Category Archives: Integrative Medicine

The U.S. government will spend $3 million to find out whether marijuana can relieve pain but none of the money will be used to study THC, the ingredient in the plant that gets people high.

Nine newly announced research grants are for work on CBD, the ingredient now turning up seemingly everywhere in cosmetics and foods, and hundreds of less familiar chemicals.

THC research was excluded. The federal government still considers marijuana an illegal drug, though Illinois is among more than 30 states that allow it use for a range of medical problems, some without good evidence.

The science is strongest for chronic pain, which is the most common reason people give when they enroll in state-approved medical marijuana programs.

But little is known about which parts of marijuana are helpful and whether the intoxicating effects of THC can be avoided.

The science is lagging behind the public use and interest, said Dr. David Shurtleff, deputy director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, which is funding the projects. Were doing our best to catch up here.

THC has been investigated extensively, Shurtleff said, and its potential for addiction and abuse make it unsuitable for treating pain.

Other federal agencies have supported marijuana research, though much of the focus has been on potential harms. Shurtleff said the grants answer the call in a 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report that concluded a lack of marijuana research poses a public health risk.

Another impetus is the nations opioid addiction crisis, with its roots in overuse of prescription painkillers. The crisis has sparked new scientific interest in marijuanas pain-easing properties.

Dr. Judith Hellman, a grant recipient from University of California San Francisco, said scientists need to better understand pain and to find more ways to treat it.

Its very exciting to have the opportunity to do that, Hellman said.

Her research involves the bodys ability to produce signaling molecules similar to marijuanas ingredients. The work that she and Dr. Mark Schumacher have done involves human immune cells in the lab and tests on mice.

Human test subjects will be involved in only one of the new grant projects. University of Utah researcher Deborah Yurgelun-Todd will scan the brains of human volunteers with lower-back pain to see how CBD extract mixed with chocolate pudding affects pain-signaling pathways. Half of the volunteers will get pudding without CBD as a control group.

Two more human studies could be funded in a second round of grant awards.

In July, the National Institute on Drug Abuse said it would grow 4,409 pounds of marijuana this year at the University of Mississippi, which holds the sole federal contract for producing research cannabis. Those plants wont be used in many of the new projects, which instead will use lab-made versions of the chemicals.

Researchers at the University of Illinois hope to create a library of useful compounds found in cannabis plants.

We make them from scratch and test them one by one, said David Sarlah, a U. of I. chemistry professor.

Marijuana contains such tiny amounts of the interesting ingredients that its too costly and time-consuming to isolate enough for research, according to Sarlah.

Hell make the chemicals, and his colleague Aditi Das will run tests to see how they react with mouse immune cells.

There are so many beneficial effects that patients report, Das said. We need to know the science behind it.

More:
Can CBD from marijuana relieve pain? Government is spending $3 million to find out. - Chicago Sun-Times

Actress Demi Moore worked several years on her memoir, which is being released this month. The well-known celebrity details her life from childhood through her rise to stardom in her book Inside Out, including details on the highly-publicized struggles shes had over the past decade. Those tough times included being shunned by her three daughters from her marriage to Bruce Willis. In her book, she reveals why her kids needed to distance themselves from her for a while.

Moore wed Willis in 1987, when he was already considered a Hollywood celeb with his role on Moonlighting and upcoming blockbuster film franchise Die Hard. It was the second time at the alter for Moore, who had previously been married to musician Freddy Moore. Soon, Moore became a rising star as well, landing parts in box offices hits such as Ghost, A Few Good Men, and Indecent Proposal.

The couple had three daughters while they were married Rumer in 1988, Scout in 1991, and Tallulah in 1994. The New York Times reports that in her upcoming memoir, Moore shares that Willis wasnt thrilled with her career taking her away from the family so frequently, even telling her at one point he may not want to be married.

The couple separated in 1998 and divorced in 2000, though the two have remained very close since their split, according to Heavy. Willis went on to marry former model Emma Heming in 2009 and the couple has two children. Moore wed actor Ashton Kutcher, who was 15 years her junior, in 2005. The couple separated in 2011 and divorced two years later.

Moore dealt with substance abuse, body image issues, and alcoholism over the years, all which she documents in the book. One 2012 incident that made headlines entailed a 911 call due toMoore having a seizure after smoking synthetic cannabis and inhaling nitrous oxideat a partyshe attended with daughter Rumer.

Part of my life was clearly unraveling, shesaid in The New York Times interview. I had no career. No relationship. The actress reveals in the memoir that her health was being affected, where she experienced autoimmune and digestive problems. Something was going on, including my organs slowly shutting down, Moore said, adding the root was a major heavy viral load.

Moores daughters distanced themselves from her during her time of tumult due to her alcohol and substance abuse, cutting off contact with their mom. At the time,Moorehad signed on to write a book for Harper that focused on the mothers and daughters in her family, as reported by The New York Times. Due to the rift and Moores addiction battles, she chose to start her personal memoir instead.

The actress slowly started on the road to recovery, going to a rehab program for trauma, codependency and substance abuse. She also worked with a doctor specializing in integrative medicine for her health issues and began the reconciliation process with her daughters. Her memoir became a priority, which she completed with the help of co-author Ariel Levy.

Her daughters reviewed the manuscript and were given permission to request edits, though none of them did. The book brought up some painful memories for Moores kids. Its challenging because shes making this amazing effort to put out the most vulnerable moments of her life, Scout said, according to NYT. It just happens that it also coincides with some of the most challenging and traumatic times of mine.

Scout went on to share how proud she is of her mother for doing the internal work that she didnt have the time to do, for a long time, because she was just in survival mode. Oldest daughter Rumer also commented that she now understands that parents are allowed to make mistakes. We grow up thinking that our parents are these immovable gods of Olympus, Rumer said. Obviously, as we grow older, we start to realize how much our parents are just people.

Today, Moores relationship with her daughters is in a much better place. She recently posted a loving birthday message to Rumer last month on Instagram. Happy Birthday Baby Ru!Before you I didnt really know what love was! Moore wrote.You continue to light the pathway of loving and I am honored to be on this ride with you my angel!Thank you for being a beautiful teacher and a magnificent being.I love you beyond measure! Rumer returned the loving sentiment, posting in response, I love you so much mama, honored to be yours.

Fans can read more on Moore when her book goes on sale September 24.

Read more here:
Demi Moore Reveals Why She Was Estranged From Her Three Daughters in Upcoming Book - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

THE Well Cofounder Rebecca Parekh pivoted from finance to wellness

Just a block away from the crowds on 14th Street, far removed from the pervasive NYC soundtrack of jackhammering and honking, and beyond the stress of endless texts from your job, your partner or your boss is The Well. Designed to be an oasis of Zen in the middle of Manhattan, visitors are greeted by a tranquil, yet cool design defined by pale hues, natural materials, and curved silhouettes. There is even a soothing signature scent designed by a bio-alchemist. Anyone can peruse their beautifully edited shop selling holistic, indie skincare, jewelry and books, or grab a bite at their organic restaurant. However, only the wellness social clubs members, can step just beyond the public spaces to access a stunning 18,000 square-foot mecca for all things healthy.

Anyone who has even dipped a toe into the world of alternative health practitioners knows that it often requires extensive research as most traditional doctors arent versed in therapies such as acupuncture, Craniosacral therapy, or Ayurvedic medicine. Another hurdle is that different experts often provide conflicting advice on supplements, food, and exercise, leaving people more confused than when they began. As more and more Americans turn to alternative medicine to combat issues ranging from digestive health, sleep, and even mental health, it is challenging to know to navigate the wellness landscape.

Rebecca Parekh was once one of those stressed out finance workers, plagued by health and sleep issues and looking for solutions beyond anxiety medicines and antibiotics. Over the course of 10 years, Parekh and her CoFounders Sarrah Hallock and Kane Sarhan spent time envisioning a one-stop shop for people to connect with the best experts in wellness, who would all working together to achieve a healthier mind and body.

Memberships are by invitation only, and cost $375 a month ($210 if you are under age 32). They include a monthly health coaching session, unlimited meditation and yoga classes, weekly programming, and access to their functional medicine, Aruyvedic and Chinese Medicine practitioners. Rather than take meetings over cocktails, members can talk shop at the reflexology lounge, sip complimentary bone broth in between energy healing sessions, or consult with a sports therapist.

In advance of the opening of The Well this week, we spoke to Parekh about how she made the leap from finance to wellness and what inspired the cutting edge health center.

Sara Bliss: You started your career in finance. What drew you to that world initially?

Rebecca Parekh: Finance was not the original planI studied Biological Anthropology in college and wanted to work with orangutans in Borneo. But I had the opportunity to interview for an internship at Deutsche Bank. I was so inspired by the people I met that I happily accepted an offerand then stayed for 10 years. I found the work to be intellectually stimulating and I really loved how challenged I felt.

Bliss: What made you leave?

Parekh: I was working in structured credit during the 2008 financial crisis, which was intense to say the least. I loved my job, but my life felt out of balance and one-dimensional. I didnt feel emotionally connected to my work and was craving something more purpose-driven. I had always been interested in politics, activism and non-profit work, so I started giving thought to other industries. It was scary because I didnt really have a plan and a lot of really smart people advised me not to leave without one. I had to trust my instincts, though, and knew that only with space and time to think could I figure out the right next step for my life. I took the leap and resigned in the spring of 2011.

Bliss: What prep did you do to pivot into the wellness world?

Parekh: Although my Deutsche Bank experience wasnt directly transferable, a lot of the skills I learnedunderstanding financial models, negotiating contracts, and thinking strategicallyall applied to the work I did in the non-profit sector and then my role as COO for Deepak Chopra. I pushed myself to learn as much as possible. I voraciously studied healthcare trends and research reports. I met with doctors and wellness thought-leaders and read 2000-year-old texts on yoga. In addition, I completed two 200-hour yoga teacher training, and took an Ayurveda course at the Open Center.There were definitely moments of doubt along the way, but my passion, excitement and curiosity propelled me forward.

Bliss: What inspired you to cofound The Well? How did the idea come about?

Parekh: In early 2009, I wasnt sleeping well and I was getting sick all the time. The options presented to me were antibiotics, anxiety drugs and sleeping pillsnone of which appealed to me. I knew there was a better way to address it, one that didnt rely on drugs. In the fall of 2009, I was headed to a work conference in Arizona and my friend and colleague suggested we go to a destination spa in Sedona on our way there. That weekend changed my life. I threw my back out the night before we left and could barely move when we arrived. It forced me to be still and slow down. I received really restorative treatments like Craniosacral massage and I ate well, slept well and listened to inspiring conversations. In three short days I felt revitalized and energized in a way I didnt know was possible. I sat in the meditation room that last day and thought to myself, I have to figure out how to bring this to New York.

How to find Zen during a busy day--the Meditation Room at The WELL, NYC

Bliss: What do you think The Well offers that isn't already out there?

Parekh: With so many different offerings in the health and wellness space, people find themselves running around town and often receiving conflicting advice. It can be both time-consuming and confusing. At The Well, our expert team of integrative medicine doctors, health coaches and practitioners work together to provide a personalized offering. They help our members consider how all areas of ones life are impacting their well-being, then develop a customized plan to meet their needs. Together, the team draws upon a wide array of disciplines including Chinese Medicine, Functional Medicine and Ayurveda. This model makes wellness easier, accessible and more enjoyable.

Bliss: How did you take the concept from idea to implementation?

Parekh: The idea had been there since 2009, but it wasnt until 2015 that I decided to really go for it. The first year was a lot of research and development. I was meeting different doctors and practitioners, asking questions and figuring out if they would come together and practice medicine in this new and integrated way. There was a lot to learn on the legal side as wellNew York has very strict requirements on how medical practices can be operated and managed. I also started looking at real estate. My partners and I started working together full time and they both left really big careers to jump off this cliff with me. I dont think we even knew what we were in for at that time! Weve raised a total of $18 million to date across both our seed round and our Series A.

Bliss: What advice do you have to other people who want to make a career pivot?

Parekh: Embrace the not knowing. Its ok to not have it all figured out. Start with a picture of where you want to go and then draw the path of how youll get there. Try not to be too attached to one outcome. I really believe this mindset matters.

Read more here:
The Well: Helping Stressed Out Workers Find Zen - Forbes

Cooking oil: Avoid reusing cooking oil for cooking; Cook food in fresh oil for each meal

Have you paid attention to cooking oil, and how many times you reheat the oil that used for deep frying or pan frying? Raising awareness about this dangerous but highly ignored kitchen practice is lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho in one of his live sessions on Facebook. Reusing cooking oil is usually done because of excess food or meal prepping. This common kitchen practice might help you save up on time and even money, but it may be the reason for high levels of inflammation in your body. Read below to know more about the dangers of reheating cooking oil.

Anything that is carcinogenic has the possibility of causing cancer. More and more research is showing how aldehydes - toxic elements - that are produced when you reheat oil. Cooking food by reusing cooking oil can also increase free radicals in the body, which can cause inflammation - the root cause of most diseases including obesity, heart disease and diabetes. High inflammation in the body can also reduce immunity and make you pronetoinfections.

Reusing cooking oil can make food carcinogenicPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Mustard Oil: The One Cooking Oil Which Is Good For Your Heart, Skin And Much More

Food cooked in black, smoked oil which is being used and reheated throughout the day can increase level of LDL or bad cholesterol in the body. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase risks of heart disease, stroke and chest pain. Avoid reusing cooking oil to avoid cholesterol-related problems.

If that burning sensation in your stomach and throat has become more frequent than ever, then reheated cooking oil may be the culprit behind it. Avoid eating roadside junk and deep-fried food if you experience more acidity than usual. If it helps reducing acidity, then you have your answer about its causative factor - reusingcooking oil!

Also read:This Is Undoubtedly The Best And Worst Cooking Oil For Your Health: Tells Our Expert Nutritionist

Home-cooked food is the most fresh and healthiest variety of food you can eat. Cooking food at home empowers you to decide what ingredients go in your food. From cooking oil to carbs, protein, fats and fibre, home-cooked food can provide you the perfect balanced diet you need for good health and weight loss. Make sure that you don't use already used cooking oil.

Eat home-cooked food most of the times to avoid eating food in reheated cooking oilPhoto Credit: iStock

This is an effective way to reduce excess cooking oil. Calculate the amount of food you need for a particular meal to avoid food wastage. Cook fresh food as frequently as possible. Cooking food in small quantities can also help you practice portion control - which is a key practice if you want to lose weight.

Also read:Cooking Oil: Know Which One Is The Best For You

There are times when you simply cannot avoid eating out. But, you can definitely work on reducing the number of times you have to eat out. Meal prepping can help you in this case. On a day when you know you have to travel or not be at home or your workplace, carry your food with you. This will help you keep up with your weight loss diet and also avoid eating food which is most likely to be cooked in reheated oil. You can also opt for fast food that involves less use of oil like salads, dosa and idli.

4. If you have Alzheimer's, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or any other disease running in the family, it gives you all the more reason to avoid reheating cooking oil. It is going to contribute to more inflammation in conditions that are already inflammatory in nature.

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Read more here:
Reheating Cooking Oil: 7 Health Risks Involved; Know Ways To Avoid Reusing Cooking Oil - NDTV News

Records obtained by The Buffalo News show medical missteps in the Erie County Holding Center preceded the recent death of inmate Connell Burrell.

The records, which provide the first full account of what happened, show Burrell's blood sugar crashed to dangerously low levels after he was given a large dose of jail-provided insulin.

With Burrell sweating and confused, Holding Center nurses tried to restore the diabetic man's glucose with, among other things, a peanut butter sandwich. That's exactly what an expert in the field says they should not have done.

Soon after, the inmate suffered an apparent seizure. Then his heart stopped. And remnants of the sandwich snarled efforts by ambulance medics and emergency room doctors to force air into his lungs.

The medics and doctors fought to keep Burrell's heart pumping after he collapsed around 10:30 p.m. on July 31 roughly 12 hours after being placed in the jail.

But his condition did not improve. With family members standing by, he died the morning of Aug. 2 in Buffalo General Medical Center.

Connell Burrell was 44 when he died after less than a day in the Erie County Holding Center.

The Sheriff's Office this week fired a medical employee after an internal investigation revealed "the totality of the circumstances surrounding this case," Administrative Chief John W. Greenan said. A second medical employee also faces disciplinary action, he said.

Aside from that disclosure, Sheriff Timothy B. Howard and his aides have kept a lid on their information about Burrell and his treatment inside the jail, citing a federal health privacy law. The Howard team told Burrell's next of kin that handing them the jail's medical record would violate the dead man's "personal privacy."

That's unlike the stance taken at Buffalo General. Its doctors and nurses compiled summaries of Burrell's treatment in the jail and in the hospital and those summaries were given to Burrell's family. The News has the summaries, as well as the ambulance medics' record of their efforts to save Burrell.

"I think they've just got improper procedures in the Holding Center," said Monica Lynch, a sister of Burrell who was with him when he died.

"They are not properly taking care of people," she said. "This could have been prevented."

Burrell lived in the city's Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood. He was 44 and small in stature, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 110 pounds. One of his shoulders would separate easily, making manual labor difficult, his sister said.

In 2016, Burrell was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes; his system did not produce enough insulin to maintain safe levels of glucose, the body's main energy source. For the last couple of years, he had been able to test his glucose on his own and prevent it from going too high, Lynch said. He also had been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which made it harder for him to breathe.

Burrell entered the Holding Center on July 31. He was to serve 15 days after a misdemeanor drug possession charge was lowered to disorderly conduct.

Incoming inmates are questioned about their medical needs, and that afternoon Burrell's blood sugar was checked. The medical record indicates that around 2:30 p.m. it was 368 milligrams per deciliter, which the American Diabetes Association considers high, according to ADA literature.

Four hours passed before the jail's medical team addressed Burrell's glucose level, the medical record indicates. By then, it was higher, 528 mg/dl.

Sometime between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., the inmate was given an injection of insulin that appears to be supported by the jail's policy on diabetic care 14 units of subQ humalog, according to the medical record. He was returned to his cell.

The American Diabetes Association says insulin delivery should be timed with meals to effectively process glucose. But after reviewing the steps taken at the Holding Center to lower Burrell's blood sugar, a doctor at Buffalo General wrote that he didn't know if Burrell ate something with that dose of subQ humalog.

"Later that night," the doctor continued, "he was found on the floor."

It was around 10 p.m. Burrell's blood sugar had plummeted.

The ADA recommends taking immediate steps if a person's blood sugar falls below 70 mg/dl. Burrell's, according to the record, was 26.

Had he received too much insulin?

Jennifer Jennings has a doctorate degree as a nurse practitioner. She's a former level one trauma nurse who taught nursing at Georgetown University and now serves as medical director of Cardea Health Integrative, a practice she founded and owns in East Aurora.

One unit of insulin is required to drop blood glucose by 50 mg/dl, Jennings said, citing guidance provided by the University of California, San Francisco.

Based on that guidance, Burrell received enough insulin to drop his glucose level by 700 mg/dl.

"I would have started at seven to eight units," Jennings said.

It's better to use less insulin at first and then reassess, she explained.

Burrell was confused and sweating but able to walk to the jail's infirmary, the medical record says. He was given glucose, both orally and with an injection. The record indicates Burrell also was given a peanut butter sandwich.

Articles in health journals say peanut butter can help restore blood glucose, but they note the risk in giving peanut butter or any solid food to someone with blood sugar as low as Burrell's; the patient could have trouble chewing and swallowing.

Dr. Paresh Dandona is a distinguished professor at the University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He also founded the Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of Western New York and serves as its medical director. Like Jennings, Dandona has no connection to the Burrell case.

"That treatment was wrong, in my view," Dandona said of the move to give Burrell solid food. In fact, Dandona would have balked at liquids, too. He would have provided glucose only intravenously.

"Even if you are somewhat conscious, you are not fully conscious," he said of a patient with blood glucose in the 20s. "Your swallowing may be wrong, or not adequate. Any fluid that may be given could go into your windpipe. Or into your lungs. The same could happen with solid food.

"To be given a sandwich to chew," he said, "is an impossible undertaking."

Burrell's inability to get the food down complicated matters for the ambulance crew, which was called around 10:30 p.m.

With Burrell in cardiac arrest, the medics tried to insert a breathing tube through his mouth and into his airway. But their first try failed. In their record of the call, medics from AMR say that secretions, such as blood and vomit, were in the way.

As four minutes ticked by, the medics tried again. This time, the "procedure was successful," their record says.

While the tube would help the medics force air into Burrell's lungs, he had no pulse. They tried multiple rounds of chest compressions and gave him three doses of epinephrine, or adrenaline, with no immediate success, the record says.

Finally, at 11:22 p.m., they "achieved sustained pulse," according to the summary compiled at Buffalo General.

Burrell's heart had been stopping and starting, albeit weakly, for 45 minutes.

At the hospital, the emergency room staff noted the "extensive vomitus" on Burrell's face and around the tube. When they tried to replace the breathing tube for another that would attach to a respirator "extensive suctioning" was needed, the medical record says.

The stated reason: "nondigested peanut butter sandwiches."

A doctor wrote that he suspected the patient had a hypoglycemic seizure a seizure caused by low blood sugar and "aspirated" by breathing in foreign matter, such as food or vomit. At that point, he went into "hypoxic arrest," the doctor wrote. Burrell's heart had stopped from a lack of oxygen.

Over the coming days, Burrell fell into "pulseless electrical activity" multiple times. Just before 3 p.m. on Aug. 1, Buffalo General's Dr. James G. Lampasso placed these statements into his record: "Patient's condition remains tenuous." Burrell's family, the doctor noted, had been told that weak blood flow may have affected his internal organs.

Another of Burrell's sisters, Krystal Avant, decided it was time. With doctors asked to take no further lifesaving measures, Burrell died around 7:20 a.m. on Aug. 2, three days after entering the Holding Center. His survivors included a teenage son.

Avant said she had talked with her brother in the jail by phone between 8 and 9 p.m. on July 31 and he seemed fine. The next morning, someone from the Holding Center alerted the family that he was in Buffalo General, and they should hurry to the hospital, she said.

The Holding Center has had other bad outcomes with diabetic inmates. Craig Beatty nearly died when Holding Center personnel failed to give him his insulin over two days in 2005, even as he asked for it repeatedly. Like Burrell, Beatty's arrest, after a dispute with an Elma merchant, disrupted his regular management of his condition. Erie County settled his lawsuit for $150,000.

At the time, the sheriff controlled the jail's medical team. That changed in 2009.

As the U.S. Justice Department bore down to force more humane conditions in the Holding Center and the county Correctional Facility in Alden, the county health commissioner took control of the medical staff. Sheriff Howard went along, reasoning that health professionals were best overseen by a health professional.

In 2017, Howard returned to past practice by creating a "division of correctional health" under his control and the control of his appointees. A court-appointed monitor did not oppose the move.

Six Erie County inmates have died since then, continuing the rate of an inmate death every six months or so during Howard's 14-year oversight of the Holding Center and Correctional Facility.

Read more:
Peanut butter and cardiac arrest: Diabetic inmate at Holding Center dies - Buffalo News

Several changes have been made to the Golden Leaf Holdings executive team: John Varghese, who served as interim chief executive officer after the resignation of Gary Zipfel, has transitioned to the role of executive chairman; Jeffrey Yapp has assumed the role of CEO and joined the board of directors; Ekaterina (Kate) Koustareva is serving as interim chief financial officer; Stan Grissinger has been hired to the position of president; Erin Hills was promoted to senior vice president, operations.

I look forward to leading Golden Leaf Holdings into a new phase of growth for both our shareholders and team, said Yapp. It is exciting to be part of an industry where the work we do and how we do it has the potential to make such a significant impact in the quality of peoples lives. Rarely does one get the chance to work in an industry with such an explosive growth opportunity. I believe that Golden Leaf Holdings has the ability to set a standard of excellence that leads and shapes the industry. Among my first priorities is to select and build a world-class leadership team, who will come together to execute a series of significant new initiatives.

Kevin Ma has resigned from Canadian investment company Nabis Holdings board of directors but will continue to offer consulting services.

Kevin has played an integral part in building the company as it exists today and we sincerely thank him for his dedicated work and support, said Nabis chief executive officer and director Shay Shnet. We look forward to receiving his continued wisdom and guidance in a consulting capacity going forward.

Michigan-based Wolverine Partners Corp. (d.b.a. Gage Cannabis Co.) announced the change of its corporate name to Gage Growth Corp. and has appointed former Canopy Growth chief executive officer Bruce Linton to the role of executive chairman.

Bruce brings unrivaled cannabis industry experience and a proven track record of success to our company, said Gage President Fabian Monaco. With his insight and leadership, we expect to enhance the support we offer our medical patients around the state of Michigan. Bruces vigor, knowledge, and passion for this business will be key drivers in continuing Gages growth throughout Michigan and beyond.

CB2 Insights has recruited Colombian naturopathic and integrative medicine physician Dr. Paola Cubillos to lead its medical cannabis research programs as it enters the Columbian market. In her role as medical director, Cubillos will assist the company in growing a physician network and building a patient registry.

There has been solid growth in positive physician perception throughout Colombia, but we are now at an inflection point where cultivators and manufacturers must embrace traditional research protocols to truly commercialize their products in a meaningful way, said Dr. Cubillos. CB2 Insights has become the go-to name for cannabis-focused research programs in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom, and Im excited to bring that experience to the Colombian market.

Canopy Rivers Inc., a venture capital firm specializing in cannabis, has formed an advisory board to strengthen its global portfolio of leading cannabis companies. Inaugural members of the board include: John Ruffolo, co-founder and vice chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators; Meg Lovell, former co-head of M&A and corporate and commercial counsel at Imperial Brands PLC; and award-winning marketing strategist Philip Donne.

We have assembled a group of outstanding individuals with exceptional track records as leaders in their respective industries, said Canopy Rivers President and Chief Executive Officer Narbe Alexandrian. The Strategic Advisory Board will play an important role in providing guidance and insight to Canopy Rivers as we pursue our global growth strategy. Together, we look forward to building the cannabis industry of tomorrow, today.

Sproutly Canada, Inc. has appointed Constantine Constandis as an independent director to its board of directors. With tenures at Pernod Ricard, Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd, and Seagram Company Ltd, Constandis possesses over 34 years of experience in the wine and spirits industry in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

We are very pleased with the addition of Constantine Constandis to Sproutlys board of directors, said chairman and Chief Executive Officer Keith Dolo. Constantine has been a valued contributor to Sproutly since joining our advisory board last year, and this was the next logical step as we looked to expand our board. His track record in brand building, operations, sales, and marketing in the highly-regulated spirits industry will prove to be extremely valuable to Sproutly as it continues to develop into a leading cannabis beverage company.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures has appointed four new members to its board of directors. George Wen will serve as chairman of the board while Danny Cheung, Yang Lin, and Pyng Soon, will serve as independent directors.

Alan Tran and Simon Yu have resigned from their positions on the board. Yu will remain in his role as chief executive officer.

Hemp processor Landrace Bioscience has established an advisory board with four founding members: Anthony L. Almada, MSc, FISSN, David Karli, MD, Joe Petrosino, PhD, and Marci van der Meulen.

At Landrace, every step we take is backed by comprehensive research and strategy, said Landrace Bioscience Chief Executive Officer John DeMoss. Aligning ourselves with expert counsel continues to further our objective of pursuing truth and transparency in our development of best-in-class hemp ingredients for use in the natural products industry.

Working with this team of established experts will allow us to forge a path forward toward developing new innovations and expanding our current product lines while solidifying ourselves as leaders within the industry.

Have new hire or promotion news to share on Cannabis Career Watch? Send your press release to editorial@cannmg.com.

Excerpt from:
Cannabis Career Watch | New Hires and Promotions September 20, 2019 - mg Cannabis Retailer

This article first appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of NewBeauty. Clickhereto subscribe.

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LANSERHOF LANSThe luxury boot camp for your microbiome.

You already own the Very Best Private Island. And you flythere on the Very Best Private Jet. But from eating in theVery Best Restaurants and the stress of your Very Important Job, you dont have the Very Best Microbiome, theguts bacterial ecosystem that affects everything fromweight to mood. For 35 years, celebs and moguls have escaped toLanserhof for the LANS Med Concept, a detoxifying vacation foryour digestive system inspired by the Mayr Cure, which was designedmore than 100 years ago by Austrian gastro Dr. Franz Xaver Mayr.

THE PROGRAM: After a battery of medical tests, your personal doctor micromanagesin the best possible wayevery minute of yourday, assigning you a series of therapeutic spa treatments (soothingstomach massages, warming seaweed packs, gentle body scrubs). Atyour next meal, youll head to your assigned seat, where youll find aposh, gray GioBagnara tray full of probiotics, bitters and vitamins prescribed for your unique needs. Youll alsobe assigned a number from zero to three,which indicates your meal plan. Your fellowbillionaires will be very interested in yournumber: Level Zero equals a cup of herbaltea and a slice of orange for each meal. LevelsOne and Two are built around low-glycemic,bland foods like buckwheat toast and boiledpotatoes. Level Three, glorious Three, meansyoull be eating Lanserhof s nutrient-rich, insanely delicious energy cuisine. (Your fellowbillionaires will boast that they are going topoach Lanserhof s chef, Karsten Wolf.) Regardless of your assigned level, you will betrained on how to properly chew: a minimum of 30 times per bite. (Even the teadrinkers are encouraged to chew each sip.)

You May Also Like: 4 Ways I Learned How to Adopt a Healthier Diet From a Woman Who Completely Transformed Her Body

THE TAKEAWAY: By the end of the week,your eyes shine, your skin glows, your heartsings. At home, youll continue to chew yourfood with care: maybe not 30 times for eachbite, but close. Youll wonder on occasionwhat happened to the cranky Level Zero oligarch who disappeared on day two. Youll eatsalads only at breakfast or lunch (you hadlearned that raw foods at night are too toughfor your stomach to digest). Youve come upwith your next billion-dollar idea. And youvealready booked your return visits for 2020,2021, 2022 and beyond. Emily Dougherty

Image courtesy of The Brando

THE BRANDOLike Gilligan's Island if the Howells got there first (with their talented team of architects and interior designers, naturally), this French Polynesian private island doesn't skimp on the spa experienceor the luxury.

Marlon Brandos former personal retreat, The Brando, isa bit of a relaxation-meets-rejuvenation fairy tale, a truewonderland of wellness (itwas one of Barack Obamas first stops afterleaving office) where the eco-friendly factoris high and so are the over-the-top touches.Set 30 miles north of Tahiti, privacy is keybesides being a legitimate private island,there are only 35 villas on the quiet propertyand recent upgrades like well-appointedoverwater suites seamlessly add to the natural, unspoiled habitat (sustainability is taken very seriously here). Michelin-star cuisineand an abundance of on-land, on-water activities round out the special, once-in-a-lifetime offerings the location is known for.

The somewhat-hidden Varua Te Ora spakeeps to the tropical-sanctuary theme withtraditional Polynesian treatments performedhigh above the trees. Youll find your standard facial, massage, scrub, steam room farehere, but theres something about being inthe bubble, as insiders refer to it, that makesthis special journey simply life-changing.

Image courtesy of The Carillon

THE CARILLONMiami Beach may not traditionally rank high on the wellness chart, but this all-access, doctor-fueled retreat is hoping to change that.

Needle-less acupuncture, vitamin IV patches, sextherapists, world-class plastic surgeons, executive coaches, and that oh-so-bragworthy sidenote of having Beyonces trainer on hand are justsome of the out-of-the-ordinary offerings thenon-pretentious Carillon Miami Wellness Resort makes happen for its guests (theyll hold the hand of a first-timer as theydip their toe into high-tech wellness, and seasoned spa-goerswill be wowed as well!).

This is not your typical spaalthough it does also havebragging rights to being the biggest spa on the East Coast,ringing in at 70,000 square feetand co-general managerTammy Pahel, who is particularly proud of the fact that thereare 160 classes available each week, wouldnt have it any otherway. This is not just a luxury resort by the beach; it is a portalto integrative medicine, a real wellness your way experience.

The departure from a one-size-fits-all formula works: The Miami Heat relies on the spa for its muscle-soothing float tank andcryo chamber, some guests have been known to stay for a month,and the special Wellness Weekend retreats are super popular.

NEXT UP: The Future Beauty Wellness Retreat, a two-night, three-day experience filled with a dynamic mix ofthe latest anti-aging and wellness offerings, beachfrontfitness and world-class spa-ing; November 1517. Formore information, visit carillonhotel.com.

Medically reviewed byDr. Mark Jewell

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3 Luxury Resorts With One Goal in Mind: Changing Your Life - NewBeauty Magazine

This week in the U.S. capital, the Senate will hold committee hearings on antitrust issues in digital platforms and real-time payment systems, a sector of fintech that will also be explored by the House Task Force on Financial Technology. Elsewhere in the House of Representatives, there will be hearings on Veterans Affairs scheduling technology, clean industrial innovations and medical research funding at the NIH. The week kicks off at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation with a look at small business innovation funding programs. The Brookings Institution will also host events on Army modernization efforts and issues in disaggregating health data for improved policy-making.

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

How to Improve Support for Small Business Innovation, Research, and Technology

At 9:30 on Tuesday in SVC-215 Capitol Visitor Center.

In 2018, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs distributed more than $3.1 billion to almost 3,600 entities to support technology development and commercialization. This event will explore the future of these programs and ways they can be improved to support a greater degree of small business innovation. A report on the future of SBIR/STTR will be presented by Robert Rozansky, Senior Policy Analyst, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. The event will feature a discussion with a panel including Rene Bender, Senior Professional Staff Member, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Doug Rand, Senior Fellow and Director of the Technology and Innovation Initiative, Federation of American Scientists; and Meagan Sunn, Tech and Telecom Counsel, House Committee on Small Business. The panel discussion will be moderated by David Hart, Senior Fellow, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

The Brookings Institution

How Is the Army Modernizing?

At 10:00 AM on Tuesday in Falk Auditorium, Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

Technologies in the developing artificial intelligence and hypersonics sectors have various applications in warfare and military combat but the U.S. Armys modernization efforts must define both the future operating environment and force structure the Army will need to incorporate these innovations. This event will explore the Armys modernization efforts, featuring a discussion with Lieutenant General Eric Wesley, Deputy Commanding General of Army Futures Command, moderated by Michael OHanlon, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, and Director of Research, Foreign Policy, the Sydney Stein, Jr. Chair.

Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights

Competition in Digital Technology Markets: Examining Acquisitions of Nascent or Potential Competitors by Digital Platforms

At 2:30 PM on Tuesday in 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

In early September, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), respectively the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, announced that they would hold this hearing to examine concerns about reduced competition caused by the acquisition of small Internet services startups by large technology corporations. The witness panel for this hearing will include Bruce Hoffman, Director of the Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission; Dr. Diana Moss, President, American Antitrust Institute; Professor John Yun, Director, Economic Education at the Global Antitrust Institute, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University; and Patricia Nakache, General Partner, Trinity Ventures.

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Business Meeting to Consider Pending Legislation

At 10:00 AM on Wednesday in 366 Dirksen.

On Wednesday morning, the Senate Energy Committee will convene a business meeting to consider 21 pieces of proposed legislation include several that involve technology and innovation. These include H.R. 1420, the Energy Efficient Government Technology Act; S. 2095, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act; S. 2300, the Clean Industrial Technology (CIT) Act; and S. 2335, the Smart Building Acceleration Act of 2019.

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Facilitating Faster Payments in the U.S.

At 10:00 AM on Wednesday in 538 Dirksen.

Real-time payment platforms involve the use of financial data and communications technologies that supports instantaneous clearing and settlement of payments. On September 19, global fintech firm FIS published research showing that the number of countries using real-time payment platforms has increased four-fold since 2014 up to 54 countries having active systems. The witness panel for this hearing is Esther George, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; Robert Hunter, Executive Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel, The Clearing House; George Selgin, Senior Fellow and Director, CATO Institute; Bob Steen, President and CEO, Bridge Community Bank; and the Honorable Sheila Bair, Former Chair, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Investments in Medical Research at Five Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health

At 10:00 AM on Wednesday in 2358-C Rayburn House Office Building.

Every year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) receive billions in federal funding which it invests in various areas of medical research. Recently, the Senate Committee on Appropriations released a proposed NIH budget for the 2020 fiscal year that would increase the research agencys budget by 7.7 percent up to $42.1 billion, including $350 million earmarked for Alzheimers research. The witness panel at this hearing will include Francis Collins M.D., Ph.D., Director, NIH; Bruce Tromberg Ph.D, Director, National Institutes of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Eliseo Perez-Stable M.D., Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; Helene Langevin M.D., Director, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health; Christopher Austin M.D., Director, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; and Patricia Brennan R.N., Ph.D, Director, National Library of Medicine.

House Committee on Homeland Security

Legislative Markup Meeting

At 10:00 AM on Wednesday in 310 Cannon House Office Building.

On Wednesday morning, the House Homeland Security Committee will meet to markup a series of bills including the National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security Act; H.R. 4432, the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act; and H.R. 1975, the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Authorization Act of 2019.

The Brookings Institution

Data Disaggregation as a Means to Improved Health Research and Policy-Making

At 9:30 AM on Thursday in Falk Auditorium, Brookings Institution.

Data analysis to address disparities in health outcomes among different socioeconomic groups can help improve policy making in the sector. This all-day event will explore how data disaggregation can help improve empirical data for populations of interest. An introduction will be given by William Frey, Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program. Following that will be a panel discussion on critical needs for data disaggregation for race and ethnic groups. That first panel will include John Yang, President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice; Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, Senior Research, Pew Research Center; Yvette Robideaux, Vice President for Research and Director, Policy Research Center, National Congress of American Indians; and the discussion will be moderated by Randall Akee, David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Economic Studies, Center on Children and Families, Future of the Middle Class Initiative. Following the panel discussion will be an academic session analyzing a trio of papers on data disaggregation. A second panel discussion on issues and challenges in data collection and access will include Ninez Ponce, Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, UCLA; Meagan Khan, Director, Data and Policy Analytics Group, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Makada Henry-Nickie, David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Governance Studies, Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative; and the second panel will be moderated by Emilia Simeonova, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Business School. Concluding remarks will be given by Richard Reeves, John C. and Nancy D. Whitehead Chair, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, Director, Future of the Middle Class Initiative, and Co-Director, Center on Children and Families.

Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Executive Business Meeting

At 10:00 AM on Thursday in 226 Dirksen.

On Thursday morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an executive business meeting to consider eight judicial nominations and a pair of proposed bills. The judicial nominations include one Circuit Court nomination: Halil Suleyman Ozerden, nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The committee will also discuss S. 2281, the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act of 2019, which would create a system for voluntarily collecting demographic data from inventors filing patent applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

House Subcommittee on Technology Modernization

The Future of VA Scheduling: Implementing a Commercial Off the Shelf Scheduling Solution at the Department of Veterans Affairs

At 10:00 AM on Thursday in 210 House Visitors Center.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has been looking to replace its scheduling system with a commercial off-the-shelf solution since 2000, when the agency determined that it needed to replace its aging Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) scheduling system. The witness panel for this hearing has yet to be announced.

House Task Force on Financial Technology

The Future of Real-Time Payments

At 2:00 PM on Thursday in 2128 Rayburn.

This House Financial Technology Task Force hearing is the counterpart to the earlier Senate Banking Subcommittee hearing on real-time payment systems. The witness panel for this hearing has yet to be announced.

House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Solving the Climate Crisis: Reducing Industrial Emissions Through U.S. Innovation

At 2:00 PM on Thursday in 2318 Rayburn.

This summer, the Clean Industrial Technology Act was introduced into both houses of Congress. The bill would create an advisory council to coordinate funding for developing industrial processes technologies that would reduce emissions. Last week, a representative of the National Association of Manufacturers testified in front of the House Subcommittee on Environmental and Climate Change that manufacturing industries would work to reduce carbon emissions if Congress could pass laws that incentivize tech innovation in that area. The witness panel for this hearing has yet to be announced.

House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

Legislating to Secure Americas Wireless Future

At 9:30 AM on Friday in 2123 Rayburn.

This hearing will focus on security issues in the supply chain for 5G technologies as well as concerns about managing wireless spectrum resources. The witness panel for this hearing has yet to be announced.

See more here:
This Week in DC: Competition in Digital Tech Markets, NIH Medical Research Funding and Clean Industrial Innovation - IPWatchdog.com

The systematic successful treatment of cancer still eludes us and in an effort to refine this area of targeted medicine, Lauri Paasonen and colleagues explore the potential of using patient-derived cells (PDCs) for devising a personalised treatment strategy for solid tumours.

There are many successful cancer therapies on the market but still, depending on the cancer subtype and stage of the disease, many patients do not fully respond to treatment or can later present with a drug-resistant metastatic disease.

However, many new targeted therapies have been developed but their effectiveness for different cancer types has not been evaluated. In the precision medicine (PM) approach, a vast amount of clinical and omics data is collected from a patient in order to find potential drug targets and to translate the results back to the clinic. Importantly, this research may aid the understanding of drug resistance arising from inter/intratumour heterogeneity. While the genomic alterations, such as somatic driver mutations, have been thoroughly investigated, only a few can be targeted with drugs. This has led to the development of the functional PM approach, which has been successful, for example, in leukaemias. Here, the patient-derived cancer cells (PDCs) can be directly used without the need for cell culture steps for ex vivo drug sensitivity and resistance testing.1-3 The response of PDCs is tested against hundreds of approved and investigational drugs, depending on the platform. The combination of the drug response data with phenotypic and genotypic omics data and clinical information about the patient enables a personalised treatment strategy to be developed.

Applying the functional PM approach for solid tumours has been far more complicated compared with leukaemias and other haematologic cancers. This is mostly due to the challenges in growing primary PDCs ex vivo in an environment that allows them to sustain their molecular characteristics. Further development of culture conditions for PDCs grown two-dimensionally (2D) and threedimensionally (3D) as spheroid/organoid cultures has led to improved PDC models that match phenotypically, genotypically and functionally with the original cancer tissue.4-6 2D monolayer cultures of epithelial tumours can be efficiently used for functional high-throughput drug testing;5 however, the PDCs grown in 3D as organoids are generally considered to be a more physiologically relevant and geno- and phenotypically stable model for cancer.4 The optimisation of assays is important for studies with cancer organoids: for instance, they grow slowly, which may limit their use in highthroughput drug testing. Importantly, all types of PDCs cultured in the laboratory should be genetically characterised to confirm that they carry the same cancer driver mutations as the original tumour tissue from which they were derived. Ultimately, ex vivo drug testing with geneticallyand phenotypically-characterised PDCs from solid tumours allows us to tailor patient-specific treatments, to find new opportunities for drug repurposing and to gain relevant cell models for drug discovery.

Ex vivo drug testing with genetically- and phenotypically-characterised PDCs from solid tumours allows us to tailor patient-specific treatments

Next generation sequencing (NGS) has had a big impact on genomic research. High-throughput sequencing technologies have emerged that fulfil the need for sequencing of large gene quantities, such as the whole exome with ~23,000 different genes, and for the quantitative analysis of mutation frequencies. This has also enabled genome sequencing to be used as a clinical tool.7 The characterisation of somatic mutations and copy number variations in PDCs means they can be properly matched with the tumour tissue they are derived from and is a crucial step for any further PDC-based assay.8

Whole exome sequencing or targeted cancer panel sequencing can be performed for PDCs derived both from liquid biopsies and solid tumour samples, but the limited quantity of PDCs often sets certain requirements for the assays. In addition, the isolation of DNA of good quality and adequate quantity from solid tumour PDCs cultured in a 3D matrix can be challenging, as the matrix used may not be easy to remove or can cause steric hindrance during the isolation. Typically, the DNA isolation is performed using commercial column extraction methods, but when the cells are cultured in 3D, the properties of 3D matrices may not allow the proper filtration of samples through the DNA isolation column, resulting in an insufficient yield and poor DNA quality. However, by choosing a suitable 3D culture matrix and protocol, the isolation of DNA for NGS library construction can be performed.

Figure 1: The example images of renal cancer PDCs grown A) in 2D as a monolayer, and B) in 3D in GrowDex after cellulase enzyme treatment (spheroid diameter 216m). Samples were imaged with Leica S80 microscope, 10x objective.

PDCs cultured in 3D in GrowDex We have optimised the growth of renal PDCs in 2D as a monolayer and in 3D using different matrices (Figure 1). These matrices include GrowDex, a plant-based cellulose hydrogel that has recently been demonstrated as a suitable matrix for the 3D culturing of various cell types.9,10 It is an animal-free, clean and tunable hydrogel, which can be degraded using cellulase enzyme without impacting the human cells.9 As matrices used to support the growth of PDCs in 3D may hinder the typical column-based DNA purification prior to sequencing, we streamlined the workflow for whole exome sequencing (WES) from a low amount of renal cancer PDCs grown as spheroids in GrowDex. As a control, NGS was also performed for the cells cultured in a traditional 2D monolayer setup. The detailed protocol can be found as a separate application note.11

Shortly after, renal tumour tissue samples were dissociated and cultured in 2D according to previously published protocols12,13 or in 0.4 percent GrowDex hydrogel in complete growth medium in 24- or 96-well plates. GrowDex was degraded with cellulase enzyme GrowDase and DNA was isolated with Dynabeads DNA Direct kit. 150ng of DNA was used for library construction and exome sequencing was performed using Roche HyperCap MedExome. Resulting libraries were sequenced with Illumina Hiseq2500 Rapid PE100 runs. Sequence analysis and variant calling was performed using inhouse tools.14

We observed that removal of the 3D matrix is required for an efficient isolation of DNA from 3D-cultured cells by Dynabeads isolation kit. GrowDase enzyme treatment enabled the effective release of the PDC spheroids from GrowDex (Figure 1B) and the robust processing of the spheroids combined with Dynabeads on the magnetic rack. The success of exome capture is critically dependent on the amount and quality of input DNA. In general, a good yield of DNA was obtained from the PDCs cultured 3D in GrowDex; sufficient for WES or any other type of NGS assay. With the DNA isolated from 3D cultures, we were able to generate WES data with somatic resolution (mean target coverage >80x).11 The comparison of sequencing results at the chromosomal level with the Integrative Genomics Viewer15,16 revealed similar coverage in the sequencing of DNA isolated from PDCs cultured either traditionally in 2D monolayer on the plastic or 3D in GrowDex (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Integrative Genomics Viewer image shows the comparable sequencing coverage of TP53 for DNA isolated from 2D- and 3D-cultured PDCs.11

Novel 3D-culturing methods for PDCs enable more physiologically-relevant ex vivo cancer models. Fast and cost-effective genome sequencing of PDCs is needed for characterisation of the cells and the clinical implementation of ex vivo drug efficacy screening results in PM. Here, the renal cancer PDCs cultured in GrowDex in 3D were made accessible for lysis and bead-based DNA recovery with cellulase enzyme treatment degrading the nanofibrillar cellulose network. Additional purification steps typically present in DNA isolation were needed and the recovered amount and quality of DNA was sufficient for NGS library construction and exome sequencing. In conclusion, the development of fast, straightforward assay protocols optimised for 3D PDC spheroids/ organoids can further improve their utilisation for PM, drug discovery and other applications.

Lauri Paasonen is an application scientist in UPM Biomedicals, Helsinki, Finland focusing on 3D cell culture product and application development. He has a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Before joining UPM in 2014, Lauri worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA and at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Vilja Pietiinen is a senior scientist at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki) and a team leader of the personalised urological tumour project in Olli Kallioniemis research group. Her research focuses on systems medicine and precision therapeutics in cancer. She obtained an MSc in biochemistry and a PhD in virology/ cell biology in 2005 (University of Edinburgh, UK; University of Helsinki-UH, Finland). Currently, she is dedicated to developing high-content phenotypic imagebased characterisation and ex vivo drug testing of patientderived cancer cells.

Piia Mikkonen, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Pekka Ellonen, Helsinki Institute for Life Sciences (HiLIFE) and Aino Palva, University of Helsinki, Finland were also additional authors.

The authors would like to thank FIMM Genomics Core Unit (HiLIFE, University of Helsinki), funded by BioCenter Finland. The tissue samples were obtained through DEDUCER study (the Development of diagnostics and treatment of urological cancers; main investigator in the clinic: Associated Professor A Rannikko, University of Helsinki; with the approved study permissions for HUS/71/2017, 26.04.2017, ethical committee approval 15.03.2017 Dnro 154/13/03/02/2016, and patient consents). This work is based on research collaboration between academy and UPM, supported by UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Finland.

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Next generation sequencing for cancer precision medicine - Drug Target Review

Intermittent fasting: Nuts and fruits are good options for breaking fast in intermittent fasting

Breaking the fast in intermittent fasting is something that must be taken care of. Intermittent fasting is a diet plan which involves fasting and eating phase in regular periods. It is considered to be effective in achieving weight loss and providing your body with the much-needed detox. Fasting phase in intermittent fasting can last anywhere between 10 to 12, 14 or 16 hours, depending on how you feel. A good fasting window lasts anywhere between 14 to 18 hours. Lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho is of the belief that you should not push yourself to fast longer than your body allows. Start with 10 or 12 hours in the beginning and then increasing fasting period by an hour in a week or three days.

During the eating phase, it is important to ensure that you consume a balanced diet so that you get proper nutrition. Also, it is important to take care of how you break the fast in intermittent fasting for weight loss.

Intermittent fasting can help you achieve sustainable weight lossPhoto Credit: iStock

According to Luke, you should break your fast in intermittent fasting by having one seasonal fruit and some water. Then, after 15 to 20 or 30 minutes, you should have a plate of bioactives.

Bioactive food is referred to non-essential biomolecules that are present in foods. They have the capacity to modulate one or more metabolic processes, which in turn can be beneficial for better health.

Luke's plate of bioactives include papaya, pineapple, watermelon, walnuts and almonds. He says that these are raw bioactives which can provide the following benefits

According to Luke, all of the above functions can together help in getting a strong immune system.

Also read:5 Tips To Make Intermittent Fasting Work For You

Papaya is the perfect fruit for weight loss. It contains digestive enzyme known as papain, which can help in easing sore throat, improving digestion, healing wounds and reducing muscle soreness. It is good for diabetics and can also help in easing menstrual pain.

Break your fast with papaya in intermittent fastingPhoto Credit: iStock

Watermelon comes in the category of hydrating foods that can prevent dehydration. It is low in calories and is perfect to be included in a weight loss diet. The fruit, which is in season during summer, is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C. It is also packed with lycopene and amino acids - which can help you have healthy skin and a strong immunity.

Also read:Intermittent Fasting: Is It A Healthy Way To Lose Weight? Find Out Here

A delicious fruit, pineapple is loaded with Vitamin C and manganese. It also contains Vitamin B6, fibre, iron, riboflavin, folate, thiamine, potassium, magnesium and pantothenic acid. Eating pineapples for breaking fast in intermittent fasting can help in improving digestion, reducing inflammation and ease symptoms of arthritis.

Omega-3 rich walnuts are great for heart health. Walnuts are undoubtedly one of the healthiest nuts in existence. They can make for a healthy on-the-go snacking option. Walnuts are weight loss-friendly and are also great for improving your brain health. You can include walnuts in your daily diet and also eat them for breaking fast in intermittent fasting.

You can eat nuts like walnuts and almonds to break your fast in intermittent fastingPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Intermittent Fasting: Know How To Practice It And The Benefits And Drawbacks That Follow

Almonds too have an impressive nutrient profile. They are rich in protein, fat, Vitamin E, manganese and magnesium. Including soaked almonds in your daily diet can be beneficial for your skin, eyes and brain health. They are also weight loss friendly. Eat for them breaking your fast in intermittent fasting.

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Intermittent Fasting: Break Your Fast With These 5 Weight Loss-Friendly Foods In Intermittent Fasting - NDTV News