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Wall Street Futures Rise Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday

  US stock futures edged higher on Wednesday as investors looked to extend the market’s recent rally into the Thanksgiving holiday. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.2%, S&P 500 futures rose 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.3% . The move follows a strong session on Tuesday, when the Dow surged more than 660 points (1.4%) , marking its third consecutive day of gains. Tech stocks continued to drive momentum, with Alphabet closing at record highs after reports that Meta may adopt Google’s TPU chips in the coming years. Meanwhile, Nvidia shares slipped over 2.5% as competition in the AI chip space intensified. Investors are also keeping a close eye on the Federal Reserve. Markets are currently pricing in an 85% probability of a quarter-point rate cut in December , which has helped bolster optimism. Lower Treasury yields and easing inflation pressures have further supported the bullish sentiment. Through the first two trading days of this holiday-shortened we...

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Revolutionary Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Deaf Toddler

 

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, an 18-month-old toddler named Opal Sandy has regained her hearing thanks to a pioneering gene therapy trial. Born deaf due to a rare genetic condition affecting the OTOF gene, which is responsible for producing a protein essential for hearing, Opal’s prospects for natural hearing were bleak. However, the innovative treatment at Cambridge University Hospitals in England has opened up a world of sound for her.

The procedure involved the infusion of a working copy of the OTOF gene into Opal’s right ear, a process that took a mere 16 minutes. Remarkably, within weeks, Opal began responding to loud noises, and after 24 weeks, she could hear whispers, indicating a near-normal level of hearing restoration.

Opal’s case is part of the Chord trial, which is recruiting more children from the UK, Spain, and the US to undergo similar treatment. The trial is being closely monitored, with participants followed up for five years to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of the therapy.

The success of this gene therapy is a beacon of hope for many suffering from genetic deafness, signaling the dawn of a new era in medical science where conditions once thought incurable are now within the realm of treatment. Opal’s story is not just a personal victory; it’s a milestone in genetic medicine, showcasing the incredible potential of gene therapy to change lives.

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