Latest news with #BMT
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
No ray of hope for patients as official machinations stall BMT at Odisha's SCB MCH
Meanwhile, the state health administration seems to be engaged in what appears to be an elaborate ploy of delay and diversion. On July 11, when the Orissa High Court took note of a TNIE news report on the situation of BMT at SCB MCH, state Health secretary Aswathy S, appearing virtually, assured that steps are being taken to restart the procedure immediately under the supervision of a retired faculty of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar Dr PK Das. One associate professor and two assistant professors of the clinical haematology department are technically qualified to conduct the bone marrow transplant and will be mentored by Dr Das to restart BMT, she told the court. But the plan has not moved an inch since. And, here lies the catch: BMT is not a short-term skill, it requires at least a year of intensive hands-on training under strict international protocols. What is worse and contrary to the submissions of the Health secretary in the high court is the SCB MCH's admission that none of the faculty members of the haematology department including the above three possess any formal training, experience, or certification in BMT procedure. Citing this, the SCB MCH superintendent has written to the DMET seeking facilitation of training process including selection of institute and finances. However, sources said, 'Restarting BMT on the basis of fresh training will take a minimum of one year, possibly more. By then, many more Saritas will be lost.' Meanwhile, Health minister Mukesh Mahaling and the Health secretary also do not seem to be on the same page. Despite the minister, in a recent note to the secretary, directing expeditious steps for re-engagement of Prof Jena in the larger interest of patients, patient care and haematology students, no action has been forthcoming. As per usual practice, a professor after retirement is re-engaged on contractual basis for at least a period of four years till he attains 70. In case of Prof Jena, the Health department relieved him after just one year in March this year. Health secretary Aswathy S did not respond to calls and messages from TNIE for her comments on the issue.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Brain Cell Transplant Slows Rare Neurodegenerative Disease
Replacing mutant microglia with healthy donor-derived microglia has emerged as a promising treatment for adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP). In a small study of eight patients with ALSP, replacing dysfunctional microglia with normal microglia using traditional bone marrow transplantation (BMT) halted the progression of ALSP and improved neurologic function. 'The critical next step is to validate these results in a larger clinical trial, which is already underway,' principal investigator Bo Peng, PhD, professor, Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University in Shanghai, told Medscape Medical News . The study was published online on July 10 in Science . From Mice to Men ALSP is a rare, progressive neurological disease with an average age of onset of 43 years and an average life expectancy of only 3-5 years after symptoms begin. There is no cure and there are few treatments. ALSP is caused by mutations in the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor gene (CSF1R), which is critical to development and survival of microglia. Mutations in this gene lead to microglial dysfunction and reduced numbers of these key brain immune cells. In earlier work, Peng and his team developed mouse models of ALSP which exhibit hallmark features of the disease including reduced numbers of microglia, myelin abnormalities, axonal swelling and motor impairments, and cognitive decline. To test whether microglial replacement could alter disease progression in mice with ALSP, the investigators tested two approaches: traditional BMT and microglia replacement by BMT (Mr BMT), a protocol that combines pharmacological depletion of microglia with traditional BMT. Both approaches effectively replaced mutant microglia with wild-type counterparts and successfully reversed myelin defects, axonal swellings, and motor and cognitive impairments in the animals. To translate this to the clinic, they performed traditional BMT in eight patients with ALSP. Although traditional BMT alone typically does not achieve efficient Mr in healthy brains, the inherent CSF1R deficiency in patients with ALSP creates a 'competitive disadvantage' for the recipient's resident microglia, allowing traditional BMT to achieve effective replacement, the researchers explained in their paper. In the 2 years following Mr, MRI and clinical evaluations indicated 'halted disease progression, preserved motor function, and stabilized cognitive abilities,' the team reported. By contrast, untreated patients with ALSP exhibited rapid worsening of brain pathology over a shorter time frame. The findings in these eight patients also provide a 'mechanistic explanation' for a prior clinical case in which an individual with ALSP, initially misdiagnosed with adult-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy, exhibited long-term stabilization after traditional BMT. 'While the path forward is active with the ongoing trial, traditional BMT becoming a widely accessible 'clinic-ready' standard treatment for ALSP is still estimated to be several years away, contingent upon successful trial outcomes, long-term safety data, and subsequent regulatory approvals,' Peng told Medscape Medical News . Beyond ALSP Peng also said Mr 'holds significant theoretical promise' for treating other neurological diseases involving microglial dysfunction, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). 'Genome-wide association studies have identified TREM2 as one of the major risk genes in sporadic AD. TREM2 mutation may cause or accelerate the progression of AD. In a 2020 paper in Cell Reports , we proposed that we can replace the TREM2 -mutated microglia with TREM2 -normal cells to treat this disease,' Peng added. In a Science perspective , Siling Du, PhD, and Jonathan Kipnis, PhD, with the Brain Immunology and Glia Center, Washington University in St Louis congratulated Peng and colleagues for demonstrating in humans that 'correcting a microglial gene defect through cell replacement can arrest disease progression.' Du and Kipnis agreed that the potential implications of this research extend beyond ALSP. For example, a recent study demonstrated that microglial replacement can also rescue pathology in a mouse model of Krabbe disease, a monogenic neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding galactosylceramidase. In addition, traditional BMT has also been shown to arrest disease progression in a mouse model of Rett syndrome — a severe neurodevelopmental condition caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2. 'Together, these findings highlight the therapeutic potential of microglial replacement in modifying the course of monogenic neurological diseases,' Du and Kipnis said. Looking ahead, they said it will be important to establish the optimal donor cell source to achieve 'scalable, safe, and durable microglial replacement.' 'It is also not yet clear whether the systemic toxicity caused by pretransplant conditioning can be minimized without compromising engraftment. Future strategies must strike a balance between replacement efficiency, systemic toxicity, and the functional competence of engrafted cells,' they wrote. 'Moving forward, it may ultimately become possible to reprogram the brain's immune landscape from within and find the best microglial replacement approach not only for microgliopathies but for a spectrum of neurological diseases,' Du and Kipnis concluded.
The Star
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Agape ATP forms strategic partnerships
PETALING JAYA: Nasdaq-listed Agape ATP Corp (ATPC), via its subsidiary ATPC Green Energy Sdn Bhd, has signed a strategic partnership with Global Strategic Solutions LLC (GSS) and BM Trading Services Co Ltd (BMT) to expand into large-scale energy and infrastructure projects in key emerging markets. GSS is a US-based advisory firm specialising in digitalisation, infrastructure, and government engagement, while BMT is a Vietnam-based company focused on cross-border trade and strategic partnerships in sectors such as energy and infrastructure across South-East Asia. Under the agreement, ATPC will provide EPC services, technical advisory, and access to clean energy and petroleum infrastructure, while GSS will oversee project sourcing and due diligence.
New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Nasdaq-listed ATPC forms regional alliance for energy, infrastructure projects
KUALA LUMPUR: Nasdaq-listed Agape ATP Corp (ATPC), through its unit ATPC Green Energy Sdn Bhd, has teamed up with Global Strategic Solutions LLC (GSS) and Vietnam-based BM Trading Services Company Ltd (BMT) to pursue major energy and infrastructure initiatives. The collaboration marks a significant step in ATPC's expansion into large-scale energy and infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. The trilateral alliance is set to advance initiatives in petroleum trade, energy transition, and infrastructure development in emerging markets by leveraging the partners' combined technical, operational, and strategic expertise. Its founder and global group chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Dr How Kok Choong, said the partnership represents a strong synergy to address complex challenges in the sector. "By combining our technical, operational, and strategic strengths, we are well-positioned to deliver transformative projects that improve lives and drive economic growth while accelerating the adoption of sustainable solutions in emerging markets," he said in a statement. The US-based firm GSS said the initiative opens exciting opportunities to implement energy and infrastructure solutions that address pressing needs in underserved markets, particularly through its expertise in digitisation, infrastructure, and government engagement. BMT, with a solid presence across Southeast Asia, is focused on enabling cross-border trade and aligning strategic business initiatives, bridging Vietnamese business opportunities with international markets. The partnership agreement includes an initial three-year exclusivity clause, which will automatically renew for successive one-year periods, covering projects within the agreed regions. Under the agreement, ATPC will offer engineering, procurement, and construction services, along with technical advisory, particularly in clean energy and petroleum trading infrastructure. GSS will lead project identification, due diligence, and investor engagement across multi-jurisdictional efforts. BMT will serve as the on-ground commercial facilitator, overseeing deal structuring, regulatory navigation, and project execution in sectors such as diesel, digitalisation, hydrogen, and logistics.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Traffic diversions in Hyderabad for fish prasadam event from June 7 to 9
The Hyderabad Traffic Police have issued an advisory detailing diversions and parking arrangements around the Exhibition Grounds, Nampally in view of the annual Fish Prasadam distribution organised by the Bathini Mrigasira Trust (BMT) scheduled to begin on June 7 and continue till June 9. As per the advisory, congestion is expected in areas surrounding the venue, and commuters are advised to avoid several key junctions during this period. Motorists are urged to steer clear of the route from SA Bazar Mosque to Gandhi Bhavan via MJ Market Junction, as well as roads from Putli Bowli and Alaska Junction towards Malakunta. Heavy vehicles from these directions will be diverted to alternative routes including the Nampally Station Road, BJR Circle, and SA Bazar Mosque route. Public transport users heading to the event are advised to alight at Gandhi Bhavan or Gruha Kalpa bus stops, depending on their point of entry and walk to Gate No. 2 of the Exhibition Grounds. Special parking zones have been arranged to manage the influx of visitors. Those arriving in four-wheelers from the Nampally side should use parking facilities at Gruha Kalpa, Gagan Vihar, or Chandra Vihar. VIP pass holders from the M.J. Market side must enter via Ajanta Gate and proceed to the designated VIP area. Two-wheelers from M.J. Market should park near Manoranjan Complex, while those from Nampally are advised to use the stretch between Gruha Kalpa and the BJP Office. Auto-rickshaw passengers can be dropped off near Shezan Hotel, Bhavani Wines, the Juvenile Court, or the Excise Office, with auto parking permitted along the roadside in these areas. In addition to this, general traffic from M.J. Bridge and Begum Bazaar Chatri towards Nampally will be diverted at Alaska Junction towards Darussalam and Ek Minar. Authorities have urged the public to cooperate and use alternative routes to minimise delays. For real-time updates, commuters can follow Hyderabad Traffic Police on Facebook (@HYDTP) and Twitter (@HYDP). In case of travel-related emergencies, assistance is available via the traffic helpline on 9010203626.
