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pharmanucleus1 · 9 months

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Global CTLA-4 Therapies Market - Unveiling Cutting-Edge Insights

Global CTLA-4 Therapies Market

The global CTLA-4 Therapies market is expected to reach USD 1384.4 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period 2022 to 2030. The modulation of cell motility and/or PI3 kinase signaling may also be other ways that CTLA-4 works. Early multiphoton microscopy investigations to observe T-cell movement in healthy lymph nodes seemed to support the "reverse-stop signalling paradigm."

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Market Overview

The protein receptor CTLA-4, also known as CD152 (cluster of differentiation 152) or CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4), serves as an immunological checkpoint and suppresses immune responses. A characteristic that is especially noticeable in malignancies is the constitutive expression of CTLA-4 in regulatory T cells as opposed to the upregulation of this protein in conventional T cells following activation. When attached to CD80 or CD86 on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, it functions as an "off" switch. An inhibitory signal is sent to T cells by the immunoglobulin superfamily member CTLA-4, which is produced by activated T cells. Similar to the T-cell co-stimulatory protein CD28, CTLA-4 binds to antigen-presenting cells' CD80 and CD86, also known as B7-1 and B7-2, respectively. CTLA-4 outcompetes CD28 for its ligands because it binds CD80 and CD86 with greater avidity and affinities. T cells receive an inhibitory signal from CTLA-4 while receiving a stimulatory signal from CD28. Additionally present in regulatory T cells (Tregs), CTLA-4 is a component of their inhibitory activity. CTLA-4 expression is enhanced by T cell activation via the T cell receptor and CD28. It's still unclear how CTLA-4 affects T cells and how it does so. According to biochemical data, CTLA-4 attenuates the signal by bringing a phosphatase to the T cell receptor (TCR). Since this work was first published, it has not been supported by the literature. Recent research has revealed that CTLA-4 may work in vivo by engulfing and removing CD80 and CD86 from antigen-presenting cells' membranes, rendering them inactive for CD28 triggering.

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Market Dynamics

T-cell immunological activity is negatively regulated by immune checkpoints called programmed death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). New immunotherapies for melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and other cancers have been developed as a result of the inhibition of these targets, which boosted immune system activation. Ipilimumab, a CTLA-4 inhibitor, is approved to treat advanced or incurable melanoma. In patients with metastatic or incurable BRAF WT melanoma, the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab has also been authorized. Inhibiting immune responses, especially anticancer responses, play unique roles for CTLA-4.

Mutations in the CTLA4 gene, which provides instructions to cells for producing the CTLA4 protein, are the cause of CTLA4 deficiency. The immune system's activity is slowed and controlled by this protein, which acts as a brake. The CTLA4 gene is two copies per person, one from each parent. In 2014, researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) discovered that individuals with only one functional copy of CTLA4 have abnormal T-cell activity, lower levels of normal, antibody-producing B cells, higher levels of autoimmune B cells, and disruption of organs by invading immune cells. The scientists came to the conclusion that a single functional copy of CTLA4 is insufficient to generate enough CTLA4 protein for a healthy immune system.

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While PD-1 suppresses T cells later in an immune response, largely in peripheral tissues, CTLA-4 is hypothesized to control T-cell proliferation early in the immunological response, primarily in lymph nodes. Due to the molecular distinctions between these 2 checkpoints, immuno-oncology drugs that block them may have different clinical characteristics.

Intestinal sickness, respiratory infections, autoimmune issues, swollen lymph nodes, the liver, and the spleen are just a few of the symptoms caused by the rare ailment CTLA4 deficiency, which significantly inhibits the immune system's ability to regulate itself. In 2014, NIAID researchers and their associates discovered the illness.

Segmentation Analysis:

Based on the treatment, the CTLA-4 therapies market is categorized into autoimmune conditions and immunoglobulin deficits, and others. In 2022, the autoimmune conditions and immunoglobulin deficits segment accounted for the largest share of the market, with 59% and a market revenue of 472 million. Standard treatments for autoimmune conditions and immunoglobulin deficits may be used to treat CTLA4 deficiency. The medicine CTLA-4-Ig, also known as abatacept, which mimics the action of the CTLA4 protein and lowers immunological activity, is a potential new treatment. Abatacept is used to treat autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, but more research is needed to determine whether it is also beneficial in treating CTLA4 deficiency. Researchers from the NIAID began a small clinical trial in 2019 to examine the efficacy and safety of intravenous infusions of abatacept for restoring or enhancing blood cell counts in persons with CTLA4 deficiency. The medication abatacept, which Bristol-Myers Squibb produces, is being given to the research.

Based on the end-user, the CTLA-4 therapies market is categorized into?clinical & laboratories, hospitals, and others. In 2022, the clinics & laboratories segment accounted for the largest share of the market, with 40.1% and a market revenue of 320.8? million. The immune dysregulation syndrome that includes substantial T cell infiltration in a number of organs, including the gut, lungs, bone marrow, central nervous system, and kidneys, is present in symptomatic CTLA-4 mutant patients. Most patients suffer from enteropathy or diarrhea. Autoimmunity, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly are also frequent. Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, thyroiditis, type I diabetes, psoriasis, and arthritis are among the various organs that are impacted by autoimmunity. Additionally prevalent are respiratory illnesses. It's important to note that clinical manifestations and illness progression vary, with some people being severely impacted while others have minimal disease manifestation. Even within the same family, this "variable expressivity" can be noticeable and may be explained by variations in lifestyle, exposure to pathogens, treatment effectiveness, or additional genetic modifiers.

Regional Segment Analysis of the CTLA-4 Therapies Market

Asia Pacific emerged as the largest market for the global CTLA-4 Therapies market, with a market share of around 39% and 800 million of the market revenue in 2022.

Competitive Landscape

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the global CTLA-4 Therapies market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the companies' current news and developments, including product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the mark

#CTLA-4 Therapies Market #Global Market Trends #Latest Therapeutic Advancements #Innovations in CTLA-4 Therapies #Recent Developments in Immunotherapy #Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors #Cancer Treatment Breakthroughs

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uniquesweetssublime · 9 months

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Understanding Type 1 Diabetes: Unveiling the Pancreas Predicament

Introduction:

Type 1 diabetes, often referred to as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic condition that impacts millions of lives worldwide. At the center of this health challenge lies the pancreas, a vital organ that plays a crucial role in maintaining blood sugar levels. In this blog, we'll delve into the intricacies of Type 1 diabetes and explore the key functions of the pancreas.

The Pancreas: A Marvel of Regulation:

The pancreas is a unique organ with a dual role in the endocrine and exocrine systems. Nestled behind the stomach, it's responsible for producing digestive enzymes and hormones essential for glucose regulation. In the context of Type 1 diabetes, it's the endocrine function that takes center stage.

Islet Cells and Insulin Production:

Within the pancreas, clusters of cells known as islets of Langerhans act as mini command centers. These islet cells house beta cells, which are responsible for the production of insulin. Insulin is a hormone crucial for glucose metabolism — it facilitates the entry of glucose into cells, providing them with the energy needed for proper functioning.

Type 1 Diabetes: A Betrayal of the Beta Cells:

In individuals with Type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly identifies beta cells as foreign invaders and launches an attack. This autoimmune response leads to the destruction of these insulin-producing cells, leaving the body unable to regulate blood sugar levels effectively.

The Consequences of Insulin Deficiency:

The absence of insulin in Type 1 diabetes results in uncontrolled glucose levels in the bloodstream. This can lead to a variety of complications, including fatigue, increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and, if left untreated, more severe conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

Management of Type 1 Diabetes:

Managing Type 1 diabetes involves a combination of insulin therapy, regular blood sugar monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments. Insulin can be administered through injections or insulin pumps, mimicking the natural function of the pancreas. Continuous glucose monitoring systems have also revolutionized diabetes care, providing real-time data to help individuals make informed decisions about their insulin doses and daily activities.

Ongoing Research and Hope for the Future:

The scientific community is continually exploring new avenues for Type 1 diabetes management and potential cures. Research into beta cell regeneration, immunotherapies, and advanced technologies holds promise for improved treatments and, ultimately, a world without Type 1 diabetes.

Conclusion:

The pancreas, with its intricate web of islet cells and insulin production, plays a pivotal role in our overall health. Understanding the impact of Type 1 diabetes on this vital organ is crucial for those living with the condition and their caregivers. As we navigate the complexities of diabetes management, ongoing research and technological advancements offer hope for a future where the pancreas's betrayal can be remedied, paving the way for healthier and more fulfilling lives for those with Type 1 diabetes.

#type 1 diabetic #type 1 life #type 1 diabetes #diabetes #health

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myspcae · 11 months

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Effective Solutions for Managing Moles and Warts

Moles, comprised of clusters of pigmented skin cells, can develop in various areas of the body, including the face, arms, legs, and abdomen. These clusters form when skin cells group together, often displaying shades of black or brown. Over time, moles may undergo changes in color, size, and texture, often influenced by sun exposure. To minimize the risk of developing moles and warts, it is advisable to reduce direct sun exposure and use sunscreen consistently. For expert skin care, you can confidently seek guidance from Dr. Soumya Kanti Dutta, the best dermatologist in Kolkata.

On the other hand, warts are the result of viral infections caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). While most warts are benign, their contagious nature means they can easily spread from one body part to another. Given their viral origin, it is essential to eliminate warts from the skin to prevent further transmission.

Here are common approaches for the removal of moles and warts:

Excision: This technique involves the surgical removal of moles using surgical scissors, typically performed under anesthesia to ensure a painless experience. While stitches may be required post-excision, any resulting scar is usually temporary. For optimal treatment, you can entrust your care to Dr. Soumya Kanti Dutta, the best dermatologist in Garia.

Laser Therapy: Laser treatment proves highly effective in eliminating moles from the skin. Laser energy precisely disintegrates the clusters of skin cells that form moles. This method is particularly suited for eradicating multiple moles at once and is especially effective for small, non-cancerous moles.

Cryotherapy (Freezing): Cryotherapy involves freezing the mole area using liquid nitrogen. It is highly effective for small, non-cancerous growths. While temporary blisters may develop at the treatment site, they typically heal on their own.

Medication: This method involves injecting the wart with bleomycin, a substance that targets and eliminates the virus responsible for the wart. Additionally, immunotherapy drugs may be prescribed to stimulate the immune system's response and combat the wart virus.

Clinical Procedures: Specialized treatments for moles and warts are available at reputable hair and skin clinics. Skilled medical professionals carry out these procedures with minimal downtime and negligible side effects, ensuring effective and satisfactory outcomes.

Surgery: In cases where other methods prove ineffective, minor surgical procedures can be employed to remove the wart. During surgery, the affected area is excised to completely eliminate the wart. Thanks to significant advancements in medical treatments, the process of removing moles and warts has become relatively straightforward. Reputable clinics or healthcare providers like Dr. Soumya Kanti Dutta, staffed with experienced professionals, can accurately diagnose the cause of mole formation and provide the appropriate treatments. This enables individuals to swiftly resume their daily activities without significant disruptions.

#skin treatment #skincaretips

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ultrabellasmith55things-blog · 11 months

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CAR-T/NK and TCR-T Cell Avidity Analysis

The binding events between T cells and their target tumor cells determine the start of immune synapse formation and T cell activation. Therefore, cell-cell interaction is a key parameter to consider when trying to understand the T cell response process. Cell avidity defines the total intercellular force between multiple parallel interactions, including co-receptor binding, TCR clustering, cell adhesion proteins, even orientations, and valences.

Compared with affinity, cell avidity provides a more complete and physiologically relevant image, reflecting the true interaction between effector cells and tumor cells. These interactions help to better predict cellular responses and outcomes during immunotherapy.

Learn more: TCR-T Cell Avidity Analysis

#biotechnology #biotech #tcr-t

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frontierallergy · 8 months

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Exploring Oak Allergy: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you curious about the impact of oak pollen on vision-related issues and the broader spectrum of oak allergy symptoms beyond just pollen? Are you interested in understanding pollen food allergy syndrome and the most effective treatment options available? These are common questions encountered by our allergy and asthma specialists. Let's delve into these concerns and address them comprehensively.

The Golden Hues of Oak

While oak trees contribute to the lush greenery of Texas, they can make life challenging for some individuals during the spring allergy season. With over 450 varieties of oak trees and shrubs, these pollen-producing trees are not limited to rural areas; they can be found in urban settings as well. The extensive pollen shed by these trees, carried across vast distances by the wind, makes it nearly impossible to evade these airborne allergens.

Have you ever noticed the yellow dust settling on your car after parking under an oak tree? Within a short span, the sticky yellow residue can accumulate and potentially trigger allergic reactions.

Allergy Season and Recognizable Symptoms

The oak allergy season typically peaks from March to May, with the highest pollen counts observed in March and April. Millions of pollen particles fill the air during this period, wreaking havoc on sinus health. Individuals allergic to oak pollen can mitigate their exposure by monitoring local pollen counts and taking preventive measures.

Commonly reported oak allergy symptoms include sneezing, coughing, runny nose, red or itchy eyes, throat or nasal itchiness, fatigue, and dark circles under the eyes. Ignoring initial symptoms may lead to more severe reactions.

Understanding Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome

If you experience throat or mouth itchiness after consuming raw vegetables or fresh fruits during allergy season, you may be dealing with Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS) or Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS). This syndrome arises because the immune system recognizes proteins in certain fruits and vegetables as similar to oak pollen.

Approximately 25 percent of allergic rhinitis patients also suffer from OAS. To avoid complications, individuals with this syndrome should steer clear of foods that induce mouth itching or tingling, including strawberries, celery, soy, peanuts, carrots, cherries, peaches, hazelnuts, apples, eggs, and chestnuts.

Allergic Conjunctivitis and Vision Problems

Oak pollen can lead to red, itchy, and watery eyes, potentially causing vision problems if left unattended. Allergists recommend antihistamines or allergy eye drops for relief from these symptoms. A thorough examination of your eyes and medical history by an allergist can determine if oak allergy is the underlying cause.

Testing and Diagnosis for Comprehensive Allergy Management

Beyond oak pollen, allergies can be triggered by weed, grass, peanuts, bee stings, pet dander, and mold. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and symptom management. Board-certified allergists, such as Dr. Neha Reshamwala, may recommend tests like skin prick testing, intradermal skin tests, or blood tests to identify specific allergens.

Managing Allergies: Strategies and Treatment Options

Three primary approaches exist for managing allergies:

Exposure Reduction: Avoiding pollen and certain foods known to cause allergies is the first line of defense. Strategies include checking daily pollen counts, keeping doors and windows closed during high pollen periods, going outdoors in the evening, taking a hot shower upon returning home, daily vacuuming, and using dehumidifiers or HEPA filters.

Pharmacological Medications: Allergy medicines and nasal sprays are commonly prescribed to alleviate symptoms.

Allergen Immunotherapy: This involves administering oral drops or shots with small doses of allergens to build resistance over time. Allergy shots can significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms as the immune system develops tolerance to oak pollen.

By adopting these strategies and treatment options, individuals can effectively manage oak allergies, leading to improved overall well-being and reduced allergic reactions over time.

#Skin testing #Pet allergy testing #Blood testing #Patch Testing #Drug allergy testing #Insect sting testing #Oral food challenge #Food allergy testing #Treatments: Biologics #Allergy shots #Traditional immunotherapy #Cluster immunotherapy #Allergy drops (sublingual)#Oak Allergy Testing

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lupine-publishers-ctgh · 1 year

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Lupine Publishers | Pathological Aspect following Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Abstract

In locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is usually performed. RT can avoid an aggressive operation and colostomy creation and can preserve the function of the anus. And various clinical trials for additional treatment, such as immunotherapy, which has recently attracted attention, after RT are being made. In rectal cancer, it is known that it is associated with mutational burden and MSI status rather than PD-L1 expression. Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to the pathological changes after RT to predict the efficacy of additional treatment after RT or to find a method for immune modulation for immunotherapy to work effectively.

Assessment of Post-Radiation Tumor Reduction and Sampling

First, the entire tumor volume is obviously reduced. Extravasated mucin, thickened and hyalinized vasculature was often observed. Compared to chemotherapy, which transforms into significant eosinophilic cytoplasm or bizarre morphology, the morphologic change of the tumor cell due to RT is slight. Because the operation is performed several weeks after RT, the tumor portion is replaced by dense fibrotic tissue and often regenerating surface epithelium rather than young fibroblasts. Because of only a tiny number of scattered tumor nests exist, it is difficult to confirm the remaining tumor tissue after RT for research grossly, even an experienced pathologist. So, it is so challenging to collect fresh tissue from an appropriate site. To proceed with research using the remaining tumor tissue after RT, it is appropriate to use formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue as a laser dissection method through microscopic review. Alternatively, it is not easy to distinguish it from normal tissue, even using specific markers if fresh tissue is used. It is necessary to make a slide with the tissue on the mirror side and check whether there is a tumor or not. The evaluation of treatment responsiveness after radiotherapy is made by pathologic examination. The widely accepted tumor regression grade (TRG) is the American joint committee on cancer system, Mandard, and Dworak [1].

Tumor Budding after RT

Tumor budding is a unique tumor pattern known as one aspect of the epithelial mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer. After RT, it is difficult to evaluate tumor budding because of the sparsely present tumor cells in a small number. However, there is a report that tumor budding of residual rectal cancer in post-RT samples is also related to prognosis such as overall survival. Loss of cohesiveness, that is, tumor budding, is related to nodal metastasis, the evaluation of tumor budding after RT was also related to disease specific recurrence in the pattern that appeared or remained after RT [2]. In the sample that received RT, it was evaluated into clusters of 4 or less tumor cells and 3-tiers - low, intermediate, and high, in the same way as the method for measuring tumor budding in general [3, 4].

Post-RT Immune Cell Infiltration and Components

Rectal cancer is a tumor with an active immune response than any other cancer. In post-RT surgical specimens, it is usually observed that immune cells are reduced, but in the early stage of RT, many inflammatory cells are thought to infiltrate as an inflammatory response. Immunoscore has also been evaluated a lot, and since TIL is known as a prognostic factor [5], it is necessary to evaluate the immune cell population after RT in the future.

Tumor Stroma in the post RT Specimen

In many studies, as an extracellular matrix, tumor stroma has been shown to affect tumor invasion and metastasis [6]. Generally, stroma-rich tumors are resistant to immunotherapy. In addition, it has been reported that stromal maturity can be used as a significant prognostic marker in a large number of cohorts in rectal cancer [7]. However, evaluation studies on the changes in stroma around the tumor after RT are not yet available.

Conclusion

Analysis of changes in the tumor surrounding microenvironment after RT will be a key to predicting the efficacy of RT and its combination therapy for chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

For more Lupine Publishers open access journals please visit our website:

https://lupinepublishers.com/index.php

For more Current Trends in Gastroenterology and Hepatology articles please click here: https://lupinepublishers.com/gastroenterology-hepatology-journal/index.php

#gastroenterotomy #hepatitis #journal #lupine publishers #open access journals #articles #gastric cancer #mini review #research #review #lupine journals #current trends in gastroenterology and hepatology

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tumimmtxpapers · 2 years

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In Situ Reprogramming of Tumor-Associated Macrophages with Internally and Externally Engineered Exosomes

The reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) has emerged as an efficient strategy for immunotherapy. However, most of the approaches did not allow the in situ reprogramming of TAM because their low efficiency, non-specificity, or potential side effects. Herein, we produced exosomes with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) internally engineered and the TAM specific peptide externally engineered onto the exosome membrane. The internally... http://dlvr.it/Sh9GnX

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dpathucgconforences · 2 years

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Digitalization makes machine learning possible

The digitalization of pathology has accelerated and is now in many labs’ plans in light of the fact that the first FDA approval for primary diagnosis is already a reality, along with the fact that some European labs execute the majority of their evaluation digitally.

Benefits of digital pathology include faster picture sharing with peers and more effective preparation for and presentation at tumour boards. But the application of Machine Learning (ML) based image analysis is probably going to have the most influence in the long run (including deep learning). These technologies will help choose the best treatment options for patients by speeding up the diagnosing process and improving precision. These advantages of ML technologies will support the commercial case for becoming digital in many labs.

10th World Digital Pathology & AI 10th 2023

However, in order to have a significant impact on pathologists’ day-to-day job, machine learning applications must be developed with workflow in mind. In this post, I provide a succinct introduction of machine learning (ML) in general, its application to pathologists, and suggestions for things to take into account before adopting ML in your pathology operations.

Reserve your seat here: https://digitalpathology.ucgconferences.com/

How does machine learning work?

Simply said, ML solutions build and learn programmes automatically from data. We don’t need to define every conceivable step or understand how the programme operates because the data is educating the programme (e.g. if this happens, then do that).

Examples of songs from my own playlists and previously listened-to songs are provided to the algorithm. These examples are used to generate a list of songs that Spotify believes I will like.

These ML programmes are far from ideal, as we have all already learned. They make errors. When using ML in pathology, this must be taken into account in great detail. A strategy for identifying and responding to mistakes caused by ML applications is required.

How can artificial intelligence aid pathologists?

Long-term, machine learning will transform cancer treatment. It won’t be long until machine learning affects and streamlines a pathologist’s routine responsibilities in the short run.

Join our upcoming 10th World Digital Pathology & AI conference

A few example

A digital pathology system may generate a rating of plausible responses to a certain inquiry, much to how Google ranks results when you use its search engine. For instance, the disease or tissue type that a designated area is.

Similar to how Instagram suggests users you would like to follow, the system might propose solutions to a certain issue. “Have you tried using a Giemsa staining to look for helicobacters?” is an example. (Poor example, but you get the point.)

Don’t miss this opportunity to join the 10th World Digital Pathology & AI Conference and get CME/CPD certification.

When you shop online, the web store uses clustering and provides instances of what “other persons also looked at…” This feature would give the pathologist knowledge about what other doctors have learned from instances like theirs.

Similar to how Twitter or Facebook can determine “trending” subjects and items and let you know about them, notifying the pathologist about unusual features in the image can be comparable.

The elevation of ML and its drawbacks

Will ML then take over for the pathologist? Most likely, the answer is no. Most likely, the new technology will only replace a small portion of a pathologist’s everyday tasks. However, the essential elements that ML will replace in patient care are those areas where the machine has a clear advantage over the human. For instance, when measuring the number of cells that react positively to a certain dye. As immunotherapy advances, efficient and accurate quantifications will be increasingly more crucial because the pathologist will play a crucial part in determining the patient’s course of treatment.

“REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN”

We’re back with another unmissable online summit: 10th World Digital Pathology & AI conference. Join and interact with thought leaders as they present emerging research and discuss critical pharmaceutical and pharmacy networking areas.

Reserve your seat where you will learn the skills essential to producing and releasing high-quality experiences in 10th World Digital Pathology & AI.

Reserve your seat here: https://digitalpathology.ucgconferences.com/

Additionally, it is critical to minimise the application hurdle so that the effort is much less than the perceived worth of the advantages. Google and Apple’s usage of speech recognition is one illustration. They largely functioned effectively two to three years ago, but they still required manual work, which caused a lot of frustration and few users. The number of users of speech recognition has substantially increased today since the technology has advanced to the point where it can save the user time.

The legal element of employing ML is not the final. The regulatory bar is substantially lower as long as the ML merely offers suggestions and counsel and does not determine the diagnosis or course of treatment. Applying ML based on recommendations will enable error handling and simplify its adoption in healthcare, allowing patients and pathologists to use the new technology more quickly. This mindset, for instance, is consistent with that of Dr. Watson from IBM.

Important Information:

Conference Name: 10th World Digital Pathology & AI UCGCongress Dates April 04–06, 2023 Venue: Berlin, Germany Audience: Global Leaders, Industrialists, Business Delegates, Students, Entrepreneurs, Executives. Email: [email protected] Visit: https://digitalpathology.ucgconferences.com/ Call for Papers: https://digitalpathology.ucgconferences.com/submit-abstract/ Register here: https://digitalpathology.ucgconferences.com/registration/ Call Us: +12073070027WhatsApp Us: +4420332227110

Reference Digital Pathology & AI UCG conferences blogs

#digitalpathology #radiologic #covid #digitalhistopathology #artificialintelligence #telepathologie #pathologyresident

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starman-john-tracy · 4 years

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Radiation Poisoning | Chapter Seven

by @starman-john-tracy and @asteria-star

In which John Tracy gets exposed to uranium and nearly dies, The Hood is evil, and Star generally freaks out a lot.

Chapters: [One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Eight]

Star’s not entirely sure how she makes it through her shower without passing out entirely, but the black dots in the edges of her vision are doing their very best to swallow her whole. There are clothes of hers on Tracy island, but Star emerges with her limp hair in a wet plait down her back, in one of John’s sweatshirts and a pair of sweatpants that just about fit around the waist, but have to be rolled up half a dozen times to free her feet.

Honestly, Star almost throws up within her first step into the medical room. But Virgil’s hulking figure is beside her, and he looks like he’s feeling much the same way. Star’s not sure what he has or hasn’t told his other brothers to get them to leave her alone, but she’s not yet seen hide nor hair of any of them... until now, that is.

Because Scott Tracy is sitting backwards on a chair at his brother’s bedside. His legs either side of the backrest and his arms folded heavily over it. His mouth is pressed into a tight white line and, as he drags his eyes up to them from where they were fixed on John’s still shape, he looks less than pleased to see the pair of them. Maybe it’s just the tension. Maybe it's something more. Virgil, as if sensing Star might bolt, takes her wrist and guides her into the room, clearly hoping that she’ll be too preoccupied with John to worry overly about his oldest sibling’s presence.

“My shift.” Virgil shoos the older man from the chair, “Do us all a favour and go get a shower Scooter.” Evidently this is part of their taking turns. Scott shakes his head low and weary, but he makes his way toward the door with little other protest.

“Thanks Virg, see you in twenty, yeah?”

“Sure thing.” Virgil guides her into Scott’s vacated chair by John’s hospital bed, safe to be so close now that she’s been scrubbed raw of outside germs, watching him sleep. Sleep… isn’t the right word. He’s not peaceful enough, minute tremors and twitching muscles plaguing his form, as if his subconscious wants to writhe in discomfort. His arms are more black and blue than pale, his heart monitor is beeping an uneven tempo, the oxygen mask looks sore against his irritated skin.

“You alright?” Virgil checks, from where he’s leaned on the back of the chair behind her. He doesn’t think he’s alright, after all. A warm chin comes to rest on the top of her head. He sighs heavily, watching the silent shape of his brother just breathe. John looks thin and fragile under the white sheet, with the oppressive quantity of bleeping machinery clustered around him and all the tubes and wires and the bulky shape of the oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, dwarf the lithe young man almost entirely. Virgil’s just glad he didn’t have to intubate him. His arm raises, almost brushing against Star’s cheek, as he pinches the bridge of his nose hard, trying to stave off the edges of a tension headache.

“Geez…”

After several moments of restless watching, Star shifting anxiously in her seat, she tilts her head towards Virgil, like she wants to look at him but can’t drag her eyes up to his face. “You’re going to want to ask the GDF to send someone up there to pick up the uranium,” she murmurs sullenly, “John was concerned about the leaking canisters in the vault, and then there’s a second lot in an officers lounge. I think I hid them well enough.”

“I’ll get Scott on it.” Virgil sets himself a reminder on his fancy, high-tech wristwatch, ready to prompt him when his elder brother returns from his shower. “Do you think The Hood is likely to come back for them?”

It’s at that moment that John makes a low sound in the back of his throat. Star’s hand twitches towards him, reaching for the bony wrist that’s the closest limb to her, wanting to do anything to make home feel better, even if it’s just a comforting hand, but she freezes.

“I’m not… am I going to hurt him?” She asks Virgil softly, blinking back those stupid tears she hasn’t been able to keep under wraps all day. “Can I even be in here? It’s not going to make him sick?”

“You’re alright.” Virgil pats her shoulder reassuringly, then moves away to go fiddle with some settings on a screen, topping up his brother’s painkillers, “You’re freshly showered and there’s little chance of you transmitting any germs to him, even with his wrecked immune system, but I’m glad you’re being careful. Alan wanted to jump right on him soon as we let him back in.” He laughs, but the warm sound trails back off into silence again shortly after.

Quiet, Virgil watches the fresh 20ccs of tramadol run down the new line he’d replaced the cannula at his wrist with, mixing with the supplementary immunotherapy drugs and blood regulators that are already feeding into his brother’s veins. The replacement peripherally inserted central catheter, or PICC, is a thinly-tubed line that runs from the entrance point at the crook of the John’s elbow, and finishes snugly near the heart muscle, designed to deliver the medications much more quickly and effectively. Virgil hopes that John won’t be able to feel the microscopic, wire-stiffened tube threaded through the peripheral veins in his right arm when he wakes.

John’s nose wrinkles in his sleep, eyebrows crinkling like something is disturbing him.

“Does it hurt?” Virgil whispers, more to himself than his unconscious brother, “Shhh Johnno, the meds will kick in soon.” He smooths a big, warm hand across his siblings shoulder. “We’re gonna take good care of you, ok?”

Star almost tips herself out of the chair leaning forwards, gripping Johns free-er arm at the elbow, so their forearms are lying flush on the bed. She lets her fingers trail along the soft, bruised skin there, and instinctively forces a watery smile to her face that he’s never going to see.

“Hey Johnny,” she murmurs, tracing the delicate patterns over and over again. “You’re safe now. Got to Thunderbird Five, just like you said to. And you’ve got your brothers. Nobody’s going to hurt you here.”

She still can’t quite bring herself to say the words you’re okay, but she keeps talking, just in case he can hear her. She just keeps telling him about this and that and everything in between in a low, wavering tone that seems to almost just fall out of her. It’s not until the drugs must kick in that she stops, keeping a hold of his arm. It’s like drowning, watching John’s lax face through a haze of angry gravity.

“You know what, Virgil?” Star tells him, not moving an inch from her position up against the bed. “I really fucking hate space.”

There’s a soft, suspiciously wet sounding laugh from Virgil over her shoulder.

“Don’t let him hear you say that.” He says, scrubbing a hand hard over his eyes, “He’d be so upset.”

Star snorts. “Oh, he knows, don’t you worry. I tell him every time something goes wrong. Like one time, we ran out of coffee? I almost staged a mutiny.”

Virgil laughs again, louder this time: more genuine and less startled.

The pained scrunch of John’s brows has yet to smooth out, Virgil’s top up dose or otherwise. There’s a slight curling of his fingers, the muscle of his forearm under Star’s palm bunching noticeably as he does. The burned red of his face has bleached to an unhealthy grey save for the two spots of feverish crimson high on his cheeks.

“John?” Virgil’s noticed the pick-up in his brother’s heart rate, the boost of O2 to his brain on the monitors. “Hey buddy, you waking up there?”

Even with the fogginess of a head that feels like it’s stuffed with cotton wool, a haze of drug-induced numbness, John knows without opening his eyes that he’s in the medical room down on Tracy Island. There's just something that just makes the space instantly recognizable, whether you’re actually in control of your full cognitive capacity or not. It could be the weight of gravity, or the sharp, clean smell of antiseptic, or the constant bleep of monitors, but it’s altogether too familiar to be anywhere else.

There’s a headache pounding his eyes and John notes that, despite the fact he’s only just woken up, he’s incredibly exhausted. He figures it must have been the pain that woke him: his chest sears on every exhale, a tight, awful stabbing sensation burning in his midriff. There’s a sharp, localised piercing feeling in his wrist, and a headache behind his eyes, and he feels so sick, curling and hot in his stomach.

Blue-green eyes chance a peek and John registers, squinting against the bright white lights above his head, the presence of an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, cool air replacing each hot, rough breath he struggles to take.

“V’rgl?”

Star goes very, very still, hardly even daring to breathe. She leaves her arm where it is, pressed against John’s but stops the absent tracing, as if afraid he’ll notice she’s there. Her wide eyes track Virgil’s as he rushes over to check John over. She’s waiting for the dark haired Tracy to call false alarm, tell her she’s imagining things, but he never does.

John doesn’t look particularly happy about it, but his eyes are definitely open, and Star is willing to take that. Her heart jolts in her chest each time his fingers curl by her elbow, blue eyes squinting around the room. John tries to fidget uncomfortably, an impossible feat, and Star stumbles uncoordinatedly upright, nearly landing on her ass, to place gentle hands on each side of his hips to keep him from moving, mirroring Virgil’s hand on his shoulder. Eventually, his eyes come to land on her.

Star startles like a deer in headlights. “Hey.”

“Star.” He breathes her name out like it tastes of pure, heady relief. “I…” Golden ginger lashes flutter, his eyes roaming the room again and lingering the sight of Virgil scrubbing at his eyes with the hand not holding down his shoulder. “Wh…?” His voice is thick and hazy with sleep, and he’s genuinely surprised by what a struggle it is to keep his eyes open. His focus narrows to the dark braid over Star’s shoulder and the feeling of small hands pressing down on his hips. He shifts a little, testing the reason for the holding him in place, and he’s rewarded by a hot, fiery sensation across his stomach and through his insides for it. He breathes out hard through his nose, O2 mask fogging. “Ow…” He manages weakly. “What…?”

“Stop moving,” Star admonishes lightly, taking her hands away now that he’s got the idea himself. “You’re fine where you are, okay? Just relax.”

She slouches back in her chair like a marionette who’s strings have been cut. She didn’t realise just how much she’d been expecting him to never wake up again until he said her name.

Someone’s taken the time to clean him up, wiping fever sweat from his skin and combing out his hair so that it feels soft against the pillow, curling, still just that little bit longer than he likes to keep it, around his ears. His lungs ache on every breath. Asphyxiation. His brain fills out from him, though he’s not sure where he got that idea from. I couldn’t breathe. He feels almost cold, the heat of the fever tricking his body into shivering, and stiff fingers bunch in the sheet over him, unconsciously trying to warm them. Star leans back forward when she sees the trembling fingers, taking his hands in her own to rub some warmth into them. It's a placebo and she knows it, his skin almost physically burns to the touch.

“Hi John.” Virgil sounds tired right through, his eyes liquid with apology. “So, uh, I’ve got good news and bad news.” The wince at the cliché phrase must show on the spaceman’s face, “Ack, sorry.” He sits heavily on the edge of his brother’s bed, settling beside Star, “You’re probably confused. How much do you remember of what happened?”

John goes to shake his head, only to pale like he regrets the motion, the world spinning round him like he’s sat on the outside of the gravity ring. He squeezes his eyes shut once more with a groan.

“Still nauseous?” Virgil guesses, wisely, “I’ll up your antiemetics. I… Do you know where you are?”

“Med room,” John croaks, his voice raspy with exhaustion and the damage to his lungs. “Tracy Island. Th’ gravity gives it away. Crn’t tell you the date though.” He looks to Star at his side, eyes scanning her skin and the very familiar sweater she’s wearing, as if checking her for injuries. “Y-you ok?”

Star closes her eyes, very slowly, swallowing thickly. It takes her a moment before she opens them again, and when she does it’s on the promise of I’m fine.

“I’m fine, John,” she gives his hands a little squeeze, “nothing happened to me. I’m completely and utterly, perfectly fine.”

She gives him a little smirk when he does a disbelieving double take. “And it’s Thursday, just in case you were wondering.” Everything about her softens. “You’ve been asleep for a little while.”

“What day was it when I went to sleep?” He sounds concerned. “If it's Thursday now?"

“Good lord,” Star smirks, “I’m going to buy you a calendar for Christmas.” John snorts at that, the rough laugh pleasant.

“When’s Christm…?” He goes to say more, amused, but Virgil rests a distracting palm against his forehead, gauging his temperature.

“What’s the last thing you’ve got memories of?” Virgil doesn’t seem bothered that he’s interrupting, his voice soft, still trying to gauge John’s cognitive function.

“I…” There’s a flicker of fear in John’s eyes, as he struggles to put the blurred, patchy fragments he’s got of his memory over the last twelve hours or so back into some kind of order. It’s like trying to make a jigsaw without all the pieces. “We were responding to a situation, a parallel station in orbit. Star and me.” He pauses to take a breath. “There was… uranium on board.” His mouth shuts in a tight, white line, as if it’s dawning on him exactly why he might be lying in a hospital bed. “Things are patchy but there was a man… The Hood.” The name sounds like it causes him pain, “He took my helmet. Star got it back and… we were heading for Five…? After that I’ve got nothing.” Virgil can’t help but be relieved about that. “How’d we… get home?” He brings a hand to where his stomach is a throbbing, tender ball of ow. “What hit me?”

Star smiles slowly, sadly, aware Virgil can’t fill the gaps John wants covering, but not entirely willing to do it herself.

“I used the grapples to get back to Thunderbird Five, good job you made me take extra, then called Thunderbird Three for a lift. Figured since it was up to me, we could do without the damned space elevator.” She tries to smile like Virgil had done, or like John does on a call mid-rescue, with scared civilians on the line and nothing but him to steer them away from pure panic. It doesn’t quite have the same effect. Star considers herself a lot of things, but a Thunderbird isn’t one of them. That, and the heavy insistent tug of full gravity and near death experience at the hands of her nemesis space, have left her reeling and shaky and not entirely sure she’s all there.

“Nothing wrong with m’space elevator.” John complains lightly, trying to stifle a yawn, “Everything Brains builds is way over-engineered anyway.” His fingers squeeze hers, as if even doped up to the eyeballs he can tell something is wrong with her.

“Nothing hit you, John,” she lets go of a hand, making another move to cup his face only to fall short. She rests the hand against his shoulder instead, thumb against his collarbone. “The Hood was stealing uranium. He cornered you in the vault, and he did take your helmet off, so you had a couple of minutes out of atmosphere, but we got it back for you. Unfortunately… you were in there with some broken canisters, so you’ve had some…” Star’s brain doesn’t seem to want to supply the words, as if not saying them will steal the truth of it from right out from under their noses, “exposure to radiation. Virgil’s much better at explaining all the medical mumbo jumbo, so I’ll leave that to him, yeah?”

John is looking at her a little shell shocked, and she grimaces.

“How you doing there, sweetheart?” She gets a small groan in response.

“Feels like someone landed the Space Elevator on me.” He jokes, evidently trying to make light of the ominous you’ve got radiation poisoning that’s hanging over his head. “Glad t’hear that’s not what happened. Damage report Virg?” He sounds eerily calm in the face of it, but the heartbeat racing on the monitors spells out a different story. “What was the bad news?”

Virgil looks hesitant, and kind of miserable to follow up on his earlier offer. It’s hard to know where to begin. There are a lot of potential side effects of radiation poisoning: tumours, loss of kidney function, pancreatitis, permanent immune diseases, diabetes, and those aside John’s going to be in it for the long haul with the more immediate effects.

“When Scott and Alan got there,” Virgil begins to explain, “you were presenting with nausea, a high fever, erythema, purpura, dizziness and disorientation, cognitive impairment and haemorrhaging from your damaged blood vessels. All symptoms of accurate radiation syndrome.” He takes a breath. “We had to perform a Laparotomy to correct the internal bleeding, so, uh, you’re going to be pretty sore around the waist for a while.”

“A what?” John blinks sluggishly, trying to work out just what that means. The headache really isn’t helping his cognitive processing. He can feel the pull of the line of neat stitches across his abdomen as he shifts. It feels like there’s something heavy resting on his chest. His fingers tighten around Star’s again, just a little. She can feel the fine tremble that’s started in the digits.

Star catches his heart racing away in the monitors, feels the tremble in his hands, and hooks her free arm around his chest, as though she would give him a hug if she weren’t so scared of breaking him.

“We sealed your leaky blood vessels.” Virgil confirms, worried about how much of this John is actually taking in, “Surgery went well, and we’re hoping you’ll be free of any secondary infections. Tests indicate that there’s been a severe decrease in your number of blood cells though, as is common with radiation exposure, including leukocytes.” The notices the lack of recognition in John’s eyes. “Uh, they’re the white blood cells, they’re the body’s primary defence against infection, so we’ve got to be really careful to keep you from getting any germs or small cuts for a while.” Virgil looks kind of sheepish about it, like he knows it’s going to be a rough road for a little while. “Your lack of red blood cells is gonna make you anaemic and your lack of platelets could make even a little bleed severe.” He cards a shaky hand backwards through his dark hair, glad he’s telling John these things to forewarn him, but feeling horrible that he has to. “We’ve got you on a PICC line to boost your cell count and correct the dehydration, iron levels and electrolyte imbalance. Brains is in his lab working on what the ideal balance of meds is gonna be.”

“That… sounds good?” Anything Brains is working on always comes round for the best sooner or later. John’s aware he’s never seen the man with a medical qualification though. He’s got a strong suspicion he’s soon going to become a human guinea pig.

“It’s gonna be a pretty slow recovery I’m afraid. You’re going to be tired a lot more than normal and you’re on a course of immunotherapy and blood clotting medications. We’re expecting you to be nauseous a lot and have very little appetite, but you’re gonna have to suck it up a bit and eat what you can or else there’s gonna be a whole lot more IV fluids in your future, and really, we’ve got you on enough already.”

“If things don’t improve on IV alone, we might need to find a suitable match for an allogeneic stem-cell transplant, and possibly,” He hesitates, “a marrow transplant, from a donor, depending on the overall state of your red and white blood cell counts." Virgil pauses to let that sink in. “I’m going to test the boys and Grandma to see if any of us are a match, but I want to place you on the list at the Royal Melbourne in order to have the greatest chance of getting you a donor, should the need arise."

“And the good news?” John chuckles weakly, struggling to absorb all that.

“You’re alive.” Virgil offers him, fairly miserably. “And we’re gonna do our best to keep you that way, alright? I hadn’t finished the bad though,” He winces, apologetic, “I’m gonna have to take a sample of bone marrow, so we can check if the radiation has reached it. Scans have been inconclusive and you… well, you might need a transplant. Sorry John.”

“Does the sample have to be taken today? Like, now?” Star asks Virgil over her shoulder. Star can see John struggling, his brain going a mile a minute and still not entirely believing all the ways Virgil had just listed that could kill him. His brow is still pinched with pain, and he’s frowning slightly at his brother, lost in whatever the hell had stuck out of all that.

“Ideally.” At least Virgil has the grace to sound sorry about it. “The sooner we have the sample of your stem cells the sooner we can analyse it for abnormalities and, if needed, start our search for a match. And, honestly John, it’s probably gonna be better to get it over with. You can go back to sleep after, ok?” If he can.

“Is it gonna hurt?” John asks, his voice smaller than either of them have ever heard it. Virgil doesn’t offer him an answer.

“Hey,” she leans on the bed with her elbows, drawing one of his hands up in both of hers, pressing her mouth along the back of his knuckles. “Look at me.”

She waits patiently as he does, holding the captured hand up against her cheek. Hazy eyes do finally meet hers, she nods slowly, as if to say it’s alright without having to voice the traitorous lie. Speaking of traitorous, her eyes are getting hot and wet again, and she fights the tears back.

“Don’t think too hard about it, it’s not all important right this second. Just tell me what you need right now.”

“I… I don’t know.” John’s mouth shapes the admission, but his voice doesn’t sound at all like his. It’s smaller than Star has ever heard it. He sounds so overwhelmed, maybe even scared. “Sorry,” He mumbles, “I… I’m so tired and it’s a lot and…” He turns his head into his pillow, pressing his cheek down hard and hiding his face from them. The motion reveals a pockmarked trail of red purpura marks all up the side of his throat. They watch him take a long, ragged breath, then another. It’s a second or two before he pulls himself together.

“Don’t apologise,” Star murmurs into his hand, letting him have his minute to hide in the pillow. “You’re doing great.”

“Right.” John swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing, “Let’s get this over with then shall we?” He looks up at them with liquid eyes and Virgil nods, the motion tight and controlled.

“Think we can get you onto your side?” It’s not really a question, but the illusion of choice seems to maintain some of John’s dignity in the situation. Too weak to help himself roll over, John, blearily, feels Virgil manipulating one of his arms to tuck it up by his cheek, and moving the other one straight out to the side, toward Star.

“It’s ok to cry Star.” He tells her softly, finding a weak smile for her beneath the oxygen mask even as Virgil folds back the covers and bends one of his knees for him and rolls him onto his side. The other leg gets bent to match, leaving him curled on his side with his knees tucked up to his chest. “It’s been a hard day, right?” A monitor bobs red somewhere above him, a drop in respiration. Virgil makes a displeased sound through his teeth.

“Yeah, I know,” she knows exactly what he’s talking about, there’s no way to even pretend not to, but she’s not about to give in that easily. No amount of showering and electrolyte complexes could scrub away the residue of having completely and utterly lost it, but John doesn’t need that right now. Star captures the hand that comes looking for her, bracing the other on his thigh to keep him from rolling over, or flinching away from Virgil. “No ones going to be upset or you do. It’s been a rough one.”

“Keep him talking to you.” He requests of her, trying to keep his brother’s anxiety down. “It’s alright John.” Virgil’s rolling up the thin blue cotton of his brother’s t-shirt, exposing the big adhesive pad stuck to his middle, hiding his perfect stitches. The medic rubs a quick hand soothingly over his brothers bare, red-pocked waist. “Hang tight, I’m just getting set up.” There are twin snaps as he pulls on IR blue latex gloves. John has to admit to himself, vaguely, that he’s very lucky his brother is brilliant.

It’s also lucky that John is turned away from him, being placed on his side having left him facing Star, and that doesn’t see the massive size of the weird, capped needle that Virgil’s setting up.

In a moment of stupidity, Star's eyes track Virgil’s movement and come to land on the needle. She hopes they don’t widen too obviously and snaps her gaze away, hunkering down close to John. Her heart is racing pounding painfully in her chest because that is going to hurt, and it’s going to hurt John.

“Ah,” she fumbles on a topic of conversation, everything seeming woefully insignificant for this. In the end, she plucks the first thing that comes to her mind that doesn’t start with an apology or include radiation poisoning. “So I have some complaints about the spacesuit, because that has got to be at least the third time I’ve had to wear it and ended up running around in my underwear when I’ve taken it off.”

She knows she’s not supposed to even be wearing her giant shirts when she’s got it on, she’s been told about the electrodes needing to sit flush against her skin more than once, but that isn’t the point. “We need to get some underclothes for them. Like the black in Star Trek. Imagine how slick we’d look? Speaking of, I’m renaming Thunderbird Five the Enterprise. I’ll change the label for your birthday.”

John snorted at her again, a touch of amusement joining the strain on his face.

“I thought I was getting a calendar?” There’s a weak smile, though it flickers as he feels Virgil’s cool hand land on his hip.

“No, no, calendar is for Christmas. I’m spray painting your Thunderbird for your birthday.”

John looks like he might laugh again, or make a mock-offended complaint, only Virgil gets started.

"Okay, John…” He carefully cleans a small area of his brother’s lower back with a cold, sterile wipe, then rubs in a topical anaesthesia, his gloved fingers massaging the muscle of John’s back, trying to get him to lose the tension. “This is it… just relax as much as you can for me. You might feel a bit of pressure… A slight burn…"

Everything about him stiffens, grunting in pain, and Star just gives him something to hold onto, and holds onto him. Despite it, John can’t seem to help the whimper that escapes him at the feeling of the oversized syringe as it slides home. Punching through skin and muscle to pierce the back of his pelvis beneath, sliding unsettlingly easily into hard bone. A hot, bright flash of nausea almost makes his legs spasm, the need to curl further into his stomach strong, but Virgil’s got a steady hand, the one not holding the needle, on his brother’s hip and it luckily keeps him still while the thick needle sucks out his marrow. Being held still doesn’t mean he’s not very nearly sick then and there though, because it’s a close thing. John’s face screws up, his breathing short and sharp. He’s embarrassed to realise he’s shaking.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” She murmurs somewhat desperately, clinging on. “You’re doing great, baby. It won’t be long, we’ve got you, Virgil’s almost done.”

John’s teeth clench, and he screws his eyes even tighter shut at the sensation of the needle now retracing its route as Virgil carefully removes it. His muscles tense automatically, making Virgil’s job harder and leaving the spaceman gasping in sharp, clinical air like his abused lungs can’t quite cope with the shock. His stomach muscles are quivering.

"All done, John." Virgil’s gentle voice. “You did great.” A sticky pad gets pressed firmly into place, Virgil’s hand remaining there to apply pressure, while the other leaves his hip to hide away the needle device and it’s precious, extracted cargo - sealing it in a small, labelled bag to be sent to Brains lab for testing.

"Geez Virgil." John just about manages, breathlessly. "That hurt …"

"Sorry.” Virgil sounds just as deeply sincere for his tenth apology as he had for his first, “Just sit tight and rest, John, and then after about fifteen minutes, we can pop you on your back and you can sleep some more." Blue gloves are peeled away and discarded, the man doing so clearly more than slightly distraught. Trying to calm himself, Virgil settles on the side of the bed at his brother’s back, pulling down John’s rucked up T-shirt and tucking the covers up around his waist.

John hasn’t stopped trembling yet. The monitors are squealing his body’s displeasure, even if John can’t bring himself to vocalise it further. Star’s still there, in his space, smiling softly whenever his dazed eyes swing past her. Her own hands are sweating, throat tight against the tears that are threatening. She can feel the hysteria buzzing beneath her clammy skin, but she’s going to keep a lid on it in front of John if it’s the last thing she does. And Virgil… She's worried about Virgil too. The lot of them don’t need her mess as well.

“Close your eyes.” Virgil advises, “For a start.” He smooths his fingers through the curling strands of his brother’s hair, trying to be calming and fiercely hating, right now, with all his heart that his brother is going through this. The world can be just so damn unfair sometimes. Downright cruel. John doesn’t deserve any of this at all. Not for the first time today, Virgil kind of wants to break down in tears but John, sleepy, soft, in-pain John, still needs him. Scott isn’t due to be back for his shift for another five minutes and even then Virgil’s not actually sure he can leave him.

John does do as he’s asked though (a model patient compared to the fuss the rest of the Tracy brothers like to put up) and closes his eyes, hoping to doze until Virgil says it's time to move. There’s a hot, low throb going on in his lower back, spreading as an awful ache right through his back muscles. Hell if he’s not glad for the drugs Virgil’s pumped him full of. If he didn't have those right now, he’s pretty sure he'd be howling in agony… Rest sounds really, really good.

#RadiationRPwithStar #Thunderbirds Are Go #to be honest this is more than a little inspired by Pyre's Bound series #which if u havent read u totally should #this came out with a similar vibe to cancer-sick John XDD #call it an ode to

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juniperpublishersjcmah · 5 years

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Miraculous Healing of Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma - The Role of Adjunctive Energy Healing- Juniper publishers

Abstract

While “miraculous healings” or spontaneous remissions of various disease states have been scientifically reported previously, the exact mechanism, which allow for these seeming miracles or spontaneous remissions is poorly understood. By contrast, I have recently published multiple case studies, which have included the “miraculous healings” of Sarcoidosis, Chronic Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease and severe chronic debilitating plantar arthritis without the use of pharmaceuticals or antibiotics and where the mechanism of action used to initiate the “miraculous healing” appears to have a cause and effect relationship and thus is reproducible.

This case report now adds Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma (case study #6) to the previous five case studies, which I have observed and now report to be successfully treated by a process, which Master John Douglas refers to as “Angelic Reformation.” These case reports are representative of the many hundreds of case studies I have documented (although most yet unpublished) over a ten-year period, while observing the work of Master John Douglas and the graduates of his Elite Development course. While certainly inspiring, admittedly all of these observations must ultimately be subjected to additional rigorous scientific methodology. Yet, the sheer number of miraculous healings I have observed and the fact that this body of knowledge can be taught to others who obtain similarly effective results is very promising, given our current confusion regarding the exact mechanisms of action and/or causation of autoimmune diseases, Parkinson’s disease, chronic debilitating arthropathies and most of all cancers, which were estimated to have a global cost burden of $1.16 trillion dollars per year as of 2010 statistics.

Keywords: Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Miraculous healing; Spontaneous remission; Angelic Reformation

Case Presentation

Case study #6 is a 65-year-old white female who first discovered she had biopsy proven T1/T2 N0 invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the anus in June of 2008. After a course of 5FU, Mitomycin-C and 5,400cGy of radiation, follow up re-staging scans in November of 2008 showed no evidence of recurrence or metastatic disease.

Unfortunately, by January of 2010, re-staging scans found a discrete focus of intense abnormal activity with an SUV biomarker up-take level of 10.7 identified in the left para-aortic node and two small sites of uptake in the aortic valve, all consistent with metastasis. Biopsy of a 1.3cm node showed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma with additional affected nodes that were not regional or clustered together, which as a clinical sign gave a presumptive diagnosis of systemic metastatic disease.

The impression that her oncologist wrote post biopsy in the patient’s history and physical was, that “treatment would be palliative, that the chance of cure is small to none.”

Although the patient started five doses of FOLFOX, she did not avail herself of the recommended follow-up radiation therapy and instead self discharged; in her own words, “to look for a miracle.”

This patient first encountered Master John Douglas, an energy healer, on July 8th, 2010.

She describes the experience of being with Master John as, "feeling very light as I was sitting within the energy aura of Master John Douglas, which felt like sitting in a candle lite circle filled with peace, innocence, protection, love and a state of simplicity where all worries were gone.” She also experienced what she believed was, “the presence of Angelic Beings in the room cradling her and sprinkling sparks of stardust inside her. Suddenly she felt a ‘snap’ in her lower belly and chest and watched and allowed an oily vapor to come out of her and dissipate into the air. "

On the other side of the equation, Master John Douglas reports that, “I remember that this patient was a faithful, kind and gentle person, who showed no cynicism or doubts about her potential to be healed. The moment that we met together during the five-minute personalized healing session, I could directly and clairvoyantly view the cancerous cells and proceeded to apply the Angelic reformation to her physiology on a molecular level. Due to her spiritual worthiness, what ensued was remarkable - the cells that were cancerous literally reformed before my eyes and all energetic structures of the cancerous cells were expelled and instantly replaced by healthy structures.

As always, being cautious, I wished her well, and told her that she had received a very special healing that few have received previously. She appeared to be in awe, so I knew she experienced something profound.”

A few months after the healing session described above, restaging scans ordered by a new oncologist showed no evidence of her former metastatic disease. Subsequent PET scans which were multi-station, co-registered PET/CT (non-contrast, low dose) images of the mid skull to upper thighs obtained on a Siemens Sensation 16 Biograph PET=CT Fusion Scanner and CT scans of the neck/chest/abdomen/pelvis with and without contrast performed in October of 2011 continued to show no evidence of active neoplastic intra-abdominal disease.

This patient remained in remission without any further conventional medical treatments until January of 2013, when a reoccurrence of her original disease was found to be present in the retroperitoneal space. Since that reoccurrence, she has used a combination of conventional oncological approaches along with continued utilization of many of the processes of angelic reformation as taught by Master John Douglas.

Patient to this day continues to be very grateful to Master John Douglas for delivering her miracle cure. She has become an Elite Development graduate and is still working full time in her chosen profession and active in all aspects of life.

Discussion

As I have recently reported elsewhere [1-3], Master John Douglas uses his clairvoyant senses to identify the infectious etiology and root cause of many “idiopathic” diseases. Although the infectious agents for these idiopathic diseases have not been discovered or reported in the scientific literature, he claims to be able to directly visualize the existence of hundreds of unknown infectious agents through his enhanced (clairvoyant) senses, no different than we observe ordinary phenomena in the material world, such as the leaves on trees.

The credibility of this assertion is supported by the fact that annually, open to the public, he teaches hundreds of students to replicate his findings at a seminar called the Elite Development Course. To date, over 500 people have been trained to detect these hidden infectious agents by a method called “scanning”, which enables the observer, phenomenologically, on the level of consciousness, to measure the unique electromagnetic wave signal emanating from each unique infectious agent, analogous to the way each unique element of the periodic table has a corresponding unique molecular weight.

Granted, most of these infectious agents have yet to be identified by virologists, microbiologists, parasitologists or any conventional medical apparatus. And while the inability to verify the existence of these infectious agents apart from consensus among Elite Course graduates is disruptive to our conventional medical paradigm, is this claim all that different from saying that prior to an electron microscope, many minute infectious agents were not seen with an ordinary light microscope or that the essential elements of quantum physics which were mathematically deduced could not be proven without the technological advancement which allowed for the building a linear particle accelerator? While admittedly this technology is consciousness-based and does not exist as an external device currently, philosophically I believe that there is no barrier to replicating these findings using an external device as technology advances.

Historically there was a time in the not too distant past where the idea of an infectious agent as the root cause of cancer would have been heretical. Yet now we know that in the developing world nearly 20% of all cancers are really secondary manifestations of disease due to earlier antecedent infections, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human papillomavirus infection [4].

From the standpoint of an energy healer, cancer is really an immune system disease, where the normal protective mechanisms to identify “self” from “non-self” break down. Using the method of “scanning,” as taught at the Elite Development Course, all cancer patients with active disease register an electromagnetic bio-energetic signal of near “zero activity” when measuring their immune systems ability to recognize the presence of the multiple infectious agents responsible for the formation of malignant cells or recognizing the malignant cell receptors at all.

So, from an energetic standpoint, one aspect of curing cancer is to reawaken the inherent ability of the immune system to function normally and enable it to both recognize and attack the infectious agents within the malignant cells. The healer by intention can energize killer cells to both recognize the previously cloaked cancer receptors and destroy them. Modern immunotherapies are targeted to accomplish this same goal by different mechanisms.

Study Limitations

Admittedly, this case report has many limitations. While the original diagnosis was established by an oncologist and corroborated by radiographic studies and tissue biopsy, the patient did have a two- year remission after her original treatments in 2008 attributable to conventional therapy alone. Thus, the possibility exists that this subsequent remission is merely a delayed response to her incomplete FOLFOX treatment, even though this is unlikely.

Even the role of the placebo effect must be considered as a variable triggering the self-reported transformation, which was subjectively experienced in the presence of Master John Douglas.

I also realize that as “scanning” is a consciousness-based technique, not common to the public at large, and only mastered by graduates of the Elite Development Course as taught by Master John Douglas, this limits the population of “experts” capable of confirming or refuting the accuracy of this report to under 500 current graduates. So it is entirely reasonable to question a “miraculous cure” that rests entirely on the resolution of symptoms as reported by the patient, except for the fact that 500 people are independently capable of measuring the presence of the frequency of an infectious agent and/or cancer cell signals which is killed by conscious intention and then observe that the resolution of symptoms is closely correlated in time with the disappearance of that infectious agent’s electromagnetic signal (as measured by the process of “scanning”).

Conclusion

Notwithstanding the obvious limitations of the study as listed above, I still believe that the sheer number of seeming “miraculous healings” which I have witnessed over a ten year period and the fact that this ability can be taught and reproduced by many licensed health professionals forces us to consider the possibility that a cause and effect relationship exists as the underlying mechanism of the “miraculous healings” which have been reported. Furthermore, given the risk of adverse events surrounding the conventional pharmaceutical, radiological and surgical treatment of cancers, the downside of using energy healing seems innocuous by comparison to the known risks of these well documented adverse events.

And while it is cautionary to note the reoccurrence of the original disease, even after a “miraculous cure” that afforded the patient three years of an improbable remission, this increased risk of reoccurrence in all treated cancer patients appears to be a fact we must accept, whether the treatment is conventional oncology or energy healing by angelic reformation.

Nonetheless, it seems prudent for all non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical options such as the technology described herein to be further investigated, whenever the credible probability of their improved therapeutic benefit is known. Our goal as physicians is always to use the treatment option with the best therapeutic ratio, and thus minimize any iatrogenic component to our delivery of care. And while I realize that we are a long way off from having a solid scientific foundation to recommend the technology described herein, not to further investigate the reality of these observations in a more rigorous setting would be a mistake in my opinion [5]. If this report is further validated over time, how many more malignant conditions will we find that have an unknown infectious etiology as their root cause; and how many more remissions, even if temporary, will be documented that can provide high quality of life and extended the lifespans without the use of conventional oncological options, which can be expensive, heroic and have a high percentage of adverse side effects and morbidity?

Acknowledgment

I would like to acknowledge Master John Douglas for his tireless work ethic and his passion to save humanity from the unseen dangers, which threaten life on this planet and to the real people in our anonymous case studies who were willing to share their intimate medical experiences for the benefit of science.

Conflict of Interest

The author declares that no competing interests exist and that he has no financial gain from his relationship with Master John Douglas or the Elite Development course. While some peer reviewers may feel that a possible financial bias exists from even naming Master John Douglas or the existence of the Elite Development Course, in the interests of scientific transparency I do not see how this is any different from naming a proprietary pharmaceutical and dosage which is thought to have a positive effect for the amelioration of a given disease state. In both cases, proprietary issues notwithstanding, the roadmap, which was undertaken by the patient to achieve improvement must be transparent to the reader.

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