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PathAI Announces New NASH/MASH Advisory Network to Guide Evidence Generation and Regulatory Strategy for AI-Powered Digital Pathology Product Development

PathAI

PathAI, a leading provider of precision pathology solutions, today announced the formation of a new advisory network to inform the company’s vision to leverage AI-powered digital pathology to improve outcomes for individuals with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH). According to the American Liver Foundation, approximately 2-5% of adults in the U.S. have NASH/MASH, a disease with no FDA-approved treatments currently available. Disease incidence has risen from 1.51% in 2010 to 2.79% in 2020. The American Liver Foundation predicts that by 2030, NASH/MASH will be the most frequent reason for liver transplants in the U.S., underscoring the severe impact of this disease. Given the burden of NASH/MASH and lack of available treatment options for patients, attention from industry and academia alike is increasing, with numerous clinical trials in progress to develop novel, efficacious therapies for patients. PathAI has worked closely with experts in the field of NASH/MASH for years, including leading researchers, academics, patient advocacy groups, regulatory bodies and biotechnology and pharma partners, contributing to the development of solutions for this challenging disease. Previously, this close collaboration with NASH/MASH subject matter experts led to the development and validation of AIM-NASH ™, a tool that promises to reduce the impact of pathologist scoring variability on clinical trial outcomes by assisting pathologists in grading and staging key histologic features of NASH/MASH 1,2,as well as NASH Explore ™, an AI-powered panel of more than 1000 quantitative Human Interpretable Features (HIFs) that spatially characterize NASH/MASH tissue biopsy microarchitecture at the zonal and cellular level from H&E whole slide images. Now, PathAI will build on that collaboration by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders across academia, medicine, regulatory science, patient advocacy, and industry to inform the evolution of the company portfolio. The network’s first meeting was held in September and will be held quarterly moving forward. “Scoring liver biopsies by an expert pathologist is a crucial aspect of NASH/MASH clinical trials. However, this benchmark tool is limited both in the availability of liver pathologists and intra/inter-observer variability of their evaluation,” Pierre Bedossa, Professor of Pathology at Groupe Hospitalier Paris Nord and visiting professor at the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University, and PathAI advisor, pointed out. “AIM-NASH developed by PathAI marks clearly a step forward. This tool alleviates some of the limitations by providing a trustworthy AI-based evaluation of liver biopsy functioning under pathologist supervision. Promising results of AIM-NASH in the context of NASH clinical trials strongly suggest that this tool may become essential to speed up drug evaluation and development for the benefit of patients.” Other members of the advisor network include: Stephen A. Harrison, medical director for Pinnacle Clinical Research and the president of Summit Clinical Research. Karoline Lackner, professor of pathology at the Medical University of Graz. Rohit Loomba, professor of medicine and director of hepatology at the University of California at San Diego. Romil Saxena, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology. G. Mani Subramanian, founder, OrsoBio Chris Leptak, Senior Vice President; drugs and biologics at Greenleaf Health, Inc. “As a leader in digital pathology for liver diseases, we recognize the responsibility we have to advance the science towards effective treatments for NASH/MASH with cutting-edge technology,” said Andy Beck, MD, PhD, co-founder and CEO of PathAI. “At the same time, we recognize that only by incorporating the ideas and expertise of the leading minds in MASH will we truly achieve our mutual goal of improving patient outcomes for MASH patients.” The PathAI team will be attending the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases annual meeting November 10-14 in Boston. Schedule time to talk about how PathAI’s solutions can drive liver disease clinical development at our booth (# D3100) by emailing nash@pathai.com. Read more about PathAI’s robust AI-powered products for NASH, including AIM-NASH ™ and NASH Explore ™, on PathAI’s website. 1 Harrison et al., Retrospective AI-based Measurement of NASH Histology (AIM-NASH) Analysis of Biopsies From Phase 2 Study of Resmetirom Confirms Significant Treatment-induced Changes in Histologic Features of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, EASL poster 2022. 2 Shevell et al. Comparison of manual vs machine learning approaches to liver biopsy scoring for NASH and fibrosis: a post hoc analysis of the FALCON 1 study. AASLD poster 2021 AIM-NASH & NASH Explore are authorized for research use only. Not approved for diagnostic use. About PathAI PathAI is a recognized leader in the biopharma partnering space, uniquely combining AI-powered pathology solutions with end-to-end central pathology and histology services. The company supports biopharma partners in executing clinical trials where pathology-based endpoints, biomarker classification, and/or superior histology quality are critical to successfully gauging therapeutic efficacy, accelerating drug development for complex diseases. PathAI has already supported multiple Phase 2 clinical trials in NASH, IBD, and breast cancer, as well as oncology neoadjuvant trials, and is now expanding into larger scale global Phase 3 studies, as well as additional indications. PathAI provides a fully integrated approach to clinical trials, enabling pharma partners to leverage the power of AI without the heavy lift of implementation. This helps reduce the impact of challenges associated with clinical trials, including unreliable turnaround times, variable histology, stain or scan/digitization quality, and challenging assessment of histological endpoints. The lab offers all major immunohistochemistry staining platforms, with flexible workflows across different scanners, stains, and biopsy types, which improves the quality of clinical trials. Services include access to PathAI’s extensive network of over 500 US Board Certified pathologists to perform high quality reading with rapid turnaround time in a cost-effective manner, plus seamless integration of PathAI's advanced AI-solutions to ensure high-quality, reproducible results with every scan. PathAI is headquartered in Boston, MA, and operates its CAP/CLIA-certified diagnostics clinical laboratory (formerly known as Poplar Healthcare) – one of the country’s largest anatomic pathology labs – in Memphis, TN. For more information, please visit www.pathai.com Contact Details SVM Public Relations and Marketing Communications Maggie Naples +1 401-490-9700 pathai@svmpr.com Company Website https://www.pathai.com/

November 02, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Poolbeg Pharma "continuing its campaign to find a partner" for POLB001

Poolbeg Pharma PLC

Proactive Research Analyst Daniel Appiah speaks to Thomas Warner at the London Studio after publishing a new research note on clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Poolbeg Pharma. Appiah starts by explaining the scale of the opportunity that Poolbeg is pursuing with its lead compound POLB001 in acute influenza, noting the estimated 3-5 million severe influenza cases globally per annum. The company is broadening its reach by expanding the compound into the oncology sector. Additionally, Appiah highlights Poolbeg's recent developments in the oral vaccine sector. The company's oral delivery platform is in the limelight following an announcement about their collaboration with an undisclosed NASDAQ-listed biopharma enterprise. The partnership aims to utilise Poolbeg's oral drug delivery technology to optimise drug formulations targeting metabolic conditions. Significantly, this venture could pave the way for Poolbeg to tap into the burgeoning market for GLP-1 injectable treatments for obesity and diabetes, which is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. For a comprehensive insight into Poolbeg Pharma PLC, Daniel Appiah's full research report is accessible via the link in the video. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

November 02, 2023 06:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CK Life Sciences Presenting Preclinical Data for Its Investigational Dual-Antigen Cancer Vaccines, Co-targeting PRAME and PD-L1, at the 2023 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting

CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc.

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 1 November 2023 - CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. is presenting preclinical data for its investigational dual-antigen cancer vaccines, co-targeting PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma) and PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), on November 4 at the 2023 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, USA. The investigational cancer vaccines evaluated in the preclinical study contain antigenic sequences of PRAME and PD-L1 intended to induce anti-cancer immune responses. PRAME is a cancer antigen highly expressed in many different types of cancers and has been associated with different oncogenic processes. PD-L1 represents one of the most important immune checkpoint antigens highly expressed on cancer cells to limit T-cell activation in the tumour microenvironment. "CK Life Sciences has a growing pipeline of cancer vaccines in various stages of development. The preclinical efficacy results of our dual-targeting PRAME/ PD-L1 cancer vaccines in liver cancer are promising and we hope to start clinical trials in the coming years," said Melvin Toh, Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer at CK Life Sciences. "Liver cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Asia and remains a major unmet medical need. We plan to investigate the PRAME/ PD-L1 dual-targeting cancer vaccines further in liver cancer and other cancer types known to over-express PRAME and PD-L1." DETAILS ON POSTER PRESENTATION: Abstract 1336: Authors: Session Date and Time In this preclinical study, we investigated whether dual-antigen cancer vaccines co-targeting PRAME and PD-L1 could suppress tumour growth in both prophylactic and therapeutic syngeneic mouse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models. Two recombinant fusion protein vaccines comprised of PD-L1 and PRAME with or without GM-CSF were synthesised and formulated with a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotide and aluminum hydroxide for vaccination. In the prophylactic tumour model study, the vaccines were administrated subcutaneously twice at a two-week interval before implantation of mouse HCC cells expressing PRAME, followed by weekly vaccination. In the therapeutic model study, the vaccines were administrated weekly into the animals after tumour cell implantation. Body weight and tumour volume were measured three times a week. All mice experienced a recoverable body weight loss without any abnormal behavior or reduction of activity after vaccination. In the prophylactic model (n=10 mice), both fusion protein vaccines significantly inhibited tumour growth, with 76.4% ( P<0.01 ) and 59.5% ( P<0.05 ) tumour growth inhibition (TGI) compared to control group, respectively. Importantly, there were some vaccinated mice without palpable tumour mass at the end of the study. These results were consistent with that found in the therapeutic model study (n = 10 mice), in which both vaccines significantly inhibited tumour growth, with 43.4% ( P<0.01 ) and 40.7% ( P<0.05 ) TGI, respectively, and prolonged animal survival compared to the control group (P<0.01). The results of this preclinical study clearly highlight the potential of simultaneously targeting PRAME and PD-L1 by fusion protein vaccination in cancer immunotherapy. DISCLAIMER This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Group's research and development projects which may involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. All information in this press release is for general reference only and is not intended as investment advice or medical advice. CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. does not warrant or represent, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of such information. No liability will be accepted for any loss or damage howsoever arising from or in reliance upon such information. REFERENCES [1] Gradecki S, Slingluff C, Gru A. J Cutan Pathol. PRAME expression in 155 cases of metastatic melanoma. Accessed at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cup.13876. [2] Oyama K, Kanki K, Shimizu H, Kono Y, Azumi J, Toriguchi K, Hatano E, Shiota G. Gastrointest Tumors. Impact of preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5465675/. [3] Thongprasert S, Yang PC, Lee J, Soo R, Gruselle O, Myo A, Louahed J, Lehmann F, Brichard V, Coche T. Lung Cancer. The prevalence of expression of MAGE-A3 and PRAME tumor antigens in East and South East Asian non-small cell lung cancer patients. Accessed at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27794402/. [4] Epping M, Hart A, Glas A, Krijgsman O, Bernards R. Br J Cancer. PRAME expression and clinical outcome of breast cancer. Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2527791/. [5] Ahmad S, Borch T, Hansen M, Andersen M. Cancer Immunol Immunother. PD-L1-specific T cells. Accessed at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26724936/. CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. (stock code: 0775) is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Bearing the mission of improving the quality of life, CK Life Sciences is engaged in the business of research and development, manufacturing, commercialisation, marketing, sale of, and investment in, products and assets which fall into three core categories - nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and agriculture-related. CK Life Sciences is a member of the CK Hutchison Group. For additional information, please visit www.ck-lifesciences.com. About PRAME PRAME is a protein commonly expressed by cancer cells, including melanoma (1), liver cancer (2), lung cancer (3) and breast cancer (4). PRAME contributes to the development and spread of cancer cells, and studies have shown that high levels of PRAME are associated with poor outcomes in cancer patients (2,4). In recent years, researchers have been exploring ways to target PRAME using immunotherapy, such as T-cell therapy and cancer vaccines, as a potential treatment for cancer. About PD-L1 PD-L1 is a protein expressed by certain immune cells and cancer cells. It plays a role in suppressing anti-cancer immune responses by binding to a receptor called programmed death-1 (PD-1) on T-cells, limiting the activation of T-cells, thereby helping cancer cells evade the immune system. Antibodies that can block the interaction of PD-L1 and PD-1 have been approved for the treatment of certain types of cancer. Recent studies have shown the presence of PD-L1-specific T-cells in both healthy individuals and cancer patients, which suggests that targeting PD-L1 with T-cell therapy or cancer vaccines could be a promising approach for cancer treatment (5). Contact Details CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. Wendy Tong Barnes +852 2122 2150 wendytb@ckah.com

November 01, 2023 09:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time

MGC Pharmaceuticals secures funding through to the end of 2024

MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd

MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LSE:MXC, OTC:MGCLF, ASX:MXC) CEO and Managing Director Roby Zomer speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive London about the recent securing of the single largest injection of funding in the company's history. Following a difficult period of restructuring for the business, the investment provides the company with financial stability through to the end of 2024. MGC aims to progress its leading drugs, CannEpil and CimetrA, toward FDA approval and expand its medicinal footprint via early patient access schemes in the UK, Ireland, and other regions. Crucially, the recent funding influx originated primarily from Israel and the United States, indicating a shift in MGC's financial grounding. While historically reliant on Australian and UK capital, the company now sees American investors recognizing its potential, especially in FDA registrations in the lucrative US pharmaceutical market. Furthermore, MGC's European operations continue to strengthen, with production facilities in Slovenia and Malta and headquarters in Slovenia and the UK. For existing shareholders, Zomer assures that the restructuring and new investment ensure that the company remains on track to meet its goals. Reflecting on the company's challenging journey, Zomer emphasises the importance of persistence and belief in the company's mission. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

November 01, 2023 11:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Brain Injury Association of America honors Centre for Neuro Skills’ Dr. Mark Ashley with Sheldon Berrol MD Clinical Service Award

Centre for Neuro Skills

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) recognized Dr. Mark J. Ashley, CEO and founder of Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine’s (ACRM) Centennial Conference as the recipient of the 2023 Sheldon Berrol MD Clinical Service Award on October 31, 2023. The award honors the person who has made “outstanding contributions to improving the quality of care, professional training, and/or education in the field of brain injury” in their career. “As someone who knew and worked with Dr. Sheldon Berrol, “Shelly,” witnessing his unwavering commitment to improving patient care and independence first-hand, I’m truly honored to receive this award,” says Dr. Mark Ashley. Dr. Ashley founded CNS in 1980 after his brother, Steve, experienced a life-changing event, leaving him cognitively intact, but dependent on a ventilator. Conventional medicine and available rehabilitative therapies gave his brother little hope for significant recovery or regaining an independent life, but Dr. Ashley believed that Steve could overcome the odds and that rehabilitation was possible through an intense therapy program. His brother became one of CNS’ first patients, and his recovery became the model for the brain injury rehabilitation provider’s philosophy. Steve’s recovery galvanized a belief that people with brain injuries should have a place to heal, and Dr. Ashley and his family could provide this essential service. Dr. Ashley’s dedication to understanding brain injury through personal experience, treating patients and research has helped countless patients over his 40 years of developing clinical therapies. He established the Clinical Research and Education Foundation, a nonprofit research organization that advances public and clinical understanding of brain injury causes and treatment in 2011. He has served on numerous committees and boards for organizations focused on brain injury treatment, research and outcomes. A published author on brain injury rehabilitation, Dr. Ashley has not only written books but also had his work and research published in peer-reviewed journals and research publications. Dr. Ashley received a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology and holds a Doctor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. He received a Doctor of Science degree from State University of New York at Geneseo. He is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist in California and Texas and is both a Certified Case Manager and Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer. *** About Centre for Neuro Skills Centre for Neuro Skills is an experienced and respected world leader in providing intensive rehabilitation and medical programs for those recovering from all types of brain injury. CNS covers a full spectrum of advanced care from residential and assisted living to outpatient/day treatment. Founded by Dr. Mark Ashley in 1980, CNS has seven locations in California and Texas. For more information about Centre for Neuro Skills, visit: www.neuroskills.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube. Media, please note: Visual assets, including photos, are available. To request an interview with CNS leadership or clinical staff, please contact Robin Carr at 415.766.0927 or CNS@landispr.com. # # # Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 cns@landispr.com Company Website https://www.neuroskills.com/

November 01, 2023 08:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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RHIZOME AND PAUL G. ALLEN FAMILY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE CIVIC EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON SCHOOLS

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

Seattle, WA — Today, Rhizome and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced a $620,000 initiative aimed at creating a new Civic Service Fellowship program in Washington high schools. This three-year initiative will establish over 100 teams of Fellows in hyperlocal Chapters across the state of Washington. Rhizome’s Civic Service Fellowship prioritizes rural communities, under-resourced areas, and communities of color. The Civic Service Fellowship will empower high school students to lead year-round initiatives designed to boost civic engagement within their schools and communities. This will include organizing community events, educating younger students about democracy, and assisting their eligible peers with voter registration or pre-registration. Students have the opportunity to mend divisions, combat disengagement, and address the mental health crisis by creating civic communities. By inviting students to gain leadership experience and build healthy habits based on who they want to become, Rhizome inspires responsibility and produces pathways for lifelong leadership and public engagement. Civic participation can be an important factor for young people’s social and mental well-being. Recent research from Gallup has found that less than half of Gen Z members feel as though they are “thriving” and only 44% feel prepared for their future. While 76% of young people across the country believe their age group has the power to enact change, only 40% of all youth—and only 34% of youth of color—report feeling well-qualified to participate in politics. In an era marked by diminishing public trust and worsening mental health outcomes among young people, this initiative will equip students with the tools to engage their communities in building a healthier world for all. “After 90 of us came together as Co-Founders of Rhizome just two years ago, we are thrilled to announce this multi-year partnership with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, addressing the need for sustainable systems that empower emerging leaders to shape change,” said Jacob Merkle, Rhizome’s CEO. “In an era of unmet challenges to our civic and mental health, this collaboration allows Rhizome to scale our grassroots system, deepen our impact, and build collective power for young people. We’re grateful for the Foundation's recognition that young people are the future. We hope this early commitment will spur philanthropy to provide more scale-enabling, no-strings-attached funding for young people to create the safer, happier, and healthier world they deserve.” “Witnessing the growth of Rhizome from day one has been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. Not simply the growth of the organization, but the tangible difference that has been made in the confidence of countless students. As an organizer in Washington, my proudest moment is seeing the transformation in students as they gain their voice to fearlessly advocate for their own beliefs,” said Hiba Siddiqui, a Rhizome Regional Organizer who works in Eastern Washington. “Having the support of partners like the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation reaffirms our mission and gives us the resources to expand our reach. I am excited to see the indelible impact that will be made as Rhizome brings our community of trust, friendship, and belonging to other areas in Washington.” “Civic education is necessary now more than ever. Our civic landscape has shifted and testifies to the urgency to actively involve youth in bettering their communities and solving societal issues. As a committed civic educator for over two decades, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have partners in this mission,” said Jen Reidel, a Social Studies and English teacher at Bellingham High School. “I can provide classroom experiences, but I need like - minded civic organizations like Rhizome to help students find their civic identities and mission outside the classroom.” According to Ms. Reidel, Rhizome removes the responsibility of supporting a student club outside of class from the teacher and places it on the students and their Rhizome mentor. It honors student agency and diversity by equipping students to promote civic engagement within their school and identify issues they would like to address at a local level and authentically work toward their solution. Funds from the partnership will directly support student-led efforts by paying a dedicated team of Rhizome’s student organizers in Washington, who will work to implement the Civic Service Fellowship in local schools in their communities. By funding this important work, Rhizome and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation are investing deeply in the next generation of lifelong civic leaders. About Rhizome Founded in 2021, Rhizome is a national network of student leaders organizing to empower young people to build stronger communities. Rhizome was co-founded by 90 young people to help students become more civically active while training the next generation of organizers and emerging leaders. Learn more at www.werhize.org. About the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the foundation invests in communities across the Pacific Northwest to enhance the human experience of arts & culture, center under-served populations, and mobilize young people to make impact. In addition, the foundation supports a global portfolio of nonprofit partners working across science and technology solutions to protect wildlife, preserve ocean health, and create lasting change. The foundation also funds the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, which works to advance cutting-edge research in all areas of bioscience. Contact Details Rhizome Maya Rodriguez, Communications Director +1 415-488-7692 mayar@werhize.org Company Website https://www.werhize.org

November 01, 2023 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Living with Acromegaly: Spreading Awareness and Highlighting Treatment Options on Acromegaly Awareness Day

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/y696riLIIKs For more information, visit MYCAPSSA.COM Acromegaly is a rare condition that affects about 25,000 people living in the U.S. It is caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland which is located just beneath the brain. This benign tumor makes too much growth hormone, and this can cause various issues such as fatigue, headaches, and increased growth of hands and feet and pretty much every part of the body. If not treated, acromegaly can cause high blood sugar as in Diabetes and high blood pressure, and sometimes cause serious damage to the heart which can be life-threatening. The good news is that there are some very good treatments available to help control the problem. A nationwide media tour was conducted on October 23rd to discuss the drug MYCAPSSA as well as to hear about the experiences of someone living with acromegaly. The media tour featured Dr. Anthony P. Heaney, Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Becky Bierman, a person living with acromegaly. Mycapssa, is a twice-daily oral medication that reduces the production of growth hormone and is designed for people who have previously been on an injectable version of octreotide therapy for the long-term maintenance of acromegaly. During the media tour Dr. Heaney and Becky discussed: · What acromegaly is and how many people it affects. · What it is like living with acromegaly. · Treatment options available for someone living with this disease. People diagnosed with acromegaly considering a new treatment option should talk to their doctors first. For more information, you can visit www.Mycapssa.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 01, 2023 09:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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HKBU studies show over half of COVID-19 patients have post-disease syndrome

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 1 November 2023 - The School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) found that 55% of the patients who sought medical treatment from the "HKBU Chinese Medicine Telemedicine Centre Against COVID-19" during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to experience at least one long COVID symptom for six months to a year after diagnosed with an infection. The most common symptoms are fatigue, brain fog and cough. Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division at HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine (middle), together with his research team members Mr Cheung Chun-hoi, Associate Director of the Clinical Division (2nd left); Dr Zhang Jialing, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development (1st left); Mr Luo Jingyuan and Wong Hoi-ki, PhD students (2nd and 1st right) of SCM at HKBU, analyse patient statistics to deepen the medical community’s understanding of the symptoms during the early and middle stages of COVID-19 infection as well as the post-COVID syndrome. The study also revealed that patients who took Chinese medicine after COVID-19 infection took a shorter time to test negative in rapid tests, and experienced significant symptom relief compared to patients who did not take Chinese medicine. The research findings have been published in a number of papers in international academic journals including the Journal of Medical Virology and The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. HKBU established the "HKBU Chinese Medicine Telemedicine Centre Against COVID-19" in 2021 during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong to provide free telemedical services for COVID-19 patients. Making reference to the treatment protocols and clinical experiences in Mainland China, the expert team of HKBU's School of Chinese Medicine formulated the "Chinese Medicine Clinical Guidelines for COVID-19 in Hong Kong" as the University's clinical diagnosis and treatment standards for COVID-19. The Telemedicine Centre follows the guidelines to provide diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services to COVID-19 patients, close contacts, and caregivers. Coughing is the most common early symptom of infection The HKBU research team led by Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division at the School of Chinese Medicine, conducted a retrospective study using patient statistics collected by the Telemedicine Centre during the fifth wave of the pandemic. The team analysed the symptoms in the first four weeks of about 13,000 patients who were infected with COVID-19 from mid-March to early May in 2022 and underwent home isolation. The results showed that 93% of patients experienced at least one symptom. The most common symptoms during the first week of infection were cough (91%), sputum (75%), dry throat (50%) and sore throat (44%). 17% of patients still had these symptoms four weeks after infection. Although the symptoms gradually subsided over time, the prevalence of fatigue increased. Chinese medicine accelerates viral clearance Among this batch of patients, the research team selected 311 patients who had taken Chinese medicine for five days within 10 days after diagnosis, and another 311 patients who had not taken any Chine medicine during the same period to evaluate the efficacy of Chinese medicine. The results showed that patients who took Chinese medicine within 10 days after COVID-19 infection needed an average of seven days to test negative in rapid tests, and experienced an average of four symptoms, which were significantly milder compared to patients who didn't take Chinese medicine. The average time to test negative for patients who did not take Chinese medicine was eight days, and they experienced an average of 11 symptoms. The results show that Chinese medicine is an effective treatment for COVID-19 infection. Over half of the patients experience long COVID after six months The research team conducted a follow-up telephone survey from November 2022 to January 2023 with 6,242 COVID-19 patients who sought medical consultation at the Telemedicine Centre between December 2021 and May 2022 to understand their symptoms and risk factors after six months to a year of infection. The study found that 55% of patients still experienced at least one long-term symptom, i.e. "long COVID" or "post-COVID syndrome". The most common symptoms were fatigue (36%), brain fog (34%) and cough (31%). Furthermore, females, middle-aged persons, obese people, those with comorbidities such as ophthalmology or otorhinolaryngology diseases, digestive system diseases, respiratory diseases, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases, and patients with more initial symptoms were more likely to develop long COVID. However, there was no significant correlation between taking three or more doses of vaccine and the occurrence of long COVID. Professor Bian said: "HKBU established the Telemedicine Centre during the COVID-19 outbreak to provide free treatments for COVID-19 patients. We analysed the Centre's data to deepen the medical community's understanding of the symptoms during the early and middle stages of COVID-19 infection as well as the post-COVID syndrome. It allows the public to understand the effectiveness of Chinese medicine in treating COVID-19. The study also shows that the tele-services of Chinese medicine can be an important component of Hong Kong's healthcare and disease prevention system." To address the issues of long COVID, Professor Bian's team has initiated a series of clinical and basic research, including a survey of COVID-19 patients with diabetes and a clinical trial conducted in collaboration with other partners to investigate the efficacy, safety and action mechanism of senlingcao oral liquid in treating long COVID fatigue. These projects aim to further explore the impact of COVID-19 and its treatment options. Contact Details Christina Wu christinawu@hkbu.edu.hk

November 01, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Elsevier Partners with the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology to Publish Molecules and Cells

Elsevier

The Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (KSMCB), one of the largest and most prominent academic societies in the field of life sciences in Korea, and Elsevier, a leader in information and analytics for customers across the global research and health ecosystems, are pleased to announce a new partnership to publish Molecules and Cells, the flagship journal of KSMCB. This English-language publication will be hosted on Elsevier’s industry-leading online platform of peer-reviewed literature, ScienceDirect, beginning January 1, 2024. Continuing as a Gold Open Access, online-only publication, all articles will be immediately and permanently free to read and download. Junho Lee, PhD, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University and President of KSMCB, commented, “It is with great pleasure that I would like to announce that KSMCB has entered into a co-publishing agreement with Elsevier. The rationale behind this decision is to meet the challenges of an ever-changing publishing environment and the growing needs of society members and scientific colleagues. We will be able to take advantage of the global network and professionalism that Elsevier brings, which will result in the recognition that our journal strives to achieve on the global stage. We envision that Molecules and Cells will make a giant leap forward in the near future to becoming a premier international scientific journal of which we can all be proud.” Launched in 1990 and now in its 46th volume, Molecules and Cells has continually solidified its position as a leading journal in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. It has published articles in English from more than 30 countries on its way to becoming a globally recognized journal. Since 1995, the journal has been indexed in Web of Science/Science Citation Index-Expanded, the first Korean journal in the biological sciences to be accepted for inclusion in this service. Molecules and Cells continues its tradition of publishing excellence under the expert leadership of Editor-in-Chief Jae Bum Kim, PhD, supported by an eminent editorial board. After earning his doctoral degree in the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Harvard University, Prof. Kim has held a number of prestigious academic appointments in Korea and the United States. He is currently Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and serves as the Director of the Center for Adipose Tissue Remodeling, Creative Research Initiatives, Center for Studies on Structure-Function in Adipocyte at Seoul National University. Prof. Kim noted, “The editorial team, editorial board, KSMCB leadership, and I remain passionate and committed to timely publication of the highest quality scholarly work. We anticipate that Elsevier’s exceptional level of publishing expertise and professionalism will help bring the journal to a wider worldwide audience of authors and readers more efficiently and effectively, providing greater opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.” The journal will expand its impact and outreach through availability via ScienceDirect, which will host 33 years of Molecules and Cells back volumes (from 1990 onwards). ScienceDirect has 1 billion annual visits and over 17,000 licenses worldwide. Manuscripts may be submitted via Editorial Manager. Accepted manuscripts, on average, will be available online within 48 hours in a pre-release format. Molecules and Cells is covered in important abstracting and indexing services including Science Citation Index-Expanded (current Journal Impact Factor 3.8), Scopus (current CiteScore 6.9), PubMed, Current Contents®/Life Sciences, and Chemical Abstract Service. Louise Curtis, Elsevier Senior Vice President, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Economics, remarked, “We are delighted that KSMCB has selected Elsevier as its partner, and we are proud to publish this well-established, well-run open access journal. It is an excellent complement to the Elsevier molecular and cell biology journal portfolio, expanding our author base into the Korean scientific community. We are committed to providing the best possible support for KSMCB’s mission and community and fostering an international exchange of cutting-edge research.” Notes for editors About Molecules and Cells Molecules and Cells is an international online open access journal devoted to the advancement and dissemination of fundamental knowledge and ground-breaking research in all areas of cellular and molecular biology. Publications cover a broad range of topics of general interest but should be within relevant fields of biology. It is the official journal of the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology. www.sciencedirect.com/journal/molecules-and-cells About the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (KSMCB) The Korean Society of Molecular and Cellular Biology (KSMCB) was founded in 1989. During the last 30 years, KSMCB has grown into one of the largest and most prominent academic societies in the life sciences in Korea. KSMCB serves as a platform for molecular and cellular biologists outside Korea as well, providing them with the opportunity of collaboration and knowledge of cutting-edge research trends. The Society publishes Molecules and Cells, a molecular biology journal with a broad subject coverage and readership, and hosts an annual international conference, a forum for cutting-edge research in all areas of molecular and cellular biology. www.ksmcb.or.kr/eng About Elsevier and society partnerships Elsevier has long-standing partnerships with over 600 learned societies worldwide, helping them to realize their missions and inspire and support their communities. We pride ourselves on consistently delivering outstanding publishing outcomes through strategic insight, reliable finances, global dissemination, embracing open science and open access, and championing the needs of the communities we jointly serve. www.elsevier.com/societies About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, academic leaders, funders, R&D-intensive corporations, doctors, and nurses. Elsevier employs 9,000 people worldwide, including over 2,500 technologists. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on over 2,800 journals, including The Lancet and Cell; 46,000+ eBook titles; and iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. Contact Details Carolien van der Zanden Senior Marketing Communications Manager, Elsevier c.zanden@elsevier.com Jae Bum Kim Editor-in-Chief, Molecules and Cells jaebkim@snu.ac.kr Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

November 01, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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