Monthly Archives: January 2020

Immunology

Black Country babies at risk as they miss out on vital jabs – expressandstar.com

The British Society for Immunology has urged the government to deliver on its promise to develop the UKs first vaccine strategy to protect communities against nasty diseases.

Young children should get the so-called six-in-one jab, which protects against six serious infections including polio, whooping cough and diphtheria, in the first few months of their lives.

But new Public Health England data shows that the uptake rate for the West Midlands over the period was 92.2 per cent the second-lowest of any region in the country. It compares to one of the best regions, the North East, where 95.4 per cent of children are immunised.

A further breakdown of the figures show that in Wolverhampton, just 89.7 per cent of babies who had their first birthday in the six months to September were vaccinated. It means 173 children missed out, with the area falling way short of the 95 per cent rate recommended by the World Health Organisation to prevent outbreaks.

In Walsall the figure was 93.1 per cent, with 131 children missing out, and in Sandwell it was 90.2 per cent, with 223 children not getting vaccinated. Dudley was one of the best areas, with 96 per cent of one-year-olds having the jabs, and only 75 babies missing out.

Over in Staffordshire it was 94.7 per cent, just shy of the recommended 95 per cent rate. About 224 children missed out on being vaccinated.

Low levels of vaccination coverage matter as it means these diseases have the potential to spread within our communities, infecting unvaccinated people, with young babies and people with compromised immune systems particularly at risk, said Dr Doug Brown of the British Society for Immunology.

We urge the new government to deliver on its promise to develop the UKs first vaccine strategy and to fully fund immunisation services to ensure our communities are protected against these preventable diseases.

But he also urged parents to make sure their children get the jabs, adding: If anyone is worried their child hasnt received all the doses of the six-in-one vaccine, they should make an appointment at their GP surgery. Its much better to get your child vaccinated than put them at risk.

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Black Country babies at risk as they miss out on vital jabs - expressandstar.com

Cell Biology

Artisan Bio Announces Global Research and Discovery Collaboration Agreement with Takeda to Develop Next-Generation Cell Therapy Products – PRNewswire

DENVER, Jan. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Artisan Bio, Inc., a stealth cell therapy engineering company, today announced it has entered into a global research and collaboration agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") for the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel cell therapy products.

Under the terms of the agreement, Artisan Bio will deploy its STAR platform and synthetic biology expertise to construct customized and precisely engineered cell therapies. Artisan will lead discovery efforts, including gene editing, and Takeda will be responsible for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the resulting cell therapy products.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Takeda and combine our advanced cell engineering capabilities with Takeda's visionary cellular therapy programs," said Ryan T. Gill, CEO of Artisan Bio. "Many limitations that exist in current generation cell therapies can be addressed through the precision engineering of cells for enhanced performance. This collaboration will accelerate the availability of more effective next-generation cellular therapies for patients with high unmet needs."

About Artisan Bio:Artisan's vision is to design, build, and deliver cells and precision engineering processes thatadvance cellular therapies across a broad range of human health indications. The company's designer cell engineering and data analysisSTARplatform enables partners to more rapidly and cost effectively generate safer and more efficacious cell therapies. By engaging in strategic collaborations with innovativepartners, Artisan seeks to deliver customizable cellengineering solutions that meet the complexitiesassociatedwith next-generation cell therapies. Artisan has offices in Denver, Colorado and Copenhagen, Denmark.

For more information, please visithttp://artisancells.com/.

Contact: Tanya Warnecke,info@artisanbio.com

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ArtisanBio

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Artisan Bio Announces Global Research and Discovery Collaboration Agreement with Takeda to Develop Next-Generation Cell Therapy Products - PRNewswire

Embryology

Reflections on the Development of Fascial Tissue: Starting from Embryo | AMEP – Dove Medical Press

Bruno Bordoni, 1, 2 Bruno Morabito 3

1Foundation Don Carlo Gnocchi IRCCS, Department of Cardiology, Institute of Hospitalization and Care with Scientific Address, S Maria Nascente, Milan 20100, Italy; 2Department of Osteopathy, Asomi, Torino, Italy; 3Foundation Polyclinic University A. Gemelli University Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

Correspondence: Bruno Bordoni Tel +39 02 3496300617Email bordonibruno@hotmail.com

Abstract: A great many articles discuss the histological aspects of fascial tissue in detail, but at the same time, there are many contradictions within the literature. In addition, there is a paucity of scientific data that allow straightforward classification of what tissue the fascia truly is. More precise classification of fascial tissue is essential in improving clinical care and effectively framing patient needs. Embryology is an indispensable starting point for understanding the many functions of the fascial tissue. This scientific discipline allows us to observe the relationships and adaptability of fascia both at local and systemic levels. This article reflects on modern scientific knowledge concerning the classification of fascia from an embryological standpoint with the aim of improving our understanding of connective tissue.

Keywords: fascia, myofascial, embryology, anatomy, surgery, fibroblast

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Reflections on the Development of Fascial Tissue: Starting from Embryo | AMEP - Dove Medical Press

Embryology

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Investigation is over; on extending grace; representing us well – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Investigation is over

Surprise! The Justice Department's investigation into Hillary Clinton's everything under the sun has finally concluded with a whimper and a big old nothing-burger. What once was a screaming front-page headline for years is now delegated to a quiet inside-page article that tells of her vindication.

Yet, the "Crooked Hillary" characterizations remain a prominent part of President Trump's repertoire at his rallies, as his cult followers continue to mindlessly chant "lock her up," sounding like a frenetic vigilante.

These cult members, the meat and potatoes of Trump's base, seem to have a Hillary chip implanted in their brains, and there it will probably remain, perhaps forever, along with a Barack Obama chip and some Joe and Hunter Biden fragments.

JACK ALBERT

Eureka Springs

On extending grace

December's Voices Letter of the Month comes from William Spilman. Mr. Spilman informs us he is a graduate of a well-respected seminary. He also informs he is more defined by his theological beliefs than political beliefs. I believe these credentials and beliefs are provided as a basis for his defense of the Christianity Today editorial by its editor Mark Galli.

It's appropriate to recognize Christianity Today was founded by Billy Graham, probably the greatest evangelist ever. Mr. Graham advised many presidents of both political parties over the years regarding spiritual matters. Some of those presidents, it was later revealed, embraced and committed immoral acts. Some routinely slandered their former colleagues and opponents with profane and hateful remarks.

Mr. Graham's son and other evangelical leaders now advise our current president. However, in today's political environment, human weakness is used as a tactic in a political strategy to gain advantage. Mr. Spilman believes Franklin Graham and others are guilty of hypocrisy by associating themselves with a man of moral failures. I am reminded of the Jewish leaders who accused Jesus of violating God's law by associating, even dining, with known sinners. I'm certain both Mr. Spilman and Mr. Galli are not sinless. Might they be hypocritical?

Mr. Spilman seems vindicated in his opinion when he points out Mr. Trump admits his immorality and, Spilman says, is proud of it. That I'm not able to know.

Mr. Spilman is concerned Graham and other evangelicals will damage Christian thinking and witness. He believes evangelicals are giving Trump cheap grace. God's grace extended to us all at Calvary was provided for the immoral, the wicked and the evil in all of us. Is it cheap grace to model that to the powerful or even to the weak?

MICHAEL SANDERS

Little Rock

Representing us well

Mr. Franklin Furlough chastised our congressman for not representing his constituents (the ones protesting his support of our president). Well, I feel Congressman Hill continues to represent the views of the majority who voted for him very well!

HAP PETERSON

Hot Springs Village

Protecting the unborn

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is Jan. 19. We need to pause and consider how abortion devalues this precious gift of life. The taking of the life of an innocent human baby--abortion--is a crime against humanity. How can we or our government officials turn a blind eye to protecting the most vulnerable in our society, even condoning it?

We now know (even as we really did in 1973) that life begins at conception. My college and graduate classes in embryology showed that the "size" of the child (one day or 40 weeks) makes no difference. It doesn't instantly become a human being at "first viability" or when it "takes its first breath" or if the parents "decide to let it live after its birth." It is a distinct person with its own DNA from the moment it was conceived.

And we know that abortion is not "women's health care or rights"--that the baby is a totally separate life from its mother. We know abortion can hurt women both psychologically and physiologically. We know pain can be felt by the baby as early as eight weeks in utero, and there's a measurable heartbeat within two months.

But most importantly, abortion is a terrible sin against our creator God. God has given us a conscience to know right from wrong (culture doesn't give this). Deep down, though some would try to deny it, we know abortion is wrong. Abortion is perhaps the greatest moral sin of our generation.

We need to support those in a position to make a difference and who are definitely pro-life. C.S. Lewis said pain is God's "megaphone to rouse a deaf world." We should be shouting out against the pain and death of unborn babies. Do you hear them?

DON ECKARD

Bentonville

In The Twilight Zone

A friend of mine asked me if I quit writing letters to the editor because he has not seen any lately. I told him that besides having moved and dealing with some health issues, I really didn't know what to write.

It seems that we have crossed over into The Twilight Zone in this country. Nothing makes sense anymore. Up is down, right is wrong, lies and deceit are perfectly acceptable. So is maligning the character of and threatening respectable witnesses who have served our country honorably and testified during the House hearings. We have a president who thinks he can get away with anything because he has so far, thanks to his defenders in Congress and his base.

So instead or worrying and driving myself crazy, I decided to ignore it ... for a while, anyway!

ROSE GOVAR

Maumelle

If he cast a ballot ...

Would Jesus vote for Donald Trump?

HOWARD GARRISON

Hot Springs Village

Editorial on 01/14/2020

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Investigation is over; on extending grace; representing us well - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Neuroscience

Reason and the art of neuroscience – McGill Tribune

One of the major attractions of academia is the ability to make a career out of learning, where one can pursue a life reminiscent of ancient Greek philosophers or Renaissance polymaths. Of course, following ones research passions depends on funding. Grant applications and email correspondence shape the everyday life of academics, draining time and energy that would be more enjoyably spent pondering lofty ideas.

McGill professors David Ragsdale and Ian Gold took time off from such drudgery on Nov. 19 at the event Synapses and Skepticism to discuss their favourite topics at the intersection of neuroscience and philosophy. The two started their academic careers on parallel paths that eventually converged. Ragsdale, a neuroscientist, studied psychology in his undergrad before happening upon the budding field of neuroscience. Today, he contributes to the field through his work on ion channels, proteins that control the movement of electrical signals in the brain. Gold, a philosopher, tackles the puzzle of delusions and the social determinants of psychosis, how human minds make educated guesses about reality, and how these guesses can go awry.

Research on brain function has yielded insight into philosophical questions. Ragsdale cited a famous neuroscience experiment from 1983 that many lauded as definitive evidence that free will does not exist. The researchers measured participants brain waves using electrodes on their scalps and asked them to press a button whenever they felt inclined to do so. Using a fast-spinning clock in the participants view, they could determine both when the participant felt the conscious intention to press the button, as well as when they actually pressed it.

As expected, the conscious experience of the will to act preceded the act itself. Unexpectedly, though, the brainwave measurements showed a boost in neural activity before the thought arose on a conscious level, indicating that the brain prepared for the action before the participant was even aware of it.

While the implications of this study are still heavily debated, its results suggest that our feeling of agency in making decisions is an illusion produced by the brain, Ragsdale said.

Golds research on delusions sheds light on another basic philosophical conundrum informed by neuroscience: How to determine what is real and what is not. In response to a students question on the relationship between hallucinations and reality, Gold spoke of a now commonly accepted model of the brains role linking sensation to conscious perception.

Rather than simply projecting the raw sensory data coming in, our brains process these inputs and construct an altered picture of the world, Gold said. This model suggests that our brains make these educated guesses about incoming sensory information that enable us to act more efficiently.

Optical illusions, such as the famous grey bar, are an example of this process. An objective eye seeing the bar will determine that the bar is the same shade throughout its length. But our brains, primed to detect contrast, produce an image that gets darker from left to right. This process stems from evolutionary pressures that have pushed our nervous systems to produce a useful, rather than accurate, perception of the world.

After two hours of discussion, the event concluded with many questions still circling. Left with a hefty dose of head-scratchers, everyone got back on with their lives, neurons firing all cylinders.

Optical illusions such as the famous grey bar illustrate how our brains construct an altered picture of the world.

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Reason and the art of neuroscience - McGill Tribune

Neuroscience

ORYZON to Present at the 3rd Neuroscience Innovation Forum in San Francisco – GlobeNewswire

MADRID, Spain and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oryzon Genomics, S.A. (ISIN Code: ES0167733015, ORY), a public clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging epigenetics to develop therapies in diseases with strong unmet medical need, announces that its management will present recent progress of vafidemstat in central nervous system (CNS) indications at the 3rd Neuroscience Innovation Forum in San Francisco on January 12.

Vafidemstat is in Phase II clinical development in multiple trials. It has demonstrated promise as a safe, well-tolerated and differentiated therapeutic option for treating agitation and aggression, and for treating non-aggressive features of three distinct psychiatric diseases.

Oryzons CEO Dr. Carlos Buesa and CMO Dr. Roger Bullock will make the presentation at the Marines' Memorial Club, a day before the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. Oryzons presentation will take place at 13:50 PT in Track E in the Room Commandants. At the same event, Dr. Buesa will also participate in the Advances in Alzheimers & Other Cognitive Disorders Panel discussion at 9:30 am PT.

Oryzon will also take part in the 9th Annual LifeSci Advisors Corporate Access Event from January 13 to January 15, 2020 where Oryzons CEO and other management will hold meetings with pharmaceutical companies, institutional investors, analysts and other members of the biotech community at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel (450 Powell Street).

About OryzonFounded in 2000 in Barcelona, Spain, Oryzon (ISIN Code: ES0167733015) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company considered as the European champion in Epigenetics. Oryzon has one of the strongest portfolios in the field. Oryzons LSD1 program has rendered two compounds, vafidemstat and iadademstat, in clinical trials. In addition, Oryzon has ongoing programs for developing inhibitors against other epigenetic targets. Oryzon has a strong technological platform for biomarker identification and performs biomarker and target validation for a variety of malignant and neurodegenerative diseases. Oryzon has offices in Spain and the United States. For more information, visit http://www.oryzon.com.

About VafidemstatVafidemstat (ORY-2001) is an oral, CNS optimized LSD1 inhibitor. The molecule acts on several levels: it reduces cognitive impairment, including memory loss and neuroinflammation, and at the same time has neuroprotective effects. In animal studies vafidemstat not only restores memory but reduces the exacerbated aggressiveness of SAMP8 mice, a model for accelerated aging and Alzheimers disease (AD), to normal levels and also reduces social avoidance and enhances sociability in murine models. In addition, vafidemstat exhibits fast, strong and durable efficacy in several preclinical models of multiple sclerosis (MS). Oryzon has performed a Phase IIa clinical trial in aggressiveness in patients with different psychiatric disorders (REIMAGINE), with positive preliminary clinical results reported. Additional Phase IIa clinical trials with vafidemstat are ongoing in patients with Mild to Moderate AD (ETHERAL), in aggressiveness in patients with moderate or severe AD (REIMAGINE-AD), and in Relapse-Remitting and Secondary Progressive MS (SATEEN).

About IadademstatIadademstat (ORY-1001) is a small oral molecule, which acts as a highly selective inhibitor of the epigenetic enzyme LSD1 and has a powerful differentiating effect in hematologic cancers (See Maes et al., Cancer Cell 2018 Mar 12; 33 (3): 495-511.e12.doi: 10.1016 / j.ccell.2018.02.002.). A first Phase I/IIa clinical trial with iadademstat in refractory and relapsed acute leukemia patients demonstrated the safety and good tolerability of the drug and preliminary signs of antileukemic activity, including a CRi. Beyond hematological cancers, the inhibition of LSD1 has been proposed as a valid therapeutic approach in some solid tumors such as small cell lung cancer (SCLC), medulloblastoma and others. Oryzon is currently conducting two Phase IIa clinical trials of iadademstat in combination; the first one in combination with azacitidine in elderly AML patients (ALICE study) and the second one in combination with platinum/etoposide in second line SCLC patients (CLEPSIDRA study). In both studies, preliminary clinical results have been reported.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This communication contains, or may contain, forward-looking information and statements about Oryzon, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, capital expenditures, synergies, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates and similar expressions. Although Oryzon believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Oryzon shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Oryzon that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the documents sent by Oryzon to the Spanish Comisin Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), which are accessible to the public. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and have not been reviewed by the auditors of Oryzon. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Oryzon or any of its members, directors, officers, employees or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All forward-looking statements included herein are based on information available to Oryzon on the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, Oryzon does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Oryzons securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of Oryzons securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Oryzon or the selling security holder, as applicable, that will contain detailed information about Oryzon and management, as well as financial statements.

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ORYZON to Present at the 3rd Neuroscience Innovation Forum in San Francisco - GlobeNewswire

Neuroscience

Cannabis Receptor Linked to Stress Reduction in Mice – Technology Networks

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have published a study suggesting that brain receptors activated by marijuana can be targeted to cut stress. The scientists used a mouse model of stress in their study, where they showed that a molecule that activates the receptors could reduce anxiety-linked connections between two distinct brain areas.

This finding, published today in Neuron, could help explain why some people use marijuana when they're anxious or under stress. It could also mean that pharmacologic treatments that increase levels of this molecule, known as "2-AG," in the brain could regulate anxiety and depressive symptoms in people with stress-related anxiety disorders, potentially avoiding a reliance on medical marijuana or similar treatments.

When mice are exposed to acute stress, a break in an anxiety-producing connection between the amygdala and the frontal cortex caused by 2-AG temporarily disappears, causing the emergence of anxiety-related behaviors.

"The circuit between the amygdala and the frontal cortex has been shown to be stronger in individuals with certain types of anxiety disorders. As people or animals are exposed to stress and get more anxious, these two brain areas glue together, and their activity grows stronger together," said Sachin Patel, MD, PhD, the paper's corresponding author and director of the Division of General Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

"We might predict there's a collapse in the endocannabinoid system, which includes 2-AG, in the patients that go on to develop a disorder. But, not everyone develops a psychiatric disorder after trauma exposure, so maybe the people who don't develop a disorder are able to maintain that system in some way. Those are the things we're interested in testing next."

The study also found that signaling between the amygdala and the frontal cortex can be strengthened through genetic manipulations that compromise endogenous cannabinoid signaling in this pathway, causing mice to become anxious even without exposure to stress in some cases. This finding demonstrates that the cannabinoid signaling system that suppresses information flow between these two brain regions is critical for setting the level of anxiety in animals.

"We don't know how or why this cannabinoid signaling system disappears or disintegrates in response to stress, but it results in the strengthening of the connection between these two regions and heightened anxiety behaviors in mice. Understanding what's causing that compromise, what causes the signaling system to return after a few days, and many other questions about the molecular mechanisms by which this is happening are things we're interested in following up on," said Patel, also the James G. Blakemore Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and Pharmacology.

David Marcus, Neuroscience graduate student and first author on the paper, and Patel are also interested in how the system reacts to more chronic forms of stress and determining whether there are other environmental exposures that compromise or enhance this system to regulate behavior.

Reference: Marcus, D. J., Bedse, G., Gaulden, A. D., Ryan, J. D., Kondev, V., Winters, N. D., Rosas-Vidal, L. E., Altemus, M., Mackie, K., Lee, F. S., Delpire, E., & Patel, S. (2020). Endocannabinoid Signaling Collapse Mediates Stress-Induced Amygdalo-Cortical Strengthening. Neuron, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2019.12.024

This article has been republished from materials issued by Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Cannabis Receptor Linked to Stress Reduction in Mice - Technology Networks

Neuroscience

Pacific Brain Tumor Center Recruiting Patients with Rare Cancer of the Skull and Spine for Groundbreaking Clinical Trial – PRNewswire

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The approved lung cancer drug pemetrexed is at the center of a new clinical trial at Providence Saint John's Health Center's Pacific Brain Tumor Center for patients diagnosed with chordoma, a rare, slow-growing cancer found in the bones at the base of the skull and the spine that is difficult to treat.

Two chordoma patients who received the drug approved by the FDA for lung cancer only showed promising results with reductions in the sizes of their tumors.

Chordoma is an extremely rare cancer, diagnosed in just one in 1 million people per year, and can affect individuals of all ages. The standard of care is surgery and/or radiation, but tumors tend to recur after treatment and it also can spread or metastasize to other parts in the body. There are currently no approved drugs for the treatment of chordoma, which is why clinical trials that test promising new therapies are important.

Santosh Kesari, M.D., Ph.D., the principal investigator of the trial, is now recruiting chordoma patients who will be administered pemetrexed intravenously every three weeks. Pemetrexed typically is prescribed to lung cancer patients as part of a maintenance plan following initial treatment.

Dr. Kesari, director of neuro-oncology at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, found through molecular profiling there is a certain protein that may be able to predict response to pemetrexed treatment.

"We have discovered a biomarker in chordoma samples that correlated with response in chordoma patients treated with pemetrexed," said Dr. Kesari. "To date, two of two patients treated with pemetrexed had dramatic shrinkages of metastatic chordoma tumors. We are excited to be partnering with Eli Lilly and the Chordoma Foundation to bring this new approach to the clinic."

The Pacific Brain Tumor Center is partnering with the Chordoma Foundation, an advocacy group which, among other services, supports well-justified clinical trials.

"Historically, treatment options for patients with residual, recurrent, or advanced chordoma have been limited and inadequate," said Josh Sommer, co-founder and executive director of the Chordoma Foundation. "The pemetrexed trial is a promising step forward in identifying more effective treatments for chordoma patients."

Eli Lilly and Company, the maker of pemetrexed, is providing the drug and funding for the study. The trial opened in September and will enroll up to 15 patients. Positive results may spur the expansion of the trial beyond the single location in Santa Monica.

"By building upon important clinical observations and applying discoveries from laboratory research, we hope to learn more about a potential new strategy to improve outcomes for patients with chordoma," said Tiffany Juarez, Ph.D., program manager for translational research.

Trial EnrollmentAdults 18 years and older with chordoma are invited to participate.For more information and to enroll into the trial, call the neuro-oncology clinical trials team at 310-829-8265.

About Pacific Brain Tumor CenterThe Pacific Brain Tumor Center is a Center of Excellence at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, with clinics at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance. The Brain Tumor Center, in partnership with the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, provides comprehensive care for patients with all types of brain tumors, including benign and malignant brain tumors, skull base tumors and metastatic brain tumors that arise from cancers elsewhere in the body. Physicians at the center are leaders in state-of-the-art procedures to diagnose and treat tumors.

About Providence St. Joseph Health Providence St. Joseph Health is a national, not-for-profit Catholic health system comprising a diverse family of organizations and driven by a belief that health is a human right. With 51 hospitals, 829 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and many other health and educational services, the health system and its partners employ more than 119,000 caregivers serving communities across seven states Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington with system offices based in Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif.

Media contact:Zara Jethani232267@email4pr.com818-209-4070

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Pacific Brain Tumor Center Recruiting Patients with Rare Cancer of the Skull and Spine for Groundbreaking Clinical Trial - PRNewswire

Neuroscience

Cerevel Therapeutics Initiates Phase 3 Program of Tavapadon for the Treatment of Parkinsons Disease – Yahoo Finance

Studies to Enroll Approximately 1,200 Patients to Determine Effectiveness of Tavapadon Across the Full Spectrum of Early- and Late-Stage Parkinsons

Cerevel Therapeutics, a company dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the brain to treat neuroscience diseases, today announced the initiation of its registration-directed Phase 3 program evaluating tavapadon in patients with Parkinsons disease. The company plans to conduct three 27-week trials designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of fixed doses (TEMPO-1) and flexible doses (TEMPO-2, TEMPO-3) of tavapadon as either monotherapy in patients with early-stage Parkinsons disease or as adjunctive therapy to levodopa in patients with late-stage Parkinsons disease who are experiencing motor fluctuations. A fourth 58-week, open-label, safety extension trial will also be conducted as part of the program.

"Parkinsons disease affects approximately 10 million people worldwide, and there remains an important need for better and more effective therapies across the spectrum of this debilitating disease," said Raymond Sanchez, M.D., chief medical officer of Cerevel Therapeutics. "We believe tavapadon has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with both early-stage and late-stage Parkinsons. It is our expectation that the innovative design of each of these Phase 3 trials will allow us to demonstrate tavapadons ability to improve patients motor symptoms and functioning. We anticipate data from these trials to be available beginning in the second half of 2022."

The three double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase 3 clinical trials will enroll patients ages 40 to 80 years with either early-stage Parkinsons disease (TEMPO-1, TEMPO-2) or patients with late-stage Parkinsons disease who are experiencing motor fluctuations on levodopa treatment (TEMPO-3). Approximately 1,200 patients will be enrolled across all three trials. The primary endpoint of the TEMPO-1 and TEMPO-2 trials is the change from baseline in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part II and Part III combined score. The primary endpoint of the TEMPO-3 trial is the change from baseline in total daily "on" time without troublesome dyskinesias.

In each of the three 27-week trials, participants will be randomized to tavapadon or placebo groups. In the TEMPO-1 trial, study participants will be titrated up to a fixed dose of either 5 mg once daily (QD) or 15 mg QD of tavapadon. In the TEMPO-2 and TEMPO-3 trials, participants will be titrated upward to a dose of between 5 mg and 15 mg QD in a flexible dosing paradigm.

The TEMPO-1 and TEMPO-2 trials have already initiated screening of patients, and the TEMPO-3 trial will begin screening later this year.

About TavapadonTavapadon is a potent, orally-bioavailable, selective partial agonist of the dopamine D1 and D5 receptors. This investigational therapeutic is being evaluated for the once-daily symptomatic treatment of Parkinsons disease.

About Parkinsons DiseaseApproximately 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinsons disease, according to the Parkinsons Foundation. The disease is characterized by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (the main source of dopamine) leading to a loss of critical motor and non-motor functions. Symptom severity and disease progression differ between individuals but typically include slowness of movement (bradykinesia), trembling in the extremities (tremors), stiffness (rigidity), cognitive or behavioral abnormalities, sleep disturbances and sensory dysfunction.1 There is no laboratory or blood test for Parkinsons disease, so a diagnosis is made based on clinical observation,2 which may contribute to an underestimation of the incidence of the disease.

About Cerevel TherapeuticsCerevel Therapeutics is dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the brain to treat neuroscience diseases. The company seeks to unlock the science surrounding new treatment opportunities through understanding the neurocircuitry of neuroscience diseases and associated symptoms. Cerevel Therapeutics has a diversified pipeline comprising five clinical-stage investigational therapies and several preclinical compounds with the potential to treat a range of neuroscience diseases, including Parkinsons, epilepsy, schizophrenia and substance use disorder. Headquartered in Boston, Cerevel Therapeutics is advancing its current research and development programs while exploring new modalities through internal research efforts, external collaborations or potential acquisitions. For more information, visit http://www.cerevel.com.

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1 J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008;79:368-376. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.131045.2 Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012;2:a008870.

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Neuroscience

Wushu club in its element with TV-inspired demo – OSU – The Lantern

Natalie Lucas, a third-year in neuroscience, performing a martial arts demonstration. Credit: Aaron Lien| Lantern Reporter

An Ohio State kung fu club proved that Avatar: The Last Airbender continues to draw crowds, finding its largest audience yet with a themed panel showcasing traditional martial arts at Ohayocon.

Students from the Dragon Phoenix Wushu team performed in front of roughly 1,000 people in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom during the 20th-annual Ohayocon anime convention Saturday. The performance featured live demonstrations of martial arts styles and techniques that inspired the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Directly translated, wushu just means the Chinese martial arts, but you probably know it as kung fu, Natalie Lucas, a third-year in neuroscience and wushu club vice president, said during the panel.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is an American-made animated series that draws heavily from Chinese martial arts and imagery, with an art style similar to Japanese anime. The show follows the titular Avatar, Aang, the only person capable of controlling water, earth, fire and air, as he tries to bring peace across the four nations of the world. Each of the elements is controlled using a different form of kung fu, which were each demonstrated in the performance.

The panel began with a performance set to the shows opening theme song. Then, club members took turns demonstrating their wushu and weapon skills while educating the audience on the traditional martial art. Featured weapons included spears, fans and straight swords.

Lucas said this was her first time organizing and hosting a panel for the con, but she has been attending Ohayocon since age 12. She said watching Avatar: The Last Airbender when she was 13 initially inspired her to pursue martial arts, and the idea for the panel came from wanting to merge two of her interests.

After spending three years learning Northern Shaolin kung fu before coming to Ohio State, Lucas said she found that the wushu club was the only kung fu club the university offered. She said she has been in the club since her first year.

We were all really nervous when people started filing in, but in the end, this is a performative martial art, and were here because we love putting on a show for people, Lucas said. After the panel, Lucas walked the con floor cosplaying Suki, a fan-wielding character from the show.

Thomas Bozzi, a third-year in aerospace engineering, performing a martial arts demonstration. Credit: Aaron Lien| Lantern Reporter

Thomas Bozzi, a third-year in aerospace engineering and the clubs president, said that compared with other performances, nearly every club member was able to participate in some way at Ohayocon. He added that he was happy to see so many members getting involved.

This is definitely the largest crowd weve had, by far, Bozzi said. Hopefully we can come back next year.

Bozzi said that when coming to Ohio State and looking for clubs to join, he wanted to try a new martial art that is performance-based instead of ones that are more practical.

I have a lot of fun. I really enjoy going on stage, I really enjoy performing, and then I also just enjoy martial arts, Bozzi said.

Lucas said wushu has kept her sane as she faces stress from her STEM major. She said many of her closest friends at the university are on the team, and she always has the club to center herself and exercise both her body and mind.

Wushu, to me, it means community. It means activity, exercise, family, Lucas said. Its comfort.

Dragon Phoenix Wushu meets from 7 to 9 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the RPAC Multipurpose Room 3.

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Wushu club in its element with TV-inspired demo - OSU - The Lantern