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Category: biotech/medical

Enterovirus Encephalitis in People With Multiple Sclerosis on OcrelizumabInsights From a Multicenter Case Series

This multicenter case series highlights 5 cases of enterovirus encephalitis among people with MS receiving ocrelizumab, presenting with fever, encephalopathy, and gait changes, as well as myocarditis in 1 case.

ObjectivesAnti-CD20 therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) are highly effective at preventing disease activity. Recognizing infectious complications of these therapies is essential. MethodsThree MS centers shared deidentified clinical data on persons with MS (pwMS) receiving ocrelizumab who developed enterovirus encephalitis.

How pancreatic cancer prepares the tumor environment: A possible biomarker for the earliest stage of development

Even before a tumor in the pancreas becomes discernible, an activated cancer gene actively remodels its future environment and creates an inflammatory and immune-defensive microenvironment in which the carcinoma can grow. This has been shown by an international research team led by Ulm University in a pioneering study. The scientists’ study opens up new possibilities for developing personalized intervention strategies—before a difficult-to-treat tumor even develops.

It is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer: Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed late because it initially causes no symptoms and therefore goes unnoticed. In addition, it is highly metastasizing. Once pancreatic cancer is finally identified, a cure is often no longer possible.

A research team from the Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology (IMOS) at Ulm University, together with national and international partners, has made a ground-breaking discovery that could pave the way for a much earlier diagnosis: The oncogene KRAS —the main driver of pancreatic cancer—creates its own environment, providing best growth conditions for the carcinoma and in which immune defense T-cells cannot penetrate. The results of the study have now been published in the journal Molecular Cancer.

Salvage Focal Therapy vs Radical Prostatectomy for Localized Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer

In localized radiorecurrent ProstateCancer, salvage focal therapy provided similar 10-year survival outcomes as radical prostatectomy but resulted in substantially fewer perioperative complications.

Question How do cancer control and perioperative complications compare after salvage focal therapy vs salvage radical prostatectomy for localized radiorecurrent prostate cancer?

Findings In this cohort study with a mean matched cohort size of 554 patients with biopsy-confirmed, localized recurrent prostate cancer, 10-year cancer-specific survival and overall survival were not meaningfully different between salvage focal therapy and salvage radical prostatectomy. The adjusted odds of any and major complications were approximately 24 and 9 times higher, respectively, following salvage radical prostatectomy.

Meaning Salvage focal therapy and salvage radical prostatectomy are both effective for treating localized radiorecurrent prostate cancer, though salvage focal therapy confers fewer perioperative complications.

Combating leukemia by stopping stem cells from turning cancerous

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive form of blood cancer. It affects people of all ages but is most common in those over 65. Around 150 people are diagnosed with the disease each year in Norway. Men are affected slightly more often than women. Fewer than 5 in 100 patients over the age of 65 survive.

This type of leukemia arises in the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. The only treatment that can cure the disease is stem cell transplantation, which is highly intensive and therefore not available to everyone, including elderly patients, due to its severe potential side effects.

In a new study, researchers have examined how cancer cells develop in the bone marrow and whether it might be possible to stop them.

Technical advance ✨

Laszlo Nagy & team define unique regulatory programs of placental Hofbauer cells, advancing understanding of their role in pregnancy health and potential disease:

The image shows enrichment of Hofbauer cells by CD163-based cell sorting Placenta Fetal Development.

1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, and.

2Doctoral School of Molecular Cell and Immune Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.

3Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.

Scientists Grew Mini Human Spinal Cords, Then Made Them Repair After Injury

Scientists have taken a major step toward treating spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis.

In lab dishes, researchers at Northwestern University grew tiny organoids of the human spinal cord. Then, they injured the samples and administered a treatment that helped the tissue repair and regenerate.

“We decided to develop two different injury models in a human spinal cord organoid and test our therapy to see if the results resembled what we previously saw in the animal model,” biomedical engineer Samuel Stupp says.

Regrow Joints? Future of Cartilage Regeneration Revealed

What if worn-out parts of your body didn’t need to be replaced just regenerated?

Stanford researchers recently published work showing cartilage lost to aging or arthritis can be regrown, using either an oral drug or a local injection.

If this translates to humans, it could make knee and hip replacements unnecessary.

Millions of people undergo major joint replacement surgery every year.
Regenerating cartilage instead of replacing joints would mean less pain, lower cost, and far better outcomes.

That future may be closer than we think.

Optimus Surgeons in 3 Years | MOONSHOTS

Optimus robots, with their rapidly advancing capabilities in AI and dexterity, are poised to revolutionize the field of surgery, potentially surpassing human surgeons in precision and accessibility within a few years and making traditional surgical expertise and even medical school obsolete.

## Questions to inspire discussion.

Healthcare Access & Economics.

🏥 Q: How will Optimus robots change healthcare costs and accessibility?

A: Optimus surgeon robots will operate at costs limited to capital expenditure and electricity, enabling deployment in rural villages and developing countries like Zimbabwe and throughout Africa, demonetizing and decentralizing access to medical care that will exceed what presidents currently receive.

Technology Timeline & Capabilities.

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