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Global Stem Cells Group (GSCG) and International Society for Stem Cell Application (ISSCA) to Participate in Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2023
MIAMI, Florida, February 15, 2023 – Global Stem Cells Group (GSCG) and its educational division, the International Society for Stem Cell Application (ISSCA), are proud to announce their participation as sponsors and co-organizers of the Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2023. The congress, endorsed by the Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory, will take place on the 27th and 28th of February 2023 at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria on The Palm in Dubai.
The congress will bring together international experts in regenerative medicine and stem cell research from around the world to share their knowledge, experiences, and insights with the academic community and the general public. The event will also provide a platform for patients to share their success stories of stem cell therapy and how it has helped them overcome various life-threatening diseases.
"We are honored to welcome you to the first edition of the Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2023, which will host international experts in the field of Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research from around the world," said Dr. Fatma Alhashimi, Chairman of Dubai Stem Cell Congress. "We will be showcasing cutting-edge data, stem cell technologies, and advanced applications."
GSCG will showcase its range of cellular products and equipment, including exosomes for topical and intravenous use, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC), Bone Marrow Kit, PRP Kit, Fat Kit for obtaining Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF), workstation, and laboratory equipment. ISSCA, on the other hand, will be represented with its training, congresses, conferences, and the fellowship in Cellular Therapies.
"Our mission is to make cellular therapies a reality for both doctors and patients, and we are happy to continue that mission by sharing our knowledge and showcasing our Cellgenic branded Cellular products and equipment at the congress," said Benito Novas, Managing Director of Global Stem Cells Group and Head of Public Relations for ISSCA.
With over 25 world-class international speakers, including ISSCA-certified speakers, the congress will feature a variety of panel discussions, lectures, and presentations on the latest innovative technologies in stem cell and regenerative medicine.
ISSCA-certified speakers and experts who will be presenting lectures at the congress include the following:
- Erdinç Civelek, a brain surgeon at Gaziosmanpaşa Taksim Hospital for Research and Education in Turkey.
- Dr. Serdar Kabataş, a brain surgeon at Gaziosmanpaşa Taksim Research and Education Hospital in Turkey.
- Abdulmajeed Hamadi, a consultant hematologist and pioneer in transplantation and stem cell therapy with an FRCP designation in Iraq.
- Salih Yildirim, the Director of Overseas Operations of ISSCA and a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Stem Cell Group and Director of International Operations.
- Benito Novas, the Managing Director of Global Stem Cells Group and Head of Public Relations for the International Society for the Application of Stem Cells in the USA.
Among the esteemed speakers at the event are:
Prof. Anil Dhawan, Dr. Frances Verter, Dr. Masayo Takahashi, Dr. Essam Abdelalim, Prof. Shuibing Chen, Prof. John E. Wagner, Mrs. Kim Petrella, Dr. Edward Guindi, Dr. Mazaiah Yaacob, Dr. Mohammed Moulay, Mr. Oliver Papavlassopoulos, Dr. Sean Ng, Dr. Chiara Cugno, Dr. Siti Aminah, Mr. Thomas Moss, Prof. Dr. Tim Schulz, Dr. Luis Saraiva, Mrs. Renata Mihályová, Dr. Srinivasan Periathiruvadi and Dr. Ahmed Foul.
For the first time in the UAE, patients will have the opportunity to share their success stories of stem cell therapy, including the story of Mahra, a UAE national and survivor of Thalassemia, and the world's first cord blood patient, Matthew Farrow.
Stem cell therapy is the present and future of medicine and holds the "Hope That Brings Life" to many patients in need. The Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2023 is a landmark event that will bring together leading experts, patients, and members of the academic community to share their experiences and knowledge about stem cell therapy and its advancements.
To learn more about the Dubai Stem Cell Congress 2023 and to make a reservation, visit the https://dubaistemcellcongress.com/ website, email email@example.com, or call +1 305 560 5337.
About Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory
Mr. Darius Curta Managing Director of Hortman Healthcare Investment – Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory is the first state-of-the-art laboratory within the field of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, focused on providing top-notch cord blood banking solutions. Additionally, our institution will be facilitating the first ever clinical trials in stem cell research in UAE. Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory, located at Golden Mile, Palm Jumeirah, consists of GMP Laboratories & ISO Clean Rooms for stem cell isolation, culture & expansion. Such a facility enables us to provide a solid foundation for successfully establishing an awareness and understanding of stem cells within the Middle Eastern Region. Hortman is leading that charge at the forefront of the research community.
About ISSCA:
The International Society for Stem Cell Application (ISSCA) is a multidisciplinary community of scientists and physicians who aspire to treat diseases and lessen human suffering through advances in science, technology, and the practice of regenerative medicine. ISSCA serves its members through advancements made in the specialty of regenerative medicine.
The mission of the International Stem Cell Certification Agency (ISSCA) is to establish itself as a global leader in regenerative medicine certification, education, research, and training.
ISSCA provides certification training in cities worldwide because it recognizes the importance of standards and certifications in regenerative medicine as a medical specialty. To help more people, both locally and globally, as the demand for more doctors interested in and comfortable with regenerative medicine surges. ISSCA's mission is to advance quality and uniformity in regenerative medicine worldwide.
About Global Stem Cells Group:
The Global Stem Cell Group is a family of several companies focused on stem cell medicine and research. The company uses its network to bring leadership in regenerative medicine training, research, and patient applications.
GSCG's mission is to allow physicians to present the benefits of stem cell medicine to patients worldwide. The company also partners with policymakers, educators, and regulators to promote regenerative medicine.
Global Stem Cells Group is a publicly traded company operating under the symbol MSSV. https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/mssv/
To learn more about Global Stem Cells Group, Inc.'s companies visit our website www.stemcellsgroup.com or call +1 305 560 5331
Safe Harbor Statement:
Statements in this news release may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions, or any other information relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about our business based partly on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may and are likely to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release, and The Global Stem Cells Group undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release. This press release does not constitute a public offer of any securities for sale. Any securities offered privately will not be or have not been registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
- Published in News
ISSCA to Conduct Regenerative Medicine Conference in Cancún, México
Miami, FL, December 19, 2022 – The International Association for Stem Cell Application (ISSCA) has announced plans to host Applications of Stem Cell Therapies in Medicine and Aesthetic Surgery, a regenerative medicine conference, in Cancun, Mexico, April 22, 23, and 24, 2023.
Growing knowledge can turn the tide in the clinical and translational spectrum of stem-cell-based research and therapy, and several obstacles must be overcome. ISSCA's International Conference, champions new ideas to propel the shift from traditional healthcare to regenerative medicine and therapies. The Conference will also emphasize the role of cutting technology and developments in all areas of stem cell research.
April 22nd & 23rd
The Cancun event will feature a panel of internationally renowned experts on stem cells and regenerative medicine, who will offer a two-day rigorous scientific discourse on critical topics in stem cell research and clinical applications. Topics of focus at the conference include: Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine; updates in Stem Cell research Clinical applications of regenerative medicine and cellular therapies; the latest methods of harvest and isolation, and Non-invasive surgical protocols; strategies for successful delivery of cell products; Ethical and regulatory issues in stem cell technology; and taking advantage of the latest technologies to improve marketing and networking.
April 24th
The third day of the conference (April 24th) will involve intensive hands-on training sessions with ISSCA-certified instructors on stem cell therapy's aesthetic and clinical applications.
Participants will gain experience and access to different technologies, brands, and products for stem cell therapy.
The leading international conference offers an excellent opportunity for medical practitioners and stakeholders to network and learn from the best in the industry.
All practitioners and stakeholders in the medical sector are invited, including:
- Doctors Researchers & innovators,
- Decision-makers and funding agencies,
- Experts seeking collaborative work on stem cell technology,
- Professional bodies, and
- Marketing professionals.
To learn more about the ISSCA Cancun, Mexico conference and to make a reservation, visit the https://www.issca.us/issca-world-conferences/ website, email email@example.com, or call +1305 560 5337.
About ISSCA
The International Society for Stem Cell Application (ISSCA) is a multidisciplinary community of scientists and physicians who aspire to treat diseases and lessen human suffering through advances in science, technology, and regenerative medicine.
ISSCA updates its members on advances in stem cell research, MSC, exosomes, and regenerative medicine.
The ISSCA's vision is to take a leadership position in promoting excellence and setting standards in the regenerative medicine fields of publication, research, education, training, and certification.
The international community provides a platform for practitioners to interact with scientists and build medical networks necessary for marketing.
As a medical specialty, regenerative medicine standards and certifications are essential, which is why ISSCA offers certification training in cities worldwide. The goal is to encourage more physicians to practice regenerative medicine and make it available to patients nationally and internationally. Incorporated under the Republic of Korea as a non-profit company, the ISSCA is focused on fostering excellence and standards in regenerative medicine.
About Global Stem Cells Group
Global Stem Cells Group is the parent company of six companies that are dedicated to stem cell research, solutions, and technology training. The group was founded in 2012 and combines dedicated researchers, patient educators, and physician trainers with the shared goal of meeting the need for high-end stem cell solutions and treatments.
Given that the group has a singular focus in this field, it is uniquely positioned to become the global leader in cellular medicine. In addition, by bringing together leading professionals in cellular medicine, it can discover issues that the industry faces and focus its research and development in this area. This specialization has, undoubtedly, enabled it to come up with solutions that address some of the significant issues that most stakeholders are facing in the industry.
Global Stem Cells Group is a publicly traded company operating under the symbol MSSV. https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/mssv/
- Published in News
Announcement of Training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by The Global Stem Cells Group
Recently, the Global Stem Cells Group announced plans to teach physicians the value and process behind incorporating regenerative medicine into their own clinical practices. MIAMI, 4–5 November 2022—Global Stem Cells Group, a multidisciplinary community of scientists and physicians that are working together to cure diseases and relieve human pain through the advancement of the field of regenerative medicine, announced today a plan of training in Fort Lauderdale on November 4th and 5th. This training aims to equip physicians with the value and knowledge behind incorporating regenerative medicine into their own clinical practice. Benito Novas, CEO of GSCG, is confident that the event will bring together a group of:
- Doctors are seeking training, products, and equipment in regenerative medicine.
- Doctors who care for patients with conditions that can be treated with cell therapies
- Aesthetic doctors.
- Doctors who want to be up to date with the latest technologies and protocols
- Doctors with an interest in new research on stem cells, MSC, Exosomes, and medical networks want to attract more clients.
The training course is intended to cover:
- Hands-On portion: Doctors, in a controlled environment and guided by a team of medical professionals, will have the opportunity to see procedures being performed a few feet away and then get the opportunity to try them for themselves.
- Review of stem cell biology
- Characterization of cells, cell products, cytokines, and growth factors, as well as their capacity for regeneration.
- Laboratory Processes
- Clinical applications
- Product validation
- Practice Management
- Patient acquisition
The International Society for Stem Cell Application (ISSCA) has done intensive research on this topic and the team will take a lead in educating, training, and certification during the event. As a medical speciality, regenerative standards and certification are very important, which is why ISSCA will provide certificates after the training. By the end of the training course, you will understand everything you need to know to add adult stem cellbased procedures to your existing practice. As before, the united efforts of the seven major medical corporations will provide practitioners with a one-stop hub for stem cell solutions that adhere to the highest medical standards. To find more about the courses and to make reservations for this particular event, head on to their website www.issca.us/autologous-miami-november/ .us email email@example.com or dial +1305 560 5337.
About ISSCA
ISSCA is a multidisciplinary community that brings together scientists and physicians, all of whom aspire to treat diseases and relieve human pain through advances in science, technology, and the practice of regenerative medicine. ISSCA serves its members through innovations made to the speciality of regenerative medicine. The ISSCA's vision is to take a leadership position in promoting excellence and setting standards in the regenerative medicine fields of publication, training, research, education, and certification.
As a medical speciality, regenerative medicine standards and certifications are very important, which is why ISSCA provides certification training globally. This is because they want to encourage more physicians to practice regenerative medicine and make it accessible to benefit patients both nationally and worldwide. Incorporated under the Republic of Korea as a nonprofit entity, the ISSCA's main goal is to promote excellence and standards in the field of regenerative medicine. As a physician, missing this chance to book a personalized hands-on training session must cost you dearly. Contact + 1 305 560 5337 to book as early as possible.
About Global Stem Cells Group
Global Stem Cells Group is the parent company of six companies that are dedicated to stem cell research, solutions, and technology training. The group was founded in 2012 and combines dedicated researchers, patient educators, and physician trainers with the shared goal of meeting the need for high-end stem cell solutions and treatments.
Given that the group has a singular focus in this field, it is uniquely positioned to become the global leader in cellular medicine. In addition, by bringing together leading professionals in cellular medicine, it can discover issues that the industry faces and focus its research and development in this area. This specialization has, undoubtedly, enabled it to come up with solutions that address some of the significant issues that most stakeholders are facing in the industry.
Global Stem Cells Group is a publicly traded company operating under the symbol MSSV. https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/mssv/
- Published in News
Global Stem Cells Group Announces the Launch of a New Bone Marrow Harvesting Kit
The Global Stem Cells Group has announced the launch of a new bone marrow harvesting kit in response to a request for effective and accessible solutions to regenerative medicine procedures
Bone marrow is a spongy tissue that is located inside most large bones – it is essential for generating red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets (thrombocytes), using a bone marrow aspirate needle to collect the aspirate can help physicians perform different regenerative treatments especially in osteomioarticular conditions.
Increased Stem and Progenitor Cell Concentrations in Marrow Aspiration
According to the company, the new kit for processing and extraction of pure bone marrow has demonstrated its ability to increase stem and progenitor cell concentrations in marrow aspiration compared to traditional needles. It further adds that the device overcomes the limitations of traditional needles that restrict the amount of peripheral blood that would otherwise have been aspirated by forcing aspiration flow through side ports rather than from an open cannula. This setup has been a major issue with traditional needles and often led to the extraction of excessive amounts of bone marrow as well as impure marrow.
"Cellgenic plans with this new device to position itself as a leader in the development and manufacture of single-use medical devices for a number of medical specialties, we have developed a new bone marrow aspiration and biopsy needle that is manual, sterile and disposable, allowing precise procedures to be performed" said Benito Novas C.E.O of Global Stem Cells group
The new system offers the facility for doctors to reposition the needle more precisely at different access points. Precision is vital when trying to access bone marrow from specific sections of the bone.
According to Benito Novas, CEO of Global Stem Cells Group, the product will be launched at a press conference this September in Istanbul, Turkey within the framework of the World Congress of Regenerative Medicine. Additionally, it will be available at retail for doctors and distributors worldwide from October 2022
Buyers will undergo an orientation to use the new kit. It is easy to work with and many are expected to start using it as soon as they purchase it. The stem cells group will offer all the necessary training and support for the doctors during training and thereafter to ensure that the medical practitioners enjoy the full benefits of the device.
Global Stem Cells Group has been on the frontline in offering quality devices for stem cell procedures. It aims to make procedures as simple, risk-free, and efficient as possible for the maximum benefit of patients.
About Global Stem Cells Group
Global Stem Cells Group is the parent company of six companies that are dedicated to stem cell research, solutions, and technology training. The group was founded in 2012 and combines dedicated researchers, patient educators, and physician trainers with the shared goal of meeting the need for high-end stem cell solutions and treatments.
Given that the group has a singular focus in this field, it is uniquely positioned to become the global leader in cellular medicine. In addition, by bringing together leading professionals in cellular medicine, it can discover issues that the industry faces and focus its research and development in this area. This specialization has, undoubtedly, enabled it to come up with solutions that address some of the significant issues that most stakeholders are facing in the industry.
Global Stem Cells Group is a publicly traded company operating under the symbol MSSV. https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/mssv/
- Published in News
Texas Man Becomes First Adult in the U.S. to Receive Updated Stem Cell Transplant to Treat Leukemia
Chuck Dandridge, a Mansfield, Texas resident, became the first adult in the U.S. to receive a newly modified stem cell transplant that uses genetically engineered blood cells from a family member. The milestone was announced by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center's Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center in Dallas, where the procedure was performed.
Dandridge's medical journey began in 2013, with a routine doctor's visit to check his cholesterol levels; lab tests revealed low blood counts and further testing confirmed Dandridge's diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome, also called pre-leukemia or MDS. By 2014, the leukemia had progressed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which, according to the National Cancer Institute, affects more than 20,000 Americans annually.
Dandridge was referred to UT Southwestern's Simmons Cancer Center, where his leukemia was tested for genetic mutations.
"We wanted to know whether he had specific mutations in his cancer cells," says
Madhuri Vusirikala, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and the primary investigator of many UT Southwestern clinical trials related to bone marrow transplantation.
"We found a mutation called IDH 2, which causes the body to produce an abnormal protein that promotes excessive cell growth. If you can target that mutation and stop the abnormal protein from being produced, then cells start behaving normally."
Dandridge enrolled in a UT Southwestern clinical trial for a therapy called AG-221. He took four pills each morning for the next eight months. During that time, Dandridge saw marked improvement although he did not go into complete remission, according to Vusirikala.
That success made him eligible for a potentially curative stem cell transplant. But finding a donor proved challenging.
"The best chance of finding a full match is usually a full sibling; however, Chuck has no full siblings," Vusirikala says. Additionally, Dandridge is African American, and minorities are under-represented in the National Marrow Donor Registry—about 70 percent of registry donors are Caucasian. The search for an unrelated donor was unsuccessful.
Vusirikala says that he knew Dandridge's daughter and his son would be at least a half match. Since using a same-sex donor is preferred, as it reduces the risk of complications, his son Jon, 31, emerged as the best choice. But the risk of graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) following a transplant using a half-match is very high, so they needed a better way to deal with the GvHD risk.
Once again, Mr. Dandridge volunteered for a cutting-edge clinical trial, known as BP-001, which processed the stem cells used in the transplant to reduce the risk of rejection and engineered blood cells that can be targeted if GvHD develops after the transplant.
The processes being tested in BP-001 are in clinical development by Houston-based Bellicum Pharmaceuticals. The study is evaluating patients with blood cell cancers who have a peripheral blood stem cell transplant from a partially matched relative. Immune cells (T cells) from the related donor are separated from the rest of the stem cells and genetically engineered in the Bellicum laboratory, and then given to the patient along with the stem cell transplant.
These engineered T cells are modified to include a suicide gene with the help of a retrovirus. If the patient develops GvHD after transplant, the side-effect can be treated by giving a drug called rimiducid to activate the suicide gene and cause the activated GvHD-causing cells to be eliminated. The stem cells given for the transplant were also processed prior to giving them back to Dandridge to reduce the risk of graft rejection as well as GvHD.
The genetically engineered blood cells were transplanted from Dandrige's son, Jon, 31, to the father in three, two-hour infusions at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in July, 2015, and today the elder Mr. Dandridge's leukemia is in remission. His immune system is recovering, and the former Norman, Oklahoma YMCA CEO is now mentoring first-time CEOs for the YMCA.
- Published in Blog
Amazing Stem Cell Research Breakthroughs You Never Heard of
Scientists have been studying stem cells for decades, and many of their findings, all pretty remarkable, aren't widely circulated. Periodically, we will share one of these stem cell research breakthroughs here on this blog.
Summary: The skin renews, heals wounds, and regenerates the hair that covers it thanks to a small group of stem cells. These cells continually produce new ones, which appear on the skin surface after a few days. A 2008, released online July 28, 2016, has identified two proteins that are fundamental to conserve skin stem cells, and shows that without these proteins these cells are lost. Researchers find that these proteins, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, are altered similarly to tumor cells found in leukemia, lung cancer and colon cancer, which may help researchers discover if the proteins contribute to tumor development.
Amazing stem cell breakthroughs
The first amazing stem cell research breakthrough you may never heard of is a 2008 study, published online July28, 2016 in the journal "Cell Stem Cell," titled "Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b Associate with Enhancers to Regulate Human Epidermal Stem Cell Homeostasis," led by Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (CREA) researcher Salvador Aznar Benitah, initiated at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona).
Researchers identify two proteins— Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b—fundamental to conserving skin stem cells.
The study examines the continuous regeneration of the skin and hair that covers it, thanks to a small group of stem cells. Study researchers identified two proteins— Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b—that are fundamental to conserving skin stem cells. "Without these proteins, skin stem cells are not activated and the stem cells collapse and disappear from the tissue," according Benitah, head of the Stem Cells and Cancer lab at IRB Barcelona.
Lorenzo Rinaldi, a la Caixa PhD student and first author of the study, identified all the regions of the genome that harbors these proteins. Rinaldi has observed that these two proteins exert their activity on gene enhancers and super-enhancers. Researchers were surprised to see that the two proteins, which had previously been associated with gene repression through DNA methylation, are activated in the most transcriptionally active regions of stem cells.
Researchers observe Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b at the genomic level for the first time
"We had never observed this activity because we were unable to study the global distribution of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b at the genomic level," Rinaldi says. "Thanks to advances in sequencing techniques, more researchers are observing the very mechanism that we have described."
Of the 12,000 gene enhancers in the genome, about 300 are super-enhancers related to stem cells. The two proteins exert their function in these regions in order to trigger the approx. 1,000 genes required for the self-renewing capacity of skin stem cells. By methylating the super-enhancer, these proteins trigger the first step of the machinery that leads to the amplified expression of these essential genes for the stem cell.
Link to cancer
Among the various features related to tumor cells are three components:
• these cells show altered DNA methylation.
• gene enhancers, in addition to the bodies of the genes themselves, are highly mutated. These observations have been made possible thanks to mass sequencing of tumor cell genomes.
• these two proteins, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, are altered in many types of tumors, such as those encountered in leukemia, lung cancer and colon cancer.
Each of these three components is associated with the development of various kinds of cancer. Given that these proteins activate gene expression enhancers through DNA methylation, researchers believe that further studies of them in cancer cells would be helpful in determining whether they participate in tumor development.
The study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and ERDFs. Benitah's lab is also supported by The European Council for Research (ERC), the Worldwide Cancer Research Foundation, the Fundació Marató de TV3, the Fundación Vencer el Cáncer, the Fundación Botín and the Government of Catalonia.
- Published in Blog
Stem Cell "Tattoo" Technology Allows Researchers to Track Cell Implants Non-invasively
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a tracer ink—a "stem cell tattoo"—that provides the ability to monitor stem cells in unprecedented detail after they're injected.
The research findings, titled "Bifunctional Magnetic Silica Nanoparticles for Highly Efficient Human Stem Cell Labeling," was published in June in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Already emerging as an ideal probe for noninvasive cell tracking, the technology has the potential to revolutionize stem cell research by arming scientists with the ability to visually follow the pathways and effectiveness of stem cell therapies in the body, in real time.
"Tattoo" tracer can help further development of stem cell therapies
University of Toronto biomedical engineering professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng, a biomedical engineer who specializes in medical imaging, says the new technology allows researchers to actually see and track stem cells after they're injected. Cheng hopes the technique will help expedite the development and use of stem cell therapies.
Working with colleague Xiao-an Zhang, an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Toronto, Scarborough, Cheng developed a singular chemical compound known as a contrast agent that acts as a tracer. Composed of manganese, an element that naturally occurs in the body, this tracer compound, called MnAMP, bathes stem cells in a green solution, rendering them traceable inside the body under MRI.
Stem cell tracer ink allows long term cell tracking
The contrast agent "ink" first enters a stem cell by penetrating its membrane. Once inside, it stimulates a chemical reaction that prevents it from seeping out of the cell the same way it entered. Previous versions of contrast agents easily escaped cells. By establishing a way to contain the ink within the cell's walls, the research team achieved the ability to track the cells long term once they are inside the body.
According to Cheng, some basic contrast agents are already available for use in humans, but none are capable of tracking cells over a long period of time. Contrast agents work by illuminating the deepest and darkest corners of a person's internal architecture so they appear clearly under X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and MRIs. An example of a currently used contrasting agent would be the barium sulfate solution given to patients to help diagnose certain disorders of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.
The thick substance coats the esophagus and other areas of the body with an illuminating compound, making them visible in an x-ray or CT scan. But the barium solution is eliminated from the body within 2 – 3 days or less. Before the stem cell tattoo tracer ink was developed, surgery was the only option for scientists to get a literal glance of a cells' destiny after it was injected into the body. Now, researchers can track the results in real time, without resorting to any invasive procedures.
"Before, we could not visually track the cells once they were introduced into the body," Cheng says. "Now we have the ability to view cells in a non-invasive manner using MRI, and monitor them for potentially a very long time."
Cell tracer technology still in developmental stage
Currently the tracer ink technology is still in the early development phase and requires more animal testing. Cheng is hopeful it can proceed to human clinical trials in about 10 years. While Cheng has already proven that tattooing an animal's embryonic stem cell doesn't affect its ability to transform into a functional heart cell, rat, or even a pig (which better represents a human's size), larger models are up for evaluation next.
In those test cases, researchers will cut off and reduce blood flow in the animals to mimic the effects of damage caused by a human heart attack. Cardiac stem cells pre-tagged with Cheng's ink tracer technology will then be injected into the damaged tissue. Using MRI to monitor the luminous inked stem cells in action, researchers can non-invasively follow where in the body they're traveling and more easily determine if the new cells are responsible for restoring normal heart rhythm.
Before it can be tested in humans, the chemical tracer will also have to pass rigorous toxicology tests to ensure its safety.
- Published in Blog
New Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Therapies Aim to Protect Patients from Charlatan Quackery
Stem cell research has never been more advanced, and as a result many different types of treatments are currently offered on the market. Unfortunate
ly, some providers are practicing quackery in stem cell therapies, and an abundance of well-intentioned scientific and medical personnel are prematurely publicizing their work. These providers and publishers have cast an unfair shadow of mistrust on this very important branch of medical research and potential treatments.
On the other hand, the contributions of professional medical and stem cell societies and other organizations require self-regulation through accreditation and certification, development of standards, and creation of a platform for collaboration among stakeholders.
Professional Guidelines for responsible Stem Cell Research
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is the largest professional organization of stem cell scientists. In 2007, ISSCR impaneled a broad international taskforce to develop a set of professional guidelines for responsible translational stem cell research. Their principles include high standards of preclinical evidence, peer review, scrupulous review of clinical protocol by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), rigorous informed consent, and publication of results whether positive or negative.
The general scientific consensus is that most stem cell therapies are not ready for marketing or commercialization. But the industries that are providing these treatments are increasingly sophisticated and organized, and are challenging established regulatory frameworks.
The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) has an interest in the promotion of stem cell research and development, but it also is interested in a broader range of cell-based interventions such as immune cell interventions, reproductive medicine, and gene therapy. The ISCT taskforce has working groups on definitions, scientific evidence and biological rationale, laboratory cell processing, clinical practice, regulation, commercial implications, communications, and policy.
Develop terminology, define levels of scientific evidence in new guidelines for stem cell research
The key goals are to develop an appropriate terminology, define the levels of scientific evidence needed to justify routine use or commercialization of a stem cell therapy, address questions of "experimental" and "innovative" use, and understand the global regulatory landscape in order to identify gaps and contradictions.
The ISSCR published revised guidelines for research and clinical translation involving stem cells on May 12, 2016. These new guidelines update and combine guidelines on stem cell research and clinical translation previously issued in 2006 and 2008 Jonathan Kimmelman, Associate Professor of Biomedical Ethics at McGill University, chaired the ISSCR Guidelines Update Task Force. The task force was made up of 25 experts in basic research, clinical research, and bioethics, and received feedback from 85 external individuals and organizations.
2016 guidelines: covering new ground in stem cell research
The 2016 guidelines cover new ground in areas such as gene editing and induced pluripotent stem cells. They introduce a new focus on the communication of results. The task force recognizes that results and potential applications can be exaggerated, leading to distorted understandings of research outcomes in the scientific community, popular press, and among potential patients. The "14-day rule" limiting experimentation on human embryos or embryo-like structures is upheld in these guidelines, although one task-force member has suggested that this may soon be open to revision.
In May, 2016 ISSCR released the following list of all of the new topics addressed in the revised guidelines as part of the announcement of its report:
- Define an Embryo Research Oversight (EMRO) process to encompass both human embryonic stem cell research and human embryo research that may not explicitly pertain to stem cells or generating new stem cell lines;
- Exclude the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from specific stem cell research oversight, and instead call on the existing human subjects review processes to oversee donor cell recruitment (iPS cells behave like embryonic stem cells but are derived by reprogramming more differentiated tissue cells);
- Support laboratory-based research that entails gene editing of the nuclear genomes of human sperm, egg, or embryos, when performed under rigorous review, but hold that any attempt to apply this clinically would be premature and should be prohibited at this time;
- Define principles for evaluating both basic and clinically applied research on mitochondrial replacement therapy, in concordance with recent deliberations in the U.K., U.S., and elsewhere;
- Determine that where there is no undue financial inducement to participate, it may be acceptable to compensate women who donate eggs for research;
- Recognize that the development of increasingly complex in vitro models of early stages of human development should undergo specialized review;
- Highlight opportunities to strengthen preclinical studies in stem cell research, including reproducibility and stringent standards for experimental design;
- Call for robust standards for preclinical and clinical research evidence as clinical trials progress and rigorous evaluation for safety and efficacy before marketing approval;
- Address the valuable contributions made by patients or patient groups to support clinical research and a framework to ensure this is achieved without compromising the integrity of the research;
- Highlight the responsibility of all groups communicating stem cell science and medicine—scientists, clinicians, industry, science communicators, and media—to present accurate, balanced reports of progress and setbacks.
The good news is that stem cell research is evolving into a highly respected and in-demand branch of healing that many consider to be the future of medicine. Since pluripotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into any type of cell, they are used in the development of medical treatments for a wide range of conditions including physical trauma, degenerative conditions, and genetic diseases (in combination with gene therapy). Further treatments using stem cells are being developed due to stem cells' ability to repair extensive tissue damage.
Great levels of success and potential have been achieved from research using adult stem cells. In early 2009, the FDA approved the first human clinical trials using embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can become any cell type of the body, with the exception of placental cells. More and more is being discovered about the plasticity of adult stem cells, increasing the potential number of cell types an adult stem cell can become.
- Published in Blog
Researchers Move Closer to Lung Stem Cell Therapies to Treat Chronic Lung Diseases
Chronic lung diseases are the third leading causes of death in the U.S. Chronic lung diseases include a collection of illnesses that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related issues, including primarily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. Lung disease involves changes in cells within the lungs, and while research on lung stem cell therapies may not only shed light on their causes, it may provide the groundwork for future treatments.
Stem cells in the lung
Human lungs are hard working organs. In an average lifetime, human lungs take 20-40 million breaths and experience a daily airflow of between 1,850 and 2,640 gallons. Human lungs are made up of two distinct regions:
- The conducting airway tubes, including the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles.
- The gas exchange regions, or alveolar spaces.
Medical researchers have discovered that these regions each contain unique types of stem cells and progenitor cells. In normal lungs, an abundance of progenitor cells is present in each region, which divide to replace old or damaged lung cells to keep the lungs healthy. The progenitor cells include tracheal basal cells, bronchiolar secretory cells (known as club cells), and alveolar type 2 cells. Progenitor cell division is believed to be sufficient to renew the lung's structure throughout normal adult life.
Stem cells are far less abundant than progenitors, but are found in both embryonic and adult lungs. Some stem cells assist in initial lung development, while others help repair and regenerate the lung throughout one's lifetime. Problematic stem cells may actually contribute to lung diseases. In mouse lungs, certain rare stem cells have been located in the conducting airway tubes after to severe injury—for example, flu infection. These rare cells can divide and produce new cells that contribute to both the airway and gas exchange regions. These cells have also been grown in vitro and used as a proof-of-concept treatment in injured mouse lungs.
Adult mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)
Adult human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are the focus of a number of clinical applications. The advantage of hMSCs is that they are immuno-modulatory— capable of modifying or regulating one or more immune functions—and versatile due to the anti-inflammatory and regenerative bioactive molecules they secrete.
hMSCs have the potential to orchestrate reparative processes in diseased or injured tissues. Much of the diversity and uniqueness of hMSCs is defined by their response to the environment of injured tissue. hMSCs are sensitive to their site-specific microenvironment, and scientists anticipate that these cells will deliver the bioactive agents in a site-specific manner quite different from the way pharmaceutical drugs work in the treatment of lung diseases.
hMSCs are non-hematopoietic, multi-potent progenitor cells with the capacity to generate bone marrow stromal cells as well as adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes in suitable tissue and other organ sites.
Studying lung stem cells sheds light on the causes of lung disease
A better understanding of lung stem cell and progenitor cell biology can improve our knowledge of how the healthy lung works. This in turn will shed light on the causes of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Such research could lead to the development of new treatments for lung disease. In fact, lung stem cells may be used in future therapies to repair or regenerate the lungs of patients with severe lung damage or disease.
Current research
Lung stem cells have most frequently been identified and characterized in mice. Studies on mice have allowed researchers to identify the differences between embryonic and adult lung stem cells, discover the role of stem cells in lung repair, and investigate how changes to lung stem cells may lead to lung disease. A current focus of research includes testing if the same stem and progenitor cell populations can be identified in human lungs.
Identifying progenitor and stem cells before and after lung injury
Researchers are also working to determine the role of stem cells in various human lung diseases, including lung cancer and COPD. They have begun examining potential clinical applications of stem cell therapies with several 'first-in-human' studies to investigate whether lung stem cells might enhance organ replacement or regeneration in patients.
The future of stem cells in treating lung disease
As researchers continue to improve their understanding of the exact identity and function of human lung stem cells, the potential for clinical applications will be divulged. Researchers will identify methods to control lung stem cells, which can then be tested as treatments for lung diseases. Further research will also investigate the uses of lung stem cells for personalized medicine.
- Published in Blog
Stem Cell Research and Stem Cell Therapy: When can stem cells be used to treat patients?
The difference between stem cell research and therapy is in the scientific evidence that supports therapeutic intervention to be beneficial for the patient.
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues, stem cells serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the individual is alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
Stem cell research on adult stem cells
Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions.
Until recently, scientists primarily worked with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: embryonic stem cells and non-embryonic "somatic" or "adult" stem cells in stem cell research.
In 2006, researchers made a breakthrough by identifying conditions that would allow some specialized adult cells to be "reprogrammed" genetically to assume a stem cell-like state. This new type of stem cell is called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. In the 3- to 5-day-old embryo, called a blastocyst, the inner cells give rise to the entire body of the organism, including all of the many specialized cell types and organs such as the heart, lungs, skin, sperm, eggs and other tissues. In some adult tissues, such as bone marrow, muscle, and brain, discrete populations of adult stem cells generate replacements for cells that are lost through normal wear and tear, injury, or disease.
Stem cell research for treating disease
Given their unique regenerative abilities, stem cells offer new potentials for treating diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease. However, much work remains to be done in the laboratory and the clinic to understand how to use these cells for cell-based therapies to treat disease, which is also referred to as regenerative or reparative medicine.
Laboratory studies of stem cells enable scientists to learn about the cells' essential properties and what makes them different from specialized cell types. Scientists are already using stem cells in the laboratory to screen new drugs and to develop model systems to study normal growth and identify the causes of birth defects.
Research on stem cells continues to advance knowledge about how an organism develops from a single cell and how healthy cells replace damaged cells in adult organisms. Stem cell research is one of the most fascinating areas of contemporary biology, but, as with many expanding fields of scientific inquiry, research on stem cells raises scientific questions as rapidly as it generates new discoveries.
In 1964, the World Medical Association developed the Declaration of Helsinki as a statement of
ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. It includes research on identifiable human material and data, last amended in October 2013.
According to the Helsinki Declaration, in the treatment of an individual patient where proven interventions do not exist or other known interventions have been ineffective, the physician, after seeking expert advice, with informed consent from the patient or a legally authorized representative, may use an unproven intervention if in the physician's judgement it offers hope of saving life, re-establishing health or alleviating suffering.
Intervention should subsequently be made the object of research, designed to evaluate its safety and efficacy. In all cases, new information must be recorded and, where appropriate, made publicly available.
- Published in Blog
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By Elizabeth Witek, Staff Writer
Starting in December, the Queen's Court Company devoted four months and countless hours to rehearsing for the spring musical Godspell that boasted sell-out crowds at its four shows from April 14-16. In addition to the 32 cast members, the production was made possible by the work of one student assistant director; one student musician; a crew of a dozen students who worked on the set and stage, lighting, tech, costumes and choreography; and several faculty members.
Director Ellen Phillips and musical director Andrew Bogdan were the masterminds behind the production. Through their guidance, the students expressed not only themselves but much of what they had learned from their music and drama classes as well.
Bogdan was amazed by what the students accomplished due to their varying musical backgrounds. "The moment that I will remember the most would be when the whole cast got through the finale in four part harmony for the first time. By the looks on their faces, none of them could believe that they had just sung that."
In the end, their hard work and progress was evident, as audience members raved about the performance. "It was like Godspell for the digital age! The students really adapted the story to be Trinity Hall-esque." said STEM teacher Kevin Polke, who has been in several Godspell productions himself.
"Overall, the show was amazing," freshman Colleen Cusat said. "My favorite part was the number 'We Beseech Thee' because it made the whole audience feel like they were connected in the show."
That connection with the audience stemmed from the passion the actors showed in each performance, a passion that was cultivated through their shared experiences in preparing for the production.
"This show was special because it brought the entire company together as a family," said junior Sarah Frankel, who played Jesus in two of the four performances. "The show pushed us to work together and it created an amazing story. There were so many moments I will never forget."
Junior Grace Molloy, who played Jesus in the other two shows, also voiced an appreciation for all of the people involved in making Godspell a success. "At the end of the last show, I took a moment to look around at my fellow cast members and the directors. I appreciated all of them and the amazing times we shared and the wonderful show we put on."
"My faith is definitely a big part of my life, so taking on this show was so close to my heart," said Phillips about selecting the play for this year's spring musical. Phillips said she especially enjoyed connecting the students to Godspell by setting the musical at present-day Trinity Hall.
As sophomore cast member Joanna Ferrer attests, the students involved in the Godspell production grew artistically and spiritually. "I have truly discovered a passion for theatre and connected with my faith, and I never thought that would happen the way it did," she said. "This show was an amazing experience I'll never ever forget."

subset: commoncrawl


text: Imagine you are frozen in time; sturdy, immobile, solid like a rock. Nothing can break you and you mold with your surroundings and life's events. You move freely with the current, bouncing off rocks as they come not trying to avoid, dodge, or hit them but rather letting things happen as the natural flow of … Continue reading Camouflage


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Psalm 8:1-4 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.… Continue Reading "The Heavens"
Romans 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. How do you encourage the faith in others? The… Continue Reading "Faith"
Matthew 26:36-39 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful… Continue Reading "Overwhelmed"
Isaiah 40:6-8 "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers… Continue Reading "The Flowers"
Psalm 29:3-10 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;… Continue Reading "The Voice of the Lord"


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DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Police Department has identified Matthew Dolloff as the man who shot and killed an attendee at a rally at Civic Center Park on Saturday.
Dolloff is being held for investigation of first-degree murder, but has not been charged at this time.
9NEWS said 30-year-old Dolloff was a private security guard contracted by them through Pinkerton, but when FOX31 reached out to Denver's Department of Excise and Licensing we were told there is no one by that name who is or ever has been registered as an active security guard in the city.
Photos show Dolloff and the shooting victim facing off. One picture shows what appears to be a fog of pepper spray or mace being sprayed by the victim and Dolloff with his gun drawn. The following pictures show the victim falling to the ground after being shot.
Attorney Chris Decker talked to FOX31's Michael Konopasek and said that in Colorado a person can protect themselves or someone else from what they reasonably believe to be the use or imminent use of unlawful force.
"There are no clear and absolute bright lines with the doctrine of self-defense," he said. "No one can really tell until or unless that were charged and a jury would determine the reasonableness of the circumstances."
In Colorado, deadly force can be used only if a person reasonably believes that a lesser degree of force is inadequate and that person reasonably believes that they or another person is in imminent danger of being killed or about to sustain great bodily injury.
"That pepper spray may cause great bodily injury, could blind you," Decker said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Excise and Licensing told FOX31's Nicole Fierro that if Dolloff was operating without a license he could face fines and possible jail time.
Denver is one of only three cities in Colorado that requires security guards to be licensed.
FOX31's Rob Low checked with the City Attorney's Office regarding the possible additional fines and charges if Dolloff was not licensed. This is their statement:
"The City Attorney's Office (CAO) will weigh any additional criminal charges related to the defendant possibly operating as an unlicensed security guard once the Denver Police Department completes its homicide investigation. The CAO is also working with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses to weigh disciplinary action against the security guard company for hiring and deploying an unlicensed guard, one without a license much less an armed endorsement."
Dolloff had been issued a conceal carry permit by the Elbert County Sheriff in June of 2018. That permit is good for five years, but has been suspended pending the outcome of this criminal investigation.
In a statement posted online, Pinkerton said Dolloff was not an employee of the company but a contractor from a "long standing industry vendor."
Problem Solvers have learned that Dolloff is being held in isolation away from other inmates for his own protection and without bond for investigative hold on a count of first-degree murder.


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Barbara's rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Holidays of the Aristocracy #2
Publication Date: 3/2/21
This was first released as part of the Have Yourself A Merry Little Secret boxed set in October of 2020 and is now being released as a standalone. It is a lovely and fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed – especially when I get two romances within one book! The writing is excellent and the story is interesting and well-plotted. I'm hoping to see more books featuring the Marquess of Reading's children – particularly the illegitimate ones – all I can say is that he is one fertile dude!
Randall Roderick, the Marquess of Reading has seven – soon to be eight – children. In his younger years, he was a rake extraordinaire. He dropped his seed anywhere and everywhere. While we may dislike him for his indiscriminate fathering of children, he always took responsibility for them, he gave them his name, he saw to their care and upkeep, and he always played a role in their lives as much as he could. He met and fell in love with his marchioness about seven years ago and has given up his rakish ways. Now, in addition to his four illegitimate sons and one illegitimate daughter, he has two legitimate sons and one child on the way.
Randolph Roderick is the oldest of the illegitimate children. He is the spitting image of his father in looks and the exact opposite in the way he conducts his life. He manages one of his father's breeding/training stables and he also works for the Foreign Office – and that job got him a knighthood. He's now Sir Randolph Roderick. He is also a widower with a baby. Luckily, he and his father are fairly close and the baby, Charlie, is sharing the nursery with his uncle Robert, who is 2 years old. Everyone except Randolph seems to know he needs a wife and Charlie needs a mother. Little does he know that Juliet Comber, the wife of one of his friends, has decided to do some matchmaking between several of her friends.
Xenobia Dunsworth is the widow of a baron. It wasn't a love match, but they had been good friends all of their lives. Sadly, that friendship didn't really translate well into the marriage. Xenobia is just days out of mourning when she is visited by her very good friends – Lady Julia Comber and Lady Caroline Chamberlain. Julia realizes how very lonely and sad Xenobia is – and she decides to do something about it.
Rachel Roderick is the younger illegitimate sister of Randolph, but neither of them knows about the other. Rachel attended finishing school in Zurich with Julia and Xenobia, but she stayed on longer than they did. Now, she is back. Her mother and, unbeknownst to Rachel, her father plan for her to have a season. Rachel has no hopes of finding a good match among the ton even though her father has fully acknowledged her. You see, her mother is a famed courtesan who now owns the very popular and successful gaming hell and brothel called the Queen of Hearts. If the ton ever found out who her mother is, they'd shun her totally. Rachel believes she'll just remain unmarried and become a spinster. But then fate intervenes, in the guise of Julia Comber.
Mark Merriweather is the younger son of an earl and his older brother has already married and sired an heir. Mark doesn't have to worry about inheriting the earldom and he plans to lead a productive life. He has an inheritance and doesn't have to worry about working at anything if he doesn't want to do so, but he does. He has purchased a public house, The Three Bells, in Westminster and fully plans to run it himself. It never occurs to him that he is in need of a wife – he only knows he's in need of a bookkeeper and a cook for the public house. Then, there is a visit with Julia Comber and the rest is history.
It was fun to see these two couples come together. Each of them perfectly complemented their partner and filled the voids they each had. In this story, we got two romances, lots of found money, families who loved each other, and a bit of intrigue with counterfeiters. I hope you'll read this book and enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


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Leading Travel Gifts For Females
What makes the female so a lot deadlier than the male? With assists from Fran Lebowitz, Nora Ephron, and a recent Stanford-health-related-college study, the author investigates the motives for the humor the John Springer Collection/Corbis.
I agree that even though this post was nicely written, it does look to be based primarily on the gold digger types of other girls. I also am seeing a married man and he is a broke a$$, lol. There is no fancy gifts, or high-priced lunches or dinner let alone a condo,apartment or home for me. Each and every woman cave needs one thing on the walls. I pick paint in my nearby team's colors as it can be pretty low-cost and is a no-brainer. If you are painting a basement space make confident the paint will stand up to dampness. Very informative. Of course, guys frequently misread signs simply because we have no intuition about this stuff. practice makes excellent. There are ladies out there that don't have a difficulty dating married men and have tiny regret, but normally speaking, this is not normally the case. As extended as you are discreet about carrying the picture then you must have no problem.
Nah. He'd have loved me if I was a hideous troll. Apart from, to the ones who adore us, we grow to be much more appealing as time goes on! And youe beautiful bride doesn't have shabby taste if you ask me. Like I said in my last post…I was the other woman for a man whose wife located out. I have had not had get in touch with given that then…at this time it would not have the benefits that I looked for. He got caught, people got hurt, and that is not my problem. Even sex, in and of …


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What's the best reason to go South? Warmer weather? Friendly people? Food? All of those are good reasons, but only one touches every sense (hearing, smell, sight, touch, and taste), and that's the food!
Category Archives: charleston
Your Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel in Charleston, SC
Earlier this spring, he had a trip pop up at the last minute, so I searched Skyscanner (one of my secret weapons in finding flight deals) and found a killer deal to Charleston, one of the best places for a girl to go solo!
What to Know Before You Visit Charleston
Headed to Charleston? You'll love it! I got to take a quick trip to the Holy City recently, and it was just the breath of fresh, Southern air I needed. To make sure you can make the most of your trip, here are some things to know before you go!
FREE Things to Do in Charleston
You can take the girl out of the South, but she will go back as often as possible! When my sweet husband had a quick business trip pop up, I stumbled upon a great airfare to Charleston and took advantage of the situation. I've been to Charleston a couple of times, but I haven't written much about it. That's currently changing, however, including this post with my top picks for totally FREE things to do in Charleston, South Carolina!
Guide to Charleston's Gateway Walk
No doubt about it, Charleston is, well, charming! Everything about it from the Pineapple Fountain to shrimp and grits, from the historic homes to the Southern hospitality, Charleston simply exudes charm.
Staying at 27 State Street B&B
There is one bright side when my husband is away on a business trip: I get to stay in an adorable bed and breakfast! I don't think I could have chosen a better one for my recent solo trip to Charleston than the 27 State Street B&B. This is not a sponsored post; I was simply treated with such kindness and had such a positive experience, I want everyone to know about it!


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The CIF Southern Section released its Fall Playoff divisions for the upcoming season, and of course football draws the most interesting looks.
Teams were moved up or down in divisions based on ranking systems that takes into account the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
This is the third season of "competitive equity" divisions.
Serra is the lone team in the South Bay in Division 1. There are 18 teams in Division 1 and 16 will get playoff berths.
Palos Verdes, which competed in Division 3, has dropped to Division 5. Redondo stays in Division 4. Lawndale (Division 5), El Segundo (Division 7), Leuzinger (Division 9) and Mira Costa (Division 6) will remain in their respective divisions.
West Torrance and North Torrance both fall to Division 9. The Warriors were in Division 6 last season, while the Saxons were in Division 7.
Peninsula, Inglewood and Morningside are in Division 11. Torrance, Hawthorne, Mary Star and South Torrance are in Division 12. Bishop Montgomery and St. Bernard are both in Division 13.
Girls volleyball
Redondo and Mira Costa will likely be in Division 1, although they're listed under the Division 1/Division 2 grouping.
The final grouping will be determined in October at the last seeding meeting. Division 1 will have a 16-team bracket, while Division 2 will have a 32-team bracket.
Peninsula and South Torrance are in Division 3. Bishop Montgomery, El Segundo, Mornginside, Torrance, West Torrance are in Division 4.
North Torrance, Serra are in Division 5, and Leuzinger and Lawndale are in Division 6. Hawthorne, Hawthorne MSA, Mary Star, Rolling Hills Prep, St. Mary's Academy, Wiseburn-DaVinci are in Division 7.
CAMS and St. Bernard are in Division 8, and Environmental Charter is in Division 9, along with Executive Prep.
Boys Water Polo
Mira Costa and Palos Verdes will be in Division 1 or 2. El Segundo, Peninsula and Redondo are in Division 3.
Chadwick is in Division 5, while West and Torrance are in Division 6.
Girls Tennis
Mira Costa, Peninsula and Palos Verdes are all in Division 1. Chadwick, Redondo and South are in Division 2, with El Segundo, West and North Torrance in Division 3.
Division 4 has CAMS, Bishop Montgomery, Leuzinger and Torrance.


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WW Recipe of the Day: Low Fat Slow Cooker BBQ Bacon Green Beans
Looking for a delicious way to jazz up green beans? How about slow cooker BBQ beans with bacon?
They make an excellent side dish for burgers, steak, or any plain roasted or barbecued meat.
And they were very well received when I made them for our 4th of July Crockpotapalooza.
Skinny on Slow Cooker BBQ Green Beans with Bacon
Use whatever barbecue sauce (affiliate link) you like best for these slow cooker BBQ green beans. I used Stubbs which is much tangier and less sweet than many popular brands.
Rod thought they were just okay. A purist, he prefers his green beans boiled, or steamed, and lightly seasoned with butter, salt and pepper.
Next time I think I would use a sweeter sauce, like Sweet Baby Rays. Of course, you could always use homemade BBQ sauce if you prefer.
How Many Calories and WW Points in these Barbecue Green Beans?
According to my calculations each serving has 103 calories and:
6 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
6 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
6 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
3 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?
If you've made these Slow Cooked Low-Fat BBQ Bacon Green Beans, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Slow Cooker BBQ Green Beans with Bacon
- 2 slices bacon (pork or turkey)
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 pound fresh green beans, stem ends trimmed
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- Ideal Slow Cooker Size: 3- to 4-Quart.
- In a small nonstick skillet set over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain well on paper towels, crumble and set aside.
- Grease the slow cooker with some of the bacon drippings.
- Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Put the beans, crumbled bacon, and onion in the slow cooker. Pour over the barbecue sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW until the beans are tender and glazed, 6 to 7 hours.
- Serve hot.
Recipe Notes
Source: Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook (affiliate link) by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
If you like slow cooker bbq green beans you might also like:
- Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole (Simple-Nourished-Living)
- Slow Cooker Alfredo Bean Casserole (Tablespoon)
- Slow Cooker Southern Style Green Beans (SkinnyMs)
- Creole Style Slow Cooker Green Beans (Simple-Nourished-Living)
- Slow Cooker Fresh Garlic Green Beans (365 Days of Slow Cooking)
For this slow cooker green bean recipe, I recommend:
Search for More Easy WW Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary, 17 Barker Road, Lebanon, CT, 06249
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March 29, 2010
Today we brought Dutch to see Dr. McGee to get his
toenails trimmed. Do you see the scale reading? He
weighs 16.3 pounds!
Yesterday we
helped the Garey family rescue a goose who was
abandoned on a pond. She was underweight and being
picked on by other birds on the pond.
Today we took
newly rescued Rosie to the vet for a full check-up.
Sadly, she is between 3-4 pounds underweight.
She has an
inflammed toe pad from walking on asphalt and rocky
shores. Fortunately, we rescued her before this had
the chance to progress into bumblefoot. Soft grounds
and access to swimming water will remedy this
situation over the course of the next few months.
Dr. McGee takes an
x-ray to make sure Rosie is healthy internally and
has not ingested any metal during her abandonment.
Terrible news... Rosie has ingested some wire. A
blood test is needed to see if she has any lead or
zinc poisoning. Results will take a few days.
Dr. McGee draws
the blood...
Dr. McGee is able
to determine her age by her pointed tail feather.
Rosie is a young hen, less than a year old.
We sure enjoyed
our stay with the Garey family and we wish them and
all of their new family members happiness together!
We fly home first thing tomorrow morning.
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Diary Calendar
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to Membership Page
© Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary 2010
Web Design © 2005 Abby L. Garcia
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If you are attempting to promote your company in the internet setting, you likely have also determined to make a account on Instagram. The good news is that there are countless Instagram promotion methods that could assist you to raise Instagram followers. Nevertheless, not these can offer you the benefits that you need.
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Jukebox by Nidhi Chanani (9781250156365)
When Shaheen can't find her father anywhere, she and her cousin Tannaz try to figure out where he might have gone. They check out the vintage record store he loves, but it's closed and the owner is nowhere to be found either. The two girls decide to break into the store and discover an unplugged jukebox. When they play one of her father's favorite records, the jukebox takes them back in time to when the songs were being performed at a concert. At the end of the record, they are taken back to their regular lives. As the girls work to figure out why Shaheen's father hasn't returned, they also learn that there is a cost to time travel and one that they may have to risk to save him from the past where he is trapped.
This graphic novel for middle grades is a wonderful mixture of music and time travel. The various songs that they time travel with feature well-known musicians and then are artfully combined with social justice moments in history. The story centers on the two Indian-American protagonists who are different from one another but willing work together to solve the mystery. With a look at race and civil rights, the two girls traverse time learning a lot along the way.
The art is fresh and colorful. Using a time travel visual as well as record covers, it has a clear distinction between the modern part of the story and the historical events the girls witness.
A groovy graphic novel worth a spin. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Reviewed from library copy.


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Vivian Ni
Assistant Director of Operations
Vivian Ni joined Premier BPO in 2009 right after she earned her bachelor's degree and has been working for the company for nine years now. Vivian developed her career with Premier BPO and currently serves as Assistant Director of Operations. She is very accomplished in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and her expertise include client relationship, operational management, contact center, project management, and campaign launching.
Talha Kamran
Director, Support Services
Talha Kamran is the Director Operations and the Site Director at Premier BPO Philippines. Prior to that he served as Director of Operations at Premier BPO center in China where he wasengaged in setup and later leading the outsourcing operations. He has more than a decade experience in back office operations and process automations services related to contact centers, logistics, billing, forex trading, software development, and data processing services.
Atif Ali
Director IT
Atif is the Director IT at Premier BPO since 2005 he has previously held the positions of Manager IT at Premier BPO and Manager IT at Ovex Technologies.
Kevin Anderson
General Manager Operations
Kevin Anderson is Premier BPO's General Manager of Operations and has been with the outsourcing industry since 2002. Prior to joining Premier BPO, Kevin was Director of Operations at Ovex Technologies. He has been with Premier BPO since 2004 and he has led the Operations management team in planning, developing and executing different procedures and strategies, running recruitment drives, designing and delivering general call center and client specific trainings.
M Nabeel Pervaiz
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M Nabeel Pervaiz is the Head of Finance and Administration at Premier BPO. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan and a Fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK) and a PWC Alumni. He has an extensive experience of leading the finance departments of various organizations, where he helped contribute to the expansion, growth, and establishment of internal controls according to global best practices. In addition, he is also a certified specialist in best practices of corporate governance from Wharton Business School.
Sam Hooper (KV)
Vice President Operations – Asia
Sam Hooper is Premier BPO's General Manager of Asia Pacific, joined Premier in 2004. He was educated in the USA and has broad international management experience, which includes Logistics and Inventory Management with Furniture Expo in Dallas, Texas, and Customer Support and Contact Center Management experience with Telvista in Dallas, TX.
David Shapiro
Chief Operating Officer
David Shapiro is Premier BPO's Chief Operating Officer. As COO he is responsible for global delivery of high quality back office operations as well growing new and existing client relationships.Prior to joining Premier, he held numerous senior level positions in the BPO industry including the following: President of HKT (formerly PCCW) Teleservices where he was responsible for a global Business Process Outsourcing organization with centers in the U.S., Latin America and the Philippines President & Founder of Source One Communications, a BPO/Call Center with locations in six countries. SVP, Sales & Marketing of Minacs, a $280 million BPO with operations in Canada, the US and Europe . Chief Sales Officer with Dialog Marketing, a Contact Center outsourcer with operations in the US and Panama. Global experience includes developing/building operations in the US, Canada, The Philippines, South Africa, Australia, China, Costa Rica, Panama and the UK .
Ali Din
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Okay, well, hello and good morning. It's the second Thursday in October, and it's time once again for my weekly blog post. Congratulations.
As you all know by now, Dr. Elessar's Cabinet of Curiosities is available in hardcover as well as in paperback and e-book format. I hope those of you who enjoy short* horror/sci-fi/dark fantasy stories will take a look and consider buying it, and if you enjoy it, please let me know, either here, or in the reviews at Amazon, or whatever. Actually, even if you don't enjoy it, your feedback is welcome, as long as it's reasonably polite. That goes for all my other books, as well.
Some websites and YouTube channels and blogs and whatnot ask you to support them on Patreon or through sponsorship links or similar. I'd just like you to buy and read my books. You can listen to my songs, too, if you like—they're on Spotify and Pandora and YouTube Music and iTunes and Amazon and apparently oodles of other platforms, and I make a teeny, little bit of money whenever someone plays them. They're shorter than my stories, at least! Is that a good thing?
I've almost, but not quite, finished reading through what's already written of Outlaw's Mind, editing a bit as I go. It's funny that I'd originally thought that it would be a short story, since it's already over 80,000 words long, and nowhere near even the original expected ending. I guess there was just more to the idea than I'd thought. However, going through it is taking longer than it should, because it's a very emotionally draining story for me. One scene that I wrote in it was somewhat loosely adapted from an interaction—more than one, really—that I've had in my own life, albeit under different specific circumstances and with different participants (of course). It was a confrontation of sorts between the title character and his mother, who had just learned about something he was considering, and she flipped out, in a constrained but terrifying way. I had to get up from the computer and walk away for a bit when rereading it. I fear I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this.
Also, as I had originally envisioned what I expected to be a short story, the ending was going to be rather sad, though it would be a victory of sorts by the main character. As I've discussed before on more than one occasion, an interesting thing about short stories is that they don't need to have happy endings. But the ending I had planned, if that's the right word, would be a bit too dark, or at least too discouraging, for what is going to be a short to medium sized novel. So, I need to rethink it.
In addition, if it's going to be a novel anyway, I can give a few more revelations and explorations of some of the strange happenings than might have been doable in a short story, or even a novella. Some of these ideas tie in with a longer story, a darkish fantasy adventure I plan to call Changeling in a Shadow World**, and it might be nice to nod toward it. But, of course, I haven't even begun to write that novel, and I'm not sure it's what I want to write next. I'd considered starting work on the first portion of Dark Fairy and the Desperado, which is another kind of fantasy adventure entirely, originally a manga idea I had. It has some similarity and could even cross over with Changeling in a Shadow World. But then, I also thought about writing something else entirely. There are two more potential parts for Mark Red, and there's the possibility of trying to recreate the first full-length novel I ever wrote, Ends of the Maelstrom, lost now, alas, with all my former belongings from prior to 2013. And, of course, there was Neko/Neneko, a fable of sorts, though set in the modern world, which also originated as an idea for a manga. And while I was out walking*** the other day, I thought it might be nice finally to write the novel based on my oooooooooooold story idea Helios. Really, I suppose it would be H.E.L.I.O.S., since it's an acronym. This was originally a superhero/comic book idea from way back when I was in…junior high school, maybe. The idea has evolved quite a bit since then, and I think it could be a pretty fun fantasy/sci-fi adventure. The title acronym now even represents some pretty high-level physics concepts, and that's always pleasing. At least, it is to me.
A few weeks ago (I think) I asked if any of my readers had any preferences, or thoughts, or other feedback about which of my story ideas they'd like me to write next, after Outlaw's Mind****, but I haven't received any comments here regarding it, unless there's something I missed. I suppose someone might have left something on Facebook, but as I've said numerous times, I don't get on Facebook often enough for it to be a good way to reach me, and when I do get on it, I tend to skim and get away as quickly as I can. It often really stresses me out because it brings out the worst in people. Twitter does that, too, in places, or so I'm told, but I don't know the people on Twitter, and I mostly follow authors, and science-related people, and horror fans and so on, so there's really not much to get stressed about.
Anyway, if anyone out there actually reads books and has an interest in what book(s) I might write next, the place to give me feedback is here on this blog, in the comments.
Of course, all this assumes that I'm going to survive long enough to write any more of my ideas, let alone all of them. That's far from certain, and it's frankly not the outcome I would prefer, most days. I recognize this preference as at least partly the unreasonable product of my peculiar neuropsychology with its various innate imperfections and diagnosed and undiagnosed disorders, but knowing that doesn't change how it affects me or how much I struggle with depression and despair.
It also doesn't change the fact that I'm basically alone. This blog is by far the most social thing I do. I'm trying to get help, involving medication and (online) therapy, but all that has limitations, and it doesn't change the fact that I've lost almost all the things and people that made me even want to get better and helped me feel at least a little less like a stranded alien***** on an absurd and incomprehensibly irrational world. I can't blame anyone for not wanting to be around me; I don't even want to be around myself. It's a weird situation. I could really use some help—I probably need help, in a highly non-trivial sense of the word "need"—but I don't think I deserve it and I doubt that it's worth the effort, for me or for anyone else. Also, the world frankly doesn't often seem worth staying in.
On that negative note, I'll leave you all for the week. In some sense, I'll have lived a year between now and my next weekly blog post, which is a weird thought. I hope you all have a good year in that time and try to treat each other well and cut each other as much slack as you can. No one here made the world, or their circumstances, or themselves. Understanding causation can be useful, and preventing harm is beneficial, but the notion of "blame" is something we all could probably do without. Even us aliens.
*Sometimes not very short, but not novel length, anyway.
**As well as some more distant but specific ties to The Chasm and the Collision.
***Trying to be mildly healthy if I can, or at least slightly less fat and disgusting.
****Or even before, if that story is too overwhelming to finish.
*****Or a changeling, come to think of it.


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Already famous for its uncanny ability to imitate other birds and mechanical devices, Australia's Superb Lyrebird can also imitate the panicked alarm calls of a mixed-species flock of birds while males are courting or even mating, a team including Anastasia Dalziell, a Cornell Lab of Ornithology associate and recent Lab Rose Postdoctoral Fellow, now at the University of Wollongong, Australia.