos”, relata el Dr. Kai Miller, neurocirujano de Mayo Clinic y autor principal del estudio. “Las tácticas emergentes para estimular el cerebro con el fin de tratar trastornos del movimiento, como el temblor, podrían aprovechar este hallazgo para obtener mejor respuesta terapéutica”. Obtener más información.

Los síntomas relacionados con la menopausia, como sofocos, sudoración nocturna, cambios en el estado de ánimo, alteraciones del sueño, dolores en las articulaciones y dificultades cognitivas, perjudican la calidad de vida de millones de mujeres. También pueden afectar negativamente a las mujeres en el lugar de trabajo. Un estudio de Mayo Clinic cuantifica ese costo: un total aproximado de $1800 millones en horas de trabajo perdidas y $26 600 millones si se agregan los gastos médicos, solo en Estados Unidos. “La conclusión para los empleadores es que existe una necesidad fundamental de abordar este problema para las mujeres en el lugar de trabajo”, afirma la Dra. Stephanie Faubion, autora principal y directora de Salud de la Mujer de Mayo Clinic. Obtener más información.

###

Información sobre Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic es una organización sin fines de lucro, dedicada a innovar la práctica clínica, la educación y la investigación, así como a ofrecer pericia, compasión y respuestas a todos los que necesitan recobrar la salud. Visite la Red Informativa de Mayo Clinic para leer más noticias sobre Mayo Clinic.

[ad_2]

Mayo Clinic

Source link

December 27, 2023
Intel, Tesla, Apple, Iovance, NetEase, Coherus BioSciences, and More Stock Market Movers

[ad_1]

Updated Dec 27, 2023, 7:34 am EST / Original Dec 27, 2023, 4:26 am EST

Stock futures traded slightly lower Wednesday after the S&P 500 finished higher Tuesday and just 0.45% below its record close of 4,796.56 hit Jan. 3, 2022. The broad market index has risen 24% this year and has gained 4.5% this month as traders bet the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates as soon as March.

Continue reading this article with a Barron’s subscription.

View Options

[ad_2]

Source link

December 27, 2023
Bristol Myers to Acquire RayzeBio in Deal Valued at $4.1 Billion

[ad_1]

Bristol Myers Squibb will acquire radiopharmaceutical therapeutics company RayzeBio for $62.50 a share in cash.

Continue reading this article with a Barron’s subscription.
View Options

[ad_2]
Source link

December 26, 2023
Bluebird Bio Stock Is in Free Fall

[ad_1]

Two weeks ago, bluebird bio secured Food and Drug Administration approval for its gene therapy for sickle cell disease, a significant milestone for the roughly 100,000 people in the U.S. who suffer from the condition.

[ad_2]
Source link

December 20, 2023
Alphabet, Heico, Bluebird Bio, Plug Power, UBS, FedEx, and More Stock Market Movers

[ad_1]

Dec 19, 2023, 4:31 am EST

Stock futures traded flat Tuesday, a day after the S&P 500 finished up 0.5% and moved closer to its all-time. The broad market index stands just 1.2% below its record of 4,796.56 reached in early January 2022.

Continue reading this article with a Barron’s subscription.

View Options

[ad_2]

Source link

December 19, 2023
Rising flu, COVID, RSV rates: Johns Hopkins expert available for interviews

[ad_1]

Andrew Pekosz, PhD, professor and vice chair in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is available for media interviews to discuss the rising rates of respiratory illnesses, the declining rate of vaccinations, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Health Advisory urging healthcare providers to encourage their patients to get vaccinated.

Journalists are also welcome to use the following comment from Andrew Pekosz:

“It’s troubling that we’re seeing increased hospitalizations from influenza and COVID-19 at the same time that vaccination rates are falling. It is critical that people stay up-to-date on their vaccinations, and that is particularly true for individuals in high-risk groups, to mitigate the chances of illness or even death.”

The CDC reported that in the past month, “hospitalizations among all age groups increased by 200% for influenza, 51% for COVID-19, and 60% for RSV. As of December 1, 2023, the weekly percentages of pediatric emergency department visits for pneumonia due to multiple etiologies were increasing since September in children, but remains consistent with prior fall and winter respiratory activity. To date, 12 pediatric influenza deaths have been reported during the 2023–2024 season. From September 1 through December 10, 2023, CDC received 30 reports of MIS-C, a rare complication that typically occurs 1 month after SARS-CoV-2 infection, with illness onset among cases occurring from August 6 to November 9, 2023, a relative increase compared with previous months. High RSV activity is also occurring across much of the United States.”

The CDC also stated that “as of November 18, 2023, there were 7.4 million fewer influenza vaccine doses administered to adults in pharmacies and physician offices compared with the 2022–2023 influenza season” and that “as of December 2, 2023, the percent of the population reporting receipt of [the COVID-19] vaccine was 7.7% in children 6 months–17 years (including 2.8% in children 6 months–4 years), 17.2% in adults ≥18 years (including 36% in adults ≥65 years), and 9.6% in pregnant persons. … As of December 2, 2023, 15.9% of U.S. adults aged ≥60 years reported receiving an RSV vaccine.”

# # #

[ad_2]

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Source link

December 18, 2023
Decoding Diabetes: Can Epigenetics Hold the Key?

[ad_1]

Newswise — Do epigenetic changes cause type 2 diabetes, or do the changes occur only after a person has become ill? A new study by researchers at Lund University provides increased support for the idea that epigenetic changes can cause type 2 diabetes. The researchers behind the new findings published in Nature Communications now aim to develop methods for disease prevention.

We inherit our genes from our parents, and they seldom change. However, epigenetic changes that arise due to environmental and lifestyle factors can affect the function of genes.

“Our new extensive study confirms our previous findings from smaller studies, showing that epigenetic changes can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we have also identified new genes that impact the development of the disease. Our hope is that with the help of these results, we can develop methods that can be used to prevent type 2 diabetes,” says Charlotte Ling, professor of diabetes and epigenetics at Lund University’s Diabetes Centre (LUDC), who led the study.

The same epigenetic changes

The researchers studied epigenetics in insulin-producing cells from donors and found 5584 sites in the genome with changes that differed between 25 individuals with type 2 diabetes and 75 individuals without the disease. The same epigenetic changes found in people with type 2 diabetes were also found in individuals with elevated blood sugar levels, which increase the risk of developing the disease.

“Those of us who study epigenetics, have long tried to understand whether epigenetic changes cause type 2 diabetes or if the changes occur after the disease has already developed. Because we saw the same epigenetic changes in people with type 2 diabetes and individuals at risk for the disease, we conclude that these changes may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes,” says Tina Rönn, lead author and researcher at LUDC.

The study identified 203 genes with different expression in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared to the control group. The researchers found that the gene RHOT1 showed epigenetic changes in people with type 2 diabetes and that it also played a key role in insulin secretion in insulin-producing cells. When they knocked out the gene expression of RHOT1 in cells from donors without type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion decreased.

“When we examined the same type of cells in rats with diabetes, we found a lack of RHOT1, confirming the gene’s importance for insulin secretion,” says Tina Rönn.

Methods that can prevent the disease

One goal of the research is to develop a blood-based biomarker that can predict who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the researchers investigated whether their results from insulin-producing cells in the pancreas were reflected in the blood of living people. They found epigenetic changes in the blood of a group of 540 people without the disease and they linked this to the future development of type 2 diabetes in half of the individuals.

Factors such as unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, and ageing increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, and they also affect our epigenetics. With the new study, researchers have identified new mechanisms that may make it possible to develop methods to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

“If we succeed in developing an epigenetic biomarker, we can identify individuals with epigenetic changes before they become ill. These individuals can, for example, receive personalised lifestyle advice that can reduce their risk of disease, or we can develop methods that aim to correct the activity of certain genes using epigenetic editing,” says Charlotte Ling.

[ad_2]

Newswise

Source link

December 13, 2023
Analysis Group Researchers Evaluated Long-Term Patient Experience with Dupilumab Using Groundbreaking Method for Generating Real-World Data

[ad_1]

Newswise — BOSTON, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Researchers from Analysis Group, a global leader in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), have coauthored a follow-up analysis of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) that evaluated outcomes three years after initiation of dupilumab among adults with atopic dermatitis (AD). The study, published in the journal Dermatology and Therapy, extends the one-year results of the previously published RELIEVE-AD study in JAMA Dermatology, which was based on a groundbreaking method for generating real-world data (RWD).

The study methodology, Longitudinal Surveys of Patients with Recruitment Through Patient Support Programs (LEAP), represents an advance over other RWD approaches, as it engages patients in patient support programs from the time of treatment initiation and tracks individual patient responses to follow-up surveys administered at pre-defined time intervals. This approach provides a true baseline against which to compare longitudinal data over time. This latest edition of the study provides RWD generated through an online survey given at 30–36 months after initiation of treatment, adding to the existing body of data collected at one, two, three, six, nine, and 12 months.

“Generating real-world data is particularly challenging for conditions like atopic dermatitis that require long-term therapy extending beyond the initial study period. For such chronic conditions, it is important to determine whether long-term treatment creates sustained benefits from the patient’s perspective,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Alexa B. Kimball, President and CEO at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. “With the LEAP methodology, we were able to effectively identify and evaluate flare-ups, fluctuations in symptoms, and a host of other invaluable RWD points tied to a true baseline with impressive patient participation and, over time, retention.”

“While clinical trials remain the gold standard for product approval, they are widely recognized as lacking the type of RWD that regulators, payers, clinicians, and patients want, or require, after a drug’s approval,” said study investigator Min Yang, Vice President at Analysis Group. “LEAP was created to address this problem by generating patient-centric data early after a launch, grounded by a baseline tied to the clinical trial with the ability for longitudinal follow-up and strong retention rates. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of efforts to fill such an important gap, along with Sanofi and Regeneron HEOR researchers, and the clinical experts who were so integral to the success of the LEAP approach.”

While the methodology, first published in 2021 by JAMA Dermatology following rigorous peer review, was used to better understand patient outcomes with dupilumab – a monoclonal antibody used to treat diseases such as uncontrolled moderate-to-severe AD, certain types of uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma, and inadequately controlled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis – LEAP is widely applicable across many diseases and condition types.

“Collecting and synthesizing RWD to generate high-quality evidence is a complex and challenging process, especially when regulators, payers, and clinicians are interested in patient-reported outcomes about diseases and associated therapies,” commented coauthor Eric Q. Wu, Managing Principal at Analysis Group. “Leveraging manufacturers’ programs, such as patient support programs, has proven to be a breakthrough solution for generating early and long-term high-quality RWD.”

The study, “Long-Term Effectiveness of Dupilumab in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: Results up to 3 Years from the RELIEVE-AD Study,” was published in August by Dermatology and Therapy. In addition to Dr. Kimball, Dr. Yang, and Dr. Wu, investigators included Dr. Bruce Strober of the Yale School of Medicine; Manager Bruno Martins of Analysis Group; Gaëlle Bégo-Le-Bagousse, Chien-Chia Chuang, and Debra Sierka of Sanofi; and Zhixiao Wang, Brad Shumel, Jingdong Chao, and Dimittri Delevry of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Funding was provided by Sanofi and Regeneron.

To learn more about Analysis Group’s HEOR capabilities, visit www.analysisgroup.com/healthoutcomes.

About Analysis Group’s HEOR, Epidemiology & Market Access Practice
Founded in 1981, Analysis Group is one of the largest international economics consulting firms, with more than 1,200 professionals across 14 offices. Analysis Group’s health care experts apply analytical expertise to health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), clinical research, market access and commercial strategy, and health care policy engagements, as well as drug safety-related engagements in epidemiology. Analysis Group’s internal experts, together with our network of affiliated experts from academia, industry, and government, provide our clients with exceptional breadth and depth of expertise and end-to-end consulting services globally.

[ad_2]

Analysis Group

Source link

December 12, 2023
ASH: Novel combination therapy significantly reduces spleen volume in patients with myelofibrosis

[ad_1]

Newswise — SAN DIEGO ― Combining the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib with the BCL-xL inhibitor navitoclax was twice as effective in reducing enlarged spleens – a major indicator of clinical improvement – compared with standard-of-care ruxolitinib monotherapy for adult patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer, according to results of the Phase III TRANSFORM-1 trial reported by researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Data from the global, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial were presented today at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting by Naveen Pemmaraju, M.D., professor of Leukemia. At the time of data cut-off, 63.2% of patients who received ruxolitinib and navitoclax achieved a spleen volume reduction of at least 35% within 24 weeks, compared to 31.5% of patients receiving ruxolitinib plus placebo, meeting the study’s primary endpoint.

“By adding a second drug to an approved therapy, we were able to improve spleen volume reduction compared to the current standard of care. This is an important measurement of the clinical benefits of this novel drug combination because treatments can be less effective when the spleen remains enlarged,” Pemmaraju said. “If we can treat myelofibrosis earlier on in the disease course, we may have an opportunity to impact overall disease modificationimprove patient outcomes and reduce symptom burden.”

Currently, there are few Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for the treatment of myelofibrosis. Available options provide patients with spleen and symptom improvement, but a substantial unmet need remains for therapies that provide durable spleen size reduction and other longer-term clinical. Allogenic stem cell transplants are an effective treatment option, but not all patients qualify.

This international trial enrolled 252 patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis and measurable spleen enlargement who had not received prior JAK inhibitor treatment. The trial randomized 125 patients to receive the navitoclax and ruxolitinib combination and 127 patients to receive ruxolitinib plus placebo. Most patients were male (57%) and the median age was 69.

The trial met its primary endpoint of spleen volume reduction at 24 weeks. Spleen volume reduction at any time was achieved by 77% of patients on the combination arm and 42% of patients on the control arm. The median time to first spleen volume reduction response was 12.3 weeks with the combination and 12.4 weeks with monotherapy. At 24 weeks, there were no significant differences between the groups in a myeloproliferative neoplasm symptom assessment, a secondary endpoint of the study.

Patients treated with the combination therapy, patients experienced side effects that were manageable and consistent with previous trials. The most common treatment-related side effects were thrombocytopenia, anemia, diarrhea and neutropenia. Serious adverse events were experienced by 26% of patients on the combination arm and 32% on the control arm.

“This study marks a notable achievement in the field of myelofibrosis, as one of the first reported global Phase III frontline randomized combination clinical trials in our field,” Pemmaraju said. “This dataset now opens the door for additional research and investigation into combination therapies to treat myelofibrosis and, importantly, highlights a potential new era of investigating disease modification for patients. Additional data from the TRANSFORM-1 study is being evaluated.”

The trial was funded by AbbVie. Pemmaraju receives research support from AbbVie. A full list of co-authors and their disclosures may be found here.

Read this press release in the MD Anderson Newsroom.

[ad_2]

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Source link

December 10, 2023
ASH: Novel menin inhibitors show promise for patients with advanced acute myeloid leukemias

[ad_1]

Newswise — Two clinical trials led by researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated early positive results from novel therapies targeting menin for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute leukemias with specific genetic alterations. Results from the studies were shared today in oral presentations at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. More information on all ASH Annual Meeting content from MD Anderson can be found at MDAnderson.org/ASH.

Menin inhibitor monotherapy reduces disease burden in majority of relapsed or refractory acute leukemia patients (Abstract 57) According to data from a Phase I trial led by Elias Jabbour, M.D., professor of Leukemia, the menin inhibitor JNJ-75276617 showed early clinical activity in patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemias and genetic alterations in KMT2A or NPM1, which are associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Among 66 patients able to be evaluated after one month of treatment, JNJ-75276617 monotherapy reduced bone marrow disease burden in 71%, and 33 of those patients had a decrease in bone marrow blasts of more than 50%. Median time to first response was less than two months. Similar response rates were observed across patient groups with both genetic alterations.

“Patients with relapsed or refractory leukemias and KMT2A or NPM1 alterations often do poorly on currently available therapies, so there is a need to advance more effective options,” Jabbour said. “We are encouraged by the antileukemic activity of this monotherapy, which mimics what we saw in the preclinical setting.”

In the multi-center clinical trial, researchers took a stepwise approach in evaluating the safety and efficacy of JNJ-75276617, a potent and selective inhibitor of the interaction between the scaffolding protein menin and the methyltransferase KMT2A. Eighty-six patients who had acute leukemias with NPM1 & KTM2A genetic alterations were included in the trial.

Patients received the therapy orally on a 28-day cycle. Fifty-six percent of evaluable patients had AML with KMT2A alterations and 43% of evaluable patients had NPM1 alterations. The median age of trial participants was 63 years, while the median number of prior therapies was two.

Differentiation syndrome was the most common side effect in patients, but was overcome with step-up dosing. The trial is ongoing to determine the recommended Phase II dose.

The trial is sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. A complete list of collaborating authors and their disclosures can be found with the abstract.

Oral therapy combination shows promising results for advanced acute leukemias (Abstract 58) The Phase I/II SAVE trial, led by Ghayas Issa, M.D., assistant professor of Leukemia, combined the menin inhibitor revumenib with venetoclax and hypomethylating agent ASTX727, yielding encouraging responses in adult and pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory advanced acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with KMT2A or NUP98 rearrangements or NPM1 mutations.

The overall response rate among nine evaluable patients was 100%. Three patients achieved complete remission, one patient achieved complete remission with partial hematologic recovery, and three patients had complete remission with incomplete platelet count recovery. In addition, one patient had a partial response and one had a morphologic leukemia-free state. Measurable residual disease was undetectable in six of the patients.

“These advanced and acute leukemias often are very difficult to treat and currently have no approved targeted therapies. We believe these early results suggest this treatment will be highly effective in advanced leukemias,” Issa said. “This is our first look at an entirely oral combination therapy using menin inhibitors, and the results are very encouraging. If sustained in further trials, this could lead to a change in the standard of care for this patient population, with great potential to improve their quality of life.”

Revumenib is a potent, oral, selective inhibitor of the menin-KMT2A interaction. To date, nine patients aged 12 years and older have been enrolled in the trial. Of those, five patients had KMT2A rearrangements, three had NUP98 rearrangements and one had mutant NPM1. On average, patients had received three prior lines of therapy.

Side effects were manageable and consistent with previous studies. The trial is ongoing, with plans to establish the recommended Phase II dose and optimize delivery of the combination before enrolling patients in the Phase II cohort.

This investigator-initiated study was supported by Syndax and Astex. A complete list of collaborating authors and their disclosures can be found with the abstract.

Read this press release in the MD Anderson Newsroom.

[ad_2]

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Source link

December 9, 2023
First-in-human clinical trial of CAR T cell therapy with new binding mechanism shows promising early responses

[ad_1]

Newswise — SAN DIEGO – Early results from a Phase I clinical trial of AT101, a new CAR T cell therapy that uses a distinct binding mechanism to target CD19, show a 100 percent complete response (CR) rate at the higher dose levels studied in the trial, according to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. The findings were published today in Molecular Cancer and presented at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition (Abstract 2096).

CAR T cell therapy has revolutionized treatment for many people with blood cancers who had run out of other treatment options. While some patients experience long-term responses to CAR T cell therapy, it doesn’t work–or the cancer eventually returns–for others. The CD19 CAR T cell therapies that are currently approved all target CD19 through the same epitope (FMC63). To try and make CD19 CAR T cell therapy more effective for more patients, Marco Ruella, MD, an assistant professor of Hematology-Oncology and Scientific Director of the Lymphoma Program, and his research team, along with the Korean company AbClon Inc, co-developed a CAR T product (AT101), using cells originating from the same patient, that targets CD19 through a different epitope, located closer to the cell membrane, via a novel antibody (h1218). In preclinical studies, the team previously demonstrated that h1218-CART19 had decreased T cell exhaustion and improved control compared to FMC63-CART19.

The Phase I first-in-human clinical trial (NCT05338931) was conducted in South Korea and enrolled 12 patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The study was designed to increase the dose level of AT101 after safety was confirmed in the first six patients. After a median follow-up of 6.5 months, all six patients who received dose level 2 or higher experienced a complete response and their cancer has not relapsed.

“We’ve learned that the way you design your CAR really matters. Designing a different CAR might drastically change the way the T cells work, potentially allowing that CAR T cell product to work where other CAR T cell products have failed,” Ruella said. “We were not expecting such a drastic early difference in this study. The CART19 products that are already FDA-approved are very effective, and it’s not easy to do better. While there is not a randomized trial of this product yet, the initial results seem very promising, and we look forward to moving into the planned Phase II portion of the study.”

The drug was found to be safe, with manageable side effects, including cytokine-release syndrome in four patients and immune-cell-related neurotoxicity syndrome in three patients. One patient experienced grade 3 sepsis that resolved; the same patient later developed fatal neutropenic septic shock outside the dose-limiting toxicity time frame.

The Phase I study enrolled patients who had not previously received any other CAR19 therapy. In the Phase II expansion, the study will also include patients who have previously received CAR19 therapy.

Editor’s Note: The study was funded by AbClon Inc; Ruella is a paid consultant for the company and has a Sponsored Research Agreement with them.

Yunlin Zhang, MS, a research specialist in Ruella’s lab, will present the findings in a poster session on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. PT in the San Diego Convention Center Halls G-H.

###

Penn Medicine is one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, excellence in patient care, and community service. The organization consists of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn’s Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school.

The Perelman School of Medicine is consistently among the nation’s top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $550 million awarded in the 2022 fiscal year. Home to a proud history of “firsts” in medicine, Penn Medicine teams have pioneered discoveries and innovations that have shaped modern medicine, including recent breakthroughs such as CAR T cell therapy for cancer and the mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System’s patient care facilities stretch from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to the New Jersey shore. These include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and Pennsylvania Hospital—the nation’s first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Medicine at Home, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.

Penn Medicine is an $11.1 billion enterprise powered by more than 49,000 talented faculty and staff.

[ad_2]

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Source link

December 9, 2023
SmileDirectClub winds down operations — but customers are told to keep paying

[ad_1]

SmileDirectClub Inc. said late Friday it was winding down operations, effective immediately, seeming to cast its millions of customers adrift — except when it comes to their bills.

SmileDirectClub
SDCCQ,
-45.32%
said in a statement that its aligner treatment is not available to new customers. For existing customers, the company said, “we apologize for the inconvenience, but customer care support is no longer available” through its telehealth program, including periodic check-ins.

The company did not immediately return a request for comment.

People on the company’s SmilePay plan will need to make all payments until paid in full, the company said. SmileDirect also ended its lifetime guarantee.

For those seeking refunds, the company said that “there will be more information to come once the bankruptcy process determines next steps and additional measures customers can take.”

The company in late September filed for bankruptcy protection, saying it was seeking to find investors for a “comprehensive recapitalization.” In January, it laid off workers and ended a few international operations in a bid to become profitable.

The company has long attracted criticism for its teledentistry model, which it has said aims to disrupt the orthodontics industry. There were allegations a few years ago that it had harmed customers by breaking teeth and causing nerve damage, which the company denied.

Setbacks also include a scathing report from a short seller; regulatory action in California, Alabama and Georgia; and opposition to the company’s business practices from medical organizations including the American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists.

[ad_2]

Source link

December 8, 2023
UC Irvine researchers discover a mechanism that controls the identity of stem cells

[ad_1]

Newswise — Irvine, Calif., Dec. 7, 2023 — University of California, Irvine, researchers discovered a mechanism that controls the identity of stem cells. When this mechanism fails, embryonic stem cells revert back in time and become totipotent. When a cell becomes totipotent, this rare change enables the cells the ability to differentiate into hundreds of cell types, and then go on to form every part of our body. This contrasts with pluripotent stem cells which can divide into various cell types but are unable to become an entire organism solely on their own.

The study, Nuclear RNS catabolism controls endogenous retroviruses, gene expression asymmetry, and dedifferentiation, was published Dec. 7, 2023, in Molecular Cell.

“In a dish of embryonic stem cells, the majority of stem cells are pluripotent. However, one out of 1,000 cells are different from the rest, and are totipotent,” said Ivan Marazzi, PhD, director of the at UCI School of Medicine. “Totipotent cells are the only cells that have unlimited potential and can give rise to all parts of our body. We discovered the mechanism that allows this change from pluripotent to totipotent.”

The ability to change the identity of stem cells allows researchers to delve into the fundamental aspect of development, specifically what happens when two cells meet and give rise to an embryo. Moreover, many disorders like cancer and neurodegenerative disease are characterized by cells “going back in time,” a process called cellular dedifferentiation.

“Factors that control this ’reversion’ from stem cell to totipotent cell are mutated in humans with cancer and neurodegenerative disease,” said Marazzi, professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at UCI School of Medicine.” We think there is a special susceptibility of brain and cancer cells to be vulnerable to this mechanism, which could help us in the future as we treat patients with these conditions.”

The study was funded by the NIH and UCI.

UCI School of Medicine:

Each year, the UCI School of Medicine educates more than 400 medical students and nearly 150 PhD and MS students. More than 700 residents and fellows are trained at the UCI Medical Center and affiliated institutions. Multiple MD, PhD and MS degrees are offered. Students are encouraged to pursue an expansive range of interests and options. For medical students, there are numerous concurrent dual degree programs, including an MD/MBA, MD/MPH, or an MD/MS degree through one of three mission-based programs: the Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM), the Program in Medical Education for Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC), and the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). The UCI School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit medschool.uci.edu.

CITATION:

Nuclear RNA catabolism controls endogenous retroviruses, gene expression asymmetry, and dedifferentiation.

Torre D, Fstkchyan YS, Ho JSY, Cheon Y, Patel RS, Degrace EJ, Mzoughi S, Schwarz M, Mohammed K, Seo JS, Romero-Bueno R, Demircioglu D, Hasson D, Tang W, Mahajani SU, Campisi L, Zheng S, Song WS, Wang YC, Shah H, Francoeur N, Soto J, Salfati Z, Weirauch MT, Warburton P, Beaumont K, Smith ML, Mulder L, Villalta SA, Kessenbrock K, Jang C, Lee D, De Rubeis S, Cobos I, Tam O, Hammell MG, Seldin M, Shi Y, Basu U, Sebastiano V, Byun M, Sebra R, Rosenberg BR, Benner C, Guccione E, Marazzi I.Mol Cell. 2023 Nov 14:S1097-2765(23)00903-6. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.036. Online ahead of print.PMID: 37995687

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Author has no conflict of interest to disclose.

DOI: doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.036.

[ad_2]

University of California, Irvine

Source link

December 7, 2023
New Case Western Reserve University study finds diabetes drug may reduce risk for colorectal cancer

[ad_1]

Newswise — CLEVELAND—A groundbreaking study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University suggests a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes may also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).

The findings, published today (Dec. 7) in the journal JAMA Oncology, support the need for clinical trials to determine whether these medications could prevent one of the deadliest types of cancers. Eventually, the medications may also show promise in warding off other types of cancer associated with obesity and diabetes.

“Our results clearly demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs are significantly more effective than popular anti-diabetic drugs, such as Metformin or insulin, at preventing the development of CRC,” said Nathan Berger, the Hanna-Payne Professor of Experimental Medicine at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and the study’s co-lead researcher.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs, are medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Usually given by injection, they can lower blood-sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and help manage weight. They’ve also been shown to reduce the rates of major cardiovascular ailments.

Importantly the protective effect of GLP-1 RAs are noted in patients with or without overweight/obesity.

“To our knowledge,” said co-lead researcher Rong Xu, a professor at the School of Medicine, “this is the first indication this popular weight-loss and anti-diabetic class of drugs reduces incidence of CRC, relative to other anti-diabetic agents.”

Berger and Xu are members of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

National health problem

Being overweight or obese or having diabetes are risk factors for increasing incidence of CRC and for making its prognosis worse.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines being overweight and obese as an increase in size and amount of fat cells in the body above certain levels. These conditions are common nationally and are caused by several factors—among them diet, lack of sleep or physical activity, genetics and family history.

Healthcare providers use body mass index to measure body fat based on height and weight. Nearly 75% of adults ages 20 or older in the United States are either overweight or obese, and nearly 20% of children and teens ages 2 to 19 have obesity, according to the NIH.

Obesity is a chronic health condition that raises the risk for heart disease—the leading cause of death in the United States—and is linked to many other health problems, including type 2 diabetes and cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates CRC is the third-leading type of cancer in both sexes, with 153,000 new cases per year. It is also the second-leading cause of cancer mortality with 52,550 deaths per year.

The study

Since GLP-1 RAs have been shown to be effective anti-diabetic and weight-loss agents, the researchers hypothesized they might reduce incidence of CRC.

Using a national database of more than 100 million electronic health records, the researchers conducted a population-based study of more than 1.2 million patients. These individuals had been treated with anti-diabetic agents from 2005-19; the CWRU team examined the effects of GLP-1 RAs on their incidence of CRC, as compared to those prescribed other anti-diabetic drugs.

Population-based research means matching as many people as possible with the same characteristics—sex, race, age, socio-economic determinants of health and other medical conditions—to accurately compare the drug’s effects.

Among 22,572 patients with diabetes treated with insulin, there were 167 cases of CRC. Another 22,572 matched patients treated with GLP-1 RAs saw 94 cases of CRC. Those treated with GLP-1 RAs had a 44% reduction in incidence of CRC.

In a similar comparison of 18,518 patients with diabetes treated with Metformin, compared to 18,518 patients with diabetes treated with GLP-1 RAs, had a 25% reduction in CRC.

“The research is critically important for reducing incidence of CRC in patients with diabetes, with or without overweight and obesity,” Berger said.

***

(Initial data for this manuscript was developed last summer by Lindsey Wang and William Wang, Orange High School students whose work was sponsored by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Cancer Institute-funded Scientific Enrichment Opportunity/Youth Engaged in Science Program. Lindsey Wang is now a first-year undergraduate at Case Western Reserve in the pre-professional scholars program, planning to enroll at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.)

###

Case Western Reserve University is one of the country’s leading private research institutions. Located in Cleveland, we offer a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Our leading-edge faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Our nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. About 6,200 undergraduate and 6,100 graduate students comprise our student body. Visit case.edu to see how Case Western Reserve thinks beyond the possible.

[ad_2]

Case Western Reserve University

Source link

December 7, 2023
Roche's Inavolisib Breast Cancer Drug Shows Promise in Late-Stage Study
[ad_1]
```
By Mauro Orru
```
Roche Holding said its investigational treatment, inavolisib, showed promise in a late-stage study to treat patients with breast cancer.

The Swiss pharmaceutical company said Tuesday that the phase 3 study met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival, showing that inavolisib, in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant, delivered a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement compared to palbociclib and fulvestrant alone.
While Roche acknowledged that overall survival data were immature at this stage, it said it had observed a clear positive trend. The inavolisib combination was well tolerated.

The group said inavolisib is an investigational, oral targeted treatment with potential to provide durable disease control.

Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com
[ad_2]

Source link
December 4, 2023
Wearable Ultrasound Monitor Can Aid Rehabilitation from Injury #Acoustics23

[ad_1]

Newswise — SYDNEY, Dec. 5, 2023 – Millions suffer from musculoskeletal injuries every year, and the recovery process can often be long and difficult. Patients typically undergo rehabilitation, slowly rebuilding muscle strength as their injuries heal. Medical professionals routinely evaluate a patient’s progress via a series of tasks and exercises. However, because of the dynamic nature of these exercises, obtaining a clear picture of real-time muscle function is extremely challenging.

Parag Chitnis of George Mason University led a team that developed a wearable ultrasound system that can produce clinically relevant information about muscle function during dynamic physical activity. He will present his work Dec. 5 at 5:00 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time, as part of Acoustics 2023 running Dec. 4-8 at the International Convention Centre Sydney.

Many medical technologies can give doctors a window into the inner workings of a patient’s body, but few can be used while that patient is moving. A wearable ultrasound monitor can move with the patient and provide an unprecedented level of insight into body dynamics.

“For instance, when an individual is performing a specific exercise for rehabilitation, our devices can be used to ensure that the target muscle is actually being activated and used correctly,” said Chitnis. “Other applications include providing athletes with insights into their physical fitness and performance, assessing and guiding recovery of motor function in stroke patients, and assessing balance and stability in elderly populations during routine everyday tasks.”

Designing a wearable ultrasound device took much more than simply strapping an existing ultrasound monitor to a patient. Chitnis and his team reinvented ultrasound technology nearly from scratch to produce the results they needed.

“We had to completely change the paradigm of ultrasound imaging,” said Chitnis. “Traditionally, ultrasound systems transmit short-duration pulses, and the echo signals are used to make clinically usefully images. Our systems use a patented approach that relies on transmission of long-duration chirps, which allows us to perform ultrasound sensing using the same components one might find in their car radio.”

This modified approach allowed the team to design a simpler, cheaper system that could be miniaturized and powered by batteries. This let them design an ultrasound monitor with a small, portable form factor that could be attached to a patient.

Soon, Chitnis hopes to further improve his device and develop software tools to more quickly interpret and analyze the ultrasound signals.

###

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–

The Acoustical Society of America is joining the Australian Acoustical Society to co-host Acoustics 2023 in Sydney. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference.

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

ASA PRESS ROOM

In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS

ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are summaries (300-500 words) of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION

ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at [email protected]. For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY

The Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) is the peak technical society for individuals working in acoustics in Australia. The AAS aims to promote and advance the science and practice of acoustics in all its branches to the wider community and provide support to acousticians. Its diverse membership is made up from academia, consultancies, industry, equipment manufacturers and retailers, and all levels of Government. The Society supports research and provides regular forums for those who practice or study acoustics across a wide range of fields The principal activities of the Society are technical meetings held by each State Division, annual conferences which are held by the State Divisions and the ASNZ in rotation, and publication of the journal Acoustics Australia. https://www.acoustics.org.au/

###

[ad_2]

Acoustical Society of America (ASA)

Source link

December 4, 2023
Needle-Free Ultrasound Vaccine Delivery #Acoustics23

[ad_1]

Newswise — SYDNEY, Dec. 4, 2023 – An estimated quarter of adults and two-thirds of children have strong fears around needles, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet, public health depends on people being willing to receive vaccines, which are often administered by a jab.

Darcy Dunn-Lawless, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, is investigating the potential of a painless, needle-free vaccine delivery by ultrasound. He will share the recent advancements in this promising technique as part of Acoustics 2023 Sydney, running Dec. 4-8 at the International Convention Centre Sydney. His presentation will take place Dec. 4 at 11:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

“Our method relies on an acoustic effect called ‘cavitation,’ which is the formation and popping of bubbles in response to a sound wave,” said Dunn-Lawless. “We aim to harness the concentrated bursts of mechanical energy produced by these bubble collapses in three main ways. First, to clear passages through the outer layer of dead skin cells and allow vaccine molecules to pass through. Second, to act as a pump that drives the drug molecules into these passages. Lastly, to open up the membranes surrounding the cells themselves, since some types of vaccine must get inside a cell to function.”

Though initial in vivo tests reported 700 times fewer vaccine molecules were delivered by the cavitation approach compared to conventional injection, the cavitation approach produced a higher immune response. The researchers theorize this could be due to the immune-rich skin the ultrasonic delivery targets in contrast to the muscles that receive the jab. The result is a more efficient vaccine that could help reduce costs and increase efficacy with little risk of side effects.

“In my opinion, the main potential side effect is universal to all physical techniques in medicine: If you apply too much energy to the body, you can damage tissue,” Dunn-Lawless said. “Exposure to excessive cavitation can cause mechanical damage to cells and structures. However, there is good evidence that such damage can be avoided by limiting exposure, so a key part of my research is to try and fully identify where this safety threshold lies for vaccine delivery.”

Dunn-Lawless works as part of a larger team under the supervision of Dr. Mike Gray, Professor Bob Carlisle, and Professor Constantin Coussios within Oxford’s Biomedical Ultrasonics, Biotherapy and Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory (BUBBL). Their cavitation approach may be particularly conducing to DNA vaccines that are currently difficult to deliver. With cavitation able to help crack open the membranes blocking therapeutic access to the cell nucleus, the other advantages of DNA vaccines, like a focused immune response, low infection risk, and shelf stability, can be better utilized.

###

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–

The Acoustical Society of America is joining with the Australian Acoustical Society to co-host Acoustics 2023 Sydney. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference.

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

ASA PRESS ROOM

In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS

ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are summaries (300-500 words) of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION

ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at [email protected]. For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY

The Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) is the peak technical society for individuals working in acoustics in Australia. The AAS aims to promote and advance the science and practice of acoustics in all its branches to the wider community and provide support to acousticians. Its diverse membership is made up from academia, consultancies, industry, equipment manufacturers and retailers, and all levels of Government. The Society supports research and provides regular forums for those who practice or study acoustics across a wide range of fields The principal activities of the Society are technical meetings held by each State Division, annual conferences which are held by the State Divisions and the ASNZ in rotation, and publication of the journal Acoustics Australia. https://www.acoustics.org.au/

###

[ad_2]

Acoustical Society of America (ASA)

Source link

December 3, 2023
فهم العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) وآثارها الجانبية المحتملة
[ad_1]
جاكسونفيل، فلوريدا — العلاج المناعي يسخر جهاز المناعة في الجسم لمحاربة السرطان. العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (العلاج بخلايا CAR-T) هو شكل من أشكال العلاج المناعي الذي يقوم فيه أخصائيو الرعاية الصحية بإزالة الخلايا التائية للشخص — خلايا الدم البيضاء المعروفة باسم الخلايا اللمفية التي تشارك في استجابة الجهاز المناعي — وتعديلها وراثيًا لإنتاج مستقبلات المستضد الخيمرية (CARs). يتم بعد ذلك حقن الخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) مرة أخرى في مجرى دم المريض، حيث تستهدف الخلايا السرطانية وتقتلها.

يقول دكتور محمد خرفان دباجة، دكتور في الطب اختصاصي الدَّمَويات والأورام في مايو كلينك: “يعد العلاج بخلايا CAR-T من بين أكثر المجالات الواعدة لعلاج السرطان، مع العديد من قصص النجاح في جميع أنحاء العالم. لقد أعطى أملًا جديدًا للمرضى الذين كانت لديهم في السابق خيارات محدودة.”

من مؤهل للعلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T)؟

وافقت إدارة الأدوية الفيدرالية على العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) لعلاج سرطانات الدم التالية:

الأشخاص الذين يعانون من هذه التشخيصات والذين لم يستجب مرضهم للعلاج (المقاومة) أو الذين انتكس مرضهم قد يكونون مؤهلين للعلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T). يجب أن يخضع المرضى لتقييم شامل لتحديد ما إذا كان العلاج بخلايا CAR-T هو الخيار الأفضل للعلاج.

كم يستغرق الأمر من الوقت لإتمام العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T)؟

تعتبر عملية العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) معقدة ويمكن أن تستغرق عدة أسابيع. يعاني معظم الأشخاص من رد فعل تجاه الخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) مما قد يتطلب منهم البقاء في المستشفى للمراقبة والإدارة.

يقول الدكتور خرفان دباجة: “يجب على الأشخاص الذين يخططون لتلقي العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) أن يتوقعوا البقاء في المستشفى بعد حقن الخلايا لعدة أيام حتى يتمكن فريق الرعاية الخاص بهم من مراقبة استجابتهم للعلاج”.

ما الآثار الجانبية المحتملة للعلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T)؟

في حين أن الآثار الجانبية لعلاج الخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) قابلة للعكس بشكل عام، إلا أن الدكتور خرفان دباجة يقول إنها قد تشمل:
- متلازمة إطلاق السيتوكين (CRS): تعد متلازمة إطلاق السيتوكين (CRS) أحد الآثار الجانبية الأكثر شيوعًا للعلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T)، وتنجم عن الاستجابة المناعية التي تحدث عند إدخال الخلايا التائية المعدلة إلى مجرى دم المريض. عندما تبدأ الخلايا التائية في استهداف الخلايا السرطانية، فإنها تطلق عددًا كبيرًا من السيتوكينات – وهي بروتينات يمكن أن تتسبب في المبالغة في رد فعل الجهاز المناعي. وقد يؤدي هذا إلى الحُمّى، وانخفاض ضغط الدم، وآلام في العضلات وأعراض أخرى تشبه أعراض الإنفلونزا. في الحالات الشديدة، يمكن أن نسبب متلازمة إطلاق السيتوكين (CRS) فشل الأعضاء وحتى أن تكون مميتة. يمكن التحكم في معظم الأعراض المرتبطة بمتلازمة إطلاق السيتوكين (CRS) باستخدام الأدوية والمراقبة الحثيثة.
- السمية العصبية: قد يعاني بعض المرضى من تأثير عصبي يعرف باسم السمية العصبية بعد تلقي العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T). هذه حالة خطيرة محتملة تؤثر فيها الاستجابة المناعية للعلاج على الجهاز العصبي المركزي. في حين أن السبب الدقيق للتسمم العصبي غير مفهومًا جيدًا، تشير بعض الدراسات إلى أنه يرتبط جزئيًا بخطورة متلازمة إطلاق السيتوكين (CRS). يمكن أن تشمل الأعراض الارتباك والنوبات المَرَضية وصعوبة التحدث أو المشي. يتم حل معظم حالات السمية العصبية من خلال المراقبة الحثيثة دون آثار جانبية طويلة المدى.
- اضطرابات الدم: يمكن أن يؤدي العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) إلى تغيرات في الدم يمكن أن تؤدي إلى فقر الدم ، ونقص الصفيحات (انخفاض عدد الصفائح الدموية) واضطرابات الدم الأخرى. عادةً ما تكون هذه التأثيرات قصيرة الأمد وتختفي من تلقاء نفسها بمرور الوقت، ولكنها قد تكون أكثر خطورة لدى بعض المرضى.
- العَدوى: قد يكون الأشخاص الذين يتلقون العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) أكثر عرضة للإصابة بالعدوى، خاصة خلال الأسابيع القليلة الأولى بعد العلاج عندما يعمل الجهاز المناعي وقتًا إضافيًا لمحاربة السرطان. يمكن أن يبقى الأشخاص الذين يعانون من انخفاض عدد خلايا الدم البيضاء أكثر عرضة لخطر الإصابة بالعَدوى لبعض الوقت. ويجب مراقبتهم عن قرب بحثًا عن مؤشرات العَدوى، بما في ذلك الحُمّى والقشعريرة والشعور العام بالتوعك.
- الآثار الجانبية طويلة المدى: نظرًا لأن العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) لا يزال جديدًا نسبيًا، فإن المتخصصين في الرعاية الصحية لا يعلمون بعد النطاق الكامل لآثاره الجانبية طويلة المدى.
يشجع الدكتور خرفان دباجة الأشخاص الذين يفكرون في العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) على التحدث مع فرق الرعاية الخاصة بهم حول المخاطر والفوائد المحتملة وأي مخاوف بشأن صحتهم على المدى الطويل. ويوصي أيضًا بالسعي للحصول على تقييم للعلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T) في مركز علاج السرطان الشامل.

يقول الدكتور: “إذا كنت تعتقد أنك أو شخص عزيز لديك قد تكون مرشحًا لهذا العلاج، فمن الأفضل التواصل مع فريق رعاية لديه خبرة في علاج العديد من مرضى السرطان الذين يتلقون العلاج بالخلايا التائية المستقبلة للمستضدات الخيمرية (CAR-T)”.

تم نشر هذه المقالة في الأصل على مدونة مركز مايو كلينك الشامل للسرطان.

###

نبذة عن مايو كلينك
مايو كلينك هي مؤسسة غير ربحية تلتزم بالابتكار في الممارسات السريرية والتعليم والبحث وتوفير التعاطف والخبرة لكل مَن يحتاج إلى الاستشفاء والرد على استفساراته. لمعرفة المزيد من أخبار مايو كلينك، تفضَّل بزيارة شبكة مايو كلينك الإخبارية.
[ad_2]

Mayo Clinic

Source link
December 1, 2023
December 2023 Issue of Neurosurgical Focus: “Enhanced Recovery After Cranial Surgery”
[ad_1]
Newswise — Rolling Meadows, IL (December 1, 2023). The October issue of Neurosurgical Focus (Vol. 55, No. 6 [https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/55/6/neurosurg-focus.55.issue-6.xml]) presents twelve articles and one editorial on enhanced recovery after cranial surgery.

Topic Editors: Walavan Sivakumar, Neil Martin, Sarah T. Menacho, Randy S. D’Amico, and Luca Regli

Following on earlier attention to enhanced recovery in spine surgery, the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus focuses on enhance recovery after cranial surgery. The issue’s editors present “a contemporary and global selection of evidence-based studies encompassing the range of cranial surgery” with the “hope that this issue will serve as a valuable reference for the readership in their own protocol development efforts.”

Contents of the December issue:
- “Introduction. Developing the foundation for enhanced recovery after cranial surgery” by Walavan Sivakumar et al.
- “Theory-based implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol for cranial surgery” by Aimun A. B. Jamjoom et al.
- “Editorial. Overcoming implementation barriers in enhanced recovery using theory-based approaches” by Walavan Sivakumar
- “Development and implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Cranial Surgery pathway following supratentorial tumor resection at a tertiary care center” by Hammad A. Khan et al.
- “Enhanced recovery after brain tumor surgery: pilot protocol implementation in a large healthcare system” by Walavan Sivakumar et al.
- “Enhanced recovery and same-day discharge after brain tumor surgery under general anesthesia: initial experience with Hospital-at-Home–based postoperative follow-up” by Cristina A. Pelaez-Sanchez et al.
- “Effect of the enhanced recovery protocol in patients with brain tumors undergoing elective craniotomies: a systematic review and meta-analysis” by Suchada Supbumrung et al.
- “Same-day discharge after craniotomy for brain tumor resection: enhancing patient selection through a prognostic scoring system” by Adam S. Levy et al.
- “The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol for the perioperative management of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors/pituitary adenomas” by Giulia Cossu et al.
- “An institutional experience in applying quality improvement measures to pituitary surgery: clinical and resource implications” by Panayiotis E. Pelargos et al.
- “Early versus delayed mobilization after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and safety” by Alberto Morello et al.
- “Applications of enhanced recovery after surgery protocolsfor unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms in tertiary-level healthcare institutions: a national study” by Fatih Yakar et al.
- “Effects of a sphenopalatine ganglion block on postcraniotomy pain management: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial” by Giorgio Mantovani et al.
- “The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol for the surgical management of craniosynostosis: Lausanne experience” by Amani Belouaer et al.
Please join us in reading this month’s issue of Neurosurgical Focus.

***

Embargoed Article Access and Author/Expert Interviews: Contact JNSPG Director of Publications Gillian Shasby at [email protected] for advance access and to arrange interviews with the authors and external experts who can provide context for this research.

###

The global leader for cutting-edge neurosurgery research since 1944, the Journal of Neurosurgery (www.thejns.org) is the official journal of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) representing over 12,000 members worldwide (www.AANS.org).
[ad_2]

Journal of Neurosurgery

Source link
November 30, 2023
7% Dividend Yields or Higher: The S&P 500’s 6 Best Payouts

[ad_1]

7% Dividend Yields or Higher: The S&P 500’s 6 Best Payouts

[ad_2]

Source link

November 29, 2023