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What are NFTs and Where is this Heading?

June 16, 2021 By

NFT’s – Non-fungible tokens are popping up everywhere in the news these days, with high-profile companies, artists, and sports figures hopping on the newest marketplace bandwagon. Some NFTs are worth millions, and new ways to trade NFTs are popping up every day.

What exactly are NFTs?

In economics, a fungible is a good or commodity that is replaceable. Oil and gold are fungible commodities, in that someone can sell their gold or oil and purchase an exact replacement that has the identical value and properties of the oil or gold they just sold. A bitcoin is also fungible – trade one bitcoin for another, and you will have basically the same thing. A non-fungible, then, is a unique commodity that cannot be replaced with something else.

NFTs are cryptocurrency, a type of currency used to buy goods and services. Unlike paper money printed by governments, cryptocurrency is digital asset, so it is not something you can store in your wallet or pocket. Cryptocurrencies like NFTs work using blockchain, a public ledger system that creates an unchangeable digital record of transactions; the information is decentralized, stored across many computers.

NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets, such as drawings, music, video clips and jpegs, represented by a unique code recorded on the blockchain. NFTs can be bought and sold like a physical asset; the blockchain tracks the ownership of the NFT and the validity of the purchase. The buyer of the NFT gets a token that proves that they own the original work.

Even tweets can be bought and sold as NFTs; in March of 2021, the founder of Twitter sold his first tweet, published in 2006, for just under $3 million. A buyer purchased Nyan Cat, a 2011 an animated Gif of a flying pop-tart cat, for more than $500,000. Elon Musk’s musician girlfriend, who performs under the stage name Grimes, sold some of her digital artwork for more than $6 million.

Even major auction houses are getting in on the action. Christie’s recently held its first digital-only auction, which netted a cool $69 million for the artist who goes by the name of Beeple. As of mid-April 2021, Beeple is the highest selling NFT in history.

History of NFTs

Colored Coins are arguably the first NFTs, appearing in 2012 – 2013. Made of small denominations of a bitcoin, Colored Coins could represent property, coupons, shares of a company, subscriptions, access tokens, and digital collectibles. The system was flawed in that the coins could only represent an asset as long as everyone agreed on what the coins represented. If just one participant decided that they no longer equated a Colored Coin with a coupon, for example, the whole system collapsed. Colored Coins did open the door to putting real-world assets into blockchain ledgers, however, which laid the groundwork for NFTs.

Colored Coins also revealed the possibility of issuing assets onto blockchains. The big problem was that the then-current iteration of Bitcoin did not have the ability to issue assets – it was still just a digital money system, somewhat like internet cash. In 2014, big thinkers at Counterparty built a financial platform on top of Bitcoin; this platform allowed participants to create assets, such as a trading card game and meme trading. Counterparty even had a crypto token with the stock ticker symbol XCP.

Force of Will, a large mainstream company that had no prior experience with blockchain or cryptocurrency, launched their popular trading cards on Counterparty. This move brought NFTs out of the shadows and into the marketplace spotlight.

People began moving their memes to Counterparty. In 2016, people began to issue “rare pepes,” which are memes that feature a specific frog character. In addition to being on Bitcoin blockchain, the Rare Pepe Meme Directory certifies the rareness of the rare pepe meme.

Bitcoin now has a number of competitors offering blockchain, and many people now trade assets on those competing blockchains. People began issuing their rare pepes on one such competitor, known as Ethereum. In 2017, Ethereum introduced Peperium as a decentralized meme marketplace and trading card game (TCG). Their associated token, bearing the ticker symbol of RARE, could be used for meme creation and to pay listing fees.

Today’s NFT Marketplaces

New NFT marketplaces are popping up every day, and these marketplaces offer artists new ways to monetize their work. Even famed Super Bowl quarterback Tom Brady is launching an NFT, known as Autograph, in the fall of 2021. It will create digital collectibles featuring some of the biggest names in sports, fashion pop culture, and entertainment.

Nifter is a music NFT that, when launched, will allow users to create, sell, and find original music and even unique sounds. Artists can use the Nifter creation tool to mint a token for their music, and sell their NFTs on the Nifter marketplace at a fixed price or in an auction-style sale.

The first step in getting started with NFTs is to set up an Ethereum Wallet, which is a digital account that stores the cryptocurrency used to buy, sell, and trade NFTs. Next, purchase a small amount of Ethereum cryptocurrency to store in the wallet. Finally, connect the wallet to an NFT marketplace, such as Rarible, Zora, and SuperRare.

Will you make millions of dollars with NFTs? Maybe, maybe not – it depends largely on who you are (big names usually attract big money) and the digital goods you are trading. After all, the person who created an animated Gif of a flying pop-tart cat made half a million dollars. The only certainty is that NFTs are forever changing how we purchase digital art.

ABOUT FRANK MAGLIOCHETTI

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Frank is also CEO of ClickStream, ClickStream’s business operations are focused on the development and implementation of WinQuik™, a free to play synchronized mobile app and digital gaming platform. The platform is designed to enable WinQuik™ users to have fun, interact and compete against each other in order to win real money and prizes. Twitter at @ClickstreamC  @WinQuikApp Nifter a music NFT marketplace that allows artists to create, sell and discover unique music and sound NFTs on the Nifter™ marketplace, and their foreign language exchange learning app  @HeyPalApp.

Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is frankmagliochetti_FrankMagliochettiNews.jpg
Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56492358

https://foundation.app/NyanCat/nyan-cat-219

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56252738

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56362174

https://counterparty.io/

http://www.fowtcg.com/

https://miro.medium.com/max/250/0*6uiJJUETr3dE15W2

http://rarepepedirectory.com/

https://ethereum.org/en/

ttps://nifter.io/

https://rarible.com/

https://zora.co/

https://superrare.co/

Filed Under: App Development, Blockchain, ClickStream, Featured, Media, Music NFT's, News, NFT, Nifter, Software Development Tagged With: , , , , , ,

What is The Potential Future of NFT’s?

May 18, 2021 By

NFTs have had a meteoric (and somewhat crazy) rise in popularity since they first appeared in 2014. While they are smoking hot right now, many wonder if NFTs will continue to sizzle or if they will eventually fizzle.

An NFT is a digital object, which is a bit computer code and data that conveys ownership of something online or real. NFT can convey ownership of an online video or graphic, for example, or a painting, seat at a concert, or actual real estate. In fact, a San Francisco entrepreneur is attempting to auction off apartment leases as NFTs. NFTs can also be hybrid of the two – NFTs might represent the sale of physical concert tickets and the download of the artist’s album, for instance.

NFTs have become an increasingly popular way to buy and sell digital artwork. The artist Grimes recently sold nearly $6 million in digital art – in less than 20 minutes. The YouTube video, Charlie Bit My Finger, sold for $760,999. Even established names in the art world are getting in on the action. Christie’s recently auctioned a work by digital artist Mike Winkelmann, also known as Beeple, for more than $69.3 million.

NFTs have become part of the crazy financial world that now includes cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. In May, people were buying and selling an estimated 85,787 NFTs day, according to application tracking firm DappRadar, which works out to a total value of $5.8 million each day.

While they are currently lucrative and immensely popular, will NFTs last?

There are some drawbacks to dealing in NFTs, of course, as there are in any transactions. The amount of money involved may inspire some to risk too much money, for example, and NFT sales have slipped recently. In fact, some claim that the “NFT bubble” has burst – but that probably will not stop NFTs from following in the footsteps of other forms of currency and cryptocurrency by becoming mainstream and more stable.

NFTs will Likely Survive (and Thrive!) in the Long Run

Once all of the shiny newness wears off and NFTs become boring, non-fungible tokens could become something far more useful and far more widely used as practical business solutions. The blockchain technology that maintains the digital records does not need a centralized system to run, for example, so transactions can potentially happen much faster and easier. The blockchain also maintains a permanent record of all transactions connected to the NFT and the property it represents. Finally, NFTs can contain coded elements, known as smart contracts, which can automatically take action in certain circumstances to implement an automated and self-enforcing set of rules that cannot be skipped or ignored.

NFT technology also has a certain democratizing nature that will serve it well in the future. Anyone can log on and purchase items, without the restrictions to access that historically prevented some from buying the goods and services they desire. This is a departure from the past for many, especially for those in the art world, in which anonymous investors would receive invitations to private auctions and would often tuck valuable art away for years, waiting for it to become more valuable.

Even more sustaining is the transparency of NFTs. The entire history of the item, including the date of its creation, the owner, past purchasers, and purchase price, becomes part of a publicly visible ledger. While the concept of recordkeeping certainly isn’t new – the first written records of property and livestock ownership are more than 5000 years old, after all – the blockchain technology that creates the transaction records is revolutionary.

Interest in cryptocurrency and the rise of art market speculation has sparked interest in NFTs, and the pandemic added fuel to the fire – locked inside during the shutdown, people found new ways to shop and purchase items. It also sparked greater interest in art, music, videos, graphics, and more. Consumers began looking for new experiences that could add meaning to their lives. We began valuing digital goods in much the same way as we have always valued physical goods.

NFTs will likely be around a while for two important reasons: the technology is interesting and useful, and people are making money. Combining useful, interesting technology with big profits is a recipe for success.

ABOUT FRANK MAGLIOCHETTI

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Frank is also CEO of ClickStream, ClickStream’s business operations are focused on the development and implementation of WinQuik™, a free to play synchronized mobile app and digital gaming platform. The platform is designed to enable WinQuik™ users to have fun, interact and compete against each other in order to win real money and prizes. Twitter at @ClickstreamC  @WinQuikApp, Nifter™, a music NFT marketplace that allows recording artists to create and sell limited edition authenticated NFTs, and their foreign language exchange learning app  @HeyPalApp.

Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is frankmagliochetti_FrankMagliochettiNews.jpg
Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

Sources

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/05-2021-SF-apartment-leases-nfts-crypto-auction-16147945.php

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/grimes-sold-nft-art-1948177

https://www.charliebitme.com/#/auction/39

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zengernews/2021/05/30/after-the-hype-the-future-for-nfts/?sh=1af5c6912146

https://dappradar.com/blog/what-crypto-crash-nft-trading-volume-tripled

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/agriculture-civilization/first-cities-appear/a/recordkeeping-and-history

Filed Under: App Development, Blockchain, ClickStream, Featured, Frank Magliochetti, Media, Music NFT's, News, NFT, Nifter Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Benefits and Advantages of Learning a New Language with an App

March 18, 2021 By

Benefits and Advantages of Learning a New Language with an App

Software applications, or apps, have changed how people do just about everything. We used to call a cab and use paper maps to go somewhere, for example, and now we simply tap the Uber and Google Maps icons on our phones. Apps provide a new way to learn how to cook, dance, invest, socialize, and even play a musical instrument. Apps have changed how we learn new languages too. These apps are successful because they offer benefits and advantages over other approaches to learning.

Advantages of Apps over Traditional Methods of Learning New Languages

Apps have advantages over traditional education tools when it comes to learning a new language. Prior to the digital age, for example, people could only learn languages if they had access to language resources, educators, and courses in their town. Apps allow people to learn a new language anywhere they could get an internet connection.

Choose any language or course

Most brick-and-mortar schools and colleges teach Spanish, German, French, English, and Arabic, but fewer institutes of learning offer Polish, Dutch, Japanese, Vietnamese or Malay. Apps allow you to learn nearly any language spoken on the planet.

Learn at any time

Unlike in-person courses that have a set day and time for classes, apps allow you to learn a new language at any time of day or night. Sticking to a schedule can put you at risk for attending classes when you are tired or stressed out. Using an app lets you study when you have the time and energy for optimal learning.

Go at your own pace

Falling behind the rest of the class is stressful and embarrassing. Perhaps the worst part is that, once you fall behind your classmates, it is difficult to catch up. Getting ahead of the class is also frustrating as you wait for them to catch up. Using an app allows you to learn at your own pace.

Apps offer a variety of ways to learn

Everyone learns a new language in their own way; some people learn by memorizing vocabulary while others absorb more by playing games. Apps provide a wide variety of education techniques to suit almost every learning style.

You can start speaking your new language right away

Many traditional language courses start with history and grammar, whereas language apps typically try to get you speaking the language as soon as possible. Nearly three-fourths of Babbel users say they feel capable of maintaining a small conversation in their new language after just 5 hours instruction on the app.

You can track your progress

Apps can help you track your vocabulary, the amount of time you spend studying, and other information about your learning. Many digital language programs also offer rewards systems to keep you moving forward.

You can learn what is relevant to you

In a traditional classroom environment, everyone learns the same information, whether it interests them or not. This means students have to learn words and grammar rules they may never use – those who just want to learn how to order dinner during their Roman holiday has to learn as much Italian as someone who intends to move there. Apps allow individuals to learn as much or as little of a language as they desire.

Benefits of Using an App to Learn a New Language

Apps are customizable

Doing coursework on your own schedule allows you to study when you are in the mood. The customizable features of apps also let you learn your way, and at your own pace.

Apps are fun

Many apps make a game out of learning, which takes the drudgery out of picking up a new language. Apps feature images, sound and video that are colorful, cheerful, and fast moving, so time goes by quickly.

Access to online tutors

Everyone needs a little help now and then, especially when it comes to learning a language. iTalki, Rype, Tandem, Preply, Verbling, Live Lingua, and other apps offer online tutors that help you speak the language correctly.

Apps really work

Perhaps the greatest benefit is that apps really work. In a recent study, 85 undergraduates used an app to learn Spanish. Oral proficiency, vocabulary and grammar tests showed the students had learned enough to communicate in Spanish after just 12 weeks.

While using an app is not for everyone, it is a great way for many people to learn a new language without having to sit in a classroom. Whether you prefer iPhone, Android or a different device, you can use an app to start speaking a new language today.

ABOUT FRANK MAGLIOCHETTI

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Frank is also CEO of ClickStream, ClickStream’s business operations are focused on the development and implementation of WinQuik™, a free to play synchronized mobile app and digital gaming platform. The platform is designed to enable WinQuik™ users to have fun, interact and compete against each other in order to win real money and prizes. Twitter at @ClickstreamC  @WinQuikApp and their foreign language exchange learning app  @HeyPalApp.

Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is frankmagliochetti_FrankMagliochettiNews.jpg
Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

Sources

https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/5-advantages-of-learning-a-new-language-with-an-app

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200609095027.htm

Filed Under: App Development, ClickStream, Featured, Frank Magliochetti, Language Learning App, Media, Mobile, News, Software Development Tagged With: , , ,

Online Trivia Apps Have Benefits!

February 2, 2021 By

Benefits of Online Trivia Apps

Online trivia apps and brain games are a lot of fun, but they can also be good for your mental health. In fact, there are not many downsides to playing trivia games – they are fun to play, give your brain a workout, offer an opportunity to interact with others, and even prompt you to continue learning. Virtual trivia games are even better, in that you can play them at your convenience rather than wait for game night.

What’s so great about trivia and brain games?

It’s just human nature – people love the thrill of knowing obscure information and having the opportunity to prove it. It turns out that there is a physiological reason for this – winning stimulates production of the “happy hormones,” dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, which make winning feel so good. Along with feelings of pleasure, dopamine is associated with learning, memory, and motor system function. Serotonin helps regulate mood, appetite, digestion, sleep, learning ability, and memory. Also known as “the love hormone,” oxytocin helps promote empathy, trust, and bonding in relationships.

Exercise for your noggin

Trivia also serve as a form of exercise for the brain. While the brain is not a muscle, it does get stronger with use and weaker from neglect like a muscle. Collecting, storing, and recalling information is like a trip to the gym for your noodle. In one study of older adults, those who learned quilting or digital photography had more memory improvement than did the participants who just socialized or engaged in activities that required less thinking. Billions of tiny nerve cells in the brain, known as neurons, have branches that connect the cells together to create a network. Communication between these neurons allows us to think and solve problems. Learning new things strengthens the brain by making the connections between brain cells stronger; exercising your brain can also make the tiny connections multiply, so the neurons can communicate even faster.

Social interaction

Perhaps the best part about trivia games is that they connect people to one another. Cleveland Clinic says that a strong social network can serve as sources of support; it can also reduce stress, help fight depression and enhance intellectual stimulation. Research from Harvard School of Public Health shows an active social life can delay memory loss in older adults. Trivia games create a great opportunity to get the social interaction you need.

What’s Better than Old-fashioned Trivia? Online Trivia!

Trivia apps take all the hassle out and put the fun back into brain games! Traditional trivia games involve proctors, participants, and game boards or paper. They also require scoring and record keeping that can slow down the fun and provide inaccurate results. Mobile apps, on the other hand, are fast, agile, and interesting, which keeps the game rolling.

The online platform allows users to enjoy trivia games without having to secure a live proctor or find other participants. Players can start a trivia game at any time of day or night, and can always find tough competitors to keep things interesting.

Keeping score on paper is tedious, and it can leave the door open for fuzzy interpretation of answers and inaccurate results. Online trivia software checks the results and displays the high scorers’ names. The program automatically checks for correct answers, catches missed questions, and maintains legacy score information, without the need for proctors or physical files. Online trivia allows for randomization, which keeps things interesting for players. Software often allows administrators to create question banks, and to randomize the questions and multiple-choice answers.

Social interaction without crowded rooms

Online trivia games create an opportunity for social interaction without all the inconveniences of socializing with others in person. Players can answer trivia questions from the comforts of their own home, at work, during their commute, or virtually anywhere. This has become particularly important during the pandemic, which has prevented large gatherings in indoor locations.

Creating virtual trivia is also good for nearly any organization, from schools to businesses to clubs. Putting quizzes online allows organizations to quiz large numbers of people all at once and give each participant the same experience, despite locations. The virtual platform also eliminates the costs of administering and scoring printed trivia games.

Online trivia apps are the newest generation in games and brain exercises. Whether it is a standing quiz night, a private event, a fundraiser, or just a great way to have fun while keeping your brain in shape, online trivia apps have it all.

FRANK MAGLIOCHETTI

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Frank is also CEO of ClickStream, ClickStream’s business operations are focused on the development and implementation of WinQuik™, a free to play synchronized mobile app and digital gaming platform. The platform is designed to enable WinQuik™ users to have fun, interact and compete against each other in order to win real money and prizes. Twitter at @ClickstreamC and @WinQuikApp.

Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is frankmagliochetti_FrankMagliochettiNews.jpg
Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

Sources

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-neurochemical-self/201402/the-primate-brain-likes-win-cant-always-have-it

https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-hormone

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4154531/

https://healthybrains.org/pillar-social

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/active-social-life-delay-memory-loss-us-elderly/

Filed Under: App Development, ClickStream, Featured, Frank Magliochetti, Gaming, News, Online Gaming, Social Interaction, Software Development, Trivia Apps Tagged With: , , , , ,

Fall is Upon Us: What Does this Mean for Covid-19?

September 17, 2020 By

Fall is Upon Us – What does this Mean for Covid-19 in the US and Abroad?

Officials had hoped that the number of coronavirus cases would decline over the summer; since case numbers did not drop, many health professionals are worried that case numbers will spike across the United States and in other nations. In fact, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that country could be facing “the worst fall, from a public health perspective, we’ve ever had.”

There were more than 22,526,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide as of August 20, 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University, and 5,567,955 of those cases were in the United States. With vaccine still months away, a number of factors could affect whether the number of cases will increase or decrease into autumn.

On August 13, 2020, the CDC predicted that the number of new cases could decrease into early September. The CDC used several models to make this prediction; many of the models base their assumptions on whether current interventions, such as social distancing, will continue into the fall. The CDC has not yet offered a prediction for the number of COVID-19 cases for autumn, but the federal agency does offer a reminder that the second and more deadly wave of the 1918 pandemic occurred in the fall.

Factors that could affect COVID-19 cases in the US and abroad

The rise or fall of COVID-19 cases in autumn will depend on a number of factors, including the onset of flu season, the use of social distancing and facemasks, the proportion of students returning to in-person classes rather than distance learning, the return to amateur, college and professional sports, and the development of a vaccine.

Unless cases drop dramatically in the next few weeks, the coronavirus outbreak will likely coincide with the flu season, which means the number of sick people could overwhelm an already-stressed healthcare system. Flu season typically starts in October and worsens through January and February. While flu vaccinations could help reduce the burden on healthcare systems, only about 45 percent of American adults received a flu vaccine during last year’s during the 2018–19 flu season, according to the CDC.

Mask wearing is common and culturally acceptable in many parts of the world, particularly in East Asia, but not so in the United States. About 63 percent of people in Japan wore masks during the pandemic, for example, but a July Gallup poll found that only 44 percent of American adults said they “always” wear a mask when outside their homes.

Opening Schools During Covid-19 Pandemic

Opening schools poses a challenge in the US and abroad – while education is essential, in-person learning could cause a spike in infection rates. During the first few months of the pandemic, children seemed to have a much lower infection rate than did adults, but a recent collaborative report by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association showed that there was a 24 percent increase in child cases between July 30th and August 13th.

Europe’s flattened curve and lower infections rates tempted officials to open schools, but it has not gone as planned. All of Germany’s northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s schools opened at the beginning of August, for example, but two schools shut down at the end of the first week infections; the use of masks in schools is preferred but not mandatory.

Schools never closed in Sweden and administrators never major adjustments to class size, lunch policies, or recess rules. This would have been a perfect opportunity to study schools’ role in the spread of the virus; unfortunately, officials never tracked infections among schoolchildren, even when outbreaks led to the closure of individual schools or when staff members died of coronavirus.

Fall Sports During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Fall sports provide ample opportunities for transmission, in that most sports involve close contact between players and the physical exertion associated with sports make mask-wearing difficult. To reduce the risk of transmission, many US high schools are canceling or rescheduling fall sports programs, but Florida and several other states intend to resume as planned. Guidance from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) may help inform decisions about reopening athletic activities in schools while keeping transmission rates low.

The NFL and a number of professional sports teams plan to start their regular seasons, but with some adjustments to lower risk of transmission, such as frequent testing and phased ramp-up to the regular season. The protocols put in place by the NFL, such as daily testing, banning fans at camp and canceling preseason games, seem to be holding for now – that may change as the season opens, however.

It will be difficult to predict the effects of reopening schools and resuming sports will have on the number of COVID-19 infections or deaths, especially in the absence of social distancing, masks, and a vaccine. In the next installment, we’ll take a look at how the number of COVID-19 cases changed over the fall season and predict what will happen with the approach of winter.

FRANK MAGLIOCHETTI

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Frank is also CEO of ClickStream, ClickStream’s business operations are focused on the development and implementation of WinQuik™, a free to play synchronized mobile app and digital gaming platform. The platform is designed to enable WinQuik™ users to have fun, interact and compete against each other in order to win real money and prizes. Twitter at @ClickstreamC and @WinQuikApp.

Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

SOURCES:

https://www.webmd.com/coronavirus-in-context/video/robert-redfield

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/forecasts-cases.html

https://github.com/cdcepi/COVID-19-Forecasts/blob/master/COVID-19_Forecast_Model_Descriptions.md#JHU

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/three-waves.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-1819estimates.htm

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237691

https://news.gallup.com/poll/315590/americans-face-mask-usage-varies-greatly-demographics.aspx

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932e3.htm

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-state-level-data-report/

https://fortune.com/2020/08/10/covid-schools-reopening-class-children-coronavirus/

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/how-sweden-wasted-rare-opportunity-study-coronavirus-schools

https://www.maxpreps.com/news/qiL5GOXkFkyfJ9jwZ8wb-g/where-the-start-of-high-school-sports-stands-in-all-50-states-amid-pandemic.htm

https://www.nfhs.org/media/3812287/2020-nfhs-guidance-for-opening-up-high-school-athletics-and-activities-nfhs-smac-may-15_2020-final.pdf

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29548681/2020-nfl-preseason-schedule-training-camp-other-key-dates

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-training-camp-amid-covid-19-pandemic-what-you-need-to-know

Filed Under: CoronaVirus, Covid19 Virus, Featured, Frank Magliochetti, Healthcare Industry, News, Pandemic Tagged With: , , , ,

Covid-19: How Will It Affect Fall Sports

September 16, 2020 By

Covid-19 Pandemic Affecting Fall Sports

The coronavirus pandemic has changed how Americans do business – it has also affected how we play.

Many organized sports took a hiatus during the spring and summer as players, organizers, public health officials, and fans looked for ways to play safely, and are now trying to squeeze out a fall schedule. For example, soccer is a patchwork of canceled games, limited practices, and normal seasons… at least for now, as COVID-19 flare-ups may dash the dreams of players of all ages.

The decision to play has been especially difficult at the high school level. Most states have canceled high school basketball championships and spring seasons, for example, even before the start of school. Football was a different story, though. Football is a beloved fall tradition and, for pros and amateurs alike, marks the beginning of sports season. The decision whether to nix the fall season has been a controversial and often divisive one – nearly everyone wants football to return, but many wondered how to do it safely.

Twenty-five states had already kicked off their high school football season by September 17, and nine more planned to start their seasons in the fall. By then, a number of states and the District of Columbia said they would push their seasons back to 2021. Colorado had announced they would offer football in both fall and spring. Michigan had reversed their decision twice, moving football from fall to spring on August 14 then moving it back to fall on September 3,2020.

The pandemic has also tripped up recruiting efforts, particularly for high school seniors. High school sport seasons provide athletes with an opportunity to score scholarships that could change the course of their lives. In a typical year, young athletes have several chances to impress college scouts, but 2020 is anything but typical – the pandemic prevents coaches and prospects from traveling to meet in person, and it led to the cancelation of exposure camps normally held in late summer and early autumn.

Fall Sports at the Collegiate Level

On September 22, 2020, the NCAA announced that a number of college sports would hold their 2020 fall championships in the spring of 2021. Sports included are men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross-country, women’s volleyball, field hockey, and men’s water polo. They will cap bracket sizes at 75 percent of normal capacity, predetermine championship sites, and reduce the number of preliminary-round sites to support health and safety. While the NCAA has halted most college sports for the fall season, college football goes on. Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced their return on September 25, 2020, which means all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences are now competing in the fall. They committed to playing a 6-game conference-only schedule running from November 4th through December 18 or 19, with the MAC championship game. To keep players safe, MAC implemented COVID-19 testing protocols that call for four COVID tests per week, starting October 5. MAC is not allowing general public attendance or tailgating; Conference protocols will guide participation of any Marching Bands, Dance, Cheer and Spirit Squads at football games according to institutional discretion and public health guidance. MAC’s announcement cited the availability of COVID-19 tests and the quick turnaround time of test results across the Conference as leading to the decision to play.

Big Ten recently announced it would start its season on October 24, 2020, prompting 90 teams to attempt playing a full schedule this fall. The ACC, Big 12 and SEC as the Power 5 conferences will also try to play this fall, as will the American, Conference USA and Sun Belt.

Pro Sports During the Pandemic

Professional football is on in full force this fall, with the NFL planning to play a complete schedule. Just one year after celebrating the NFL’s 100th season in grand fashion, this year will feature mostly empty stadiums and canned cheers, officials and coaches in masks, the wearing of tracking devices for contact tracing, daily testing, socially distant meetings, and other protocols to keep fans and players safe. Players who test positive are placed on the reserve/COVID list. On September 26, Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell became the first player to be sidelined after a positive COVID-19 test.

It is hard to know how the pandemic will affect athletes and fans as we move from autumn to winter, but rest assured, the world of sports may never be the same.

FRANK MAGLIOCHETTI

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Frank is also CEO of ClickStream, ClickStream’s business operations are focused on the development and implementation of WinQuik™, a free to play synchronized mobile app and digital gaming platform. The platform is designed to enable WinQuik™ users to have fun, interact and compete against each other in order to win real money and prizes. Twitter at @ClickstreamC and @WinQuikApp.

Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is frankmagliochetti_FrankMagliochettiNews.jpg
Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

Sources

https://www.maxpreps.com/news/qiL5GOXkFkyfJ9jwZ8wb-g/where-the-start-of-high-school-sports-stands-in-all-50-states-amid-pandemic.htm

https://www.maxpreps.com/news/ha3S_dWexUOaekUFjBMfkA/high-school-football-kickoff-dates-in-all-50-states.htm

https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/ncaa/ncaa-sports-news-schedule-changes-coronavirus-updates-all-sports

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2020/9/25/football-maction-is-back.aspx

https://www.nfl.com/news/falcons-cb-a-j-terrell-tests-positive-for-covid-19-placed-on-reserve-list

CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 IMPACTING SOCCER

Filed Under: CoronaVirus, Covid19 Virus, Featured, Frank Magliochetti, Healthcare Industry, Healthcare Industry News, News, Pandemic Tagged With: , , , , ,

Covid-19: The Race for a Vaccine Continues

July 25, 2020 By

Covid-19: The Race for a Vaccine

The race to save lives has begun. Scientists around the world are speeding to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, a disease that has claimed the lives of more than half a million lives worldwide, and sickened millions of others. Vaccine development usually takes 10 to 15 years, and the long, involved process takes a tremendous amount of public and private involvement. At the current rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections that cause COVID-19 disease, though, the world does not have 10 to 15 years to wait.

COVID-19 Race for a vaccine

On July 18, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed 23 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation. Many were still in Phase 1 to establish their safety and dosage at the time of the WHO review, while others were in Phase 2 to establish their performance under ideal and controlled performance. As of that mid-July WHO review, three clinical trials had entered Phase 3 for testing on large numbers of people, although one vaccine trial had not yet recruited candidates.

Why Must We Wait So Long?

Most vaccines in development never make it to licensing – in fact, many vaccine candidates never make to clinical evaluation on real humans because they fail to produce the desired immune response in the pre-clinical stages of testing in cell cultures and lab animals.

Regulators set a high bar for vaccination approval and often require years’ worth of safety data because, unlike medicines that treat diseases, vaccines are administered to healthy people to prevent illness. Releasing a vaccine could potentially do more harm than good, so many regulatory bodies set stiff guidelines for approval.

covid-19-race for A CURE

It is not yet clear what data federal regulators would accept as proof that a vaccine is safe and successful in the middle of the pandemic. On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said a vaccine must prevent COVID-19 or decrease the severity of illness in at least 50 percent of people who receive the vaccine. The FDA may consider some vaccine candidates for its Accelerated Approval pathway, but that the vaccine candidate must demonstrate an identifiable immune response or other measure that shows it is reasonably likely that the vaccine would provide clinical benefit. Regulators in other nations have not yet announced what they would consider acceptable criteria for approval, which creates a challenge for vaccine makers trying to gain approval.

More Challenges for Vaccine Makers

Vaccine makers also face challenges determining the best way to trigger the immune response. Vaccines typically work by exposing the body to the antigens of a particular pathogen to activate the immune system without causing disease. Made with weakened or inactivated form of the pathogen, these vaccines are often difficult to develop and produce quickly. Because of the urgent nature of the pandemic, researchers are looking for innovating ways to introduce antigens and otherwise activate an immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Four of the 23 vaccine candidates in clinical testing use an approach that involves engineering messenger RNA (mRNA) that tells human cells how to create the antigens themselves.

RACE FOR A VACCINE COVID-19

Moderna is one of those four companies. On July 15, 2020, the biotech company published data from an early-stage trial that shows its vaccine caused patients to generate an immune response by developing antibodies, although it caused some side effects. Supported by the National Institutes of Health, the study showed volunteers who receive the vaccine produced substantially more neutralizing antibodies than do most patients who have recovered from COVID-19. A second injection administered four weeks after the initial vaccination was necessary to produce a dramatic immune response. Vaccine experts were not impressed, however, concerned that the data was long on text and short on proof.

Other research teams, such as University of Oxford/AstraZeneca are using viral vector vaccines to speed up the process. Viral vector vaccines use a harmless virus as a kind of Trojan horse that carries the pathogen’s genetic material into cells in order to trigger an immune response. The team released more information about its coronavirus vaccine candidate, AZD1222, on July 20, 2020.

Developing a COVID-19 vaccine will be one of the most exciting and important events in human history, with the potential to save millions of lives around the world. Join us next month when we review the next leg of the race for a COVID-19 vaccine.

To View Frank Magliochetti Press Releases Please CLICK HERE

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Most recently; Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

Sources

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/vaccine-development-testing-and-regulation

https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-landscape-of-covid-19-candidate-vaccines

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takes-action-help-facilitate-timely-development-safe-effective-covid

https://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review/accelerated-approval

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022483

Vaccine experts say Moderna didn’t produce data critical to assessing Covid-19 vaccine

https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2020/astrazeneca-and-oxford-university-announce-landmark-agreement-for-covid-19-vaccine.html

Filed Under: CoronaVirus, Covid19 Virus, Healthcare Innovations, Healthcare Trends, News, Pandemic, Vaccine Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Immunotherapy- What You Should Know

July 5, 2020 By

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Unlike traditional treatments that use chemotherapy and radiation to stop the growth of cancer – or to kill cancer cells outright – immunotherapy unblocks the immune system to allow the body to target and destroy the cancer.

The immune system detects and destroys abnormal cells. In fact, the immune system most likely prevents or slows the growth of many types of cancer cells. Immune cells are often found in or near tumors, for example. These cells, known as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), are often a sign that a person’s immune system is fighting the cancer. The National Cancer Institute notes that patients whose tumors contain TILs often fare better than those people whose cancer does not contain these lymphocytes.

While the immune system can prevent or slow the spread of cancer, cancer cells can avoid destruction by the immune system in a number of ways. Cancer cells may undergo genetic changes that make them harder for the immune system to detect, for example, or the surface of cancer cells may have proteins that turn off immune cells. In some cases, cancer cells can even cause the cells around the tumor to interfere with the immune system and prevent the destruction of cancer cells. Immunotherapy helps the immune system fight cancer.

Immunotherapy: Then and Now

Immunotherapy has its roots in 19th century medicine, when two German scientists independently noticed that patients’ tumors shrank after suffering a common skin infection. Bone surgeon William Bradley Coley first attempted to harness the immune system for treating bone cancer in 1891. Discoveries of T cells, interleukins, and other components of the immune system accelerated the research that led to cancer immunotherapy used today.

Medical professionals now refer to immunotherapy as the “fifth pillar” of cancer therapy, joining surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy. Because it has become such an important approach to cancer treatment, and because of an increasing number of FDA approvals for immunotherapy drugs, a growing number of pharmaceutical companies are now offering immunotherapy drugs. In fact, Grand View Research, Inc. predicts the global cancer immunotherapy market will likely reach $126.9 billion by 2026. This growing market will help more patients get the immunotherapy drugs they need to treat cancer.

Doctors now use immunotherapy to treat a variety of cancers, including:

  • Lung cancer
  • Melanoma and some other types of skin cancers
  • Kidney cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Head and neck cancers
  • Lymphoma, which is cancer of the infection-fighting cells of the immune system

“Immunotherapy” is an umbrella term that covers several types of treatment for cancer, which can include:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors – Natural proteins, known as immune checkpoints, prevent the immune system response from being too strong, but they may prevent the immune system response from being strong enough to fight cancer; immune checkpoint inhibitors blocks these checkpoints to allow the body to mount a very strong immune response to cancer cells

T-cell transfer therapy – T-cells are a part of the immune system that recognize and kill viruses and abnormal cells; T-cell transfer therapy involves taking immune cells from the tumor, reproducing them in a lab, and then reintroducing them into the body through a needle in the vein

Monoclonal antibodies – Created in a lab, monoclonal antibodies bind to specific targets on cancer cells, thereby marking the cells for destruction by the immune system

Treatment vaccines – Boosts the body’s immune response against cancer

Immune system modulators – These drugs enhance the immune system’s response to cancer

Clinicians can administer immunotherapy in a variety of ways, including intravenous (IV) through a needle in a vein, oral, and topical preparations in cream form. In cases of bladder cancer, immunotherapy can be delivered via intravesical administration of immunotherapy fluid directly into the bladder.

For more information on immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer, consult with a physician or cancer care specialist.

To View Frank Magliochetti Press Releases Please CLICK HERE

Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Last year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Most recently; Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is GRACE-HEALTH-TECHNOLOGY_Frank-MAgliochetti.jpg

Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

Sources

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6928196/

https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy/timeline-of-progress

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-cancer-immunotherapy-market

Filed Under: Cancer Treatment, Featured, Frank Magliochetti, Healthcare Industry News, Healthcare Trends, Immunotherapy, News Tagged With: , , ,

Inflammation: Autoimmune Disease and COVID-19

June 27, 2020 By
People with autoimmune disease face a number of challenges – their condition can cause pain, skin problems, digestive issues, weakness, muscle aches, stiff joints, and more. Autoimmune diseases and their treatments can weaken immune systems to leave patients vulnerable to infections. These conditions can also cause inflammation around the body, and even in vital organs, such as the lungs. In patients with COVID-19, an unhealthy immune response can damage the lungs to cause serious complications, including severe breathing problems.

Autoimmune Diseases and Inflammation

The immune system protects the body from disease and infection. In people with autoimmune disorders, though, the immune system can attack healthy body cells by mistake. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, according to the National Library of Medicine. Autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, Sjogren’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto’s disease, Celiac disease and type 1 diabetes.
Some autoimmune diseases target just one organ, such the pancreas; other autoimmune conditions affect the entire body. Many of autoimmune diseases share similar symptoms. A large number of autoimmune conditions cause inflammation, characterized by redness, heat, pain and swelling. In fact, inflammation is the classic sign of an autoimmune disease.

COVID-19 and Inflammation

The virus, known as SARS-CoV-2 or simply “coronavirus,” causes a wide variety of symptoms associated with COVID-19 disease. Most notably, the virus causes cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Coronavirus is highly contagious, already infecting at least 2 million people in the United States by the middle of June 2020, and claiming the lives of 113,000. While people with autoimmune disorders are not more likely to contract coronavirus than are the rest of the general population, they are more likely to develop severe complications if they do contract COVID-19 if they have a suppressed immune system due to their autoimmune disease or treatment for their autoimmune disorder. One of the most serious complications of COVID-19 is severe inflammation throughout the body, including the lungs, heart and brain. The body reacts to the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with a robust inflammatory response; health professionals now regard this excessive inflammatory response as a hallmark symptom of COVID-19.
The excessive immune response triggered by SARS-CoV-2 can cause hyper-inflammation of the lungs and of other organs. Severe inflammation of the lungs can prevent the proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which makes it difficult for patients to get the oxygen they need.

How Autoimmune Diseases Cause Inflammation

Special receptors cover the exterior surface of body cells. Proteins bind to these receptors to change the way the cell works. A specific type of protein, known as cytokines, binds to certain receptors to regulate the body’s immune response. Cytokines are mediators, which mean they trigger and control a body response. Specifically, cytokines mediate the inflammation response to tissue injury or infection. In other words, cytokines promote inflammation as a response to tissue injury or infection. There are several types of cytokines, and each type can work alone, work together, or work against each other to regulate the immune response. A special type of cytokine, known as interleukin or IL, may play an important role in the immune response in COVID-19 patients. There are 40 interleukins, IL-1 through IL-40, and each performs a function. Interleukins normally help the immune system fight off viruses and bacteria in the body, but an overactive immune system can cause interleukins to attack the body instead. This can lead to chronic inflammatory conditions.
In a significant physiological event, known as a cytokine storm, can cause the release of a flood of interleukin that leads to widespread and dangerous inflammation. Research shows that COVID-19 can cause a cytokine storm that releases IL-6, IL-1, IL-12, and IL-18. The excessive number of cytokines can damage tissue and could lead to the breakdown of the protective lining in the lungs and blood vessels. The breakdown and weakening of this protective lining can allow fluid and proteins to leak from blood vessels and into the tiny air sacs of the lungs. This fluid displaces air, which prevents the air sacs from filling with oxygen. The resulting lack of oxygen causes the patient to experience shortness of breath, and puts the patient at a higher risk for complications and a more severe case of COVID-19. Inflammation related to autoimmune disease can have serious consequences for patients. This is especially true for those who contract COVID-19. To View Frank Magliochetti Press Releases Please CLICK HERE Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Earlier this year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment. Most recently; Frank was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Designer Genomics International, Inc. The Company has accumulated a growing body of evidence that highlights a link between alterations in the immune and inflammatory systems and the development of chronic human disease. The Company is visionary and has established itself as a leader in the field of inflammatory and immune genetic DNA and RNA biomarkers that play a causative role in debilitating conditions, such as atherosclerosis/heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and cancer.
A proprietary state-of-the art data mining bioinformatics program, called ‘cluster analysis’ will be used to measure disease development susceptibility with potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention. The company is developing a healthcare program based on its proprietary genetic panels that will allow people to be their own healthcare advocate and take an active role in their health status as well as longevity.
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is GRACE-HEALTH-TECHNOLOGY_Frank-MAgliochetti.jpg
Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA Managing Partner Parcae Capital www.parcaecapitalcorp.com www.frankmagliochetti.com

SOURCES:

https://medlineplus.gov/autoimmunediseases.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.htmlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499840/https://www.medscape.com/answers/2500114-197455/what-is-the-role-of-interleukin-il-inhibitors-in-the-treatment-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Filed Under: Autoimmune Disease, Covid19 Virus, Featured, Frank Magliochetti Report, Inflammation, News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Covid19 The Pandemic (Almost) Nobody Saw Coming

April 23, 2020 By

Of all the changes 2020 had brought, almost nobody saw coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) coming.

First reported in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, the newly discovered coronavirus (2019-nCoV) quickly made its way around the globe, killing thousands and sickening hundreds of thousands more. There is quite a bit of information out there to disseminate we felt it time to give an overview and a few thoughts on Covid-19; as this situation is fluid we do expect to add more information in future posts.

On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, meaning the disease had spread to multiple continents around the globe. Like other pandemics, COVID-19 seemed to move swiftly, taking governments, healthcare providers and citizens by surprise. 

Not everyone was blindsided, though – a handful of experts in global health, the biosciences, national security, emergency response and economics got together in October 2019 to talk about what would happen if a global pandemic suddenly hit the world’s population. The experts discussed how Americans and others around the world would fare if a novel and highly transmissible coronavirus outbreak reached pandemic proportions.

Just as its real-life counterpart did, the fictional coronavirus jumped between countries and continents via international air travel. In both accounts, the virus caused problems for health care systems, economies, and political leaders. The fictional scenario assumed governments would first try closing borders and banning travel, but by the time authorities enacted border closures and travel bans, carriers would have unknowingly transmitted the disease to others before developing symptoms. The experts also projected the travel bans would disrupt trade and worsen international cooperation.

The simulation provided a shocking glimpse into the near future, but in today’s rapid-fire news cycle, very few people took notice. When the predictions began to come true in the form of COVID-19, many people regarded the threat somebody else’s problem because it was occurring in another country and could never reach the shores of our nation. Others thought COVID-19 was nothing more than a seasonal influenza. They were wrong on both counts.

COVID-19 is Here, and it is More than Just a Flu

The first patient with COVID-19 walked into a U.S. emergency department on January 19, 2020. Today, thousands of Americans have tested positive for novel coronavirus.

COVID-19 is similar to the flu in many ways, and is significantly different in other ways. Both are infectious illnesses, for example, and both cause a dry cough and fever. Influenza causes aches, chills, fatigue, and headache and chills; these symptoms are less common with COVID-19. Flu symptoms come on suddenly, getting worse over a day or two. Symptoms of COVID-19 develop gradually, worsening over the course of several days.

COVID-19 is different from the flu in other ways:

  • Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath are the hallmarks of COVID-19 – they are also signs to seek immediate medical attention; flu does not cause shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
  • COVID-19 is more likely to kill than the flu – about 3.4 percent of people with COVID-19 have died and seasonal flu generally kills far fewer than 1 percent of those infected
  • Unlike the flu, there is no vaccine for COVID-19, and it will probably take a year to develop one
  • There is no treatment for COVID-19
  • Children, who are typically at high risk of contracting flu, are at lower risk for COVID-19 than are older adults

With a higher basic reproduction number, which is the number of infections one infected person can cause COVID-19, is more infectious than the flu. COVID-19 seems to have a basic reproduction number somewhere between 2 and 2.5, so the average person infected with the coronavirus spreads the disease to 2 to 3 other people. The basic reproduction number of seasonal influenza varies from year to year, but is often about 1.28.

COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on nearly every segment of the population, but it presents special danger to some. Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine Dawn Brown reported an increase in calls to the NAMI hotline. Callers expressed a wide variety of concerns, including feelings of depression and loneliness from social isolation, worries about job stability and income, fears of getting sick, grief over the death of a loved one, and homelessness. “Right now, the bigger concerns are around anxieties about the unknowns, you don’t know what you don’t know, and the people we serve tend to be a little more vulnerable to anxiety and panic.”

What Happens in the Future Depends Largely on What We Do Today

Arguably late to the situation, the U.S. government issued The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, which directs citizens to listen to state and local authorities, stay home when sick, self-isolation measures, and good hygiene. States have issued a variety of public health emergency declarations, including the activation of National Guards, school and business closures, and limits on event sizes.

The medical community geared up quickly in response to the pandemic. Hospitals began enacting preparedness plans, clinicians developed treatment plans for critically ill patients, and researchers immediately turned their attention to developing a vaccine. Mayo Clinic announced the development of a new test that provides results in 24 hours.

The actions of individuals, families, businesses and communities will have the greatest influence in how the pandemic ends – they will also bear the brunt of its consequences. In even the best case scenario, hundreds or thousands of people in the United States could perish; new research suggests the number of deaths in the nation could exceed 2 million.

While nobody knows exactly how COVID-19 will change our lives, almost everyone can agree that the changes will be profound.

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Frank Magliochetti owes his professional success to his expertise in two areas: medicine and finance. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy from Northeastern University, he stayed on to enroll in the Masters of Toxicology program. He later specialized in corporate finance, receiving an MBA from The Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University. His educational background includes completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the General Management Program at Stanford Business School. Frank Magliochetti has held senior positions at Baxter International, Kontron Instruments, Haemonetics Corporation, and Sandoz. Since 2000, he has been a managing partner at Parcae Capital, where he focuses on financial restructuring and interim management services for companies in the healthcare, media, and alternative energy industries. Earlier this year, he was appointed chairman of the board at Grace Health Technology, a company providing an enterprise solution for the laboratory environment.

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Mr. Frank Magliochetti MBA
Managing Partner
Parcae Capital
www.parcaecapitalcorp.com
www.frankmagliochetti.com

SOURCES:

http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic

https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—3-march-2020

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200306-sitrep-46-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=96b04adf_2

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265345236_Estimates_of_the_reproduction_number_for_seasonal_pandemic_and_zoonotic_influenza_A_systematic_review_of_the_literature

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

https://www.nga.org/coronavirus/#stateshttps://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/COVID19/Documents/COVID-19%20Healthcare%20Planning%20Checklist.pdf

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2762996

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-clinical-trial-investigational-vaccine-covid-19-begins

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/03/12/new-mayo-clinic-test-could-speed-detection-of-covid19

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf

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