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Melissa Menghini

Scientists grow teeth using stem cells from urine: study  - NY Daily News - 0 views

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    Chinese researches have discovered an ability to transform the cells found in urine into stem cells. Driving these scientists was the remarkable ability that stem cells possess: the ability to transform into other cells. These scientists actually transformed the cells from urine into stem cells, and used those stem cells to create human teeth in mice jawbones. This experiment did suffer several flaws, however. These teeth-like structures did contain a number of components that real teeth are composed of: enamel, dentin, and pulp. Even so, these teeth were only one-third as hard as human teeth. Additionally, this experiment resulted in 70% of the mice absent of teeth-like structures. Despite the flaws through the experiment, this discovery comes close to the regrowth of human features and gives hope to a possible future of regenerated human teeth. Better methods of obtaining cells with the ability to become stem cells exist, further giving the world of science hope in human body repair and regrowth. 
Melissa Menghini

Scientists Use Stem Cells to Grow Mouse Inner Ears - 0 views

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    Recent stem cell research has enabled scientists to develop mice inner ears. This new discovery has high hopes to lead to future hearing restoration for humans, and reasoning on hear loss. This astonishing breakthrough is the result of the transformation of embryonic stem cells from mice into sensory epithelia. These epithelia contain hair cells, fragile cells that allow organisms to hear. This discovery is even more shocking through the impossibility for hair cells to grow once they have been destroyed. This exciting accomplishment allows for researchers to study hair cells, and their connection to hearing.
Melissa Menghini

Retina stem cell transplants restore sight to blind mice: study - NY Daily News - 0 views

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    British scientists have recently restored sight to blind mice by the use of stem cells from mice embryos. These stem cells were put into a lab dish; there, they separated into immature photo-receptors. These were then injected into the mice's retinas, and actually brought sight back into some of the blind. This successful experiment makes scientists hopeful that they can restore sight to blind humans in the future. Although these cells can become very beneficial, they can also turn cancerous. New scientific advancements have bettered the stem cell procedure, but problems with the process are still arising. 
Melissa Menghini

Finger Regeneration: Stem Cells In Fingernails May Be Key To Regrowing Limbs, Scientist... - 0 views

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    A groundbreaking discovery in the mice ability to regenerate the tips of their digits leaves scientists hopeful for human regeneration in the future. Researches have found that as long as enough of the nail remains, any amputated digit tip has the capability to regrow. This process can be performed because of the colony of stem cells present under the nail base; however, this process can only proceed if enough of the nail epithelium remains on the amputated digit. The process that occurs after amputation starts with the activation of the Wnt pathway in the epithelium located underneath the remaining nail. After the nerves are attracted to the area, FGF2 (protein) directs the nerves into growing mesenchymal cells, cells used for regrowth. However, if too much of the digit is amputated, too much epithelium is lost, the Wnt pathway is never activated, and there is no regeneration. On another note, humans and mice are somewhat related to amphibians in their regeneration abilities; this further gives scientists hope for human regeneration in the future. The opposing side argues why humans differ from salamanders, and points out the flaws in this scientific discovery. 
Nicholas Scholz

Alzheimer's - Alzheimer's Association - 0 views

  • Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.
  • Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
  • Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's
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  • Those with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable
  • However, serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work may be a sign that brain cells are failing.
  • Each nerve cell connects with many others to form communication networks
  • Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen
  • Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd) that build up in the spaces between nerve cells.
  • Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau (rhymes with “wow”) that build up inside cells.
  • It's the destruction and death of nerve cells that causes memory failure, personality changes, problems carrying out daily activities and other symptoms of Alzheimer'
  • Ninety percent of what we know about Alzheimer's has been discovered in the last 15 years
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    Alzheimer's is actually a common form of dementia. Roughly 50-80 percent of patients with dementia are associated with Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is considered a neurological disorder with loss of memory, thinking and behavioral function. Alzheimer's is common diagnosed in patients 65 and older with the exception of patients with Early-Onset Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's progressively worsens over time and commonly culminates in death 8 years after symptoms start to arrive. Again no cure has been found for alzheimer's, but certain medications are used to treat symptoms. A build-up of plaques and tangles in the brain is suspected to kill nerve cells and cause a loss of brain function. The loss of nerve cells causes gaps in the communication network and eventually causes a loss of function in those areas of the brain. Although scientists do not know their exact role in Alzheimer's, patients have been associated with an abundant amount of these abnormal structures.
Elizabeth Bundschuh

Types of Cancer Immunotherapy | What Is Immunotherapy - 0 views

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    Immunotherapy can be used to treat cancer by activating the body's immune system. One way to do this is by using Monoclonal Antibodies which stimulate a variety of immune responses that lead to tumor-cells death. Another type of immunotherapy is deactivating Checkpoint Inhibitors. These checkpoints help to make sure the immune system does not attack healthy cells; deactivating these checkpoints on cancer cells it allows the immune system to attack and has been effective in clinical trials. The third type of immunotherapy is Cytokines, which stimulates a broad immune response against a specific tumor antigen. The last type of immunotherapy is therapeutic cancer vaccines which stimulate the immune system to fight against a tumor's antigens. This is a durable response that tries to activate the immune system to fight the tumor cells. There are many ways immunotherapy can be used to help fight cancer.
sami99

A Squirt of Stem Cell Gel Heals Brain Injuries | Popular Science - 0 views

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    Dr. Zhang's has created a liquid gel to insert into damaged parts of the brain from traumatic brain injuries. There has been little success on humans, but testing has been done on rats and there has been very positive results. On humans there has also been other techniques such as inserting donor cells into the damaged area but the cells end up dying off. Human success in the experiment is estimated to take up to 3 years. 
Melissa Menghini

Return of the mammoth? Dolly scientist says beast should be cloned | Fox News - 0 views

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    After the successful cloning of Dolly the sheep, scientists are hopeful to clone/bring back the mammoth from extinction. Notably well preserved blood in a recent finding of mammoth remains could lead to mammoth stem cells. With these stem cells and the use of elephant eggs to grow an embryo, a baby mammoth could be born. The stem cells could also form gametes, which, if from a female, could lead to both breeding and cloning mammoths. The method of cloning could be fairly similar to the process used to create Dolly the sheep. Although bringing back the mammoth would be beneficial for science, a debate exists arguing the issues. 
Melissa Menghini

Fact-Checking a Frozen Mammoth: Scientific American - 0 views

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    Although cloning a mammoth would be fascinating, it is not needed nor is it necessarily possible. Scientists have hopes to clone a mammoth because of the recent frozen mammoth find in Russia. This mammoth appears to have blood that does not freeze, increasing hopes to find live cells. However, some researchers argue that finding a living cell in the body of the mammoth is not possible. They say that at most, they will find a cell with DNA that is intact enough to use to clone the creature. However, ancient DNA is almost always fragmented, and would therefore, not be able to be used in the cloning process. Doubts also circulate around the idea that the mammoth's blood was able to withstand -17 degrees Celsius without freezing. The sample found may have been under special conditions to allow the blood to remain unfrozen. With the trouble it would take to clone a mammoth, it is not worth it. Scientists can learn more about mammoths through the fossil record rather than from a cloned animal. 
Elizabeth Bundschuh

Washington University, St. Jude team to unravel genetic basis of childhood cancers | Ne... - 0 views

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    Washington University School of Medicine and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital have teamed up to identify genetic mutations that cause pediatric cancer. There are over 600 patient's genes being analyzed. The tumor cells are compared to the patients healthy cells and the differences are recorded. The program is trying to identify a mutation that causes a healthy cell to turn into a cancerous one. This in turn can help scientists develop new treatments to help young cancer patients.
Elizabeth Bundschuh

Introduction to Cancer Immunotherapy - 0 views

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    There is no "magic bullet" in the fight against cancer, but one step towards curing cancer is Immunotherapy. The generally accepted hypothesis is that the immune system is the best tool humans have for fighting disease. Immunotherapy is thought to be less toxic than current treatments, however it is rarely used by itself to treat cancer. There are limitations to the effectiveness of Immunotherapy; the normal immune system cannot sense tumor cells, the response from the immune system is not strong enough when the body does recognize tumor cells, and tumors can defend themselves. There are three types of Immunotherapy Passive, components of the immune system are engineered outside of the body to attack cancer cells; Active, stimulates the body's own immune system to fight cancer; and Combination, uses both passive and active activity. Passive Immunotherapy's use antibodies created outside of the body to provide immunity or help fight off a disease. One type of passive immunotherapy is Monoclonal antibody therapy (mAb), the most widely used form of immunotherapy. Active Immunotherapy work by stimulating the immune system to 'actively' respond to the disease. One type of active immunotherapy is Provenge, a therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine. Therapeutic cancer vaccines are given to patients with cancer to help stimulate the immune system to fight the cancer. Combination Therapy is still in clinical studies but is thought to have a greater potential than active or passive immunotherapy because it combines the activity of both therapies. Immunotherapy may not be the magic bullet to fighting cancer, but when used early and with other treatments it has proven effective.
Nicholas Scholz

Types of Brain Tumors and Their Origins - 0 views

  • Primary brain tumors originate in the brain itself or in tissues close to it
    • Nicholas Scholz
       
      The Mayo website contains a vast amount of information regarding brain tumors
  • Primary brain tumors begin when normal cells acquire errors (mutations) in their DNA
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  • Secondary (metastatic) brain tumors are tumors that result from cancer that starts elsewhere in your body and then spreads (metastasizes) to your brain
  • Secondary brain tumors most often occur in people who have a history of cancer
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    This article goes on to explain two different types of tumors and then states how they start to spread. One of the types of tumors is the primary brain tumor which originates in the brain itself. This type of tumor begins as normal cells mutate their DNA and grow rapidly across the brain. The other type of brain tumor is the Secondary or Metastatic brain tumor. This type of tumor is generally caused by a metastasis of cancerous cells from other organs of the body. Most often this type of tumor originates in areas such as the breast and the colon. Of these two types of brain tumors the metastatic seems to be much more common than the primary tumors.
Nicholas Scholz

Treatments and Medications Used for Patients with MS - 0 views

  • Corticosteroids are mainly used to reduce the inflammation that spikes during a relapse
  • Beta interferons. These types of drugs — such as Avonex, Betaseron, Extavia and Rebif — appear to slow the progress of multiple sclerosis, reduce the number of attacks and lessen the severity of attacks
  • (Copaxone). This medication may reduce the number of MS attacks
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  • (Tysabri). This medication may reduce the number of MS attacks by interfering with the movement of potentially damaging immune cells from your bloodstream to your brain and spinal cord.
  • Teriflunomide (Aubagio). This oral medication reduces attacks and lesions in people with MS.
  • Medications such as amantadine may help reduce fatigue due to multiple sclerosis.
  • Dalfampridine (Ampyra). This oral medication may improve walking speed in some people. The major side effect is seizures.
  • Muscle relaxants. If you have multiple sclerosis, you may experience painful or uncontrollable muscle stiffness or spasms, particularly in your legs. Muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Lioresal) and tizanidine (Zanaflex) may improve muscle spasticity
  • A physical or occupational therapist can teach you stretching and strengthening exercises and show you how to use devices that can make it easier to perform daily tasks.
  • For example, stem cell transplantation is being studied. In a stem cell transplant, doctors inject healthy stem cells into your body to replace diseased stem cells.
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    Though MS obviously has no cure there are plenty of procedures and medications that can be used to lessen the effects of the disease. Treating specific attacks reduces the damage to the myelin sheath. Two methods for controlling the attacks are plasma exchanges and corticosteroids. Another way to control the effects of MS is by slowing the progression of the disease. There are many different drugs that slow the rate of relapses some of which include Beta Interferons, Copaxone, Gilenya, and Tysabri. In addition to these medications, other strategies can be used to treat the symptoms, which include physical therapy and muscle relaxants. 
Nicholas Scholz

Predicting the Spread of Brain Tumors Using Modern Day Biotechnology - 0 views

  • ISOpure uses a set of tumor expression profiles and a panel of healthy tissue expression profiles to generate a purified cancer profile for each tumor sample, and an estimate of the proportion of RNA originating from cancerous cells
  • samples pre-selected to have a high cancerous cell content using pathological estimates [20-23], thereby introducing variability into expression profiles that cannot be removed by current computational pre-processing methods
  • he challenge of computational purification is to decompose each tumor profile tn (a vector of length G) into its component cancer profile (the vector cn), and normal profile
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  • Computational purification of tumor expression profiles by ISOpure improves the accuracy of subsequent prognostic models for lung and prostate cancer by reducing inter-sample variation in the amount and type of gene expression signal in the tumor profile that is due to normal tissue contamination.
  • Our analysis demonstrated approximately 10% improvement in prediction of EPE when using ISOpure cancer profiles compared with the unpurified profiles.
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    Using the ISOpure computational purification tool, scientists and medical professionals can develop a prognosis and treatment plan for a certain cancer patients at a much quicker rate. The tool used in this process can help identify the cancerous tissue located in the organs and provide medical professionals further notice of the proportion of RNA originating from cancer cells allowing them to develop treatment plans ahead of time. ISOpure uses an algorithm which determines the proportion of RNA in the organ(s). The real challenges of developing these treatments is of course extracting a portion of tissue with both a normal profile and a cancer profile to predict the spread of the disease. After this portion of tissue has been extracted the ISOpure modeling can process the data using simple MATLAB software. The success of this computational tool is noted to improve the prediction of extra-prostatic-extension (EPE) by 10% in cancer profiles compared to the unpurified models. 
Nicholas Scholz

Severe Complications Related to Cancerous Brain Tissue - 0 views

  • About two-thirds of patients with brain metastases will have symptoms that can range from headache to vision problems to confusion
  • These metastases can lead to spinal cord compression, which in the most severe cases can cause permanent paralysis and/or incontinenc
  • Plexopathies cause pain and occur when cancer spreads to the plexus, a network of interweaving nerves, blood
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  • essels, or lymph vessel
  • h vessel
  • Cancer can also spread to the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord, called the leptomeningeal tissues
  • There is a strong correlation between deep vein thrombosis and cancer: patients who present with deep vein thrombosis are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer
  • Paraneoplastic disorders are a group of conditions related only because they result from biological side effects of cancer
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    This essay explains the types of complications related to neurological conditions and how they effect the body. The first complication is of course related to the origination of brain tumors themselves. Brain metastases is caused by the spread of cancerous cells to brain from other areas of the body. Symptoms could include that of headaches to vision problems. The next topic of discussion is the Epidural Spinal Cord Compression. This is another type of metastases which can lead to spinal cord compression and possible paralysis. Common issues associated with this type of metastases include breast, prostate, or lung cancer. Additionally, Plexopathies are caused by the spread of cancer to the plexus. This type of complication causes serious pain and has the ability to migrate towards other areas of the plexus. Leptomeningeal Metastases is caused by the spread of cells to the tissues which cover the brain and spinal cord and could effect cognitive skills. Another complication is a vascular disorder. Vascular disorders and cancer are believed to correlate with a deep vein thrombosis. Finally, paraneoplastic disorder is a complication that is caused by a group of conditions which create biological side effects. These side effects include release of substances into the blood stream and inappropriate immune system responses.
Elizabeth Bundschuh

Medical advances hold promise for less-destructive cancer treatment by way of genetic m... - 0 views

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    If a mutation occurs in a person's genes it can cause cancer. The future of cancer therapy is identifying and targeting these mutations. A trial at the University of Florida, known as NSCABP-FC-7 takes the genetic fingerprint of a patients DNA and gives them a personalized treatment based on the information. The idea is to move away from the traditional cytotoxic treatment, and towards less toxic personalized medicine. However, the toxicity of cancer drugs is decreasing due to technology's increasing ability to target and destroy specific cells, and not healthy cells. Washington University St. Louis as well as other institutions have become part of the study. Overall, the future of cancer treatment lies in targeted therapies and personalized medicine.
Nicholas Scholz

Parkinsons DIsease - NIH - 0 views

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells
  • symptoms of PD are tremor, or trembling in hands
  • bradykinesia, or slowness of movemen
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  • As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks
  • difficulty in swallowing
  • At present, there is no cure for PD
  • and progressive
  • A therapy called deep brain stimulation (DBS) has now been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  • Usually, patients are given levodopa
  • movements called dyskinesias that are a common side effect of levodopa
  • PD is both chronic
  • In some cases, surgery may be appropriate if the disease doesn't respond to drugs
  • No one can predict which symptoms will affect an individual patient, and the intensity of the symptoms also varies from person to person.
  • PD research in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Scientists looking for the cause of PD
  • develop new protective drugs that can delay, prevent, or reverse the disease.
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    This article pertains to the neurological disorder, Parkinson's Disease (PD). PD is known to reduce motor system function due to the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Most symptoms related to PD include tremors, trembling, and slowness of movement (bradykinesia). As the disease progresses these tremors begin to effect daily activities like chewing and speaking. Unfortunately there is no cure for Parkinson's Disease. The most common treatment for PD is the use of medications such as levodopa. Due to complications with current medications other treatments like deep brain stimulation and surgery are commonly used. Parkinson's Disease is both chronic and progressive. Tremors and other symptoms will occur for long periods of time and possibly grow worse. Patients with PD experience varying symptoms and intensities. Current research being done in response to Parkinson's is being conducted at the National Institute of Health (NIH) and elsewhere. Current topics of research include discovering the cause of PD, and the development of protective drugs needed to delay, prevent, and even reverse the disease.
Nicholas Scholz

How do Medical Professionals Diagnose Brain Tumors? - 0 views

  • The neurological exam includes checking vision, hearing, strength, sensation, balance, coordination, reflexes and ability to think and remember
  • An angiogram is a type of X-ray of the head that shows the brain’s arteries and veins
  • To show abnormalities like a brain tumor, a contrast dye is often used
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  • CT scans are a type of X-ray that creates a three-dimensional picture of the head by scanning the head from multiple different angles
  • CT scans can be helpful in diagnosing some types of brain tumors, especially those near or involving bone
  • DTIs measure the flow of water through the white matter tracts of the brain. This provides a snapshot of the brain's structure and can be used to compare changes over time.
  • This scan allows the surgeon and treating team to visualize the circuitry (or wiring) of the brain to guide the surgery
  • FMRI is used to determine the specific location of the brain where a certain function, such as speech or motor function, occurs
  • Patients can undergo functional MRIs (fMRI) to help delineate a roadmap of important structures (such as areas that control the arms, legs, or speech) prior to surgery
  • . These scans use magnetic fields and radio waves, rather than X-rays, and computers to create detailed pictures of the brain.
  • MRS is similar to MRI, except that it measures the function of the brain rather than its structure
  • A PET scan detects changes in cells as they grow
  • A biopsy is a surgical procedure to remove a small sample of the tumor for examination under a microscope
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    This article provides information regarding the diagnosis of brain tumors. The first step in diagnosing brain tumors is a neurological exam. This type of exam is used to check vision, hearing, strength, sensation, and other cognitive skills. If deemed necessary other exams can be performed to determine characteristics of the tumors. The first is an angiogram, which is a type of x-ray for the head which examines arteries and veins. The second type is a brain scan, which shows abnormalities using a contrast dye. Another type of scan is the CT scan which creates a 3 dimensional image of the brain which can be useful in diagnosing brain tumors especially near bones. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a type of scan which measures the flow of water through white matter of the brain. This method provides a snapshot of brains structure and can be very useful during surgical procedures allowing physicians a guide to the rest of the brain. An fMRI is used to determine specific locations related to specific functions. This type of diagnostic tool helps create a guide to specific functions of the brain which is used to better prepare for surgery. The common MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create pictures of the brain. A similar MRS measures the function of the brain rather than its structure. Additionally, PET scans detect changes in the cells using an injection of radioactive glucose. Finally, the most effective way to diagnose a patient is by using a biopsy. A biopsy is a surgical procedure which a profile of tissue is collected and examined under a microscope. Most biopsy's are done using surgery, although there are a couple of different types of needle biopsy's.
Elizabeth Bundschuh

Proton Therapy: The Cancer Treatment of the Future - 0 views

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    Proton therapy in a painless, noninvasive type of radiation to treat malignant tumors. It has been used successfully in against a variety of tumors and has fewer side affects then conventional photon therapy. Both Photon and Proton therapies work in the same ways by destroying cancer cells and preventing them from dividing. Proton therapy penetrates less healthy tissue than photon therapy. That means that proton therapy has fewer side effects and a faster recovery. Proton therapy needs time to grow. Costs for therapy rooms are falling, but many insurances do not cover proton therapy and many medical professionals need to be educated about and trained to use proton therapy. Overall proton therapy is a quickly becoming a more efficient, better way to treat cancer.
Elizabeth Bundschuh

Do we know what causes childhood leukemia? - 0 views

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    The cause of most cases of pediatric leukemia is not known, as most sufferers do not display any risk factors for the disease. However scientists have begun to understand how certain changes in DNA can cause leukemia. Cancer can be caused by mutation oncogenes, the genes that control when cells divide. A translocation between chromosomes 2 and 22 causes almost all cases of childhood chronic myeloid leukemia and childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. Other genetic mutations can be inherited, however most of the mutations that cause leukemia develop after birth. Environmental factors, when combined with a genetic predisposition for leukemia, may trigger the disease. However the cause of most pediatric leukemia remains unknown.
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