Breakthrough discovery could open up new treatments for some blood cancers

Reversing runaway inflammation in the bone marrow could lead to major breakthroughs in treatments for some blood cancers, according to a new publication by scientists at Hackensack Meridian Health's Center for Discovery and Innovation.

The CDI team's findings could ultimately improve cancer treatments for people of advanced age, like that of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as they indicate in the paper in the journal Nature Communications.

The study, published Feb. 3, demonstrates how endothelial (blood vessel lining) cells orchestrate inflammatory stress within the microenvironment of the bone marrow.

The scientists demonstrated the function of two connected pathways involved in myelosuppressive injuries (like those caused by chemotherapy), in which bone marrow activity decreases, leading to less blood cell production.

The myelosuppression leads to chronic activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway - causing local and systemic inflammation, in turn driven by the Nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) signaling pathway. This chronic inflammation resulted in disruption of the integrity of blood vessels and functional defects to the hematopoietic stem cell.

Utilizing a genetic model to block the NF-kB dependent endothelial inflammation, led to the discovery of a novel protein, Stem Cell Growth Factor Alpha (SCGFa).

The SCGFa was tested, and the models' data showed promise. The SCGFa preserved vascular function and promoted hematopoietic recovery and hematopoietic stem cell function when infused following myelosuppressive treatments, such as chemotherapy. The scientists were also able to tamp down the vascular and hematopoietic inflammation by the administration of SCGFa, which boosted the recovery following the inflammation.

We showed that SCGFa could be used therapeutically, to allow recovery of these crucial systems following myelosuppression."Pradeep Ramalingam, study's lead author

"The elderly population tend to do worse following cancer treatments that result in myelosuppressive injury, since their bodies can't sustain as much chemotherapy as the young can," said Jason Butler, Ph.D., an associate member of the CDI, and the senior author, whose work is also part of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center's National Cancer Institute-designated consortium. "But if we infuse patients with SCGFa, we may be able to protect their hematopoietic system and allow for rapid regeneration and rejuvenation of their bone marrow. This would allow us to potentially give patients more chemotherapy - and ultimately lead to better outcomes and lower relapse rates."

Dr. Butler and his laboratory are currently working on exciting future directions for the work, including the direct effects of SCGFa on hematopoietic stem cells - and how SCGFa may enhance the homing, engraftment, and function of hematopoietic stem cells following bone marrow transplants.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement 

 

Man With a Suspected Bug Bite Was Diagnosed With Leukemia

When an Ohio resident went to the doctor with what he thought was an infected bug bite that wouldn’t go away, the last thing he expected was to be admitted to the ER and scheduled an urgent appointment with an oncologist. The harmless 'bug bite' turned out to be something a lot more serious, a truly dreaded diagnosis - leukemia.
 

This man was a 46-year-old, who got a small bump on his foot that he first thought was a mosquito or spider bite when he first noticed it in August of 2018. Some time has passed, but the bump hadn't diminished at all. On the contrary, it got bigger and looked inflamed, so he went to his physician, who, like him, suspected an infected bite and prescribed an antibiotic to treat the infection.

The antibiotic didn’t help, so the puzzled doctor prescribed a stronger antibiotic, which didn’t yield the expected relief either. That's when he was admitted to the emergency room, and the blood tests revealed that the lump was actually a symptom of acute myeloid leukemia, a rare, yet very dangerous type of cancer.

This type of cancer affects the blood and bone marrow. Abnormal blood cells affected by the cancer build up in the vessels and bone marrow, interfering with normal blood circulation. Acute myeloid leukemia is characterized by rapid growth and demands urgent treatment. Typically, this type of leukemia doesn’t express itself in skin growths, the most widespread symptoms being the following:

• Increased susceptibility to infections
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Anemia
• Bone and joint pain.

At first, he couldn’t believe the diagnosis and thought the doctors confused him for someone else, but a subsequent confirmation by an oncologist followed. Immediately, he has undergone chemotherapy, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant as well.

Cleveland Clinic, where the man was treated, reported that he is currently in remission, and today, he took upon himself to raise awareness about health, especially among men, urging everyone to undergo preventative checks on a regular basis. “The hour it takes to go get a checkup could help prevent months of health problems,” he points out.

So remember, a bug bite that lingers for more than a week or two is a concern that requires medical attention, as it’s likely not a bug bite at all. Similarly, something that looks like a minor symptom that continues for a long time or any unusual symptoms, too, may point to a greater problem.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement         

An Overview of Bone Metastases

Bone metastases are common in people who've had cancer, especially that of the breast, lung, or prostate. They occur when cells from the original tumor break off and take up residence in the bone. Metastases are very painful and are different from tumors that originate in the bone. For example, breast cancer that moves to the bones is not bone cancer, but rather breast cancer metastatic to bone.

Common Sites

Each type of cancer has a tendency to spread to certain bones in the body more often than others, but this can vary. Metastases have occurred to nearly every bone in the body.

	Breast Cancer	Prostate Cancer	Lung Cancer
Spine	✓	✓	✓
Ribs	✓	✓
Pelvis	✓		✓
Long bones of arms, legs	✓		✓
Hips		✓

It's not uncommon for bone metastases to occur in a few different bones at the same time, such as the spine and the pelvis. Metastases may also occur in other regions of the body (such as the liver, lungs, or brain) at the same time as the bones.

Symptoms and Complications

Bone metastases can lead to many different symptoms and complications, some of which may lead to the discovery that cancer has recurred. Many of them may require treatment above and beyond what's needed to battle the tumor(s).

• Difficult-to-manage pain
• Fractures and fracture risk
• Spinal cord compression
• Loss of mobility
• Hypercalcemia

All of these concerns can significantly reduce your quality of life. Reporting new symptoms to your doctor and getting prompt diagnosis and treatment can help you get ahead of their progression and preserve your quality of life.

Hypercalcemia

In hypercalcemia, bones release calcium into the blood as they're broken down by cancer. While calcium is something your body needs, having too much leads to several problems. Symptoms include:

• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Extreme thirst
• Muscle weakness

In severe cases, untreated hypercalcemia can lead to:

• Kidney failure
• Coma
• Death

Get treatment right away if you have symptoms that suggest hypercalcemia.

Causes

Experts don't yet understand why cancer spreads to bones. The bones are rich with blood vessels, but so are the liver and lungs—areas to which cancer spreads less frequently than bone. Metastases are the cause of death in 90 percent of fatal breast cancer cases, so this area is being actively investigated.

One theory is that cancer may lie dormant in bone marrow since the bones that cancer most commonly spreads to are those that are rich in bone marrow. This may explain why cancer can hide in the body for years, or even decades, and then recur.

Diagnosis

Bone metastases from breast cancer may be diagnosed in a number of different ways. Sometimes metastases are seen when an X-ray is done for a fracture that occurred with minimal trauma due to the weakening of a bone (what's known as a pathological fracture).

Other times, they're diagnosed incidentally when a test such as a positron emission tomography (PET) scan is done for another reason.

Tests done specifically to look for bone metastases include:

• Bone scans
• PET scans
• Computed tomography (CT) scans
• Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scans
• Whole-body magnetic resonance imgaing.

The types of scans your doctor orders will depend on a variety of factors, and some scans may be done in combination to reach a diagnosis. There's no consensus that one test or combination of tests is best in all cases.

Treatment

Addressing bone issues and bone metastases are important no matter what stage of cancer a person has. Cancer treatments such as hormonal therapies can lead to bone loss. In fact, medications used for bone metastases  (bisphosphonates) are now being considered even for those with early-stage breast cancer as a way to strengthen bones and possibly prevent bone metastases from occurring in the first place.

A number of different treatments are available for bone metastases. The option that is best for you depends on a number of factors, such as the number and location of bones affected, the presence of other metastases, and your general health.

General cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapies, and targeted medications are often used, as are treatments designed specifically to slow the spread of cancer to bones. They frequently result in the successful management of cancer for quite some time.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a common choice. It can help both to decrease pain and reduce the risk of fractures, often being the most effective treatment for alleviating pain. Radiation is a "local treatment," which means that it works better for isolated areas of metastases than those that are widespread. Even so, when combined with immunotherapy drugs, some people experience what's referred to as the abscopal effect, in which radiation appears to prime the immune system. This results in a decrease in the tumor at sites distant from where the radiation was given.

In the past, radiation was often given over several sessions, but a 2019 study suggests that a single dose is not only easier from a quality-of-life standpoint (fewer visits), but may more effectively reduce pain and reduce the risk of cancer recurring at the site—and with no greater side effects. In this approach, a single dose (either 12 Gy or 16 Gy, depending on the size of the metastasis) given by a specialized type of radiation called sterotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)  was even more effective than 10 sessions delivering a total of 30 Gy of radiation.

Radiopharmaceuticals

Radiopharmaceuticals are medications that include a particle of radiation attached to another chemical, which is injected into the bloodstream. The radiation is thus delivered directly to the bone metastases. Examples of these drugs include Strontium-89 and Radium-223.

Radiopharmaceuticals may be particularly helpful for those who have multiple or extensive bone metastases that would be difficult to treat with local therapies such as radiation therapy. These medications have relatively few side effects and can be very effective in controlling bone pain.

Bone-Modifying Agents

Bone-modifying agents are drugs that can be used orally or by injection to reduce bone metastases. These include:

• Bisphosphonates: First approved for osteoporosis, these drugs were later then found to be effective in treating and preventing bone metastases. They also appear to have strong anti-tumor effects and help prevent bone loss due to hormonal therapies (such as aromatase inhibitors). An example is Zometa (zoledronic acid). These medications are being considered for treating early-stage breast cancer in women on ovarian suppression therapy. Bisphosphonates do carry a rare side effect of osteonecrosis of the jaw.
• Xgeva (denosumab): Denosumab is an antibody that has been found to be effective in reducing complications such as fractures for people with bone metastases. It also appears to have anti-cancer properties. It is given as a subcuticular injection once every four weeks.

Treatment for Complications

While the following will not address the metastasized cancer itself, they can help patients with issues that stem from such disease.

• Pain control: Metastases to bones can be very painful, but you have a lot of options for pain relief. Finding the right medications and balancing the side effects with effectiveness can be challenging. If you're struggling to find that balance, you may want to work with a palliative care physician or pain specialist. They use numerous therapies in addition to medications, including nerve blocks.
• Fractures and fracture risk: Surgery is used most often to stabilize fractures or areas of bone at risk for fractures. (It may also be done to remove tumors putting significant pressure on the spinal cord.) When fractures are in the long bones of the arms or legs, a rod is usually placed to provide support for a weakened bone. Vertebroplasty or "cement" may be used for spinal fractures or weakened areas where fractures are likely to occur.
• Hypercalcemia: First-line treatment includes IV rehydration and bisphosphonates. Sometimes other medications, such as calcitonin, gallium nitrate, or mithramycin may be used. If hypercalcemia is severe, dialysis is another option.

Prognosis

The prognosis for bone metastases depends on what type of cancer it is.

For example, the average overall survival for metastatic breast cancer with bone metastases is 18 to 24 months (and thought to be increasing), with around 20 percent of people surviving beyond five years. In bone metastases from lung cancer, the median survival time is just six months.

It's important to note that the prognosis is better for people with only bone metastases and, thanks to treatment, there are some long-term survivors.

A Word From Very well

While bone metastases confirm that your cancer has spread and can be painful, there are some excellent treatment options available, with more treatments currently being evaluated in clinical trials . After you have adjusted to this diagnosis, work with your healthcare team to find the best regimen to control your disease and ease symptoms. Take it one day at a time.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement     
 

Successful blood stem cell transplant gives cancer patients second chance

Did you know that in India, every 5 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer or blood disorder? And that for most people a blood stem cell donation from a stranger with similar tissue type is their best – or only – chance of survival?

Blood cancer refers to the defects in the blood-forming system which starts in the bone marrow. This leads to the formation of immature or dysfunctional blood cells that multiply uncontrollably, crowding out the healthy cell.  Blood cancer is also one of the most common cancers reported in India.

Many blood cancer patients are children and young people whose chance of recovery from blood cancer is a successful blood stem cell transplant donated from a matching donor. For an individual to be able to donate their blood stem cells a match in HLA / tissue type is important.

HLA is the abbreviation of ‘human leucocyte antigen’ which is commonly known as ‘tissue types’. The HLA or Human leucocyte antigen is our body’s way of distinguishing between its own and alien tissue. Though tissue types are passed from parents to their children, only about 30% of the patients in need of a stem cell transplant as a life-saving treatment, can find a sibling match. The rest 70% depend on finding a matching unrelated donor. That’s when a registry is looked up to. A stem cell registry is typically a database of potential donors.

Anannya, an 8-year-old kid in Mumbai, was diagnosed with a relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer common in children. While Anannya is currently undergoing chemotherapy, she needs a perfect matching donor to undergo a stem cell transplant, which is her only hope of survival.

For a successful stem-cell transplant, ethnicity plays a key role in finding the perfect match. Patients and donors of Indian origin have unique HLA characteristics that can be found only among the Indian group. But due to the lack of awareness and myths and facts associated with stem cell donation there is an under-representation of Indians in the stem cell registry. This makes it extremely difficult for Indian patients to find a matching unrelated donor. Hence with the consistent increase in the disease burden in India, the need for increasing the Indian representation in a stem-cell registry has now become a priority.  

To address this need gap, it is important for people to be aware of the do’s and don’ts of stem-cell donation and how one can become a potential donor. It is also important for people to realize that blood cancer is not the end and a patient can recover if provided with blood stem cells from a matching donor.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement   

Leukemia: Know the risk factors to keep the disease at bay

Are you experiencing fever and persistent fatigue? Do you also losing weight and have pain in bones? If yes, you are suffering from leukemia, which is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymphatic system. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. They do not work properly. There are various types of leukemia and based on which the symptoms differ. Some of the common signs of this condition include weakness, chills, swollen lymph nodes, red spot on skin, tenderness sin bones etc. Notably, leukemia is one of the most common cancers in children. The condition occurs when DNA of white blood cells get damaged due to unknown reasons. This damage leads to uncontrollable division of these cells. Also, they do not die when they are supposed to. As far as its diagnosis is concerned, doctors perform physical exam, blood test, and bone marrow test to confirm the condition. For the treatment of leukemia, various options are available. Some of them include chemotherapy, biological therapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant etc. 

To prevent any suffering, it is important to be aware about its risk factors. Read on to know about them.
 
Previous treatment of cancer: If you already went through cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your likelihood of suffering from leukemia is more than those who are not suffering from the condition.

Genetic problem: Genetic disorders like Down syndrome can potentially increase your chance of getting leukemia.

Smoking: The harmful particles present in cigarettes can potentially lead to accumulation of toxic substances in the blood causing leukemia.

Family history: Having a family member, suffering from leukemia, increase your risk of developing from the condition too.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations 
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement  

Researchers Identify Second Gene Mutation Linked To HIV Resistance

A rare genetic mutation that causes a form of muscular dystrophy affecting the limbs also protects against HIV infection, Spanish scientists reported Thursday.

The breakthrough comes a decade after an American  known as the "Berlin Patient," became the first person cured of HIV after a bone marrow transplant from a donor with a mutation of the CCR5 gene.

The newly-discovered mutation concerns the Transportin 3 gene (TNPO3) and is far more rare.

It was identified several years ago among members of a family in Spain who were suffering from type 1F limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.

Doctors studying the family learned that HIV researchers were interested in the same gene because it plays a role in transporting the virus inside cells.

They then got in touch with geneticists in Madrid, who took blood samples from those family members and infected the blood with HIV -- revealing a welcome surprise.

The lymphocytes -- white blood cells that are an important part of the immune system -- of people with the rare muscular illness were naturally resistant to HIV, it emerged.

"This helps us to understand much better the transport of the virus in the cell,"  a virologist  and co-author of a paper told.

HIV is among the most studied viruses, he said, adding however that much remained to be learned, such as why five percent of patients who are infected do not develop AIDS.

"There are mechanisms of resistance to infection that are very poorly understood," he said.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                     FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                   

                                https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com