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Archive for the ‘Population Health Management’ Category

Powerful Cancer-Fighting Foods and Their Role in Body Repair

Posted in Anticancer Resistance, Artificial Intelligence - General, Cancer - General, Cancer and Current Therapeutics, CANCER BIOLOGY & Innovations in Cancer Therapy, cancer metabolism, Cancer Prevention: Research & Programs, cancer-general, Health Care System by Country, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Population Health Management, Nutrition and Phytochemistry, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Powerful Cancer-Fighting Foods and Their Role in Body Repair

Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

In the search for dietary approaches to prevent and fight cancer, certain foods have been found to possess potent anti-cancer properties. These foods not only help reduce the risk of cancer but also assist in repairing the body. Five such foods are green tea, broccoli like vetables, papaya, purple potatoes, and pomegranate—and the bioactive compounds responsible for their benefits.

1. Green Tea

Green tea, particularly rich in the catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has gained considerable attention for its cancer-fighting properties. EGCG functions as a potent antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, which is a key factor in the development of cancer. Studies suggest that EGCG can inhibit cancer cell proliferation by disrupting the signaling pathways essential for cell growth and survival, especially in breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. Additionally, green tea has been shown to enhance the body’s immune function, making it more effective at targeting abnormal cells. EGCG induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells, halts angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels that nourish tumors), and inhibits metastasis (the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body).

2. Broccoli and Cauliflower

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are rich in sulforaphane, a compound known for its detoxifying and anti-carcinogenic properties. Sulforaphane activates the body’s natural detoxification enzymes, which help eliminate carcinogens before they can damage cells. Moreover, it has been shown to inhibit the growth of various cancer cells, including those of the colon, breast, and prostate. Sulforaphane enhances the activity of phase II detoxification enzymes and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. It also inhibits histone deacetylase, an enzyme associated with cancer cell growth, thus preventing cancerous cells from replicating.

3. Papaya

Papaya is rich in carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and beta-cryptoxanthin, which are powerful antioxidants. These compounds neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress that can lead to cancer. Lycopene, in particular, has been linked to a lower risk of cancers, including those of the prostate, breast, and lung. Papaya also contains other bioactive compounds that help modulate immune responses, supporting the body’s ability to identify and destroy cancer cells. Carotenoids act by scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. Lycopene has also been shown to regulate cell cycle progression and inhibit growth factor signaling in cancer cells.

4. Purple Potatoes

Purple potatoes are unique due to their high levels of anthocyanins, which not only provide them with their distinctive color but also contribute to cancer prevention. Studies suggest that anthocyanins in purple potatoes help repair damaged tissues by promoting stem cell regeneration. They also have anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects, which are crucial for halting cancer growth. Anthocyanins inhibit the growth of cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and promoting the repair of damaged tissues through stem cell activation.

5. Pomegranate

Pomegranates are rich in ellagitannins, compounds that break down into ellagic acid in the body. Ellagic acid has been shown to possess anti-cancer properties by inhibiting tumor growth and promoting apoptosis in cancer cells. Pomegranate juice has demonstrated potential in reducing the progression of cancers such as breast and prostate cancer, due to its ability to suppress inflammation and oxidative stress. Ellagitannins and their metabolites inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. They also act by reducing inflammation and inhibiting the pathways involved in cancer cell survival and growth.

Conclusion

Incorporating foods like green tea, broccoli, papaya, purple potatoes, and pomegranates into your diet may help fight cancer and promote the repair of damaged tissues. The bioactive compounds found in these foods—EGCG, sulforaphane, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and ellagitannins—work through various mechanisms to inhibit cancer cell growth, induce apoptosis, and support the body’s natural repair processes. Including these nutrient-dense foods in your diet may contribute to overall health and resilience against cancer.

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9327595

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1549603

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15068816

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17867677

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17532103

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19472429

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18800808

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309738

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781420009866-5/pomegranate-phytochemicals-navindra-seeram-yanjun-zhang-jess-reed-christian-krueger-jakob-vaya

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25403817

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25027102

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16563357

https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2018/03/14/benefits-of-fiber-in-diet
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2018/02/08/relations-between-breast-cancer-and-diet-amino-acid-called-asparagine
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2018/10/17/announcement-11am-5pm-live-conference-coverage-from-mediterranean-diet-and-lifestyle-a-symposium-on-diet-and-human-health-s-h-r-o-and-temple-university-october-19-2018/
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2016/04/18/consuming-risk-free-food-beverages/
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2015/11/18/nutrition-plan/
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2015/11/29/nuts-and-health-in-aging/
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2015/11/15/seaweed-in-diet
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2014/07/06/health-benefit-of-anthocyanins-from-apples-and-berries-noted-for-men/

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Xenotransplantation: Pioneering a New Era of Organ Availability

Posted in Heart Transplant, Heart-Lung Transplant, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, tagged , , , on October 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Xenotransplantation: Pioneering a New Era of Organ Availability

Reporter: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

The 2024 World Medical Innovation Forum (WMIF) spotlighted xenotransplantation as a transformative solution to the organ shortage crisis. By leveraging genetically modified pig organs, this emerging field offers a new source of transplants, expanding life-saving care options.

Key breakthroughs in 2024 have brought new hope for patients, but significant hurdles remain, including immunological rejection. Ongoing research focuses on developing immunosuppressive strategies and enhancing organ compatibility.

Collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and regulatory bodies is essential for xenotransplantation’s future. Experts predict wider clinical availability within the next decade, potentially reshaping organ replacement.

This revolutionary step in organ transplantation holds promise for patients and could redefine the future of transplant care globally. Here’s a comprehensive report covering the research contributions of the panelists from the Xenotransplantation: Game Changing Organ Replacement discussion:

1. Jason Gerberry

Specialty Pharma and SMid-Cap Biotech Analyst, BofA Global Research

Gerberry is a prominent financial analyst with deep expertise in specialty pharmaceuticals and small-to-mid-cap biotechnology firms. His research focuses on investment trends, market dynamics, and the financial viability of innovative medical solutions such as xenotransplantation. At WMIF 2024, he provided insights on how breakthroughs in the field could impact the biotech sector, including the potential for significant investments driven by advancements in gene editing and organ transplantation technologies. Gerberry’s analysis offers critical perspectives on the commercial and economic landscape surrounding xenotransplantation.

2. Joren Madsen, MD, PhD

Director, MGH Transplant Center

Paul S. Russell/Warner-Lambert Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Madsen is a leader in transplant surgery and immunology. His research focuses on allograft rejection and immunosuppressive strategies to enhance transplant tolerance. He has been pivotal in advancing clinical transplant practices at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and has made significant contributions to xenotransplantation research by exploring how genetically engineered pig organs could help mitigate immune rejection in human recipients. Madsen’s work is key to translating laboratory findings into clinical applications.

3. Tatsuo Kawai, MD, PhD

Director of the Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplantation Tolerance

A. Benedict Cosimi Chair in Transplant Surgery, MGH

Dr. Kawai specializes in immune tolerance and organ transplantation. His research emphasizes reducing or eliminating the need for lifelong immunosuppressive drugs in transplant patients. He has led groundbreaking clinical trials on tolerance induction, paving the way for the potential acceptance of xenotransplanted organs without rejection. His research is also closely tied to immune tolerance mechanisms and how xenotransplantation can be made safer for human use.

4. Richard Pierson III, MD

Scientific Director, Center for Transplantation Sciences, MGH

Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Pierson is renowned for his work in transplantation immunology, focusing on xenotransplantation. His research addresses the fundamental problem of immune rejection of animal organs in human bodies, particularly tackling hyperacute rejection and graft survival. Dr. Pierson has been instrumental in developing strategies to overcome these barriers by modifying pig genetics and using innovative immunosuppressive therapies, which have brought the field closer to clinical application.

5. Leonardo Riella, MD, PhD

Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation, MGH

Harold and Ellen Danser Endowed Chair in Transplantation, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Riella’s research focuses on kidney transplantation and immunosuppressive therapies aimed at improving long-term graft survival. He has been a significant contributor to the field of xenotransplantation, working on improving immune tolerance and understanding how kidneys from genetically modified pigs can function in human bodies without eliciting strong immune responses. His clinical and translational research is critical for the future of xenotransplantation, particularly in renal applications.

Conclusion

These panelists represent leading voices in xenotransplantation, combining their expertise in surgery, immunology, and biotechnology to address the complex challenges of organ transplantation. Their collaborative efforts at MGH and Harvard Medical School are critical in advancing the science of xenotransplantation, bringing it closer to a clinically viable solution for the global organ shortage crisis.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VQT1n_6t_E
https://worldmedicalinnovation.org/life-changing-xenotransplantation-breakthroughs/

https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/xenotransplantation

https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2015/11/09/fda-guidance-on-use-of-xenotransplanted-products-in-human-implications-in-3d-printing/
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2018/07/11/the-heart-surgery-specialty-heart-transplant-lung-transplant-heart-lung-transplantation-aortic-valve-surgery-bypass-surgery-minimally-invasive-cardiac-surgery-heart-valve-surgery-removal-of-ca/
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2019/03/10/patient-shares-story-hep-c-heart-transplant/

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Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important for sperm tolerance and male fertility

Posted in Autoimmune Inflammatory DIseases, Developmental biology, Diagnostic Immunology, Human Antibody Response, Human Immune System in Health and in Disease, Immunodiagnostics, Immunology, Immunotherapy, Innovation in Immunology Diagnostics, Personal Health Applications: Tech Innovations serves HealhCare, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Reproductive Genomics, Protection Against Autoimmune Disease, Reproductive Andrology, Embryology, Genomic Endocrinology, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Reproductive Genomics, Reproductive Biology & Bio Instrumentation, Tolerance-inducing Autoimmune Disease Therapeutics, tagged , , , , , , , on September 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important for sperm tolerance and male fertility

Reporter and Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are specialized immune cells that modulate tissue homeostasis. They are a specialized subset of T lymphocytes that function as suppressive immune cells and inhibit various elements of immune response in vitro and in vivo. While there are constraints on the number or function of Tregs which can be exploited to evoke an effective anti-tumor response, sufficient expansion of Tregs is essential for successful organ transplantation and for promoting tolerance of self and foreign antigens. Current studies have provided evidence that a defect in the number or function of Tregs contributes to the etiology of several reproductive diseases.

In the male reproductive tract, prevention of autoimmune responses against antigenic spermatozoa, while ensuring protection against stressors, is a key determinant of fertility. Using an autoimmunity-induced model, it was uncovered that the role of Tregs in maintaining the tolerogenic state of the testis and epididymis. The loss of tolerance induced an exacerbated immune cell infiltration and the development of anti-sperm antibodies, which caused severe male subfertility. By identifying immunoregulatory mechanisms in the testis and epididymis.

Tregs modulate tissue homeostatic processes and immune responses. Understanding tissue-Treg biology will contribute to developing precision-targeting treatment strategies. Here, it was reported that Tregs maintain the tolerogenic state of the testis and epididymis, where sperm are produced and mature. It was found that Treg depletion induces severe autoimmune orchitis and epididymitis, manifested by an exacerbated immune cell infiltration [CD4 T cells, monocytes, and mononuclear phagocytes (MPs)] and the development of anti-sperm antibodies (ASA).

In Treg-depleted mice, MPs increased projections toward the epididymal lumen as well as invading the lumen. ASA-bound sperm enhance sperm agglutination and might facilitate sperm phagocytosis. Tolerance breakdown impaired epididymal epithelial function and altered extracellular vesicle cargo, both of which play crucial roles in the acquisition of sperm fertilizing ability and subsequent embryo development. The affected mice had reduced sperm number and motility and severe fertility defects.

Deciphering these immunoregulatory mechanisms may lead to the development of therapies for infertility and identifying potential targets for immuno-contraception. Ultimately, such knowledge fills gaps related to reproductive mucosa, which is an understudied facet of human male health.

References:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2306797120

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24048122/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34845322/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34845322/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29648649/

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Eight Subcellular Pathologies driving Chronic Metabolic Diseases – Methods for Mapping Bioelectronic Adjustable Measurements as potential new Therapeutics: Impact on Pharmaceuticals in Use

Posted in Acute Myocardial Infarction, Adaptive Immune Response to Biomaterials and Tissue Repair, Advanced Drug Manufacturing Technology, Amino acids, Apoptosis, Apoptosis, Artificial intelligence applications for cardiology, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine - Application for Diagnosis, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine - Applications in Therapeutics, Atherogenic Processes & Pathology, Autoimmune Inflammatory DIseases, Autologous Cell Therapy, Automated Cell Processing, Autophagosome, Autophagy, Autophagy-Modulating Proteins, “Antibody–enzyme conjugates”, Bio Instrumentation in Experimental Life Sciences Research, Biochemical pathways, Bioengineering & reverse engineering design, Biological Engineering, Biomarkers & Medical Diagnostics, Biomedical Measurement Science, Ca2+ triggered activation, Calcium Signaling, Calmodulin, Calmodulin Kinase and Contraction, Cancer - General, Cardiac muscle regeneration, Cardiovascular Pharmacogenomics, Cell Biology, Signaling & Cell Circuits, Cell death pathways, Cell Processing System in Cell Therapy Process Development, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chemical Biology and its relations to Metabolic Disease, children, Clinical & Translational, Clinical Genomics, Computational Histopathology, congestive heart failure, Cytokine Receptor Structure, Cytokines, Deep Learning in Pathology, Dehydrogenase, Developmental biology, Diabetes Mellitus, Diagnostic Immunology, Disease Biology, Disease Biology, Small Molecules in Development of Therapeutic Drugs, Drug Carrier Design, Drug Delivery Platform Technology, Drug Discovery Chemistry, drug repurposing, Endocrine Diseases, Endoplasmic reticulum, Enzyme Induction, Enzymes and isoenzymes, Epigenetics and Cardiovascular Risks, Epigenetics and Environmental Factors, Evolution of Biology Through Culture, Fatty acids, Frontiers in Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disorders, Gastroenterology, Gene Regulation, Genome Biology, Genomic Analysis of EKG Electrophysiology Genomics, Genomic Endocrinology, Genomics Pharmacy, Glycobiology: Biopharmaceutical Production, Glycobiology: Biopharmaceutical Production, Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics, Gut Microbiome and Obesity, HTN, HTN in Youth, Human Antibody Response, Human Circulating Antibody Repertoire, Human Immune System in Health and in Disease, Human Sensation and Cellular Transduction: Physiology and Therapeutics, Immuno-Oncology & Genomics, Immunodiagnostics, Immunology, Immunotherapy, Indigent Nutrition, inflammation independent of lipid levels, Inflammatory Pathophysiology, Innovation in Immunology Diagnostics, Inosine nucleotides, Intellectual Property, Innovations, Commercialization, Investment in technological breakthrough, Interviews with Scientific Leaders, Investment in Technological Breakthrough, ion-transporting enzyme, IP Development by LPBI Group Team, Kinase, Lipid metabolism, Lipidomics, Lipids, Liposome, Liver & Digestive Diseases Research, Machine learning in predicting type 2 diabetes, Materials Science & Engineering, Medical and Population Genetics, Meta-analysis of transcriptome data, Metabolism, Metabolomics, Methylation, Microbiologial genetics, microbiome, Microfuidics, Micronutrients, Microvesicle, Molecular Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Mutant Gene Expression, Myocardial adenine nucleotide metabolism, Myocardial Ischemia, Myocardial Metabolism, Myocardial metabolism, Myocardial ischemia, myocardial perfusion, Myocardial adenine nucleotide metabolism, Na-K transport, Na-K-ATPase, Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurohumoral Transmission, Neurological Diseases, Nitric Oxide in Health and Disease, Nutrigenomics, Nutrition, Nutrition and Phytochemistry, Nutrition Disorders, Nutritional Supplements: Atherogenesis, Nutritional Supplements: Atherogenesis, lipid metabolism, Obesity, Organic BioElectronics, Origins of Cardiovascular Disease, Pancreatic adenocarcinoma classifier, Patient-centered Medicine, Perioperative Statins at Noncardiac Surgery, Personalized and Precision Medicine & Genomic Research, Phagophore, Pharmaceutical Analytics, Pharmaceutical Drug Discovery, Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacotherapy and Cell Activity, Pharmacotherapy of Cardiovascular Disease, Phosphatase, Phosphorylase, Phosphorylation, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Population Health Management, Nutrition and Phytochemistry, Precision Cancer Medicine, Protection Against Autoimmune Disease, Protein-energy malnutrition, Proteins, Proteomics, Rare heart rhythm disorders and Long QT syndrome (LQTS), Regenerative Biology and Medicine, RNA Biology, S-nitrosylation, Sensors & Analytics, Signaling, Signaling & Cell Circuits, single cell sequencing, Skeletal muscle regeneration, Small Molecules in Development of Therapeutic Drugs, Statistical Methods for Research Evaluation, Stress Disorders, Stroke, Stroke, Systemic Inflammatory Diseases as CVD Risk, Systemic Inflammatory Response Related Disorders, Technology Transfer: Biotech and Pharmaceutical, therapeutics, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Microenvironment, Tolerance-inducing Autoimmune Disease Therapeutics, Transcriptomics, Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Translational Research, tyrosine decarboxylases, Ubiquitin, Ubiquitinylation, Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), Universal Immune Cell Therapies (uICT), Variation in human protein-coding regions, Vascular Diseases, Water Transporters on August 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Eight Subcellular Pathologies driving Chronic Metabolic Diseases – Methods for Mapping Bioelectronic Adjustable Measurements as potential new Therapeutics: Impact on Pharmaceuticals in Use

Curators:

 

THE VOICE of Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

In this curation we wish to present two breaking through goals:

Goal 1:

Exposition of a new direction of research leading to a more comprehensive understanding of Metabolic Dysfunctional Diseases that are implicated in effecting the emergence of the two leading causes of human mortality in the World in 2023: (a) Cardiovascular Diseases, and (b) Cancer

Goal 2:

Development of Methods for Mapping Bioelectronic Adjustable Measurements as potential new Therapeutics for these eight subcellular causes of chronic metabolic diseases. It is anticipated that it will have a potential impact on the future of Pharmaceuticals to be used, a change from the present time current treatment protocols for Metabolic Dysfunctional Diseases.

According to Dr. Robert Lustig, M.D, an American pediatric endocrinologist. He is Professor emeritus of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, where he specialized in neuroendocrinology and childhood obesity, there are eight subcellular pathologies that drive chronic metabolic diseases.

These eight subcellular pathologies can’t be measured at present time.

In this curation we will attempt to explore methods of measurement for each of these eight pathologies by harnessing the promise of the emerging field known as Bioelectronics.

Unmeasurable eight subcellular pathologies that drive chronic metabolic diseases

  1. Glycation
  2. Oxidative Stress
  3. Mitochondrial dysfunction [beta-oxidation Ac CoA malonyl fatty acid]
  4. Insulin resistance/sensitive [more important than BMI], known as a driver to cancer development
  5. Membrane instability
  6. Inflammation in the gut [mucin layer and tight junctions]
  7. Epigenetics/Methylation
  8. Autophagy [AMPKbeta1 improvement in health span]

Diseases that are not Diseases: no drugs for them, only diet modification will help

Image source

Robert Lustig, M.D. on the Subcellular Processes That Belie Chronic Disease

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee_uoxuQo0I

 

Exercise will not undo Unhealthy Diet

Image source

Robert Lustig, M.D. on the Subcellular Processes That Belie Chronic Disease

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee_uoxuQo0I

 

These eight Subcellular Pathologies driving Chronic Metabolic Diseases are becoming our focus for exploration of the promise of Bioelectronics for two pursuits:

  1. Will Bioelectronics be deemed helpful in measurement of each of the eight pathological processes that underlie and that drive the chronic metabolic syndrome(s) and disease(s)?
  2. IF we will be able to suggest new measurements to currently unmeasurable health harming processes THEN we will attempt to conceptualize new therapeutic targets and new modalities for therapeutics delivery – WE ARE HOPEFUL

In the Bioelecronics domain we are inspired by the work of the following three research sources:

  1. Biological and Biomedical Electrical Engineering (B2E2) at Cornell University, School of Engineering https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/bio-electrical-engineering-0
  2. Bioelectronics Group at MIT https://bioelectronics.mit.edu/
  3. The work of Michael Levin @Tufts, The Levin Lab
Michael Levin is an American developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University, where he is the Vannevar Bush Distinguished Professor. Levin is a director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University and Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology. Wikipedia
Born: 1969 (age 54 years), Moscow, Russia
Education: Harvard University (1992–1996), Tufts University (1988–1992)
Affiliation: University of Cape Town
Research interests: Allergy, Immunology, Cross Cultural Communication
Awards: Cozzarelli prize (2020)
Doctoral advisor: Clifford Tabin
Fields: Developmental biology, synthetic biology
SOURCE
Most recent 20 Publications by Michael Levin, PhD
SOURCE
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
The nonlinearity of regulation in biological networks
1 Dec 2023npj Systems Biology and Applications9(1)
Co-authorsManicka S, Johnson K, Levin M…
VIEW PDF10.1038/S41540-023-00273-W
3

3 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 20
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Toward an ethics of autopoietic technology: Stress, care, and intelligence
1 Sep 2023BioSystems231
Co-authorsWitkowski O, Doctor T, Solomonova E…
VIEW PDF10.1016/J.BIOSYSTEMS.2023.104964
Article has an altmetric score of 36
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Closing the Loop on Morphogenesis: A Mathematical Model of Morphogenesis by Closed-Loop Reaction-Diffusion
14 Aug 2023Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology11:1087650
Co-authorsGrodstein J, McMillen P, Levin M
VIEW PDF10.3389/FCELL.2023.1087650
Article has an altmetric score of 22
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Correcting instructive electric potential patterns in multicellular systems: External actions and endogenous processes.
30 Jul 2023Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj1867(10):130440
Co-authorsCervera J, Levin M, Mafe S
VIEW MORE INFO10.1016/J.BBAGEN.2023.130440
Article has an altmetric score of 20
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Regulative development as a model for origin of life and artificial life studies
1 Jul 2023BioSystems229
Co-authorsFields C, Levin M
10.1016/J.BIOSYSTEMS.2023.104927
1

1 citation on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 19
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
The Yin and Yang of Breast Cancer: Ion Channels as Determinants of Left–Right Functional Differences
1 Jul 2023International Journal of Molecular Sciences24(13)
Co-authorsMasuelli S, Real S, McMillen P…
VIEW PDF10.3390/IJMS241311121
Article has an altmetric score of 7
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Bioelectricidad en agregados multicelulares de células no excitables- modelos biofísicos
Jun 2023Revista Española de Física32(2)
Co-authorsCervera J, Levin M, Mafé S
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Bioelectricity: A Multifaceted Discipline, and a Multifaceted Issue!
1 Jun 2023Bioelectricity5(2):75
Co-authorsDjamgoz MBA, Levin M
10.1089/BIOE.2023.0022.EDITORIAL
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Control Flow in Active Inference Systems – Part I: Classical and Quantum Formulations of Active Inference
1 Jun 2023IEEE Transactions on Molecular, Biological, and Multi-Scale Communications9(2):235-245
Co-authorsFields C, Fabrocini F, Friston K…
10.1109/TMBMC.2023.3272150
2

2 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 1
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Control Flow in Active Inference Systems – Part II: Tensor Networks as General Models of Control Flow
1 Jun 2023IEEE Transactions on Molecular, Biological, and Multi-Scale Communications9(2):246-256
Co-authorsFields C, Fabrocini F, Friston K…
10.1109/TMBMC.2023.3272158
2

2 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 1
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Darwin’s agential materials: evolutionary implications of multiscale competency in developmental biology
1 Jun 2023Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences80(6)
Co-authorsLevin M
VIEW PDF10.1007/S00018-023-04790-Z
1

1 citation on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 61
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Morphoceuticals: Perspectives for discovery of drugs targeting anatomical control mechanisms in regenerative medicine, cancer and aging
1 Jun 2023Drug Discovery Today28(6)
Co-authorsPio-Lopez L, Levin M
VIEW PDF10.1016/J.DRUDIS.2023.103585
1

1 citation on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 17
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Morphoceuticals: Perspectives for discovery of drugs targeting anatomical control mechanisms in regenerative medicine, cancer and aging
Jun 2023DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY28(6):1-13
Co-authorsPio-Lopez L, Levin M
VIEW MORE INFO10.1016/J.DRUDIS.2023.103585THIS
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Cellular signaling pathways as plastic, proto-cognitive systems: Implications for biomedicine
12 May 2023Patterns4(5)
Co-authorsMathews J, Chang A, Devlin L…
VIEW PDF10.1016/J.PATTER.2023.100737
3

3 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 18
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Making and breaking symmetries in mind and life
14 Apr 2023Interface Focus13(3)
Co-authorsSafron A, Sakthivadivel DAR, Sheikhbahaee Z…
VIEW PDF10.1098/RSFS.2023.0015
Article has an altmetric score of 7
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
The scaling of goals from cellular to anatomical homeostasis: an evolutionary simulation, experiment and analysis
14 Apr 2023Interface Focus13(3)
Co-authorsPio-Lopez L, Bischof J, LaPalme JV…
VIEW PDF10.1098/RSFS.2022.0072
1

1 citation on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 30
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
The collective intelligence of evolution and development
Apr 2023Collective Intelligence2(2):263391372311683SAGE Publications
Co-authorsWatson R, Levin M
VIEW PDF10.1177/26339137231168355
Article has an altmetric score of 65
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Bioelectricity of non-excitable cells and multicellular pattern memories: Biophysical modeling
13 Mar 2023Physics Reports1004:1-31
Co-authorsCervera J, Levin M, Mafe S
10.1016/J.PHYSREP.2022.12.003
2

2 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 25
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
There’s Plenty of Room Right Here: Biological Systems as Evolved, Overloaded, Multi-Scale Machines
1 Mar 2023Biomimetics8(1)
Co-authorsBongard J, Levin M
VIEW PDF10.3390/BIOMIMETICS8010110
4

4 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 26
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Transplantation of fragments from different planaria: A bioelectrical model for head regeneration
7 Feb 2023Journal of Theoretical Biology558
Co-authorsCervera J, Manzanares JA, Levin M…
VIEW PDF10.1016/J.JTBI.2022.111356
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Bioelectric networks: the cognitive glue enabling evolutionary scaling from physiology to mind
1 Jan 2023Animal Cognition
Co-authorsLevin M
VIEW PDF10.1007/S10071-023-01780-3
2

2 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 62
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Biological Robots: Perspectives on an Emerging Interdisciplinary Field
1 Jan 2023Soft Robotics
Co-authorsBlackiston D, Kriegman S, Bongard J…
10.1089/SORO.2022.0142
1

1 citation on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 56
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Cellular Competency during Development Alters Evolutionary Dynamics in an Artificial Embryogeny Model
1 Jan 2023Entropy25(1)
Co-authorsShreesha L, Levin M
VIEW PDF10.3390/E25010131
5

5 total citations on Dimensions.

Article has an altmetric score of 16
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Endless forms most beautiful 2.0: teleonomy and the bioengineering of chimaeric and synthetic organisms (July, blac073, 2022)
1 Jan 2023BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY138(1):141
Co-authorsClawson WP, Levin M
VIEW PDFVIEW MORE INFO10.1093/BIOLINNEAN/BLAC116
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE
Future medicine: from molecular pathways to the collective intelligence of the body
1 Jan 2023Trends in Molecular Medicine
Co-authorsLagasse E, Levin M
10.1016/J.MOLMED.2023.06.007

THE VOICE of Dr. Justin D. Pearlman, MD, PhD, FACC

PENDING

THE VOICE of  Stephen J. Williams, PhD

Ten TakeAway Points of Dr. Lustig’s talk on role of diet on the incidence of Type II Diabetes

 

  1. 25% of US children have fatty liver
  2. Type II diabetes can be manifested from fatty live with 151 million  people worldwide affected moving up to 568 million in 7 years
  3. A common myth is diabetes due to overweight condition driving the metabolic disease
  4. There is a trend of ‘lean’ diabetes or diabetes in lean people, therefore body mass index not a reliable biomarker for risk for diabetes
  5. Thirty percent of ‘obese’ people just have high subcutaneous fat.  the visceral fat is more problematic
  6. there are people who are ‘fat’ but insulin sensitive while have growth hormone receptor defects.  Points to other issues related to metabolic state other than insulin and potentially the insulin like growth factors
  7. At any BMI some patients are insulin sensitive while some resistant
  8. Visceral fat accumulation may be more due to chronic stress condition
  9. Fructose can decrease liver mitochondrial function
  10. A methionine and choline deficient diet can lead to rapid NASH development

 

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Prediction of exact requirement of exogenous hormone doses in contraceptives to reduce health issues

Posted in Artificial Intelligence - General, Artificial Intelligence Applications in Health Care, Artificial Intelligence in Health Care - Tools & Innovations, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine - Applications in Therapeutics, Biomedical Measurement Science, Cell Biology, Cell Biology, Signaling & Cell Circuits, Clinical Diagnostics, Diagnostics and Lab Tests, Disease Biology, Healthcare Reform, Machine Learning, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Reproductive Andrology, Embryology, Genomic Endocrinology, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Reproductive Genomics, Reproductive Biology & Bio Instrumentation, Uncategorized, Women Health, tagged , , , , on April 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Reporter and Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

The female reproductive lifespan is regulated by the menstrual cycle. Defined as the interval between the menarche and menopause, it is approximately 35 years in length on average. Based on current average human life expectancy figures, and excluding fertility issues, this means that the female body can bear children for almost half of its lifetime. Thus, within this time span many individuals may consider contraception at some point in their reproductive life. A wide variety of contraceptive methods are now available, which are broadly classified into hormonal and non-hormonal approaches. A normal menstrual cycle is controlled by a delicate interplay of hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), among others. These molecules are produced by the various glands in the body that make up the endocrine system.

Hormonal contraceptives – including the contraceptive pill, some intrauterine devices (IUDs) and hormonal implants – utilize exogenous (or synthetic) hormones to block or suppress ovulation, the phase of the menstrual cycle where an egg is released into the uterus. Beyond their use as methods to prevent pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives are also being increasingly used to suppress ovulation as a method for treating premenstrual syndromes. Hormonal contraceptives composed of exogenous estrogen and/or progesterone are commonly administered artificial means of birth control. Despite many benefits, adverse side effects associated with high doses such as thrombosis and myocardial infarction, cause hesitation to usage.

Scientists at the University of the Philippines and Roskilde University are exploring methods to optimize the dosage of exogenous hormones in such contraceptives. Their overall aim is the creation of patient-specific minimizing dosing schemes, to prevent adverse side effects that can be associated with hormonal contraceptive use and empower individuals in their contraceptive journey. Their research data showed evidence that the doses of exogenous hormones in certain contraceptive methods could be reduced, while still ensuring ovulation is suppressed. Reducing the total exogenous hormone dose by 92% in estrogen-only contraceptives, or the total dose by 43% in progesterone-only contraceptives, prevented ovulation according to the model. In contraceptives combining estrogen and progesterone, the doses could be reduced further.

References:

https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/hormone-doses-in-contraceptives-could-be-reduced-by-as-much-as-92-372088?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News

https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010073

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/birth-control-with-up-to-92-lower-hormone-doses-could-still-be-effective

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441576/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953621005797

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Mimicking vaginal cells and microbiome interactions on chip microfluidic culture

Posted in Automated Cell Processing, Bio Instrumentation in Experimental Life Sciences Research, Biological Engineering, Biological Networks, Biotechnology, Cell Level, Clinical & Translational, Clinical Diagnostics, Diagnostics and Lab Tests, Medical Device Therapies for Altzheimer’s Disease, Microbiology, MicroEngineering Cell-Tissue & Systems, Microfuidics, Mobile Healthcare, Organ-on-a-Chip, Patient-centered Medicine, Personal Health Applications: Tech Innovations serves HealhCare, Personalized and Precision Medicine & Genomic Research, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Reproductive Andrology, Embryology, Genomic Endocrinology, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Reproductive Genomics, Reproductive Biology & Bio Instrumentation, Signaling, Tissue Engineering, Women Health, tagged , , , , , on February 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Mimicking vaginal cells and microbiome interactions on chip microfluidic culture

Reporter and Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

Scientists at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering have developed the world’s first “vagina-on-a-chip,” which uses living cells and bacteria to mimic the microbial environment of the human vagina. It could help to test drugs against bacterial vaginosis, a common microbial imbalance that makes millions of people more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases and puts them at risk of preterm delivery when pregnant. Vaginal health is difficult to study in a laboratory setting partly because laboratory animals have “totally different microbiomes” than humans. To address this, scientists have created an unique chip, which is an inch-long, rectangular polymer case containing live human vaginal tissue from a donor and a flow of estrogen-carrying material to simulate vaginal mucus.

The organs-on-a-chip mimic real bodily function, making it easier to study diseases and test drugs. Previous examples include models of the lungs and the intestines. In this case, the tissue acts like that of a real vagina in some important ways. It even responds to changes in estrogen by adjusting the expression of certain genes. And it can grow a humanlike microbiome dominated by “good” or “bad” bacteria. The researchers have demonstrated that Lactobacilli growing on the chip’s tissue help to maintain a low pH by producing lactic acid. Conversely, if the researchers introduce Gardnerella, the chip develops a higher pH, cell damage and increased inflammation: classic bacterial vaginosis signs. So, the chip can demonstrate how a healthy / unhealthy microbiome affects the vagina.

The next step is personalization or subject specific culture from individuals. The chip is a real leap forward, it has the prospect of testing how typical antibiotic treatments against bacterial vaginosis affect the different bacterial strains. Critics of organ-on-a-chip technology often raise the point that it models organs in isolation from the rest of the body. There are limitations such as many researchers are interested in vaginal microbiome changes that occur during pregnancy because of the link between bacterial vaginosis and labor complications. Although the chip’s tissue responds to estrogen, but it does not fully mimic pregnancy without feedback loops from other organs. The researchers are already working on connecting the vagina chip to a cervix chip, which could better represent the larger reproductive system.

All these information indicate that the human vagina chip offers a new model to study host-vaginal microbiome interactions in both optimal and non-optimal states, as well as providing a human relevant preclinical model for development and testing of reproductive therapeutics, including live bio-therapeutics products for bacterial vaginosis. This microfluidic human vagina chip that enables flow through an open epithelial lumen also offers a unique advantage for studies on the effect of cervicovaginal mucus on vaginal health as clinical mucus samples or commercially available mucins can be flowed through this channel. The role of resident and circulating immune cells in host-microbiome interactions also can be explored by incorporating these cells into the vagina chip in the future, as this has been successfully done in various other organ chip models.

References:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-vagina-on-a-chip-will-help-researchers-test-drugs/

https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20230209/scientists-create-vagina-on-chip-what-to-know

https://www.livescience.com/vagina-on-a-chip

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-022-01400-1

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41585-022-00717-8

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Sperm damage and fertility problem due to COVID-19

Posted in Biological Networks, Cell Biology, coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19, Diagnostic Immunology, Diagnostics and Lab Tests, Health Care System by Country, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Reproductive Andrology, Embryology, Genomic Endocrinology, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Reproductive Genomics, Reproductive Biology & Bio Instrumentation, SARS-CoV-2, tagged , , , , , on June 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Sperm damage and fertility problem due to COVID-19

Reporter and Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

Many couples initially deferred attempts at pregnancy or delayed fertility care due to concerns about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One significant fear during the COVID-19 pandemic was the possibility of sexual transmission. Many couples have since resumed fertility care while accepting the various uncertainties associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov2), including the evolving knowledge related to male reproductive health. Significant research has been conducted exploring viral shedding, tropism, sexual transmission, the impact of male reproductive hormones, and possible implications to semen quality. However, to date, limited definitive evidence exists regarding many of these aspects, creating a challenging landscape for both patients and physicians to obtain and provide the best clinical care.

According to a new study, which looked at sperm quality in patients who suffered symptomatic coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, showed that it could impact fertility for weeks after recovery from the virus. The data showed 60% COVID-19 infected men had reduction in sperm motility and 37% had drop in sperm count, but, 2 months after recovery from COVID-19 the value came down to 28% and 6% respectively. The researchers also of the view that COVID-19 could not be sexually transmitted through semen after a person had recovered from illness. Patients with mild and severe cases of COVID-19 showed similar rate of drop in sperm quality. But further work is required to establish whether or not COVID-19 could have a longer-term impact on fertility. The estimated recovery time is three months, but further follow-up studies are still required to confirm this and to determine if permanent damage occurred in a minority of men.

Some viruses like influenza are already known to damage sperm mainly by increasing body temperature. But in the case of COVID-19, the researchers found no link between the presence or severity of fever and sperm quality. Tests showed that higher concentrations of specific COVID-19 antibodies in patients’ blood serum were strongly correlated with reduced sperm function. So, it was believed the sperm quality reduction cause could be linked to the body’s immune response to the virus. While the study showed that there was no COVID-19 RNA present in the semen of patients who had got over the virus, the fact that antibodies were attacking sperm suggests the virus may cross the blood-testis barrier during the peak of an infection.

It was found in a previous report that SARS-CoV-2 can be present in the semen of patients with COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2 may still be detected in the semen of recovering patients. Due to imperfect blood-testes/deferens/epididymis barriers, SARS-CoV-2 might be seeded to the male reproductive tract, especially in the presence of systemic local inflammation. Even if the virus cannot replicate in the male reproductive system, it may persist, possibly resulting from the privileged immunity of testes.

If it could be proved that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted sexually in future studies, sexual transmission might be a critical part of the prevention of transmission, especially considering the fact that SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the semen of recovering patients. Abstinence or condom use might be considered as preventive means for these patients. In addition, it is worth noting that there is a need for studies monitoring fetal development. Therefore, to avoid contact with the patient’s saliva and blood may not be enough, since the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in a recovering patient’s semen maintains the likelihood to infect others. But further studies are required with respect to the detailed information about virus shedding, survival time, and concentration in semen.

References:

https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/12/21/covid-can-damage-sperm-for-months-making-it-harder-to-conceive-a-baby-a-new-study-finds

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(20)32780-1/fulltext

https://www.fertstertreviews.org/article/S2666-5719(21)00004-9/fulltext

https://www.fertstertscience.org/article/S2666-335X(21)00064-1/fulltext

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(21)02156-7/fulltext

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2765654/

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(21)01398-4/fulltext

https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/08/27/do-covid-vaccines-affect-pregnancy-fertility-or-periods-we-asked-the-world-health-organiza

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The Framingham Study: Across 6 Decades, Cardiovascular Disease Among Middle-Aged Adults – mean life expectancy increased and the RLR of ASCVD decreased. Effective primary prevention efforts and better screening increased.

Posted in Atherogenic Processes & Pathology, Electrophysiology, Frontiers in Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disorders, HTN, inflammation independent of lipid levels, Origins of Cardiovascular Disease, Pharmacotherapy of Cardiovascular Disease, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, Systemic Inflammatory Diseases as CVD Risk, Vascular Diseases on April 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »

The Framingham Study: Across 6 Decades, Cardiovascular Disease Among Middle-Aged Adults – mean life expectancy increased and the RLR of ASCVD decreased. Effective primary prevention efforts and better screening increased.

Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

UPDATED on 8/27/2023

Cardiovascular disease & why we should change the way we assess risk | The Peter Attia Drive Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1geXgNEG_0

Temporal Trends in the Remaining Lifetime Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Middle-Aged Adults Across 6 Decades: The Framingham Study

Ramachandran S. Vasan

Danielle M Enserro

Vanessa Xanthakis

Alexa S Beiser

 and 

Sudha Seshadri

Originally published 18 Apr 2022

https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057889 Circulation. 2022;0

Abstract

Background: The remaining lifetime risk (RLR) is the probability of developing an outcome over the remainder of one’s lifespan at any given age. The RLR for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in three 20-year periods were assessed using data from a single community-based cohort study of predominantly White participants

Methods: Longitudinal data from the Framingham study in 3 epochs (epoch 1, 1960-1979; epoch 2, 1980-1999; epoch 3, 2000-2018) were evaluated. The RLR of a first ASCVD event (myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease death, or stroke) from 45 years of age (adjusting for competing risk of death) in the 3 epochs were compared overall, and according to the following strata: sex, body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol categories, diabetes, smoking, and Framingham risk score groups.

Results: There were 317 849 person-years of observations during the 3 epochs (56% women; 94% White) and 4855 deaths occurred. Life expectancy rose by 10.1 years (men) to 11.9 years (women) across the 3 epochs. There were 1085 ASCVD events over the course of 91 330 person-years in epoch 1, 1330 ASCVD events over the course of 107 450 person years in epoch 2, and 775 ASCVD events over the course of 119 069 person-years in epoch 3. The mean age at onset of first ASCVD event was greater in the third epoch by 8.1 years (men) to 10.3 years (women) compared with the first epoch. The RLR of ASCVD from 45 years of age declined from 43.7% in epoch 1 to 28.1% in epoch 3 (P<0.0001), a finding that was consistent in both sexes (RLR [epoch 1 versus epoch 3], 36.3% versus 26.5% [women]; 52.5% versus 30.1% [men]; P<0.001 for both). The lower RLR of ASCVD in the last 2 epochs was observed consistently across body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and Framingham risk score strata (P<0.001 for all). The RLR of coronary heart disease events and stroke declined in both sexes (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Over the past 6 decades, mean life expectancy increased and the RLR of ASCVD decreased in the community based, predominantly White Framingham study. The residual burden of ASCVD underscores the importance of continued and effective primary prevention efforts with better screening for risk factors and their effective treatment.

SOURCE

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057889#.Yl6sSKaYNF4.linkedin

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Comparative Study: Four SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induce quantitatively different antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Posted in Coronavirus Gene Expression, COVID-19, Immune-Mediation (independent immunopathology: lung and reticuloendothelial system), Mechanisms of infection by SARS-CoV-2, Population Health Management, Population Health Management, Genetics & Pharmaceutical, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants , SARS-CoV-2 Viral Variants, Serology tests for coronavirus antibodies, T-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, Vaccinology, Virtual Drug Molecule Screening targeting SAR-CoV-2 proteins, Virus Infective Acute Respiratory Syndrome: SARS-CoV on October 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Comparative Study: Four SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induce quantitatively different antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Reporter: Aviva Lev- Ari, PhD, RN

Marit J. van Gils, A. H. Ayesha Lavell, Karlijn van der Straten, Brent Appelman, Ilja Bontjer, Meliawati Poniman, Judith A. Burger, Melissa Oomen, Joey H. Bouhuijs, Lonneke A. van Vught, Marleen A. Slim, Michiel Schinkel, Elke Wynberg, Hugo D.G. van Willigen, Marloes Grobben, Khadija Tejjani, Jonne Snitselaar, Tom G. Caniels, Amsterdam UMC COVID-19 S3/HCW study group, Alexander P. J. Vlaar, Maria Prins, Menno D. de Jong, Godelieve J. de Bree, Jonne J. Sikkens, Marije K. Bomers, Rogier W. Sanders doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.27.21264163

Abstract

Emerging and future SARS-CoV-2 variants may jeopardize the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. We performed a head-to-head comparison of the ability of sera from individuals vaccinated with either one of four vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, AZD1222 or Ad26.COV2.S) to recognize and neutralize the four SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs; Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta). Four weeks after completing the vaccination series, SARS-CoV-2 wild-type neutralizing antibody titers were highest in recipients of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (median titers of 1891 and 3061, respectively), and substantially lower in those vaccinated with the adenovirus vector-based vaccines AZD1222 and Ad26.COV2.S (median titers of 241 and 119, respectively). VOCs neutralization was reduced in all vaccine groups, with the largest (5.8-fold) reduction in neutralization being observed against the Beta variant. Overall, the mRNA vaccines appear superior to adenovirus vector-based vaccines in inducing neutralizing antibodies against VOCs four weeks after the final vaccination.

Figure 2:Binding and neutralization titers post-vaccination against VOCs.

(A) Median with interquartile range of binding titers to wild-type and VOCs S proteins represented as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of 1:100,000 diluted sera collected four-five weeks after full vaccination for the four vaccination groups. The lower cutoff for binding was set at an MFI of 10 (grey shading). Vaccine groups are indicated by colors with BNT162b2 in green, mRNA-1273 in purple, AZD1222 in orange and Ad26.COV2.S in blue. (B) Median with interquartile range of half-maximal neutralization (ID50) titers of D614G and VOCs pseudoviruses for sera collected after full vaccination for the four vaccination groups. The lower cutoff for neutralization was set at an ID50 of 100 (grey shading). Vaccine groups are indicated by colors with BNT162b2 in green, mRNA-1273 in purple, AZD1222 in orange and Ad26.COV2.S in blue. (C) Median ID50 neutralization of D614G and VOCs plotted against the reported vaccine efficacy against symptomatic infection2–5,12–17. Vaccine groups are indicated by colors with BNT162b2 in green, mRNA-1273 in purple, AZD1222 in orange and Ad26.COV2.S in blue. Circles represent WT data, squares for Alpha, diamond for Beta, nabla triangle for Gamma and delta triangle for Delta. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient with p value are indicated. The result of the AZD1222 phase 3 trial conducted in South Africa, demonstrating poor (10%) efficacy against Beta variant, is not shown.

SOURCE

 https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.27.21264163

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NCCN Shares Latest Expert Recommendations for Prostate Cancer in Spanish and Portuguese

Posted in Cancer - General, Cancer and Current Therapeutics, Cancer Informatics, Childhood cancer, Clinical & Translational, Curation, Global Medical Publishers by Country, Health Care System by Country, LPBI Management, Personal Health Applications: Tech Innovations serves HealhCare, Pharmaceutical Industry Competitive Intelligence, Pharmacovigilance, Population Health Management, Prostate Cancer: Monitoring vs Treatment, Scientific Publishing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 14, 2021| Leave a Comment »

NCCN Shares Latest Expert Recommendations for Prostate Cancer in Spanish and Portuguese

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, Ph.D.

Currently many biomedical texts and US government agency guidelines are only offered in English or only offered in different languages upon request. However Spanish is spoken in a majority of countries worldwide and medical text in that language would serve as an under-served need. In addition, Portuguese is the main language in the largest country in South America, Brazil.

The LPBI Group and others have noticed this need for medical translation to other languages. Currently LPBI Group is translating their medical e-book offerings into Spanish (for more details see https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/vision/)

Below is an article on The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s decision to offer their cancer treatment guidelines in Spanish and Portuguese.

Source: https://www.nccn.org/home/news/newsdetails?NewsId=2871

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA [8 September, 2021] — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®)—a nonprofit alliance of leading cancer centers in the United States—announces recently-updated versions of evidence- and expert consensus-based guidelines for treating prostate cancer, translated into Spanish and Portuguese. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) feature frequently updated cancer treatment recommendations from multidisciplinary panels of experts across NCCN Member Institutions. Independent studies have repeatedly found that following these recommendations correlates with better outcomes and longer survival.

“Everyone with prostate cancer should have access to care that is based on current and reliable evidence,” said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. “These updated translations—along with all of our other translated and adapted resources—help us to define and advance high-quality, high-value, patient-centered cancer care globally, so patients everywhere can live better lives.”

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly occurring cancer in men, impacting more than a million people worldwide every year.[1] In 2020, the NCCN Guidelines® for Prostate Cancer were downloaded more than 200,000 times by people outside of the United States. Approximately 47 percent of registered users for NCCN.org are located outside the U.S., with Brazil, Spain, and Mexico among the top ten countries represented.

“NCCN Guidelines are incredibly helpful resources in the work we do to ensure cancer care across Latin America meets the highest standards,” said Diogo Bastos, MD, and Andrey Soares, MD, Chair and Scientific Director of the Genitourinary Group of The Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG). The organization has worked with NCCN in the past to develop Latin American editions of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, and Rectal Cancer, and co-hosted a webinar on “Management of Prostate Cancer for Latin America” earlier this year. “We appreciate all of NCCN’s efforts to make sure these gold-standard recommendations are accessible to non-English speakers and applicable for varying circumstances.”

NCCN also publishes NCCN Guidelines for Patients®, containing the same treatment information in non-medical terms, intended for patients and caregivers. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Prostate Cancer were found to be among the most trustworthy sources of information online according to a recent international study. These patient guidelines have been divided into two books, covering early and advanced prostate cancer; both have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese as well.

NCCN collaborates with organizations across the globe on resources based on the NCCN Guidelines that account for local accessibility, consideration of metabolic differences in populations, and regional regulatory variation. They can be downloaded free-of-charge for non-commercial use at NCCN.org/global or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines App. Learn more and join the conversation with the hashtag #NCCNGlobal.

[1] Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global Cancer Statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin, in press. The online GLOBOCAN 2018 database is accessible at http://gco.iarc.fr/, as part of IARC’s Global Cancer Observatory.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients® provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation®. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information and follow NCCN on Facebook @NCCNorg, Instagram @NCCNorg, and Twitter @NCCN.

Please see LPBI Group’s efforts in medical text translation and Natural Language Processing of Medical Text at

2.0 LPBI – 2021-2025 VISION
2021-2025 Medical Text Analysis (NLP)

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