Author: jezzabellemente

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb 6 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a major scientific breakthrough, a research team from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), working alongside researchers from the UK, the US, and India, discovered a vital gene instrumental in combating malaria. This gene, termed PfAP2-MRP, is essential in the replication process of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the most lethal strain of malaria.

Advanced laboratory techniques enabled the researchers to inhibit the PfAP2-MRP gene, revealing its critical role in the malaria parasite’s life cycle within red blood cells. This inhibition significantly disrupts the parasite’s ability to reproduce, reducing the severity of the disease’s symptoms and curbing its spread. This discovery is particularly impactful as it addresses Plasmodium falciparum malaria, which claims over half a million lives annually.

Dr. Ashraf Dada, Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah and the lead researcher, stated: “This discovery paves the way for the development of more effective treatments for the deadliest malaria strain, Plasmodium falciparum.” Also, this study enhances the scientific community’s understanding of the disease’s progression and its interaction with the human immune system, thereby strengthening efforts to combat this widespread malaria parasite prevalent in Africa.

Furthermore, the research demonstrated that the PfAP2-MRP gene regulates the production of genetically diverse protein receptors, allowing the parasite to evade the host’s immune system. This mechanism plays a significant role in the global spread of malaria and underscores the gene’s importance in developing future therapeutic strategies.

Published in the prestigious journal “Nature” this noteworthy study is part of a close collaboration between KFSH&RC and KAUST to engage in innovative research activities aimed at not only improving the diagnosis of microbes, bacteria, and parasites, but also underscores a global effort to combat pathogens and improve human health.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre stands among the global leaders in providing specialized healthcare, driving innovation, and serving as an advanced medical research and education hub. Through strategic partnerships with prominent local, regional, and international institutions, the hospital is dedicated to advancing medical technologies and elevating the standards of healthcare worldwide.

About King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC):

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) stands as a leading healthcare institution in the Middle East, envisioned to be the optimal choice for every patient seeking specialized healthcare. The hospital boasts a rich history in the treatment of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, organ transplantation, neurosciences, and genetics.

In 2023, “Brand Finance” ranked King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre as the top academic medical centre in the Middle East and Africa, and among the top 20 globally. Additionally, in 2022, it was recognized as one of the leading global healthcare providers by Newsweek magazine.

As part of Saudi Vision 2030, a royal decree was issued on December 21, 2021, to transform the hospital into an independent, non-profit, government-owned entity, paving the way for a comprehensive transformation program aimed at achieving global leadership in healthcare through excellence and innovation.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at 
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38b3fbef-fece-4a76-b326-2d57ab1b16ba

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information please contact:

Mr. Essam Al-Zahrani, Media Affairs Head, 0555254429

Mr. Abdullah Al-Awn, Media Coordination Officer, 0556294232

Source: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre

–BERNAMA

VIENTIANE, Jan 26 (Bernama) — Aiming to lure a greater number of tourists from Laos, Indochina, ASEAN and the rest of the world, Tourism Malaysia hosted the “Malaysia Night” Gala Dinner here at Landmark Hotel, Vientiane, Laos in conjunction with ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2024.

The dinner with the theme “The Beautiful Tastes of Malaysia” showcased the Cultural Potpourri of Malaysia through the form of dances and performances of the different ethnic groups in Malaysia, specially choreographed by Istana Budaya. The guests were also served Malaysian culinary delights specially prepared by Chef Farid from IBIS Hotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and Chef Irwan from ADABI.

Led by Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia; accompanied by Dato’ Roslan Tan Sri Abdul Rahman, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia; and Dato’ Dr. Ammar Bin Abd. Ghapar, Director General of Tourism Malaysia; the delegation to ATF 2024 comprises 5 organisations, including the states of Perak, Melaka, and Johor, as well as KARYANEKA, ADABI, and several other industry players and product owners.

Highlighted also through the event are the Visit Melaka Year 2024, Visit Perak Year 2024 and the state of Johor whereby the following Malaysian states were given the stage to feature their unique cultures and experiences. These promotional efforts are aimed at paving the way and creating momentum as Malaysia will be the next host of ATF 2025 and Chairman of ASEAN 2025, as well as the much-awaited Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

“Malaysia is honoured to continue the spirit and tradition of the ASEAN Tourism Forum, which embraces the role of catalyst for change in tourism policy and development, subsequently improving the economic and social standing among the ASEAN Member States. As a united ASEAN, the strength of our collective efforts is greater than the sum of its parts. We look forward to further strengthening our strategic collaboration to fully harness the tourism growth potential of ASEAN,” said Dato Sri Tiong King Sing.

He added “We are honoured to have you with us as we celebrate the beauty of Malaysia through its diverse tastes, aromas and traditions. Tonight’s showcase of colours of Malaysia is only a glimpse of what you will see and what Malaysia can offer for the upcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025, World Tourism Day and World Tourism Conference 2025, as well as, Visit Malaysia Year (VM) 2026. For VM 2026, we are aiming to position Malaysia as a top 10 tourist destination in arrivals and tourism receipts based on 3 main principles which are competitiveness, sustainability and inclusion.”

Up until September 2023, a total of 12,524 tourists from Laos visited Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia aims to continuously increase this number in 2024 through ATF 2024, marketing and promotion activities, tourism expos, seminars, as well as, media and travel agent familiarisation trips to Malaysia throughout this year. There are currently 295 flights per week from Vientienne to Malaysia via Malaysia Airlines, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways International and Lao Airlines.

About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation’s tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

SOURCE: Tourism Malaysia

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) — Visitors can unlock a perfect Year of the Dragon in 2024 with exclusive tips shared by feng shui master Mak Ling Ling, while immersed in the festive bliss around Hong Kong.

According to Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in a statement, with the “Ultimate Guide to a Prosperous Year of the Dragon” curated by Mak, no Chinese New Year trip to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to the temple as the city is home to a myriad of historical temples, among which is the famed Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan.

Widely regarded as a sanctum to pray for success in career and education, this declared monument remains one of the most popular attractions despite its relatively compact interior, along with its convenient location in the bustling tourist hotspot of Central and Sheung Wan that has also contributed to its unwavering popularity.

Meanwhile, to pray for prosperity and happiness for the entire family, honouring Kwun Yum (the Goddess of Mercy) is the right way to go, and among the numerous temples in Hong Kong dedicated to Kwun Yum, the one in Hung Hum is the largest and most famous in Kowloon.

For good health and to be protected against adversity in the year ahead, Hau Wong Temple in Kowloon City, with close to 300 years of history, is favoured by worshippers, and is especially packed during the Hau Wong Festival, which falls on the 16th day of the sixth lunar month.

Alternatively, renowned for its supposed ability to make worshippers’ requests come true, Wong Tai Sin Temple is the ideal place to pray for a perfect Year of the Dragon. During Chinese New Year, the festively adorned temple is home to one of the city’s biggest traditions – first incense offering.

Visitors looking to boost luck during the Chinese New Year trip in Hong Kong need to make a beeline for Che Kung Temple. On the third day of Chinese New Year, droves of worshippers crowd the iconic temple, whose signature feature is the copper fan-bladed wheel of fortune.

In the art of feng shui, it is believed that the prosperity of a place is connected with its mountain and water, so a nature ramble during the first lunar month is considered an auspicious way to kick off the new year.

To embrace the beauty of Hong Kong’s majestic mountain and water landscape, hop on the Peak Tram at Central for a bird’s eye view of the Victoria Harbour; or visit the Big Buddha on Lantau Island, followed by a charming stroll in the “Venice of Hong Kong” – Tai O fishing village, as well as tap into nature’s spiritual energy in Tai Tam Reservoirs.

— BERNAMA

BOSTON, Jan 24 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — ReLive is proud to announce that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore’s highest health authority, has granted New Drug Application (NDA) approval for SpheChon 10-70 spheroids/cm² in December 2023, marking the country’s first cell therapy product for cartilage repair in its history. This approval is a testament to ReLive’s commitment to advancing regenerative cell therapies and marks a significant step in expanding our global reach.

Based on the approval, the indication comprises the repair of symptomatic articular cartilage defects of the femoral condyle and the patella of the knee (International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society [ICRS] grade III or IV) with defect sizes 1 cm² to 10 cm² in adults and adolescents with closed epiphyseal growth plate in the affected joint.

SpheChon represents a major advancement in cell therapy for cartilage repair, offering new hope and enhanced treatment options by using the patients’ own cells to regain an active life. This approval by HSA reflects ReLive’s dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and quality in our innovative treatment solutions.

Quote from ReLive’s CEO, Dr. Xing Zhao: “The approval in Singapore is more than just a regulatory milestone. It signifies ReLive’s growing influence and commitment to addressing unmet needs in the areas of orthopedic sports medicine and plastic and reconstructive surgery in Asia. This achievement aligns with our strategic vision of expanding our footprint in key markets and underscores our commitment to transforming patient care on a global scale.”

About ReLive Biotechnologies Ltd.: ReLive is a pioneering global biotechnology company, founded in 2021 by a team of distinguished visionaries and accomplished experts in the fields of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cell therapy. Backed by venture capital, along with the acquisition of CO.DON, ReLive brings together a diverse team of scientists, surgeons, managers, and regulatory experts with extensive and direct experience in biotechnology, to collaborate and develop groundbreaking treatments that improve patient outcomes. Through the ongoing research and development efforts, ReLive strives to make a lasting impact on the field of biotechnology and cell therapy and revolutionize the treatment of orthopedic and reconstructive conditions. ReLive operates across three key locations: Boston (Global Headquarter), Germany and China. For more information, please visit our website www.relivebio.com or contact us via contact@relivebio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240123428625/en/

Contact

contact@relivebio.com

Source : ReLive Biotechnologies Ltd.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) — teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM in Toyosu (teamLab Planets) ranked in the top five of the ‘Most Popular Museums in the World’ in Google’s ‘Year in Search 2023’ annual search ranking.

This ranking lists the museums that were most searched on Google Maps globally in 2023, in which teamLab Planets is the only museum in Japan, and among renowned museums and art galleries with histories spanning over 100 years.

“We are deeply honoured to be recognised among a multitude of tourist attractions in Japan. Moving forward, we will continue to attentively embrace the living voices of our visitors expressed through their reviews and feedback.

“Committed to our concept of ‘Immerse your Entire Body’, we are dedicated to providing an enhanced experience that allows people from around the globe to thoroughly enjoy the world of art unique to our museum,” according to a statement.

The museum also ranked first place in Honichi Lab’s ‘Popular Inbound Tourist Destinations Ranking’ announced on Dec 15, 2023, by Honichi Lab (Visit Japan Lab), Japan’s leading inbound tourism information media.

This ranking evaluates and compiles Google Map reviews of 4,700 tourist attractions across all 47 prefectures of Japan, offering a unique perspective by Honichi Lab.

Visitors to teamLab Planets will be able to experience cherry blossoms enveloping two of its massive artwork spaces. These artworks called ‘Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers’ and ‘Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and People’, will be on view from March 1 to Apr 30.

Moreover, last year, around 2.5 million people from 198 countries and regions, excluding Japan, visited teamLab Planets, with about 70 per cent of the total visitors to the museum were international tourists. It is also reported that approximately one in 10 international tourists to Japan visited teamLab Planets.

The museum has been highly acclaimed internationally, winning ‘Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ at the 2023 World Travel Awards, described as the Oscars of the travel industry, marking the first time a destination in Japan has been given the award.

— BERNAMA