Sinn der Hilfe Engel ! » Impact Filmmaking: "Crime +

SAN FRANCISCO Ian Thomas Jersey , Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- French scientists have found that people's biological clock can be a vital factor in fighting inflammatory disease such as fulminant hepatitis, a new study suggests.


Scientists from the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), Pasteur Institute of Lille and University of Lille in northern France have worked on the links between biological clock and inflammatory disease.


Through experiments on human cells and mice, they discovered that the anti-inflammatory action of a biological clock protein could block the onset of fulminant hepatitis by easing symptoms and increasing survival rates.


The findings of their study were carried in the latest edition of Gastroenterology.


Fulminant hepatitis is a serious disease that has no effective cure, except liver transplant within 24 hours after the onset of its symptoms.


The illness can cause rapid deterioration of tissue ad liver function in patients, in addition to blood coagulation disorders and irreparable brain damage.


The French scientists found a biological clock protein called Rev-erba, which notably targets adipose tissue, together with liver, skeletal muscle and brain cells.


Their experiments on human immune system cells and on mice established the fact that inflammation follows a circadian rhythm.


Test results of mice, which received Rev-erba-activating treatment, showed less severe forms of the disease and a higher survival rate.


The French researchers observed the same effect in vitro on human cells, which increased their confidence of developing a new treatment for acute fulminant hepatitis.


"This offers new hopes for researchers, notably in terms of potential improvements in quality of life and longevity among patients suffering from chronic inflammatory disease," said Inserm researcher Helene Duez.




"The Miseducation of Cameron Post," a powerful drama about the real-life controversial practice of gay conversion therapy, came away with the top prize as the Sundance Film Festival wrapped Saturday.


Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, it delighted and shocked audiences at its world premiere in the Utah mountains with its story of a teenage girl forced into therapy after being caught having a sexual encounter with the prom queen.


"On behalf of the entire 'Cameron Post' team we want to dedicate this to the LGBTQ survivors of sexual conversion therapy," said Moretz.


"We just wanted to make this movie to shine a light onto the fact that it is only illegal in nine states out of the 50 states in this country to practice sexual conversion therapy."


Its director Desiree Akhavan had pre-recorded an acceptance speech for the grand jury prize in Sundance's "US dramatic competition" section but it could not be played on a night beset by technical difficulties.


"Kailash," about one man's crusade to end child slavery, won best US documentary while the US dramatic audience award - the second prize to the grand jury award - went to Andrew Heckler's "Burden."


Chinese dark comedy "Dead Pigs," directed by Chinese director Cathy Yan, won the Special Jury Award for an Ensemble cast at Sundance.


The US documentary directing prize went to Alexandria Bombach for "On Her Shoulders," - a portrait of a Yazidi girl who survived sexual slavery at the hands of the Islamic State group - while the US documentary audience award went to "The Sentence."


"Butterflies" came away with the grand jury prize for world drama while "Of Fathers and Sons," a study of jihadi radicalization in the home, from celebrated Syrian filmmaker Talal Derki, won the world cinema documentary competition.


The Sundance Film Festival, founded by actor Robert Redford, is considered a showcase for independent and documentary films, and festival winners often go on to receive critical acclaim and Hollywood awards season glory.


Among the titles from the 2017 edition of the festival picking up trophies at Hollywood's various ceremonies are Jordan Peele's "Get Out," which played out of competition as a midnight screening.


The dark comedy has four Oscar nominations, including best film, director and screenplay.


"Call Me by Your Name," which director Luca Guadagnino took to last year's Sundance, also has four Oscar nominations, including best picture.


Dee Rees's "Mudbound," picked up by Netflix for a considerable 12.5 million US dollars at last year's festival, has Academy nods for adapted screenplay, supporting actress, cinematography and original song.


"I love really how the entire community here at the festival is curious, adventurous and so eager to engage with one another in the dialogue," said Sundance Institute executive Keri Putnam.


"But it all starts with the work. It's the work we see on the screens coming from such fresh, creative and independent perspectives."


Here is a full list of prizewinners from Saturday's awards:


US Drama


Grand Jury Prize: "The Miseducation of Cameron Post"


Audience Award: "Burden"


Directing: Sara Colangelo, "The Kindergarten Teacher"


Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Christina Choe, "Nancy"


Special Jury Award for Outstanding First Feature: Reinaldo Marcus Green, "Monsters and Men"


Special Jury Award for Excellence in Filmmaking: Reed Morano, "I Think We're Alone Now"


Special Jury Award for Acting: Benjamin Dickey, "Blaze"


US Documentary


Grand Jury Prize: "Kailash"


Audience Award: "The Sentence"


Directing: Alexandria Bombach, "On Her Shoulders"


Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking: "Crime + Punishment"


Special Jury Award for Creative Vision: "Hale County This Morning, This Evening"


Special Jury Award for Storytelling: "Three Identical Strangers"


Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking: "MindinFinance > Insurance > Car Insurance