Latest news with #stemCells
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-07-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
KAUST Develops Deep Learning Tool for Pre-Pregnancy Human Embryo Evaluation
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have announced the development of a new deep learning tool, deepBlastoid, to study models of human embryo development in artificial laboratory conditions. The KAUST scientists demonstrated that deepBlastoid can evaluate images of the models equally well as expert scientists, but 1,000 times faster, SPA reported. The earliest stages of the human embryo are crucial for understanding fertility, pregnancy complications, and the origins of developmental disorders. However, direct research on human embryos is limited by ethical considerations. Blastoids are cellular models that represent the embryo at a period known as the blastocyst stage. This stage begins about five days after fertilization and continues until the embryo has implanted itself into the mother's uterine wall (the moment of pregnancy). Importantly, the human blastoids in the KAUST study are composed of stem cells, but not embryonic tissue, and since their discovery in 2021, they have quickly become a preferred human model for scientists to study early embryo development. In the new study, KAUST researchers trained deepBlastoid on over 2,000 microscopic images of blastoids. Then they used it to assess the effects of chemicals on blastoid development by examining over 10,000 additional images. Understanding how these chemicals can disrupt blastoids has profound implications for women who are taking prescription medicine or other drugs but seek to become pregnant. "Little is known about the very early stages of embryo development. With deepBlastoid, we can scale up blastoid research to study embryo development and the effects of chemicals on the embryo and pregnancy," said KAUST Associate Professor and member of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Smart Health Mo Li, an expert in stem cell biology and whose lab pioneered embryo models using human blastoids. He added that deepBlastoid will also help advance reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization. Generally, scientists evaluate blastoids manually by systematically reviewing a library's worth of images taken under a microscope. This approach not only requires time, but it is also sensitive to the scientist's knowledge and the method used to produce the blastoid, which can vary across laboratories. On the other hand, deepBlastoid can process 273 images per second, offering scientists a tool to assess tens of thousands of blastoids in just a few minutes. "DeepBlastoid not only matches human performance in accuracy, it delivers an unparalleled increase in throughput. This efficiency allows scientists to analyze vast amounts of data in a short time, enabling experiments that were previously unfeasible," said KAUST Professor and member of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Generative AI Peter Wonka, an expert in deep learning and computer vision and whose research team developed deepBlastoid. While Li, Wonka, and their colleagues used deepBlastoid to study the blastoid, they noted that by adapting the deep learning algorithm, their approach could be applied to other stem cell models for various embryo stages and organs.
Globe and Mail
03-07-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Apollo Biowellness, Inc. Re-Files Application with OTCMarkets.com
North Bergen, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2025) - Apollo Biowellness, Inc. (OTC Pink: KOAN) (the "Company") announces that it submitted to an application to be able to file disclosure reports on OTCIQ. The application process includes a review by and is pending approval by To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: James W. Zimbler, President, stated, "Our application to resume submitting disclosure statements and financial information has been submitted and we are awaiting final approval. As soon as final approval is granted, we will be filing the necessary statements." You can follow and contact the Company on X at @ApolloBioKOAN. About Apollo Biowellness, Inc. Apollo Biowellness, Inc., and its subsidiary, Evolutionary Biologics, Inc., is engaged in the discovery, development and marketing of products designed to better mankind. We believe we are positioning our company as a leader in the field of Regenerative Medicine as defined by the National Institute of Health using biologic based products. Intended products are to be marketed under third-party label exemptions. We are focusing our current efforts on marketing licensed patent-pending natural stem cell mobilizing agents capable of enhancing each individual's ability to mobilize their own adult stem cells from their bone marrow. Also, we are licensed under a patent-pending application to market a dual acting all-natural diet aid designed to help control hunger through normal body signals to the brain and stomach. Products are being developed for consumer and professional markets. Before using any of our products, you should always consult with your veterinarian and/or family doctor. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations include those risks and uncertainties relating to our ability to raise capital, the regulatory approval process, the development, testing, production and marketing of our drug candidates, patent and intellectual property matters and strategic agreements and relationships. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. A complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business, including the business of any of its subsidiaries, is included in "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Blood test can detect cancer 18 months before symptoms appear
A new blood test means it is now possible to detect cancer up to 18 months before symptoms even appear. Test for Cancer has launched the HrC Genomics blood test, a non-invasive screening tool designed to spot cancer before it becomes symptomatic, reducing the need for invasive procedures like tissue biopsies. With cancer among the world's leading causes of death, early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes. But many cancers are diagnosed too late, when treatment options are more limited and survival rates are lower. Test for Cancer says its new test can change that. By identifying specific stem cells that begin circulating when cancer is present, even before symptoms emerge, the HrC Genomics test offers a way to screen for cancer much earlier than standard approaches allow. READ MORE: Cardiologists name two foods that lower cholesterol 'just like statins' READ MORE: Neurologist says you can cut cholesterol, blood pressure and dementia risk in 20 minutes According to the organisation, these cells, known as pluripotent progenitor stem cells, can be detected in the blood as early as 12 to 18 months before any signs of illness. That early window gives patients and doctors more time to intervene and improves the chances of successful treatment. The test is available to adults of all ages and is not limited by gender or family history, making it a potentially powerful screening option for people who might not otherwise qualify for routine checks. Test for Cancer says its mission is to make early cancer detection more widely accessible, helping more people take control of their health and catch cancer before it advances.
South China Morning Post
27-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Mammals could regenerate damaged tissue by turning on ‘genetic switch': Chinese team
Chinese scientists say they have restored the damaged outer ear in mice, a mammal that lacks natural regenerative abilities. The researchers said the pathway they identified could be applied to different tissue types and play a significant role in advancing regeneration in vertebrates. The team found that a mouse's failure to regenerate stemmed from an inability to produce sufficient retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A that regulates what cell type emerges during a cell's development and tissue repair. 10:16 Rise in Hong Kong infant eczema cases linked to 'excessive' Covid-19 cleaning habits Rise in Hong Kong infant eczema cases linked to 'excessive' Covid-19 cleaning habits This was because mice had lost the DNA 'remote controls' that switch on the gene that encodes an enzyme to convert vitamin A into retinoic acid, they found. By turning on the 'evolutionarily disabled genetic switch', the scientists could reactivate the regeneration of the mouse ear. 'Our study identified a genetic switch involved in the evolution of regeneration,' said the researchers from the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, the BGI-Research genomics institute and the Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture. They published their research in the peer-reviewed journal Science on Thursday. Some animals possess the power of regeneration. Salamanders, for example, can regrow tissues, organs and limbs, while teleost fish can regenerate nervous tissue and restore function following injuries to their central nervous system. But mammals, including humans, have limited capacity to rejuvenate tissue and organs.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Woman off insulin for Type 1 diabetes after a single dose of experimental manufactured stem cells
Amanda Smith celebrates the day, August 1, nearly two years ago, when she stopped taking insulin to manage her type one diabetes, just a few months after getting a dose of experimental stem cells as part of a study. 'I remember, like, being scared and excited, and it's history now,' she said. The 36-year-old nurse and mother is part of a small, but what some call 'milestone study,' of patients with Type 1 Diabetes using manufactured stem cells, designed to grow in the liver and become the full array of islet cells array of pancreatic islet cells that naturally control blood sugar levels. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report that of the 12 patients who received a single dose of the stem cells, it eliminated the need for insulin in 10 for at least a year and stopped episodes of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, which can lead to dangerous complications, even death. For Amanda, the treatment has been a blessing. Diagnosed with late-onset juvenile diabetes when she was 25, she was plagued with sudden bouts of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia that would leave her faint, despite close monitoring. The risk was a diabetic coma or worse. 'I get emotional because I'm free from those handcuffs ... I don't have that looming over me every day,' she said from her home in London, Ont. 'I took it as a death sentence,' she said. 'I knew, eventually, like the end is always some sort of complication with diabetes,' she said 'We've ... dealt with a lot of patients that have struggled with diabetes. And to be able to see such a transformational change in their life is just amazing,' said Dr. Trevor Reichman, the lead author and the Surgical Director of the Pancreas and Islet Cell Transplant Program at the University Health Network in Toronto. Dr. Trevor Reichman Dr. Trevor Reichman appears for an interview with CTV News. Reichman says it is the first time that scientists have seen this kind of response with implanted stem cell-derived islets. Vertex, a Boston-based biotech company that sponsored the study, derived the cells from embryonic tissue and then found a way to grow them stem cells in large quantities. Researchers, working at centers in the U.S. and at least three transplant hospitals in Canada, infused them into the patient's liver. Over the next four to six months, Reichman said they transformed into the array of hormone-producing cells found in a normal pancreas, and they were monitoring the patients' blood sugar levels in real time. 'In the liver, they're sensing a patient's blood glucose level, and they're secreting the appropriate hormone,' said Reichman. adding that these biological replacements appear to sense changes in 'seconds or milliseconds. Essentially, it's the same as your native islet cells would function.' 'I think the data is just so very exciting, so very, very powerful,' said Dr. Peter Senior, director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute at the University of Alberta. He was not part of this study. 'The primary objective of the study was just to show that the blood sugars were better and that people were not having severe hypoglycemia. They blew past that. Ten of the 12 people are off insulin,' said Senior. ' It's never been done before in history' said Dr. Michael Thompson, director of Vancouver General Diabetes Centre. 'It's first time they a have achieved a high enough levels of insulin in patients,'using a stem cell product 'It's a big advance' he added. But there's a tradeoff. The patients, however, require immune-suppressing drugs for life, so that the immune system doesn't destroy the cells. There are risks to these immunosuppressive medications, including a higher risk of some cancers, infections, and high blood pressure. Amanda says it is nothing like her constant terror that she might slip into a sudden diabetic coma. 'Taking a couple of pills three times a day is nothing. I take it with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's easy. No comparison, none,' she said. 'And I know it's a huge relief for my family, especially my husband, that's for sure.' The study also reports that two patients in the study died, one likely as a result of complications from that immunosuppression, which Dr. Reichman says underscores the need for patients to be closely monitored at experienced transplant centers. A second patient, according to the study, died of severe dementia. Off-the-shelf live cell therapy The idea of using cells implanted in the body to produce insulin, instead of insulin injections, began in Canada 25 years ago. Researchers in Alberta pioneered the Edmonton Protocol. It uses insulin-producing islet cells removed from diseased organ donors that are implanted into those with hard-to-manage Type 1 Diabetes. Some 2,500 patients have been treated around the world, according to the University of Alberta, which reports 80 per cent were able to stop taking insulin injections for a median time of 95 days. Stem cells pipettes (Image credit: Vertex) But the number of procedures is limited because there aren't enough organ donors to meet the demand, and patients also require long-term immune suppression. So, there have been some two dozen companies around the world looking at other ways of getting manufactured islet cells to regulate blood sugar as a replacement for insulin. The Vertex cells, originally called VX-880, have been renamed Zimislecel. The Boston-based pharmaceutical company (says it is ramping up production, as it 'These are fresh, brand-new cells – they're not 60-year-old cells that have already had a life, and we're repurposing them,' said Senior, who works in Edmonton. It pushes the boundary of therapy forward because there is the potential to create a renewable source of insulin-producing cells instead of waiting for cells from deceased donors,' he added. 'I think we've got a treatment for diabetes where we are no longer constrained by organ donors,' said Senior. 'We've got potentially a limitless source of cells that could be used, and that is a massively huge step forward in terms of a cell therapy becoming a reality.' The next step is for someone to produce stem cells that don't require immune suppression, by either genetically engineering the cells or encapsulating them to make them invisible to immune attack. Several pilot studies are underway. It's a welcome advance, according to Senior. While insulin therapy has been a lifesaver for many since its discovery in Toronto by Banting and Best in 1921, it's never been a cure. Stem Cells (Image credit: Vertex) 'I think people with diabetes deserve some of the transformative treatments we've seen in cancer and other diseases but we've been stuck essentially doing the same thing for 100 years,' said Senior. In Canada, there are some 300000 people with Type 1 diabetes. Thirty-two new cases are diagnosed each day. The number of new cases per year increased by 34 per cent between 2000 and 2022, according to Breakthrough TD1(formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Canada). Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to environmental, dietary, and genetic factors, the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is still unknown, but doctors say the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas, resulting in a gradual decline in the availability of insulin to regulate blood sugar. Questions remain The study is being continued to include a total of 50 patients, in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and the U.S., with Dr. Reichman's team actively recruiting candidates. There are still many questions. Dr. Reichman admits that no one knows how long these implanted cells will last. Amanda hasn't required any insulin inections for almost two years, the longest documented period so far. He adds there are no signs that the other nine, who also went off insulin, have gone back on the injections since their stem cell infusion. Unclear also is whether this therapy will reduce the longer-term and burdensome complications of diabetes, including heart problems, amputations, kidney failure, and vision loss. However, data from patients treated with the Edmonton protocol, using tissue from deceased donors, show signs of reduced complications, a promising sign for the newer therapy, according to Dr. Thompson. The other concern is that not all patients with severe hypoglycemia may want to make the same choice as Amanda, swapping the diabetes risks for those that come with the anti-rejection medications. 'Taking a couple of pills three times a day is nothing. It's easy. There's no comparison, none,' she said. Another question is that a single treatment therapy for this disease could come with a very high price tag. 'We'll have to wait and see,' said Reichman. Amanda Smith, meanwhile, tries to enjoy her freedom with her family and her work at a long-term care home, without thinking too far ahead. 'What happens if the cells stop working or something? You know, I just try and live right now, and I feel so blessed.' She debates the question - does she have diabetes anymore? 'I don't take any insulin anymore. I don't take medication for diabetes anymore. So, I feel like a regular person again without diabetes.'
