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Vaccine to fight cancer shows promise using mRNA technology

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

The same technology that was used to create Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is being targeted on melanoma, and the treatment is having positive effects, according to researchers at the Yale Cancer Center.It’s another step in using the body’s immune system to fight diseases, using a person’s own mRNA to target cancer.The randomized Phase 2 study compares personalized mRNA vaccines given along with Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug with the generic name pembrolizumab, vs. giving Keytruda alone.Dr. Thuy Tran of the Yale School of Medicine (Robert Lisak)“Keytruda was established as part of standard of care for stage three melanoma patients … after surgery to help minimize recurrence risk for individuals with high-risk disease,” according to Dr. Thuy Tran, the principal investigator.Moderna proposed the study combining Keytruda with the mRNA vaccine “to try to improve upon those odds to further decrease recurrence,” she said. Of 157 participants, 107 received both drugs and 50 received only Key...

Mets call up slugging prospect Mark Vientos after torrid start at Triple-A: source

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

Mark Vientos is headed back to the Major Leagues, but how the Mets are going to use him is another question.The Mets badly need more firepower in an offense that ranks toward the bottom half of the league in runs, home runs and average with runners in scoring position. A source confirmed to the Daily News that the Mets are calling up Mark Vientos, who has provided plenty of power for Triple-A Syracuse this season.But where he’ll play isn’t quite clear. Brett Baty is at third base and Pete Alonso is at first. The Mets could DH him in place of Daniel Vogelbach or Tommy Pham, but the team decision-makers have been hesitant to use their rookies in the DH spot because of their developing defense. The Mets didn’t want to do that with catcher Francisco Alvarez this year and they didn’t call up Baty until they were forced to, saying they wanted him to master defense at Triple-A.The best place to play him might be in left field in place of the struggling Mark Canha, b...

New book ‘Last On His Feet’ captures brilliantly boxer Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

Rick Kogan | Chicago Tribune (TNS)The first Black boxing champion was a man named Jack Johnson and a few years before he died in 1946, he told a young reporter, “Just remember, whatever you write about me, that I was a man.”You will meet this man in all his ferocity, style, audacity and courage in a spectacular new book, a dynamic and unforgettable collaboration between artist Youssef Daoudi and writer Adrian Matejka.“Last On His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century” is a wonder of words and images. It could be called a graphic novel if that description didn’t fail to fully capture its cinematically visual and literary substance.Writers and artists have long been intrigued by boxing, with the physical and emotional drama that is inherent in the sport, as far back as Homer and Plato. Jack London wrote a lot about boxing (in this book showing a vile racism) and so did George Bernard Shaw, A.J. Liebling, who called it the “sweet science,” and Hemingway and Mailer. Novelist ...

Rob Williams on returning to Celtics’ starting lineup: ‘We started having fun’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

Jayson Tatum ended the Celtics’ second-round playoff win over Philadelphia with arguably the greatest performance of his career. But the team’s turnaround from a 3-2 series deficit started well before Tatum’s Game 7 heroics and even his all-time fourth quarter in Game 6.It began with a lineup change.Related ArticlesBoston Celtics | Scathing DOJ report cites Rollins as leaker in Suffolk DA race, concludes she lied to investigators Boston Celtics | Celtics vs. Heat series preview: 5 things to watch in Eastern Conference Finals rematch Boston Celtics | Celtics’ belief in Joe Mazzulla continues in advancing to Eastern Conference Finals Boston Celtics | Celtics to face Heat again in Eastern Conference Finals. Here’s the schedule Boston Celtics | Celtics, led by Al Horford and adjustment from Joe Mazzulla, shut down Joel Embiid in Game 7 The Celtics replaced Derrick White in their...

Man shot, killed at Campland on the Bay; suspect arrested

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was fatally shot at Campland on the Bay near Pacific Beach on Tuesday night, said the San Diego Police Department.Authorities say they received several calls reporting a shooting in the 2200 block of Pacific Beach Drive around 10:08 p.m. and officers arrived to the area within minutes. Explosion in Tijuana injures 20, three in critical condition Upon arrival to the resort, which offers waterfront RV and tent camping, SDPD says a man was found in the pool area suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.Officers immediately performed life-saving measures until paramedics from San Diego Fire-Rescue arrived and transported the man to a local hospital. Despite their efforts, authorities say the man was pronounced dead at 10:39 p.m. SDPD Homicide Detectives were called to the scene and are currently investigating the incident. Officials say it's still too early in the investigation to determine an exact motive, but detectives have learned that the victim was with a...

California Assembly passes first-in-nation bill to ban five toxic chemicals from food products

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

(The Hill) – California’s State Assembly approved a first-in-the-nation bill Monday to rid food products of five toxic chemicals linked to cancer and developmental issues in children.The legislation, AB 418, seeks to prohibit the manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution of food products that contain brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3 or titanium dioxide.Introduced by Democratic State Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel and Buffy Wicks at the beginning of February, the legislation targets chemicals that are already banned in the European Union.“Today’s strong vote is a major step forward in our effort to protect children and families in California from dangerous and toxic chemicals in our food supply,” Gabriel, chair of the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection, said in a statement.“It’s unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to banning these dangerous additives,” he added.The Foo...

2 Democrats head to runoff for suburban Atlanta state House seat

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A former state House member and a former South Fulton city council member are heading to a runoff June 13 for Georgia House District 68.Former councilman Mark Baker won nearly a third of the vote in a five-candidate field on Tuesday. Running close behind was Derrick Jackson, who held the seat for three terms before running for lieutenant governor last year. Both are Democrats.The seat represents Atlanta suburbs in southern Fulton and northern Fayette counties. It’s open after Letitia “Tish” Naghise, who had won an election to replace Jackson, died in March from an illness.Three other Democrats — Taiwo Idowu, Jane Williams and John Culbreth — trailed in the special election.It’s the fifth special election to fill a vacant seat in the 180-member Georgia House this year.Under Georgia law, because no candidate won a majority, a runoff election is required.The Associated Press

Biden off to Japan for Group of Seven summit, says there’s ‘work to do’ on global stage

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said there’s “work to do” on the global stage as he headed to Japan on Wednesday to consult with allies on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s assertiveness in the Pacific at the same time that a debt limit standoff looms at home.With high-stakes talks to head off a federal default are underway in Washington, Biden pledged to remain in “constant contact” with negotiators in the Capitol while he conducts international diplomacy.The president departed Washington aboard Air Force One a day after scrapping plans for a historic stop in Papua New Guinea and a key visit to Australia amid the showdown with House Republicans over raising the federal debt limit. The three-nation trip had been meant as a triumphant global leadership showcase, and instead threatened to become a truncated reminder of how partisan disagreements have undercut U.S. standing on the global stage.“I’ve cut my trip short in order to be here for the final negotiations and...

Ecuador president invites more unrest by dismissing legislature

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The president of Ecuador dismissed the legislature Wednesday in a move that promised more turmoil around a conservative leader unable to enact his agenda aimed at widening business opportunities and attracting more investment. Heavily armed soldiers surrounded the National Assembly in the capital after the move by President Guillermo Lasso, who had been locked in a showdown with legislators who wanted to impeach him. Lawmakers had accused Lasso of not stopping a corrupt deal between the state-owned oil transport company and a private tanker company, accusations he denies.Ecuador’s top military leader warned that the armed forces would crack down on any violence. Lasso appeared to have the support of the armed forces but opposition from Indigenous Ecuadorians. Protests by the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities have nearly paralyzed the country in recent years, and the group’s leader appeared outraged.Lasso “launched a cowardly self-coup wit...

Stock market today: Wall Street rallies on hopes US may avoid default

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:01 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is rallying Wednesday on rising hopes the U.S. government can avoid a potentially catastrophic default on its debt.The S&P 500 was 1.2% higher in afternoon trading, with much of the gain coming after President Joe Biden said he’s confident “America will not default.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 427 points, or 1.3%, at 33,440, while the Nasdaq composite was up 1.3% as of 2:24 p.m.Biden’s comments came after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said late Tuesday that Democrats and Republicans could reach a deal by the end of the week, though the two sides remain far apart. They’re staring down a June 1 deadline, which is when the U.S. government could default on its debt unless Congress allows it to borrow more.A default could rock the financial system because Treasurys are assumed to be the safest possible investment on Earth, and economists say it would likely cause widespread damage across the economy.Wednesday’s spurt comes after a long, listles...