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Bernese Mountain dogs were originally bred as farm dogs in Switzerland. Today, theyre popular family dogs, as they are intelligent, tolerant of other pets, and good with kids. If youre looking to add a dog to your family, an important factor to consider is the lifespan of your chosen breed.

A Bernese Mountain dog lover named Karlo Laforteza has kept an informal database of Bernese Mountain dogs that have reached old age. While these individuals are not verified, this anecdotal list provides a snapshot of this dogs lifespan.

These are 10 of the oldest Bernese Mountain dogs:

There are unsubstantiated reports of a Bernese Mountain dog that lived to be 25 years old! The dog lived in Ronsberg, Bavaria. Considering the oldest verified dog on earth is younger than that, the likelihood that this German dog lived 25 years is highly unlikely.

Bernese Mountain dogs originally arrived in the USA via a farmer from Kansas in 1926. The American Kennel Club, an organization for purebred dogs registered in the USA, officially recognized the breed in 1937.

The oldest verified Bernese mountain dog lived 15 years and two months, as documented by the AKC.

iStock.com/Kriste Sorokaite

Since these dogs are a large breed, their life expectancy is on the short side. In fact, this breed has the shortest lifespan of all dog breeds. Females live almost nine years, while males dont quite reach eight. This means that the average dog, regardless of gender, may live between eight and nine years.

In comparison, the average lifespan across all dog breeds is about 10 years old. No one is quite sure why smaller dogs live longer than large ones. It may have something to do with cell division in the larger mass of tissue present in bigger animals.

All dogs are prone to diseases. However, Bernese Mountain dogs are uniquely susceptible to certain ailments. These diseases include histiocytosis, gastric volvulus, and joint dysplasia.

Some diseases that affect old Bernese Mountain dogs are:

Making sure that your pet is as healthy as it can be is undoubtedly your top priority. Before purchasing a Bernese Mountain dog, request genetic testing that will help you avoid some of these common ailments. However, it is not possible to predict every malady that may affect your dog.

Gastric volvulus, a condition in which gas becomes trapped in the stomach, comes on fast and may kill a dog if not addressed. However, only about two percent of afflicted dogs end up losing their lives. It is common in large dogs, so its important for owners to know the signs and symptoms.

Common symptoms include bloating and retching, caused by a gas buildup in the stomach. Sometimes it resolves itself but can quickly become fatal.

In extreme cases, both entrances of the stomach become blocked. Immediate care from a veterinarian is required at this stage for the dog to survive. Older dogs are more at risk and need to be monitored closely.

Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disease that often causes blindness in affected individuals. Blindness comes on slowly and is usually preceded by a sensitivity to light at nighttime. It isnt painful and sometimes it goes unnoticed until its advanced.

This disease is related to the retina, which refers to a cell layer on the back of the eyeball. This cell layer detects incoming light and turns it into electrical stimuli, which the brain interprets into images. Progressive retinal atrophy occurs when these retina cells slowly degrade and die.

This disease is genetic. Because of its recessive nature, both dog parents must carry the genes for the disease to appear in their offspring.

Some other affected breeds include Bedlington terriers, American cocker spaniels, rottweilers, golden retrievers, and English springer spaniels.

Over half of Bernese Mountain dogs die because of some form of cancer. More than 25 percent of this breed dies from histiocytosis in particular.

The two particular diseases associated with the term histiocytosis include systemic histiocytosis and malignant histiocytosis. Both involve the immune system cells called histiocytes. However, systemic histiocytosis affects younger dogs and is treatable, while malignant histiocytosis afflicts older dogs and is almost always fatal.

Histiocytosis is a genetic disease. As a result, the family members of affected dogs are at risk of developing the disease. Additionally, this disease skips generations, making predictions more complicated.

When the histiocytes of the immune system begin malfunctioning, they sometimes cause tumors throughout a dogs body. Fever, appetite loss, lethargy, and a quick drop in weight are common and observable symptoms.

Affected dogs will show symptoms once tumor formation causes organ degradation. Commonly afflicted organs include the spinal cord, lungs, spleen, kidneys, lymph nodes, and liver. There is no cure for this disease and symptoms usually only occur once it is advanced.

How about the fastest dogs, the largest dogs and those that are -- quite frankly -- just the kindest dogs on the planet? Each day, AZ Animals sends out lists just like this to our thousands of email subscribers. And the best part? It's FREE. Join today by entering your email below.

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10 of the Oldest Bernese Mountain Dogs - AZ Animals

Carmelo Carlo-Stella, MD, PhD, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Department of Oncology and Hematology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital in Rozzano, Italy, discusses the evaluation of subcutaneous and intravenous (IV) RG6234 in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

A phase 1 dose-escalation trial (NCT04557150) evaluated both subcutaneous and IV RG6234 in patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma who previously received treatment with an immunomodulatory drug and proteasome inhibitor and are intolerant to or have no other option for standard-of-care treatment.

Updated results presented at the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting showed that patients who received IV RG6234 experienced an overall response rate (ORR) of 71.4%, and those in the subcutaneous RG6234 cohort had an ORR of 63.6%. Notably, 50% of patients in the IV cohort achieved a very good partial response or better. Additionally, 71.4% of patients who achieved complete remission (CR) became minimal residual disease negative.

RG6234 is a GPRC5DxCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody that targets CD3 cells and multiple myeloma plasma cells, Carlo-Stella explains. Upon the antibody aligning with the bindings of the T-cells and myeloma cells, the T-cells are activated, in turn producing cytokines that target myeloma plasma cells, Carlo-Stella says.

Due to their off-the-shelf nature and ease of use, bispecific antibodies have gained more traction across hematologic malignancies in recent years, Carlo-Stella notes, adding that this shift has largely occurred across the landscape of lymphoproliferative disorders. These agents have created high expectations for both physicians and patients, Carlo-Stella emphasizes.

At this stage in development, RG6234 remains under evaluation in a phase 1 clinical trial that has enrolled 108 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Approximately half of these patients have been treated with IV RG6234, and the other half were treated subcutaneously, Carlo-Stella notes. Investigators hope to develop RG6234 as a subcutaneous drug as a fixed-duration therapy, Carlo-Stella concludes.

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Dr. Carlo-Stella on the Investigation of RG6234 in R/R Multiple ... - OncLive

The Jockey Club Press Release

LEXINGTON, Ky.The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced today that it has authorized expenditure of $1,498,077 to fund 12 new projects and nine continuing projects at 13 universities as well as two career development awards. The 2023 slate of research brings Graysons totals since 1983 to more than $34.1 million to underwrite 426 projects at 45universities.

The Grayson Foundation is dedicated to tackling a variety of equine health challenges, which is clearly reflected in our selected projects for this year, said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson. Our research projects and career development awards wouldnt be possible without the kindness of our donors, and we thank them for their understanding of the significance of equine veterinary research.

Below is an alphabetical list by school of the new projects:

Transcriptomic Response To OsteoarthritisLynn Pezzanite, Colorado State UniversityThis study will highlight the role that cells of the immune system play to contributing to disease progression of osteoarthritis toward the goal of developing treatments for each stage of disease.

Efficacy of Recombinant Equine Lubricin for OsteoarthritisHeidi Reesink, Cornell UniversityThis study will assess efficacy of recombinant equine lubricin (rEqLub) in mitigating equine joint disease and identify gene and protein pathways affected by rEqLub in equine joints.

Treatment Of Meniscal Injury With Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Aimee Colbath, Cornell University

This study will determine whether intra-articular mesenchymal stem cells lead to improved meniscal healing, providing an immediate impact on how veterinarians treat equine meniscal disease.

Stem Cell Neotissue Implants for Equine Tendon HealingMandi J. Lopez, Louisiana State UniversityThis study will determine if viable neotissue implants generated from stem cells will augment current therapies to treat debilitating tendon injuries in equine athletes and companions.

Gallium Nitrate to Treat Bacterial Endometritis in MaresDale Kelley, Oklahoma State UniversityThis study proposes to develop new, safe, and efficacious antimicrobial strategies to treat antimicrobial resistance.

A VapA mRNA Vaccine for R. equi PneumoniaNoah Cohen, Texas A&M AgriLife ResearchThis grant evaluates an mRNA vaccine administered intramuscularly to foals to protect against pneumonia caused by the bacterium Rhodococcus equi, a major cause of disease and death in foals worldwide.

Genomics of Thoroughbred Stallion Subfertility

Terje Raudsepp, Texas A&M University

This project aims to identify candidate genes and regulatory variants underlying impaired acrosome reaction and subfertility in Thoroughbred stallions using multi-platform genomics.

Validation of Biomarkers for Equine NeurodegenerationCarrie J. Finno, University of California DavisIt is expected that this study will improve the diagnosis of spinal cord disease in horses.

PET MRI Sport Horse FetlockMathieu Spriet, University of California DavisThis study will compare 18F-NaF positron emission tomography (PET) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of fetlock injuries in sport horses.

Antibiotic Effects On Uterine Microbiome and ResistomeIgor Canisso, University of IllinoisThis is a study of uterine microbiome and resistome of mares resistant and susceptible to endometritis treated with post-mating antibiotics.

Nanoparticle Vaccines For Equine Rotavirus BFeng Li, University of KentuckyThe vaccine candidate developed from this project will help the equine industry to control and prevent equine rotavirus B infection.

An efficacious EPM vaccine is on the waySharon Witonsky, Virginia-Maryland CVMThis study plans to identify potential MHC class I CD8 and MHC class II CD4 protective epitopes for an efficacious vaccine against Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis due to Sarcocystis neurona.

Career Development Awards

The Storm Cat Career Development Award, inaugurated in 2006, grants $20,000 to an individual considering a career in equine research. This year, Graysonawarded Dr. Shun Shune Kimura of University of Georgia. Dr. Kimuras research will investigate how immune and metabolic responses in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) impact disease severity, and determine if metformin has beneficial anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects in equine SIRS.

The Elaine and Bertram Klein Career Development Award was first awarded in 2015 and grants $20,000 to a prospective equine researcher. This years recipient isDr. Bethanie Cooper of North Carolina State University. Dr. Coopers research, entitled, Myristoylated Alanine Rich C-Kinase Substrate (MARCKS) protein as a therapeutic target in equine asthma, will examine this new protein-based therapy as a potential treatment for horses suffering with equine asthma.

The track record of Graysons career development awards in supporting up-and-coming equine researchers is undeniable, and we are thrilled to extend grants to two deserving recipients this year, said Dr. Johnny Mac Smith, who serves as a consultant for the research advisory committee and is the A. Gary Lavin Chair of the foundation.

Click here for Details on the new projects.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nations leading source of equine research funding. The projects it supports enhance the health and safety of horses of all breeds. Additional information about the foundation is available atgrayson.jockeyclub.org.

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Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Approves 2023 Funding - Past The Wire

The expansion of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has led to unique combinations that have resulted in improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with standard-of-care therapy. These novel combinations have demonstrated promising efficacy in patients who have significant unmet needs. At the same time, BTK inhibitors have refined the use of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Recent findings that stratify the use of BTK inhibitors in combination with ASCT were explored during major medical conferences in 2022.

In younger, fit patients, standard of care for patients with MCL consists of cytarabine, followed by ASCT and rituximab (Rituxan) maintenance.1 In patients who are less fit, the standard-of-care regimen consists of less intense immunotherapy, such as the combination of bendamustine-rituximab, followed by rituximab maintenance therapy.2

Now recent findings from the phase 3 TRIANGLE study (NCT02858258) presented at the 2022 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition have suggested that adding the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (Imbruvica) to standard chemoimmunotherapy induction, followed by ASCT and maintenance with ibrutinib for 2 years improved outcomes compared with chemoimmunotherapy and ASCT alone.3

Based on failure-free survival, the combination of ASCT plus ibrutinib is significantly superior to ASCT alone, lead author Martin Dreyling, MD, said during a presentation of the data. ASCT is not superior to ibrutinib without ASCT. Currently, there [are] no decisions about whether autologous stem cell transplant adds to ibrutinib, but certainly right now toxicity favors ibrutinib only. Dreyling is a professor of medicine and head of the Lymphoma Program in Medical Clinic III at Grosshadern Clinic at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. The open-label 3-arm trial (N=870) randomly assigned patients to arm A, arm B, and arm C. All 3 arms received 3 cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine [Oncovin], and prednisone)/R-DHAP (rituximab, dexamethasone, cytarabine, and cisplatin).

In arm A (n=288) following R-CHOP/R-DHAP, patients underwent ASCT and observation. In arm B (n=292), patients underwent ASCT, followed by 2 years of ibrutinib maintenance and observation. The third arm (n=290) was treated with 2 years of ibrutinib and observation. Patients in all 3 arms received rituximab maintenance (58% in arm A, 57% in arm B, and 54% in arm C). The trial was designed to detect an HR of 0.60 and 1-sided of 0.01665, powered at 90%.

The median age of patients was 57 years (range, 27-68), and most patients (76%) were male. Overall, baseline characteristics were balanced across all 3 arms.

The 3-year failure-free survival rate was 72% with standard induction and ASCT vs 88% with ibrutinib added to induction, ASCT, and 2 years of ibrutinib maintenance (HR, 0.52; P=.0008). Investigators reported that the 3-year overall survival rate (OS) was 86% in arm A, 91% in arm B, and 92% in arm C.3

The objective response rate (ORR) after induction therapy was determined to be 94% in arm A, and patients had a complete response (CR) rate of 36%. When combining the findings from both arm B and arm C (n=559), the ORR was 98% and the CR rate was 45%.3

Dreyling said the CR rates were comparable to other US-based trials and noted that, This [study] is CT based. It is not PET [positron emission tomography]CT based. It is in line with previously published data [using this method], and when we looked at other induction regimens, this is highly comparable.

To further refine the use of ASCT, in the phase 3 SHINE study (NCT01776840), older patients with MCL who were not candidates for intensive chemotherapy or ASCT because of toxicities received ibrutinib with bendamustine-rituximab and rituximab maintenance.4 The patients were stratified by low-, intermediate-, or highrisk disease based on the MCL International Prognostic Index and randomly assigned to receive ibrutinib (560 mg daily) or placebo, plus 6 cycles of bendamustine (90 mg/m2) and rituximab (375 mg/m2).

During the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Michael Wang, MD, reported on data showing that at a median follow-up of 84.7 months, treatment with the ibrutinib-based regimen (n = 261) induced a median PFS of 6.7 years (80.6 months) compared with a median of 4.4 years (52.9 months) in the placebo-based arm (HR, 0.75; 1-sided P = .011). This was a 50% improvement compared with placebo and standard of care, Wang noted.

I think this is huge progress [in the MCL landscape], Wang, lead study author and Puddin Clarke Endowed Professor, Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said in an interview with Targeted Therapies in Oncology.

Transplant will not be replaced totally, but I think its use will decrease dramatically based on this study.

The median age of the patients at study entry was 71 years (range, 65-87). Additional results demonstrated a CR rate of 65.5% in the ibrutinib arm and 57.6% in the placebo arm (P = .0567). However, there was no statistical significance in OS between the 2 treatment arms (P = .648).4

Wang said that based on findings from SHINE, in the frontline setting for patients older than 65 years, the combination of ibrutinib, bendamustine, and rituximab will be useful.

Despite its benefits, patients treated with BTK inhibitors will eventually experience resistance, so the search for next-generation BTK inhibitors continues. Clinicians can look towards the approval of pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca) for relapsed or refractory MCL after at least 2 lines of systemic therapy.5 Efficacy was based on findings from the phase 1/2 BRUIN study (NCT03740529), which also explored unique combinations explored during the 2022 ASH meeting.

Updated findings from the BRUIN study demonstrated durable efficacy for pirtobrutinib.6 Previously treated patients with B-cell malignancies were eligible to participate in which pirtobrutinib monotherapy was given in either the dose-escalation or dose-expansion portion of the multicenter study.

In 90 heavily pretreated patients with MCL, 77 (86%) received the recommended phase 2 dose of pirtobrutinib (200 mg once daily). The ORR was 58% (95% CI, 47%-88%) and included 18 CRs (20%) and 34 partial responses (PRs; 38%).6

The median duration of response (DOR) at the 12-month follow-up was 22 months (95% CI, 7.5-not estimable [NE]), according to investigators. The 12-month and 18-month estimated DOR rates were 57% (95% CI, 39%-72%) and 52% (95% CI, 34%68%), respectively.6

In the safety cohort that included all patients treated with pirtobrutinib (n=725), study investigators reported that the most common treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) of grade 3 or higher was neutropenia (20%; n=143). The most common any-grade treatment-emergent AEs, regardless of attribution, were fatigue (26%; n=191), diarrhea (22%; n=160), and contusion (19%; n=16). Neutropenia was the most common grade 3 or greater TEAE, according to Wang et al. They concluded that the agent was well tolerated with few drug-related toxicities.6

Another noncovalent BTK inhibitor, CG-806 (luxeptinib), is undergoing evaluation in early-phase clinical trials for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) hematologic malignancies, including MCL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Investigators demonstrated that the agent disrupts B-cell receptor signaling and induces metabolic reprogramming and apoptosis in MCL. The investigators noted that targeting BCL2 using CG-806 warrants further exploration.7

The combination of ibrutinib with zilovertamab (NCT03088878) was explored in patients with MCL and CLL in data presented during the 2022 ASH meeting. Results from the dose-finding and dose- expansion cohorts revealed ORRs of 89.3% and 91.2%, respectively, in patients with MCL (n=25) and CLL (n=31).8

We are excited [to see these data] in patients with MCL and CLL who were treated with this combination, lead author Hun Ju Lee, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said in an interview with Targeted Therapies in Oncology.

In the MCL population, investigators reported a median DOR of 34.1 months (95% CI, 13.67-NE).

At the 6-month, 12-month, and 26-month follow-ups, the CR rate was 29.6%, 37%, and 40.7%, respectively.

The median PFS was 35.9 months (95% CI, 17.3-NE) after a median follow-up of 15.1 months, and the landmark PFS rate was approximately 70% at 30 months.8

In a subpopulation of patients with tumors harboring TP53 mutations, the ORR was 83.3% (with 1 CR and 4 PRs), median DOR was 13.84 months (95% CI, 11.3-NE), median PFS was 17.3 months (95% CI, 2.85NE), and landmark PFS rate at 12 months was greater than 80%. In patients whose Ki67 index score was 30% or greater (n=14), the ORR was 85.7%, with 5 CRs and 7 PRs.8

The combination of ibrutinib and ixazomib (Ninlaro) was evaluated in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) MCL.9

In the phase 1 portion, patients could be either ibrutinib nave or ibrutinib pretreated. In phase 2, patients were divided into 2 cohorts: ibrutinib nave or ibrutinib pretreated. Investigators noted that the ibrutinib-pretreated cohort was closed early because of slow enrollment.

In the phase 1 portion (n=12), 2 dose levels of ixazomib were evaluated (3 mg and 4 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle) with ibrutinib at 560 mg daily. Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Thirty-five patients who were ibrutinib-nave were enrolled in phase 2. The CR rate was 42.9% (95% CI, 26.3%-60.6%), and the ORR was 77.1% (95% CI, 59.9%-89.6%).

Median DOR was 8 cycles (range, 1-23), with 23% of patients remaining on treatment after a median of 12 cycles (range, 6-19). Twenty-seven patients discontinued treatment because of AEs (n=13), progression (n=9), death due to an AE (n=1), physician discretion (n=1), and treatment delay (n=1).

The primary end point for the phase 2 portion was CR within the first year of the study treatment.9

Grade 3 AEs including hypertension, lymphopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, rash, syncope, and atrial fibrillation were reported in 1 patient or more. AEs leading to treatment discontinuation included rash (n=2), atrial fibrillation (n=2), and hepatic failure, sepsis, fatigue/anorexia, peripheral neuropathy, muscle spasms, arthralgia, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, and heart failure (n=1 each).9

Twelve patients with previously untreated MCL were enrolled in a phase 2 study (NCT04783415).10 Acalabrutinib (Calquence) 100 mg was given twice daily, umbralisib (Ukoniq) 800 mg was given daily, and ublituximab-xiiy (Briumvi) 900 mg was given intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 1 and day 1 of subsequent cycles. After 6 cycles, patients continued maintenance with oral agents and ublituximab every 2 cycles (planned for 24 cycles).

The primary end point was efficacy as determined by CR rate, and the secondary end point was safety. Enrollment was suspended by the FDA in February 2022 due to general safety concerns with umbralisib and other PI3K inhibitors.11

Because the first 2 patients who enrolled developed grade 3 and 4 aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase levels, the trial design was amended so that umbralisib was given on days 1 through 14 of cycle 1 and days 1 through 7 of subsequent cycles. Four patients were unable to continue taking acalabrutinib because of elevated aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase levels and continued on umbralisib/ublituximab alone.10

All 12 patients achieved CR (ORR, 100%; CR, 100%). As of data presented at the 2022 ASH meeting, 10 patients remained on therapy. Danilov et al concluded that the combination of continuous umbralisib and acalabrutinib resulted in liver function abnormalities but that intermittent dosing of umbralisib was well tolerated.10

BTK inhibitors in combination with cellular therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy are under evaluation in ongoing trials. Whether to use these agents sequentially or concomitantly remains to be determined.12 The TABLE13-16 summarizes a sample of trials that explore the combination of CAR T-cell therapy with BTK inhibitors.

The evolution of BTK inhibitors in MCL has established this class of agent as a mainstay in the R/R setting, and their potential for further benefit continues to be explored. Unique combinationsincluding those that pair BTK inhibitors with targeted therapies or cellular therapies and second-generation agents further enhance the efficacy of BTK inhibitors, and their use remains a backbone approach moving forward.

REFERENCES

1. Le Gouill S, Thieblemont C, Oberic L, et al; LYSA Group. Rituximab after autologous stem-cell transplantation in mantle-cell lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(13):1250-1260. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1701769

2. Visco C, Chiappella A, Nassi L, et al. Rituximab, bendamustine, and low-dose cytarabine as induction therapy in elderly patients with mantle cell lymphoma: a multicentre, phase 2 trial from Fondazione Italiana Linfomi. Lancet Haematol. 2017;4(1):e15-e23. doi:10.1016/S2352-3026(16)30185-5

3. Dreyling M, Doorduijn JK, Gine E, et al. Efficacy and safety of ibrutinib combined with standard first-line treatment or as substitute for autologous stem cell transplantation in younger patients with mantle cell lymphoma: results from the randomized Triangle trial by the European MCL Network. Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1):1-3. doi:10.1182/ blood-2022-163018

4. Wang M, Jurczak W, Jerkeman M, et al. Primary results from the double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III SHINE study of ibrutinib in combination with bendamustine-rituximab (BR) and R maintenance as a first-line treatment for older patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(suppl 17):LBA7502. doi:10.1200/JCO.2022.40.17_ suppl.LBA7502

5. FDA grants accelerated approval to pirtobrutinib for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma. FDA. Accessed January 30, 2023. http://bit.ly/40oYhYC

6. Wang ML, Shah NN, Jurczak W, et al. Efficacy of pirtobrutinib in covalent BTK-inhibitor pre-treated relapsed / refractory mantle cell lymphoma: additional patients and extended follow-up from the phase 1/2 BRUIN study. Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1):9368-9372. doi:10.1182/blood-2022-159425

7. Thieme E, Liu T, Bruss N, et al. Dual BTK/SYK inhibition with CG-806 (luxeptinib) disrupts B-cell receptor and Bcl-2 signaling networks in mantle cell lymphoma. Cell Death Dis. 2022;13(3):246. doi:10.1038/s41419-022-04684-1.

8. Lee HJ, Choi M, Siddiqi T. et al. Phase 1/2 study of zilovertamab and ibrutinib in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), or marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1):566-568. doi:10.1182/ blood-2022-167153

9. Cohen JB, Jegede O, Portell CA, et al. Ibrutinib and ixazomib in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma: Precog 0404. Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1):6487-6488. doi:10.1182/ blood-2022-164710

10. Danilov AV, Muir A, Melgar I, et al. A phase II trial of acalabrutinib in combination with PI3K inhibitor umbralisib and the anti-CD20 antibody ublituximab (AU2) in patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1): 3633-3634. doi:10.1182/ blood-2022-159805

11. FDA investigating possible increased risk of death with lymphoma medicine Ukoniq (umbralisib). Accessed January 10, 2023. https://bit.ly/3ZmWZg6.

12. Jacobson CA, Maus MV. C(h)AR-ting a new course in incurable lymphomas: CAR T cells for mantle cell and follicular lymphomas. Blood Adv. 2020;4(22):5858-5862. doi:10.1182/ bloodadvances.2020003391

13. 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

14. Palomba ML, Gordon LI, Siddiqi T, et al. Safety and preliminary efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma receiving lisocabtagene maraleucel in Transcend NHL 001. Blood. 2020;136(suppl 1):10-11. doi:10.1182/ blood-2020-136158

15. Wang Y, Jain P, Locke FL, et al. Brexucabtagene autoleucel for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma: real world experience from the US Lymphoma CAR T Consortium. Blood. 2021;138(suppl 1):744. doi:10.1182/blood-2021-147563

16. Romancik JT, Goyal S, Gerson JN. Analysis of outcomes and predictors of response in patients with relapsed mantle cell lymphoma treated with brexucabtagene autoleucel. Blood. 2021;138(suppl 1):1756. doi:10.1182/blood-2021-153277

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BTK Inhibitors Stretch Frontline Approaches in Mantle Cell Lymphoma - Targeted Oncology

Johannes Schetelig, MD, MSc

In patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), those who received an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT) attained similar overall survival rates compared with those who first received intense salvage chemotherapy to achieve complete response (CR), according to results from the phase 3 ETAL3-ASAP trial (NCT02461537). These findings run counter to the common practice of offering stem cell transplantation only to patients who have achieved CR, suggesting that patients may skip salvage chemotherapy before receiving a transplant. Results were presented during a press briefing at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition.1

Patients were randomized 1:1 to a remission induction strategy (RIST arm) with 3 g/m2 cytarabine (1 g/m2 for patients >60 years) twice daily on days 1-3 plus 10 mg/m2 mitoxantrone on days 3 to 5 and subsequent alloHCT or to disease control (DISC arm) prior to sequential conditioning and alloHCT.

Findings from the phase 3 clinical trial showed that the primary end point of disease-free survival (DFS) at day 56 was reached by 84.1% of those in the DISC arm (n = 139) and 81.3% of those in the RIST arm (n = 137; P = .047). Although this missed statistical significance against the 1-sided level of 2.5%, the probability that the true success rate in the investigative arm is below the noninferiority margin is only 4.7%, said study author Johannes Schetelig, MD, MSc, of the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany, in a presentation of the data.

Schetelig said the authors acknowledged that DFS at day 56 is not an accepted surrogate end point following transplantation. At a median follow-up of 37 months, no difference in leukemia-free survival from day 56 (P = .061) or overall survival (OS) from randomization (P = .047) was observed between the DISC and RIST arms.

Our conclusions are that patients with poor response after first induction chemotherapy or first relapse of AML do not benefit from salvage chemotherapy with high-dose cytarabine plus an anthracycline prior to transplantation, Schetelig said.

Watchful waiting and sequential conditioning prior to allogeneic transplantation result in comparable CR rates and OS and may be the preferred option whenever a stem cell donor is readily available. In patients with AML, CR before alloHCT is known to be a favorable risk factor. Intensive chemotherapy can be given prior to alloHCT to try to induce CR, but it is unknown whether those with relapsed or refractory disease derive a benefit from this approach. Sequential conditioning with high-dose cytarabine or melphalan followed by reduced intensity conditioning and alloHCT has resulted in long-term disease control for this population. In the study, the induction chemotherapy comprised high-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone followed by alloHCT in patients with relapsed or refractory AML. Our hypothesis was that salvage chemotherapy would not provide a net benefit for patients with high-risk AML, Schetelig said.

To test this hypothesis, investigators enrolled adult patients with high-risk AML following first induction therapy or first untreated relapse who were fit for intensive chemotherapy and alloHCT. Patients were required to have a matched sibling donor, a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)- compatible unrelated donor, or an ongoing donor search with 2 potential unrelated donors and an HLA-matching probability of at least 90%.

Study participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to the RIST arm or the DISC arm. Those in the RIST arm received salvage chemotherapy with cytarabine at 3 g/m2 (1 g/m2 for those older than 60 years) twice daily on days 1 to 3 plus mitoxantrone at 10 mg/m2 on days 3 to 5 followed by alloHCT. In the DISC arm, watchful waiting was recommended, but low-dose cytarabine and single doses of mitoxantrone were allowed for disease control. This was followed by sequential conditioning and alloHCT.

The primary end point of the trial was treatment success, which was defined as DFS at day 65 following alloHCT. Investigators sought to demonstrate noninferiority for the DISC arm, with a margin of 5% and a 1-sided level of 2.5%. OS from randomization and leukemia-free survival from day 65 served as key secondary end points.

The median age in the DISC and RIST arms was 61 years. Less than half of patients were female (45% vs 42%, respectively), and most patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 (88% vs 90%). Patients had active diseasetwo-thirds defined by poor induction response and one-third defined by relapsed AML, Schetelig noted.

In the DISC arm, the median time to transplantation was 4 weeks, and of note, 76% of patients were cared for by watchful waiting only during that period. Sixteen weeks from being randomly assigned, 97% of the intention-to-treat population had undergone transplant.

In the RIST arm, Schetelig noted that every second patient achieved a CR with salvage chemotherapy. The median time to transplantation was 8 weeks. I would like to highlight that most patients who had not achieved a CR still proceeded to transplantation72% after sequential conditioning, he said. In this arm, 93% of patients received transplants by week 17 after random assignment.

The incidence of adverse effects of grade 3 or above was lower in the DISC arm vs the RIST arm, at 23% and 64%, respectively (P<.001). Notably, those in the DISC arm also spent less time in the hospital prior to transplantation vs those in the RIST arm, at a mean of 19 days (range, 7-63) vs 42 days (range, 9-75; P<.001). The mortality rates on day 28 from time of random assignment were 3.6% in the DISC arm vs 1.5% in the RIST arm.

In the DISC arm, 4 patients did not undergo transplant because of death due to sepsis (n=2), leukemia (n=1), or a decision against alloHCT (n=1). In the RIST arm, 6 patients did not undergo alloHCT because of death due to pneumonia (n=3), immune checkpoint blockade (n=1), refractory AML (n=1), or a decision against it (n=1).

Time to discharge and in-hospital mortality did not differ between the 2 arms, Schetelig added. A more general conclusion and forward-looking statement is that the benefit of any treatment [aimed] at better results after allogeneic transplantation by inducing a CR prior to transplantation should be demonstrated in prospective clinical trials, Schetelig said.

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No Survival Advantage When Chemotherapy Is Given Prior to ... - Targeted Oncology

While cryptocurrency may be a fitting investment for some portfolios, you don't need to put your hard-earned cash into speculative investments in order to pursue market-beating returns. If you have money to put into the stock market right now, there are plenty of companies just begging to be bought with tremendous growth potential to tap into in the years ahead.

These are three such stocks to consider adding to your portfolio right now.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX 0.23%) is coming off of another robust year of growth in 2022. The company delivered approximately $9 billion on the top line in the 12-month period, paired with earnings of $3.3 billion and operating income of $4.3 billion. These three metrics represented increases of 18%, 42%, and 66%, respectively, from the prior year.

Vertex isn't content to rest on the success of its cystic fibrosis treatments. It's aggressively building out a pipeline of products, primarily targeting various segments of the rare disease drug market, each of which could represent multi-billion-dollar revenue opportunities for the company.

Among some of the most promising candidates in Vertex's pipeline are a rare blood disorder treatment that the company developed with CRISPR Therapeutics (which could be approved as soon as this year), an MRNA-based cystic fibrosis therapy it's working on with Moderna, and a non-opioid drug to treat acute pain. The company also acquired ViaCyte last year, a company that's working on developing stem-cell based treatments for type 1 diabetes.

Vertex's continued footprint in the cystic fibrosis market includes the only medicines currently approved for targeting the root protein malfunction that leads to the genetic illness, and its rapidly evolving pipeline could be set for a wave of several new approvals in the coming years. For these reasons, investors should consider a long-term position in this healthcare stock.

Pinterest (PINS -0.91%) hasn't delivered the mouth-watering growth that some investors became accustomed to in the earlier days of the pandemic, but its business is still demonstrating promise that could yet yield strong returns in the years to come. After a few quarters of unfavorable year-over-year comparisons to peak growth during the earlier part of the pandemic, user metrics are on the upswing, and Pinterest is continuing to monetize new and existing users very well.

For all of 2022, Pinterest reported total revenue of $2.8 billion, up 9% from 2021, with average revenue per user coming in 10% higher than the prior year. The company closed out the year with 450 million monthly active users, up 4% compared to 2021. And while Pinterest reported a net loss for the 12-month period, it turned back to profitability in the final quarter of the year, generating GAAP net income to the tune of $17 million for the three-month period.

Pinterest remains an incredibly attractive platform for companies to advertise on, with the bulk of all its revenue coming from ad dollars spent by both small businesses and large merchants. Companies won't be able to scale back on ad spend indefinitely. As economic conditions improve, Pinterest's continued acquisition of users and the image-centric model of its platform will build upon a foundation that can continue to draw consistent ad spending, flowing back to the tech stock's top and bottom lines, and into favorable shareholder returns.

Chewy (CHWY 3.07%) is rapidly expanding its potential beyond that of an online pet store, and this has translated to steady growth.

In the third quarter of 2022, the company reported net sales of $2.5 billion, a robust 15% increase from the prior-year period. Meanwhile, its gross margin expanded 200 basis points year over year, while the company pulled in net income of $2.3 million for the three-month period. This followed earnings of $19 million and $22 million in the first and second quarters of 2022, respectively.

Right now, Chewy is investing heavily in building out its business as well as its fulfillment infrastructure, which may weigh on the bottom line now but can reap manifold returns for shareholders in the years ahead. For example, the company is working on building out its network of automated fulfillment centers, which shorten processing times and cut down operating costs overall. It's launched a beta version of a sponsored ads program that would allow pet vendors to market to buyers on the Chewy platform.

The company also recently announced the upcoming launch of additional pet health insurance plans, and its first private label pet supplement line. The pet health insurance and non-prescription pet wellness industries alone represent respective addressable markets of $10 billion and $2.4 billion. Given the varied sub-sectors of the broader pet industry, Chewy could still be in the very early stages of its growth story -- a compelling buying proposition for long-term investors.

Rachel Warren has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CRISPR Therapeutics, Chewy, Pinterest, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Moderna. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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3 Growth Stocks With More Potential Than Any Cryptocurrency - The Motley Fool

Michael J. Fallon, MD, radiation oncologist, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, discusses supportive care considerations for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

The use of infection prophylaxis continues to evolve with the addition of new therapies, such as anti-BCMA CAR T-cell therapies and bispecific T-cell engagers, since these agents have different effects on the immune system that clinicians are still working to understand, Fallon says. Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Networkguidelines have started to integrate the use of infection prophylaxis with these agents; however, the current recommendations only fit specific conditions for a patient, and more clarity is needed to know when this intervention is appropriate, Fallon explains. In the past, supportive care considerations for patients who received an autologous stem cell transplant were well defined, and improvements to guidelines will be made for newer therapies, according to Fallon, who adds that, in general, patients have less infections with T-cell redirecting therapies compared with other treatments.

Immunizations continue to be a cost burden to patients. For example, patients within the Medicare population are only allowed 2 lifetime doses of a pneumococcal injection, and patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma will likely need up to 4 injections, Fallon explains. For patients who are post transplant, they may require up to 6 injections, and oftentimes, these patients will need to pay out of pocket for these vaccines, Fallon says.

Additionally, tertiary centers will provide some of these injections; however, patients must also rely on the local community hospitals and clinics to provide the injections, Fallon explains. Coordinating these series of vaccines between different health-care systems can also present a challenge for patients with multiple myeloma, Fallon adds.

Bone health remains the most impactful adverse event (AE) for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, as they can experience walking difficulties, pain, and numbness, Fallon says. These AEs can be detrimental to a patient's quality of life. It is important that clinicians remain vigilant with medications to maintain bone health medications and ensure fractures do not happen, Fallon concludes.

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Dr. Fallon on Supportive Care Considerations in R/R Multiple ... - OncLive

The bispecific antibody teclistamab-cqyv (Tecvayli) showed promising efficacy and safety in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) with a well-tolerated safety profile in data from the phase 1/2 MajesTEC-1 trial (NCT04557098). These results led to the October 2022 FDA approval of the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed, CD3 T-cell engager, for adult patients with relapsed or refractory MM who have received at least 4 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

The approval was based on 110 patients among whom the overall response rate was 61.8% (95% CI, 52.1%-70.9%) with a complete response rate of 28.2%. The estimated duration of response rate at 6 and 9 months was 90.6% (95% CI, 80.3%95.7%) and 66.5% (95% CI, 38.8%-83.9%), respectively.2

Teclistamab is a highly effective therapy for relapsed/refractory MM that rivals the efficacy of [chimeric antigen receptor] CAR T-cell therapy, but ultimately is a lot simpler to administer and will be more readily available than CAR T-cell therapies, Alfred L. Garfall, MD, said.

In an interview with OncologyLive, Garfall, director of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and an assistant professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, discussed the durability of responses teclistamab elicited and how it will change the treatment regimen for relapsed/refractory MM.

Despite all the progress with new MM therapies that have been developed over the past [couple of] decades, unfortunately most patients are expected to relapse. We need new therapies to address the needs of patients who are progressing despite all the best currently available therapies.

What is impressive about teclistamab is the high response rate as a single agent in patients who have become refractory to the most commonly available therapies for MM. In the patient population studied in a pivotal trial, approximately 65% of patients responded to teclistamab and those responses tended to be very durable [with a] median duration of response of approximately 18 months. That is quite impressive.

Among the therapies that we give on an ongoing basis for MM, there are some specific toxicities in the early week or two of teclistamab therapy. For patients who respond and handle those toxicities as most patients do, there is very little cumulative toxicity. Compared with the typical therapies that are being given to patients in this advanced setting, which often entail multiple agents being given continuously over a long period typically once [the patients] get through the initial couple of weeks, they have very good quality of life on teclistamab with very little cumulative toxicity.

Despite receiving it continuously in many cases for several years, patients usually continue to feel well with very little toxicity that affects quality of life. There are some toxicities to be aware of as patients are exposed to it over time; the main things are immune suppression and risk of infection. In my experience, this is such a breath of fresh air for patients who have been on myeloma therapy continuously for years with sophisticated agents that are much better than chemotherapy but still take their toll after [months] of continuous exposure.

We are used to conventional monoclonal antibody therapies for cancer having a single specificity for target on the surface of the cancer cell and binds to that target. A T-cellengaging bispecific antibody such as teclistamab has 1 arm binding to a cell surface target on the surface of the MM cell, in this case BCMA, but with the other arm it binds to a T cell, CD3. By having that dual specificity, the drug can bring together a myeloma cell and a T cell and force T-cell recognition of the myeloma cell, activating the T cell.

This is a mechanism that was first exploited with a drug called blinatumomab [Blincyto], which is an anti-CD19/CD3-bispecific T-cell engager approved for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Teclistamab is the first bispecific antibody approved that exploits [this] mechanism of action but does so in the format of a full-length antibody. That means that it has a much longer half-life and so it can be given with intermittent dosing, as opposed to the requirement for continuous intravenous infusion, which is the case for the prior generation of bispecific T-cell engagers, such as blinatumomab.

With almost any MM therapy you are concerned about immunosuppressive effects, and...this drug does have some immunosuppressive effects. Almost all patients who were on it for [an extended time] develop low IgG, which is expected from the effect of the drug on normal plasma cells. Patients treated at our center have all received intravenous immunoglobulin if theyve been on the drug for long enough to develop low immunoglobulin levels.

It was also clear in MajesTEC-1 that there may be an increased risk of opportunistic infections. There was some pneumocystis pneumonia that was seen on the study and as a result we have started giving our patients pneumocystis prophylaxis. There was even a case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. These infections often occurred in patients who had been on the drug for a [long time] whose myeloma was under very good control, suggesting that there is an immune suppressive effect of teclistamab. Now, the benefit for these patients was clear in terms of their control over myeloma and many of these infections can be [potentially] prevented with measures such as pneumocystis prophylaxis.

Teclistamab is going to be a workhorse for us and patients with heavily relapsed/ refractory disease, in line with its FDA approval. [With] the availability to give it quickly and the excellent safety and efficacy profile, it will be the therapy of choice for many patients in those late lines of therapy. This will be easier for centers to use compared with the complexity of CAR T-cell therapies, even if [those] are a bit more potent.

There is also potential with teclistamab fixed-duration therapy, especially if it is used earlier [during] MM therapy. So far in the clinical trials, it has been given [via] continuous dosing, but we have all had patients who have had to stop it for one reason or another, often for infection. In those patients, at least my experience is that they seldom progress after it stopped even for many months. That raises the possibility that patients could receive fixed courses of this drug, especially earlier on in MM therapy and get the best of both worldsthe upside of its potent antimyeloma activity without the downside of infection risks that may come with long-term exposure.

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Teclistamab Demonstrates Exciting Efficacy in Relapsed or ... - OncLive

Guest writer Gary Conkling started writing stories as a child and publishing them on his own hand-cranked printing press. Little did he know digital technology would make it possible to repeat the task asan adult by publishing his own blog, Life Notes. He is a journalist by trade who has worked in the trenches of public affairs at the federal, state, regional and local levels. But he also is an observer of life occurring around him. This piece is from his blog, found at https://garyconklinglifenotes.wordpress.com.

Science can be described as the continuous study of what we dont know but wished we did.

Thats why science is discomfiting for humans who believe they know all the answers. Scientists like answers, too, but mostly because they raise even more questions.

At its core, science thrives on exploration, from ancient civilizations digging ditches to redirect water and clambering into boats to see whats over the horizon, and in more recent times from dissecting cadavers to understand human anatomy to discovering the connection between sewage and pathogens.

Mankind has long stared into the sky to see whats out there and understand how it affects Earth. Sky explorers continue making discoveries such as black holes.

Despite their name, black holes are actually dense objects with intense gravitational fields that make it hard for objects and light to escape.

Astronomers believe, at least for now, that jumping into a black hole in space is a one-way trip. But no one knows for sure because we lack the means to reach a black hole since the closest one is 1,600 light years away.

Humans have intuitively understood the importance of the sun to life on Earth. What astronomers have learned is that our sun is a very old ball of energy that holds 99.8 percent of our solar systems mass.

Astronomers predict the sun will burn through its existing hydrogen supply and then expand, engulfing Mercury, Venus and eventually Earth on its journey to becoming a giant red star. Luckily, astronomers estimate the sun has enough hydrogen to keep burning for another 5 billion years.

The science of cells is even more jaw-dropping. Biologists believe cells are the fundamental unit of what we call life. This had led to the scientific fields of cellular and molecular biology.

These biologists now routinely uncover new knowledge about genetics, immunology and neurobiology by learning the relationships within cells of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis.

There are parallel scientific discoveries regarding atomic matter and its properties that govern space, time, energy and matter in the observable universe.

Scientists have uncovered the existence of what physicists call antimatter, which consists of antiparticles with the same mass as matter but with the opposite sign. What sounds like worthless knowledge is actually critical to medical tomography, better known as PET scans.

Quantum mechanics is perhaps the most disruptive discovery by physicists.

Albert Einsteins insight gave us the theory of relativity, but he was never able to combine it with a provable field theory. Einstein wanted to believe how our universe operates was predictable through direct observation.

Physicists have learned matter and light at atomic and subatomic levels have predictable patterns that can be harnessed in things such as integrated circuits, but also can be altered by random events. The course of Earth and its universe is not a foregone conclusion.

That was demonstrated when NASAs DART spacecraft successively slammed into an asteroid, redirecting it onto a new course. This was planned intervention.

At the quantum level, most intervention is unplanned and often unnoticed. Our best evidence of this randomness is human disease, which may affect some people but not others, even among family members.

Scientists examining a random meteorite made a surprising discovery. Even though the meteorite consisted of nickel and iron, common minerals on Earth, they had cooled a million years or so in space, congealing into something not found on Earth tetrataenite.

It turns out tetrataenite is ideal for high-end magnets used in electric vehicles and space shuttle turbines. And scientists have figured out how to replicate tetrataenite in laboratories, which holds the prospect of displacing rare earths that must be mined and processed.

Science may seem like it has reduced life to a soulless existence. Atoms, antimatter and black holes dont provide satisfying stories about life, survival or after-life. In fact, science challenges many religious beliefs, ancient myths and human historical accounts.

Challenging what some accept as truth doesnt need to shatter a belief in a greater power. Scientists have uncovered a great deal about how our universe works but not how it all got its start. The Big Bang Theory explains how the universe is behaving, not why the Big Bang occurred.

What we know is that scientists discover a lot of things that travel well in our everyday lives.

Space exploration best exemplifies the upside of science. In support of space travelers, NASA and various corporations have innovated devices now commonly used in terrestrial life, such as air purifiers, workout machines, flame-retardant clothing, camera phones, invisible braces, solar cells, better tires and baby food.

Scientists may be on to an even more novel, climate-friendly ideas, such as chicken meat without chickens, which the Food and Drug Administration has just given the nod to go forward to a market near you. Slaughter-free, lab-grown chicken meat, referred to as cultivated meat, originated with California cardiologist Dr. Uma Valeti, who was inspired by stem cells used to repair human hearts.

If you can grow heart cells, Valeti reasoned, you can grow chicken meat. Ten years later, he was proven right.

A taste-tester who tried his cultivated meat commented, It tastes like chicken. Valetis quick response, It is chicken.

Thats why chicken brands are salivating to get his laboratory recipe. And its why science can defy everyday logic and understanding.

Brian Greene, a professor of physics and mathematics, is renowned for his breakthrough discoveries in superstring theory, which is an attempt to model fundamental forces of nature as vibrating super-symmetrical strings. Its basically an effort to resolve the theory of relativity with the realities of quantum physics.

However, Greene ventures into a more problematic field the meaning of the universe.

In his latest book, Until the End of Time, Greene uses scientific knowledge to trace the origin of the universe and the human place within that universe. He writes in his preface: Although obscured by mist here and fog there, the panorama is becoming sufficiently clear that we cogitating creatures can glean more fully than ever before how we fit into the grand expanse of time.

Greene wrote that before he knew about chicken meat without chickens.

People with religious beliefs often view science as anti-religious, even as an attack on religion. The tension between scientific inquiry and religious zealotry is real. Scientists focus on questions while zealots settle for answers, sometimes based on dubious evidence or misconstrued history.

There is a path through the tension, though. Scientists dont have to dismiss a greater force and zealots have to rely on faith rather than crypto-facts.

We could someday figure out how the universe truly works, but still never know how it came to be. The desire and for many the desperate need to know there is something larger out there larger than life as we know it can yield an emotional calm and an enhanced ability to deal with very real and present distress.

It also would help if scientists and zealots played by the same rules.

Questions are not disbelief. Probabilities are safer to cling to than facts in assessing the universe. The scientific method and faith are not incompatible.

The branch of science we call archaeology has unearthed the remains of creatures long ago gone extinct and capable civilizations that vanished.

Contemporary religions rarely acknowledge their existence or their successes and failures. Their religions and gods are reduced to pagan rites, despite their reigns that lasted for centuries and may have grown out of the early struggles of post-evolutionary humans.

Their achievements in building grand temples and practical waterworks are overlooked behind the smudge of time covering their history-revealing wall paintings and rock carvings. Their migrations are just lost legends. But like space, we are learning little by little about our forebears on Earth.

It was just 75 years ago that scientists in a New Jersey lab invented the transistor, which created the foundation for what we now call the Digital Age and a fierce global competition to manufacture advanced semiconductors.

The US Department of Energy just announced a scientific breakthrough to mimic the sun by using nuclear fusion to create more energy than it consumed, raising the prospect of a limitless zero-carbon energy source to replace fossil fuels in the battle against climate change.

Science isnt perfect. Neither is our pantheon of perceptions about God.

Believing in something larger than our human selves is something scientists and people of faith have in common. If both were honest, they would admit they have more questions than answers and that faith can help people abide lifes travails.

Science isnt perfect. Religion isnt infallible.

Another point of mutual intersection between science and religion is history. Galileos proclamation that Earth circles the sun turned him into a religious pariah, but opened the window to a more accurate picture of our universe. Think how limited our world would be if we still clung to the belief Earth was flat?

In 1910, zoologist George Murray Levick went to Antarctica to study a penguin colony. Through photography, he observed male birds having sex with other male birds.

Fearing blowback, Levick omitted those observations and photographs from his official report, even though same-sex animal behavior and human behavior had been studied as far back as the 1700s.

Homosexual and bisexual animal behavior has since been chronicled and studied in more than 1,000 species, including mammals. Ironically, the prevalence of homosexual animal behavior conflicts with Darwinian evolutionary theory that stressed reproductive ability as critical to survival.

Today scientists still arent certain what leads to homosexuality. One thing is scientifically known, though: Homosexuality and bisexuality arent moral choices.

They could even be in some species a key to their evolutionary success. Do we have to wait a century or longer to recognize homosexuality can be as determined as human DNA? Couldnt scientists and religious believers agree we have more consequential things to worry about in our world?

Finally, science can inform us about history. Vaccination saves lives. People with black skin arent mentally inferior. Females can be as accomplished as men in operating rooms and sports fields. And yet cult-like groups make false claims about vaccines, women continue to be oppressed by patriarchies and Black people remain undervalued much of this in the name of quasi-religious doctrines.

Humans face massive challenges climate change, artificial intelligence and gene-editing technology. These challenges, among others, represent opportunities for scientists and moralists to cooperate and point to directions that are humane in the face of fundamental change.

We should be at the point where we can say scientists arent always right, and neither are religious leaders. We all have a lot to learn about the human condition. And we have a long way to go to improve the human condition for everyone, including suffering or impoverished people.

Surely that could be a mutual rallying point for scientists and religious leaders. All it would take is some humility that we may never know everything to know in our universe, and that a dose of genuine faith can do more good than harm.

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Conklin: Where science and religion intersect - News-Register

By Jim ThompsonHCP columnist

Elliott Winton came into my life unexpectedly around Valentines Day, 2000 when I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. We usually have an appointment to see each other this time of year, and I just saw him again on Feb. 13.

He is in his early 80s, and I am 72. Back when we met, he was in his 50s in the prime of his career, and I was 49. Today, he works at Emorys Winship Cancer Center on Mondays and Grady Hospital (the Saint Elsewhere of Atlanta) on Tuesdays. He is not accepting new patients.

I have written about our travels together before, but I think it is appropriate to relate them again, if for no other reason than to encourage others who have had surprises since the last time I related this journey. Dr. Winton tells me I am in a select group only a few of his patients have stayed around so long, despite the great advances in cancer research in the last quarter century. Think how sad that must be for him.

This years reunion felt a bit different. It was as if one of us might not be around for our already appointed get-together next year, at 9 a.m. Feb. 12, 2024. Of course, we should all live each day as if it might be our last.

The winter of 2006-07 was our toughest together. The chemo was messing up my kidneys and Dr. Winton told me I was within hours of being put on dialysis.

Mr. Thompson, you have got to drink more water and pee, pee, pee! I remember him saying one night about 11 p.m. (I have no idea when he slept, he always seemed to be at the hospital).

But I followed his instructions. I thought I would drown. It probably also helped that three doctors, with a deer-in-the-headlights look, came to my room that night and told me they were my renal team and there to start my prep for dialysis by morning if nothing changed. Things changed. I am sure I never drank so much water in 12 hours before or since.

That was also the winter I decided I was not a statistic. In the middle of the night, I would be on my laptop, looking up data and information on Burkitts Lymphoma, the type I had that time. I had an epiphany when looking at the longevity charts. I realized that every dot on those curves represented people, and I decided I would be one of those people out on the end with longevity, not on the other end of that chart.

Laura was a trooper that winter, too. They would try to let me out of the hospital for a few days for each holiday, but I often would not be home more than a few hours before my temperature shot up, and I had to go back in. Despite my protests, Laura would not take no for an answer, and we would be headed back to Emory. From Thanksgiving to Easter, I spent every holiday in the hospital as well as a lot of time in between.

Then there was February of 2017. I knew I was sick again and made an appointment to see Dr. Winton and his sidekick, Jessica Neeley (I cant say enough good things about her, either. I am convinced she has no life outside the Winship Cancer Center).

Laura and I show up, and Dr. Winton does not like what he sees. He wants to do a PET-Scan right now. He starts calling all the CT-Scanner locations in the Emory system. He finds me an opening within an hour at their downtown location (it usually takes a week or two to get an appointment at any of these which speaks to the clout of Dr. Winton).

Laura and I go straight from Dr. Wintons office to the scanner. When I get off the scanner, the technician said, Dr. Winton called and wants you to wait here for a few minutes.

Unusual. In a few minutes, Dr. Winton calls.

Mr. Thompson, dont go home, come back here, we have a bed for you on E6 (the famous cancer floor at Emory hospital) and we are going to admit you right now.

Yes, sir. What else could I say?

That spring and summer, we prepped and I had an autologous stem cell transplant. It had its ups and downs, too, but Dr. Winton had to stand aside and turn me over the bone marrow transplant team. Yet, he and Jessica came to see me several times during that ordeal, even though they were not my official team at the time. They often came on Sunday afternoons when they got their own rounds done early.

Of course, readers of this column know me and know God is an important part of my life. Ive been given, so far, an extra 23 years. I wake up every morning asking the Lord what he wants me to do with these days. I didnt beat cancer. He did, and I need to follow His leading on what to do with all this extra time.

For those of you who read my previous columns on these experiences with a detached, "that is something that happens to others, but have now found it has happened to you" attitude, be encouraged. Your dot on the longevity curves may be at the same place mine has been. But I will be happy to talk to you, no matter where your dot on the curve winds up. See below for how to reach me.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press. He may be reached at [emailprotected]

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Happy Valentine's Day - The Highland County Press