Category Archives: Molecular Medicine

Goodbye, 2021. We wont focus on the way you left us dealing with a new COVID-19 variant anduncertain about the future. No, we at Washington University in St. Louis will focus on the good bold new discoveries, hopeful new students and a promising new direction for the university.

Here, the Source shares some of the years most-read stories that highlight the great strides of the WashU community.

Supporting students; expanding opportunities

With an unprecedented endowment return of 65%, Washington University made a bold $1 billion investment in student success. The initiative, which the university is calling Gateway to Success, includes a $800 million in endowed funding to support need-blind undergraduate admissions long a top goal for the university. As a need-blind institution, the university will not consider an applicants financial situation when making admissions decisions while still meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted undergraduates. An additional $200 million will be designated for financial aid for graduate and professional students in the Brown School, the School of Law and the School of Medicine, as well as in business, engineering, art and architecture, and Arts & Sciences.

Since I became chancellor nearly two years ago, becoming need-blind has been a top priority. Building on the momentum that began with our previous administration, were finally making it happen, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin said upon announcing Gateway to Success in October. This is a proud moment for us as an institution and Im grateful to all who have contributed along the way, including generous donors who have provided scholarships and other financial support for our students.

The university also announced other major gifts to support students. Alumnus and emeritus trustee Arnold B. Zetcher and his wife, Ellen, made a commitment of at least $8 million in outright and estate gifts to establish an endowed scholarship for undergraduate students. Alumnus and emeritus trustee John Dains donated $8 million to support an undergraduate student success fund to help cover emergency and educational enrichment expenses. And P. Roy Vagelos, MD, founder of the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS), and his wife, Diana Vagelos, made a $15 million gift to undergraduate programs and graduate student fellowships in the life sciences.

Studying COVID-19; seeking solutions

Washington University scientists committed 2021 to studying the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Readers were especially intrigued by the following stories:

Research from Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, assistant professor of medicine, found that COVID-19 survivors including those not sick enough to be hospitalized have an increased risk of death in the six months following diagnosis with the virus.

Research published in August co-led by Ali Ellebedy, associate professor of pathology and immunology, of medicine and of molecular microbiology, found that the delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is largely unable to evade antibodies elicited by vaccination.

Research from the lab of Ryan Bogdan, associate professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences, suggests cannabis use disorder (CUD) should be added to the list of COVID-19 risk factors because the genetic predisposition to CUD is overrepresented in people with poor COVID-19 outcomes.

And research from Jeannie Kelly, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, suggests nursing mothers who receive a COVID-19 vaccine may pass protective antibodies to their babies through breast milk for at least 80 days following vaccination.

Saying hello, bidding farewell to amazing students

During an exceptional admissions cycle, Undergraduate Admissions reviewed 33,634 applications a 20% increase from 2020. In August, 1,994 of those students moved onto the South 40, made new friends at the Bear Beginnings tailgate party and celebrated Convocation in Brookings Quadrangle. The Class of 2025 is the largest and most diverse in university history 17% are Pell Grant-eligible, 12% are the first in their families to attend college, 5% are international and 49% identify as students of color.

Washington University celebrated the Commencement of the Class of 2021 in its new home, Francis Olympic Field. Basketball legend and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar served as speaker. The Class of 2020 also was welcomed home for an in-person ceremony featuring Julie L. Gerberding, MD, the first woman to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among those who left their mark at Washington University are the School of Medicines graduating physicians; a Maryland man who graduated 67 years after he started his education at Washington University; and baseball Bears Caleb Durbin and Ryan Loutos, who signed deals with Major League Baseball teams Durbin as a 14th-round draft pick to the Atlanta Braves and Loutos as an undrafted free agent to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Digging for clues; overcoming obstacles

Despite the pandemic, Washington University researchers persisted in their research, making groundbreaking discoveries in archeology, medicine, engineering and other disciplines.

Two archeological studies especially fascinated readers. In one, Tristram T.R. Kidder, the Edward S. and Tedi Macias Professor of Anthropology in Arts & Sciences, found evidence that suggests Americas first civilization was made up of sophisticated engineers capable of building massive earthen structures in a matter of months possibly even weeks that withstood the test of time. In the other, Caitlin Rankin, who conducted her graduate studies at Washington University, found there is little evidence to support the prevailing theory that wood overuse led to the collapse of Cahokia, the pre-Columbian Native American city in present-day Illinois.

Other top stories include:

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2021 in review: New direction, new discoveries - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis - Washington University in St. Louis Newsroom

Our Phase 1a trial has been open 12 months and Im pleased with both the pace of development and the early responses seen. Its particularly gratifying to have followed a patient in the trial for over 12 months where their tumour burden has been reduced to zero.

Imugene Ltd (ASX:IMU, OTC:IUGNF)has successfully completed Phase 1a monotherapy dose escalation of PD1-Vaxx and will now proceed to combination dose escalation.

The clinical-stage immuno-oncology company is developing a range of new and novel immunotherapies that seek to activate the immune system of cancer patients to treat and eradicate tumours.

Finalisation of the dose escalation of PD1-Vaxx was confirmed by the Cohort Review Committee (CRC), following the Phase 1a monotherapy dose escalation performed with 10, 50 and 100g of PD1-Vaxx in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who progressed on one or more immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

The primary objective of the phase 1 trial is to determine safety and optimal biological dose as monotherapy and in combination with ICIs. Plans are now being finalised to combine PD1-Vaxx with Roche/Genentechs PD-L1 targeting blockbuster ICI atezolizumab (Tecentriq) as first-line in ICI treatment nave NSCLC patients.

CRC reviewed monotherapy safety, tolerability and biomarker data. It then advised IMU to proceed to the combination phase of clinical development of PD1-Vaxx.

Phase 1 trials are generally designed to look for safety, tolerability and early response signals to determine the optimal dose for further development, Imugene MD & CEO Leslie Chong said.

I am encouraged that we are seeing positive signals at such an early stage of our PD1-Vaxx Phase I trial and we are now progressing to the Phase 1b combination studies in treatment nave patients.

Our Phase 1a trial has been open 12 months and Im pleased with both the pace of development and the early responses seen. Its particularly gratifying to have followed a patient in the trial for over 12 months where their tumour burden has been reduced to zero.

Dual targeting of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis is an area of considerable interest with ongoing clinical results creating strong interest inside the pharma industry.

Combination with PD1-Vaxx may overcome treatment resistance to ICIs with dual inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis extending the treatment benefit of atezolizumab.

In contrast to combination of two monoclonal antibodies, PD1-Vaxx has the advantage that it induces a unique polyclonal immune response which may increase response rates for the combination therapy.

Imugenes PD1-Vaxx is a B-cell activating immunotherapy designed to treat tumours such as lung cancer by interfering with PD-1/PD-L1 binding and interaction and produce an anti-cancer effect similar to Tecentiq, Keytruda, Opdivo and the other immune checkpoint inhibitor monoclonal antibodies that are transforming the treatment of a range of cancers.

Full study details can also be found on clinical trials.gov under study ID: NCT04432207.

While it has been conducting these promising trials, IMU has also been strengthening its management team.

Today, it not only announced the successful completion of Phase 1a monotherapy dose escalation of PD1-Vaxx, IMU also informed the market that it has appointed industry leaders Ursula McCurry and Dr Nimali Withana to its senior management team.

The former Roche/Genentech employees and experts in oncology clinical development started with IMU at the beginning of January 2022, with McCurry appointed as the senior vice president of Clinical Operations and Dr Nimali Withana appointed senior director of Clinical Science.

Ursula and Nimali add critical and considerable clinical development capability to our senior management team, and I am delighted to welcome them to Imugene, Chong said.

About Ursula McCurry

McCurry is a well-regarded clinical operations leader with more than 20 years of global clinical development experience across a number of established and emerging biotech and pharmaceutical companies including Genentech, Exelixis (NASDAQ:EXEL), Astex, QLT Inc and Amunix.

She has led global clinical operations programs spanning a variety of therapeutic areas and all phases of clinical development, contributing to in excess of20 programs and subsequent multiple regulatory approvals at both small and large biotech companies.

McCurrys significant partnership and alliance management experience are expected to be invaluable to IMU as it progresses its therapies.

Prior to joining Imugene, Ursula served as the VP of Clinical Operations at Amunix Pharmaceuticals and was a Clinical Program director at Genentech, leading multiple programs from entry into the clinic to phase three development, including taselisib and GDC-9545.

She has also led the Drug Safety teams, ensuring quality, compliance, pharmacovigilanceand safety reporting.

About Dr Nimali Withana

Dr Withana has more than18 years of drug development experience spanning both academia and industry and most recently was the Lead Country medical manager for the Breast Cancer and Cancer Immunotherapy portfolios including bevacizumab, trastuzumab emtansine, ipatasertib and atezolizumab at Hoffman-La Roche New Zealand.

Prior to that, Dr Withana was the clinical scientist lead across Phase I III global oncology trials at Genentech.

Dr Withana received her academic training at Stanford University and The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, majoring in Immunology and Molecular Medicine.

Continued here:
Imugene completes Phase 1a monotherapy dose escalation of PD1-Vaxx and adds industry leaders to management team - Proactive Investors USA

Researchers at the University of Oxford uncover the importance of iron for the development of complex life on Earth which also may hint at the likelihood of complex life on other planets.

Iron is an essential nutrient that almost all life requires to grow and thrive. Irons importance goes all the way back to the formation of the planet Earth, where the amount of iron in the Earths rocky mantle was set by the conditions under which the planet formed and went on to have major ramifications for how life developed. Now, scientists at the University of Oxford have uncovered the likely mechanisms by which iron influenced the development of complex life forms, which can also be used to understand how likely (or unlikely) advanced life forms might be on other planets. The work was published recently in PNAS.

The initial amount of iron in Earths rocks is set by the conditions of planetary accretion, during which the Earths metallic core segregated from its rocky mantle, says co-author Jon Wade, Associate Professor of Planetary Materials at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford. Too little iron in the rocky portion of the planet, like the planet Mercury, and life is unlikely. Too much, like Mars, and water may be difficult to keep on the surface for times relevant to the evolution of complex life.

Initially, iron conditions on Earth would have been optimal to ensure surface retention of water. Iron would have also been soluble in sea water, making it easily available to give simple life forms a jumpstart in development. However, oxygen levels on Earth began to rise approximately 2.4 billion years ago (referred to as the Great Oxygenation Event). An increase in oxygen created a reaction with iron, which led to it becoming insoluble. Gigatons of iron dropped out of sea water, where it was much less available to developing life forms.

Life had to find new ways to obtain the iron it needs, says co-author Hal Drakesmith, Professor of Iron Biology at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford. For example, infection, symbiosis and multicellularity are behaviors that enable life to more efficiently capture and utilise this scarce but vital nutrient. Adopting such characteristics would have propelled early life forms to become ever more complex, on the way to evolving into what we see around us today.

The need for iron as a driver for evolution, and consequent development of a complex organism capable of acquiring poorly available iron, may be rare or random occurrences. This has implications for how likely complex life forms might be on other planets.

It is not known how common intelligent life is in the Universe, says Prof Drakesmith. Our concepts imply that the conditions to support the initiation of simple life-forms are not enough to also ensure subsequent evolution of complex life-forms. Further selection by severe environmental changes may be needed for example, how life on Earth needed to find a new way to access iron. Such temporal changes at planetary scale may be rare, or random, meaning that the likelihood of intelligent life may also be low.

However, knowing now about how important iron is in the development of life may aid in the search for suitable planets that could develop life forms. By assessing the amount of iron in the mantle of exo-planets, it may now be possible to narrow the search for exo-planets capable of supporting life.

Reference: Temporal variation of planetary iron as a driver of evolution by Jon Wade, David J. Byrne, Chris J. Ballentine and Hal Drakesmith, 6 December 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109865118

Link:
Iron Integral to the Development of Complex Life on Earth And the Possibility of Life on Other Planets - SciTechDaily

When it's that time of the month, we almost always know. Not only because we're likely keeping track of our menstrual cycles, but also because many of us experience symptoms and changes in our bodies, including bloating, cramping, fatigue, and more.

Most womenaround 90%experience minor symptoms leading up to their periods, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and this is normal. However, premenstrual symptoms can feel uncomfortable. One of the biggest culprits to discomfort is menstrual cramping, which occur when the uterus contracts while shedding the uterine lining.

The causes of menstrual cramping are not completely understood, but typically it's the inflammatory reaction from the uterine lining expulsion, says Mazen Abbas, D.O., M.P.H., Pediatric and Young Adult Gastroenterologist in Kailua, Hawaii. Other considerations include endometriosis, age, hormone levels, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and more.

The good news is that there's a ton of ways to alleviate minor menstrual cramps at home. In addition to the classic heating pad, Abbas says that over-the-counter such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication should help you find relief. You can also sip on some warm teas, which have been found to reduce menstrual cramps.

Ginger, green tea, chamomile, fennel, cinnamon, and French maritime pine bark extract have been studied and found helpful to alleviating menstrual cramps, Abbas says. Avoiding certain foods like processed foods, sugar, and caffeine may help, too. If you're looking for some natural relief, read on for the teas you can count on to help reduce painful period cramps, according to doctors and research.

Ginger tea seems to be the best option for reducing menstrual cramps, Abbas says, because it's rich in anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties like gingerols and shogaols. A review published in Phytotherapy Research examined the use of ginger for pain relief in randomized controlled trials and found that ginger significantly reduced pain and inflammation when taken orally.

Around menstruation specifically, a review published in Pain Medications examined the pain levels in women who consumed 7502,000 mg of ginger powder during the first 34 days of their period and found that ginger helped relieve their pain. So, sipping on some ginger tea may help you find relief from painful cramping.

Not only can chamomile help soothe you to sleep, but it also has anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties that can help alleviate painful cramps associated with menstrual cramps, a review published in the Journal of Pharmacupuncture shows. Specifically, a study published in the Internal Journal of Molecular Medicine found that chamomile inhibits the production of nitric oxide, which is a signaling molecule that plays a key role in the pathophysiology of inflammation. As Abbas previously mentioned, inflammation has been associated with menstrual cramps.

Another study published in the Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility had women drink two cups of chamomile a day one week leading up to menstruation and during the first five days of their cycle for three months, which resulted in a reduction in their pain from cramps.

According to Abbas, fennel tea is another great option for alleviating pain from menstrual cramps. Fennel is full of powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C and quercetin, which can help reduce inflammation. A small study published in Ayu examined pain levels in 60 girls who experienced dysmenorrhoea, or painful periods, after they took 30 mg of fennel extract four times a day for three days at the start of their menstrual cycles compared to a placebo. Results showed that those who consumed the fennel saw a significant reduction in their pain.

Not only is cinnamon a delicious way to spice up your favorite winter dishes, but it has also been used for centuries as a natural healing agent. Cinnamon has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties that help aid in digestion, improve blood sugar levels, and reduce menstrual pain in the body.

A review published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that cinnamon may help reduce inflammation and bloating associated with menstruation. Another small study published in the Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility had 76 girls with dysmenorrhea take three capsules of 420 mg of cinnamon a day and found that menstrual pain and bleeding was significantly reduced.

As energy levels begin to drop during menstruation thanks to reduced oestrogen levels, you may be wanting to reach for some caffeine. Go for green tea, which will not only give you energy, but it may also help alleviate your cramps. A study published in BMJ found that girls who drank green tea regularly had way less cramping and bloating than in those who did not drink the tea. This may be because green tea is full of flavonoid, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Green tea also has a ton of L-theanine, an amino acid that boosts dopamine and reduces anxiety, which can be helpful for those period-induced mood swings.

Fennel Seed Tea

$6.99

Green Tea

$7.40

Chamomile Herbal Tea

$13.10

Many species of pine trees have been used for their healing properties, and one that may help with painful period cramping is French maritime pink bark extract tea. French maritime pink bark extract contains many plant compounds like vitamins, polyphenols, and other phytonutrients, which may be beneficial to our health.

The tea may also soothe menstrual pain in women with dysmenorrhea, a small study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine found. In the study, 116 women were given either a French maritime pink bark extract pill or a placebo throughout two full menstrual cycles, and results showed that the women who tool the pine bark experienced less pain.

Overall, research shows you can rely on tea for natural remedies to reducing period cramps. However, if your cramps persist for more than two days and the pain begins to interfere with your daily life, then Abbas suggests consulting with your doctor.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Link:
6 Teas That Reduce Menstrual Cramps and Pain, According to Experts - Tea for Period Pain and Bloating - Prevention.com

About the position

A position as PhD candidate is open at the Cardiac Exercise Research Group, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU (Trondheim, Norway). The group is headed by Professor Ulrik Wislff.

The position has fixed-term duration of three years (100%). At CERG we investigate the effects of exercise in chronic diseases, such as heart diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimers disease using a wide range of tools spanning from animal experiments to clinical trials and epidemiological studies. For more information about the Department and the research group, see the following pages:www.ntnu.edu/isbandwww.ntnu.edu/cerg.

This project consists of three complementary studies that aim to (1) explore the effect of increased cardiorespiratory fitness in exercise-trained older adults on their future risk of Alzheimers disease, (2) identify biomarkers in blood that might underlie the expected effect of increased fitness on the risk of Alzheimers disease and that could identify the future Alzheimers disease patients up to 8 years before clinical manifestation of the disease, and (3) detect changes in these biomarkers in early Alzheimers disease patients following treatment with blood plasma from exercise-trained donors. We seek a talented and diligent candidate with a high motivation and commitment to research.

Duties of the position

The successful candidate will be responsible for daily management of the projects, hereunder data collection, analysis and interpretation and communication of results.

Required selection criteria

Medical degree or Master`s degree in Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience, Biology, Biotechnology, Exercise Physiology, or equivalent program:

Preferred selection criteria

Emphasis will also be placed on:

Personal characteristics

NTNU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from anywhere in the world. The university is strongly committed to diversity and welcomes applications from members of ethnic minorities. The appointment will be made in accordance with current regulations for employment at universities and university colleges in Norway.

We offer

Salary and conditions

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

Applicants are asked to apply via this page, and to attach all relevant documents, see list below:

Candidates from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a Diploma Supplement or a similar document, which describes in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree:http://ec.europa.eu/education/tools/diploma-supplement_en.htm

For inquiries regarding the position, please contact:

PhD Atefe R. Tari, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU, email: atefe.r.tari@ntnu.no

Professor Ulrik Wislff, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU, email: ulrik.wisloff@ntnu.no

For inquiries regarding the application procedures, please contact:HR Advisor Julie Hoff, email: julie.hoff@ntnu.no

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.

The city of Trondheimis a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employeeatNTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

In accordance with The Public Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered.

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Application deadline: 10.01.2022

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

The Department of Circulation and Imaging(ISB) has 260 employees, and its research units are at the Cardiothoracic Centre at St. Olavs Hospital, integrated with collaborating clinical divisions. The Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (ISB) includes anaesthesiology, radiology, radiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, exercise physiology, cardiovascular physiology, pulmonary physiology, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, vascular surgery, thoracic surgery and biomedical engineering.

The department is also responsible for the Centre for Innovative Ultrasound Solutions (CIUS), the Medical Simulation Centre and the MR Centre. More information about the department is available at http://www.ntnu.edu/isb

Deadline10th January 2022EmployerNTNU - Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyMunicipalityTrondheimScopeFulltimeDurationTemporaryPlace of serviceya cmapus

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PhD Position in the Project, Molecular Secrets of Fitness to Prevent Diagnose and Treat Alzheimer's job with NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE &...

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Regenerative Medicine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Cell-based Immunotherapies, Gene Therapies), by Therapeutic Category (Cardiovascular, Oncology), and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global regenerative medicine market size is expected to reach USD 57.08 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 11.27% over the forecast period.

Recent advancements in biological therapies have resulted in a gradual shift in preference toward personalized medicinal strategies over the conventional treatment approach. This has resulted in rising R&D activities in the regenerative medicine arena for the development of novel regenerative therapies.

Furthermore, advancements in cell biology, genomics research, and gene-editing technology are anticipated to fuel the growth of the industry. Stem cell-based regenerative therapies are in clinical trials, which may help restore damaged specialized cells in many serious and fatal diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's, neurodegenerative diseases, and spinal cord injuries.

For instance, various research institutes have adopted Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) to develop a treatment for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Constant advancements in molecular medicines have led to the development of gene-based therapy, which utilizes targeted delivery of DNA as a medicine to fight against various disorders.

Gene therapy developments are high in oncology due to the rising prevalence and genetically driven pathophysiology of cancer. The steady commercial success of gene therapies is expected to accelerate the growth of the global market over the forecast period.

Regenerative Medicine Market Report Highlights

Key Topics Covered:

Market Variables, Trends, & Scope

Competitive Analysis

Covid-19 Impact Analysis

Regenerative Medicine Market: Product Business Analysis

Regenerative Medicine Market: Therapeutic Category Business Analysis

Regenerative Medicine Market: Regional Business Analysis

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kovhgl

Link:
Global Regenerative Medicine Market is Expected to Reach USD 57.08 Billion by 2027, Growing at a CAGR of 11.27% Over the Forecast Period. -...

CDC's "Nowcast" estimates that omicron likely became the dominant variant in the United States late last week. But experts say that America's understanding of the variant's spread is limited and comes with considerable uncertainty, underscoring the shortcomings of the United States' Covid-19 surveillance.

The policies Biden and states could use to control the omicron variant

Data from the World Health Organization's (WHO) newest weeklyepidemiological report showed the United States had the highest number of new cases in the world last weekat 725,750, between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19CNN reports. On a global level, WHO estimated there were 4.1 million new Covid-19 cases over that same time frame.

According to CNN, the delta variant remains the dominant coronavirus strain globally. However, WHO's weekly report showed that the omicron variant, which has been confirmed in 106 countries, is surging and poses a significant risk.

"Recent evidence indicates that [the] omicron variant has a growth advantage over the delta variant and is spreading rapidly, even in countries with documented community transmission and high levels of population immunity," WHO said.

This data appeared to align with new CDC data released Monday via the agency's "Nowcast" variant surveillance data, STAT News reports. According to "Nowcast," the omicron variant likely became the most common variant in the United States at the end of last week.

That said, some experts caution that CDC's numbers from the last two weeks have been estimated using models that likely contain sizable margins for error. Nonetheless, the estimates seem comparable to the limited real-world data from countries where omicron was detected early on, STAT News reports.

Notably, STAT News said CDC estimates indicated that hospitalizations are increasing at a more modest rate than the increase in overall casesalthough this could change going forward, as hospitalizations tend to lag behind case reports.

For its part, WHO said of the recent global surge in cases, "Given rapidly increasing case numbers, it is possible that health care systems may become overwhelmed. Preliminary data suggest that there is a reduction in neutralization of omicron in those who have received a primary vaccination series or in those who have had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may suggest a level of humoral immune evasion."

As a result, WHO said that "the overall risk related to the new variant of concern omicron remains very high."

Amid surging omicron cases, health officials and scientists in the United States still struggle to gather reliable data almost two years into the pandemic, Politico reports.

Part of the issue is that even though most Covid-19 tests can detect the coronavirus, they can't identify each individual variant. That's because the tests detect parts of the virus that don't typically change. To determine which variant is present, a sample needs to be sent out to a lab to be genetically sequenced. According to experts, this has created a weakness in the United States' surveillance of coronavirus variants, leaving the country to rely mostly on data from other countries.

According to Politico, this continued dependence on international dataeven now, nearly two years into the pandemichighlights the degree to which U.S. public health data has failed to produce accurate, timely data on both the spread of the virus and the degree to which it evades the vaccine.

"I think we've done a horrible job from day one in data tracking for the pandemic," said Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research and former advisory board member of theCovid Tracking Project. "We're not tracking all the things that we need to get a handle on what's going on. It is embarrassing."

Separately, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesDirector Anthony Fauci said there's data "coming in from the U.K., from Israel, [and] from South Africa, which is ahead of the rest of the world in the experience they're having with omicron." But while that's enabled the United States to get the "virus either in the live virus form or in the pseudo virus form, we don't have enough of this in the United States to be able to bank on our own clinical experience which is in contrast to the South Africans who are in real time experiencing the clinical impact of omicron."

In conversations with Politico, several public health experts said the federal government needs to invest more in the nation's surveillance systems so they can better handle another surge in Covid-19 surge or a new pandemic.

CDC has made recent financial investments to improve genomic sequencing and data systems. However, the agencyas well as various state and local public health departmentsrely on outdated data systems that are often dependent on manual data input, subject to slow lab turnaround times, and suffering from a shortage of public health workers. And Politico reports that, according to state officials, CDC's recent financial investments on this front will likely take "several years to implement" as well as sufficient federal funding.

"It will be very important that we identify ways to have sustainable support for these non-categorical activities like data modernization," said Dan Jernigan, the deputy director of the CDC's Public Health Science and Surveillance office. He added, "That's something that we look to our partners in Congress to identify how best to support the ongoing need for maintaining a good data infrastructure."

And until the United States has a sufficient data-tracking system for this type of surveillance, experts told Politico the country will still depend on other nations' data.

"We're relying on everyone else's data. We should be providing data to the world and we are not," said Zeke Emanuel, a bioethicist and former member of President Joe Biden's transition Covid-19 advisory board. "We started [the pandemic] with a serious problem of not enough data and bad data infrastructure. We have not made the structural investments we need. The ideal is that we have real time data. And we don't have that. We're not even close to that." (Langmaid, CNN, 12/21 [1]; Parker, STAT News, 12/21; Langmaid, CNN, 12/21 [2]; Banco, Politico, 12/21)

The rest is here:
Why some experts say Covid-19 surveillance in the US 'is embarrassing' - The Daily Briefing

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Betagenon AB a Sweden-based company focused on development of AMPK activator compounds, today announced the publication by co-founder Helena Edlund of a new study demonstrating the prevention and reversal of gene expression and epigenetic changes to beta cells in diet-induced obese mice. Treatment with O304 prevented genome-wide gene expression changes associated with high fat diet and remodelled active and repressive chromatin markers in beta cells, the cells responsible for producing the body's insulin. Glucose control was restored in the animals and markers of stress were reduced and markers of function increased in the beta cells.

The data are published in Scientific Reports, a member of the Nature family of journals.

"Obesity and associated insulin resistance stresses our beta-cells. If this persists long enough it will lead to beta-cell failure and the body will not be able to produce and secrete insulin, resulting in the development of diabetes. Our work identifies changes at the genetic level as the beta cells become stressed and show that these changes can be prevented by treatment with O304" said Prof. Helena Edlund of the Ume Centre for Molecular Medicine, and one of the senior authors of the study.

"A narrow window exists after diabetes onset when stressed beta cells can be rescued and their function normalized. These important results give us insight into the genetic changes involved in this process and are a key part in understanding the treatment potential of O304 in helping diabetic patients to remission" said Dr. James Hall, Betagenon CEO.

O304 is a first in class non-allosteric pan-AMPK activator. O304 sodium salt is in clinical development to treat Heart Failure, Renal Disease and Insulin Resistance.

Betagenon isa clinical stage company that develops its proprietary AMPK activators as therapies for diseases and conditions associated with the global epidemic in metabolic disorders and an aging population.

For more information, contact:

James Hall, CEO Betagenon AB

james.hall@betagenon.com+46 70 5775300

Helena Edlund received funding from Vetenskapsrdet, Familjen Erling-Perssons stiftelse, and

Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse for the study.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/betagenon-ab/r/betagenon-co-founder-publishes-that-ampk-activator-o304-prevents-gene-expression-changes-and-remobil,c3478094

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Betagenon co-founder publishes that AMPK activator O304 prevents gene expression changes and remobilisation of histone marks in islets of diet-induced...

Inflammatory lesion in the spinal cord of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis demonstrating the presence of ILC3 (green) or T cells (red). Credit: Image courtesy of Dr. Christopher N. Parkhurst

A group of immune cells that normally protect against inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract may have the opposite effect in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other brain inflammation-related conditions, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian researchers. The results suggest that countering the activity of these cells could be a new therapeutic approach for such conditions.

The researchers, who reported their findings on December 1, 2021, in the journal Nature, were studying a set of immune cells called group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s), which help the immune system tolerate beneficial microbes and suppress inflammation in the intestines and other organs throughout the body. They discovered a unique subset of these ILC3s that circulate in the bloodstream and can infiltrate the brainand, to their surprise, do not quench inflammation but instead ignite it.

The scientists called this subset inflammatory ILC3s, and found them in the central nervous system of mice with a condition modeling MS. Instead of constraining the immune response, this subset of ILC3s spurred another group of immune cells called T cells to attack myelinated nerve fibers, leading to MS-like disease symptoms. The researchers detected similar inflammatory ILC3s in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients.

This work has the potential to inform our understanding of, and potential treatments for, a broad variety of conditions involving T-cell infiltration of the brain, said senior author Dr. Gregory Sonnenberg, associate professor of microbiology and immunology in medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and a member of the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medicine.

MS affects more than two million people worldwide. Other conditions that feature chronic brain inflammation afflict tens of millions more and include Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases. There is also evidence that neuroinflammation develops naturally with aging and is a major factor in age-related cognitive decline, and more recently inflammatory T-cell responses in the brain have been linked to neurological symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The researchers have shown in recent work that ILC3s residing in the gut act as sentinels and immune regulators, suppressing inflammationincluding inflammatory T-cell activityand warding off cancer. In the new study, they examined the roles of ILC3s in the brain, and found, contrary to their expectation, that ILC3s are not normally present in the brain under healthy conditions but can infiltrate the brain from the bloodstream during inflammation. When they do infiltrate the central nervous system, they have pro-inflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory effects.

The researchers showed with a mouse model of MS that these inflammatory ILC3s in the brain function as antigen-presenting cells: They display bits of myelin protein, the main ingredient in the insulating layer around nerve fibers, to T cellsprompting them to attack myelin, causing the nerve damage that gives rise to disease signs. They found the inflammatory ILC3s in close association with T cells in regions of active inflammation and nerve damage in the mouse brains.

The infiltration of these inflammatory ILC3s to the brains and spinal cords of mice coincides with the onset and peak of disease, said first author John Benji Grigg, a Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences doctoral candidate in the Sonnenberg laboratory. Further, our experimental data in mice demonstrate these immune cells play a key role in driving the pathogenesis of neuro-inflammation.

The researchers discovered that they could prevent MS-like disease in the animals by removing from the ILC3s a key molecule called MHCII, which normally is used in the antigen-presenting processthe removal essentially blocks the cells ability to activate myelin-attacking T cells.

Despite our very best disease-modifying therapies for MS, patients continue to progress, and since disease onset is early in life, they face the prospect of permanent physical and cognitive disability, said co-author Dr. Tim Vartanian, professor of neuroscience in the Feil Family Brain and Mind Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, chief of the division of multiple sclerosis and neuro-immunology and a professor of neurology in the Department of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Identification of inflammatory ILC3s with antigen presentation capabilities in the central nervous system of people with MS offers a new strategic target to prevent nervous system injury.

Finally, the researchers discovered that ILC3s that reside in other tissues in the body can be programmed, in effect, to counter the activity of brain-infiltrating T cells, preventing the MS-like condition disease in mice.

This work was completed in close collaboration with Dr. Ari Waisman, director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, where the researchers built on prior research demonstrating that there are gut-resident ILC3s that display antigens to T cells in a slightly different way to promote T-cell inactivity, or tolerance. The researchers demonstrated that by experimentally exposing these tolerance-inducing intestinal ILC3s to myelin, they could block neuroinflammatory T-cell activity and the development of MS-like disease in the mice.

The work therefore points to the possibility that MS and potentially many other inflammatory conditions could someday be treated either by directly inhibiting the activity of inflammatory ILC3s that infiltrate the brain, or by targeting self-antigens to the intestinal ILC3s that promote tolerance in other tissues, Dr. Sonnenberg said.

Reference: Antigen-presenting innate lymphoid cells orchestrate neuroinflammation by John B. Grigg, Arthi Shanmugavadivu, Tommy Regen, Christopher N. Parkhurst, Anees Ahmed, Ann M. Joseph, Michael Mazzucco, Konrad Gronke, Andreas Diefenbach, Gerard Eberl, Timothy Vartanian, Ari Waisman and Gregory F. Sonnenberg, 1 December 2021, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04136-4

The Sonnenberg Laboratory is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01AI143842, R01AI123368, R01AI145989, R01AI162936, R21CA249284 and U01AI095608), the NIAID Mucosal Immunology Studies Team (MIST), the Crohns and Colitis Foundation, the Searle Scholars Program, the American Asthma Foundation Scholar Award, Pilot Project Funding from the Center for Advanced Digestive Care (CADC), an Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a Wade F.B. Thompson/Cancer Research Institute (CRI) CLIP Investigator grant, the Meyer Cancer Center Collaborative Research Initiative, the Dalton Family Foundation, Linda and Glenn Greenberg, and the Roberts Institute for Research in IBD. Gregory F. Sonnenberg is a CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR. John Benji Grigg is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number F31AI138389-01A1. Support for human sample acquisition through the JRI IBD Live Cell Bank is provided by the JRI, Jill Roberts Center for IBD, Cure for IBD, the Rosanne H. Silbermann Foundation and Weill Cornell Medicine Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

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Enigmatic Immune Cells May Ignite Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis and Other Brain Disorders - SciTechDaily

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