Category Archives: Embryology

NPR’s Ina Jaffe Shared Her Breast Cancer Journey, Couple Moves Up Their Wedding After Cancer Diagnosis and More – Curetoday.com

NPR correspondent Ina Jaffe wrote about her journey with breast cancer.

Ina Jaffe, a correspondent for NPR, penned an essay about her journey with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

I've been keeping a secret. I've decided to tell it, she began.

Jaffe shared that she received her diagnosis two years ago and refrained from sharing it with friends or strangers because she was still in the hysterical stage.

Because, faced with an incurable cancer diagnosis, I did what any normal person would do: I stopped sleeping. I stopped eating. I sobbed a lot. I was grieving for my own life, she wrote.

Eventually, she told 50 of her closest friends and three editors at NPR who also kept the secret per her request. This past week, she decided to publicly share the news in hopes of helping others and expressing her outrage.

Up to 30% of women with early-stage breast cancer progress to stage 4, Jaffe said. I thought that you were more likely to get metastatic breast cancer if you'd been diagnosed with a more-advanced stage of breast cancer to begin with. Wrong again. It's not dependent on your stage at original diagnosis. I was stage 1B when I was first diagnosed in January 2012.

She also explained that she had a titanium rod implanted in her thigh to deal with a bone metastasis and brain radiation, among other treatments.

Carene and Cameron Hughes exchanged their vows on Sunday after moving up their wedding, which was originally scheduled for August. The couple had to push the wedding up because doctors found a tumor on Camerons pancreas, as well as two lesions on the liver. The cancer is stage 4.

I didnt want the memories of our wedding to be me rolling down the aisle in a wheelchair or something like that, I wanted it to be a memory she could have, and kids could have, even after Im gone, Cameron Hughes told WXII 12 News.

The Hughes and their four children still have hope that a clinical trial at Duke University could make a difference, but are taking the news one day at a time.

Dont take life for granted. You know, Im 51 and Ive lived a pretty good life. Theres things I want to see that I may not get to see, so live life, be happy, love, one love, Cameron Hughes said.

Children who are born through assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and frozen embryo transfer, do not have an increased risk of cancer. The research was presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting this week.

The results are "quite reassuring, especially for children conceived by IVF, and are an important contribution to the current knowledge about health risks in ART-offspring," study author Dr. Mandy Spaan, of Amsterdam University Medical Center and the Netherlands Cancer Institute, told U.S. News.

The study may help doctors communicate better about any potential health risks for future children of patients who are considering fertility treatments. It will also provide gynecologists with "evidence-based information about the association between ART and cancer risk in children and adolescents," said Spaan in a news release.

Trey Mancini, a Baltimore Orioles player who missed the entirety of the 2020 season after a stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis, recently accepted an invitation from Major League Baseball to participate in the Home Run Derby.

This season was Mancinis return to baseball after undergoing treatment for the cancer. He is consistently among baseballs best in maximum exit velocity, according to ESPN.

Mancinis cancer was initially found just days after the spring training season had been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At 29, he never expected to receive the diagnosis his father, 58, had received a few years prior.

There were times early on when I wasnt entirely sure Id be playing baseball again, Mancini told MLB. I'd be lying if I'd say that was the first thing that came to mind. The whole time I just wanted to be healthy long-term and live a long life. And baseball definitely was on the back burner when I was going through all that.

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NPR's Ina Jaffe Shared Her Breast Cancer Journey, Couple Moves Up Their Wedding After Cancer Diagnosis and More - Curetoday.com

Spatial Genomics & Transcriptomics Market Analysis by Size, Trends, Share, Key Country, Opportunities, Growth, Emerging Technologies, And Regional…

Technological advancements in sequencing technologies, increasing application of spatial genomics and transcriptomics in biomarker identification and drug discovery, and increasing funding to expand R&D activities are key factors driving revenue growth of market

Market Size USD 178.4 Million in 2020, Market Growth at a CAGR of 18.1%, Market Trends Increasing prevalence of genetic disorders globally

The Global Spatial Genomics & Transcriptomics Market size is expected to reach USD 675.34 Million by 2028 at a CAGR of 18.1% over the forecast period, according to the latest report by Reports and Data. Key factors driving market revenue growth include increasing prevalence of genetic disorders and chronic conditions such as cancers, neurological disorders, and rare diseases, which have boosted need for high-resolution multiplex assays and instruments, and this is expected to further drive developments in spatial-based technologies. Increasing application of spatial genomics and transcriptomics for drug discovery and biomarker identification is also a key factor expected to drive revenue growth of market over the forecast period. Significant funding to expand R&D activities in the field of spatial-based technology is expected to support market growth going ahead.

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Spatial transcriptomics covers methods specifically designed to assign cell types to their specific locations across tissue samples. It allows determination of subcellular localization of mRNA molecules. Data obtained about spatial distribution of mRNA molecules allows researchers to study cellular heterogeneity in tissues, tumors, and immune cells. Spatial-profiling based solutions allows analysis of tissue microenvironment, tumor biology, and tissues biomarkers. Spatial genomics and transcriptomics offers key insights in the fields of oncology, immunology, cell and gene therapy, histology, and embryology.

Spatial genomics and transcriptomics are novel research fields that aim to fill the knowledge gap about cellular machinery, spatial organization, differentiations, and localization that occurs at genomic and transcriptomics level within each cell and in tissues. These techniques have significant potential in managing chronic and rare diseases and rising burden of chronic disease such as cancers and diabetes across the globe have boosted their application in drug discovery and development. This is expected to fuel revenue growth of market over the forecast period. However, lack of skilled professionals and low awareness about advanced spatial-based technologies can restrain market growth to a significant extent over the forecast period.

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For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data has segmented the global spatial genomics & transcriptomics market based on technique, product application, end-use industry, and region:

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Spatial Genomics & Transcriptomics Market Analysis by Size, Trends, Share, Key Country, Opportunities, Growth, Emerging Technologies, And Regional...

First Lady hands over 30 000 books – The Herald

The Herald

Tendai RupapaSenior ReporterFirst Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday handed over 30 000 books to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in a gesture which demonstrates the importance of partnerships.

The books are a result of a strong working relationship between the First Lady and an international organisation, Merck Foundation, a partnership which has yielded a lot of positive results for the country.

Amai Mnangagwa is the ambassador of Merck More than a Mother in Zimbabwe.

The First Lady values childrens education and has always been providing learning materials in schools and paying fees for disadvantaged children countrywide.

The books she donated yesterday are Educating Rujeko, which tackles issues of child marriages, Tudus story which deals with issues of infertility and Make the right Choices which dwells on doing what is right in this era of Covid-19.

Speaking at the handover ceremony yesterday, the First Lady said a special relationship has grown over the past three years between Angel of Hope Foundation and Merck Foundation which share the same values and are seized with the welfare and well-being of the most vulnerable in society, mainly women and children.

Over the past few years we have come up with many ideas on how we can improve the welfare of our people. I am glad to say this partnership has yielded a lot of positive things for the country, she said.

Doctors, the First Lady said, have been trained in specialist areas of infertility and embryology, diabetes mellitus, oncology and respiratory medicine. More than 100 doctors have been trained either online or have gone to India for specialist training.

We have had media training in Zimbabwe. The importance of this is to have our media practitioners being able to write well-researched stories on sensitive health topics. For example, subjects on infertility which are considered taboo in our societies. They have a duty to inform the public with articles that have depth. Awards have also been given to journalists who have done very well, she said.

She emphasised that Merck Foundation has also worked with her foundation in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

I wish to particularly thank the CEO of Merck Foundation Senator Dr Rasha Kelej who is one of the most influential women in Africa for starting the Merck more than a Mother movement of which she is the president. This has brought issues of infertility to the forefront.

Merck Foundation is also working with other African First Ladies. It is with this in mind that Angel of Hope Foundation and Merck Foundation have developed some reading material on subjects which need awareness. Knowledge is power. We need our people to be knowledgeable on these critical issues. That way, we also contribute to his Excellencys call for Zimbabwe achieving an upper middle class economy by 2030, said the First Lady.

In is acceptance speech, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema praised the First Lady for her gesture.

The Ministry is aware of the spirit that you have towards the welfare of all Zimbabweans and the vulnerable members of our communities. It is a fact that you are doing a valuable task through the Angel of Hope Foundation.

The donation that we have received today is testimony of the good work that you are doing to all Zimbabweans. Your generous donation dovetails with the ministrys vision of providing equitable, quality, inclusive and relevant education, he said.

Minister Mathema said one of their major challenges since 2015 when they introduced their competency-based curriculum was the shortage of learning and teaching materials.

The titles of the books you have donated do not only demonstrate the need for quality education for the learners, but also point towards moulding our learners along the expected values as enshrined in our educational philosophy of Unhu/Ubuntu, he said.

In her vote of thanks, Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Tumisang Thabela said it was a fact that education was anchored on reading and more time people spent reading, the more they consciously and subconsciously gained the skill they needed to deal with the complexities of various tasks.

Indeed, the books that you have donated Amai will not only enable learners to gain knowledge but enable them to acquire the much-needed skills and attitudes that are necessary for life. The ministry is therefore indebted to you for this good gesture.

The books will help the children to make the right choices in their lives. We will also look into uploading the soft copies on our website and make sure they are accessed by all children. Amai you are more than a mother to us, she said.

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First Lady hands over 30 000 books - The Herald

VALUE study: a protocol for a qualitative semi-structured interview study of IVF add-ons use by patients, clinicians and embryologists in the UK and…

This article was originally published here

BMJ Open. 2021 May 21;11(5):e047307. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047307.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: For couples undergoing assisted reproduction, a plethora of adjuncts are available; these are known as add-ons. Most add-ons are not supported by good quality randomised trial evidence of efficacy, with some proven to be ineffective. However, estimates suggest that over 70% of fertility clinics provide at least one add-on, often at extra cost to the patient. This study has three aims. First, to undertake a survey of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics in the UK to ascertain which add-ons are being offered and at what cost. Second, to undertake qualitative semi-structured interviews of patients, clinicians and embryologists, to explore their opinions and beliefs surrounding add-ons. Third, to review the interpretation of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority traffic light system, to better understand the information required by IVF patients, clinicians and embryologists when making decisions about add-ons.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: All UK IVF clinics will be contacted by email and invited to complete an online survey. The survey will ask them which add-ons they offer, at what cost per cycle and how information is shared with patients. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted in the UK and Australia with three groups of participants: (i) fertility patients; (ii) clinicians and (iii) embryologists. Participants for the interviews will be recruited via social media channels, website adverts, email and snowball sampling. Up to 20 participants will be recruited for each group in each country. Following an online consent process, interviews will be conducted via video-conferencing software, transcribed verbatim and data subjected to inductive thematic analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been granted by the Universities of Sheffield, Bath Spa and Melbourne. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated to regulatory bodies in the UK and Australia. A lay summary of findings will be shared via Fertility Network, UK.

PMID:34020980 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047307

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VALUE study: a protocol for a qualitative semi-structured interview study of IVF add-ons use by patients, clinicians and embryologists in the UK and...

Real history behind Call the Midwife: What is the Abortion Act and when did it pass? – RadioTimes

Over the last few seasons, Call the Midwife has covered the topic of abortion across multiple storylines and always with great thoughtfulness and care.

Weve seen the effects of desperate self-induced abortions (or attempted abortions), with skewers and drugs; weve seen the backstreet abortions, carried out in unsanitary conditions with unclean instruments. And weve also seen the safer (but still illegal) option of abortion secretly carried out by doctors at private clinics.

Alongside that, we have followed the stories of so many desperate women who feel they have no other choice but to terminate their pregnancies whether that be because of poverty, or abuse, or because they are unmarried, or because they are just not ready to be mothers.

The first season of Call the Midwife was set in 1957. With each season of the show, a year has passed, and now in season 10 we have reached 1966. That puts us on the cusp of an important change in the law. Heres what you need to know:

The Abortion Act 1967 was signed into law on 27th October of that year, and came into effect six months later. From that point, abortion was legal in a wide range of cases everywhere in Great Britain, except Northern Ireland. This landmark legislation remains in place today (with some amendments).

Season 10 of Call the Midwife covers the whole of 1966, so weve just reached a point in history where the debate was ramping up and the process was beginning in Parliament. Season 11 will cover the year in which the Act actually passed.

As Nurse Trixie Franklin (Helen George) points out heatedly to Mr Scarisbrick (Richard Dillane) of the Lady Emily Clinic, abortion remained illegal in 1966, even if it was being debated in Parliament.

Historically, self-induced abortion or supplying the means for an abortion had been prohibited under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This was punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Another key piece of legislation was theInfant Life Preservation Act 1929. This created the offence of child destruction, but clarified that an abortion could be carried out inexceptional circumstances.

Those exceptional circumstances were clarified in 1938 when a 14-year-old girl was gang-raped, and became suicidal when she fell pregnant. Dr Alex Bourne challenged the law and performed an abortion because the mothers mental health was in danger. Following this precedent, some women were granted a safe abortion if a psychiatrist approved (and the woman could afford a psychiatrist).

Cath became ill after an illegal abortion in season eight (BBC)

There were several strands in the campaign for legal abortion.

For one thing, there was growing pressure for a law which eliminated dangerous back-street abortions, and put the procedure in the hands of doctors (who could carry the procedure out more safely). This was one of the initial aims of the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA), which became a powerful voice on the issue.

The doctors themselves also sought new legislation. The medical establishment wanted clear laws establishing whether they could terminate a pregnancy that threatened the life of the woman, or would result in grave injury to her health; as explained above, there were precedents that had been established over the years, but they needed more clarity to avoid getting into legal trouble. Campaigner and doctor DB Paintin wrote to the British Medical Journal in 1966: At present the law seems uncertain and threatening, and consequently is frequently interpreted narrowly.

Also, a report in the British Journal of Criminology from 1966 provides a snapshot of how quickly the issue of abortion rose to the top of the agenda, and how peoples feelings changed. Madeleine Simms wrote: The significant development since 1964 has been that this debate has reached the general public, and in consequence become a life political issue. Not so long ago, newspaper editors, broadcasters and television producers hesitated over abortion because of the scandalous and controversial nature of the subject. Now, more often, if they hesitate at all, it is because the subject has been over-exposed.

In spring 1965, a nationwide survey found that three-quarters of the public believed abortion ought to be legal, at least in some cases.

Vals grandma Elsie Dyer was revealed as an illegal abortionist (BBC)

Momentum was building for a change in the law, but the government would not introduce legislation themselves. Instead, it was left to an MP called David Steel to introduce the Act as a Private Members Bill.

This unusual set-up requires a brief explanation. Most of the time, it is the government which comes up with a bill and introduces it to Parliament. However, individual Members of Parliament can also propose legislation, and that is what Steel decided to do.

Very few Private Members Bills ever succeed, because they are given little time or priority. Previous attempts to change the abortion law this way had failed, including a bill introduced by Renee Short MP in June 1965 and Lord Silkins Abortion Bill of November 1965.

But Steels bill came just at the right moment; and even though Steel was from the Liberal Party, the Labour government gave his Private Members Bill their backing. Home Secretary Roy Jenkins ensured the bill was given enough time to allow a full debate.

In addition, the government appointed Sir John Peel (the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) to chair a medical advisory committee. It reported in favour of passing the bill.

Members of Parliament were given a free vote on the Abortion Bill. After a spirited debate, it passed with only 29 MPs voting against.

Under the Abortion Act, two doctors are required acting in good faith, to certify that the abortion is legal when a pregnancy of less than 24 weeks threatens the physical or mental health of the woman and her children, taking into account her actual or foreseeable environment.

The limit was originally 28 weeks, but was reduced to 24 weeks in most cases under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 after advances in medical technology moved the goalposts for when a pregnancy could be considered viable.

Additional reporting: Anna Barry

Call the Midwife continues on Sundays at 8pm on BBC One. Take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage, or check out our TV guide to find out what else is on.

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Real history behind Call the Midwife: What is the Abortion Act and when did it pass? - RadioTimes

The Lawmakers Behind Fetal Heartbeat Abortion Bans Are Lying To You – HuffPost

Its been two years since conservative lawmakers began widely using fetal heartbeat rhetoric to pass bans on abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

But despite the medical community speaking out against the inaccurate language and dozens of lawsuits stopping those laws from going into effect, those bills havent slowed down. The latest comes from Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill Wednesday effectively banning abortions as soon as a doctor can detect cardiac activity in an embryo, which typically happens at around six weeks into a pregnancy.

But doctors say that not only is that cutoff completely arbitrary, its also based on the false premise that a fetal heartbeat a phrase often included in the bills titles even exists at that stage of pregnancy.

To say that a six-week pregnancy has a fetal anything is incorrect, explained Dr. Colleen McNicholas, an obstetrician-gynecologist who performs abortions, noting that the term fetal heartbeat isnt even applicable until about 10 weeks into a pregnancy. At that point, an embryo has developed sufficiently to be called a fetus.

At six weeks, an embryos cardiac development doesnt at all resemble what would eventually become a functioning human adult heart, she said. At that point, it really is just these two tubes with a couple of layers of cardiac or heart cells that can vibrate or cause some sort of movement that we use colloquially to talk about a fetal heartbeat.

McNicholas is based in St. Louis, Missouri, where an appeals court is currently weighing one of the laws signed in 2019.

Governors in South Carolina, Oklahoma and Idaho have all signed similar bills similar to the one in Texas this year. However, they, too, are tied up by legal challenges.

Elijah Nouvelage via Getty ImagesPeople in Atlanta protest against Georgia's six-week abortion ban in 2019.

Dr. Carley Zeal, another OB-GYN based in St. Louis, expressed similar frustration with the fetal heartbeat terminology these bills are using.

An embryo at six weeks has no other functioning organs, no ability to live on its own, and its actually so small that when we review pathology from an abortion or a miscarriage at six weeks gestation, theres not an identifiable fetus to review, she said. Its just a gestational sac and some cells, so its very small and definitely not able to live outside of the womb.

At that point, an embryo is less than a centimeter long, she said. Thats smaller than a penny or the width of most peoples pinky fingers.

But the way the lawmakers orchestrating these abortion bans speak about pregnancy at that stage leaves a very different impression.

If there is a detection of a heartbeat, that child is a living human being, and you can no longer murder this child in its mothers womb, Kentucky state Sen. Matt Castlen (R) said at a press conference when introducing his states fetal heartbeat bill in 2019.

What were doing is ... recognizing that the child with a beating heart inside of mom thats got a heartbeat, that theyre preparing a nursery for, that is wiggling around inside mom, is actually a person,Georgia state Rep. Ed Setzler (R), the architect behind his states abortion ban, alsosaidthat year.

Science tells us that the heartbeat really is the beginning of life and the end of life, he added.

Science doesnt actually tell us that, said Zeal, who testified against the Missouri bill as part of her involvement with the group Physicians for Reproductive Health. The focus on the heartbeat as a cutoff date is completely arbitrary.

Theres a lot of talk from the other side about a heartbeat being the point at which a life begins, which is really based on their ideologies, she said. What we are trying to focus on as providers is to take it away from their black-and-white ideology and focus back on what is safest and what is the most effective care for our patients.

McNicholas agreed. From a medical standpoint, there is no single organ that we say defines life, she said.

To her, focusing on the heart is taking advantage of one of societys most deep-seated word associations. The heart is merely a muscle that pumps blood through someones circulatory system, but idioms like following your heart and a broken heart have given anti-abortion activists something that tugs at peoples heartstrings figuratively speaking.

I think that its a capitalization on our societys longstanding obsession and infatuation around the symbolism of the heart, she said. We use the heart visually in so many different ways to mean so many different things, and I think this particular approach really capitalizes on our obsession with the heart being a symbol of something.

Beyond lawmakers ignoring facts about embryology, theyre disregarding a huge practical issue: Many patients dont know theyre pregnant in the first six to eight weeks of pregnancy, both doctors said. Its common for patients who have irregular periods, thyroid issues, financial insecurities that limit their medical access and other atypical circumstances to miss or not have any early signs of pregnancy.

SOPA Images via Getty ImagesA demonstrator in Columbia, South Carolina, in February holds up a sign in favor of the state's six-week abortion ban.

But lawmakers supporting those bills are dismissing those common circumstances. Missouri state Rep. Barry Hovis (R) argued in 2019 that under his states bill, which estimated that a fetal heartbeat can be detected at eight weeks instead of six, patients would still have plenty of time to seek out an abortion.

Ive never really studied it, but Ive heard of the morning-after pill, where if someone feels theyve been sexually assaulted, they could go do that, he said at the bills final hearing. It gives them ample time in that eight weeks to make those exclusions.

We shouldnt give lawmakers a pass to play dumb, Zeal said.

Make no mistake, these bans are designed to ban almost all abortion, she emphasized. Legislators writing these bans understand that this would make almost all abortions that we do illegal and make it completely inaccessible to patients, and thats why theyre trying to get them through. Its not at all based on a womans health or a fetus health.

Although abortion remains legal in all 50 states, a serious threat to that looms. The Supreme Court announcedMonday that it would take up a case addressing whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional a question that not only addresses six-week bans, but also outright bans governors in Alabama and Arkansas have tried to enact.

This is the first time the court has agreed to review an abortion ban since deciding Roe v. Wade in 1973, which has protected access to the procedure for 48 years.If the court reshaped into a firmly conservative body by former President Donald Trump decides in favor of such bans, the protections established in Roe v. Wade would be essentially tossed out.Twenty-four states hostile to the procedure would likely ban abortion outright, abortion rights activists warn.

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The Lawmakers Behind Fetal Heartbeat Abortion Bans Are Lying To You - HuffPost

FILM: Sarah Norcross in conversation with Sally Cheshire – BioNews

10 May 2021

This film documents an in-depth conversation between Sarah Norcross (director of the Progress Educational Trust, the charity that publishes BioNews) and Sally Cheshire (outgoing chair of the UK's fertility regulator Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority).

If you cannot see the film below, click here to view it.

During this conversation Sarah Norcross refers to the following events, films of which can be watched on BioNews:

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FILM: Sarah Norcross in conversation with Sally Cheshire - BioNews

From Me to Us at Battersea Arts Centre Online | Theatre review – The Upcoming

From Me to Us at Battersea Arts Centre Online | Theatre review

In 2019, a historical shift in UK law occurred without much fanfare or notice: Section 54a of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 permitted single parents to gain surrogacy rights and parenthood authentication for the first time. Wayne Steven Jacksons From Me to Us is a tribute to this change as unassuming yet commendable as the political event itself.

Written, directed and performed by its creator, Jackson composes a letter from a future father to his future child. He weaves together details, both autobiographical and imagined, and speculates on what the times to come will be like, while also remembering the difficult steps it took to get there.

With the original play adapted for a digital performance, Ben Horrigans videography adds only some visual variety to the otherwise sparse staging. While location shots punctuate the plays poignant moments, the occasional slide into split screen is pretty needless. Fortunately, such stylistic flourishes dont detract from the strengths in the original material. At times the script is merely informative of its context, but the creator is really trying to explore the emotional ramifications before and after Section 54a, highlighting the myriad difficulties around single parenthood surrogacy (specifically, at times, for gay men). It hovers on a thin line between sincere and mawkish; Jackson deftly criticises long-held ignorance and scepticism over single father surrogacy, but allows the odd platitude on parental love to drop dully. Chris Bensteads soft classic score doesnt always help either, providing a musical backdrop that tries to pull heartstrings but is occasionally overpowering.

However, the focal performance by Jackson certainly makes the show undeniably relaxed and earnest. Switching between shirts and reminiscing over the few personal props on an almost unadorned stage, the actor invites casual intimacy with his story and the political conditions that inform it. Over its brief runtime, the play reminds the audience that not all life-altering, societally impactful events take place with noisy conflict and tragedy in the space of political theatre, if you like. Instead, From Me to Us is a quiet, sweet love letter to the small, struggling shifts that open big, joyful possibilities.

James Humphrey

From Me to Us is available to stream from 10th May until 16th May 2021. For further information or to book visit the theatres website here.

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From Me to Us at Battersea Arts Centre Online | Theatre review - The Upcoming

3rd-Grade Teacher In Washington County Uses Creativity To Stand Out – CBS Pittsburgh

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. (KDKA) A teacher in Washington County is using creativity to engage her students and stand out among the crowd.

KDKAs Amy Wadas traveled to Washington County to met Danielle Berdar, a third-grade math, science and social studies teacher at Beth-Center Elementary.

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

Berdar says its all about creativity, which makes learning more interesting for her students.

The science lesson we are doing right now is on embryology. So we are going to be hatching baby chicks in our classroom. Thats always an exciting third-grade project, said Berdar.

I just want to make sure that the students are loving coming to school. Thats most important to me because if they love coming to school, then the learning will come, added Berdar.

Principal Zach Just says its the creativity that makes her stand out.

Theres nothing she wont do to get them to understand the material, said Just.

That includes her ability to go the extra mile.

On each students desk, theres little desk pets. Danielle went and did a DonorsChoose and got people to donate so each kid could have their own desk pet. They get rewards with it, said Just.

What do Berdars students have to say about their teacher?

She always has something fun planned. Shes always funny and shes kind, said Rylee Welsh.

We did these and you had to get past your level for multiplication. And if you made it past, shed throw a disco party, said McKenzie Duncan.

All of this is happening during a year of ups and downs and a mix of remote and in-person learning. Mrs. Berdar couldnt be more thankful for being recognized.

Its very humbling. Its very unexpected but feels much appreciated, said Berdar.

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Stem cell therapy as a basis for the regenerative medicine – America Daily Post

Significant advances in the experimental embryology, cytology, molecular genetics and genetic engineering have led to the formation of a new field of biomedicine regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine employs pluripotency of stem cells for restoration of diverse tissues and body structures. The approach is applied in oncology, orthopedics, neurology, cardiology, endocrinology, etc.

The role of stem cells

Discussions about the benefits or risks of stem cells application are now often debated. At first, stem cells have appeared to be an expensive panacea that can cure any disease. Other publications have discussed the adverse effects of stem cell therapy, such as the risk of cancer. Repeatedly conducted studies have proved that the risk of cancer is zero. Stem cell therapy in Germany uses only proven scientifically methods of regenerative medicine, in which the development of complications is almost impossible.

Stem cells are cells that are capable of differentiation and transformation into many other types of cells, for example, skin cells, liver cells, brain cells, etc. Stem cells are divided into the natural (embryonic and adult cells) and grown in the laboratory ones. Each of these types has properties and characteristics that are unique to this type.

Cellular technologies are already developing so actively that they have moved from the fundamental biological field to the field of regenerative medicine, which implements the achievements of science of the last decades into practical healthcare tools this is translational medicine. That is, these technologies are not becoming prospects for the near future, but rather well-recognized, repeatedly tested, reliable methods of treatment.

What tissues can stem cells be harvested from?

Currently, the greatest attention is given to the adults own mesenchymal cells. Work with this type of stem cells does not carry the chance of developing cancer in the patient. Stem cells can be taken from various body tissues, such as red bone marrow, cartilage or skin. Then they are concentrated by centrifugation. Further, stem cells can go through the incubation and induction stage to increase their number. In other cases, mesenchymal stem cells are introduced into a sore spot immediately after concentration.

A mandatory and necessary condition for the effectiveness of therapy is the targeted injection of stem cells suspension directly into the damaged tissue. The procedure usually goes virtually painless, thanks to the latest equipment. For these purposes, doctors often use ultrasound or X-ray navigation methods.

Is stem cell therapy effective in older people?

A significant problem of cell therapy based on the use of own stem and progenitor cells is a decrease in the regenerative potential of cells with age and in patients with severe chronic diseases, primarily diabetes mellitus. Many laboratories in the world are working to increase the therapeutic activity of cells with the help of special modifications at the genetics level. For this purpose the introduction of growth factor genes, cytokines, or signaling molecules into the cells is used.

The increased ability of transplant to produce biologically active substances, increasing their viability and survival after transplantation into damaged tissues is taken into account. Its main concept is the cure of the disease due to the regeneration of altered or damaged tissues or organs.

Is it possible to use stem cells in oncology treatment?

In German clinics, stem cell therapy is actively used for the treatment of cancer. It is especially effective in the treatment of solid tumors, this method is used as an additional option in the conventional cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.

This type of therapy is also applied in patients at the stage of remission in order to prevent relapse. Stem cells are also aimed at reducing side effects after chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

If you are interested in stem cell treatment and would like to receive it in Germany, please contact Booking Health. Booking Health specialists will provide comprehensive information regarding all your questions, select individual diagnostic or treatment programs for you. You will also receive assistance in all organizational aspects, such as visa issuing, booking tickets, transfer, selection of housing and so on. With the support of Booking Health, you can be sure that your stay in Germany will be as comfortable as possible.

Read more:
Stem cell therapy as a basis for the regenerative medicine - America Daily Post