How Income Tax Structure Has Evolved In India In the 2010s – NDTV News

The income tax structure in India has undergone a series of changes in the years gone by. And it has been a work-in-progress. The last 10 years stand out in evolution of the tax system as authorities have striven to strike the right balance between tax incentives and revenue generation, in order to stay on the path of fiscal prudence. Here's a summary of the key changes in the income tax structure in 2010s.

Broadening of tax slabs

Additional deduction of Rs 20,000 for investment in long-term infra bonds (over and above existing limit of Rs 1 lakh on tax savings)

Enhancement of exemption limit for individual taxpayers from Rs 1,60,000 to Rs 1,80,000

Reduction of qualifying age for senior citizens from 65 years to 60 years

Enhancement of exemption limit for senior citizens from Rs 2,40,000 to Rs 2,50,000

Higher exemption limit of Rs 5,00,000 for very senior citizens aged eighty and above

Enhancement of exemption limit for individual taxpayers from Rs 1,80,000 to Rs 2,00,000

Deduction of up to Rs 10,000 for interest from savings bank accounts

Deduction of up to Rs 5,000 for preventive health check-up (within the existing limit for deduction allowed for health insurance)

Exemption from advance tax payment for senior citizens that do not have any income

Tax credit of Rs 2,000 to individuals having a total income up to Rs 5 lakh

Changes in taxation system introduced by Arun Jaitley, finance minister of NDA regime

Increase in personal income tax exemption limit by Rs 50,000 from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for taxpayers aged below 60

Raise in exemption limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens

Abolishment of Wealth tax

Increase in surcharge on income above Rs 1 crore, from 10 per cent to to 12 per cent

Increase in surcharge on total income over Rs 1 crore, from 12 per cent to 15 per cent

Tax rebate for individuals with income up to Rs 5 lakh raised to Rs 5,000 from Rs 2,000

Additional deduction up to Rs 50,000 on interest payment for first-time home loan borrowers (over and above Rs 2 lakh for home loan borrower)

Reduction in income tax rate on income of Rs 2.5 lakh-5 lakh to 5 per cent from 10 per cent

Rebate under Section 87A lowered to Rs 2,500 from Rs 5,000; no rebate on income above Rs 3.5 lakh

Surcharge of 10 per cent on income of Rs 50 lakh-Rs 1 crore

Penalty up to Rs 10,000 on failing to file returns on time (not more than Rs 1,000 on income up to Rs 5 lakh)

Abolition of deduction on investment in Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme

Hike in cess to 4 per cent from 3 per cent

Introduction of standard deduction of Rs 40,000 for salaried individuals

For senior citizens:

Exemption of interest income on bank/post office deposits increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 10,000

Hike in deduction limit for health insurance premium/medical expenditure to Rs 50,000 from Rs 30,000 under section 80D of Income Tax Act

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The War on Drugs in England: Police seize drug dealers’ phone then text users! – Euro Weekly News

Police take over drug dealers phone numbers and then text users in a new fight against the county lines gangs.

Officers in Sussex have become the first in the country to test a pioneering new tool that allows them to get phone lines turned over to their control. Drug dealing telecommunications restriction orders (DDTROs) mean that officers can disrupt the flow of messages between dealers and users, and therefore the flow of drugs.

Detective Superintendent Jo Banks, the senior detective leading the fight against county lines drug gangs in Sussex, said: Its a disruptions tool. But actually what we are then doing is messaging out to the users from that line to say what the alternatives are for them to actually get some help and try and get out of providing that demand for the drugs line in the first place.

We would never say its the golden goose, its never the answer. But actually as a disruption tactic it is very useful.

As officers seek to clamp down on cuckooing of vulnerable peoples homes by drug dealers, gangs have started to operate from Airbnbs and hotel rooms. People need to be aware, particularly if they own the Airbnb, if theyve got second homes or whatever, and theyre hiring them out, actually what theyre being used for, said Ms Banks.

The move has come as new research shows that thousands of children are being placed in unregulated care homes, where they are at risk of exploitation of sexual predators and drug gangs.

This is significant because a recent parliamentary inquiry into children being used to traffic drugs found that 80% of 41 police forces in England and Wales expressed concerns about unregulated accommodation. Ms Banks said that dealers often have eyes and ears on the ground and know the places where children hang around.

They know who theyre looking for, she said.

They know how to spot kids that they can approach who are then going to take the free deal and then become hooked into this world.

County Lines recruitment

Research released by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Thursday shows that thousands of people aged between 11 and 62 have been drawn into so-called county lines gangs.

More than 4,000 people in London have been recruited by drug gangs with networks spread across 41 counties in the UK, figures show.

The criminal networks deliberately target children and vulnerable adults to courier drugs from urban bases out to customers across the country, running phone lines to take orders.

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The War on Drugs in England: Police seize drug dealers' phone then text users! - Euro Weekly News

Unwind the War on Drugs! Really? – LawOfficer.com

Its Finally Time to Unwind the War on Drugs in Illinois This was the title to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, December 19, 2019, written by Kelly Cassidy, a Democratic State Representative from Illinois. She labeled those individuals arrested and convicted for possession of controlled substance, the victims of the war on drugs. And my favorite, In short, the war on drugs has been a war on those who are black and brown.

This very naive politician is pushing legislation that will remove criminalization for any small amounts of any drug possession because we know that prosecutions and convictions for simple drug possessionfall disproportionally on communities of color.

Does anyone have any issues with these proclamations?

Weapons and narcotics go hand in hand. (File photo Anaheim Police Department)

Apparently, this politician doesnt understand the gang wars of Chicago even though she claims to be from the shoot-em up city. These wars are almost always over territory and territory is fought over and protected because of drug sales. The gang that controls a territory can profit immensely from drug sales. These territorial disputes lead to hundreds of murders yearly and thousands of shootings. To date, the city of Chicago has experienced 2,197 people shot and 445 killed. By the way, over 80% of those victims are black.

State Representative Kelly Cassidy wants to decriminalize drugs.

Our Democratic liberal politicians want to end arrests and prosecutions for all drug offenses, very similar to those laws in San Francisco. San Francisco has heroin and meth addicts injecting illegal drugs on the public way and disposing of their needles on sidewalks and in the streets of a once beautiful and vibrant city: the same sidewalks and streets that children use to walk to school. It seems to me that when you view the homeless drug addicts living in squalor among increases of Hepatitis C and Cholera, with rats and feces surrounding them on public property, you may want to rethink this drug addict/victimizations paradigm.

Could authorities change the future affecting addicts and drug criminalization? Certainly. How about court ordered rehabilitation for drug possession in lieu of incarceration. And, if this doesnt get the acceptable results, court ordered mandatory forced detoxification in a guarded and secure facility. Recidivists drug users/offenders would receive progressively longer sentences for their continued drug use. Per chance, some addicts would revert to becoming non-users and potentially live decent lives. More importantly, the threat from the plague; AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Cholera would be eliminated.

Controlled substances. (File photo)

Many of these concepts have been tried before, but without the energy to enforce them. Use the moneys waisted on clean up and incarceration and focus on rehab and housing. Old factories, military bases, closed schools and other large buildings will suffice. We dont need the Ritz-Carlton. We need the most simplistic means of survival coupled with drug counselling. Quit throwing good money after bad money. Dont get fancy, focus on the cause.

All this nonsense talk about blacks being victims of society and the need for over-the-top legislation is focused on one thing, votes. Theres a contest to kowtow to every whim and fancy of the vocal minority in order to increase their dependence; this in order to increase black votes. Lets prevent these politicians continued attempt to exterminate the black race under the guise of helping it.

To all my brothers and sisters in blue, lock and load and protect each other. And as always, stay safe.

Larry Casey

Note: View Larry Caseys website at http://www.StoriesofaChicagoPoliceOfficer.com and review his book by the same name. It makes a great inexpensive gift.

(Feature image: Pixnio)

Having had a grandfather and father on the Chicago Police Department made the choice of becoming a police officer relatively simple. Between the excitement of having a real profession and the prospect of following in the Casey footprint, the Chicago Police Department seemed a natural choice. I retired at the age of fifty-six after thirty years of a very wide variety of police work and assignments. After a few months of relaxation, I started my next career as an adjunct professor of Criminal Justice at Wilbur Wright College. I taught there for ten years and recently retired again.

Trading thoughts about my police experience led me to write a book of my memories. I did not want to bore people with the typical police stories of shooting-em-ups. And seeing I was always a proponent of humor being a policemans best outlet for stress, I decided it was appropriate of me, to write a very different genre of police book. My compilation of short stories is based on the humorous side of police work. Honesty, it is also a base for many memories, stories that were too raw or considered too embarrassing for the everyday reader.

Im very proud to say, I teamed up with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and I send them a donation for every book I sell through Pay-Pal or at book signings. I have done book signings for charitable events, for police vests, local libraries, GOP sponsored events, local community events and many others.

My main goal in writing was to entertain and educate the public: to show that police officers are fathers, mother, sisters and brothers, etc. Were real people with hearts and souls. We laugh and cry like everybody else. We change tires and diapers, go to ball games and wash our cars. Were simply human.

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MMFFs Miracle in Cell No. 7 juxtaposed with the controversial drug war – InterAksyon

The premise of Metro Manila Film Festival entry Miracle in Cell No. 7 around the unfortunate fate of the wrongly accused languishing behind bars is a timely commentary about the failures of the justice system in the Philippines.

For some viewers, it is ironic that the local adaptation of the South Korea film turned out to be the most popular at this years festival, while the war on drugs that purportedly executed and jailed those who were not yet charged and convicted remains a popular policy of the administration.

Imagine crying over Miracle in Cell No. 7 that literally talks about a father who died for a crime he didnt commit and justifying our president along with this rigged system that kills the lives of innocent people at the same time, a Twitter user wrote, referencing President Rodrigo Duterte.

The user retweeted a post by another individual who shared the same sentiments about the movies popularity, pointing out how Filipinos continue to support actions that go against the justice system, particularly extrajudicial killings.

The local adaptation of the Miracle in Cell No. 7 was reported to be a surprise hit in most of Metro Manila cinemas on the opening day of the annual MMFF yesterday.

VIVA Films, the remakes producer, shared screenshots on its Instagram account to show that the movie was sold out.

Miracle in Cell No. 7 tells of the story of a man with a developmental disorder who is imprisoned for heinous crimes he did not commit and how he stayed reunited with his daughter through the help of fellow inmates.

RELATED:Theres some hype around Filipino remake of South Koreas Miracle in Cell No. 7

In the adapted version, veteran actor Aga Muhlach plays the role ofYong-gu, Xia Vigor is the young version of his daughterYe-seung and Bela Padilla appears as the older version.

The movie also stars Joel Torre, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, John Arcilla and Tirso Cruz III and Ronnie Lazaro.

According to polling firmPulse Asia, Duterte continues to be trusted by Filipinos. His trust ratings increased from 78% in September to 87% this month.

People who distrust him have reportedly decreased from 14% to 8% while those who disapprove of his performance as chief executive decreased from 8% to 5%.

Duterte is known for his hardline policies against illegal narcotics and has been accused of initiating and sponsoring extrajudicial killings ever since he took office in 2016.

Critics have filed complaints against him to the International Criminal Court for allegedly committing crimes against humanity over the war on drugs.

If there is enough basis for the complaint, the Hague-based court will then conduct a formal investigation into the matter.

Based on the report of ICC, various agents including the UN secretary-general, UN bodies and experts, other countries, international non-governmental organizations and national civil representatives have expressed serious concern about EJKs and Dutertes statements about the matter.

It has been viewed as endorsing the killings and fostering an environment of impunity and violence.

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MMFFs Miracle in Cell No. 7 juxtaposed with the controversial drug war - InterAksyon

Massachusetts has a blueprint for what’s next in criminal justice reform – NBC News

During the 1988 presidential race, George H. W. Bush's campaign released a notorious advertisement featuring convicted Massachusetts murderer Willie Horton, who committed heinous crimes while out on a prison furlough program championed by Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, the then-vice president's Democratic rival.

The ad was credited with sinking Dukakis' campaign, stoking racist fears and stereotypes in the era of the war on drugs, which largely targeted black communities. Two years later, during his 1990 campaign for Massachusetts governor, Republican Bill Weld vowed to reintroduce prisoners to the joys of busting rocks.

But three decades later, Democrats and Republicans in the Massachusetts Legislature almost unanimously passed a landmark bill that reimagined nearly every facet of its criminal justice system, which was signed into law by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.

Experts say it's part of a nationwide trend among states, which are moving away from incarceration and policies that are tough on crime and instead focusing on sentencing changes, diversions to prison alternatives and robust re-entry programs.

And a year after the passage of the First Step Act, a bipartisan federal criminal justice bill signed into law by President Donald Trump, efforts at the national level to overhaul the criminal justice system have largely focused on reducing the federal prison population by easing sentencing laws stemming from the war on drugs and supporting rehabilitation programs inside prisons.

But experts point to Massachusetts as one of the blueprints for what's next for criminal justice reform as lawmakers and advocates argue more changes are needed at the federal level.

The Massachusetts law eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for certain low-level drug offenses, increased the use of treatment as an alternative to prison for drug crimes, raised the minimum age a child can be held criminally responsible from 7 to 12, overhauled the state's cash bail system by allowing judges to consider a defendants ability to pay, and allowed some records for juvenile and since-legalized crimes, such as marijuana possession, to be expunged.

Lawmakers who worked on the bill said it has helped the state move away from incarceration as punishment and reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

We examined the system from soup to nuts from the question of what is criminal, what is not criminal, to the question of diversion, to bail, to sentencing and mandatory minimums, to issues in prison, including the issues of restrictive housing, most importantly, and also the issue of good time credits, said state Sen. William Brownsberger, a Democrat who is the president pro tempore of the chamber and also a lead sponsor of the bill.

We assembled basically all the good ideas that have been on the table, some of which were fairly new and others of which had been on the table for years.

Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.

During the bill signing in April 2018, Baker called the legislation a product of many years of hard work, collaboration and compromise by everyone involved that will make for a better criminal justice system.

Other Republican lawmakers praised the law, as well. Rep. Susan Williams Gifford, who is part of the Republican leadership in the Massachusetts House, lauded the bill for strengthening the states opioid laws, setting harsher penalties for assaulting a police officer and creating a rape kit database.

Brownsberger said the bipartisanship on the legislation came naturally because both sides had worked closely over the years examining data, talking to advocates and experts, and looking at best practices in other states.

It's important to understand that any big legislative change has to build up over a period of years really, during which people examine their assumptions, becoming willing to entertain two approaches, he said. Things take some time to come together, but the stars really were aligned in that legislative session, and we were able to get some big things done through a lot of collaboration.

We didn't go over the top on any one single thing," Brownsberger added. "But we took major steps in dozens of areas, and that's what made it such a big bill.

Leon Smith, the executive director of Citizens for Juvenile Justice, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that works with a coalition of criminal and juvenile justice organizations and advocated for the bill, said there was some pushback to the reforms because Massachusetts is among the states with the lowest incarceration rates. But he said racial disparities still exist, particularly the proportion of youth of color in the state's criminal justice system.

"The low incarceration rate that is often celebrated in Massachusetts hides worsening rates of racial and ethnic disparities in justice system involvement and the significant harms of system involvement and related collateral consequences on young people as they try to grow up, mature and transition into adulthood," he said. "Thus, the 2018 reform campaign focused on preventing young people's entry into the juvenile justice system as a way to prevent later criminal justice system involvement, particularly as it related to low-level offenses."

Many states around the country have made changes to criminal justice systems. This has been prompted, experts say, by the costs of incarceration or an understanding that incarceration is not effective at reducing crime. Thirty-five states have seen both a reduction in crime and incarceration through various changes over the past decade, according to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

And red states, such as Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, have led the trend. Since 2012, Georgia has made a host of changes aimed at reforming its system, including implementing rehabilitation programs in its adult and juvenile systems as alternatives to incarceration to reduce recidivism, banning the box that prospective employees check to disclose past criminal histories, and giving judges more discretion to impose sentences below the mandatory minimums.

South Carolina and Mississippi also enacted sentencing and other changes and have seen their respective prison populations decline by 14 and 18 percent between 2008 and 2016 as a result, according to the Sentencing Project.

"I think that we are in a moment now where there is bipartisan support for criminal justice reform, where policymakers really understand that mass incarceration has not increased public safety, that it drives and reinforces deep-seated racial inequity and disproportionately punishes marginalized communities," Lauren-Brooke Eisen, an expert at the Brennan Center for Justice, said.

However, despite the sweeping overhaul, much of the effects of Massachusetts' law have yet to be fully realized, advocates said.

I think we're still waiting to see the overall impact of the reforms, Rahsaan Hall, the director of the Racial Justice Program for the Massachusetts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, told NBC News. Our data collection systems within the criminal legal system are substandard, and so we haven't, as advocates, we haven't been able to get a full picture of how some of these reforms are playing out.

However, that does not mean the reforms aren't working, Hall said.

We know that there are fewer people being saddled with fines and fees because some of those fines and fees have been taken off the table," Hall said. "We know, for instance, that fewer people are charged with mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses because some of those offenses had been taken off the table. We know that judges are supposed to now take into account a person's ability to afford bail before setting conditions with bail."

Smith said that data is limited, but his organization has found that delinquency court filings are down 33 percent and juvenile arrests, 32 percent.

Some provisions Smith's organization advocated for were defeated during the debates over the law, but his organization and others are pushing a legislative campaign to adopt additional changes, such as raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to age 21 and increasing access to expungement for juvenile records, he said. Earlier this year, Massachusetts lawmakers also introduced legislation to end life without parole, allowing those serving life sentences to be eligible for parole after 25 years.

Hall agreed that the state law has given advocates a clearer road map to push for more shifts.

I think it was an important step in communicating that the old models of the criminal legal system no longer work and that we need to think about and embrace more progressive and transformative models, models that contemplate harm reduction as opposed to being tough on crime, he said.

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Meet the young progressive trying to take out House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer – Salon

McKayla Wilkes, a 29-year-old college student and activist running a grassroots campaign to unseat 20-term incumbent Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House of Representatives, is fighting a battle against very long odds. Consider her first major endorsement in the 2020 race, fromformer Democratic Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska.

Gravel, the anti-war two-term senator who ran a decidedly unconventional social-media campaign for the 2020 presidential election cycle but has since withdrawn and endorsed Bernie Sanders told Salon exclusively why he has endorsed the political newcomer.

"I am delighted to endorse McKayla Wilkes for Maryland's 5th congressional district. Her views and voice will make a much needed contribution in Congress," Gravel said. "My hope is that her success will follow the model of AOC," referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

Wilkes, a single mother of two, told Salon that she is hoping to replicate the unlikely 2018 primary victory of Ocasio-Cortez, who became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress after defeating 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley, a member of the Democratic House leadership. Ocasio-Cortez has become the nation's second-most talked about politician (after President Trump) and a public face of the deepening ideological divide within the Democratic Party.

"Running for office seems so intimidating," Wilkes told Salon. "People stress that you have to be politically connected, you have to have some sort of network, higher education and work in politics. So for years, I thought, 'Well, if I want to run for office, I need to go to college. I need to get my bachelors degree. I need to get my masters. I need to work in politics, andthenI'll run for office.'"

"But in 2018, when I saw AOC win her race, I thought, 'Wow, regular people who have never been in politics can run for office and they can win.' That is just what inspired me to think, you know what? I don't have to wait. I don't need all of these things. My experience is my first-hand experience with the way that legislation affects us," she continued.

Wilkes, who declared her candidacy in February and kicked off her official campaign in June,has a lot in common with the New York Democrat. She is also a young woman of color trying to unseat an older white man who is an entrenched power in Congress. (Hoyer is 80 years old, and was first elected to Congress in 1981.) Her platform emphasizes Medicare for All and the Green New Deal two progressive policy proposals that Ocasio-Cortez has rallied behind, and that Hoyer has notably declined to support.

Hoyer has represented Maryland's 5th district, a safe Democratic seat that comprises the suburban and rural region southeast of Washington, D.C., for more than three decades. Wilkes told Salon that she believes Hoyer has become "completely disconnected" from the people he represents. She claimed the congressman has struggled to keep up with the demographic and cultural changes in his district, and has done nothing to address the crisis of affordable housing and homelessness sparked by a growing population and intense gentrification.

Wilkes is not the first Democrat to challenge Hoyer from the left. He has faced primary challenges before and vanquished them all easily. Wilkes is aware he won't be easy to defeat, but says her personal experiencewith core issues like health care and criminal justice, will help her stand out to voters.

Wilkes is a unique candidate in one important respect: She speaks openly and passionately abouther criminal record, a factor she addresseddirectly in a campaign ad.

"When I was 15 I was placed in juvenile detention facilities for running away from home,"Wilkes says in a campaign video shared to Twitter. "There was even one instance where a guard threatened to hold me down and cut my braids out if I didn't cut them out myself. I was even jailed for driving on a suspended license. I was seven months pregnant, living paycheck to paycheck. I couldn't afford to pay all of my tickets and court fees, and I had no choice but to drive or I would lose my job."

Wilkes argues in the ad that "we need a system that offers rehabilitation, instead of exploitation." She says she supports ending cash bail and ending the "failed war on drugs," and making sure that pregnant women are treated fairly in prison.

"Our representation is so out of touch with the people's needs. Even worse, they're funded by those who profit off our most vulnerable," she says in the video.

Wilkes isn't Hoyer's onlychallenger in the race. Civil rights lawyer and former teacher Brianna Urbina launched her own campaign earlier this year and is running on a similar platform, citing affordable housing, Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and criminal justice reform as top priorities. Like Wilkes, Urbina is a young, progressive woman of color she identifies herself as an "Afro-Latina, lesbian woman" who is calling for a generational change in the district's leadership.

It seems plausible that only one of these challengers will prove viable, Wilkes has locked down several important endorsements, including those of the progressive group Brand New Congress, which previously fueled Ocasio-Cortez's campaign; the Metro D.C. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America; and youngPAC, which recruits and support young, diverse progressives to run for office. College Democrats from Salisbury State and Frostburg State, two public universities in the state but not in the 5th district, along with Women for Justice and the climate action group 350 Action, have also backed Wilkes.

Despite her growing slate of endorsements, Wilkes' effort to replicate Ocasio-Cortez's victory will likely be challenging. New York's 14th district has a large majority of people of color and many immigrants; only about one-fifth of its residents are white. Maryland's 5th district, on the other hand, remains majority white and relatively affluent, although it is now close to one-third black. If Wilkes has any realistic shot, it's because 2020 is a presidential election year, which ought to mean a large turnout of younger, more diverse voters invested in the Democratic primary.

Maryland voters, Wilkes said, will be offered a choice between the transactional politics of the past and a more passionate vision aimed at the future. They have the chance to elect someone "who is going to represent their interests," she said, and who believes that "politics are absolutely personal politics should not be run as a business."

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Meet the young progressive trying to take out House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer - Salon

Chesa Boudin, San Francisco’s DA-elect talks homelessness, Jewishness and taking on the establishment – The Jewish News of Northern California

On a recent rainy morning, Chesa Boudin woke up sick. It had been a busy few weeks for the man who upended San Franciscos political establishment by winning the race for district attorney in November. The 39-year-old attorney was on the kind of schedule that would threaten anyones immune system.

After nosing out Suzy Loftus in a close-fought race, Boudin was hounded by media requests, due in part to his remarkable life story.

Moreover, he had to mend fences with the mayor, the head of the police union and other high-ranking city officials who supported (sometimes vociferously) his opponent, Loftus, who in October had been appointed interim D.A. by Mayor London Breed, making her the incumbent in the race.

Boudin also had to start make staffing decisions for the D.A.s office, which employs more than 200 people, and plot out the first 100 days of his four-year term after he is sworn in on Jan. 8.

Oh, he also got married soon after being elected, to Valerie Block, a brain researcher at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences.

If the New Yorker called for a profile, said Kelsey Russom, the manager of his transition team, wed have to say no.

Still, Boudin, who is proudly Jewish, took time to speak with J. by phone in mid-December, apologizing for his weak voice. An ardent criminal justice reformer, he spoke about the challenges facing his city, including homelessness and drug use, about Jewish values and about a commitment to human dignity that he says has guided his professional life.

Boudin is no stranger to the national spotlight. In 2002, the New York Times profiled the young Yale undergraduate underneath the headline From a Radical Background, a Rhodes Scholar Emerges.

The radical tag, however, isnt exactly his. It was Boudins parents, David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin, who were members of the militant, communist, anti-war group the Weather Underground in the 1970s and who paid a heavy price for their involvement.

In 1981, when Boudin was just 14 months old, his parents participated in an attempted robbery of a Brinks armored vehicle that led to a shootout near Nyack, New York. Three people died in the botched heist, including two police officers, and both his parents were sentenced to long prison terms.

The young Boudin, in turn, was adopted by Weather Underground leaders Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who raised him in Chicago.

Kathy Boudin published academic papers while incarcerated and later became a professor at Columbia University, after her release in 2003. She is the co-director and co-founder of the schools Center for Justice.

Gilbert remains incarcerated at Wende Correctional Facility in upstate New York, having been sentenced to 75 years for three counts of felony murder.

Both Gilbert and Kathy Boudin are Jewish. He had a bar mitzvah as a youth in the Boston area, and though she had a more secular upbringing in New York City, her Jewish identity became stronger in prison.

Many of the people she lived with in prison were religious, Chesa Boudin said. They drew on their faith to persevere in the face of lengthy sentences.

Boudin recalled how a nun at the prison helped develop a center that facilitated visits between incarcerated mothers and their children. If it werent for Sister Elaine and the Childrens Center, I would not have a meaningful relationship with my mother, Boudin said.

Chesa Boudin went to the University of Chicago Lab School in Hyde Park, a day school populated by the children of university professors. His adoptive parents were, in fact, intellectuals university professors themselves. He often has said his experience provides a stark contrast to the estimated one in seven U.S. adults who have had an immediate family member behind bars for at least a year.

The experience of visiting a loved one behind bars is not unique, he said. Whats unique about my situation is because of the support, and second chances obviously, the choices I made, and hard work, too Im in a very different situation than most people experiencing family incarceration.

When you [take a kids] parents away at 14 months old [and] put them behind bars, you dramatically decrease the chances of that child ever becoming a Rhodes Scholar, or winning public office.

Boudin said his upbringing was secular, but his family often celebrated Passover and Hanukkah with the family of his adoptive mother, Bernardine; her father, Bernard Dohrn, was Jewish. And almost all of his close friends at the Lab School were Jewish, he said, leading to him attending a bar or bat mitzvah almost every weekend.

Judaism has been a constant theme in my life, he said, mentioning ancestors who fled from the fringes of the Russian Empire because of anti-Semitism and poverty. The fight for survival in the face of adversity has always been part of the tradition to remember the real challenges that the Jewish people had to survive.

People today find themselves in similar crises refugees and people less fortunate than us, who are lost in the desert, so to speak.

Boudin said Jewish values, broadly defined, are about a commitment to human dignity rooted in the history of the Jewish people, and in the interpretation of the Torah. He mentioned the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, when Abraham pleads with God to save a city of sinners, because, he paraphrased, What if there are righteous people there?

It has absolutely informed the way I see the world, he said.

Boudin is a public defender, not a prosecutor, who ran on a progressive platform backed by the likes of Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Black Lives Matter movement, and he was the only one among the four D.A. candidates who has never prosecuted a case.

We have to make it easier to get help than to get high.

His election reflected a growing frustration among voters with the U.S. criminal justice system, which locks up more people per capita than any other nation, and incarcerates African Americans at a rate 5.9 times greater than whites.

Hes part of a national trend of young, progressive candidates seeking, and sometimes winning, prosecutor offices, such as Larry Krasner (Philadelphia D.A.), Kim Foxx (states attorney for Cook County, Illinois) and Tiffany Cabn (who lost the Democratic primary for D.A. in Queens County, New York, but not before gaining national notoriety and the support of Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

During his campaign, Boudins pledges included: tackling racial inequalities in the citys criminal justice system, in which more than 40 percent of people arrested are black; ending a cash-bail system that he says unfairly penalizes the poor; and halting the prosecution of quality of life crimes which he says jam up the system and only criminalize poverty and homelessness.

While Boudin has become a champion for progressives, some people wonder whether his vision for San Francisco will help or hurt.

To many, San Francisco is beset by drug addiction, homelessness and high rates of property crime, as its economic inequality is among the worst of any city in the world.

In response to an ACLU questionnaire, Boudin said he would not prosecute crimes such as public camping, offering or soliciting sex, public urination or blocking a sidewalk responses that raised eyebrows and garnered widespread media attention.

Its hard to believe that San Franciscos leaders could make the city any worse, Fox News Tucker Carlson said. But this guys certainly going to try.

Even the San Francisco Police Officers Association called him the No. 1 choice of criminals and gang members in some of the $400,000 they spent on campaign ads against him. The SFPOA said he would do away with gang enhancements, which increase penalties for crimes committed by alleged gang members; Boudin has said gang enhancements often are racially unjust and racist.

In the cases where we see serious conduct, we can already impose serious punishments, he said.

After the election, Boudin said he sat down for a cordial lunch with the chief of police and the sheriff. He also met with Mayor Breed, who was among the many influential supporters of Loftus (a list that also included Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein and the S.F. Democratic Party).

The common theme of those meetings?

Everybody recognizes this city needs a district attorneys office thats functioning, Boudin said. From that perspective, they want to see me succeed. At the end of the day, we want the same things a safer, fairer San Francisco.

Speaking about highly visible drug use, homelessness and other problems in downtown San Francisco, Boudin said he shares the frustration, shares the despair.

People who visit the city who live in the city see abject poverty, desperation, addiction and mental illness being untreated, he said. I share the need to address that problem.

In San Francisco, it is not uncommon to see people using heroin or meth in the Tenderloin, but in California, possession of drugs for personal use is a misdemeanor that often goes unprosecuted. Boudin said he does not think putting drug addicts in jail is an effective use of resources, nor is it an effective response to drug addiction.

I think there is ample, empirical evidence that the war on drugs has not succeeded by any reasonable metric, he said. It has not decreased addiction [or] access to drugs, and its been costly financially and socially. A study released in September by the D.A.s office showed nearly half of people convicted of crimes in San Francisco were arrested again within three years.

During his campaign, Boudin pledged to expand diversion programs for the mentally ill and drug-addicted to keep them out of the criminal justice system, which appears to many an inadequate response to problems of human despair. Of the four D.A. candidates, he was the only one who did not want more funding for the D.A.s office.

If he can win support from the S.F. Board of Supervisors and other officials, he hopes to build a centralized mental-health facility run by health professionals, rather than law enforcement, and shut down county jail No. 4, which is said to be seismically unsafe, redirecting funds to mental health and drug treatment.

Jails do nothing to treat the root cause of crime, he wrote in a campaign platform description. Rather, jails often victimize and destabilize an already vulnerable population, who are then released to the streets with no treatment plan or housing, often leading to more crime.

In San Francisco, he said, We have to make it easier to get help than to get high.

Boudin told J. that on Passover he often visited his mother at her maximum-security prison. There werent many Jews inside, but there were enough to merit a seder led by a local rabbi. It was one of the only times, Boudin recalled, he was allowed to visit his mother outside of visiting hours.

He vividly remembers searching for the afikomen in the visiting room, an experience he called profound.

The relevance of the Exodus story to his lifes work is not lost on him, and after being elected, he gained even more understanding of that story.

I see it as [being] about a search for redemption, he said. As a public defender, my focus was on saving people from prison. But as district attorney-elect, I take a broader view. Its about public safety, redemption and healing.

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Chesa Boudin, San Francisco's DA-elect talks homelessness, Jewishness and taking on the establishment - The Jewish News of Northern California

Freeway Rick Ross Isn’t Surprised Juice WRLD Had 70 Pounds Of Weed – HNHH

If there's anyone who knows about the drug game, it's Ricky "Freeway" Ross. The former Los Angeles kingpin was sentenced to life in prison on charges related to cocaine drug trafficking but in 2009, he was released after his sentence was reduced. The 59-year-old business owner isnow making money legally, but Freeway Rick Ross is still aware of how drugs affect the culture. In a recent interview, Freeway talked about how the "War On Drugs" movement isn't as prevalent now and shared why marijuana isn't as much of a focus for authorities as cocaine.

"Cocaine is more money," Freeway said. "You're talking about bigger money, bigger deals, so where there's money, there's gon' be violence. People want the money. They don't necessarily want the cocaine, although some want the cocaine, some want the money. Anywhere there's a lot of money, there's gonna be violence, and there is some violence related to marijuana but not at the same intensity as the cocaine 'cause the money is not as great and the police don't put as much focus on marijuana as they do as cocaine."

When the subject of Juice WRLD's death came up in conversation, Freeway was asked if a rapper having 70 pounds of marijuana in his possession surprised him. "It do and it don't," Freeway replied. "Because I question these guys having money. A lot of these rappers we see and we look up to and these labels make 'em look rich because they want you to feel like they have money so that you'll think that they're something special. And then you find out that they're selling drugs on the side. The only reason I can see somebody selling drugs on the side of a career if they're notreally making money or if they just a damn fool. For somebody to have millions of dollars and start to sell drugs when they never sold drugs before to me would be totally insane." Check out his clip below.

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Dwight Williamson: Drug use proves devastating to region – The Logan Banner

Its finally Christmas, a time to be with your family and to also remember those family members and friends who no longer are with us, except within our hearts and minds. It is a time for children; a time for good tidings; and certainly a time to count your blessings. It is also a time to accept reality. Allow me to explain.

Every year I make it a point to watch the movie Its A Wonderful Life, which stars Jimmy Stewart as the small town guy who wishes he had never been born, attempts suicide, is miraculously saved by his Guardian Angel, and then shown by the Angel (Clarence) just how a whole towns people would have been affected had he indeed not been born. The ending of the 1946-produced movie in an imaginary town called Bedford Falls never fails to bring happy tears to my eyes.

Stewart stars as the character of George Bailey in a movie originally considered as a box-office disappointment, but now is considered one of the greatest films of all time. For me, the movie depicts the fact that one must always have family and friends who care about your well-being. Accordingly, Christmas is a time to care about others, especially children.

The awful reality is that statistics show that 60% of Logan Countys children are now being raised by grandparents. Mingo County is even worse, with statistics showing 70% of children there raised by their grandparents. Do I really need to tell you why?

Even more heartbreaking is the news the West Virginia Department of Education revealed a few months back that over 10,000 West Virginia children and youth from kindergarten through high school were identified as homeless for the 2018-2019 school year.

Currently, in Logan County and much of southern West Virginia, I feel like despite arrest after arrest by law enforcement we are losing the war on drugs. Illegal and legal drugs are the real reason for parents voluntarily giving up or losing their children. Overdose deaths, of course, havent helped matters either.

As a West Virginian, I despise the stereotypes that are directed at us. Even more so, I hate the fact that zillion dollar drug companies, too numerous to fully identify, as well as some pill mill doctors and some uncaring pharmacies, have literally destroyed communities in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky.

As an example, between 2006 and 2012, drug wholesale giant McKesson shipped 163 million opioid painkillers to West Virginia. During the same time period, Cardinal Health, another drug industry monster, sold 174 million doses of the pain killers hydrocodone and oxycodone.

As jail bills escalated and people began committing every crime imaginable to obtain a means of purchasing the addictive stuff both off the street and from pharmacies it still took thousands of people dying before officials started asking questions. Even then, it took a court order to get the drug companies to release their records. It was as if Hillbilly lives just didnt matter.

Fact is, West Virginia and Kentucky had the highest number of pills administered per resident and the highest number of overdose deaths during the six-year period Ive previously mentioned. Overall, it has earlier been reported that 76 billion hydrocodone and oxycodone pain pills were dispensed to pharmacies nationwide.

Currently, the drug distributors, doctors and pharmacies have pretty much ceased in the pill mill racket, but they are still to blame for our current drug epidemic that now entails the use of methamphetamine and heroin. It is easily surmised that the addiction problems started mainly with the pills, but now, with the addictive need being satisfied by mostly out-of-state individuals from Columbus, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan and other places, I believe our local society is worse off than before when pills were the curse.

Unfortunately, the Hillbilly Nation that exists at least in Logan County is again the easy target for those out-of-state crooks seeking financial gain. By this, I mean that across the county people, most of whom are barely making it in the economic sense, are allowing out-of-state drug dealers to live with them and dispense deadly drugs to the zombielike people who daily seek to unwisely destroy themselves. In return, utility bills, etc., are paid by the uncaring house guests. Local police have made several arrests in regards to this scenario.

I am concerned for the next generation in Logan County. Those millennials willing to work are vacating the area for occupations elsewhere, which means those survivors of the current drug epidemic, who cannot pass valid drug tests to hold even a minimum wage job, are going to eventually wade knee-deep into the economic cesspool that I fear Logan will become because of drug usage.

Logan Countians always come together at Christmastime with toy drives, food baskets, etc., to help those in need, with local fire departments and churches taking the lead. However, it is my fear that 20 years from now there may not be anybody left around here capable enough to carry through with such noble endeavors.

For centuries, our forefathers braved these untamed mountains, fought off Indians, bears and mountain lions to settle in land that others did not want. We have seen devastation from coal mining fatalities and weve cleaned up after every flood, including the deadly Buffalo Creek disaster. Now, its as if the rest of our nation has forgotten what key roles our people played in the making of this great country from coal miners to military contributions.

We are basically left alone to take back our county from the Devil himself.

Let us pray that at the conclusion of this great battle, we all can once again declare Its A Wonderful Life.

May we all enjoy a blessed and Merry Christmas as we prepare to usher in a New Year. Hopefully, 2020 will prove to be a visionary year.

Dwight Williamson serves as magistrate in Logan County. He writes a weekly column for HD Media.

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The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate is Open Throughout the Holidays to Ensure a Navy Veteran with Mesothelioma Gets a Game Plan from Erik Karst…

NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate isopen throughout the holiday season because mesothelioma does not observe holidays-neither do they. Navy Veterans make up about one third of all people who will be diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States each year. The Advocate's top priority is that a Navy Veteran with mesothelioma receive the best possible financial compensation results. Frequently a Navy Veteran might receive over a million dollars in compensation. These lump sum compensation settlements do not involve the suing navy. Rather these financial settlements involve makers of machinery, equipment, pumps, pipes or insulation that contained asbestos as the Advocate would be happy to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303.

The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate has endorsed the law of Karst von Oiste to assist a Navy Veteran with confirmed mesothelioma in every state. The amazing lawyers at the law firm of Karst von Oiste are responsible for over a billion dollars in financial compensation settlements for US Navy Veterans or people with mesothelioma or asbestos exposure illnesses and they work overtime for their clients. The lawyers at the law firm of Karst von Oiste also make house calls to visit a Navy Veteran in their home to discuss compensation face to face with the Veteran. For direct access to attorney Erik Karst the founding partner please call 800-714-0303-anytime.www.karstvonoiste.com/

The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate says, "We are now offering to assist a Navy Veteran with mesothelioma to document how, where and when they were exposed to asbestos. We call this free service the 'list' and it can dramatically increase the financial compensation for a Navy Veteran with mesothelioma and or their family as we would be happy to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303."

"Most Navy Veterans with mesothelioma almost never receive VA disability payments or other VA benefits. This is separate from mesothelioma compensation which as we mentioned might exceed a million dollars. We will assist a US Navy Veteran with mesothelioma to get a VA disability claim filed. Our participation in this service is free to a Navy Veteran with mesothelioma as we would be happy to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303."https://USNavyMesothelioma.Com

For specific information about US Navy warships and submarines please review their website on this topic:https://www.navy.mil/navydata/our_ships.asp.

For a listing of all VA Medical Centers in each state please review the VA's website:https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/allstate.asp.

The states with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon.

However, based on the calls the US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate receives a US Navy Veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, New Hampshire, Vermont, Delaware, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. http://www.karstvonoiste.com/

For more information about mesothelioma, please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer:https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma

Media Contact:Michael Thomas800-714-0303230049@email4pr.com

SOURCE US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate

U.S. Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate

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The US Navy Veterans Mesothelioma Advocate is Open Throughout the Holidays to Ensure a Navy Veteran with Mesothelioma Gets a Game Plan from Erik Karst...

1.5 Million UK Buildings are Exposed to Asbestos; Mesothelioma Lawyers are Helping the Victims – BO Herald

Asbestos is banned in almost every country. The United Kingdom has also banned asbestos 20 years ago. But it is still a reason behind a large number of occupational deaths in the country. Last year, almost 5,500 people died in the UK due to asbestos.

There is an estimate that six million tons of asbestos is still available in 1.5 million buildings in the country. These buildings can be schools, hospitals, colleges, and government buildings.

Though asbestos is banned in the UK since 1999, its exposure is causing many diseases including lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Almost 80% of the schools and 74% of the universities in the country are expected to contain asbestos in their buildings. Despite a large exposure to the asbestos, the school authorities are failing to manage the asbestos in their perimeters according to legal requirements. A large number of students and teachers may be exposed to asbestos in the country. West Virginia also has many sites that are exposed to asbestos. Asbestos victims there are visiting https://gpwlaw-wv.com/ to get legal assistance from a reputed West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer.

Asbestos causes mesothelioma and it is a deadly disease. Mesothelioma patients are entitled to compensation from the people responsible for the asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma lawyers provide legal assistance to the patients by fighting their compensation cases in the court. The compensation gained through the lawyers can be used by the victims to cover medical bills and other expenses raised due to asbestos exposure.

Ankita is a well experienced badminton player and has won many championships. She intends to build a bright career in the media industry as well. She is a sports freak who loves to cover the latest news on Sports and Indoor Games.

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1.5 Million UK Buildings are Exposed to Asbestos; Mesothelioma Lawyers are Helping the Victims - BO Herald

Mesothelioma: Immunotherapy a Potential Alternative to Chemotherapy – Gilmore Health News

Researchers have presented their findings in a Phase 3 trial showing that immunotherapy may be a viable alternative to chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients.

Lung X-Ray

In the PROMISE-meso trial, scientists compared the efficacy of immunotherapy with pembrolizumab, a checkpoint inhibitor, against standard chemotherapy. They did this in mesothelioma patients who had relapsed after receiving first-line treatment. Their findings showed that these patients responded to immunotherapy, almost four times more.

Sadly, the observed greater responses failed to lead to a delay in the progression of the disorder or improved survival chances.

Read Also: Warning! Talcum Powder Might Be Responsible for Mesothelioma a Rare Form of Cancer

These findings are disappointing but, as in previous studies, some patients benefitted from immunotherapy for long periods, said study author Dr. Sanjay Popat, of Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK. If we can find out how this happens, we will have a better idea of which patients should preferentially receive this treatment over chemotherapy.

In spite of the mediocre results, Popat said that immunotherapy showed enough potential to serve as an alternative to chemotherapy.

Results from the PROMISE-meso trial were presented at the 2019 edition of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) annual meeting.

Mesothelioma is not one of the most common forms of cancer, but it ranks among the most fatal.

An estimate has it that there are more than 30,000 diagnoses in a year on average. More than 25,000 people die as a result of the disorder annually.

Patients typically die within two years of being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Exposure to asbestos fibers contributes hugely to the incidence of this cancer form. Researchers say this is responsible for more than 80 percent of cases.

Mesothelioma does not develop immediately after asbestos exposure. Inflammation of the mesothelial cells in the lung occurs at the initial stage. It usually takes decades before cells turn cancerous.

There has been a reduction in the incidence of this condition in the USA, Australia, and Western Europe. This decline is a result of strict regulations in these places, as regards asbestos.

The incidence of asbestos deaths has dropped gradually over the years in America. Death rates are somewhat stable in Western Europe.

Later bans on asbestos in other countries have kept death rates high in many of them. Mortality due to mesothelioma is still rising in Japan and Eastern Europe.

Read Also: How Does Cancer Manipulate The Immune System?

Dr. Federica Grosso of the Mesothelioma and Rare Cancers Unit of Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo in Alessandria, Italy said that new cases and deaths were common in some hotspots in the country. She stated that the incidence of mesothelioma in one of these places, Casale Monferrato, is more than 20 times higher than in other parts of Italy.

Casale Monferrato had the worlds largest asbestos plant before it was shut down in 1987.

The worldwide number of deaths is expected to rise as people exposed to asbestos before it was banned continue to be diagnosed many years later, Grosso said.

She stated that there is a partial or full asbestos ban in only 66 countries across the globe. The bulk of the current production takes place in middle and lower-income countries.

Patients have very limited options currently for treating mesothelioma. In fact, a combination of pemetrexed and platinum derivatives is the only approved treatment regimen.

No effective, standard second-line treatment is available at the moment for people with this disorder. A patient may only receive another course of the approved regimen or other medications, such as gemcitabine (Gemzar) or vinorelbine (Navelbine).

Read Also: Nanoparticles A Potential Cure For Cancer According To Study

The research team studied 144 patients who had advanced pre-treated cases of mesothelioma in Phase 3 PROMISE-meso trial. These individuals were randomly selected to receive 200mg of pembrolizumab once every three weeks or standard chemotherapy featuring gemcitabine and vinorelbine.

For pembrolizumab, the median overall survival was 10.7 months. This compared fairly well with 11.7 months reported for chemotherapy.

The group that received immunotherapy also showed slightly fewer adverse events. There was one fatality in each of the groups.

The hope is that these findings may lead to a new treatment. The results stress the need to investigate why immunotherapy seems to produce a response in some patients and not in others.

Although we did not see better survival with immunotherapy in the PROMISE-meso study, the responses are encouraging and the results of the ongoing trials of checkpoint inhibitor treatment in earlier stage mesothelioma will be very important to clinicians, said Grosso, who emphasized the need for better first and second-line treatments for this thoracic cancer form.

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Promising Immunotherapy Experiment Could Replace ART in HIV Treatment

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Mesothelioma: Immunotherapy a Potential Alternative to Chemotherapy - Gilmore Health News

Mesothelioma Victims Center Is Open During Holidays to Ensure a Person with Mesothelioma Gets on the Spot Compensation Advice from Attorney Erik Karst…

NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "We are appealing to a person with mesothelioma or their family members to call us anytime at 800-714-0303. Mesothelioma does not observe holidays or weekends-neither do we. In fact-the holidays are in many instances the best time for a person with mesothelioma or their family to call us-because the family is together. Our top priority for a person with mesothelioma is that they receive the very best financial compensation settlement results that depending upon how the person with this rare cancer was exposed to asbestos-could exceed a million dollars.

"To get the financial compensation job done we have endorsed the amazing lawyers at the law firm of Karst von Oiste and their founding partner Erik Karst. Attorney Erik Karst and his colleagues at Karst von Oiste are responsible for over a billion dollars in financial compensation for people with mesothelioma or asbestos exposure illnesses. The dedicated lawyers at the law firm of Karst von Oiste are always available to assist a person with mesothelioma in any state or their family members. For direct access to attorney Erik Karst of the law firm of Karst von Oiste please call us anytime at 800-714-0303."www.karstvonoiste.com/

The Mesothelioma Victims Center is now offering a free vital service that is designed to increase the financial compensation for a person with mesothelioma. They call this service the 'list' and it has been designed to assist a person with mesothelioma recall there where, how, and when they were exposed to asbestos. It is this vital information that becomes the basis for a mesothelioma compensation claim as they would be happy to discuss at 800-714-0303-anytime.https://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

Important Note for a person with advanced or late stage mesothelioma from the Mesothelioma Victims Center: "If you or your family member has advanced mesothelioma please call us anytime at 800-714-0303 so we can make arrangements to visit you/your loved one in your home so we can help document your exposure to asbestos. Your compensation depends on having as much information as possible about your exposure to asbestos-and we want to help."https://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma includeMaine, Massachusetts,Connecticut, Maryland,New Jersey,Pennsylvania,Ohio,West Virginia,Virginia, Michigan,Illinois,Minnesota,Louisiana,Washington, andOregon.

However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a person with mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska.www.karstvonoiste.com/

High-risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, steel mill workers, manufacturing/factory workers, pulp or paper mill workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, miners, construction workers, insulators, rail road workers, roofers, or firemen. As a rule, these types of workers were exposed to asbestos in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's. https://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer:https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma.

Media contact:Michael Thomas230047@email4pr.com800-714-0303

SOURCE Mesothelioma Victims Center

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Mesothelioma Victims Center Is Open During Holidays to Ensure a Person with Mesothelioma Gets on the Spot Compensation Advice from Attorney Erik Karst...

Congressional Hearing Examines Asbestos Detection in Talc – Mesothelioma.com

On December 5, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing to examine the cancer-causing properties of asbestos-contaminated talc products and methods for asbestos detection. The hearing came after Johnson & Johnsons talcum powder products were again under fire for asbestos contamination.

In October 2019, 33,000 bottles of Johnson & Johnson baby powder were recalled due to trace levels of chrysotile asbestos contamination. Despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDAs) findings of contamination, Johnson & Johnson was unable to detect asbestos in its products and disputed the claims. The committee called for better, more sensitive testing methods to detect asbestos, in order to protect public health and keep dangerous products off store shelves.

The hearing, titled Examining Carcinogens in Talc and the Best Methods for Asbestos Detection, aimed to identify methods for better asbestos testing in products and hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for its distribution of asbestos-contaminated talcum powder. Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky was set to attend the hearing, but declined an invitation to voluntarily testify under oath.

According to Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, laboratory tests have shown Johnson & Johnson talc-based products have been contaminated with asbestos for decades. The subcommittee discussed evidence Johnson & Johnson employees knew about the asbestos contamination during this time. Evidence alleged company employees even discussed suppressing the use of more sensitive asbestos-detection methods.

In the hearing, Krishnamoorthi also stated the company has been repeatedly asked to label its powder with a cancer warning due to these findings. Instead, the subcommittee alleged, Johnson & Johnson increased a marketing plan to people of color.

The company also commissioned a market survey consultant to understand the public perception of the powders name. Because the consultant found women preferred cornstarch-based products and had an aversion to talc, the company prominently featured a cornstarch label on those products. However, the company didnt label talc clearly on its talc-based baby powder.

During the hearing, Dr. William Longo, a scientist for Materials Analytical Services, LLC, testified as a witness. He delivered the findings of his laboratory, Materials Analytical Services, which served as an independent laboratory to conduct asbestos testing of Johnson & Johnson products.

He analyzed samples of Johnson & Johnsons baby powder from the 1940s to the 2000s, along with the companys current products. He tested the products for asbestos using the Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) technique, which is more sensitive than the testing methods used by Johnson & Johnson. Overall, Dr. Longo discovered 65% of all samples tested positive for asbestos.

Dr. Longo explained in his testimony, The cosmetic talc industry has, in that time, accumulated hundreds, if not thousands of testing results that report no detectable or quantifiable asbestos. These reports, regarded by the manufacturers as negative, are very misleading as they result from analytical and methodological techniques with poor detection limits.

Despite these findings, Johnson & Johnson continues to argue its products are asbestos-free. The company further claimed the tests conducted by Dr. Longos lab did not actually test for asbestos, but rather found another substance.

In the FDAs laboratory testing of the products, they utilized a standard method of testing rather than HLS techniques. The tests still indicated the presence of chrysotile asbestos fibers, but Dr. Longo indicated amphibole asbestos fibers could have also been found if the FDA used a more advanced testing method.

Dr. Jacqueline Moline, a physician at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, offered insights from 33 mesothelioma patients who were exposed to asbestos from talcum powder.

Dr. Moline noted talcum powder was the only instance of asbestos exposure among all 33 patients in the study. She further stated mesothelioma is deemed a signature disease, as it almost always is the result of exposure to asbestos.

To this day, theyre finding asbestos in talcum powder on the shelves, and its putting thousands, if not millions, of people at risk, said Dr. Moline in her testimony.

Dr. Moline affirmed there is no safe level of asbestos in talc products or any products, as the mineral is a proven carcinogen.

In more recent years, the FDA has increased efforts in testing for asbestos in talc and cosmetic products. In 2008 and 2010, records showed the FDA selected AMA Laboratories Inc. to conduct asbestos testing of cosmetic products. AMA detected asbestos in Johnson & Johnson baby powder, stating that detecting asbestos in cosmetics requires the most sensitive laboratory tests available.

Despite this, Dr. Longo doesnt believe AMA used the most sensitive tests during this time. He argued asbestos fibers would have been detected sooner if the most advanced technology was used in testing procedures.

In the future, Dr. Longo believes HLS should be used as the standard for asbestos testing in the United States. Dr. Longo explained HLS has already been adopted as the international standard for its sensitivity.

Due to the microscopic nature of asbestos fibers, hundreds of millions of fibers may be present in a given sample, so it is essential for the most advanced technology to be used to identify its presence. Even when using the most advanced technology, it can be difficult to confirm asbestos is present in a given product, as the threshold is 4,500 fibers per gram.

At this very moment, I am sending a document request to Johnson & Johnson seeking answers, said Krishnamoorthi in his closing remarks of the panel.

In response to this hearing, the FDA also continues to call for better test methods in order to protect public health.

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Malignant Mesothelioma Market To Tell Apart Steadfast Growth Within The Course – Bulletin Line

In developed countries, discretionary research funding for cancer is on a rise. Increased investments towards development of better treatment against malignant mesothelioma is observed globally. Persistence Market Researchs new report on global market for malignant mesothelioma predicts that governments will increase their focus towards creating awareness about mesothelioma in the future.

The globalmalignant mesothelioma marketis expected to incur favorable boost from increased healthcare spending witnessed in multiple parts of the world, coupled with availability of better treatment prognosis for mesothelioma.

In 2017, the global malignant mesothelioma market is expected to reach a value of US$ 338 Mn. The report observes that increasing use of asbestos for commercial purposes is fuelling the incidence of malignant mesothelioma among people. By the end of 2025, the global market for malignant mesothelioma is anticipated to have soared at7.5% CAGR, reaching an estimatedUS$ 604 Mn in value.

Global Malignant Mesothelioma Market Prominent Trends

Studies focused on cause of malignant mesothelioma are being publicized to boost awareness. Through such work, people are becoming more aware, particularly with respect to association of the HOXB4 gene is stopping the maturation of mesothelioma tumor.

Overall, the global market for malignant mesothelioma is also witnessing an increased adoption of combination therapies. Many companies are promoting the cumulative use of chemotherapy and immune-oncology procedures in treatment of malignant mesothelioma.

In addition to this, malignant mesothelioma is gaining incidence among men. Exposure to asbestos is likely to remain concentrated to male demographics of the world. Increased exposure to such toxic elements is aggravating the incidence of mesothelioma in men.

Key players in the global malignant mesothelioma market are also collaborating with leading research organizations to develop combination drugs on mesothelioma, the approval of which is drawing highest regard of authorities such as the FDA.

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Malignant Mesothelioma Market Forecast Key Findings

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St. Louis Jury Sides With Johnson & Johnson in Talc Case – The New York Times

ST. LOUIS A St. Louis jury has ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson in the latest of several lawsuits alleging that the companys baby powder caused ovarian cancer.

The jury ruled 9-3 late Friday, denying 56-year-old Vickie Forrests allegation that more than 30 years of use of the talcum-based powder caused her illness. Forrest, of St. Louis, was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer in 2012 and is in remission after surgery and chemotherapy, her attorneys said.

Its disappointing that J&J is going to see this as approval of their continued sale of talc-based baby powder that harms women, Ted Meadows, one of Forrests lawyers, said in a statement.

The lawsuit is among several filed on behalf of thousands of women who claim Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder contributed to their ovarian cancer. Other lawsuits have claimed that talc products caused mesothelioma. Juries have awarded billions of dollars in damages but some verdicts have been overturned because of jurisdictional issues.

Johnson & Johnson has consistently argued that its baby powder is safe and does not cause cancer, and has appealed cases where it has lost.

Johnson & Johnson did not immediately respond to phone and email messages Monday.

St. Louis courts have often been friendly to plaintiffs. In July 2018, jurors in St. Louis awarded $4.7 billion to 22 women and their families who said asbestos in Johnson & Johnsons baby powder caused their cancers.

Talc is mined from mineral deposits that can be contaminated with asbestos. Johnson & Johnson has said its powder is routinely tested to ensure there's no asbestos.

But in October, Johnson & Johnson recalled 33,000 bottles of baby powder after Food and Drug Administration testing revealed trace amounts of asbestos. The company disputed the findings and said earlier this month that its own testing, performed by two independent labs, found no traces of asbestos.

___

Associated Press reporter Margaret Stafford in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

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St. Louis Jury Sides With Johnson & Johnson in Talc Case - The New York Times

Industrial Workers Affected due to Asbestos Exposure at Workplace have been Searching Mesothelioma Lawyer Nationwide in the US – Seekers Time

In a US-based survey, it has come to notice that industrial workers affected due to exposure to asbestos at industrial units have been searching for a mesothelioma lawyer nationwide. It is really important for a Mesothelioma victim to get the highest compensation that one can only get if he has complete knowledge about it. Industrial workers are becoming aware that a local firm might not have the knowledge, experience, or certifications related to solving mesothelioma cases.

A lot of people working in the industrial units in the West Virginia region of the Southern US have been taking the help of online mesothelioma law firms in order to hire the best lawyer for themselves. Technology has played a crucial role in enabling the asbestos affected industrial workers to look for mesothelioma lawyer services worldwide. The increasing job hazards at industrial units due to the failure to follow proper safety measures have been increasing the incidents related to mesothelioma on a large scale.

As the number of cases related to mesothelioma cancer has been rising in the US, it has become a common thing to see a number of people hiring a mesothelioma lawyer to get justice. The demand for West Virginia mesothelioma lawyers has been rising and people are largely visiting the online platform of the law firm of Goldberg, Persky & White P.C. (https://gpwlaw-wv.com/).

The firm provides an experienced lawyer and helps industrial workers to get a good amount of compensation. The law firm of Goldberg, Persky, & White P.C. has been receiving a lot of cases from different corners of the US and it is simply because industrial workers have been searching for experienced workers nationwide to get excellent law service.

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Industrial Workers Affected due to Asbestos Exposure at Workplace have been Searching Mesothelioma Lawyer Nationwide in the US - Seekers Time

AgeX Therapeutics Announces Drawdown of Second Tranche of Loan Facility from Juvenescence Ltd. – BioSpace

Juvenescence is pleased to continue its commitment to AgeX through this additional drawdown under the loan facility, commented Gregory Bailey, MD, Chairman of AgeX and CEO of Juvenescence. Juvenescence remains committed to funding the future development plans of AgeX through further advancements under the loan facility or otherwise. Since Juvenescences initial investment in AgeX in June 2018, AgeX has been an important element in the Juvenescence mission and strategy. Juvenescence is also investing its time and personnel to support AgeXs business development initiatives which have impressive potential. We look forward to AgeX announcing its plans for 2020 as it pursues tissue regeneration in Reverse Bioengineering, while advancing the development of BAT and VASC 1, the coupling of HLA-G with PureStem-derived cells for transplant therapies, and exploring partnerships with third parties.

This round of funding will allow us to continue to execute on our strategic plan to provide therapies for certain chronic and degenerative diseases through cellular regeneration and replacement, commented AgeXs founder and CEO Michael D. West, PhD.

As announced in the companys news release on August 14, 2019, AgeX has obtained a $2 million credit facility from Juvenescence to finance AgeXs operations and advance its product development programs.

About AgeX Therapeutics

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: AGE) is focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for human aging. Its PureStem and UniverCyte manufacturing and immunotolerance technologies are designed to work together to generate highly-defined, universal, allogeneic, off-the-shelf pluripotent stem cell-derived young cells of any type for application in a variety of diseases with a high unmet medical need. AgeX has two preclinical cell therapy programs: AGEX-VASC1 (vascular progenitor cells) for tissue ischemia and AGEX-BAT1 (brown fat cells) for Type II diabetes. AgeXs revolutionary longevity platform induced Tissue Regeneration (iTR) aims to unlock cellular immortality and regenerative capacity to reverse age-related changes within tissues. AGEX-iTR1547 is an iTR-based formulation in preclinical development. HyStem is AgeXs delivery technology to stably engraft PureStem cell therapies in the body. AgeX is developing its core product pipeline for use in the clinic to extend human healthspan and is seeking opportunities to establish licensing and collaboration agreements around its broad IP estate and proprietary technology platforms.

For more information, please visit http://www.agexinc.com or connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical fact including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates should also be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in more detail in the Risk Factors section of AgeXs Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (copies of which may be obtained at http://www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. AgeX specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191226005045/en/

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AgeX Therapeutics Announces Drawdown of Second Tranche of Loan Facility from Juvenescence Ltd. - BioSpace

Stem Cell Therapy Market Consumer Outlook 2025 | MEDIPOST Co., Ltd., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. – Market Research Sheets

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Snapshot

Of late, there has been an increasing awareness regarding the therapeutic potential of stem cells for management of diseases which is boosting the growth of the stem cell therapy market. The development of advanced genome based cell analysis techniques, identification of new stem cell lines, increasing investments in research and development as well as infrastructure development for the processing and banking of stem cell are encouraging the growth of the global stem cell therapy market.

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One of the key factors boosting the growth of this market is the limitations of traditional organ transplantation such as the risk of infection, rejection, and immunosuppression risk. Another drawback of conventional organ transplantation is that doctors have to depend on organ donors completely. All these issues can be eliminated, by the application of stem cell therapy. Another factor which is helping the growth in this market is the growing pipeline and development of drugs for emerging applications. Increased research studies aiming to widen the scope of stem cell will also fuel the growth of the market. Scientists are constantly engaged in trying to find out novel methods for creating human stem cells in response to the growing demand for stem cell production to be used for disease management.

It is estimated that the dermatology application will contribute significantly the growth of the global stem cell therapy market. This is because stem cell therapy can help decrease the after effects of general treatments for burns such as infections, scars, and adhesion. The increasing number of patients suffering from diabetes and growing cases of trauma surgery will fuel the adoption of stem cell therapy in the dermatology segment.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Overview

Also called regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy encourages the reparative response of damaged, diseased, or dysfunctional tissue via the use of stem cells and their derivatives. Replacing the practice of organ transplantations, stem cell therapies have eliminated the dependence on availability of donors. Bone marrow transplant is perhaps the most commonly employed stem cell therapy.

Osteoarthritis, cerebral palsy, heart failure, multiple sclerosis and even hearing loss could be treated using stem cell therapies. Doctors have successfully performed stem cell transplants that significantly aid patients fight cancers such as leukemia and other blood-related diseases.

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Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Key Trends

The key factors influencing the growth of the global stem cell therapy market are increasing funds in the development of new stem lines, the advent of advanced genomic procedures used in stem cell analysis, and greater emphasis on human embryonic stem cells. As the traditional organ transplantations are associated with limitations such as infection, rejection, and immunosuppression along with high reliance on organ donors, the demand for stem cell therapy is likely to soar. The growing deployment of stem cells in the treatment of wounds and damaged skin, scarring, and grafts is another prominent catalyst of the market.

On the contrary, inadequate infrastructural facilities coupled with ethical issues related to embryonic stem cells might impede the growth of the market. However, the ongoing research for the manipulation of stem cells from cord blood cells, bone marrow, and skin for the treatment of ailments including cardiovascular and diabetes will open up new doors for the advancement of the market.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Market Potential

A number of new studies, research projects, and development of novel therapies have come forth in the global market for stem cell therapy. Several of these treatments are in the pipeline, while many others have received approvals by regulatory bodies.

In March 2017, Belgian biotech company TiGenix announced that its cardiac stem cell therapy, AlloCSC-01 has successfully reached its phase I/II with positive results. Subsequently, it has been approved by the U.S. FDA. If this therapy is well- received by the market, nearly 1.9 million AMI patients could be treated through this stem cell therapy.

Another significant development is the granting of a patent to Israel-based Kadimastem Ltd. for its novel stem-cell based technology to be used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other similar conditions of the nervous system. The companys technology used for producing supporting cells in the central nervous system, taken from human stem cells such as myelin-producing cells is also covered in the patent.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Regional Outlook

The global market for stem cell therapy can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America emerged as the leading regional market, triggered by the rising incidence of chronic health conditions and government support. Europe also displays significant growth potential, as the benefits of this therapy are increasingly acknowledged.

Asia Pacific is slated for maximum growth, thanks to the massive patient pool, bulk of investments in stem cell therapy projects, and the increasing recognition of growth opportunities in countries such as China, Japan, and India by the leading market players.

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Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Analysis

Several firms are adopting strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships, apart from product development with a view to attain a strong foothold in the global market for stem cell therapy.

Some of the major companies operating in the global market for stem cell therapy are RTI Surgical, Inc., MEDIPOST Co., Ltd., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., NuVasive, Inc., Pharmicell Co., Ltd., Anterogen Co., Ltd., JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., and Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l.

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Stem Cell Therapy Market Consumer Outlook 2025 | MEDIPOST Co., Ltd., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. - Market Research Sheets

The Next Generation of Biologic Pacemakers? New Discovery in Stem Cells from Fat Creates Another Alternative Treatment – DocWire News

A research team from the University of Houston has found a way to use the stem cells found in fat and guide it to become a pacemaker-like cell, according to a new study.

We are reprogramming the cardiac progenitor cell and guiding it to become a conducting cell of the heart to conduct electrical current, said study co-author Bradley McConnell, associate professor of pharmacology, in a press release

The team, publishing the study in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, worked on converting adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells, which reside within fat cells, into cardia progenitor cells. The ensuing cardiac progenitor cells can be programmed to aid heartbeats as a sinoatrial node (SAN), which is part of the electrical cardiac conduction system.

The researchers used what they called a standard screening strategy to test for reprogramming factors for converting human cardiac progenitor cells into pacemaker-like cells. According to their study results, the authors observed expressions of many pacemaker-specific genes, including CX30.2, KCNN4, HCN4, HCN3, HCN1, and SCN3b. The authors wrote that SHOX2, HCN2, and TBX5 (SHT5) combinations of transcription factors were much better candidate(s) in driving cardiac progenitor cells into pacemaker-like cells than other combinations and single transcription factors.

Results of this study show that the SHT5 combination of transcription factors can reprogram CPCs into Pacemaker-like cells, they wrote in their conclusion. SHT5 may be used as a potential stem cell therapy for sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and for other cardiac conduction diseases.

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The Next Generation of Biologic Pacemakers? New Discovery in Stem Cells from Fat Creates Another Alternative Treatment - DocWire News