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Research done in Montreal could lead to treatment for aggressive form of breast cancer – Global News

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Chances are, someone you know has been or will be affected by breast cancer.

But a recent discovery by a group of Montreal researchers into the genetic mechanisms at play in an aggressive form of the disease known as triple-negative breast cancer is fueling new hope for some of those being impacted by it.

Dr. Jean-Jacques Lebrun and his team at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre not only identified which group of genes play a role in tumour progression but also uncovered what could be a promising therapy.

Lebrun, who has been doing cancer research since he was appointed to McGill some 25 years ago, said the team focused on triple-negative breast cancer or “TNBC” to address what he described as a medical gap.

“There are some breast cancers that can be cured using drugs or surgery, but the triple-negative breast cancer … there’s no efficient, targeted therapies,” he said.  “The only recourse we have are usually chemotherapy and radiotherapy.”

Read more:

Montreal mother launches desperate plea for help to access experimental cancer treatment

Existing drugs and therapies target specific proteins, such as estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or human epidermal growth factor receptors (HER2), which are normally found in breast cancer cells.

For example, those with HER2-positive breast cancer will test positive for the HER-2 protein. Lebrun said a drug called Herceptin can be used to treat those cases.

“It is an antibody that targets that receptor,” he explained, whereas “Tamoxifen — an anti-estrogen therapy — works well for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

TNBC doesn’t express any of those three proteins, meaning the cells test negative on all three tests, hence the “triple-negative” in the name.

And while TNBC isn’t as common — it makes up only 15 to 20 per cent of all breast cancers — Lebrun says it is by far the deadliest, accounting for half the deaths.

“Mortality rates are very high and the overall survival rates are very short. So people with this disease usually have months to live, not years,” he said.

Changing those outcomes is what motivated Lebrun’s team to take on TNBC.

Read more:

Alberta nurse with terminal breast cancer accepted into U.S. clinical trial

Rather than using a hypothesis-driven approach which would have meant picking a protein and trying to target it, Lebrun said they opted for a systemic approach.

But that meant screening the entire human genome or roughly 20,000 genes.

“We want to know which ones out of those are actually important in the process of tumour formation in those TNBC,” he said.

To do that, scientists used gene-editing technology known as CRISPR, to cut each of the 20,000 genes one-by-one in a process referred to as “silencing” or “knocking out.”

And while it wasn’t quite like searching for a needle in a haystack, Lebrun said it was a painstaking process.

“When we started about five years ago, the technology was there, but just born,” he said of CRISPR. “So what sounds like much easier today to do was a lot more difficult at that time because we had to develop and optimize many of the tools ourselves.”

Read more:

First in-body CRISPR study set to start in U.S. to treat form of blindness

Following analysis, Lebrun said they were able to narrow down their search to around 350 genes, eventually identifying two signalling pathways or gene networks of significance.

“One of them was an oncogenic pathway. Those are genes that normally promote cell proliferation on tumours and this one was hyperactivated in those breast cancer patients,” Lebrun said.

The second group of genes, which normally act as tumour suppressors by preventing cells to multiply, were found to be inactive or asleep.

This combination, Lebrun believes, could explain why TNBC tumours are so “aggressive and metastatic.”


Click to play video: 'Health Matters: New paper raises concern about breast-cancer screening guidelines'



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Health Matters: New paper raises concern about breast-cancer screening guidelines


Health Matters: New paper raises concern about breast-cancer screening guidelines – Nov 25, 2021

Understanding which genetic mechanisms were involved allowed the team to then uncover existing drugs that targeted those networks.

One of the drugs they tested, Verteporfin, surprisingly had nothing to do with cancer.

“It’s actually a drug that is used for disease of the degeneration of the retina. It’s an eye disease,” Lebrun said.

When we saw that this drug was able to target the genes that we were interested in, we said, ‘Let’s test that one out for the other network.’”

In all, the team evaluated around 10 different drugs, with Verteporfin being one of two standouts.

When we tested each drug individually, they both worked,” Lebrun said. “So we were very happy because somehow it was validating our whole strategy, which was to identify the gene, find corresponding drugs and demonstrate that both drugs are working.”

Lebrun’s team was in for a pleasant surprise, however, finding that when combined, the drugs had a much bigger effect than anticipated.

Individually, each drug had around a 20 per cent decrease in tumour growth, so combined, Lebrun said they were expecting around 40 per cent inhibition.

“But we got something more like 80 per cent,” he said. “That’s what we call a synergistic effect.”


Lebrun and his RI-MUHC award-winning team.


Courtesy Jean-Jacques Lebrun

The team’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

It was recently awarded Québec Sciences magazine’s prestigious Discovery of the Year Award for 2021.

“It means a lot. … I’m super happy for the team,” Lebrun said. “It’s always nice to have your work recognized. … At least we can say, ‘OK, once I did something that contributed to the health of the population.’”

And while Lebrun is pleased with the accolades, he’s not one to rest on his laurels.

“I think that it’s a significant advancement in the field,” he said. “But you know, when I see it reflected in a clinical trial, then I will be happier.”

Efforts have been underway since the summer to get Phase 1 clinical trials off the ground, but Lebrun says there are many hurdles to overcome.

The first is that trials take time to set up. Lebrun said there’s a lot of administrative work and you also need ethical approval to go ahead.

Then there is the cost of the trial itself.

“It’s complicated because you need sponsors,” Lebrun said. “Even the Phase 1 clinical trial — you need several millions of dollars to start with.”

And that doesn’t include the cost of the drugs themselves, some of which, like Verteporfin, can be extremely expensive to produce, according to Lebrun.

“When you’re going to do that in humans, you need huge quantities of those drugs and that is something that sometimes we don’t think about,” he said, again pointing to the need for partnerships.

And while discussions are underway to that effect, Lebrun said he couldn’t give a timeline of when the trial would start and when patients could begin enrolling.

“But that’s our next step.”

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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What’s the greatest holiday gift: lips, hair, skin? Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

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Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting

Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.

In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.

“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.

There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.

Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.

Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.

In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.

 

Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

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Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

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LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

X

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

___

Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Pediatric group says doctors should regularly screen kids for reading difficulties

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The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.

New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.

The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.

Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.

Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.

“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.

“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”

McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.

But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.

The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.

He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.

“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.

“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.

McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”

McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.

He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.

“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

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