Latest news with #CaseWesternReserveUniversity
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Life-saving new jab against world's deadliest cancer could ‘cure' half of all patients and one day eliminate the disease
A NEW vaccine could cure up to half of all pancreatic cancer cases and may one day wipe out the disease entirely, scientists say. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest cancer in the world. Advertisement 2 This vaccine uses nanoparticles to train the body's immune system to find and kill 'bad' cancer cells Credit: Alamy Some 10,500 people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year. And only about seven out of 100 of them will survive it for five years or more, according to Cancer Research UK. This is partly because it shows no symptoms until it has already spread to other parts of the body, making it incredibly hard to treat. While surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can help extend life, they rarely offer a cure. Advertisement Now, researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, both in the US, have developed a new type of jab to fight pancreatic cancer. This vaccine uses tiny particles called nanoparticles to train the body's immune system to find and kill 'bad' cancer cells. In early tests with animals and lab models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer, more than half of the treated patients were completely cancer-free months after getting the vaccine. "Pancreatic cancer is super aggressive," said Professor Zheng-Rong (ZR) Lu, a biomedical engineer at Case School of Engineering, who has been working on the jab. Advertisement "So it came as a surprise that our approach works so well." The vaccine also encourages the body to create its own T cells, immune fighters specially trained to attack cancer, while building up 'immune memory' for longer-term protection. Stranger Things actor Mark Withers dies aged 77 after pancreatic cancer battle as tributes paid to 'strength & dignity' Unlike some treatments made just for one person, this vaccine could work for many patients with this type of cancer, the experts said. The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not always known, but about one in 10 cases of the disease are thought to be caused by genes that increase a person's risk of developing the cancer. Advertisement The scientists believe the jab could even be used as a preventive for people at high risk of pancreatic cancer, such as those with inherited gene mutations linked to the disease. 2 Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest cancer in the world. Credit: Getty 'We've shown that our vaccine generated immune memory in preclinical models,' said Professor Zheng-Rong. "If we could do that in patients, we could prevent PDAC before tumors start forming, so the vaccines could be either therapeutic or preventative.' Advertisement The researchers hope to move towards human clinical trials, once further safety studies in animal models are completed.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Life-saving new jab against world's deadliest cancer could ‘cure' half of all patients and one day eliminate the disease
A NEW vaccine could cure up to half of all pancreatic cancer cases and may one day wipe out the disease entirely, scientists say. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest cancer in the world. Some 10,500 people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year. And only about seven out of 100 of them will survive it for five years or more, according to Cancer Research UK. This is partly because it shows no symptoms until it has already spread to other parts of the body, making it incredibly hard to treat. While surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can help extend life, they rarely offer a cure. Now, researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, both in the US, have developed a new type of jab to fight pancreatic cancer. This vaccine uses tiny particles called nanoparticles to train the body's immune system to find and kill 'bad' cancer cells. In early tests with animals and lab models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer, more than half of the treated patients were completely cancer-free months after getting the vaccine. "Pancreatic cancer is super aggressive," said Professor Zheng-Rong (ZR) Lu, a biomedical engineer at Case School of Engineering, who has been working on the jab. "So it came as a surprise that our approach works so well." The vaccine also encourages the body to create its own T cells, immune fighters specially trained to attack cancer, while building up 'immune memory' for longer-term protection. Stranger Things actor Mark Withers dies aged 77 after pancreatic cancer battle as tributes paid to 'strength & dignity' Unlike some treatments made just for one person, this vaccine could work for many patients with this type of cancer, the experts said. The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not always known, but about one in 10 cases of the disease are thought to be caused by genes that increase a person's risk of developing the cancer. The scientists believe the jab could even be used as a preventive for people at high risk of pancreatic cancer, such as those with inherited gene mutations linked to the disease. 2 'We've shown that our vaccine generated immune memory in preclinical models,' said Professor Zheng-Rong. "If we could do that in patients, we could prevent PDAC before tumors start forming, so the vaccines could be either therapeutic or preventative.' The researchers hope to move towards human clinical trials, once further safety studies in animal models are completed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Which photo is real? Ohio lawmakers want to regulate deepfakes, AI content
Demonstrating impact of deepfakes: On the left is the original, real photo of state Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon). The photo on the right was manipulated, yet looks realistic, by reporter Morgan Trau for the sake of this news report. (Photo by: Adam Mathews and Morgan Trau.) Ohio lawmakers are trying to combat misinformation by requiring disclaimers on realistic artificial intelligence-generated or created content. 'AI — every single day, (it) seems to be getting better and better,' state Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, said. And it's becoming increasingly accessible. There are now widely accessible, free, or inexpensive services that use AI to create and edit photos, videos, and audio. But with that, Case Western Reserve University technology law professor Erman Ayday says come major problems. 'People can also use (sites) in order to create effects for themselves, like you can actually put yourself in front of a beach right now,' Ayday said. 'But sometimes, they're also used for manipulation, for bad purposes, for blackmailing.' Over the past several years, deepfakes have become more prevalent online — with fake explicit photos of celebrities to politicians urging you not to vote for them. Mathews is trying to stop this type of misinformation. He and state Rep. Ty Mathews, R-Findlay, have proposed Ohio House Bill 185, which would regulate AI content. 'This is a way for the normal Ohioans to protect themselves,' Adam Mathews said. Malicious deepfakes, AI meant to harm someone's image, would only be allowed as long as they have a clear watermark that they were artificially manipulated. 'If it would confuse a reasonable person, there is some type of disclaimer,' the lawmaker added. 'If a reasonable person would say that this is a manipulated image, then that would not need a disclaimer.' Let's show some examples. This is the original photo of Rep. Mathews by a sign for now Vice President JD Vance. This is a deepfake made of him — one by a Kamala Harris sign. This image would require a disclaimer. This is an expertly drawn 'deepfake' we made of him. This one would not require a disclaimer. 'Political cartoons are totally protected; no one thinks that a drawing actually happened,' Mathews said. The legislation would allow everyone to own their image, and it would be a trademark infringement to produce malicious content without someone's consent. There could be civil penalties of tens of thousands of dollars. The bill also makes it a third-degree felony to create or distribute malicious AI content in order to extort the individual being deepfaked. Any pornographic deepfakes or deepfakes of a child are completely banned, with or without a disclaimer. No one has spoken out publicly against the bill, but Ayday said the biggest challenge will be enforcement. 'This is not really something scary for people who are doing this for malicious purposes — especially during the elections or during some high-stakes events,' the professor said. 'Distributing this thing in an anonymous way is extremely easy.' The bill will continue being heard this week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sheppard Pratt announces Residential Crisis Program for mental healthcare
Healthcare nonprofit Sheppard Pratt has broken ground on its Residential Crisis Program, marking a development in mental healthcare services for Howard County in Maryland, US, and surrounding areas. The new 16-bed facility on Sheppard Pratt's Baltimore/Washington Campus aims to enhance access to mental healthcare for individuals experiencing behavioural health crises. Sheppard Pratt president and CEO Harsh Trivedi said: 'This initiative is the result of a strong collaborative approach between Sheppard Pratt, state leaders, and Howard County to address an urgent need for community-based mental health services that reduce unnecessary hospitalisations and emergency department visits. 'This programme will support Howard County residents through their mental health crises and aims to empower individuals to seek help closer to home, ultimately fostering a stronger support network and a smoother transition back into their communities.' The programme, staffed around the clock, is set to complete construction in mid-2026. It is engineered to offer an alternative to emergency departments or inpatient units, allowing individuals to avoid or transition from higher levels of care more promptly. The facility will also provide specialised services for those with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders, leveraging its proximity to Sheppard Pratt's main campus for seamless care coordination and shared staffing. The project has received $2.8m from the State of Maryland, with $1.6m coming from a legislative bond initiative and $1.2m from a Maryland Department of Health Community Bond Grant. Howard County has also contributed $2.25m in capital support. The new programme will adopt the Dual-Diagnosis Capability in Mental Health Treatment model, a federally endorsed, evidence-based approach. It will be one of the few residential crisis programmes in Maryland to implement this model. To ensure the quality of care, all clinical staff will undergo intensive and ongoing training provided by Case Western Reserve University. The expanded facility will incorporate a harm-reduction treatment model. This encompasses the provision of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who are trained to prescribe medication-assisted treatments for substance use disorders, such as suboxone for opioid use disorder. "Sheppard Pratt announces Residential Crisis Program for mental healthcare" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP Rep's ‘We Are All Going To Die' Mentality Inspired Quite The Observation ... And It's Bleak
People are still grappling with shocking remarks made by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), whose response to constituents concerned about proposed cuts to Medicaid has been panned as 'callous' and 'evil.' Ernst has since defended her comments, insisting that she's 'very compassionate' — but many online aren't convinced. During a town hall event in Parkersburg, Iowa, on Friday, Ernst was grilled by furious constituents who expressed concerns about a House-passed GOP bill that includes massive cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate. While answering a question about the potential changes to the eligibility and work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance under the legislation dubbed 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' one person from the audience yelled out, 'People will die.' Ernst responded: 'People are not ― well, we all are going to die. So, for heaven's sakes, folks.' She received wide backlash for her response, but the criticism didn't seem to bother her much. She later doubled down and posted a non-apology video, seemingly filmed in a cemetery, in which she mocked the backlash by saying she thought everyone in the auditorium already understood that 'we are all going to perish from this earth.' 'So I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well,' she jeered. Deepak Sarma, inaugural distinguished scholar in the public humanities at Case Western Reserve University, offered a bleak observation about Ernst's town hall comments and the remarks she made in her subsequent non-apology video: They are reminiscent of a 'monarchy/royalty where the masses are to fend [for] themselves.' Sarma charged that Trump, who's facing several lawsuits for exceeding his authority, has 'aspirations' to be a king, and that GOP leaders, like Ernst, 'think that they will also earn/achieve/be awarded nobility if they remain loyal.' Republicans have argued that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — which looks to slash $1 trillion in cuts to federal health and food programs — targets individuals who don't meet eligibility requirements for food assistance and Medicaid. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would result in an estimated 8 million fewer Americans having health insurance. When pressed on Monday about her responses to constituents concerned about the grave consequences the bill would have on millions of people, Ernst defended her retort at the town hall, telling reporters: 'I'm very compassionate, and you need to listen to the entire conversation.' Sarma said that Ernst's claim that she's 'very compassionate' is 'aspirational, at best, and intentionally delusional, at worst.' Ernst's comments to reporters on Monday were meant to 'placate her constituents,' and to create a sound bite that she can use to 'defend her cruelty,' Sarma said, adding: 'Her use of the term is manipulative and an attempt to hijack the narrative.' Sarma said that Ernst's statements about people dying is proof that she and other GOP leaders view their constituents — including MAGA supporters — as 'mere commoners.' 'Ernst has called her constituents 'baskets of deplorables' in indirect and underhanded [ways],' they said. Other experts, political figures and commenters have shared similar sentiments. Some people on X, formerly Twitter, argued that Ernst demonstrated a 'disdain'toward her constituents with her responses to concerns about Medicaid cuts, and that her response that she's 'compassionate' was condescending. Nathan Sage, a Democrat who's seeking the party's nomination to run against Ernst in the 2026 Senate election, said in a statement, per the Des Moines Register, that Ernst is 'not even trying to hide her contempt for us.' David Axelrod, ex-senior adviser to former President Barack Obama, told CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday that Ernst's non-apology video was 'really insensitive' and 'politically stupid.' Christopher Hansen, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks who specializes in relationships and coping skills, said that he believes the backlash to Ernst's comments is likely due to the fact that her remarks 'reinforced a lot of people's belief that people in places of power and the government do not really care about them.' Hansen doesn't believe Ernst's initial 'we all are going to die' response at her town hall event was necessarily intended to be malicious, but he thought it was nonetheless 'not appropriate and well thought out.' 'It does not give the country confidence when representatives and others don't seem to understand the impact on the people receiving these services,' he told HuffPost, noting that people are 'experiencing anxiety, anger and some may even feel like they're in limbo, waiting for the next shoe to drop.' While discussing what might be behind Ernst's remarks about people dying, Shawn Donahue, assistant professor of political science at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, pointed out that Republicans have done 'quite well in the Trump era in Iowa.' 'Part of Trump's brand is never to apologize, and Ernst may be taking that to heart,' he told HuffPost, while discussing what could've been behind Ernst's remarks. 'If Ernst tries to distance herself from Trump, it could easily lead to a primary challenge from the right MAGA part of the party. 'She may be thinking that the voices of constituents that are attending town halls may not be representative of the state as a whole, and definitely not representative of Republican primary voters,' he later continued, adding, 'Ernst may feel she has more to worry about from primary voters than facing a general election challenge.' Sarma, however, thinks Ernst's rhetoric surrounding people dying reflects a GOP embrace of a 'monarchical system.' 'Her constituents should protest and try to wake up others who remain deluded,' they said. Joni Ernst Says GOP, Trump 'Worked Very Hard' To Overturn Abortion Rights Ex-Obama Adviser Knocks Joni Ernst's Town Hall Fumble In 1 Blunt Takedown GOP Senator Doubles Down On 'We All Are Going To Die' Comment In Wild Non-Apology
