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As the highly contagious coronavirus continues to run its course, the question on everyones mind is how to stay infection-free. There are the Centers for Disease Control basics, but eating well (or not) makes a difference, too. A healthy diet wont prevent the coronavirus, but it can help strengthen your immune system and a less healthy diet can undermine it.

Your immune system is like an army with very sophisticated weapons in the form of cells and other compounds. For this army to function optimally, it needs a steady stream of supplies, which you get through your diet.

The best diet for your immune system is a minimally-processed, mostly plant-based diet one that's about 75% plant foods. Keep in mind that youre also better off getting the nutrients you need from your plate rather than a pill bottle, though select supplements may be useful in some cases, such as to ensure you get the necessary amount of vitamin D, a nutrient thats only found in a limited number of foods.

Heres how to eat to support your immune system.

Various building blocks for your immune systems machinery come from fruits and vegetables. Some of the key immune-strengthening nutrients in these foods include vitamin C, beta carotene (the precursor to vitamin A) and certain B vitamins, like folate. Many fruits and veggies also supply polyphenols, antioxidants that get broken down into food and contribute to healthy gut bacteria. These compounds, which are also found in other plant foods (like extra virgin olive oil, whole grains, pulses, tea and coffee) help your beneficial bacteria flourish. They also help optimize your gut environment, which is where up to 80% of your immune cells are located.

Polyphenols work their immune-enhancing benefits in other ways too. For example, they calibrate pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In severe cases of COVID-19, the pro-inflammatory cytokines take over and may be responsible for causing death in some instances.

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Fruits and vegetables are some of the best foods for the immune system. When choosing fruits and veggies, seek out a variety of options. Go for fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and veggies of all colors. Dont forget that juices like 100% OJ, pomegranate juice and vegetable juice can also help you reach your fruit and veggie goals, which for most people is a minimum of two cups of fruit and two and half cups of veggies each day.

Whole grains (including oats, quinoa, brown rice and whole wheat) do their part by supplying nutrients like folate, magnesium, selenium and iron to your immune system. A study published in BMJ Gut suggests that whole grains can help regulate inflammation, which contributes to the development of a multitude of diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The same study showed that eating whole grains instead of refined grains led to weight loss among overweight people. The authors suggested this swap may be a helpful strategy for reaching a healthier weight. Since we know that COVID-19 produces more serious illness among those with type 2 diabetes and those who are severely obese (with a BMI over 40), swapping refined pasta, bread, crackers, cereal and rice for a whole grain version is an easy and smart upgrade.

All types of nuts and seeds (plus their butters), avocados and olives (and their oils) and oily fish (such as salmon and sardines) help regulate your bodys inflammatory process. Depending on the specific food, it may also supply key nutrients (such as selenium, vitamin E, zinc, iron or magnesium) that are involved in optimal immune cell functioning. Use these foods to help punch up your meal. For example, saute veggies in extra virgin olive oil and top with some chopped nuts or hemp seeds.

Pulses, which include beans, legumes and dried peas, are whole food and shelf-stable forms of plant-based proteins that supply immune-optimizing nutrients, including fiber, magnesium and iron. Whether youre actively trying to cut back on meat or just trying to stretch your meat (and food budget) further, these foods will help. Other whole food forms of plant-based protein include tofu and edamame.

If youre new to these foods, try serving them in familiar ways. For example, make a black bean quesadilla, toss shelled edamame into a favorite stir-fry, or use hummus (a chickpea puree) as a sandwich spread. Though theres nothing wrong with the convenience of fake meat products (like the Beyond Burger), these foods are heavily processed, so its generally better to choose whole-food forms of plant-based proteins instead.

The US Dietary Guidelines recommend eating seafood twice a week and this advice can help your immune health too. Seafood supplies anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients, including magnesium and zinc, that help support your immune system. Plus, when you replace red meat, which is high in pro-inflammatory saturated fats, with seafood you can help keep chronic inflammation in check.

Yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi are examples of fermented foods that supply beneficial bacteria to your gut. According to one review, supplementing with probiotics, such as the ones found in fermented foods, helped prevent upper respiratory infections and shaved about two days off of the recovery period among the people who did get sick compared with those who took a placebo (a fake treatment).

To keep your immune system strong, its also a good idea to limit these foods, which all play a role in weakening your defenses.

Whether from desserts, sugary drinks or sneakier sources like plant-based milks, whole grain cereals or yogurts, a high-sugar diet may tamp down your immune response.

Too much alcohol can weaken your immune system. It has also been linked with a higher chance of respiratory infections. Stick to a drink (for women) or two (for men) a day.

The majority of sodium in your diet comes from these foods and research suggests that excess salt might undermine your immune systems ability to cope with an invader. Heavily processed foods are also made with refined grains, which alter your metabolic response and can ultimately leave you more susceptible to serious infections. Some major culprits include fast food meals, pizza and chips.

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The best immune system foods and the worst - TODAY - TODAY

We know that the bodys immune system is important for keeping everything in check and protecting us. But a lot of us dont realise that the brain also has an immune system.

Microglia, which are the brains immune system cells, are involved in everything from brain development to protecting against diseases such as meningitis and Alzheimers. But for all the good these cells do for us, under the wrong conditions they can also cause us harm.

Microglia belong to a group of non-neuronal cells called glia, which originally were thought to play a supportive role for the brains neurons. Now research shows that microglia actually do much more than only support the neurons: they nourish, protect and sometimes even destroy them.

These cells are unique because they come from the same place as other immune system cells, but have a different origin from other brain cells, which develop from neural stem cells. Microglia come from the yolk sac an extra embryonic membrane and travel to the brain early during its development.

Once established, microglia perform numerous functions. They help neurons connect, clean the brain of waste and dead or injured cells, constantly check everything is in order, and defend the brain from external threats (such as microbes), and internal threats including misfolded proteins (when a protein takes on the wrong form, which can cause disease). Their ability to change physical form and behaviour in response to their environment allows them to perform these many roles.

Microglial functions are especially crucial during brain development, when they help young neurons grow, and ensure the right connections are made between neurons. Through a procedure called pruning, microglia eat connections between neurons, maintaining strong ones while eliminating weaker or unnecessary ones. This continues somewhat during adulthood. For example, microglia remove unimportant memories by eating or altering synapses involved in their maintenance.

Faulty pruning during brain development has been linked with disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. But uncontrollable pruning by microglia in adulthood has been implicated in developing diseases such as Alzheimers.

Microglia have specific receptors on their surface which recognise distress signals from other cells. These signals attract microglia to the site of the problem. When the brains balance is disturbed (usually as a result of inflammation), living neurons can become stressed and produce these signals. This may cause them to be eaten alive by microglia. As neurons are killed, the connections they have with other neurons are also eliminated, which can cause severe issues in brain connectivity and functions.

Inflammation in the brain can be caused by stress, pathogens, and auto-immune conditions, and is also connected to inflammation in other parts of the body. Brain inflammation is common in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as mental health disorders, including depression.

Inflammation causes microglia to change roles, and turn into their aggressive form to defend the brain. Usually, when stress signals stop and anti-inflammatory signals are received, microglia go back to first repairing, then protecting the brain.

But there are cases, such as with chronic stress, ageing and neurodegenerative disorders, where microglia can become more aggressive and less easy to regulate, making them more dangerous for the brain. In these cases, microglia can increase in numbers, unnecessarily kill nearby cells, and may contribute to making the brain even more inflamed by secreting inflammatory molecules. They also dont go back to their protective role easily.

But there are many things we can do to keep our microglia happy and our brains healthy such as:

Maintain a healthy diet: Compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, can keep your microglia young, and shift them towards an anti-inflammatory form.

Keep your gut bacteria happy: The brain and the gut are connected by the vagus nerve, so microbes living in our gut have a large effect on the brain. These microorganisms are involved in the development, maintenance, and overall health of microglia.

Avoid alcohol and smoking: Alcohol causes brain damage. A recent study found that one of the ways it does so is by activating the microglias inflammatory response. Research shows this activation is also induced by a specific compound found in cigarette smoke.

Sleep: Microglia never sleep, but they clean and repair the brain and improve memory while you do. Lack of sleep, however, has also been shown to make microglia take on their inflammatory form.

Take care of your mental health: Microglia can sense stress, and they respond to it by turning into their inflammatory form. This form is present in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, and also in some cases mental health issues (such as depression) that precede neurodegenerative disorders.

It has also been shown that anti-inflammatory treatment can help with managing the symptoms of psychiatric disorders, and that some medications used for the treatment of mental health issues have an anti-inflammatory element. Antidepressants have also been shown to directly regulate microglia responses.

Exercise: A recent review found exercise directly affects microglia, and shifts them towards having a protective form. Exercising the brain has also been shown to train microglia to resist Alzheimers disease.

Although we know some things about microglia, we dont know everything. We know some things about how they form, that theyre involved in many diseases, and that they might essentially control the brain. But we also know we cant control them. Future research might focus on how we can stop microglia from causing diseases, and how to stop these cells from turning against the brain.

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Microglia: the brains 'immune cells' protect against diseases but they can also cause them - The Conversation UK

Many autoimmune diseases are treated with immunosuppressive drugs to rein in an immune system that has turned on the bodys own tissues. Problem is, that approach doesnt just tamp down the immune response in affected tissuesit affects immune cells throughout the body. Enter Q32 Bio, which is working on a new generation of treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

The company is coming out of the shadows with a $46 million series A round and a mission to restore balance to the immune response rather than wiping out disease-driving pathways or immune cells. It hopes to have two programs in the clinic by the third quarter next year.

Fundamentally, we aim to restore homeostasis to adaptive and innate immunity. Were getting the immune response back in check rather than ablating pathways or cell types, Q32 CEO Michael Broxson told FierceBiotech.

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RELATED: Celsius bags $65M to develop precision drugs for cancer, autoimmune disease

Its lead program, ADX-914, is an antibody licensed from Bristol Myers Squibb that targets the IL-7 receptor, a cytokine involved in T-cell maturation. Blocking that receptor could tune down the activity of T cells that kill the bodys own cells as well as those that stimulate B cells to make antibodies against the bodys own tissues. The company plans to start a phase 1 study later this year.

As Q32 learns more about the drug, it will mull over disease areas it wants to test in phase 2.

You can imagine because of the biology there are lots of places where we might go, such as T cell-driven diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, Broxson said. Theres a set of diseases on the B cell side, like myasthenia gravis, and diseases where T and B cell pathology are involved, like Sjgren's.

RELATED: Apellis climbs as its drug beats Alexion's Soliris in phase 3

Following behind is ADX-097, slated to enter the clinic in 2021. Its a fusion protein that targets the complement system, part of the innate immune response that serves as the bodys first line of defense against invading pathogens. In autoimmune conditions, the complement system can become overactivated and target healthy tissues. There are multiple complement inhibitors in development and on the market, including Alexions Soliris. They are important therapeutic interventions, Broxson said, but all of them work systemically.

We think our approach is the next generation of therapeutics in that we only inhibit complement activity in tissue where it is aberrant, otherwise preserving surveillance systemically, he said.

Q32s fusion proteins bind to a target expressed in diseased tissue as well as to enzymes called convertases, which provide the gas to the entire complement system,Q32 co-founder and Chief Scientific OfficerShelia Violette said. It does the latter through a fragment of whats called a negative regulator protein, which are supposed to keep convertases in checkbut dont work properly in autoimmune conditions.

Were hijacking a system in diseased tissues to bring back negative regulator proteins and make them active again where you need them, Violette said.

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Q32 debuts with $46M to 'rebalance' innate and adaptive immunity - FierceBiotech

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The killer is not the virus but the immune response.

The current pandemic is unique not just because it is caused by a new virus that puts everyone at risk, but also because the range of innate immune responses is diverse and unpredictable. In some it is strong enough to kill. In others it is relatively mild.

My research relates to innate immunity. Innate immunity is a persons inborn defense against pathogens that instruct the bodys adaptive immune system to produce antibodies against viruses. Those antibody responses can be later used for developing vaccination approaches. Working in the lab of Nobel laureate Bruce Beutler, I co-authored the paper that explained how the cells that make up the bodys innate immune system recognize pathogens, and how overreacting to them in general could be detrimental to the host. This is especially true in the COVID-19 patients who are overreacting to the virus.

Also read: All the Covid-19 symptoms you didnt know about

I study inflammatory response and cell death, which are two principal components of the innate response. White blood cells called macrophages use a set of sensors to recognize the pathogen and produce proteins called cytokines, which trigger inflammation and recruit other cells of the innate immune system for help. In addition, macrophages instruct the adaptive immune system to learn about the pathogen and ultimately produce antibodies.

To survive within the host, successful pathogens silence the inflammatory response. They do this by blocking the ability of macrophages to release cytokines and alert the rest of the immune system. To counteract the viruss silencing, infected cells commit suicide, or cell death. Although detrimental at the cellular level, cell death is beneficial at the level of the organism because it stops proliferation of the pathogen.

For example, the pathogen that caused the bubonic plague, which killed half of the human population in Europe between 1347 and 1351, was able to disable, or silence, peoples white blood cells and proliferate in them, ultimately causing the death of the individual. However, in rodents the infection played out differently. Just the infected macrophages of rodents died, thus limiting proliferation of the pathogen in the rodents bodies which enabled them to survive.

The silent response to plague is strikingly different from the violent response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This suggests that keeping the right balance of innate response is crucial for the survival of COVID-19 patients.

Also read: If I had Covid-19 am I immune? This is what scientists know so far

Heres how an overreaction from the immune system can endanger a person fighting off an infection.

Some of the proteins that trigger inflammation, named chemokines, alert other immune cells like neutrophils, which are professional microbe eaters to convene at the site of infections where they can arrive first and digest the pathogen.

Others cytokines such as interleukin 1b, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor guide neutrophils from the blood vessels to the infected tissue. These cytokines can increase heartbeat, elevate body temperature, trigger blood clots that trap the pathogen and stimulate the neurons in the brain to modulate body temperature, fever, weight loss and other physiological responses that have evolved to kill the virus.

When the production of these same cytokines is uncontrolled, immunologists describe the situation as a cytokine storm. During a cytokine storm, the blood vessels widen further (vasolidation), leading to low blood pressure and widespread blood vessel injury. The storm triggers a flood of white blood cells to enter the lungs, which in turn summon more immune cells that target and kill virus-infected cells. The result of this battle is a stew of fluid and dead cells, and subsequent organ failure.

The cytokine storm is a centerpiece of the COVID-19 pathology with devastating consequences for the host.

When the cells fail to terminate the inflammatory response, production of the cytokines make macrophages hyperactive. The hyperactivated macrophages destroy the stem cells in the bone marrow, which leads to anemia. Heightened interleukin 1b results in fever and organ failure. The excessive tumor necrosis factor causes massive death of the cells lining the blood vessels, which become clotted. At some point, the storm becomes unstoppable and irreversible.

One strategy behind the treatments for COVID is, in part, based in part on breaking the vicious cycle of the cytokine storm. This can be done by using antibodies to block the primary mediators of the storm, like IL6, or its receptor, which is present on all cells of the body.

Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor can be achieved with FDA-approved antibody drugs like Remicade or Humira or with a soluble receptor such as Enbrel (originally developed by Bruce Beutler) which binds to tumor necrosis factor and prevents it from triggering inflammation. The global market for tumor necrosis factor inhibitors is US$22 billion.

Drugs that block various cytokines are now in clinical trials to test whether they are effective for stopping the deadly spiral in COVID-19.

Alexander (Sasha) Poltorak, Professor of Immunology, Tufts University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Also read: Covid vaccine research in India at nascent stage, breakthrough unlikely this year: Experts

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Coronavirus isnt the killer, our immune response is - ThePrint

COVID-19 has put the world on its back foot since its arrival in December 2019. And though we will survive, it will be at a high cost. As of May 21, there have been nearly 5 million reported cases worldwide and 327,000 deaths. The U.S. economy has come to a near halt, as well restaurants and bars have shuttered which has kept us from our social lives.

Whats more, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading expert in infectious disease, says that the second wave of COVID-19 is inevitable, and that its expected to hit this fall or winter. The good news is that exercise can boost your immune system by helping it more quickly locate and deal with harmful pathogens. And as we age, regular exercise will keep our immune system strong and efficient.

A 2019 review in the Journal of Sport and Health Science found that moderate exercise can boost your immune systems defense activity and metabolic health. Science Daily reported on a recent analysis that was published in the journal Exercise Immunology Review. By keeping your immune system healthy, you increase your chances of warding off viruses COVID-19 and others and exercise remains one of the most effective (and science-backed) ways to do so. Plus, youll feel better and have more energy!

The Department of Health and Human Services suggests a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. They dont specify types of activity, so we list three forms of exercise and outline the additional benefits of doing them for you to try.

Give them a try: youll be stronger in more ways than one for it.

strength training is a method of exercise that includes moves meant to improve your bodys strength and stamina. Heres a quick primer on how muscles get bigger and stronger.

If youve never performed, say, a pushup before and then do one rep, youre introducing a new stressor to your working muscles in this case, your chest, arms, and shoulders. As a result, the muscle tissues experience micro-tears, and the will body repairs them, to adapt, and they become both bigger and stronger as a result. That said, you dont need lots of weight to elicit a change. If youre new to strength training even the easiest variations of exercises will stimulate a response, and as you get stronger, you can increase the weight, reps, sets, or reduce your rest time to keep progressing.

As for what the science says, strength training has been proven to increase muscle mass in adults (which translates to more calories burned at rest) and less fat mass. Beyond a better body, studies also link strength training to improved coordination, better cognitive function, higher bone density, and reduced back pain in inactive adults. Ipso facto: youll look and feel better.

Try this routine:

Not ready to try strength training? Take a walk. Being inside and glued to our screens is not good for us we dont need research to tell us that, although it does. Though social distancing regulations are in place, you can go outside, which is what you should be doing because it lowers depression. A 2015 study from Stanford University linked 90-minute bouts of walking outdoors to decreased activity in the part of the brain thats associated with depression. The more difficult terrain of trail hiking increases your workout intensity and you get to see more of nature.

Also known as HIIT, high-intensity interval training has you perform an exercise hard as you can, for a set time (usually anywhere from 20 to 60 seconds) and then resting for the same amount of time. Compared to slow-and-steady exercise, youll jack your heart rate up far higher, far faster. Its very strenuous, but the bonus is that a HIIT session typically lasts for about 15-20 minutes.

If its been a while since you exercised regularly, skip HIIT to start and build up your base level of fitness with light strength training and walking. It is intense. Its that intensity, though, that garners an afterburn effect, where your body continues to use calories for hours after your workout, about 6 to 15% of your total calories burned from the initial session. Another study shows that a 30-second all-out sprint on a bike produced a 450% increase in human growth hormone production, which repairs brain and muscle tissues, boosts metabolism, and aids in fat loss.

Try this HIIT Workout:

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The 3 Best Types of Exercise to Boost Your Immune System - MedShadow

Inflammation is the bodys response to some type of abnormality or infection. The reason your lymph-nodes become swollen when you are sick is because white blood cells are congregating in large numbers to prepare to engulf the foreign target. It is our bodys built-in way to fight off invaders. There are many players at work in these battles proteins called cytokines, lymphocytes, and other cell types with scary names all working together to target and destroy pathogens.

The endocannabinoid system comprises two types of receptors; CB1 receptors are mainly located in the brain while CB2 receptors are found primarily in the peripheral nervous system on immune cells. There is approximately 10-100 times more gene expression of CB2 in immune cells as compared to CB1. Endocannabinoids that activate these receptors are said to control various immune system functions like cell signaling cascades and homeostasis of the immune system, specifically in places like the lymph-nodes and the gut. Immune cells are even able to produce endogenous cannabinoids like 2-AG which acts as a regulator in this system. As for exogenous cannabinoids like THC and CBD, they generally seem to have immunosuppressive effectsthey inhibit cell signaling that normally leads to pro-inflammatory or otherwise active immune responses.

Chronic diseases like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and psoriasis arise when the immune system becomes dysregulated and our immune responses become heightened. This leads to inflammation and pain which, over time, can become frustrating and downright uncomfortable. For individuals who struggle with chronic inflammation, this inhibitory response caused by cannabinoids like THC and CBD may actually be helpful in alleviating some of this pain and discomfort.

CBDs ability to decrease inflammation is perhaps its most popularly touted benefit. This statement has been backed by science; a 2016 study found that CBD applied transdermally to rats significantly reduced arthritis by diminishing certain cells related to the inflammatory immune response. But how exactly does CBD and other cannabinoids reduce inflammation in the body, and how do they interact with our immune systems?

One way that cannabinoids reduce inflammation in the body is through the suppression of cytokines. Cytokines are a class of small proteins that modulate immunity through cell signaling. When secreted, they trigger a cascade of signals, recruiting more cytokines to the source. This is an important part of how inflammation occurs.

Tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNF-) is one type of cytokine. Overexpression of TNF- has been implicated in Crohns Disease and IBD, as well as some cancers and even anxiety and depression (though the latter is controversial and still being studied). Interestingly, we also know CBD can help with pain and inflammation related to IBD. Specifically, CBD in some instances has been seen to directly decrease TNF- in mice.

Interleukins are another main type of cytokine involved in the immune response and are often modulated by both endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids. A 2019 study found that CBD alone did not inhibit a certain type of interleukin (IL-8) but a whole plant extract of cannabis sativa did, suggesting that other cannabinoids are at work interacting with immune regulation. This finding provides more evidence for the entourage effect, the idea that the various cannabinoids in a whole plant extract or cannabis flower interact with each other to create different effects than what a single cannabinoid could do on its own.

NF-B is a protein involved in immune regulation. It lays dormant (inhibited) in unstimulated cells and is activated by signals coming from outside the cell. It is responsible for cell proliferation, cell survival responses, and other immune responses. When activated, NF-B causes an inflammatory response. Thus, inhibiting this pathway can decrease chronic inflammation that occurs from excessive cell signaling.

A 2019 study found that both cannabis sativa extract and CBD alone inhibited the NF-B pathway, mainly through TNF- (TNF- can activate the NF-B pathway). The cannabis extract also downregulated some genes associated with skin inflammation through this pathway which could be beneficial for conditions like psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis. Many of these components within the immune system are interconnected and work together to cause overall changes in the body.

The last common way that cannabinoids decrease inflammation is by inducing cell death (this is called apoptosis). THC specifically has been known to cause apoptosis in a variety of cell types. This may sound scary, but apoptosis exists mainly to clear out damaged or harmful cells and to prevent clutter. Scientists found that THC causes cell death through the activation of CB2 receptors. By chemically blocking CB2 receptors, apoptosis was also blocked, confirming the role of the CB2 receptor in this process.

What does this mean? We know THC has been used to treat tumor suppression in cancer patients, which would make sense if it causes cell death. However, researchers have found that some cells, like breast cancer cells, are immune to cannabinoid-induced apoptosis. There is still a lot we are finding out about these molecules role in the immune system.

The short answer to this question is cannabinoids are immuno-suppressive. Because THC and CBD significantly reduce cytokine expression, there are potential negative effects of using cannabinoids to treat more serious conditions like HIV if a patient already has a weakened immune system (or in the case of cancer cells that do not respond to cannabinoid-induced apoptosis). The long answer is its complicated. Some say cannabinoids effect on immune function is transient, such that it allows conditions like acute or chronic inflammation to be treated without harming the overall ability of the immune system to do its job when needed. We also know how useful CBD can be for treating chronic inflammation, especially for skin conditions because it decreases inflammatory responses.

As far as your recreational use goes, consuming cannabis most likely will not weaken your immune system on its own. However, for similar reasons why you wouldnt go out for a night on the town if you were feeling under the weather, listen to your body and what you feel it needs during this time. Scientists worldwide are continuing to tackle these big questions so that one day we can all appreciate even more knowledge of how cannabis affects our bodies and minds.

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Hanna has a BS in behavioral neuroscience and creative writing. She currently works in a cannabis neuropharmacology lab at Western Washington University and is pursuing science writing with Ganjapreneur to help better inform the public about current cannabis research.

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Cannabinoids and The Immune System - Ganjapreneur

The lens of the eye is an unusual organ. Unlike most of the bodys organs, blood vessels dont reach the lens. If they did, theyd obscure our vision and we wouldnt be able to see. The lack of vasculature led scientists to believe immune cells, which travel via the bloodstream, couldnt get to this part of the body either. But a few years ago, Jefferson researchers challenged this long held assumption by demonstrating that immune cells populate the lens in response to degeneration. Now the Jefferson team finds the eye also launches an immune response in the lens after injury. The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence that is working to overturn the accepted dogma of the field.Why would we evolve a tissue that is so central to our being able to see without ways to ensure its protection, its ability to repair itself? says, Sue Menko, PhD, Professor in the Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, who led the research. "Immune cells are central to that protection and repair.

The lens of the eye works like a camera lens. Its main purpose is to focus images coming in through the cornea the transparent front layer of the eye onto the retina at the back of the eye. The images are detected by the retina and then translated in the brain as what we see. That lens must be crystal clear. As a result, scientists have always described the lens as a tissue without vasculature and therefore no source of immune cells either.

At some point, you think about it and you wonder how thats possible, Dr. Menko says. It doesnt really make a lot of sense.

The puzzle led Dr. Menko and her team to investigate whether immune cells are present in the eye. In a previous study, they discovered that when the lens is in a diseased state, immune cells are not only recruited there, but they also show up in the cornea, retina, and vitreous body all parts of the eye that dont normally have immune cells. Dr. Menkos work suggested that the immune cells come from the ciliary body, a sort of muscle that helps squeeze and pull the lens, changing its shape, and helping it focus.

The ciliary body is also a place that is vascular rich so it seemed like the most obvious place to look, Dr. Menko says.

Now, in the latest work, Dr. Menko and colleagues show that after injury to the cornea, immune cells travel from the ciliary body to the lens along fibers known as ciliary zonules. The researchers used fluorescent markers and high-powered microscopes to observe structures of mouse eyes one day after receiving a scratch on the cornea. The high-tech imaging analysis Dr. Menkos team used revealed that following injury to the cornea, the immune system launches a response to protect the lens. Immune cells are recruited to the lens via the ciliary zonules, and crawl along the surface of the lens to surveille and protect from adverse impacts of the corneal wound.

This is really the first demonstration that surveillance by immune cells of the lens in response to injury somewhere else in the eye, Dr. Menko says.

The researchers also found that some immune cells were able to cross the lens capsule, a membranous structure that helps to keep the lens under tension. The results could point to a role for immune cells in cataract formation.

Together, the findings indicate that in response to damage or disease, the eye utilizes alternative mechanisms rather than direct contact with the bloodstream like non-transparent tissues do to ensure that immune cells get to sites to provide healing and protection.

Were excited to go from thinking this doesnt make sense to proving that the body is amazing and can adapt to anything. You just have to go in and look for it, Dr. Menko says.

We should be willing to challenge dogma because that's where discovery is, she adds. It can enlighten what we know if we always keep our mind open to what doesnt make sense and what maybe should be challenged to understand things better.ReferenceDeDreu et al. (2020). An immune response to the avascular lens following wounding of the cornea involves ciliary zonule fibrils. The FASEB Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202000289R

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Immune Protection of Lens in Eye Injury Challenges Idea of Immune Isolation - Technology Networks

Spend a bit of time online right now, and you can find everyone from unlicensed supplement promoters to naturopaths and even some physicians advertising immunity "boosts" to help protect against COVID-19.

Because there areno proven treatments or prevention measures for the novel coronavirus, many of these pills, injections and other services clearly cross a line into false advertising. Chiropractors, for example, have been forbidden from advertising any effect on immunity, and Health Canada has investigated more than 140 products that illegally claim to treat or prevent COVID-19.

Other times, it's a bit less black and white. Some businesses plainly state there's no evidence their products will help fight the novel coronavirus, but hint those same products could help build a strong immune defence against illness in general.

In an attempt to make sense of all this, CBC spoke with Bob Hancock, a microbiologist at the University of British Columbiawho studies infectious diseases and the immune system.

"Immune boosting is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is absolutely not a way of protecting you against COVID-19 full stop," Hancock said.

"You are not going to get better or protect yourself from the virus or really get any major benefit from the immune boosters to treat COVID-19."

Hancock explained some of the science in an interview last week.

As Hancock explains it, the idea of boosting your immunity is a bit of a marketing ploy dreamed up by the "health food guys," but that doesn't mean there's no truth in it. He says there is a strong body of scientific evidence suggesting that some substances can help a bit.

"They serve to raise your level of immunity, but they don't really serve to prevent infections," Hancock says.

That's because these nutrients can play a role in what's known as the innate or non-specific immune system the body's first line of defence against microscopic invaders.

It's a type of immunity humans share with everything from garden snails to house plants, and it includes physical barriers like the skin as well as defensive responses like mucous, bile and inflammation, all of which might help to limit the spread of pathogens through the body.

"That part of immunity doesn't work very well when people have nutritional deficiencies," Hancock said.

But innate immunity doesn't play a role in fighting off specific viruses and bacteria once they've taken hold.

Vitamins, including A and C, and minerals like zinc and magnesium are often marketed for helpingimmunity, and according to Hancock, "in most of those cases there is a very, very good body of evidence that suggests that they're beneficial."

Hancock says he takes a multivitamin every day. He's also taken the herb echinacea in an attempt to prevent coldand flu, but acknowledges the evidenceis a bit mixed.

"There actually was a controlled clinical trial on echinacea, and the first [trial] showed it worked and the second one showed it didn't work at all. So you can take whichever set of evidence you like," Hancock said.

"When you're dealing with these kinds of immune boosters, people don't work on evidence, they work on good stories."

He says anyone who's thinking about trying a product marketed as an immune booster should choose their sources of information carefully. He prefers physicians, "who are not perfect," but do know how to evaluate evidence, and scientific publications.

And if you're looking to get in a vitamin boost, Hancock says to forget the expensive injections and intravenous infusions, and opt for the supplement aisle at your local drug store.

An immune boosting vitamin is no replacement for a vaccine they're not even in the same ballpark when it comes to preventing serious illness, says Hancock.

While so-called "boosters" might play a role in the innate immune system, vaccines work by stimulating the much more specific adaptive immune system, which is unique to vertebrate animals.

Vaccines normally work by injectingweakened or deadforms of a virus or bacterium, prompting the body to create antibodies.

"You will be defended against a future infection because the type of immunity you're raising is very, very specific it's exquisitely specific for the particular agent you're worried about," Hancock said.

But as Hancock points out, most successful vaccines also contain immune-boosting elements called adjuvants things like aluminum salts that help trigger a stronger response against the target, without actually providing any immune protection on their own.

"In a sense, this is the ultimate proof of this immune boosting concept, the fact that adjuvants exist and they work very well," Hancock said.

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What does it mean to 'boost' your immunity and can that help with the coronavirus? - CBC.ca

A blood test could show if a person will become seriously ill with coronavirus, with clinical trials set to begin on a treatment scientists hope could combat the effects of the illness.

A new study suggests the test could help track a person's immune response to COVID-19, allowing doctors to identify at an early stage who might need additional treatment or critical care.

It found people who suffered the most severe form of the illness had a problem with a specific type of T-cell that clears the body of virus-infected cells.

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Those involved in the research say clinical trials will now take place to establish the effectiveness of a drug called recombinant IL-7 (interleukin 7), which can increase a person's number of T-cells, and in turn boost their immune response.

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust identified what they call the immunological signature of the disease, based on preliminary analysis of 60 coronavirus patients at St Thomas' Hospital.

Project lead Adrian Hayday, who heads the Crick's Immunosurveillance Laboratory and is professor of immunobiology at King's College London, said: "The changes we've observed in the blood are not subtle and patients with these features seem more likely to experience severe disease, requiring intensive management."

The researchers hope such a blood test could be more broadly applied in hospitals to seek early indications of patient condition, and to effectively help prioritise treatments.

They say their findings on how COVID-19 affects the body could also help inform studies looking to develop effective treatments and vaccines.

As part of the ongoing study, called COVID-IP, patients at Guy's and St Thomas' who have agreed to donate to an infectious disease biobank provide regular blood samples during their treatment for the virus.

The samples are processed in secure containment at Guy's Hospital before immune cells are analysed in the team's laboratories at King's College London and at the Crick.

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Coronavirus: Blood test could show how the immune system responds to COVID-19, researchers say - Sky News

This drink is loaded with numerous health benefits. You can have it daily in the morning on an empty stomach to keep viral and bacteria diseases at bay.

Apple Cider Vinger: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) prohibits the growth of bad pathogens in the body. It has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. ACV is also good for the growth of healthy gut bacteria, which is necessary for a healthy immune system.

Turmeric: Loaded with antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, turmeric is a natural healer. When mixed with apple cider vinegar, the two work well in protecting the body from harmful germs and bacteria.

Ginger: Ginger is packed with antimicrobial, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains compounds that increase the number of white blood cells in the body, which helps to destroy foreign bacteria and virus.

Honey: The enzymes present in honey keep your digestive system healthy and boost immunity. It also has powerful antioxidants, which are effective in removing free radicals from the body

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Drink this tonic the first thing in the morning to boost your immunity - Times of India

An acquaintance of Lindsay McMichael says she would use her dads position in the DAs office for personal gain.

We are learning more about the sister of Ahmaud Arberys accused killer.

The Sun, a UK-based tabloid newspaper reported last week that Lindsay McMichael posted a picture of Arberys body on Snapchat the day he was killed.

Lindsay McMichaels brother, Travis McMichael, and father, Greg McMichael are charged with felony murder in the case.

Lindsay McMichael reportedly told the tabloid she posted the picture because shes a true crime fan.

Jennifer Smith is an acquaintance of Lindsay McMichael.

Smith says she was disgusted when learning the graphic photograph was posted on Snapchat.

She gave an interview with the Sun saying shes a true crime fan, thats why she did it. And I find it so lacking of empathy, Smith said.

Smith met Lindsay McMichael at a mutual friends baby shower. Smith also graduated from Brunswick High School the same year as Travis McMichael, Arberys accused killer.

In 2012, Smith and Lindsay McMichael were in a driver education class together.

She never took the class seriously, she made a joke of it and took it so lightly, Smith added.

Smith also said Lindsay McMichael claimed she could use her dads position as an investigator in the Brunswick District Attorneys Office for personal gain.

"She would often tout that, because her dad knows somebody that's why I didn't get in trouble," Smith said.

First Coast News has tried reaching out to the McMichaels for comment.

Lindsay McMichael told The Sun that posting a picture of Arberys body was poor judgment.

Smith thinks the shooting and the actions of the McMichael family are unacceptable.

Theres no reason to use a gun to make a citizens arrest, Smith believes.

Smith says she wanted to speak on the matter because of who Travis [McMichael] was growing up with him in high school and Lindsay McMichaels complete lack of insight to her wrongdoings in my tenure of knowing her.

She says she knew Travis McMichael through mutual friends but had no direct connection with him.

Attorneys for Greg and Travis McMichael have said that not all facts of the case have come to light and that their clients are innocent.

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Claim: Lindsay McMichaels post of Ahmaud Arberys body shows 'blindness to empathy and humanity' - FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX

(PRESS RELEASE) CHICAGO Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, has announced the recipient of the 2020 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, as the Childrens Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) at West Virginia University. The recipient of the inaugural Rising Visionary Award is Araba Otoo, third-year optometry student, at The Ohio State University. Both award recipients will have the opportunity to present at the Ninth Annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit, to be held as a virtual online event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health is named for Mrs. Jenny Pomeroy, who served as CEO of Prevent Blindness Georgia from 1996 until 2013, and was an advocate for championing the role of public health in vision and eye care services and programs. The annual award recognizes an individual, team, or organization that has made significant contributions to the advancement of public health related to vision and eye health at the community, state, national, and/or international level.

The CVRP, led by program director Rebecca Coakley, MA, CLVT, was selected by a volunteer committee for the programs innovative approach to respond to the individual needs of visually impaired children, teachers, parents, and related professionals in West Virginia. Founded in 1996, the CVRP has a three-pronged approach in meeting the needs of blind/visually impaired children by:

To help children succeed outside of the classroom, the CVRP began a program to assist in mastering skills in relation to independent living, communication, organization, self-help, socialization, and self-advocacy. Last year, the CVRP held four events for visually-impaired students: adventure camp, summer day camp, technology camp, and an orientation and mobility weekend trip to New York City. The CVRP and its low vision services continue to serve as a model for programs both nationally and internationally, including countries such as Canada and Egypt.

Araba Otoo, a third-year optometry student at The Ohio State University, was selected as the first recipient of the Prevent Blindness Rising Visionary Award. The award recognizes an optometry student or resident, ophthalmology resident, or other health care professional student or resident in the United States who has the best essay based on a question related to the 2020 Focus on Eye Health National Summit theme, An Eye to the Future. Otoos essay featured ideas on public education and awareness tactics to create the most impactful change to improve the future outlook of vision and eye health.

By working together, and learning from the successful efforts of those who are making a significant impact on the vision and eye health in their communities, we can help to expand those efforts across the country, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. We not only congratulate the CVRP team on their receipt of the 2020 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, but thank them for their outstanding work. We look forward to Ms. Araba Otoos impact as she continues her career providing sight-saving services.

For more information on the Prevent Blindness Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, please visit here. Information on the Prevent Blindness Rising Visionary Award may be found here. Or, contact Nita Sinha, director of Public Health, at (800) 331-2020 or [emailprotected].

Originally posted here:
Prevent Blindness Announces Recipients of 2020 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, and Rising Visionary Award -...

Scientists have claimed a bionic eye could be here in just five years.

It is the second breakthrough in the medical fight to beat blindness announced in the past month.

The worlds first 3D artificial eyeball creates images using tiny sensors that mimic light-detecting cells found in a human eye.

And it could even be capable of sharper vision than the real thing, say the scientists behind it.

Professor Zhiyong Fan, from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said: Our biomimetic eye has a size comparable to a human eye a bit more than 2cm in diameter. It can be used for visual prosthesis to help the blind or those visually impaired.

It can lead to a bionic eye.

News of the device comes after US scientists found they could restore vision by using a device that sends images from a camera straight into the brain.

Most adults lose their sight due to damage to the eyes or optic nerve. Researchers now think implanted electrodes can be stimulated to trace out shapes on the surface of the brain.

That would allow blind people to see again.

Previous attempts to stimulate the visual cortex have been far less successful.

Professor Michael Beauchamp, who is working on the study at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said the next step would be to work with brain engineers to increase the number of electrodes used and make better images possible.

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World's first 'bionic eyeball' that could help beat blindness could be in use by 2025 - Daily Star

Actress Victoria Smurfit is throwing an online raffle with a prize of a three-night stay in a luxury hotel on an island as part of her eldest daughter's efforts to fight blindness.

Smurfit, who made in her name in nineties drama Ballykissangel playing Orla OConnell, has teamed up with her eldest daughter, 15-year-old Evie, who has a vision disease, to offer the prize. Entrants can take part by donating five pounds, Euro, or dollars at fightingblindness.ie.For more information check outSmurfits Twitter and Instagram pages.

Speaking to Marty Morrissey on Marty in the Shed on the RT Player from her home in London, the actress said: "Evie is my eldest and shes an astonishing kid, she really is. About three years ago she was diagnosed with Stargardt macular dystrophy and she islosing your central vision.

"Its hugely unfair. Since then, shes done a huge amount of work for the RNIB to fight blindness and part of Evies work as an ambassador to fight blindness is that were doing this raffle."

The draw will take place on May 29 and the winner will be flown via private jet from a private airport outside London to a boutique hotel called the Blonde Hedgehog in Guernsey.

During her chat with Marty, the actress, also recalled her days on Ballykissangel, which ran from 1996 to 2001, and said the show was her big break.

"Before that, Id done a couple of period dramas. Run of the Country with Albert Finney was my first big job but in terms of viewership, Bally K was a biggie. Id be walking down Fifth Avenue in New York and people would go, 'Oh my god! Is that Orla! so that was the big change."

She also talked about her movie roles, saying, "I only had a tiny, wee part in The Beach but Leonardo DiCaprio was very welcoming and kind. Hugh Grant made me laugh my head off in About a Boy."

Asked how shes coping in lockdown, Smurfit said, "Im coping, Im coping because you have to, right? Ive got a roof over my head, Ive got a garden, the kids are healthy.

"Theres lots of upsides and also I live on a golf course but dont tell them because every once in a while, Ill pour myself a glass of wine and Ill walk around to the nearest bunker and Ill put my feet in it and Ill pretend Im at the beach. Theres a creative element to lockdown."

Click here to watch Marty in the Shed on the RT Player

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Victoria Smurfit throws raffle to fight blindness Television / 25 May - RTE.ie

Hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat lupus and rheumatological disorder, has received a massive amount of publicity this year. The reason? Its role in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The drug made headlines after being proposed as a preventative measure (prophylaxis) against Covid-19, as reported in theNew York Times.

While hydroxychloroquine has generally fewer side-effects than its cousin chloroquine, which was also researched as a possible Covid-19 treatment, it was generally declared as ineffective against the novel coronavirus, based on several studies.

But, besides the fact that the hydroxychloroquine hype may cause those who really need the medicine for lupus not being able to find it, the drug can also have irreversible side effects, as discussed in the journal Nature.

Hydroxychloroquines effect on your eyes

Toxic retinopathy is a condition where vision is impaired as a result of optic nerves being damaged by a toxin, such as found in some medications.

Several previous studies have acknowledged that long-term use of hydroxychloroquine may lead to this condition. But with the heightened interest in hydroxychloroquine during the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Reference Network for Rare Eye Disease became especially concerned about the drugs role in toxic retinopathy, especially in patients who already have inherited retinal dystrophy (a condition where one or both eyes lose vision over time).

Retinopathy caused by hydroxychloroquine is also sometimes referred to as bulls-eye maculopathy, as the condition affecting the retina surrounding the macula resembles a target or bulls-eye ring.

At first, the central vision isnt affected, but a ring of disrupted vision around the centre of the eye is experienced. As it progresses to the centre of the eye, the entire vision can be affected and vision loss is permanent in most cases.

Those who are chronically on hydroxychloroquine for anti-rheumatic purposes or the treatment of lupus are generally more at risk, and should undergo comprehensive eye exams more often.

But according to Nature, not only patients on chronic hydroxychloroquine are in danger, but also those who take it as self-medication without supervision by a medical professional.

If a person suffers from any comorbidity such as renal impairment or obesity, they are also more likely to be at risk of vision loss.

Other problems with hydroxychloroquine

Besides the retinal effect of hydroxychloroquine, there are many other systemic side-effects that can be experienced when this drug is taken for the wrong reasons and in the wrong quantities.

One of these iscardiac complications that can potentially be fatal. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has also issued a statement that hydroxychloroquine should not be taken without supervision by your medical advisor, as this may lead to heart rhythm irregularities.

Earlier in April 2020, Health24 published anarticledebating the potential of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as a Covid-19 treatment.

Professor Wolfgang Preiserfrom the Division of Medical Virology at the University of Stellenbosch recently stated that the evidence of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine being beneficial in Covid-19 patients is minimal, and generally flawed, and that panic buying could prevent those who depend on the drug for existing conditions from getting it.

Image credit:

Compiled by Marelize Wilke

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Covid-19: Amid caution over use of hydroxychloroquine, experts warn of possible irreversible blindness - Health24

THE coronavirus is not political. It is an act of nature. It is random fate.

It arrived in these green Irish hills. It arrived on English streets.

It arrived in the vast spaces of the USA. It arrived on the warm beaches of Brazil.

It arrived everywhere.

The world scrabbled to deal with it and even the best made it up as they went along.

The stark biology of it made us confront the simple, human, fact of our own mortality.

It was inevitable, too, that there would be mistakes.

Irelands death rate, for instance, could have been better.

We locked down just that little bit too late. We made mistakes with our nursing homes that constitute a pretty damaging oversight.

Each and every death was a sadness and even as I write this, with our first day without a single coronavirus death just announced, we remember that.

Yet, just as the virus itself was not political, the response to it clearly was.

It cannot be an accident, even to the most willingly biased, that the countries with the worst global death rates are the likes of the UK, the USA, Brazil and Russia.

It does not take a student of world politics to see the comparisons between the political leadership of those countries.

Indeed, it would have to be a willing blindness, not to see the macho, nationalistic, bombastic, blustering nature of the men in charge of those countries.

The virus in those countries has been no different from the virus in other countries. It has not been, of itself, more deadly or more contagious.

The virus did not act politically when it arrived beneath Westminster Bridge, outside the Kremlin, around Times Square or on Rios beaches.

Those governments responded politically and their politics caused deaths. People died because of decisions they made and didnt make.

I dont know about Johnson or Trump or Putin or Bolsonaro but that would haunt me.

So we are once again left watching our friends and family in the UK, or in England to be more precise, and wondering just how you put up with this.

We are watching Dominic Cummings stumble his way through an explanation for his contravention of his own governments rules with a dismissive arrogance that is awe-inspiring.

One rule for them and one rule for you?

Well, these are the Tories you know. That is an essential part of Tory philosophy.

Do you not think it has been a part of Boris Johnsons personal conduct his entire life?

Being applauded for your actions as a father by Boris Johnson is like being recommended for your approach to truth telling by Donald Trump.

The great English writer George Orwell went, many years before, to the same school as Boris Johnson and Orwell, an avowed truth teller, said it taught him nothing except how to be a snob.

One rule for them, for Johnson and Cummings, and one rule for you? Is the Pope a Catholic?

The coronavirus is not political.

It is an act of nature. It is random fate.

But many coronavirus deaths have been political.

In Birmingham and London and Manchester and Sheffield people lie in their graves because Johnson and Cummings made decisions based on such ideas as the fact that you should stay at home but they should drive to local beauty spots to check that their eyesight was okay.

I am beginning to wonder if the new test of suitability for political power might be who can tell the most ludicrous, farcical, story without their soul crumbling.

When Bertie Ahern lied to us about his finances and said hed won unaccounted for money on the horses he did so with a corrupt flourish.

We all knew he was lying it was simply a matter of whether you went along with it or not.

Ahern was a spoofer and hed been found out and he knew it.

Political lies now are more frightening in that they are told as if they should be believed.

Trump denying he has said something weve all heard him say and have recorded.

Johnson lying about the NHS and Brexit, driving around in a bus emblazoned with the lie, and then denying it.

Cummings breaking all the virus guidelines and then denying he did so.

People believe all manner of things but believing in lies that are clearly and unambiguously lies is beyond explanation.

Bertie Ahern is a liar. Donald Trump is a liar. Boris Johnson is a liar.

And Dominic Cummings also now appears to be a liar too.

And those people who have died because of political mismanagement during the pandemic arent really alive.

They are dead. And Im not lying.

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One rule for them, another for you how the coronavirus became political - Irish Post

Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO, is chief of staff at the Illionois Eye Institute

Stacy Potwin, OD, FAAO, is a staff optometrist at the Veterans Affairs community-based outreach clinic in Charleston, WV

Abstract / Synopsis:

Children are not just miniature adults, and a variety of factors need to be considered when diagnosing and treating pediatric glaucoma patients.

Many of the questions ODs have about adults with glaucoma suspicion are the same for children: Who will go on to develop glaucoma, and why do some children respond well to treatment and others do not?

In many ways, pediatric glaucoma has completely different concerns than adult glaucoma: Children have their whole lives to lose vision from glaucoma, the treatment has numerous years to cause side effects, and many pediatric glaucoma patients will require significantly more surgeries than adults with glaucoma.

Pediatric glaucoma can become aggressive very quickly. Children can lose vision from the glaucoma itself but, unlike adults, can have permanent vision loss from amblyopia and corneal scarring that occur before treatment. Treating an infant, child or adolescent with glaucoma requires a team approach, and optometrists have an important role to play.

Related:Know what common glaucoma mistakes to avoid

Childhood blindness occurs in 0.03 percent of children in high income countries and up to 0.12 percent in undeveloped countries worldwide. Glaucoma accounts for 4.2 to 5 percent of childhood blindness. The main cause of vision impairment in children with glaucoma is amblyopia.1

Primary congenital glaucomaAccounting for 50 to 70 percent of childhood glaucoma, primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is the most common form.

PCG is diagnosed from birth to early childhood (80 percent in the first year of life). There is reduced aqueous outflow through an abnormally developed filtration angle/trabecular meshwork, which begins to form in the fourth gestational month and reaches adult structure by age 8.1-3 PCG has an autosomal recessive inheritance.4 It is bilateral 70 to 75 percent of the time, and can be asymmetric.1,4

Early diagnosis is imperative because PCG can be aggressive, and children can lose vision quickly. Interestingly, if treatment is successfully performed early enough, glaucomatous cupping can actually be reversed, owing to the immature, elastic lamina cribrosa.1,2,4,5

Related: Glaucoma facts: Essential perspectives for long-term management

References:

1. Marchini G, Toscani M, Chemello F. Pediatric glaucoma: current perspectives. Pediatric Health Med Ther. 2014;5:15-27.2. Karmel M. Childhood glaucoma. EyeNet Magazine. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/childhood-glaucoma?august-2016. Accessed 5/20/20.3. Karmel M. Caring for children with congenital glaucoma. EyeNet Magazine. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/caring-children-with-congenital-glauc.... Accessed 5/20/20.4. Freedman S. Managing pediatric patients with glaucoma. Review Ophthal. 2016 May 10;23(5):80-84.5. Freedman SF. Pediatric glaucoma. Glaucoma Today. 2006 Jul/Aug:25-28.6. Ho CL, Walton DS. Primary congenital glaucoma: 2004 update. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2004 Sep-Oct;41(5):271-288.7. Do A, Panarelli JF. Pediatric MIGS. Glaucoma Today. 2017 Mar/Apr:48-49.8. Chang TCP. MIGS in kids. Glaucoma Today. 2016 Sept/Oct:54-56.9. Huang W. Pediatric glaucoma: A review of the basics. Rev Ophthalmol. 2014 April;21(4):76-80.10. Giangiacomo A, Beck A. Pediatric glaucoma: review of recent literature. Curr Opin Ophthal. 2017 Mar;28(2):199-203.11. Beck A. Evaluating and managing optic disc cupping in children. Glaucoma Today. 2009 Jan/Feb:26-28.12. Bar-Sela SM, Feldman RM. Diagnosing and managing ocular hypertension in teenagers. Glaucoma Today. 2009 Jan/Feb:29-32.13. Chak G, Mosaed S, Minckler DS. Diagnosing and managing juvenile open-angle glaucoma. EyeNet Magazine. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/diagnosing-managing-juvenile-openangl.... Accessed 5/20/20.14. Black AC, Jones S, Yanovitch TL, Enyedi LB, Stinnett SS, Freedman SF. Latanoprost in pediatric glaucoma--pediatric exposure over a decade. J AAPOS. 2009 Dec;13(6):558-562.15. Nuyen B, Weinreb RN, Robbins SL. Steroid-induced glaucoma in the pediatric population. J AAPOS. 2017 Feb;21(1):1-6.16. Stuart A. The challenge of diagnosing pediatric glaucoma. EyeNet Magazine. 2009 Nov/Dec. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/challenge-of-diagnosing-pediatric-gla.... Accessed 5/20/20.17. Greenberg MB, Osigian CJ, Cavuoto KM, Chang TC. Clinical management of outcomes of childhood glaucoma suspects. PLoS ONE. 2017 Sep;12(9):e0185546.18. Walton DS. Managing the pediatric glaucomas. Glaucoma Today. 2009 Jan/Feb:21-24.

Original post:
Pediatric glaucoma: types, tests and treatments - Optometry Times

Ophthalmic Sutures Market will exceed USD 443.5 million by 2025; as per a new research report.

Increasing incidences of ocular diseases will prove beneficial for market growth in forthcoming years. Prevalence of eye conditions such as hyperopia, myopia, glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration is rising from past few years. According to WHO, 51% of world blindness occur due to cataract. As a result, physicians recommend surgical procedures to cure ophthalmic diseases, that will augment demand for surgical sutures, thereby propelling business growth.

Technological advancement in ophthalmic sutures will escalate industry growth. Industry players are emphasizing on development of suture that will enhance post-surgical outcomes. Infection of eye leads to hazardous repercussions such as endophthalmitis, bacterial keratitis, corneal ulceration, inflammation and edema. Companies are developing sutures that will supply antibiotics and levofloxacin to prevent ocular infections resulting in patient convenience. As a result, adoption for these sutures is expected to rise thereby augmenting business growth. However, dearth of trained ophthalmologists may hamper business growth up to certain extent.

Request sample copy of this report @ https://www.decresearch.com/request-sample/detail/3358

Synthetic sutures segment is anticipated to witness around 5% CAGR over the analysis timeframe. Significant growth is attributed to several benefits associated with synthetic sutures. Synthetic suture consists of nylon, prolene, dacron, etc. These material offer strong and prolonged support for slowly healing ocular tissues. Additionally, synthetic sutures cause minimum tissue reaction, has enhanced handling properties, passes easily through tissues, and has superior strength. Aforementioned benefits provided by synthetic sutures will augment the demand, thereby fueling segment growth.

Non-absorbable sutures segment held more than 62% revenue share in 2018. Non-absorbable sutures are made of natural and synthetic polymers. These sutures have high tensile strength and provides knot security. Nonabsorbable sutures are recommended for oculoplastic surgery. Moreover, non-absorbable sutures are unaffected by biologic activities of body tissues and remains intact until they are removed. Benefits offered by these sutures will increase its adoption, thereby augmenting its demand.

Corneal transplantation surgery segment is estimated to witness more than 6% growth over the forthcoming years. According to Eye bank of association of America, in 2016, 82,994 corneal graft tissues were utilized in the U.S. alone. Moreover, there is an increase is corneal donors since past few years. Increasing number of corneal donors coupled with unmet demand will increase surgical procedures. This scenario proves beneficial for segmental growth.

Make Inquiry about this report @ https://www.decresearch.com/inquiry-before-buying/3358

Ambulatory surgical centers segment held around 65% revenue share in 2018 and estimated to witness substantial growth in analysis timeframe. Patients prefer ASCs due to superior quality treatment, minimally invasive surgeries and low cost offered by these healthcare settings. ASCs provide good assistance, high quality equipment and infection control in ophthalmic surgical procedures that reduces the post operations complications.

Asia Pacific ophthalmic surgical market is projected to witness around 6% growth over analysis timeframe. Aging population, changing lifestyle and lack of exercise are increasing the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases and associated risk conditions such as diabetes. Growing patient pool in the region will create need for ophthalmic surgical procedures ultimately augmenting ophthalmic sutures market growth.

Prominent industry players operational in the ophthalmic sutures market include B.Braun, Medtronic, Ethicon(J&J), Teleflex, Smith& Nephew, Conmed Corporation, DemeTEch Corporation, Gore Medical, Surgical Specialties Corporation, SUTUMED. Key industry players adopt strategic initiatives such as acquisitions and new product launches, that enable them in sustaining market competition. For instance, Teleflex developed BONDEK PLUS BRAIDED that has characteristics such as lubricity and smoothness. This product received FDA clearance on October 2018 for ophthalmic procedures. Company offers customization in the product to serve the needs of patients. This strategy will enable company to gain competitive advantage.

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Ophthalmic Sutures Market 2019 Global Analysis, Opportunities And Forecast To 2025 - Cole of Duty

Kerrisa Wilson, CP24.com Published Wednesday, May 27, 2020 11:45AM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, May 27, 2020 12:18PM EDT

York Regional Police have laid charges in two separate incidents and are investigating a third after a police helicopter was struck by multiple laser pointers.

On May 21, around 11:25 p.m., police say Air2 was on a general patrol over the area of Rutherford Rd. and Islington Ave., in Vaughan, when it was struck by a bright light.

The crew was able to direct officers to the location of the suspect outside of a residence on Ronan Cr.

A 44-year-old man from Vaughan was arrested and charged with mischief endangering life, endangering security of an aircraft in flight and unlawfully projecting bright light into navigable airspace.

Following this incident, police say Air2 was struck by a laser again on May 22 in Markham. Just before midnight, the helicopter was in the area of Birchmount Rd. and Enterprise Blvd. assisting on a break and enter investigation when it was hit multiple times by a laser.

The suspect was believed to be on a balcony of a hotel on Birchmount. Officers attended the location and arrested the suspect.

A 52-year-old man from Markham is facing the same three charges as the other individual, plus obstructing police charges.

Meanwhile, police are looking for a third suspect in connection with an incident that occured on May 23. At around 11:30 p.m., police say Air2 was hit by a laser while on general patrol near Bathurst St. and Jefferson Sideroad in Richmond Hill. No suspect information has been released.

Police say laser pointers can have serious consequences for pilots as they can cause flash blindness. Health Canada says this reaction is similar to what happens during flash photography, where the image of the flash remains in your eyes for a few seconds then fades away.

Anyone with information about the third laser strike incident is asked to contact police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Link:
Charges laid after three incidents of laser strikes on York Regional Police helicopter - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News

Connective Tissue Growth FactorMarket 2020: Inclusive Insight

Los Angeles, United States, May 2020:The report titled Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market is one of the most comprehensive and important additions to Alexareports archive of market research studies. It offers detailed research and analysis of key aspects of the global Connective Tissue Growth Factor market. The market analysts authoring this report have provided in-depth information on leading growth drivers, restraints, challenges, trends, and opportunities to offer a complete analysis of the global Connective Tissue Growth Factor market. Market participants can use the analysis on market dynamics to plan effective growth strategies and prepare for future challenges beforehand. Each trend of the global Connective Tissue Growth Factor market is carefully analyzed and researched about by the market analysts.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market competition by top manufacturers/ Key player Profiled: BLR Bio LLC, FibroGen Inc, ProMetic Life Sciences Inc, RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp,

Get PDF Sample Copy of the Report to understand the structure of the complete report:(Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) : https://www.alexareports.com/report-sample/850870

Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market is estimated to reach xxx million USD in 2020 and projected to grow at the CAGR of xx% during 2020-2026. According to the latest report added to the online repository of Alexareports the Connective Tissue Growth Factor market has witnessed an unprecedented growth till 2020. The extrapolated future growth is expected to continue at higher rates by 2026.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segment by Type covers: BLR-200, IB-DMD, OLX-201, PBI-4050

Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segment by Application covers:Hypertrophic Scars, Opthalmology, Genetic Disorders, Liver Fibrosis

After reading the Connective Tissue Growth Factor market report, readers get insight into:

*Major drivers and restraining factors, opportunities and challenges, and the competitive landscape*New, promising avenues in key regions*New revenue streams for all players in emerging markets*Focus and changing role of various regulatory agencies in bolstering new opportunities in various regions*Demand and uptake patterns in key industries of the Connective Tissue Growth Factor market*New research and development projects in new technologies in key regional markets*Changing revenue share and size of key product segments during the forecast period*Technologies and business models with disruptive potential

Based on region, the globalConnective Tissue Growth Factor market has been segmented into Americas (North America ((the U.S. and Canada),) and Latin Americas), Europe (Western Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK and Rest of Europe) and Eastern Europe), Asia Pacific (Japan, India, China, Australia & South Korea, and Rest of Asia Pacific), and Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa, and Rest of Middle East & Africa).

Key questions answered in the report:

What will the market growth rate of Connective Tissue Growth Factor market?What are the key factors driving the global Connective Tissue Growth Factor market size?Who are the key manufacturers in Connective Tissue Growth Factor market space?What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Connective Tissue Growth Factor market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Connective Tissue Growth Factor market?Who are the distributors, traders, and dealers of Connective Tissue Growth Factor market?What are the Connective Tissue Growth Factor market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Connective Tissue Growth Factor industries?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Connective Tissue Growth Factor market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Connective Tissue Growth Factor industries?

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Table of ContentsSection 1 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Connective Tissue Growth Factor Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Revenue2.3 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Overview2.4 COVID-19 Impact on Connective Tissue Growth Factor IndustrySection 3 Manufacturer Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Introduction3.1 BLR Bio LLC Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Introduction3.1.1 BLR Bio LLC Connective Tissue Growth Factor Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20193.1.2 BLR Bio LLC Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 BLR Bio LLC Interview Record3.1.4 BLR Bio LLC Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Profile3.1.5 BLR Bio LLC Connective Tissue Growth Factor Product Specification3.2 FibroGen Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Introduction3.2.1 FibroGen Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20193.2.2 FibroGen Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 FibroGen Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Overview3.2.5 FibroGen Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Product Specification3.3 ProMetic Life Sciences Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Introduction3.3.1 ProMetic Life Sciences Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20193.3.2 ProMetic Life Sciences Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 ProMetic Life Sciences Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Overview3.3.5 ProMetic Life Sciences Inc Connective Tissue Growth Factor Product Specification3.4 RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business Introduction3.5 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.1.2 Canada Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.3.2 Japan Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.3.3 India Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.3.4 Korea Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.4.2 UK Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.4.3 France Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.4.4 Italy Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.4.5 Europe Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.5.2 Africa Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.5.3 GCC Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20194.6 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2014-20194.7 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2014-20195.2 Different Connective Tissue Growth Factor Product Type Price 2014-20195.3 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2014-20196.2 Different Industry Price 2014-20196.3 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2014-20197.2 Global Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisSection 8 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market Forecast 2019-20248.1 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Segmentation Market Forecast (Region Level)8.2 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Segmentation Market Forecast (Product Type Level)8.3 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Segmentation Market Forecast (Industry Level)8.4 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Segmentation Market Forecast (Channel Level)Section 9 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Segmentation Product Type9.1 BLR-200 Product Introduction9.2 IB-DMD Product Introduction9.3 OLX-201 Product Introduction9.4 PBI-4050 Product IntroductionSection 10 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Segmentation Industry10.1 Hypertrophic Scars Clients10.2 Opthalmology Clients10.3 Genetic Disorders Clients10.4 Liver Fibrosis ClientsSection 11 Connective Tissue Growth Factor Cost of Production Analysis11.1 Raw Material Cost Analysis11.2 Technology Cost Analysis11.3 Labor Cost Analysis11.4 Cost OverviewSection 12 Conclusion

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2020 Current trends in Connective Tissue Growth Factor Market to Witness Robust Expansion throughout the Forecast Period - Cole of Duty