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Anatomy

Anatomy of . . . National Hunt champion jockey Harry Skelton – The Times

The 31-year-old was yesterday crowned National Hunt champion jockey for 2020-21. More than 130 of his winners have been trained by brother, Dan.

FactfileAge 31Height 5ft 7Weight 10st 3lb (but can ride at 10st when needed)

Notable achievementsLanded the Irish Grand National on the Bob Buckler-trained Niche Market in 2009 at the age of 19 but did not win a grade one race until riding Roksana to victory in the Mares Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival. Skelton has ridden a further six top-flight winners since then. He finished runner-up to Richard Johnson in the jockeys championship two years ago, with 178 winners, and has won the title for the first time this season.

In the genesSkelton has

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Anatomy of . . . National Hunt champion jockey Harry Skelton - The Times

Anatomy

Aldon Smith, Colin Kaepernick and an anatomy of the 49ers’ tumultuous 2011 NFL Draft class – The Athletic

You could have a lively argument about the best 49ers draft class of the 21st century.

Maybe its the 2005 class, which included a running back, Frank Gore, whos likely heading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as quarterback Alex Smith, whose two big plays at the end of a playoff win against the Saints in January 2012 a touchdown run and a touchdown throw are the teams most electrifying in the past 20 years.

Youd also have to consider the 2007 class, which included a pair of first-rounders, linebacker Patrick Willis and tackle Joe Staley, who were voted to a combined 13 Pro Bowls. The 2010 class deserves mention, too, considering it included guard Mike Iupati and linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

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Aldon Smith, Colin Kaepernick and an anatomy of the 49ers' tumultuous 2011 NFL Draft class - The Athletic

Anatomy

Anatomy of a Goal: Zardes kicks off the Champions League in Style – Massive Report

Welcome to the Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from a previous Columbus Crew match.

For the first three matches of the Crews 2021 season, we take a look at Gyasi Zardes 19th minute goal that gave Columbus a 1-0 lead against Real Esteli and set the team on its way to a 4-0 road leg win.

Heres a look at the goal from Zardes.

The Black & Gold returned to the CONCACAF Champions League two weeks ago after a 10-year hiatus, traveling to Managua, Nicaragua to face off against the qualifiers from Liga Primera de Nicaragua, Real Esteli. The Crew put out a near full-strength lineup in the teams first competitive match of 2021 and came out with a clear intent to secure a victory in the away leg.

Zardes goal begins with a long clearance by Esteli center back Josue Quijano (27). Real Esteli shift two attackers toward Milton Valenzuela (19) to attempt an overload on the right side.

Valenzuela wins the ball from the two Esteli attackers and plays a quick, short pass forward to Aidan Morris (21).

Morris senses the pressure behind him and quickly plays a diagonal pass to his midfield partner Darlington Nagbe (6).

Nagbe picks up Morris pass in an empty pocket and is able to turn toward midfield and carry the ball forward.

Nagbe nears the midfield circle and has five options. He can play a diagonal pass up the line to Pedro Santos (7), try a difficult long ball over the defense to Zardes (11), hit a direct pass forward to Lucas Zelarayan (10) who has found a pocket of space between the Esteli defense and midfield, carry the ball forward or play a long diagonal pass to Luis Diaz (12).

The Crew midfielder spots Zelarayan and hits a quick pass forward to his No. 10.

Zelarayan immediately turns the ball and sets off toward the Real goal. Santos continues his run up the sideline while Zardes and Diaz continue their runs against the Esteli center backs.

Zelarayan approaches defensive pressure and can either play a through pass in front of Zardes, a pass behind center back Oscar Acevedo in front of Diaz or carry the ball forward.

The Argentine opts to play a difficult pass in behind Acevedo to the speedy Diaz. Zardes cuts his run inside of Quijano to put himself between his defender and the ball.

Zelarayans pass does not have enough pace and is picked off by Acevedo. Zardes continues forward between Quijano and Acevedo.

Acevedo redirects the ball toward the center of the goal box away from Diaz. Quijano and Zardes continue their race to the goal box.

Acevedos first touch is either just too heavy or too weak of a pass to Quijano. Zardes continues toward the ball applying a counter-press, quick defensive pressure after a turnover, following the Black & Gold losing possession.

Zardes is able to beat the Esteli center backs to the ball and uses his left foot to redirect the ball away from Acevedo and into space.

The Crew striker composes himself and has three options. He can take a shot on goal, take another touch forward or play a quick pass to Diaz.

Zardes eyes the far post and hits a low shot on goal.

The shot sends Real Estelis keeper, Alvaro Rezzano, into an awkward slide with Quijano lunging toward the space behind his goalkeeper.

The shot just beats Rezzano leaving only Quijano as the last defender before the goal.

Quijano isnt able to get a touch on the ball and can only watch as it rolls past him . . .

. . . into the back of the net!

Findings:

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Anatomy of a Goal: Zardes kicks off the Champions League in Style - Massive Report

Genetics

Wound healing, infection can be determined by genetics – Times of India

TEXAS: Researchers from Texas Tech's Department of Biological Sciences and Natural Science Research Laboratory recently determined that some genes have an association with the pathogens that infect chronic wounds and hinder the healing process.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have determined that genetics may play a role in how wounds heal. Caleb Phillips, an assistant professor at Texas Tech University and director of the Phillips Laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences, and doctoral student Craig Tipton led the study, "Patient genetics is linked to chronic wound microbiome composition and healing," according to a study published in the open-access, peer-reviewed medical journal PLOS Pathogens.

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"We showed that there are identifiable locations in people's genome where, depending on their genotype, they tend to get infections by specific bacteria," Phillips said. "The different genomic locations identified tend to be related in terms of the types of genes they are close to and may regulate. A working hypothesis emerging from the research is that genetic differences influencing genes encoding the way our cells interact with the environment and each other are important for infection differences."

Though there is still work to be done before the research directly benefits patients, Tipton said the study is an important and promising step in that direction.

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Wound healing, infection can be determined by genetics - Times of India

Genetics

International research teams explore genetic effects of Chernobyl radiation – National Institutes of Health

News Release

Thursday, April 22, 2021

In two landmark studies, researchers have used cutting-edge genomic tools to investigate the potential health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation, a known carcinogen, from the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine. One study found no evidence that radiation exposure to parents resulted in new genetic changes being passed from parent to child. The second study documented the genetic changes in the tumors of people who developed thyroid cancer after being exposed as children or fetuses to the radiation released by the accident.

The findings, published around the 35th anniversary of the disaster, are from international teams of investigators led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The studies were published online in Science on April 22.

Scientific questions about the effects of radiation on human health have been investigated since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and have been raised again by Chernobyl and by the nuclear accident that followed the tsunami in Fukushima, Japan, said Stephen J. Chanock, M.D., director of NCIs Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG). In recent years, advances in DNA sequencing technology have enabled us to begin to address some of the important questions, in part through comprehensive genomic analyses carried out in well-designed epidemiological studies.

The Chernobyl accident exposed millions of people in the surrounding region to radioactive contaminants. Studies have provided much of todays knowledge about cancers caused by radiation exposures from nuclear power plant accidents. The new research builds on this foundation using next-generation DNA sequencing and other genomic characterization tools to analyze biospecimens from people in Ukraine who were affected by the disaster.

The first study investigated the long-standing question of whether radiation exposure results in genetic changes that can be passed from parent to offspring, as has been suggested by some studies in animals. To answer this question, Dr. Chanock and his colleagues analyzed the complete genomes of 130 people born between 1987 and 2002 and their 105 mother-father pairs.

One or both of the parents had been workers who helped clean up from the accident or had been evacuated because they lived in close proximity to the accident site. Each parent was evaluated for protracted exposure to ionizing radiation, which may have occurred through the consumption of contaminated milk (that is, milk from cows that grazed on pastures that had been contaminated by radioactive fallout). The mothers and fathers experienced a range of radiation doses.

The researchers analyzed the genomes of adult children for an increase in a particular type of inherited genetic change known as de novo mutations. De novo mutations are genetic changes that arise randomly in a persons gametes (sperm and eggs) and can be transmitted to their offspring but are not observed in the parents.

For the range of radiation exposures experienced by the parents in the study, there was no evidence from the whole-genome sequencing data of an increase in the number or types of de novo mutations in their children born between 46 weeks and 15 years after the accident. The number of de novo mutations observed in these children were highly similar to those of the general population with comparable characteristics. As a result, the findings suggest that the ionizing radiation exposure from the accident had a minimal, if any, impact on the health of the subsequent generation.

We view these results as very reassuring for people who were living in Fukushima at the time of the accident in 2011, said Dr. Chanock. The radiation doses in Japan are known to have been lower than those recorded at Chernobyl.

In the second study, researchers used next-generation sequencing to profile the genetic changes in thyroid cancers that developed in 359 people exposed as children or in utero to ionizing radiation from radioactive iodine (I-131) released by the Chernobyl nuclear accident and in 81 unexposed individuals born more than nine months after the accident. Increased risk of thyroid cancer has been one of the most important adverse health effects observed after the accident.

The energy from ionizing radiation breaks the chemical bonds in DNA, resulting in a number of different types of damage. The new study highlights the importance of a particular kind of DNA damage that involves breaks in both DNA strands in the thyroid tumors. The association between DNA double-strand breaks and radiation exposure was stronger for children exposed at younger ages.

Next, the researchers identified the candidate drivers of the cancer in each tumor the key genes in which alterations enabled the cancers to grow and survive. They identified the drivers in more than 95% of the tumors. Nearly all the alterations involved genes in the same signaling pathway, called the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, including the genes BRAF, RAS, and RET.

The set of affected genes is similar to what has been reported in previous studies of thyroid cancer. However, the researchers observed a shift in the distribution of the types of mutations in the genes. Specifically, in the Chernobyl study, thyroid cancers that occurred in people exposed to higher radiation doses as children were more likely to result from gene fusions (when both strands of DNA are broken and then the wrong pieces are joined back together), whereas those in unexposed people or those exposed to low levels of radiation were more likely to result from point mutations (single base-pair changes in a key part of a gene).

The results suggest that DNA double-strand breaks may be an early genetic change following exposure to radiation in the environment that subsequently enables the growth of thyroid cancers. Their findings provide a foundation for further studies of radiation-induced cancers, particularly those that involve differences in risk as a function of both dose and age, the researchers added.

An exciting aspect of this research was the opportunity to link the genomic characteristics of the tumor with information about the radiation dose the risk factor that potentially caused the cancer, said Lindsay M. Morton, Ph.D., deputy chief of the Radiation Epidemiology Branch in DCEG, who led the study.

The Cancer Genome Atlas set the standard for how to comprehensively profile tumor characteristics, Dr. Morton continued. We extended that approach to complete the first large genomic landscape study in which the potential carcinogenic exposure was well-characterized, enabling us to investigate the relationship between specific tumor characteristics and radiation dose.

She noted that the study was made possible by the creation of the Chernobyl Tissue Bank about two decades ago long before the technology had been developed to conduct the kind of genomic and molecular studies that are common today.

These studies represent the first time our group has done molecular studies using the biospecimens that were collected by our colleagues in Ukraine, Dr. Morton said. The tissue bank was set up by visionary scientists to collect tumor samples from residents in highly contaminated regions who developed thyroid cancer. These scientists recognized that there would be substantial advances in technology in the future, and the research community is now benefiting from their foresight.

About the National Cancer Institute (NCI):NCIleads the National Cancer Program and NIHs efforts to dramatically reduce the prevalence of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI website atcancer.govor call NCIs contact center, the Cancer Information Service, at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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International research teams explore genetic effects of Chernobyl radiation - National Institutes of Health

Genetics

Calculating The Fair Value Of Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLGT) – Yahoo Finance

Does the April share price for Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLGT) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Fulgent Genetics

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Levered FCF ($, Millions)

US$384.0m

US$144.0m

US$144.0m

US$138.6m

US$135.7m

US$134.6m

US$134.7m

US$135.6m

US$137.0m

US$138.9m

Growth Rate Estimate Source

Analyst x1

Analyst x1

Analyst x1

Est @ -3.78%

Est @ -2.03%

Est @ -0.81%

Est @ 0.04%

Est @ 0.64%

Est @ 1.06%

Est @ 1.36%

Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.3%

US$361

US$127

US$120

US$109

US$100

US$93.4

US$87.9

US$83.2

US$79.1

US$75.4

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$1.2b

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.3%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF2030 (1 + g) (r g) = US$139m (1 + 2.0%) (6.3% 2.0%) = US$3.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$3.3b ( 1 + 6.3%)10= US$1.8b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$3.0b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$87.7, the company appears about fair value at a 17% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Fulgent Genetics as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.813. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Fulgent Genetics, there are three relevant aspects you should assess:

Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 5 warning signs we've spotted with Fulgent Genetics (including 2 which make us uncomfortable) .

Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for FLGT's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors.

Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Calculating The Fair Value Of Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLGT) - Yahoo Finance

Genetics

Of cow cams, computing and genetics – Western Producer

Project led by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine brings a suite of high-tech tools to beef improvement research

Spy cams, biometric data processing with machine learning, advanced genomics the IntegrOmes initiative aims to push the latest tools to the edge in the service of improving beef cattle.

Its a perfect testing ground for these new tools, and they are new, said Dr. Gregg Adams, the reproductive specialist at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, which leads the project.

IntegrOmes (integrated omics for sustainable animal agriculture and environmental stewardship) will be based at the University of Saskatchewans Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) just southeast of Saskatoon near Clavet.

The omics in the name refers to a suite of tools. Genomics looks at genes, proteomics at the proteins they produce under various conditions, phenomics at physical characteristics, and microbiomics at the complex microbial communities that live in, for example, the rumens of cattle.

IntegrOmes will look at some familiar performance questions such as feed conversion and disease prevalence, but also behavioural traits.

For example, can genes determine which heifers will grow up to be good mothers? To find out, the researchers plan to use digital photos and video to observe cattle over time on pasture and in enclosed spaces, such as corrals and barns. They will look for behaviours, such as how quickly a calf gets up after birth, and how well a cow accepts its calf in its attempts to nurse.

IntegrOmes partner AlphaPhenomics has provided the means to capture and analyze the data. The Alberta-based tech startup has developed imaging, hardware and software tools for non-invasive biometric measurement of livestock.

Adams said this behavioural data will be combined with measures such as udder size and calf weight at weaning. With this information, researchers will turn to another set of tools genomics to see if they can identify genes that are associated with good mothering. If they find such genes, they can be used to select for these traits in breeding programs, something called marker-assisted selection, and it would be applied to both cows and bulls.

If we can identify a Simmental bull in a three-way or two-way cross that will sire calves that will be good mothers, that would be helpful, Adams said.

Marker-assisted selection is new to the beef industry, but has long proven its worth for dairy cattle.

The SNP technology in dairy cattle has been the single most important advance in genetic selection, I think, in the history of the dairy industry, Adams said.

SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms, are variations in genes that can be used as markers to guide breeding efforts. Adams said that for dairy, it has been a tremendous success story in terms of increased milk production. Steady improvements over the last 50 years mean todays cows are producing three times as much milk.

Its also a cautionary tale since chasing this single trait can come at the expense of others, such as fertility, something dairy breeders are now working to correct.

Fertility is Adams specialty, and he sees exciting potential for beef cattle.

We know using conventional genetic selection, its not been considered very heritable, so progress is slow, he said. But if we use really targeted, SNP-based selection traits, we ought to be able to make real advances in fertility, so we can select at both the dam and the sire side.

One potential goal is timing ovulation in cows so whole herds of 100 animals or more could be served by artificial insemination in a single day. This would have immediate benefits for producers.

It would be nice to have a calving season of three weeks rather than three months, Adams said.

To support such efforts, IntegrOmes is also establishing a biobank at the LFCE for bull semen, cows eggs, and fertilized embryos. The facility will also be used in a parallel program to guide development and conservation of pure bison genetics.

The IntegrOmes research team includes a wide range of expertise, drawn from universities in Saskatchewan and Alberta, as well as Agriculture Canada and the Toronto Zoo. They are examining production indicators such as weight gain and feed efficiency, but also disease detection and control, and behavioural traits like forage preferences. Other projects will look at environmental aspects such as methane production from rumen micro-organisms under different feed and forage regimes.

As genetic testing technology becomes smaller and portable, Adams envisions tools that can be used directly by producers in their day-to-day management.

You could pluck some hair, feed that into a hand-held device, he said. I think these tools are getting so we could actually take them with us to the herd, or the herd owner could have one of these devices that could rapidly screen certain specific bacteria or viruses.

IntegrOmes is funded through $6.75 million over five years by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, matched with another $10.1 million anticipated from the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments, Saskatchewan Cattlemens Association, Agriculture Canada, the LFCE and its supporters.

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Of cow cams, computing and genetics - Western Producer

Genetics

How Stress, Age And Genetics Turn Hair Gray : Short Wave – NPR

Shannon Fagan/Getty Images

Shannon Fagan/Getty Images

Why does hair turn gray? Stress? Age? Genetics? We turn to dermatologist Dr. Jenna Lester for answers.

Have an idea for an episode, or questions for the team? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

This episode was fact-checked by Rasha Aridi, and edited by Gisele Grayson and Viet Le. Dennis Nielson was the audio engineer.

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How Stress, Age And Genetics Turn Hair Gray : Short Wave - NPR

Genetics

Appreciating genetic research that affects our lives – The Star Online

WORLD DNA Day is celebrated every year on April 25 to honour the achievement of the Human Genome Project (HGP), which was completed in April 2003, and the ground-breaking elucidation of the model structure of DNA double helix which was published in Nature magazine on April 25,1953. After the US Congress passed a resolution designating April 25 as DNA Day, the National Human Genome Research Institute began celebrating the day.

The HGP was an international project aimed at discovering the sequence of human DNA and defining all genes that are found in the human genome. The HGP played a big role in explaining the genetics of humans and helped us understand a variety of fundamental questions, including the total number of genes that we have, how our cells function, how diseases develop and what actually happens when we become sick.

The HGP improved biology and medicine because establishing the human genome sequence led to the designing of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and encouraged scientists, doctors and the community to discuss the ethical and social problems raised by such technologies.

Facts discovered about our DNA are quite amazing. For instance, siblings with the same mother and father, except identical twins, share 50% of their DNA. Uncle-nephew or aunt-nephew/niece share 25% of their DNA while cousins share 12.5%. When the HGP was completed, it was found that humans contain approximately 25,000 genes. These genes differ in size from a few hundred DNA bases to over two million bases. Each individual inherits two copies of each gene, one from each parent. Humans are 99.9% genetically similar and it is the 0.1% difference that makes each of us unique.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the HGP is the field of medicine. Data from a patient's genetic profile may assist doctors in selecting the appropriate drug or treatment and administering it at the appropriate dose or regimen. This new approached in healthcare is called personalised or precision medicine. Every day, new genetic data is being profiled and used to improve the implementation of personalised medicine. As more DNA data is understood, personalised medicine may soon become routine and a part of mainstream medicine.

Besides blood, DNA can be extracted from skin, saliva, amniotic fluid and other tissues. These specimens can be studied in a genetic lab for variations in genes, DNA or proteins. Services for such genetic testing are now available online. Many companies are now offering direct to consumer genetic testing which offers the public genetic tests without having to go through a medical doctor.

Anyone can now order a genetic test by contacting these companies which will then send test kits that provide manuals and tools for extracting a saliva sample or a buccal smear that contains DNA in the comfort of their home. The specimen can then be delivered to a laboratory where the search for unique variations in genes or DNA is carried out.

While such direct to consumer genetic testing has helped many people to know more about their DNA, it must be understood that genetic data analysis is complicated and contextual reliant, and the results can yield false positive and false negative outcomes.

Anyone who is worried about the outcome of a direct to consumer genetic test should ask for guidance from a certified clinical geneticist or a genetic counsellor. The public should understand that these new technologies and approaches are intended to assist clinicians and they are not without their limitations and shortcomings.

Geneticists, health professionals, educators and the general public should join hands in the effort to study our DNA and appreciate current developments in genetic research that contribute to advances that affect our lives.

PROF ZILFALIL ALWI

Head, Malaysian Node of the Human Variome Project (MyHVP) & President, Malaysian Society of Human Genetics (MSHG)

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Appreciating genetic research that affects our lives - The Star Online

Neuroscience

AbbVie to Present Data Across its Robust Neuroscience Portfolio at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting – PRNewswire

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced new data from its expansive neuroscience portfolio will be presented at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, to be held virtually from April 17-22. A total of 33 abstracts, including one podium presentation during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session and three oral presentations, will be shared from a broad range of studies across the spectrum of migraine, advanced Parkinson's disease and spasticity.

"Our strong presence at AAN reflects our expanded portfolio of approved and investigational treatments designed to address a wide range of complicated, often debilitating neurological disorders," said Michael Gold, M.D., vice president, neuroscience development, AbbVie. "We look forward to sharing our progress in a number of areas, including pivotal Phase 3 data in migraine, with the goal of making a remarkable impact on patients' lives."

Researchers will present data from several studies on migraine, includingnew findings on atogepant, AbbVie's investigational preventive treatment of migraine in adults who meet criteria for episodic migraine as well as results evaluatingthe efficacy and safety of BOTOX(onabotulinumtoxinA) andUBRELVY (ubrogepant).

In addition, investigators will present the study design of the Phase 3 study assessing the efficacy and safety of the investigational treatment ABBV-951 (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa), a levodopa/carbidopa prodrug administered as a 24-hour continuous, subcutaneous infusion in people with advanced Parkinson's disease.

Key AbbVie abstracts and presentation details for the 2021 AAN Annual Meeting program are outlined below. Posters will be available during and for 30 days following the meeting.

Abstract Title

Presentation Details

All times CT

Migraine

Atogepant Significantly Reduces Mean Monthly Migraine Days in the Phase 3 Trial (ADVANCE) for the Prevention of Migraine

Clinical Trials Plenary Session

Tuesday, April 20

9:15 a.m. CT

Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Atogepant 60 mg Following Once Daily Dosing Over 1 year for the Preventive Treatment of Migraine

S5: Headache 1

Saturday, April 17

3 p.m. CT

Atogepant Improved Patient-Reported Migraine-Specific Quality of Life in a 12-Week Phase 3 (ADVANCE) Trial for Preventive Treatment of Migraine

Poster

Atogepant Improved Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) Measures of Activity Impairment in Migraine-Diary and Headache Impact Test in a 12-Week, Double-blind, Randomized Phase 3 (ADVANCE) Trial for Preventive Treatment of Migraine

Poster

Ubrogepant Was Safe and Well Tolerated in the Acute Treatment of Perimenstrual Migraine

S5: Headache 1

Saturday, April 17

3:32 p.m. CT

Assessing Barriers to Care in Episodic and Chronic Migraine: Results From the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study

S15: Headache 2

Monday, April 19

1:32 p.m. CT

Characterizing Preventive Treatment Gaps in Migraine: Results from the CaMEO Study

Poster

Real-World Evidence for Control of Chronic Migraine (CM) in Patients Meeting American Headache Society (AHS) Criteria Who Received Calcitonin GeneRelated Peptide Monoclonal Antibody (CGRPmAb) Therapy Added to OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment

Poster

Real-World Evidence for Control of Patients With Chronic Migraine Who Received CGRP Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Added to OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment

Poster

Consecutive Headache-Free Days With OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment in Patients With Chronic Migraine: A Pooled PREEMPT Analysis

Poster

Real-World Safety and Efficacy of 155-195U OnabotulinumtoxinA in Participants With Chronic Migraine: Results From the REPOSE Study

Poster

Advanced Parkinson's Disease

Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa Versus Oral Levodopa/Carbidopa in Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patients: Design of a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Active Controlled 12-Week Trial

Poster

Identifying Care Gaps in Parkinson's Disease Patients Eligible for Device-Aided Therapies: Results from Using the MANAGE-PD Tool in Patients from G7 Countries

Poster

Unmet Needs and Treatment Patterns of Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patients in the United States

Poster

A Retrospective Study Evaluating the Use of Anti-Parkinsonian Medications in Patients with Advanced Parkinson's Disease Who Are Treated with Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel and Deep Brain Stimulation: The PD-DUAL Study

Poster

Sustained Improvements in Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms in Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patients Treated with Carbidopa Levodopa Enteral Suspension in a 'Real-World' Study: Interim Results of the Multinational DUOGLOBE Study With at least 24 Months Follow-Up

Poster

Spasticity

Consistent Dosing Over Time and Within Treatment Interval Groups with OnabotulinumtoxinA: Analysis from the Adult Spasticity International Registry (ASPIRE)

Poster

A full list of all 33 AbbVie abstracts accepted for presentation at the 2021 AAN Annual Meeting can be found here.

About AtogepantAtogepant is an investigational orally administered, CGRP receptor antagonist (gepant) specifically developed for the preventive treatment of migraine. CGRP and its receptors are expressed in regions of the nervous system associated with migraine pathophysiology. Studies have shown that CGRP levels are elevated during migraine attacks and selective CGRP receptor antagonists confer clinical benefit in migraine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for atogepant. AbbVie anticipates a regulatory decision in late Q3 2021.

About ABBV-951ABBV-951 (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa) is a continuous subcutaneous infusion being investigated for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease.

About BOTOXBOTOXwas first approved by the FDA in 1989 for two rare eye muscle disorders blepharospasmandstrabismusinadults. Today, BOTOX is FDA-approved for 12 therapeutic indications, including Chronic Migraine, overactive bladder, leakage of urine (incontinence) due to overactive bladder caused by a neurologic condition in adults, cervical dystonia, adult and pediatric spasticity, severe underarm sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis), and pediatric detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition.

BOTOX(onabotulinumtoxinA) ImportantInformation

IndicationsBOTOXis aprescriptionmedicinethatisinjectedintomuscles andused:

BOTOXis alsoinjectedintotheskintotreatthesymptoms ofsevere underarm sweating(severe primaryaxillaryhyperhidrosis)whenmedicines usedonthe skin(topical) donotwork wellenoughinpeople18years andolder.

Itis notknownwhether BOTOXissafeand effectivetopreventheadaches in patientswithmigraine whohave14orfewer headachedays eachmonth (episodicmigraine).

BOTOXhasnotbeenshowntohelppeopleperformtask-specific functions withtheir upper limbsor increasemovementinjointsthatare permanentlyfixedinpositionbystiffmuscles.

Itis notknownwhether BOTOXis safeand effectivefor severe sweating anywhere other thanyour armpits.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATIONBOTOXmaycause serioussideeffects that can belifethreatening.Get medicalhelp right awayifyou haveanyoftheseproblemsanytime(hours toweeks) afterinjection ofBOTOX:

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX has been used at the recommended dose to treat chronic migraine, severe underarm sweating, blepharospasm, or strabismus.

BOTOX may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Do not receive BOTOX if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Do not receive BOTOX for the treatment of urinary incontinence if you: have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or cannot empty your bladder on your own and are not routinely catheterizing. Due to the risk of urinary retention (not being able to empty the bladder), only patients who are willing and able to initiate catheterization post treatment, if required, should be considered for treatment.

Patients treated for overactive bladder:In clinical trials, 36 of the 552 patients had to self-catheterize for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX compared to 2 of the 542 treated with placebo. The median duration of post-injection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX 100 Units (n = 36) was 63 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 214 days) as compared to a median duration of 11 days (minimum 3 days to maximum 18 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 2). Patients with diabetes mellitus treated with BOTOX were more likely to develop urinary retention than nondiabetics.

Adult Patients treated for overactive bladder due to neurologic disease:In clinical trials, 30.6% of patients (33/108) who were not using clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) prior to injection, required catheterization for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX 200 Units as compared to 6.7% of patients (7/104) treated with placebo. The median duration of post-injection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX 200 Units (n = 33) was 289 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 530 days) as compared to a median duration of 358 days (minimum 2 days to maximum 379 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 7). Among patients not using CIC at baseline, those with MS were more likely to require CIC post injection than those with SCI.

The dose of BOTOX is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported, including itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, dizziness, or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you experience symptoms; further injection of BOTOX should be discontinued.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions,such as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects, including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX.

Tell your doctor if you have any breathing-related problems. Your doctor may monitor you for breathing problems during treatment with BOTOX for spasticity or for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition. The risk of developing lung disease in patients with reduced lung function is increased in patients receiving BOTOX.

Cornea problems have been reported. Cornea (surface of the eye) problems have been reported in some people receiving BOTOX for their blepharospasm, especially in people with certain nerve disorders. BOTOX may cause the eyelids to blink less, which could lead to the surface of the eye being exposed to air more than is usual. Tell your doctor if you experience any problems with your eyes while receiving BOTOX. Your doctor may treat your eyes with drops, ointments, contact lenses, or with an eye patch.

Bleeding behind the eye has been reported. Bleeding behind the eyeball has been reported in some people receiving BOTOX for their strabismus. Tell your doctor if you notice any new visual problems while receiving BOTOX.

Bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections (common colds) have been reported. Bronchitis was reported more frequently in adults receiving BOTOX for upper limb spasticity. Upper respiratory infections were also reported more frequently in adults with prior breathing-related problems with spasticity. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX for upper limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were reported more frequently. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX for lower limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were not reported more frequently than placebo.

Autonomic dysreflexia in patients treated for overactive bladder due to neurologic disease. Autonomic dysreflexia associated with intradetrusor injections of BOTOX could occur in patients treated for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition and may require prompt medical therapy. In clinical trials, the incidence of autonomic dysreflexia was greater in adult patients treated with BOTOX 200 Units compared with placebo (1.5% versus 0.4%, respectively).

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you: have or have had bleeding problems; have plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles; trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) and are being treated for urinary incontinence (symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include pain or burning with urination, frequent urination, or fever); have problems emptying your bladder on your own and are being treated for urinary incontinence; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known ifBOTOX can harm your unborn baby); are breastfeeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX in the past.

Tell your doctor if you received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc, Dysport, or Xeomin in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Other side effects of BOTOX include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, dry eyes; drooping eyebrows; and upper respiratory tract infection. In adults being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and painful urination. In children being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and bacteria in the urine. If you have difficulty fully emptying your bladder on your own after receiving BOTOX, you may need to use disposable self-catheters to empty your bladder up to a few times each day until your bladder is able to start emptying again.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatchor call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see BOTOX full ProductInformation,including Boxed Warning and MedicationGuide.

About UBRELVY (ubrogepant)UBRELVY (ubrogepant) is an orally administered calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist (gepant) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults that is an option for a wide range of patients who experience migraine attacks. UBRELVY is the first pill of its kind to directly block CGRP, a protein released during a migraine attack, from binding to its receptors.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATIONWho should not take UBRELVY (ubrogepant)?Do not take UBRELVY if you are taking medicines known as strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, clarithromycin, itraconazole.What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking UBRELVY?Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take UBRELVY with other medicines.

What are the most common side effects of UBRELVY?The most common side effects are nausea (4%) and sleepiness (3%). These are not all of the possible side effects of UBRELVY.

What is UBRELVY (ubrogepant)?UBRELVY is a prescription medicine used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. UBRELVY is not used to prevent migraine headaches.Please see full PrescribingInformation.

About DUOPADUOPA (carbidopa and levodopa) enteral suspension is a prescription medicine used for treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease. DUOPA contains two medicines: carbidopa and levodopa.

Important Safety InformationWhat is the most important safety information I should know about DUOPA?

Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the stoma procedure. Before the stoma procedure, tell your healthcare provider if you ever had a surgery or problems with your stomach.

Talk to your healthcare provider about what you need to do to care for your stoma. After the procedure, you and your healthcare provider will need to regularly check the stoma for any signs of infection.

Do not take DUOPA if you currently take or have recently taken (within 2 weeks) a medication for depression called a non-selective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAO inhibitor.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using DUOPA with certain other medicines, including medications for high blood pressure, MAO inhibitors, antipsychotics, metoclopramide, isoniazid, and iron or vitamin supplements, may cause serious side effects. High-protein foods may affect how DUOPA works. Tell your healthcare provider if you change your diet.

DUOPA may cause serious side effects. Talk to your doctor before starting DUOPA and while on DUOPA if you have had or have any of these:

Do not stop using DUOPA or change your dose unless you are told to do so by your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop withdrawal symptoms such as fever, confusion, or severe muscle stiffness.

The most common side effects of DUOPA include: complications of tubing placement procedure, swelling of legs and feet, nausea, high blood pressure (hypertension), depression, and mouth and throat pain.

See the article here:
AbbVie to Present Data Across its Robust Neuroscience Portfolio at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting - PRNewswire