Will The German Car Giants Ever Catch Tesla? – Forbes

Its becoming a bit of a clich to say that Tesla TSLA has a lead on its competitors. But when the CEO of Audi Markus Duesmann claims his company is years behind its American rival, it makes you wonder if they can ever make up the distance. Although Audis e-tron electric SUV has been a popular seller, driving it back-to-back with Teslas Model X is very informative about exactly where both companies strengths lie. Overall, the comparison doesnt look good for Audi.

Tesla's cars have clear technological advantages over their German competitors. (Photo by Yichuan ... [+] Cao/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In the UK, the e-tron is quite a bit cheaper, starting at 60,650 ($77,500) where the Model X begins at 82,980 ($106,000). But in the US the e-tron is about the same price as it is in the UK, whereas the Model X Long Range is $84,990. If youre in the market for a luxury SUV, the price difference might not be so important, and its not that much in America anyway. What you get for your extra money is, though, and as Audis Duesmann points out, the most significant factor is range. The basic e-tron has a 71kWh battery, 30% less than the Model Xs 100kWh. But its WLTP range is just 190 miles, where the Model X Long Range has a 314-mile WLTP rating. So the Audi has around 60% the range of the Tesla from 70% as much battery. The difference is not just because the Model X has more batteries, it also gets more mileage out of them. The more expensive e-tron 55 Quattro has 95kWh of batteries, yet still only offers 271 miles of WLTP range.

One of the reasons for this is the aerodynamics of the two cars. Despite being a massive SUV, the Model X has a drag coefficient of 0.25, where the e-trons is 0.28. Both are good, when you consider that a Porsche 911 has a drag coefficient of 0.29, but the Model X has a major edge. The greater battery quantity is worth noting, too, when you sit inside a Model X and wonder where Tesla has actually put them all. Duesmann agrees that that is an area where Tesla has an engineering lead. The e-tron is resolutely a five-seater, while the Model X has six- and seven-seat options, plus a much bigger luggage space if you drop the rear seats down. It can tow 2.3 tons too, compared to the e-trons 1.8.

Audi's e-tron has won some popularity, but it lags behind the Tesla Model X in key specifications. ... [+] (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Audi)

Most car enthusiasts will agree that Tesla interiors are a bit bleak compared to their German competitors. There are precious few discrete button controls for things like the air conditioning, with virtually everything operated via the central LCD panel. The general sense of luxury is lower, too, with Audis, BMWs and particularly Mercedes having a much greater sense of attention to detail in the seating designs and fit and finish. Tesla also has a controversial reputation for quality control, and came tenth from bottom in a recent used car reliability survey in the UK.

Whichever Tesla Model X you buy, though, it will be faster than the e-tron, both to 60mph and in top speed. The e-tron tends to understeer and you can feel all of its 2.5-ton weight, whereas the Model X weighs around the same but somehow manages to handle much more nimbly. If you look at the Mercedes alternative, the EQC, the differences are similar. Its about the same price as the e-tron, but with similar deficiencies in range, interior space, towing capacity, handling and performance, albeit enjoying an interior design that many would prefer over the Model Xs.

The battery placement within the Tesla Model X chassis leaves room for loads of interior space. ... [+] (Photo by Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images)

Tesla isnt resting on its battery laurels, either. Weve already discussed how Tesla is already looking towards the next generation of Cobalt-free battery technology, but the company has also been great at making deals with battery manufacturers, such as the recently announced expansion of its joint venture with Panasonic to three years. The Cobalt-free batteries are rumored to be part of a deal with Chinese battery maker CATL.

To explain Teslas lead as coming mostly from its battery advantage would be wrong, however. Jack Dolan of A2Mac1 reckons its no individual advantage that gives Tesla the lead, but the combination of lots of factors. A2Mac1 is a global company that takes apart new vehicles from every manufacturer and builds a database of how they are put together, which major carmakers around the world subscribe to. So A2Mac1 knows a thing or two about what some cars do better than others. Everything from battery density to how the dashboard instruments are attached to a crossbar give Tesla cars incremental benefits. Nikkei Business Publicationss teardown of the Model 3 has also claimed to find electronics that was at least six years ahead of what a major Japanese automaker could achieve in self-driving.

BMW only just officially announced the iX3, its first electric SUV. (Photo credit should read ... [+] NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)

All of these advantages stem from one prime mover. Tesla took electric cars seriously when the German manufacturers were still putting all their motor design eggs in the diesel basket, because they thought CO2 emissions were the biggest problem. Then it turned out NOx particulates were an issue as well, and they had been massaging their CO2 figures anyway. Only once they realized their mistakes did they decide that they needed an EV strategy as well. Audi may have five different EV platforms to choose from, but the company has only been producing pure EVs for a couple of years, and VWs much-anticipated ID.3 just became available to order a few days ago. BMWs may have been launched its i3 in 2014, but has taken its eye off the ball since then and only just recently announced its first electric SUV, the iX3.

Overall, then, Tesla is ahead because it has been building mainstream EVs for longer than other car manufacturers and taken a more bullish stance on driving the market in new directions. The German automakers are still hedging their bets with hybrids and plug-in hybrids alongside pure electric vehicles, clinging onto internal combustion engines for as long as they can. They have lots of manufacturing history and huge capacity, but as the market shifts towards electric, a lot of what they were good at will become less relevant, and they may never catch Tesla. Thats why Teslas shares tripled in value over the last year, and theyre still going up. The investment community can see which direction things are headed.

Excerpt from:

Will The German Car Giants Ever Catch Tesla? - Forbes

Tesla On A ‘Hiring Spree’ In China As It Readies For Model Y Production: Report – Benzinga

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) has launched a large recruitment drive in China as it prepares to manufacture the Model Y vehicle at its Shanghai factory, Reuters reportedlate Monday.

The electric vehicle maker is hiring both designers and factory workers, according to job posts seen by the newswire.

Tesla is reported to have posted the jobs on its human resources departments WeChat account and is hiring designers in China for the first time, though the company didn't say how many it planned to hire.

The Palo Alto-based automakersaid in January it wanted to open a research and design center in the country to make Chinese-style cars.

Tesla is also looking to hire 600 workers for its assembly plant in Shanghai, a local government job posting revealed. It's hiring another 150 workers for quality checks, 200 for logistics, and 20 for security.

The Elon Musk-led EV maker is planning to construct facilities to make the Model Y SUV in China and the hiring is in relation to those plans, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

In March, Tesla advertised to hire solar project managers for the expansion of its energy business on the Chinese mainland.

Wedbush Analyst Daniel Ives estimated this monththat Teslas growth in China is worth at least $400 per share and EV penetrationwould ramp up significantly over the next 12 to 18 months.

The companysold 15,000 Model 3 vehicles in China in June and 11,000 in May.

Tesla shares closed 8.65% higher at $1,539.60 on Monday and added another0.2% in the after-hours trading.

2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Tesla On A 'Hiring Spree' In China As It Readies For Model Y Production: Report - Benzinga

Nike Taps Former Tesla Executive as Its New Diversity Chief – Bloomberg

Nike Inc. promoted a former Tesla Inc. executive to become its new head of diversity, turning to a Black veteran of Silicon Valley to help make the sportswear giant more inclusive.

Felicia Mayo, who worked at Tesla Inc., Juniper Networks Inc. and Oracle Corp. before joining Nike last year, will take the title of chief talent, diversity and culture officer, the company said Monday in an emailed statement. Kellie Leonard -- who had served as Nikes chief diversity and inclusion officer, a slightly different title -- is stepping down.

Chief Executive Officer John Donahoe has said the company aspires to be a leader in building a diverse, inclusive team and culture. Though Nike is known for sponsoring Black athletes and appealing to Black consumers, it has fallen short of its ideals internally, he said in a memo to employees last month.

What I have learned is that many have felt a disconnect between our external brand and your internal experience, said Donahoe, who became CEO in January. You have told me that we have not consistently supported, recognized and celebrated our own Black teammates in a manner they deserve. This needs to change.

Leonard, an 18-year veteran of Nike, is leaving to pursue other interests, the company said. We thank Kellie for her many contributions to the brand and her leadership.

When she was named to the job in 2018, becoming Nikes first chief diversity officer, the company was working to change its male-dominated culture after complaints of bullying and sexist behavior by executives. In recent months, addressing racial injustice has become a growing priority.

When we say that Black Lives Matter, it applies to the world outside of Nike and, importantly, it applies to our Black teammates within Nike, Donahoe, a longtime tech executive before taking the reins at Nike, said in the June memo. Simply put, we need to hold ourselves to a high standard given the heritage of our company and our brand.

The Financial Times previously reported on Mayos appointment, saying Donahoe described the change as a structural shift focused on providing equal access to opportunity for all employees. At Tesla, Mayo served as head of diversity. She joined Nike last year as a vice president of human resources, according to her LinkedIn page.

Last month, Nike also turned Juneteenth, a date set aside to celebrate the end of slavery in the U.S., into a paid company holiday.

(Updates with details on title in second paragraph.)

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

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Nike Taps Former Tesla Executive as Its New Diversity Chief - Bloomberg

Watch Out, Tesla: BMW Is Racing Ahead With Its Electric Vehicle Plans – The Motley Fool

Accelerating its push into the electric vehicle (EV) market, BMW (OTC:BAMX.F) announced Monday that it will have 25 electric models -- half of them fully electric -- on the market by 2023. Of particular note in the announcement was the revelation that the German automaker will be manufacturing a fully electric version of its 5 Series, though it didn't indicate when consumers can expect to see them in showrooms. Looking farther into the future, BMW stated that "In ten years, the goal is to have a total of more than seven million electrified BMW Group vehicles on the roads around two thirds of them with a fully electric drive train."

The company's move to expand its EV lineup reflects its increasing focus on sustainability. Over the next decade, for example, BMW is targeting an overall carbon dioxide reduction per vehicle of at least one third. "This new strategic direction will be anchored in all divisions from administration and purchasing to development and production, all the way to sales," CEO Oliver Zipse stated. "We are taking sustainability to the next level."

Image source: BMW.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) already has been facing the prospect of higher competitive pressures from private companies like Lucid Motors and Fisker, as well as from recent IPO Nikola (NASDAQ:NKLA), which is coming closer to starting production of its Tre and Two models. But news of BMW's plans should serve as a reminder to investors that it's not only start-ups that represent a potential threat to Tesla -- industry stalwarts also have plans to grab shares of the electric vehicle market.

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Watch Out, Tesla: BMW Is Racing Ahead With Its Electric Vehicle Plans - The Motley Fool

Tesla Van With Camping & SpaceX Packages Brings It All Together Could It Replace Your Home? – CleanTechnica

July 26th, 2020 by Paul Fosse

After Elon Musk mentioned that Tesla was working on a couple more vehicles, a compact car and high capacity vehicle, my mind started to race about how this van-like vehicle could use all of the technologies that Elon has mentioned in various interviews. First, lets cover the basics that Im 99% sure the vehicle will have. I got some of these ideas from one of my Cybertruck articles. After that, Ill take things in a little different direction than our previous Tesla Cybervan article.

Now, just out of that box, it would be a very desirable vehicle for those with large families or for operating a large-capacity robotaxi or intercity shuttle. Just as a base vehicle, it could sell up to a million a year, as people (especially Americans) like a vehicle that can haul their belongings and tow their toys. The Off Road Edition adds the following features:

The Camping and Home Office option would have the following features:

Those options would mean it can replace a house for many people. You would need a place to park your van, but it doesnt really need any hookups for water, power, or sewage like a traditional RV. I listed a $99 a month charge for HOA for the fee to park it somewhere. This is much less than RV parks charge, but since it needs fewer hookups, RV parks would have to lower their prices for Tesla Vans. Instead of buying a car and a house, you could buy this van and use it as your home and car.

The Tesla Cybervan would also be designed to navigate in the tunnels built around the world by The Boring Company to avoid the heavy traffic in many urban environments. For longer distance travel, you could take your Cybervan on a HyperLoop tunnel at about 600 MPH or on a SpaceX Starship to go anywhere on the globe in about 30 minutes.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Option really adds some far-out capabilities. With this option, you can load it into a SpaceX Starship and it will be airtight so you can take your vehicle to the moon or Mars. It will have air locks so you can get in and out of the vehicle. This version will cost a lot more and not have the regular doors since you couldnt use them in those harsh environments.

Ive had a lot of fun speculating about how the Cybervan could combine the features of the HVAC system, The Boring Company tunnels, SpaceX Starlink internet service, HyperLoops, and SpaceX Starships for Earth, Moon and Mars targeted flights. What do you think I got right or wrong? What ideas do you have for the Tesla Cybervan?

Appreciate CleanTechnicas originality? Consider becoming aCleanTechnica member, supporter, or ambassador or a Patreon.

Tags: HVAC, Octovalve, SpaceX, Starlink, Tesla, Tesla Cybervan, Tesla Vans

Paul Fosse A Software engineer for over 30 years, first developing EDI software, then developing data warehouse systems. Along the way, I've also had the chance to help start a software consulting firm and do portfolio management. In 2010, I took an interest in electric cars because gas was getting expensive. In 2015, I started reading CleanTechnica and took an interest in solar, mainly because it was a threat to my oil and gas investments. Follow me on Twitter @atj721 Tesla investor. Tesla referral code: https://ts.la/paul92237

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Tesla Van With Camping & SpaceX Packages Brings It All Together Could It Replace Your Home? - CleanTechnica

Is Now The Time To Short Tesla’s Stock? – Benzinga

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares took another big hit on Friday and are now down 9.8%since the company reported second-quarter earnings on Wednesday. The sell-off has eased some pressure of a short squeeze in the stock that has endured throughout 2020, and some traders are speculating now may finally be the time to short Tesla stock.

The Numbers: Prior to Teslas earnings report, short sellers had endured a $20.9 billion year-to-date mark-to-market loss in their aggregate positions, according to S3 Partners analyst Ihor Dusaniwsky. Teslas meteoric rise has forced a steady short squeeze throughout the year, triggering more than 13.8 billion shares worth of short covering year-to-date.

TSLAs short covering has been relatively consistent throughout the year with only a 2 month stretch of time, in March and April, when short selling increased or remained flat, Dusniwsky said.

However, even after the huge losses and mass exodus of short sellers, Dusaniwsky said Thursday that Tesla still has the single largest outstanding short position of any U.S. stock at around $19.9 billion in short interest.

Kass Going Short: While other short sellers are throwing in the towel, Seabreeze Partners Management president Doug Kass said Thursdayhe initiated a short position in Tesla at $1,642 onafter waiting patiently for an opportunity to short the stock for years.

Kass said Teslas potential inclusion in the S&P 500 is more than reflected in its recent share price.

Tesla, with a market capitalization of over $300 billion, reached profitability by virtue of a heavy dose of regulatory credits, so it was a poor quality report, Kass said of this weeks earnings report.

Kass said Tesla will be facingEV market competition in the years ahead, and the stock is finally easy enough to borrow that short sellers wont bleed to death paying fees.

It is my view that Tesla will trade at $1,000/share before it trades at $2,000/share, Kass said.

Benzingas Take: At this point, Kass call has been spot on with Tesla trading at around $1,432 on Friday. Tesla bears are hoping its S&P 500 eligibility continues to be a textbook example of a buy the rumor, sell the news trade.

Related Links:

What Are EV Regulatory Credits And Why Is Tesla Selling So Many Of Them?

Tesla's Valuation Still 'Appears Overcharged' Following Q2 Earnings

View More Analyst Ratings for TSLA View the Latest Analyst Ratings

2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Is Now The Time To Short Tesla's Stock? - Benzinga

UK: Gambling Addiction Treatment Halted During the Lockdown – GamblingNews.com

Treatment for people suffering from gambling addiction in the UK have been placed on pause during the months of lockdown, a report by the BBC outlined. Due to the virus outbreak, NHS personnel have been redeployed where they were needed most, jeopardizing the improvement in the treatment of gambling addicts across the country.

The research undertaken by the national media showed that 8 out of 30 members of staff from the two NHSs trusts, the Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) and the Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust (LYP), who were dealing with gambling treatment, were moved to different roles without backfill. As a result, the ongoing treatment for 33 people was placed on hold, another 29 waiting for assessment were also paused, while contact was maintained remotely for 78.

This happened during times when data showed a spike in the interest for online gambling, with searches for online casino reportedly hitting an all-time high during the lockdown. Despite the overall drop due to the lack of professional sports, data showed gamblers substituted sports betting with playing online slots, poker, casino and even betting on esports.

Gambling charities have been expressing their concern that vulnerable people are likely to reach out to gambling due to isolation, boredom, personal conflicts and financial insecurities, prompting recovering addicts into relapses. The Gordon Moody Association, a leading gambling addiction charity, pointed out the significant increase in the number of gamblers seeking help, from around 30 a month to nearly 1,000 during the period of lockdown.

The LYP which covers the north of England including north Midlands had 4 of its 18 staff redeployed, a response under the Freedom of Information Act showed. The trust had 25 out 125 people referred not progressed to assessment, with the period from contact to assessment stretching from the usual 14 days to nearly a month.

CNWL, which had previously deployed to work in substance misuse services 12 members of staff, redeployed 4 of them due to more pressing needs arising from the virus outbreak. The trust pointed out it carefully risk-assessed everyone in treatment and on its waiting lists, and only those deemed as low risk were placed on hold. CNWL outlined it kept track of the people whose treatment was halted and offered them a series of pre-treatment therapy groups, while patients who were waiting for treatment were offered information about GamCare.

UK adults who have problems with gambling addiction now have another option to receive help as a new Primary Care Gambling Service opened up in London recently. Besides offering relief for people suffering from gambling-related harm, the NHS-backed service is also looking to train general practitioners to be able to recognize the gambling addiction symptoms in the early stages.

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UK: Gambling Addiction Treatment Halted During the Lockdown - GamblingNews.com

Illinois Rolled Back In-Person Registration for Online Betting – GamblingNews.com

Gamblers that want to play online in Illinois now hove to register in-person. This is because the Executive Order which allowed online registration was effective until yesterday, July 26.

Creating an online betting account now must be done in-person in Illinois. From today, July 27, gamblers that want to open an online account must visit one of the states land-based casinos. The measure, which was previously eased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was rolled back.

This happened following Fridays announcement by Governor J.B. Pritzkers office, where some Executive Orders were extended. Executive Order 2020-41 which temporarily suspended the requirement for in-person registry of players who want to bet online was effective through July 26. However, the Order was not extended on Friday. This means that users now must visit a land-based venue in order to register for online betting activity.

Currently, one land-based operator has launched an active online gambling app Rivers Casino Des Plaines. With that in mind, some players will have to travel significant distance if they would want to open up an online betting account. Moreover, this raises a question as to how safe the registration is going to be in-person, considering the post-COVID-19 environment. With that being said, state officials may decide to roll back the relaxed measure given the recent surges in positive COVID-19 cases.

The regulated online gambling market in Illinois was launched in March this year. This was the result of the Sports Wagering Act signed into law by Governor Pritzker back in July 2019. According to the Sports Wagering Act, for the first 18 months, any player that wants to create an online betting account must do so in-person in a land-based property.

With that in mind, amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois shut the doors of its casinos. This was an effort by the state to reduce the spread of the respiratory disease. Keeping in mind that the gaming venues were closed, early in June, the Governor introduced the Executive Order 2020-41 which relaxed the measure for in-person registry effectively allowing users to create accounts online.

Later on, from July 1, the gaming venues were allowed to reopen their doors, although operating under reduced capacity. Looking at how the COVID-19 spread has impacted the gaming industry, we can honestly say that the online betting in the state was off to a shaky start. But this is not the only industry affected by COVID-19. Last week, the hospitality industry in the state said that hundreds of thousands of jobs are threatened due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) not going away.

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Illinois Rolled Back In-Person Registration for Online Betting - GamblingNews.com

Bulgarian Legislature Approves the Bill to Abolish Gambling Commission – European Gaming Industry News

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Supplier partners with Croatian market leader

Casino software provider Playson has signed a content distribution agreement with SuperSport, Croatias foremost operator.

The online sportsbook will significantly enhance its casino offering by directly integrating a thrilling set of Playson titles, including Buffalo Power: Hold and Win, Solar Temple and Solar Queen.

The partnership also covers the developers Timeless Fruit Slots and Funky Fruits portfolios, which are likely to perform well in a jurisdiction where classic fruit-themed games resonate with a wide audience.

SuperSport will also benefit from access to Playsons retention-boosting suite of integration-free engagement tools, such as bonus spins and regular tournaments with daily prize drops.

The deal sees Playson further enhance its impressive player reach in regulated markets across the globe, as the games studio continues to go from strength to strength in Europe and beyond.

Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: We are thrilled to team up with Croatias most prominent operator in SuperSport, in a move that cements our leading credentials as a premium supplier of quality slots.

With a packed game collection boasting widespread appeal, alongside an engagement toolkit that is proven to drive player retention, were ready to deliver for our latest operating partner.

Tugomil Cerovecki, Online Casino Manager at SuperSport said: Playsons absorbing portfolio is enjoyed by an ever-growing legion of global fans, so we are very pleased to partner with the company.

The providers premium quality games, in particular its Timeless Fruit Slots and Funky Fruits portfolios, will undoubtedly help us to continue standing out in a competitive commercial environment.

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Bulgarian Legislature Approves the Bill to Abolish Gambling Commission - European Gaming Industry News

Saxon Shadforth: Philippines have offered a safe space for online gambling – CalvinAyre.com

Having spent plenty of time in Manila since 2007, its fair to say that Saxon Shadforth, Director of Avalon Marketing Services, is no stranger to the online gaming market in the Philippines. Shadforth took some time out to chat with our Becky Liggero Fontana on the benefits of working from a country that has become a major hub for the online gambling industry.

Shadforth highlighted the rapid growth that had occurred in infrastructure in Manilla since 2007. The first time I went there around 2007/8 was around the time many other serviced focused industries were looking to the Philippines whether it was airlines, banks, financial services or telcos, he explained. The infrastructure evolved quite rapidly and the telecoms infrastructure and the maturity of the talent continued to improve at that time. So I think online gambling has benefited greatly from all the other industries but also has contributed to the improvement of the economy there, and certainly provided opportunities not just for financial reward but for education for many people in the Philippines.

The country offers benefits that one may not find in other areas of Asia. The Philippines does have a good hub of all different types of languages and skillsets than some other cities you might think of, Shadforth said. The Philippines has been the one that has consistently been the one thats tried to put their arms around regulation and making it a safe place for people to work and whether it be foreigners or locals and providing services to an industry that is not viewed as the same in every country that you look at in the region.

However, outsourcing businesses may need to adapt to benefit from the unique office culture in the Philippines. For some of us that have worked in traditional offices that nine to five, its quite a foreign concept to that you know professionals at a senior level will be willing to work from 10 pm to 6am, he said. Many generations of families live together in the Philippines and so, you know its an opportunity for some to spend time with the family. There are many good people not just working in call centre jobs, but there are layers and layers of people with interesting roles that work the evening shift.

In the full interview, Shadforth covers some of the mistakes that European companies have made entering the Asian market and what you can be doing to avoid issues. Also, dont forget to subscribe to the CalvinAyre.com YouTube channel to see every interview we make as it goes up.

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Saxon Shadforth: Philippines have offered a safe space for online gambling - CalvinAyre.com

R3 International Offering New Program for Stem Cell Therapy for Back Pain in Mexico – Yahoo Finance

The leading stem cell treatment center in Mexico, R3 International, is now offering a new program for stem cell therapy for back pain. The treatments include 30 million stem cells up to 200 million, and start at only $2975.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The leading stem cell treatment center in Mexico, R3 International, is now offering a new program for stem cell therapy for back pain. The treatments include 30 million stem cells up to 200 million, and start at only $2975.

With close to 9 out of 10 experiencing significant back pain at some point in life, there are millions of individuals who deal with back pain every day. It may be incapacitating, with traditional treatment options often not working exceptionally well. This may include risky narcotics or surgery.

According to R3 CEO David Greene, MD, MBA, "Chronic back pain dampens quality of life, with patients often not being able to work or play with their kids or grandkids. Stem cell treatment with R3 in Mexico is a fantastically effective option for those who want to eliminate pain without surgery or narcotics. It starts at only $2975 too!"

Stem cell therapy for back pain in Mexico at R3 International provides a safe, effective option for patients to alleviate back pain without surgery. Depending on the patient's reason for back pain, treatment may be provided IV, injection, intrathecal or with a combination. Each individual undergoes a free consultation with one of R3's licensed, experienced stem cell doctors who will review medical records and make the treatment suggestion.

Patient satisfaction at R3 Stem Cell International exceeds 87% overall, with treatments being offered for back pain, joint arthritis, Lyme disease, kidney failure, COPD, stroke, neuropathy, Alzheimers, diabetes, Crohns and more. Patients receive an escort from San Diego to the Tijuana clinic, which is only 20 minutes away along with an escort to the treatment and back.

To get set up for a free phone consultation, call (888) 988-0515 and visit https://stemcelltreatmentclinic.com for more information.

SOURCE R3 Stem Cell International

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R3 International Offering New Program for Stem Cell Therapy for Back Pain in Mexico - Yahoo Finance

Stem Cell Therapy Market Research Outlook, Recent Trends and Growth Forecast 2020-2025 – Bulletin Line

The Stem Cell Therapy report provides independent information about the Stem Cell Therapy industry supported by extensive research on factors such as industry segments size & trends, inhibitors, dynamics, drivers, opportunities & challenges, environment & policy, cost overview, porters five force analysis, and key companies profiles including business overview and recent development.

Stem Cell Therapy MarketLatest Research Report 2020:

Download Premium Sample Copy Of This Report: Download FREE Sample PDF!

In this report, our team offers a thorough investigation of Stem Cell Therapy Market, SWOT examination of the most prominent players right now. Alongside an industrial chain, market measurements regarding revenue, sales, value, capacity, regional market examination, section insightful information, and market forecast are offered in the full investigation, and so forth.

Scope of Stem Cell Therapy Market: Products in the Stem Cell Therapy classification furnish clients with assets to get ready for tests, tests, and evaluations.

Major Company Profiles Covered in This Report

Gilead,Novartis,Organogenesis,Vericel

Stem Cell Therapy Market Report Covers the Following Segments:

Product Type: Adult Stem Cells, Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC), Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Very Small Embryonic Like Stem Cells

Application: Regenerative Medicine, Drug Discovery and Development

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

South America

Center East and Africa

United States, Canada and Mexico

Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy

China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia

Brazil, Argentina, Colombia

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa

Market Overview:The report begins with this section where product overview and highlights of product and application segments of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market are provided. Highlights of the segmentation study include price, revenue, sales, sales growth rate, and market share by product.

Competition by Company:Here, the competition in the Worldwide Stem Cell Therapy Market is analyzed, By price, revenue, sales, and market share by company, market rate, competitive situations Landscape, and latest trends, merger, expansion, acquisition, and market shares of top companies.

Company Profiles and Sales Data:As the name suggests, this section gives the sales data of key players of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market as well as some useful information on their business. It talks about the gross margin, price, revenue, products, and their specifications, type, applications, competitors, manufacturing base, and the main business of key players operating in the global Stem Cell Therapy Market.

Market Status and Outlook by Region:In this section, the report discusses about gross margin, sales, revenue, production, market share, CAGR, and market size by region. Here, the global Stem Cell Therapy Market is deeply analyzed on the basis of regions and countries such as North America, Europe, China, India, Japan, and the MEA.

Application or End User:This section of the research study shows how different end-user/application segments contribute to the global Stem Cell Therapy Market.

Market Forecast:Here, the report offers a complete forecast of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market by product, application, and region. It also offers global sales and revenue forecast for all years of the forecast period.

Research Findings and Conclusion:This is one of the last sections of the report where the findings of the analysts and the conclusion of the research study are provided.

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We publish market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students.

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Stem Cell Therapy Market Research Outlook, Recent Trends and Growth Forecast 2020-2025 - Bulletin Line

CAR T-Cell Therapy Offers Potential Solution for Relapse in MCL, But With Toxicity Risk – Targeted Oncology

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) accounts for 5% to 10% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) and is commonly diagnosed when a patients disease is in an advanced stage with extranodal involvement, commonly including gastrointestinal mucosa and central nervous system involvement with blastoid variant. Disease relapse among patients with MCL is known to occur after prolonged remission, which leaves an unanswered question among oncologists in the field of how to approach treatment of relapsed MCL.1

In a presentation during the 2020 Debates and Didactics in Hematology and Oncology conference, Amelia A. Langston, MD, professor and executive vice chair, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology; director, Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program; and medical director, Winship Cancer Network, at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, explained the issues with treating patients with relapsed MCL and how the integration of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy can be a solution to the problem.

Langston noted that MCL has multiple morphologic variants, including classical disease, aggressive or blastoid disease, and indolent disease. Although it is common for oncologists to treat patients with indolent tumors right after diagnosis, Langston highlighted that a small proportion of those patients do not require immediate treatment.

One method for understanding when to start treatment and to predict how patients with MCL will respond to treatment, is utilizing the MIPIc (Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index) prognostic score. Another method, Langston explained, is through gene expression profiles, karyotype, and mutation analysis, which can identify p53 mutations, NOTCH-1 mutations, complex karyotype, and overall poor prognosis.

The primary treatment for MCL is aggressive induction followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), which has been shown to prolong survival in patients with MCL who are fit for aggressive treatment.

Research by Martin Dreyling, MD, PhD, et al presented in 2005 demonstrated the feasibility of early consolidation with myeloablative radiochemotherapy followed by ASCT. In the study, 62 patients underwent ASCT, and 122 patients received interferon (IFN) alpha. With ASCT, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 39 months with ASCT versus 17 months with IFN-alpha (P = .0108). The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate with ASCT was 83% versus 77% with IFN-alpha (P = .18).2

Data presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in 2009 showed a median OS of 90 months with ASCT compared with 54 months with IFN (P = .034).3

Once patients with MCL relapse, the treatment landscape includes FDA-approved targeted therapies, chemotherapy/immunotherapy combinations, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The targeted therapies include Brutons tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, mTOR inhibitors, venetoclax (Venclexta), as well as combination regimens.

The BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (Imbruvica) at a 560-mg daily dose level has led to an objective response rate (ORR) of 66% with a complete response (CR) rate of 20%, according to a pooled analysis of 3 open-label clinical trials, which were the PCYC1104 (NCT01236391), SPARK (NCT01599949), and RAY (NCT01646021) studies. The analysis included 370 patients with MCL who had a median of 2 prior lines of therapy before receiving ibrutinib. This analysis also showed that more than 1 line of prior therapy, p53 mutations, and blastoid histology were all predictors of poor response to ibrutinib.4,5

Acalabrutinib (Calquence), another BTK inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg twice daily demonstrated efficacy in a single-arm multicenter, phase 2 clinical trial (ACE-LY-004, NCT02213926). The ACE-LY-004 study included 124 patients with a median 2 prior lines of therapy. The ORR achieved with acalabrutinib was 81% (95% CI, 73%-87%) per investigator assessment. The CR rate was 40% (95% CI, 31%-49%).6

In terms of survival, the 12-month PFS rate observed with acalabrutinib was 67% (range, 58%-75%) and the 12-months OS rate was 87% (range, 79%-92%).

The adverse events observed in ACE-LY-004 were considered tolerable and only led to treatment discontinuation in 6% of the study population.

Investigators led by Michael Wang, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, concluded from this study that acalabrutinib holds an important place in the treatment landscape of MCL and induces a high rate of durable responses with tolerable safety.

For combination therapies in the MCL paradigm, ibrutinib plus venetoclax was investigated in a single-arm, multicenter, phase 2 study (AIM, NCT02471391), which enrolled 24 patients with MCL, 23 of whom had relapsed or refractory disease and 1 patient with a p53 mutation who was ineligible for chemotherapy. The median number of prior lines of therapy for this study population was 2, and 46% of patients had a p53 mutation and/or deletion. Ibrutinib was administered at 560 mg per day for 4 weeks and then venetoclax was added with a gradual dose escalation up to 400 mg per day.7

The combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax achieved a CR rate of 42% at 16 weeks, which surpassed the historical result of ibrutinib monotherapy (9%; P < .001). In addition, the CR rate among patients who were negative for minimal residual disease was 38%, and for patients with a p53 mutation, the CR rate was 50%. Ibrutinib plus venetoclax also achieved a PFS rate of 78% at 15 months.

The safety analysis did reveal 2 cases of tumor lysis syndrome in patients, however, but overall, the combination was well tolerated.

CAR T-cell therapy has already been integrated into the treatment landscape of many hematologic malignancies and is now being considered as a treatment for different solid tumors. CAR T-cell therapy is also a valid option for treatment of R/R MCL, and one agent, KTE-X19 has been granted Priority Review by the FDA for this indication based on results from the phase 2 ZUMA-2 trial.1

The multicenter study enrolled 74 patients and 68 of them received the CAR T-cell product. Among the MCL subjects, the subgroups included patients who relapsed after ASCT, relapsed after their most recent previous therapy, were refractory to BTK inhibition, relapsed during or after BTK inhibition, and could not receive BTK inhibition.8

In terms of efficacy, 85% of patients achieved an objective response, which included CRs in 59% of patients. In the various subgroups of patients with MCL included in the study, high rates of objective response were also observed. There were also 2 patients with stable disease and 2 with progressive disease.

Neither the median PFS nor OS were reached at the time of data cutoff, but the PFS rate at 1 year was estimated to be 61% in the study, and the OS rate was estimated to be 83% at 1 year.

The CAR T-cell agent led to grade 3 or higher AEs, the majority of which were cytopenias (94%); additionally, 32% were infections, 31% were neurologic events, 15% of patients had cytokine release syndrome, and 32% had hypogammaglobulinemia. The treatment-related mortality rate in this study was 3%, which was due to infections.

These data led to the conclusion that although KTE-X19 can induce durable remissions in patients with MCL, it causes serious toxicities that are common for CAR T-cell therapy. Thus, Langston noted in her presentation that CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed disease should only be considered for select patients.

Overall, BTK inhibition will likely remain a standard of care for R/R MCL, Langston stated, but CAR T-cell therapy should be carefully integrated into the landscape, once the first agent is granted FDA approval and depending on the indications of that approval. Finally, healthier patients with R/R MCL can continue to be considered for ASCT, which, she noted, has curative ability for heavily pretreated patients.1

References:

1. Langston AA. Integrating CAR t cell therapy into the management of relapsed mantle cell lymphoma. Presented at: 2020 Debates and Didactics in Hematology and Oncology; July 16-18, 2020; Sea Island, GA.

2. Dreyling M, Lenz G, Hoster E, et al. Early consolidation by myeloablative radiochemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in first remission significantly prolongs progression-free survival in mantle-cell lymphoma: results of a prospective randomized trial of the European MCL Network. Blood. 2005;105(7):2677-2684. doi:10.1182/blood-2004-10-3883

3. Hoster E, Metzner B, Forstpointner R, et al. Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation and Addition of Rituximab Independently Prolong Response Duration in Advanced Stage Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Blood. 2009;114(22):880. doi:10.1182/blood.V114.22.880.880

4. Rule S, Dreyling M, Goy A, et al. Outcomes in 370 patients with mantle cell lymphoma treated with ibrutinib: a pooled analysis from three open-label studies. Br J Haematol. 2019;179(3):430-438. doi:10.1111/bjh.14870

5. Rule S, Dreyling M, Goy A, et al. Ibrutinib for the treatment of relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma: extended 3.5-year follow up from a pooled analysis. Haematologica. 2019;104(5):e211-e214. doi:10.3324/haematol.2018.205229

6. Wang M, Rule S, Zinzani PL, et al. Acalabrutinib in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (ACE-LY-004): a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2017;391(10121):659-667. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33108-2

7. Tam CS, Andeson MA, Pott C, et al. Ibrutinib plus venetoclax for the treatment of mantle-cell lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(13):1211-1223. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1715519

8. Wang M, Munoz J, Goy A, et al. KTE-X19 CAR t-cell therapy in relapsed or refractory mantle-cell lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(14):1331-1342. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1914347

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CAR T-Cell Therapy Offers Potential Solution for Relapse in MCL, But With Toxicity Risk - Targeted Oncology

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Applications, Types and Future Outlook Report 2020-2027 – Bulletin Line

New Jersey, United States,- The research report on Complementary And Alternative Medicine market comprises of insights in terms of pivotal parameters such as production as well as the consumption patterns alongside revenue estimations for the projected timeframe. Speaking of production aspects, the study offers an in-depth analysis regarding the manufacturing processes along with the gross revenue amassed by the leading producers operating in this business arena. The unit cost deployed by these producers in various regions during the estimated timeframe is also mentioned in the report.

Significant information pertaining to the product volume and consumption value is enlisted in the document. Additionally, the report contains details regarding the consumption graphs, Individual sale prices, and import & export activities. Additional information concerning the production and consumption patterns are presented in the report.

In a word, the Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market report provides major statistics on the state of the Complementary And Alternative Medicine industry with a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. In the end, Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market report delivers a conclusion which includes Research Findings, Market Size Evaluation, Global Market Share, Consumer Needs along with Customer Preference Change, Data Source. These factors will raise the growth of the business overall.

Regions Covered in the Global Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market:

The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt)

North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada)

South America (Brazil etc.)

Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)

Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

Highlights of the Report:

Accurate market size and CAGR forecasts for the period 2020-2026

Identification and in-depth assessment of growth opportunities in key segments and regions

Detailed company profiling of top players of the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market

Exhaustive research on innovation and other trends of the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market

Reliable industry value chain and supply chain analysis

Comprehensive analysis of important growth drivers, restraints, challenges, and growth prospects

The scope of the Report:

The report offers a complete company profiling of leading players competing in the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine marketwith a high focus on the share, gross margin, net profit, sales, product portfolio, new applications, recent developments, and several other factors. It also throws light on the vendor landscape to help players become aware of future competitive changes in the global Complementary And Alternative Medicine market.

Reasons to Buy the Report:

About Us:

Market Research Intellect provides syndicated and customized research reports to clients from various industries and organizations with the aim of delivering functional expertise. We provide reports for all industries including Energy, Technology, Manufacturing and Construction, Chemicals and Materials, Food and Beverage, and more. These reports deliver an in-depth study of the market with industry analysis, the market value for regions and countries, and trends that are pertinent to the industry.

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Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Applications, Types and Future Outlook Report 2020-2027 - Bulletin Line

Brazil Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Segments and Supply Demand Forecast 2020-2027 – Bulletin Line

The report covers the forecast and analysis of the Brazil Complementary and Alternative Medicine market on a global and regional level. The study provides historical data from 2015 to 2018 along with a forecast from 2019 to 2027 based on revenue (USD Million).

The study includes drivers and restraints of the Brazil Complementary and Alternative Medicine market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the Brazil Complementary and Alternative Medicine market on a global level.

Download Sample of This Strategic Report:https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10172662

In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view of the Brazil Complementary and Alternative Medicine market, we have included a competitive landscape and an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the market. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein all the segments are bench marked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.

The report provides company market share analysis to give a broader overview of the key players in the market. In addition, the report also covers key strategic developments of the market including acquisitions & mergers, new service & product launches, agreements, partnerships, collaborations & joint ventures, research & development, and regional expansion of major participants involved in the market on a global and regional basis.

The study provides a decisive view of the Brazil Complementary and Alternative Medicine market by segmenting the market based on type, age group, disease indications, distribution channel, and regions. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2019 to 2027. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

A combination of various technologies will pave the way for the market growth in Brazil over the forecast timeline. Moreover, the occurrence of non-contagious ailments like heart disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression will propel the market growth during the period from 2019 to 2027. In addition to this, the complementary & alternative drugs approach for treating these non-communicable ailments will create lucrative growth avenues for the industry in other developing regions also. Apart from this, the integration of therapies like acupuncture and magnetic interventions will further boost the complementary and alternative medicine industry in Brazil.

Based on the type, the market for complementary and alternative medicine in Brazil is divided into Traditional Alternate Medicine Therapy, Diet and Herbal Based Therapy, Mind Therapy, Body Therapy, and Energy Healing Therapy. In terms of age group, the industry is classified into Infant, Adults, Adolescent, and the Elderly.

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On the basis of disease indications, the market is divided into Arthritis, Neurology, Cancer, Cardiology, Asthma, and Diabetes. In terms of distribution channel, the market is segmented into Direct Sales, Distance Correspondence, and E-Distribution.

Some of the key players in the market include Optum, Inc., Ach, Quantum-Touch, and Herboflora.

About Kenneth Research

Kenneth Research is a reselling agency providing market research solutions in different verticals such as Automotive and Transportation, Chemicals and Materials, Healthcare, Food & Beverage and Consumer Packaged Goods, Semiconductors, Electronics & ICT, Packaging, and Others. Our portfolio includes set of market research insights such as market sizing and market forecasting, market share analysis and key positioning of the players (manufacturers, deals and distributors, etc), understanding the competitive landscape and their business at a ground level and many more. Our research experts deliver the offerings efficiently and effectively within a stipulated time. The market study provided by Kenneth Research helps the Industry veterans/investors to think and to act wisely in their overall strategy formulation

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Brazil Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Segments and Supply Demand Forecast 2020-2027 - Bulletin Line

#VisualAbstract: Treating latent tuberculosis infection with four months of rifampin versus nine months of isoniazid – 2 Minute Medicine

1. When compared to 9 months of isoniazid, 4 months of rifampin was a non-inferior alternative treatment of latent tuberculosis (TB) that was both cheaper and lead to lower healthcare usage amongst adult and pediatric patients in high-, middle-, and low-resource health systems in 9 nations.

2. Choosing rifampin represented a cost savings of 38% to the health system

Evidence Rating:1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown:Isoniazid, an inhibitor of mycobacteria cell wall synthesis, is the standard of treatment of latent TB. Rifampin, a more costly medication, is generally reserved for active TB treatment along with ethambutol and pyrazinamide. This study demonstrated that while rifampin is more expensive, its shorter treatment length and fewer adverse events resulted in a lower total cost across study sites. Ultimately this represented a cost savings to the health system of roughly one-third of the cost of isoniazid. The studys applicability was strengthened by its multi-centered approach that included representative countries across GDP. The failure to include individual cost burden limited the studys ability to fully account for possible barriers to treatment.

Click to read the study in Annals of Internal Medicine

In-Depth[randomized controlled trial]:This multicenter, prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial examined the cost of treatment for latent TB with isoniazid and rifampin across 9 diverse study countries (Australia, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Guinea, and Indonesia). Participant eligibility was determined by documented skin test or QuantiFERON test, clinical risk factors, and clinician treatment recommendation. Baseline characteristics were attained from each participant including blood tests, chest radiography, and clinician medical assessment as were health data from routine follow ups with clinicians (which included attaining a complete blood count and liver function test). Six-thousand twelve adults and 829 children were included in the final modified intent-to-treat analysis with roughly half of the population originating from African countries. Seventy-one percent of adults and 82% of children completed treatment and 229 participants experienced an adverse event. The total cost of 9 of months of isoniazid was higher than 4 months of rifampin across all 9 study sites. Total cost was also higher in high-income countries when compared to middle-income or African countries. Cost components were heterogeneously distributed amongst the 3 income groups: routine follow-up visits made up 30 50% of total cost in high- and middle-income countries compared to roughly 15% of the cost in African countries. After multivariate analysis, the total average cost of rifampin was $340 (CI 95% $330 to $350) which represented a 38% savings for the health systems.

20202 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensinghere. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

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#VisualAbstract: Treating latent tuberculosis infection with four months of rifampin versus nine months of isoniazid - 2 Minute Medicine

Letter: Reaping what you sow | Letters to the Editor – Arizona Daily Star

Re: the July 23 letter "Vote because your life depends on it."

The letter illustrates that some of the distrust of the medical profession that is hindering the fight against COVID-19 has been well-earned. Women with chronic debilitating symptoms are dismissed as psychiatric cases, while people of color cannot get treatment for pain. Research into the devastating epidemics of chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, and autism is underfunded in favor of research into expensive treatments for rare diseases. The CDC and Dr. Fauci's NIAID ignore evidence that Lyme bacteria can persist in the body and cause years of disability, fail to develop accurate tests for Lyme, and discredit labs that offer better tests.

This neglect drives many patients into alternative medicine, where some find healing and some learn distrust of Western science, including vaccines. Perhaps the public's maddening response to the pandemic will lead to a re-evaluation of medicine's practices and priorities.

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

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Letter: Reaping what you sow | Letters to the Editor - Arizona Daily Star

Thailand approves use of marijuana in local health promotion hospitals – The Thaiger

The blending of marijuana with other pharmaceutical products for the purpose of medical treatment is being given the go-ahead by the Thai government. Nation Thailand reports that the Ministry of Public Health has approved 17 formulations for use in local health promotion hospitals.

Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals are hospitals that are operated by either the MOPH or Department of Local Administration and were initially called health stations. These hospitals only have primary care capabilities and often serve villages within districts. Almost all of these hospitals do not accept inpatients and usually have no doctor on duty for the entire time. Wikipedia

Dr. Marut Jirasrattasiri, from the Department of Traditional Thai Medicine and Alternative Medicine, says over 60,000 patients have expressed interest in being treated with medicinal marijuana, with the department approving the drug for use.

Currently, 4 hospitals are understood to be participating, 3 of which are in the north-east of the country. These are Khlong Muang Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Chiang Phin Hospital in the province of Udon Thani, Ban Na Yao Nuea Hospital in Sakon Nakhon province, and Ban Na Pak Khow hospital in the southern province of Phatthalung.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

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Thailand approves use of marijuana in local health promotion hospitals - The Thaiger

Balloon-expandable covered stent reveals promise as endovascular alternative to surgery in treatment of arterial emergencies – Vascular News

This advertorial is sponsored by Bentley.

Maria Antonella Ruffino, a vascular interventional radiologist at Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Citt della Salute e della Scienza in Turin, Italy, tells Vascular News about her teams growing clinical experience with covered stents as a platform that offer a minimally invasive solution for arterial emergencies. Ruffino gives an insight into the advantages of covered stents in such cases, their potential limitations, and which ones may be a favourable option for emergency treatment.

Arterial emergencies, such as bleeding, pseudoaneurysm, dissection, or fistula are potentially life-threatening conditions. Spontaneous or iatrogenic arterial emergencies require prompt diagnosis and treatment. During the last few decades, the treatment of these lesions has shifted from emergency open surgery to an endovascular approach, and the latter is rapidly becoming part of the treatment algorithm.

What are the advantages of using covered stents in such emergency cases?

The main endovascular approaches include use of covered stents and embolisation. A key advantage of using a covered stent in an emergency case, when compared to embolisation, is that a stent graft guarantees the immediate exclusion of the lesion without the sacrifice of the target vessel, avoiding the risk of non-target embolisation, which can result in ischaemic complications and rebleeding. Preservation of flow is crucial particularly in districts with a terminal vascularisation, without collaterals, such as the limbs and kidneys. Additionally, this also applies to the liver, where it is uncertain whether extrahepatic arteries provide sufficient collateral circulation in case of hepatic artery occlusion.

What is your clinical experience with covered stents?

At our centre, we started using the BeGraft peripheral stent graft (Bentley, Hechingen, Germany) in June 2015. In the beginning, we used it for iliac procedures in elective cases of severe aortoiliac occlusive disease. Subsequently, we expanded this to include cases of rupture or dissection, and for severe complications that can present when long, calcified iliac occlusions are treated. The availability, wide sizing range, goodtrackability and conformability of these stent grafts and their low profile (6F compatible up to 8mm diameter) led us to extend their use to other vessels in case of arterial injuries. Since 2018, we have also used the BeGraft aortic stent graft, which has allowed us to treat vessels of larger diameters. Our cardiology colleagues already use the BeGraft coronary stent.

During the last few years, we have treated many emergency cases with the BeGraft stent graft family. These include iliac ruptures or renal pseudoaneurysms which are quite common but also more complex cases, like common carotid artery bleeding or penetrating aortic ulcer rupture.* In these last two scenarios, in particular, where we needed a large stent graft (12mm), we have experienced first-hand how a larger diameter BeGraft stent can perform in tortuous anatomies, thanks to its good trackability and low profile, as it can be used with small vascular sheaths (9F in these cases).

Part of our experience, which focused on iatrogenic arterial injuries, has been recently published in Medicine, reporting a technical success of 100% and a clinical success of 88%. No device- or procedure-related deaths, nor major complications were reported. There was no patency loss at mid-term follow-up (average FU 390 +/- 168 days).1

Are there any limitations associated with the use of covered stents for emergency cases?

Almost all arterial lesions can be treated with covered stents, except for those without anatomic suitability, such as very distal lesions, or those without an adequate proximal and distal neck. Similarly, arterial lesions that are located in vessels of a calibre not suitable for stenting cannot be treated with covered stents. Finally, in case of tortuous anatomy or at a joint, when possible, a self-expandable covered stent is the preferred option.

What are your must-have sizes of covered stents for emergencies?

Arterial emergencies can present with a variety of lesions that can be very different in aetiology and characteristics, and located in vessels that can vary significantly in size. This is why we require a wide array of differently sized stent grafts in order to select the most suitable one. It is, therefore, difficult to say which sizes are a must-have.

Our experience shows that, in the case of arterial injuries, the proper sizing of the stent graft is essential to achieve technical and clinical success, without complications and recurrences, which further highlights the importance of having a wide range of stent grafts on shelf to treat arterial emergencies, and the BeGraft family has the broadest covered stent platform in the market.

Overall, endovascular treatment with BeGraft covered stents, with preservation of distal flow, is minimally invasive, safe, and effective in the management of arterial injuries and emergencies. Furthermore, all the aforementioned device characteristics allow for the rapid treatment of the lesion, even in case of tortuous anatomy.

*The usage of the BeGraft aortic for treatment in the carotid artery or PAU is off label.

References

Case images

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Balloon-expandable covered stent reveals promise as endovascular alternative to surgery in treatment of arterial emergencies - Vascular News

PolyA-miner accurately assesses the effect of alternative polyadenylation on gene expression – Baylor College of Medicine News

Image courtesy of HK Yalamanchili/Liu lab/Nucleic Acids Research, 2020

Researchers with an interest in unraveling gene regulation in human health and disease are expanding their horizons by closely looking at alternative polyadenylation (APA), an under-charted mechanism that regulates gene expression.

APA is about modifying one of the ends, called the 3-prime end (3end), of RNA strands that are transcribed from DNA. The modification consists of changing the length of a tail of adenosines, one of the RNA building blocks, at the 3end before RNA is translated into proteins, said first author Dr. Hari Krishna Yalamanchili, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Dr. Zhandong Liu at Baylor College of Medicine. This adenosine chain helps to determine how long the messenger RNA lasts in the cell, influencing how much protein is produced from it.

The interest in APA has resulted in the development of several 3 sequencing (3Seq) techniques that allow for precise identification on APA sites on RNA strands. But what researchers are missing is a robust computational tool that is specifically designed to analyze the wealth of 3Seq data that has been generated.

Until now, researchers have been using traditional RNA sequencing computational tools to analyze the 3Seq datasets. Although this approach produces results, it does not maximize the potential amount of information that can be extracted from that data, Yalamanchili said. Here we developed a computational tool that precisely analyzes 3Seq data. We call it PolyA-miner.

Yalamanchili and his colleagues used their new computational tool to analyze existing 3Seq datasets. PolyA-miner not only reproduced the analyses achieved with traditional computational tools, but also identified novel APA sites that were not detected with the other analytical approaches.

We were surprised when the PolyA-miner analysis of a glioblastoma cell line dataset identified more than twice the number of genes with APA changes than were initially reported, Yalamanchili said.

I think that the most exciting part of this new tool is that it enables us to precisely reflect gene-level 3 changes and to identify many more APA events than before. With other analytical approaches, we underestimate the effect and number of poly-adenylation events, said Liu, associate professor of pediatrics and neurology at Baylor and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Childrens Hospital.

This development has tremendous implications for basic research and for the potential translation of scientific findings into the clinic. APA is considered a major mechanism for RNA regulation that has strong relevance both in cancer and neurological diseases. PolyA-miner can assist scientists looking to identify the genetic causes of these diseases by determining whether there are differences in APA between diseased and normal cells. With this new analysis, scientists can take a fresh look at existing genomic datasets that may provide an answer to the cause of human conditions, as well as studying newly developed datasets.

Previously, people knew about APA changes, but did not consider them to be major contributors to gene regulation mainly because we lacked the computational tools to determine APAs overall influence on gene expression, Yalamanchili said.

PolyA-miner has shown that APA seems to play a larger role in gene regulation than we had previously thought.

Read the complete article in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.

Other contributors to this work include Callison E. Alcott, Ping Ji, Eric J. Wagner and Huda Y. Zoghbi. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Childrens Hospital; University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston; and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston.

Financial support for this project was provided by Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RP170387), Houston endowment, Chao endowment, Huffington foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NRI Zoghbi Scholar Award, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (F30NS095449), National Institute of General Medical Sciences [R01-GM134539) and the National Cancer Institute (R03-CA223893-01).

By Ana Mara Rodrguez, Ph.D

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PolyA-miner accurately assesses the effect of alternative polyadenylation on gene expression - Baylor College of Medicine News