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Kinder than Chemo Cancer Drug Cured This Young Man of Leukemia–Available in the US

Kinder than Chemo Cancer Drug Cured This Young Man of Leukemia–Available in the US

Yannick Morin
February 08, 2024

👋 Welcome, fellow knowledge-seekers!

Hop in, buckle up, and let's cruise through the fast-paced highway of news - packed with joy, thrills, humor, mysteries, and sexiness. Get ready, set, read!

🗓️ Oh, cool, you're looking for a fun fact about February 8th? Here's a neat one: on this day back in 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed for her alleged involvement in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I of England. It's kind of a dramatic and dark piece of history, but it's super fascinating. Mary's life was like something out of a TV drama, filled with intrigue, power struggles, and unfortunate endings. Imagine the tension and drama leading up to that moment!

Kinder than Chemo Cancer Drug Cured This Young Man of Leukemia–Available in the US

Family photo courtesy of Sandrine Heute

Hey there! So, diving into the world of battling leukemia, there's this under-the-radar superhero named Blinatumomab, or "blina" for short, that's making waves. While everyone's heard about the harsh ride with chemo and the high-tech CAR-T cell therapy that won a Nobel Prize, blina is the unsung hero quietly saving the day. It's this cool drug that managed to kick B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia to the curb for a young dude, without all the drama and side effects of chemo. Plus, it's got a cost advantage over CAR-T. The UK is already on board, using blina in 20 medical centers, and adults can get their hands on it too. It works by outsmarting cancer cells that love to play hide and seek with the body's immune system, and it's delivered through a setup that sounds like something out of a spy movie—a pump and bag tucked into a sleek backpack.

But wait, there's more! Blina isn't just about being low-key and efficient; it's also about letting patients keep on living their lives without the typical chemo wreckage. Picture this: a kid named Arthur, just 11, got his life back and kicked cancer out of the park thanks to blina, celebrating New Year's Eve with the best news ever. And get this, the drug comes with a seal of approval from the US Food and Drug Administration as of March 2018, after acing its trials. It's a game-changer for those facing B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, offering a glimmer of hope and a shot at a normal life. So, while it might have some side effects, blina is definitely a "little ray of sunshine" for those in the fight against cancer. (Source)

Bulldog Puppy Spontaneously Regrows Part of its Jaw After it Was Removed During Cancer Surgery

Tyson the bulldog (Courtesy of Melissa Forsythe)

Imagine this: a tiny French bulldog pup named Tyson turns into a medical marvel after his jaw, which had to be partially removed because of cancer, just... grows back! This incredible story unfolded at Cornell, where vets were initially gearing up to fix Tyson's cleft palate but stumbled upon a cancerous tumor instead. Cutting out a big chunk of his jaw seemed like it would end with Tyson living a pretty tough puppy life. But, plot twist: the little guy's jaw regenerated, marking a first in doggy medical records. It's like something straight out of a superhero comic, except it's real life, and Tyson is our furry protagonist. This kind of jaw regrowth has been seen in kids, but never before in our canine buddies. It's got the folks at Cornell—and Tyson's family in Rochester, NY—pretty stoked, turning a scary cancer story into a tale of almost miraculous healing.

Now, let's talk about Tyson's bounce-back. After the surgery that could've been the end of normal dog things like chewing toys and wolfing down treats, Tyson's jaw came back almost as good as new. Sure, it's missing a few bits like the mandibular canal and, you know, teeth, but it's functioning and cancer-free. This comeback kid didn't just stop at growing a new jaw; he aced his obedience class, nailed the Canine Good Citizen test, and even strutted his stuff in a Christmas parade. His story isn't just a win for him; it's a beacon of hope for other dogs facing similar diagnoses and a testament to the wonders of veterinary science. Tyson's journey from surgery to superstar is one for the books, proving that with a little luck and a lot of science, even the toughest challenges can have a happy ending. (Source)

Buck Institute Scientists Discover a Potential Way to Repair Synapses Damaged in Alzheimer’s Disease

Brain memory neurons activated during memory formation – UIC image

Bucking the trend of targeting Alzheimer’s at its molecular bullies like toxic tau proteins, scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging are flipping the script with a fresh angle. They're not trying to kick the bad guys out; instead, they're focusing on fixing the damage they've done. Enter KIBRA, a protein that's usually hanging out in the kidneys and brain, but seems to be slacking in folks with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The researchers are all about giving those damaged brain connections a boost, banking on the idea that beefing up the levels of KIBRA could help restore memories and mend the synapses where memories are made and kept. It's like they're not just cleaning up after the party; they're fixing the broken furniture so the next party can be even better.

And guess what? Their hunch might be onto something. In lab mice with a condition eerily similar to human Alzheimer’s, tweaking KIBRA levels seemed to turn the memory loss ship around. But the plot thickens when they looked at humans, finding that while KIBRA levels in the cerebrospinal fluid went up, they dipped in the brain, and this weird dance correlated with how bad the dementia got. This intriguing tango between KIBRA and toxic tau has the scientists jazzed about the potential of using KIBRA not just as a repair tool but also as a biomarker to track the disease's progression and how well treatments are working. It’s a reminder that sometimes, when the front door (aka dealing directly with tau proteins) is locked, trying the back window (aka boosting repair mechanisms) could sneak you into the breakthrough party. (Source)

✨ Quote of the day

"Do what you can with all you have, wherever you are." - Theodore Roosevelt, early 20th century

✨Chart of the day

Billionaire Wealth: The Biggest Winners and Losers in 2023 (Source)

Hit the picture to supersize it and save your peepers a strain 👇

Source: visualcapitalist

📰 Want to know what else is going down in this Wild World of ours?

Rescue of Marine helicopter with 5 aboard is challenged by snowy California mountains (Source)
Pakistan votes for a new parliament as militant attacks surge and jailed leader’s party cries foul (Source)
Marianne Williamson suspends her presidential campaign, ending long-shot primary challenge to Biden (Source)
‘Moana 2’ is coming to theaters for a Thanksgiving release (Source)

🎭 Yo, peeps! Time for the joke of the day!

Source: Google Images

📸 Feast Your Eyes on Today's Stunning Snapshot Series: The Ever-Gorgeous Emma Watson

Alright, here's a fun tidbit about Emma Watson you might get a kick out of: Despite her polished British accent and her role as the quintessential British witch Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson was actually born in Paris, France! She lived there until she was five years old before moving back to England with her mother and brother after her parents' divorce. So, she's got a bit of that French flair in her background!

Let's get right back to the main event we've all been waiting for: those smoking hot Emma Watson Instagram pictures!