Medical comms - Articles

Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), is a protein that plays a critical role in regulating the Wnt signaling pathway, which is involved in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and embryonic development. It is an important antagonist of the Wnt pathway, meaning that it inhibits Wnt signaling by binding to specific receptors and preventing the activation of downstream signaling molecules.
Introduction to DKK1 Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), is a protein that plays a critical role in regulating the Wnt signaling pathway, which is involved in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and embryonic development. It is an important antagonist of the Wnt pathway, meaning that it inhibits Wnt signaling by binding to specific receptors and preventing the acti…

A tumor suppressor gene, also known as anti-onco gene, is an essential component of the body's defense against cancer. It usually facilitates apoptosis. With its absence, the human body will be functioning without its “brake” of cell proliferation. Cells are potent to go under abnormal growth processes and finally lead to tumor/cancer.
About Tumor Suppressor Genes A tumor suppressor gene, also known as anti-onco gene, is an essential component of the body's defense against cancer. It usually facilitates apoptosis. With its absence, the human body will be functioning without its “brake” of cell proliferation. Cells are potent to go under abnormal growth processes and finally lead to tumor/cancer. Here are some key features and functions of tumor suppressor genes: Inhibition of Cell Growth:…

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a 15kDa secretory protein with a 4-alpha-helical bundle structure. As a T-cell related growth factor, IL-2 can enhance the killing activity of NK cells and promote B cells to produce immunoglobulins. In addition, it aids in the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs), thereby producing peripheral T cell immune tolerance, as well as regulating the proliferation and differentiation of activated T cells. This article deliberates these traits and applications of IL-2, as an introductory material in the field of immunotherapy.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a 15kDa secretory protein with a 4-alpha-helical bundle structure. As a T-cell related growth factor, IL-2 can enhance the killing activity of NK cells and promote B cells to produce immunoglobulins. In addition, it aids i…

Learn about the IL-17 family and its receptor complex in immune responses with Beta LifeScience. Explore our IL-17 series target proteins known for their high purity, variety, and activity. Take a look at these crucial proteins, highlighting their importance in immunity, antibody screening, and function evaluation.
Autoimmune disease target - IL-17 Family IL-17 plays an important role in promoting autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Currently, five large-molecule biopharmaceuticals targeting IL-17/IL-17R are available worldwide, including four IL-17 monoclonal antibodies and one IL-17RA monoclonal antibody, namely Secukinumab(Novartis), Ixekizumab(Eli Lilly), Netakimab(Biocad), Brodalumab(Kyowa Hakko Kirin), and Bimekizumab(UCB). &nbs…

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a highly biologically active functional glycoprotein. It is a specific and potent mitogen for endothelial cells, playing a role in their proliferation, migration, and lumen formation. VEGF is involved in angiogenesis and increases capillary permeability. It can induce abnormal growth of tumor blood vessels, hinder the effective delivery of anti-tumor drugs to tumor tissues, and stimulate the production of new blood vessel growth factors.
Tumors and Blood Vessel Growth Tumor, as an abnormal mass of cells, has blood vessels of various sizes that can be seen everywhere on the surface and deep within it. Nutrients for life are continuously supplied to the depths of tumor cells through these blood vessels. As the tumor continues to grow, nearby bloo…

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes belonging to the metzincin superfamily. There are 23 different types of secreted or membrane-anchored endopeptidases in the human body. It's been applied to the field of diagnostic research nowadays. This article is a brief introduction to the MMP3 family and its usage.
The MMP Family Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes belonging to the metzincin superfamily. There are 23 different types of secreted or membrane-anchored endopeptidases in the human body. MMPs are capable of degrading ECM proteins such as collagen, gelatin, laminin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, elastin, and proteoglycans. They were once considered regulators of the extracellular matrix. MMPs have multiple structural domains, including a signal peptide (…

Explore the complex role of the IL-36 cytokines, members of the IL-1 superfamily. Learn how these molecular structures influence inflammation signaling pathways, their potential therapeutic benefits for various inflammatory diseases including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease,
IL-36, A Member of IL-1 Superfamily, Emerging Target for Treating Inflammatory Diseases Introduction to IL-36 Family Twenty years ago, Interleukin 36 (IL-36) was discovered as a member of the IL-1 superfamily. Its gene is located on chromosome 2 in an IL gene cluster, including IL1A - IL1B - IL37 - IL36G - IL36A - IL36B - IL36RN - IL38 - IL1RN, with IL-36 encoding genes transcribed far away from the centromere. There are four known subtypes of IL-36, which have been renamed multiple times…

Natural Killer (NK) cells play a critical role in the innate immune surveillance against cancer and viral infections. They are the "first responders" capable of spontaneously recognizing abnormal cells in the body, swiftly eliminating them through targeted cytotoxic mechanisms, and effectively producing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to recruit and activate other immune cells to initiate adaptive responses. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of NK cell activation and identifying methods to stimulate their activation are crucial for the development of anti-tumor and antiviral drugs.
Mechanisms of NK Cell Activation NK cells are regulated by a dynamic balance between a series of activating and inhibitory receptors. Normal cells express major histocompatibility complex class…

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a multifunctional cytokine that acts on various cell types, including dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, neutrophils, mast cells, eosinophils, and innate lymphoid cells, affecting their maturation, survival, and recruitment. It is well-known for its role in promoting type 2 immune responses, such as allergic diseases. In 2021, a monoclonal antibody targeting TSLP was approved for the treatment of severe asthma.
TSLP and TSLPR TSLP (Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin) is a member of the four-helix bundle cytokine family and is a distant homolog of IL-7. As the name suggests, TSLP was initially identified in the mouse thymic stromal cell line Z210R, as a factor that promotes the proliferation and development of immature B cells. Subsequently, TSLP was found to…

First-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets Nectin-4, which is a cell surface protein highly expressed in bladder cancer. Preclinical data suggest that the anticancer activity of it is attributed to its binding to cells expressing Nectin-4, followed by internalization and release of the anti-tumor agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) into the cell. This is believed to inhibit cell proliferation (cell cycle arrest) and induce programmed cell death (apoptosis).
The biologics license application (BLA) has been accepted for Enfortumab Vedotin for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in patients who have previously received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and platinum-containing chemotherapy. Enfortumab Vedotin is the first domestically submitted targeted an…

The war in Ukraine has shone a spotlight on the reliance of the pharmaceutical sector on certain countries when it comes to manufacturing and drug discovery.
The war in Ukraine has shone a spotlight on the reliance of the pharmaceutical sector on certain countries when it comes to manufacturing and drug discovery. Before the war, Ukraine had around 2,500 clinical trial sites however a number of big pharma organizations including Merck, Abbvie and Sanofi have since halted their studies. Meanwhile, others have announced they have stopped conducting trials in Russia while the war is ongoing, raising further concerns in the industry over the potential consequences for drug development. While the conflict will undoubtedly have an impact, a new report has revealed the countries where the most cl…

OptraSCAN offers an OS-SiA scanner a next-gen artificial intelligence image slide scanner, driven by artificial intelligence and deep learning concept. The scanner automatically identifies regions to scan and simultaneously analyzes the tissue/cell area being scanned based on tissue morphology and type of biomarker.
Digital pathology has an important role and is increasingly a technological requirement in the diagnostic & scientific labs, medical universities & colleges, research centers, etc. The advantage of whole-slide imaging, the availability of faster networks, and cheaper storage solutions have made it easier for pathologists to manage digital slide images and share them for clinical use. Advances in machine learning have enabled the synergy of artificial intelligence and di…

• Following successful appeals by the Merck-Pfizer Alliance, patient groups and healthcare professional organisations, BAVENCIO® (avelumab) has been recommended by NICE as a maintenance treatment option from 7 April 2022 to all eligible patients on the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland[i] • Avelumab is the first immunotherapy for use as a first-line maintenance treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have responded to platinum-based chemotherapy • The approval enables equitable access for all eligible patients in the UK following recommendation by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in August 2021[ii]
Today Merck and Pfizer announce that, following a successful appeal of the prior Final Appraisal Document (FAD), the National Institute f…

The CEO and COO of Siilo - Europe's largest medical messenger app - provide their personal insights into championing women in the health tech industry, ahead of this year's International Women's Day on 8 March.
Five ways a tech business can champion women in the workplace International Women’s Day (8 March) provides the ideal opportunity for employers in the healthtech sector to reassess gender diversity, according to Siilo CEO, Joost Bruggeman and COO, Esther Van Der Meer. Here both share their perspectives…   Esther Van Der Meer:   Any business which wants to fully meet the needs of its customers or end users needs to do everything possible to understand them – who they are, how they work and what they need. To achieve this, you simply must have a diverse employee base. It is…

OPEN Health recently appointed Margot Hannah as the CEO of the Communications Practice and as such has overall accountability for the Medical and Brand Communications services, including publications, medical education, learning and development, and creative and digital services. The agency, now in its 10th year, has been growing leaps and bounds both through acquisition and creation of new centres of excellence to meet the changing needs of a dynamic health communications market.
OPEN Health recently appointed Margot Hannah as the CEO of the Communications Practice and as such has overall accountability for the Medical and Brand Communications services, including publications, medical education, learning and development, and creative and digital services. The agency, now in its 10th year,…

Charnwood Molecular, a leading UK-based pre-clinical discovery CRO servicing the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology market, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the assay development and biological screening provider, Aurelia Bioscience.
The sector-leading expertise and technology development within Aurelia Bioscience will enable and enhance Charnwood’s provision of a world-class integrated drug discovery and development service platform as it continues to build upon its strong foundation in medicinal chemistry, scale-up and process research & development. Aurelia Bioscience is a leading preclinical CRO specialising in bioassay development, pharmacological profiling and compound screening, working in the early stages of the drug discovery pipeline including target identifica…

With the global medical device market expected to hit USD 613 billion value by 2025, there will be an inevitable increase in associated regulatory requirements. That means MedTech manufacturers must adopt a more cohesive way of refining technical content, while integrating market feedback into product lifecycle and labelling management. Barbara Peralta, Director of Life Sciences Solutions at Amplexor, explores how this might happen.
The EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) is now in force across member states, and the equivalent In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) will follow in May 2022. Other major geographies are either well into their own initiatives or heading in a similar direction, as health authorities around the world seek to make devices more traceable and ensure more consistent m…

Social Determinants of Health impact all aspect's of a patient's ability to receive care and complete medication therapy. But with recent advancements in digital health, pharma is using new technology to break through these barriers and help patients of all backgrounds and circumstances receive care and guidance, and envisioning better health for the future.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are aspects of a patient’s environment and lifestyle—such as housing, food, finances, education, employment, and transportation—that can directly affect health. Studies have found that individual behavior, driven by social determinants, accounts for up to 40 percent of the risk of premature death. SDOH also include the presence or lack of personal support networks, with research revealing that socia…

To avoid Medicare payment reductions under the ASC Quality Reporting Program, providers will have to invest time and effort into making sure that the measures are being reported correctly
Effective revenue cycle management for ambulatory surgery centers is because even after changes made by CMS to support ASCs, there are some centers that continue to face difficulties in managing their revenue cycles. Ambulatory surgical centres in the USA have not shown any significant growth in the past few years. Many of them either closed down or merged with bigger medical groups due to revenue issues. According to the Provista Report of ASC Survey Findings, reimbursement is the biggest challenge faced by ASCs across the country along with the management of days in A/R.  Following are a few of the…

The chances for mistakes in Optometry are wrong coding and no coding for certain sickness. But our services have implemented ICD-10 coding which has got all brand-new ideas for making the billing so simple and easy.
Eyes are the sensory receptors which help people to see with 576 megapixels. There are lots of nerves connecting with eyes to make our eyes visible. When a single nerve or blood vein is getting affected then there are more chances to get irritation with eyes and many issues regarding eyes. When the Optometry Billing Services are best then there are chances for your medical care industry to grow big and get many branches. There are so many eye related problems happening in current days, each of them have to be sorted out to make it as perfect billing. If the bill goes…