StemCell Therapy

In the United States, 23 percent of adults suffer from arthritis. Around the world, 350 million people have this condition. While most people who have arthritis are age 65 or older, there are still many young and middle-aged adults who also have this condition.

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for arthritis. The best thing that scientists can currently do for the condition is alleviate the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. By reducing the bodys inflammatory response, doctors can help you live in less pain for longer. While every drug carries some risks and side effects, cannabidiol (CBD) is showing promise as a way to treat the pain of arthritis and reduce the progression of the disease.

How Does CBD Help?

Thanks to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, farmers can now grow and process hemp in the United States. Because of this, CBD is now widely available online for people across the country. In addition to helping with conditions like insomnia and anxiety, research also shows that CBD can help alleviate pain as well.

CBD is a chemical compound that is naturally found within cannabis plants. While this compound will not make you high, it does have other useful benefits. Since cannabis was completely illegal until very recently, scientists are still working to understand the effects of using cannabis. CBD is only one out of dozens of different cannabinoids in cannabis, so other cannabinoids may have additional effects as well.

In the United States, people can readily buy CBD balm, tinctures, vaporizers and gummies. One study by Harris Poll found that 85 percent of Americans have already heard about CBD. Out of these adults, more than 20 percent have actually tried it.

Once CBD is extracted from cannabis, it can be used to treat ailments ranging from anxiety to chronic stress. CBD works by targeting receptors in the endogenous cannabinoid system. The cannabinoid system consists of neurotransmitters that naturally bind to cannabinoid receptors. These cannabinoid receptor proteins are naturally made in the human body. CBD targets the same receptors in order to alleviate pain, anxiety and stress.

Currently, about 55 percent of users state that they take CBD in order to relax. An estimated half of people use CBD for anxiety and stress. The next most common reason why people used CBD was for pain. In addition, some people use CBD for menstrual symptoms, migraines, nausea and sexual enhancement.

What Does the Research Say?

Because CBD was illegal like the rest of the cannabis plant, researchers are still trying to gain a better understanding of how effective this drug is for various conditions. In addition, researchers still need to figure out effective dosages. In rats, moderate doses of CBD have been shown to produce an anti-anxiety effect.

Another rat study shows that oral and topical solutions of CBD can help to alleviate pain. This particular study involved scientists exposing the rats sciatic nerves using an incision. Then, they constricted the nerves. Another part of the study involved injecting bacteria into the rats paws to cause inflammation. Afterward, the scientists gave the rats CBD or a placebo for a week. They applied pressure or heat to the rats legs to see how their reaction changed in comparison to their pre-study reactions. The rats that received CBD had less pain than the control group.

In a 2010 study of human patients, 177 people experiencing cancer-related pain were given extracts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD. The patients who received extracts with THC and CBD were twice as likely to experience pain relief as the patients who received just THC. This seems to indicate that CBD alone or the combination of the two is the component that leads to pain relief.

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CBD and Arthritis Pain

An estimated 54 million Americans suffer from arthritis. Out of this number, 24 million Americans have to limit their daily activities because of arthritis. While people may say they just have arthritis, arthritis is actually a term that covers more than 100 different conditions. All of these conditions involve some level of swelling, pain and stiffness. With certain kinds of arthritis, the organs can also be affected.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This is the form that causes cartilage to deteriorate. Since this cartilage helps to protect your bones from friction, it can lead to pain and joint damage. People who experience this condition can develop inflammation as well. Because it takes time for cartilage to deteriorate, this condition typically affects the elderly more than it affects young adults.

Inflammatory arthritis like psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis are connected to autoimmune conditions. These kinds of conditions develop because the immune system thinks that it is under attack from invaders. Instead of attacking invading viruses, the body attacks organs or bones. This leads to severe pain and inflammation.

Once someone experiences joint deterioration, the symptoms tend to get worse over time. Other than treating joint and nerve pain, many patients also need help with inflammation. By using CBD, you might be able to limit your joint pain, inflammation and mobility issues. Arthritis symptoms like stiffness, decreased joint movement and pain tend to respond well to CBD.

How the Endocannabinoid System Works

The endocannabinoid system is a fairly recent discovery. It was discovered after researchers started learning about the way cannabis affects the body, which is how this system got its name. People have used cannabis for therapeutic purposes for centuries. In 1964, researchers finally managed to isolate THC. Amazingly, this was the first time scientists learned how cannabis made people high.

Out of all of the cannabinoids, THC is the most abundant in the plant. THC affects neuronal signaling in the body. During the 1990s, researchers found different cannabinoid receptors in the body. Researchers discovered that THC binds with CB1 receptors in the central nervous system. Outside of the central nervous system, THC binds with CB2 receptors. CBD is also thought to work closely with CB2 receptors, which are known to regulate the immune system.

The human body does not have cannabinoid systems and receptors by accident. These receptors were designed to work with natural cannabinoids that your body produces. There are actually two other types of endocannabinoid receptors, but scientists are still uncertain about what these receptors do.

Your cannabinoid system is responsible for processes involving learning, executive function, memory, emotions, sensory reception, motor function and decision making. Your cannabinoid receptors are located in the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. By making changes to the endocannabinoid system by taking CBD, you may be able to reduce your perceived pain and change any processes that are affected by the cannabinoid system.

The Benefits of CBD for Arthritis

Recent studies show that 42 percent of Baby Boomers already use CBD to help with their joint point. In animal research, CBD has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. By taking CBD, you may be able to reduce the signs and symptoms of arthritis.

Pain Suppression

One of the major reasons why people use CBD for arthritis is to reduce pain. Recent studies show that 62.2 percent of marijuana users took marijuana for pain relief. Almost all seniors experience some kind of pain later in life, and CBD can help reduce this pain. Cannabis and CBD are especially useful for joint pain from conditions like arthritis.

Nerve Protectant

Interestingly, CBD can also protect your nerves. It helps to reduce joint neuropathy. This is one of the reasons why it is useful for conditions like arthritis, multiple sclerosis and cancer.

Joint Support

Another one of the ways CBD can help is by supporting the joints. Taking CBD can reduce the inflammation around your joints. Reduced inflammation can also improve the symptoms of other diseases as well.

Insomnia Reduction

When you are in a lot of pain, it can feel impossible to sleep at night. In one study of Sativex and rheumatoid arthritis, many participants were able to sleep better when they used the drug. Cannabinoid products can help reduce physical discomfort and inflammation, which can naturally improve the quality of your sleep.

How Can You Use CBD?

You no longer have to roll a joint to use cannabis. Instead, there is a wide variety of different methods available for taking CBD. From edibles to topicals, you can choose the option that works best for you.

Until recently, the legality of CBD was in question. Some states legalized medical marijuana and recreational marijuana, but marijuana was still illegal on a federal level. Since CBD is made from the cannabis plant, this essentially meant that CBD was illegal.

More recently, the 2018 Farm Bill finally became law. This bill essentially legalized hemp under federal law with a few important caveats. While growers could produce hemp and CBD, they were not allowed to produce THC. Farmers can legally grow hemp, but the hemp is not allowed to have any THC in it.

Is CBD Safe?

One of the biggest problems with CBD is knowing how much to take and which drugs to avoid. Because CBD has not gone through major clinical trials yet, there are still many unknowns about things like the dosage and other factors. If a medication is strong enough to cause a cure, it is safe to assume that it is also strong enough to cause side effects and drug interactions. Current research and anecdotal reports generally indicate very few side effects associated with CBD, but there are some potential risks to keep in mind.

Because of the potential side effects, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking CBD. This is especially important if you have other medical conditions or take any medications. CBD can change how prescription medications are processed in the liver. This means it can potentially cause drug interactions with medications like Zofran, Clozaril, Endometrin, Luminal, Valium, Prilosec, Motrin, Celebrex, Paxil and Allegra.

In general, most experts agree that CBD is safe to take. It carries very low risks. Currently, there has never been a reported case of a CBD overdose. CBD can potentially cause drowsiness for some users, so you should remember this if you plan on operating heavy machinery or driving.

How Can You Use CBD for Arthritis?

When you first start using CBD, it is a good idea to start with a low dosage. By doing this, you can give your body time to adjust to the medication. If you do not see results, you can always increase your dose later on. Most people take CBD twice a day. In the beginning, people often start with a dose between 5 and 10 milligrams. If this does not alleviate your symptoms, you can gradually increase your dosage incrementally until you reach up to 100 milligrams a day.

While scientists still do not know how all of the cannabinoids work, it seems like some cannabinoids work better when they are taken together. For example, taking THC and CBD at the same time may increase the effectiveness of your dose. With a full-spectrum oil or isolate, you can get a range of cannabinoids instead of just CBD.

For arthritis pain, some people start by just using the product at night so that they can sleep better. You can also start by using a topical product or vaping so that you get immediate effects. Then, you can use edibles. Candies and edible products take longer to take effect, but the effects last longer. Vaping the extract allows CBD to get into your bloodstream quickly, which is useful for acute pain relief.

If you use CBD orally, remember that your body may be unable to absorb the CBD for around an hour. Once the oral CBD is absorbed, it can last for a long time. If you have localized pain, you may want to use a topical remedy like a salve, lotion or balm instead. When you apply a CBD gel on the affected area, you can instantly get relief for acute pain, swelling and inflammation.

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The Ultimate Guide to CBD and Seniors With Arthritis - Riverfront Times

Data from several studies have indicated the need for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as early as possible, according to a report published in The Lancet Rheumatology.1

Early arthritis treatment has been used to improve long-term outcomes and minimize structural damage resulting from both local and systemic inflammation. In addition, many researchers believe that treatment will be most effective with early intervention (eg, within 6 weeks after symptom onset).2 A recent study that included patients at risk for RA also found that multiple pathologic processes can be observed before symptoms develop, promoting the need for early intervention.3

Furthermore, data from a meta-analysis4 found that patients who consulted with a rheumatologist 6 weeks vs 7 to 12 weeks and >12 weeks after symptom onset were 1.7 times more likely to achieve disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-free remission. This trend of being less likely to achieve DMARD-free remission was observed to continue with initial visits after 12 weeks of symptom onset. Since DMARD-free remission is considered a highly desirable outcome for patients with RA, the evidence supports more aggressive treatment during early stages of the disease. Authors of this report indicated that further assessing remission data (eg, at 5 years of DMARD-free remission) could be useful in determining rates of sustained remission.

Despite these findings, there was little difference in structural damage among patients with different time to encounters, which may be at odds with the long-standing hypothesis that earlier intervention leads to minimized structural damage; however, this lack of correlation could suggest that small degrees of damage are less important for outcomes in patients who receive early treatment.

Overall, the authors of this report concluded that findings from various studies confirm the need for rapid referral and treatment of RA after symptom onset.

References

1. Emery P, Dequenne L. Its never too soon to treat rheumatoid arthritis: finally, some supportive evidence [published online April 28, 2020]. Lancet Rheumatol. doi:10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30103-X

2. Combe B, Landewe R, Daien CI, Hua C, Aletaha D et al. 2016 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of early arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76:948-959.

3. Nam JL, Hensor EMA, Hunt L, Conaghan PG, Wakefield RJ, Emery P. Ultrasound findings predict progression to inflammatory arthritis in anti-CCP antibody-positive patients without clinical synovitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;75:2060-2067.

4. Niemantsverdriet E, Dougados M, Combe B, van der Helm-van Mil AHM. Referring early arthritis patients within 6 weeks versus 12 weeks after symptom onset: an observational cohort study [published online April 28, 2020]. Lancet Rheumatol. doi:10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30061-8

Originally posted here:
Evidence Points to the Effectiveness of Early Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Rheumatology Advisor

Objective:We aimed to evaluate the associations between response to algorithm-directed treat-to-target conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy and potentially modifiable lifestyle factors, including dietary fish oil supplementation, body mass index (BMI), and smoking history in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inception cohort.

Methods:Patients with RA with a duration of less than 12 months were reviewed every 3 to 6 weeks to adjust therapy according to disease response. All patients received advice to take fish oil supplements, and omega-3 status was measured as plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Lifestyle factors and other variables potentially prognostic for 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) remission and DAS28 low disease activity (LDA) at the 12-month visit were included in multivariable logistic regression models.

Results:Of 300 participants, 57.7% reached DAS28 LDA, and 43.7% were in DAS28 remission at 1 year. Increase in plasma EPA was associated with an increase in the odds of being in LDA (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.27; P < 0.0001) and remission (adjusted OR = 1.21; P < 0.001). There was some evidence that the effect of BMI on LDA might be modified by smoking history. An increase in BMI was associated with a decrease in the odds of being in LDA in current and former smokers but had no impact on LDA in patients who had never smoked. There were no meaningful associations between BMI or smoking history and remission.

Conclusion:Omega-3 status, BMI, and smoking history are potential predictors of outcome in early RA. The possibility of an effect modification by smoking on the predictive value of BMI merits further investigation.

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Modifiable Lifestyle Factors Associated With Response to Treatment in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis - DocWire News

The report on the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs market provides a birds eye view of the current proceeding within the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs market. Further, the report also takes into account the impact of the novel COVID-19 pandemic on the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs market and offers a clear assessment of the projected market fluctuations during the forecast period. The different factors that are likely to impact the overall dynamics of the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs market over the forecast period (2019-2029) including the current trends, growth opportunities, restraining factors, and more are discussed in detail in the market study.

For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the production, value, price, market share and growth rate for the top manufacturers, key data from 2019 to 2025.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs market report firstly introduced the basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs market report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.

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The major players profiled in this Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs market report include:

Key market playersMajor competitors identified in this market include AbbVie, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Inc., Pfizer, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, UCB, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Abbott Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceutical, etc.

Based on the Region:Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India and ASEAN)North America (US and Canada)Europe (Germany, France, UK and Italy)Rest of World (Latin America, Middle East & Africa)

Based on the Type:OralInjectionExternal

Based on the Application:Medical CarePersonal Care

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Key Market Related Questions Addressed in the Report:

Important Information that can be extracted from the Report:

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COVID-19: Potential impact on Ready To Use Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drugs Market Global Industry Analysis and Forecast Till 2021 - Jewish Life News

Kenneth Research recently added a new market research report on Global Reactive Arthritis Treatment Market which discusses the scope of the market during the next few years. The report consists of the market size, market value, the annual growth rate, Y-o-Y growth (%) for the forecast period, i.e., 2020-2026. A complete and thorough overview of the market is provided in the report which discusses the various aspects of the market such as the geographical presence, key players, market segmentation, growth drivers, and challenges prevalent in the market in depth.

The Final Report will cover the impact analysis of COVID-19 on this industry (Global and Regional Market).

Request for a Sample Copy (including TOC, Tables, and Figures) of Research Report:https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10082863

The global Reactive Arthritis Treatment Market has grown significantly over the past few years and is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace till 2026. This market study provides an in-depth assessment on market size and year on year growth of global Reactive Arthritis Treatment Market in terms of revenue, various levels of in-depth market segmentation, market dynamics which comprises of the demand side, supply-side and economy side drivers, market restraints, challenges and opportunities and trends which are prevailing in this market and impacting the growth of the market. Worldwide Reactive Arthritis Treatment Market highlights its existing absolute $ opportunity. Further, this market is likely to achieve considerable absolute $ opportunity by the year 2026 as compared to the value achieved in the year 2018.

The global Reactive Arthritis Treatment Market study comprises of risk analysis which covers market demand risk and market supply risk impacting the growth of this market. Further, the report covers a section on correlation and regression analysis in which the relationship between independent and dependent variables have been analyzed to have better clarity and understanding of the market. The global Reactive Arthritis Treatment Market includes a chapter on macro-economic indicators impacting the growth of this market.

Further, a separate section in the report highlights the geography scenario in this market which includes North America (further bifurcated into U.S. and Canada).

Based on the geographical analysis, the report covers the market scenario for the following regions around the world:

A series of illustrations such as graphs, tables, and charts are provided in the report to make the report easy to comprehend for the business clients.

The Final Report will cover the impact analysis of COVID-19 on this industry (Global and Regional Market).

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We are open for the customization of this report for our client.

Table of Content:

Key Answers Captured in Report?

The Final Report will cover the impact analysis of COVID-19 on this industry (Global and Regional Market).

Request for Complete Report:https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10082863

About Kenneth Research:

Kenneth Research provides market research reports to different individuals, industries, associations, and organizations with the aim of helping them to take prominent decisions. Our research library comprises more than 10,000 research reports provided by more than 15 market research publishers across different industries. Our collection of market research solutions covers both the macro level as well as micro-level categories with relevant and suitable market research titles. As a global market research reselling firm, Kenneth Research provides significant analysis of various markets with pure business intelligence and consulting services on different industries across the globe. In addition to that, our internal research team always keeps a track of the international and domestic market for any economic changes impacting the products demand, growth, and opportunities for new and existing players.

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Reactive Arthritis Treatment Market Share, Top Companies, Impact of COVID-19 on Global Trends, Growth Opportunity And Forecast 2018-2026 - 3rd Watch...

Arthritis is a problem associated with joints, in which a person suffers from red, hot, swollen and functionally impaired joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused due to loss of tissue lining. A new research report by Persistence Market Research focuses on the various treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis and presents a forecast for this market for next few years.

The report is titledRheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012 2016 and Forecast 2017 2025and reveals the findings of this exhaustive research program. According to the report insights, the globalrheumatoid arthritis marketheld a market value of over US$ 23,900 Mn in 2017, which is expected to reach a valuation in excess of US$ 37,800 Mn by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.9%.

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Company Profiles

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapies Market: Snapshot

The growth of the rheumatoid arthritis market is driven by macro-economic factors like the increase in aging population of many countries, which subsequently increases the number of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The prevalence of this disease is also seen to be high in women; one in every 12 women develops rheumatoid arthritis during her lifetime.

There is also a rise in awareness about the disease in many developed regions. This has increased the rate of disease treatment rather than symptoms treatment. As people are more aware about rheumatoid arthritis they get more inclined towards treating the disease, thereby boosting the sales of drugs in the rheumatoid arthritis treatment market.

These factors are expected to mark the advent of a bunch of new products that will hit the market within the next eight years.

North Americas Dominance to be Overshadowed by APACs Faster Growth Rate

The North America rheumatoid arthritis market held the highest market value in the past and is also expected to continue leading the global market in future, with a market value of over US$ 16,000 Mn estimated by the end of 2025. However, Asia Pacific is an emerging leader in the competition and is expected to grow at the highest rate of 7.9% during the forecast period 2017-2025.

Middle East and Africa is also expected to show huge scope for development in the global market. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in the Middle East and Africa. A study reveals that prevalence of the disease is reported to be at 0.3% in Egypt and 0.4% in Lesotho. Considering the poor yet fastest growing economy of Africa, generic players have massive scope for growth in the region.

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Top Market Companies and Their Major Challenges

This research report comprises a detailed presentation of all the companies leading in the global market. These companies are considered to hold a higher customer base than any other companies in the industry. The drugs manufactured by these companies are widely used in the global market and there are several other products in the pipeline. Some of these companies mentioned in the report are Sanofi SA, Pfizer Inc., Hoffman-La Roche AG, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly & Company, Amgen Inc. and Sobi Inc.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Market Is Projected To Grow US$ 30000 Mn By 2025 - WaterCloud News

Objective:To investigate metabolic syndrome (MetS), disease activity, and adipokine levels among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and undifferentiated arthritis (UA) at the time of diagnosis and after 1 year of follow-up.

Methods:Patients with inflammatory joint diseases participating in the Northern Savo 2010 population-based prospective epidemiological study were evaluated for components of MetS (by National Cholesterol Education Programs Adult Treatment Panel III) and clinical parameters of disease activity. The adipokines adiponectin, adipsin, resistin, and leptin were measured at baseline and after 1 year of treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Results:Among 176 patients, MetS was detected in 42% of RA, 36% of SpA, and 51% of UA patients. Metabolic syndrome was associated with higher disease activity as measured by patient global assessment in RA and UA patients and increased pain in RA patients. Leptin levels were increased in patients with MetS, showing a linearly increasing trend with the number of components of MetS in SpA and UA, but not in RA. In RA patients, decrease in disease activity correlated with decrease in leptin levels. Resistin did not associate with MetS, but a decrease in resistin correlated with decrease in disease activity in RA and UA. In SpA, increased adiponectin level correlated with relief in disease activity, but not with MetS.

Conclusions:Metabolic syndrome was common in patients with newly diagnosed arthritides and associated with higher disease activity and increased leptin levels. Resistin responded to treatment of arthritis in RA and UA, leptin in RA, and adiponectin in SpA.

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Metabolic Syndrome, Disease Activity, and Adipokines in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Inflammatory Joint Diseases - DocWire News

After experiencing an ACL injury, a common sports injury involving ligaments in the knee, many athletes find they cant return to play with the same vigor as before their injury. But, a new study, published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, finds human growth hormonetreatment after ACL reconstructive surgery may prevent the loss of muscle strength in the knee.

While modern surgical techniques can reconstruct ACLs in a minimally invasive way, the associated muscle atrophy can be a greater challenge to overcome, says Asheesh Bedi, M.D., senior author of the study, chief of sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Michigan Medicine and director of the Michigan Center for Human Athletic Medicine and Performance (MCHAMP).

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Residual atrophy can slow or limit the safe return to the prior level of competition, and contribute to risk of re-injury and even arthritis.

HGH, a hormone within the body, helps cells and tissues grow and regenerate. HGH supplements are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and in collegiate and professional sports.

When you hear of athletes taking HGH drugs when they are healthy, its considered doping because they are essentially trying to overproduce the hormone and bulk their muscles and tissues as a competitive advantage, says Christopher Mendias, Ph.D., ATC, the lead author of the study, an adjunct associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at Michigan Medicine and an associate scientist in the Arthritis and Tissue Degeneration Program at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Bedi and Mendias hypothesized that administering HGH supplements to injured athletes may activate HGH within the body to target the ACL tear and prevent the knee muscles from losing strength.

Even after rehabilitation, many patients have muscles that are 30 to 40% weaker when they return to sports compared to their pre-surgery strength, Mendias says.

The researchers examined 19 male athletes, ages 18 to 35, with ACL tears who were scheduled for ACL reconstruction surgery at Michigan Medicine. The study participants were randomly assigned to self-inject HGH or a placebo solution into their lower abdominal muscles twice daily over a six-week period, beginning one week prior to surgery. The research team excluded collegiate, professional or elite athletes from the study because of the substance ban, as well as patients with diabetes, as developing type 2 diabetes is a side effect of HGH supplements.

Prescription HGH is only available for treating growth hormone deficiency syndromes and cant be used off-label without approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. By obtaining an investigational new drug exemption from the FDA, the research team was able to administer the drug to study enrollees.

Other Michigan Medicine faculty and graduate students contributing to the study include Tariq Awan, D.O., an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, Ariel Barkan, M.D., a professor of internal medicine, James Carpenter, M.D., a professor and former chair of orthopaedic surgery, Joel Gagnier, N.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, Jonathan Gumucio, Ph.D., a graduate student in molecular and integrative physiology, and Jon Jacobson, M.D., a professor of radiology. The multidisciplinary team assured a rigorous scientific approach and the highest level of safety to the study.

The research team found the HGH injections did appear to have an effect after measuring knee muscle strength and volume, patient-reported outcomes, such as pain and symptoms, and analyzing biomarkers in blood samples from the injured athletes versus individuals without an ACL tear.

While HGH did not appear to affect muscle volume or our patient-reported outcome scores, we found a 29% higher knee extension strength in our patients that had performed the HGH injections compared to those in the placebo group, Bedi says.

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Examining the blood analyses revealed other signs of muscle and cartilage change. Patients who performed the HGH treatments had a 2.1-fold increase in circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), a protein similar to insulin that plays an important role in muscle growth. In addition, their blood samples indicated a 36% lower level of matrix metalloproteinase3 (MMP3), an enzyme that breaks down proteins during growth processes in the body. MMP3 was an indirect biomarker of cartilage wear down in the study.

We observed a consistent reduction in MMP3 in the HGH group from the first through the 12th post-operative weeks, Mendias says. This finding suggests a potential protective effect of HGH after ACL reconstruction and that we should look more closely at its potential for cartilage healing in further studies.

Bedi and Mendias hope the results of this study allow for revisiting reevaluation of the World Anti-Doping Agency and sports agencies ban on HGH.

Perhaps athletes could petition for a Therapeutic Use Exception, which allows a banned substance for a medically-appropriate reason, to prevent loss of muscle strength after ACL reconstruction, Mendias says. Treatment occurs during a time when athletes are not playing due to their injuries. The goal is to prevent muscle weakness, not make athletes stronger than they were before their injuries. Any small performance-enhancing effects of human growth hormone seem to wear off quickly after stopping the medication, and does not offer a competitive advantage.

The research team notes that further studies into HGH are needed.

We hope to build upon this research with future studies that include larger cohorts of athletes with broader demographics, Bedi says.

Mendias adds, Further studies would also allow us to petition the FDA to approve the addition of orthopedic injuries as an on-label indication for the drug.

The study was supported by funding provided by the Mark Cuban Foundation and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a branch of the National Institutes of Health.

Paper cited: The Use of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone to Protect Against Muscle Weakness in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, The American Journal of Sports Medicine. DOI: 10.1177/0363546520920591.

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Human Growth Hormone Treatment After ACL Injury May Prevent Loss of Muscle Strength - Michigan Medicine

PITTSBURGH The coronavirus pandemic has forced charities or nonprofit groups to cancel or postpone an untold number of walks and runs that raise money for everything from Alzheimers to Parkinsons.

There is, however, room to evolve.

When the Arthritis Foundations Pittsburgh chapter scrubbed its annual Walk to Cure Arthritis Event scheduled for May 16, it gave the 242 registrants a certain freedom.

People could kind of do what they wanted at their own pace and at their convenience, said Linda Glace, development manager for the foundations western Pennsylvania and West Virginia chapter.

Such a move could potentially allow organizations to expand their footprint in the future because it would remove geographical barriers.

The nonprofit WORK amended its Run Across Haiti to Run Across May to incorporate just about anything, be it running 200 miles by May 31, doing 200 lunges or baking 200 cookies and using hashtags on social media to promote it in hopes of raising awareness. The American Cancer Societys first Lakes to Bay 5K is a virtual run is a relay that started around the Finger Lakes in New York on May 11 and will wrap up on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland on May 31. Registered runners were encouraged to take a picture during their respective legs and share it on social media.

The Pittsburgh Marathons Run for A Reason program generates around $1 million annually for 35 various nonprofits, most of them locally based. Though organizers offered refunds when the race weekend scheduled for early May was canceled, about 1,100 who signed up to run for charity stuck it out and completed their prescribed distance on their own.

They still all got their medal and their shirt and their sunglasses, said Allison Corbett, senior vice president for P3R, which helps organize most major road races around the city, including the marathon and half-marathon. People are still excited to get the race swag that they earn. It all comes back to that sense of community.

A sense that will be tested in the coming months and perhaps years as charities and those that support them deal with a new normal. Charity runners by the tens of thousands flood courses across the country each year. They run for their parents. Their siblings. Their friends. Themselves. Exercising and raising money for a cause close to them scratches two itches at once.

Training can be a slog, but the events themselves can be glorious. Trying to keep that energy going when the adrenaline rush that comes with lining up alongside others united for a common purpose will be difficult if social distancing rules remain in place for a long time.

Nothing beats the in-person interaction, said WORK executive director Vivien Luk. Were keeping an eye out on when we can (Run Across Haiti) again and doing it louder than before.

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Charitable runs, walks learn to adapt to crowd limits - The Daily Times

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device Market 2018: Global Industry Insights by Global Players, Regional Segmentation, Growth, Applications, Major Drivers, Value and Foreseen till 2024

The report provides both quantitative and qualitative information of global Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market for period of 2018 to 2025. As per the analysis provided in the report, the global market of Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device is estimated to growth at a CAGR of _% during the forecast period 2018 to 2025 and is expected to rise to USD _ million/billion by the end of year 2025. In the year 2016, the global Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market was valued at USD _ million/billion.

This research report based on Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market and available with Market Study Report includes latest and upcoming industry trends in addition to the global spectrum of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market that includes numerous regions. Likewise, the report also expands on intricate details pertaining to contributions by key players, demand and supply analysis as well as market share growth of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device industry.

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The Research projects that the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market size will grow from in 2018 to by 2024, at an estimated CAGR of XX%. The base year considered for the study is 2018, and the market size is projected from 2018 to 2024.

The report on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market provides a birds eye view of the current proceeding within the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market. Further, the report also takes into account the impact of the novel COVID-19 pandemic on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market and offers a clear assessment of the projected market fluctuations during the forecast period. The different factors that are likely to impact the overall dynamics of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device market over the forecast period (2019-2029) including the current trends, growth opportunities, restraining factors, and more are discussed in detail in the market study.

Leading manufacturers of Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device Market:

The key players covered in this studyAbbott LaboratoriesDanaher Corp.F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.Siemens Healthineers AGThermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoAnalyzersConsumablesMarket segment by Application, split intoHospitalResearch instituteClinicOther

Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South America

The study objectives of this report are:To analyze global Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.To present the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device development in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Central & South America.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, market and key regions.

In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device are as follows:History Year: 2015-2019Base Year: 2019Estimated Year: 2020Forecast Year 2020 to 2026For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2019 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.

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Assessing the Fallout From the Coronavirus Pandemic Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Device Market : Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Threats...

Charity digital leaders have responded with innovation and dynamism in the wake of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Reinvigorating digital solutions for service delivery and supporter outreach, tech for good efforts have benefited from renewed interest.

Taking a closer look at tech for good efforts in the healthcare sector, we review these new developments and what might be taken forward in a broader context.

The governments call for 250,000 volunteers across the community to support coronavirus sufferers was met with a thunderous response. Tech for good solutions quickly emerged to help fight the crisis and manage over 750,000 respondents.

Prior to the crisis, GoodSam, an international charity, was already operating mobile, app-based alert systems and dispatching services. When the government called for volunteers to help community members who are self-isolating, GoodSam quickly pivoted its digital service into action. The app now allows volunteers to not only do good for the NHS but also within the local community. Once downloaded, local citizens in need can contact others to assist in grocery shopping, transporting medicines, or simply just for company. For charities operating health, fire, and ambulance services, the app can also access the callers mobile phone camera in an emergency situation, improving service delivery ahead of the arrival of help.

Likely to trend onwards, GoodSams quick, innovative pivot to crowdsourcing could potentially be a model for other charities to emulate.

The pandemic has brought into focus just how important tech for good is at supporting not only charities but their beneficiaries. Tech for good efforts by charities have helped bring patients and doctors closer together, and we expect, that post-pandemic, these relationships will continue to align.

Aiming to help young arthritis sufferers, Versus Arthritis launched a mobile phone app to support young people between the ages of 13-25. The charitys app helps users keep track of their symptoms like an electronic diary. For healthcare professionals unable to attend patients who are self-isolating, tracking symptoms is important to prescribing the right care.

It has huge potential to enhance communication between young people and health professionals, allowing us to better understand the impact arthritis is having on the young persons life and then to treat them more effectively. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the app has even greater potential. It can be difficult to assess young people on the phone so using their app summaries as a prompt or by sharing on email beforehand, it will really help these phone consultations, said Dr Janet McDonagh, a paediatric and adolescent rheumatologist at Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital.

New tech for good partnerships have formed between healthcare workers, charities, and private tech developers. Looking ahead, we can expect to see more digital collaborations between charities and other service providers.

During the past few months, the Hospify mobile phone app has been expanding its service base to NHS charities, trusts, and healthcare professionals. Tackling the problem of confidentiality and security, Hospify developed a secure-message aggregator for messages coming in from sources like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and Messenger, which are often not company or charity approved. By securing messages from other sources, the app allows doctors, nurses, patients, pharmacists, dentists, and patients to connect in online groups and share information (including pictures) without jeopardising confidentiality. The app is now servicing over 150 hospitals and has been vetted by the NHS as one of its approved apps.

Coronavirus took the world by surprise, and researchers are still scrambling to find a cure. Funded by charities and partners NHS Digital, Open Data Institute Leeds and Beautiful Information, the #OpenDataSavesLives hackathon threw open the doors for anyone and everyone to participate in making sense of big data. Over 50 participants, including the British Red Cross, shared standardised, integrated information to get a broader picture of cities.

Paul Connell, founder of Open Data Institute Leeds said: #OpenDataSavesLives can bring people together to respond to the situation we are all facing. We want to encourage and empower people to work in the open, talk about your work, ask for help, share your success on our open doc. We can then link up the incredible work being done, remove barriers and speed up the response.

Looking ahead thematically, the sharing of big data has the potential to help charities unlock information barriers to solve big issues, including poverty, homelessness, and many others. By improving transparency and better information, tech for good efforts can address and help charities deliver their missions.

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Tech to the rescue!: What COVID-19 means to the future of tech for good - Charity Digital News

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Even while adapting to the day-to-day challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting the health of animals and the people that take care of them across the Hoosier state continues to be a priority for Purdue Universitys Veterinary Hospital.

Animals play such an important role in our lives, said Dr. Ellen Lowery, director of the Veterinary Hospital. Our focus from the beginning of this situation was to continue providing exceptional client care and protecting the animals they care for.

Currently, the hospital is accepting emergency and urgent cases, as well as preventive and elective procedures as supplies of personal protective equipment and hospital staffing supports. Lowery emphasized that everything is treated on a case-by-case basis.

The hospital is continuing to restrict access to its small and large animal hospital reception areas and provides car-side drop-off and pickup to help protect both animal owners and hospital staff. When a client arrives for an appointment at either hospital, they are instructed to call the appropriate reception area to let hospital staff know that they are in the parking lot. A staff member will then come outside to meet them and receive the patient. The client will be updated through text messaging, phone calls or email as the animal is being treated.

We understand that this is an extremely stressful time for the client and the patient, Lowery said. We work closely with the client to reassure them that their animal is in the best possible care, and we keep them informed during the entire process.

Lowery anticipates that over the next month, the hospital will return to seeing more animals for preventive and elective procedures, as well as continuing to provide advanced care through the specialty services. Social distancing, the use of face masks, and other sanitation measures will continue to be a critical component of health protection for clients and the hospital team.

Were working closely with the state to do our part to help flatten the curve as we work through this pandemic together, Lowery said.

A video and up-to-date guidelines are available on the hospitals website.

Whether its a pet or the farm animal population, animals are so important to the overall health of our world, Lowery said. We want to be able to provide that necessary and, at times, critical care. Im thankful for every person who is coming here to work to make sure that the hospital stays functional and that we can do what we are called to do, which is take the best possible care of our clients and their animals.

To reach the Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital:

Small animal reception: 765-494-1107

Large animal reception: 765-494-8548

About the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine seeks to advance global animal and human health and well-being through excellence in learning, discovery and engagement while serving as a major referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases. Faculty research both animal and human health, with an emphasis on animal welfare science and the human-animal bond; infectious diseases and immunology; cancer; neuroscience; and musculoskeletal biology and orthopedics. The college also is one of only a few nationally that educate all members of the veterinary team, offering the doctor of veterinary medicine degree as well as bachelor's and associates degrees in veterinary nursing, post-graduate internships and residencies for veterinarians seeking specialty training, and graduate degrees in the departments of Basic Medical Sciences, Comparative Pathobiology, and Veterinary Clinical Sciences. For more information visit http://www.vet.purdue.edu.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.

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Purdue University's Veterinary Hospital presses on to continue treating Indiana's animals - Times-Mail

In a study published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists in the U.S. and Japan report that in the laboratory, cats can readily become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and may be able to pass the virus to other cats.

Professor of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine Yoshihiro Kawaoka led the study, in which researchers administered to three cats SARS-CoV-2 isolated from a human patient. The following day, the researchers swabbed the nasal passages of the cats and were able to detect the virus in two of the animals. Within three days, they detected the virus in all of the cats.

The day after the researchers administered virus to the first three cats, they placed another cat in each of their cages. Researchers did not administer SARS-CoV-2 virus to these cats.

Each day, the researchers took nasal and rectal swabs from all six cats to assess them for the presence of the virus. Within two days, one of the previously uninfected cats was shedding virus, detected in the nasal swab, and within six days, all of the cats were shedding virus. None of the rectal swabs contained virus.

Each cat shed SARS-CoV-2 from their nasal passages for up to six days. The virus was not lethal and none of the cats showed signs of illness. All of the cats ultimately cleared the virus.

That was a major finding for us the cats did not have symptoms, says Kawaoka, who also holds a faculty appointment at the University of Tokyo. Kawaoka is also helping lead an effort to create a human COVID-19 vaccine called CoroFlu.

The findings suggest cats may be capable of becoming infected with the virus when exposed to people or other cats positive for SARS-CoV-2. It follows a study published in Science by scientists at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences that also showed cats (and ferrets) could become infected with and potentially transmit the virus. The virus is known to be transmitted in humans through contact with respiratory droplets and saliva.

Its something for people to keep in mind, says Peter Halfmann, a research professor at UWMadison who helped lead the study. If they are quarantined in their house and are worried about passing COVID-19 to children and spouses, they should also worry about giving it to their animals.

Both researchers advise that people with symptoms of COVID-19 avoid contact with cats. They also advise cat owners to keep their pets indoors, in order to limit the contact their cats have with other people and animals.

Kawaoka is concerned about the welfare of animals. The World Organization for Animal Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare.

Humans remain the biggest risk to other humans in transmission of the virus. There is no evidence cats readily transmit the virus to humans, nor are there documented cases in which humans have become ill with COVID-19 because of contact with cats.

There are, however, confirmed instances of cats becoming infected because of close contact with humans infected with the virus, and several large cats at the Bronx Zoo have also tested positive for the virus.

For instance, according to an April 22 announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, two cats in two private homes in New York state tested positive for COVID-19. One had been in a home with a person with a confirmed case of the viral disease. The cats showed mild signs of respiratory illness and were expected to make a full recovery.

Additional cats have also tested positive for COVID-19 after close contact with their human companions, says Sandra Newbury, director of the UWMadison Shelter Medicine Program. Newbury is leading a research study in several states in the U.S. to test animal-shelter cats that might have previously been exposed to human COVID-19 cases.

Animal welfare organizations are working very hard in this crisis to maintain the human-animal bond and keep pets with their people, says Newbury. Its a stressful time for everyone, and now, more than ever, people need the comfort and support that pets provide.

Its something for people to keep in mind, says Peter Halfmann, who helped lead the study. If they are quarantined in their house and are worried about passing COVID-19 to children and spouses, they should also worry about giving it to their animals.

Newbury has worked with the CDC and the American Veterinary Medical Association to develop recommendations for shelters housing potentially exposed pets, which they may do while owners are hospitalized or otherwise unable to provide care because of their illness. The UWMadison study helps confirm experimentally that cats can become infected, though the risk of natural infection from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 seems to be quite low, Newbury says. Of the 22 animals the program has tested, none have had positive polymerase chain reaction tests for the virus, she adds.

Cats are still much more likely to get COVID-19 from you, rather than you get it from a cat, says Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, who recommends that pet owners first talk to their veterinarians about whether to have their animals tested. Testing should be targeted to populations of cats and other species shown to be susceptible to the virus and virus transmission.

With respect to pets, were targeting companion animals in communal residences with at-risk populations, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Poulsen says. There is a delicate balance of needing more information through testing and the limited resources and clinical implications of positive tests.

So, what should pet owners do?

Ruthanne Chun, associate dean for clinical affairs at UW Veterinary Care, offers the following advice:

As always, animal owners should include pets and other animals in their emergency preparedness planning, including keeping on hand a two-week supply of food and medications, she says. Preparations should also be made for the care of animals should you need to be quarantined or hospitalized due to illness.

References: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Domestic Cats by Peter J. Halfmann, Ph.D.; Masato Hatta, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Shiho Chiba, Ph.D.; Tadashi Maemura, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Shufang Fan, Ph.D.; Makoto Takeda, M.D., Ph.D.; Noriko Kinoshita, M.D.; Shin-ichiro Hattori, Ph.D.; Noriko Kinoshita, M.D. and Shin-ichiro Hattori, Ph.D., 13 May 2020, New England Journal of Medicine.DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2013400

The study was supported by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.

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Study Confirms Cats Can Become Infected With COVID-19 - SciTechDaily

Covid-19 has erased from our lives many things we used to take for granted. From high street shopping to dining out, the pandemic has altered the way we interact with the world, and many social customs may disappear forever. Who would have thought the handshake could go the way of the dodo? There are, however, upsides to the lockdown. Not only is the tech bringing people closer than ever before (am I alone in speaking to relatives on a much more frequent basis these days?), but it could be set to revolutionise the way our pets receive veterinary treatment

In my case, going to the vets used to involve travelling there by car with assorted pooches strapped into the back. Then, waiting in a packed reception with whining dogs and anxious cats before seeing a very nice vet for a consultation. That spot on my dogs back had been growing for months, it seemed. Dark thoughts at the back of my mind, convinced me it was the Big C, and poor Sophie, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, had only months to live. Of course, in the end, it turned out to an age-related spot.

Id often asked myself whether our pets could be treated and triaged with less fuss and anxiety remotely. Many veterinary practices now, including my own, have been forced to do telephone consultations and dispense medicines whilst maintaining social distancing rules. A fairly joyless and fraught experience, in my own opinion.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Not that many, it seems, are going that extra mile and embracing the full on, increasingly accessible tool of video consultations, zapping at one fell swoop the need for detailed descriptions of the pets ailment. After all, a picture, or rather a video, is better than a thousand words.

Step in, the Cat Vet, Dr Jeremy Campbell of The London Cat Clinic who is not simply phlegmatically opting for video consultations as a must, but sees them as a potential portal into the future of veterinary medicine. They could, after all, be positioned somewhere between getting ourselves unduly worked up as an amateur armchair vet to potentially reducing the need for a stressful and potentially unnecessary trip to the vets in the first place.

Dr Campbell is one of the growing number of practitioners behind the drive to open up veterinary treatment to those unable, unwilling or too anxiety ridden to jump in the car to see their vet. In these strange times, the practices video consultations are pioneering stuff; in the same way that the clinics sole focus on felines was a pioneering move when it opened in 2017.

Cat owners can access the video consultations directly via the clinics website or else phone the practice for an appointment, which usually lasts 20 minutes. Dr Campbell explains: The video consultation is not meant to turn anyone into a vet in twenty minutes but to allow us to have a focused conversation about any concerns.

They dont need to have their cat trapped in front of a webcam, but they should be nearby and relaxed, he says. If we feel we cannot make an assessment via the information provided and ask the pet owner to bring the cat into the clinic as a direct result of the consultation, we will waive the fee of the initial video or phone call. This is to take the pressure off the pet owner to judge which cases can be seen remotely and which ones cannot. This is our job, after all.

Dr Campbell see video consultations as a triage service to determine if a patient can be assessed remotely or must be seen in the clinic.

Part of the client-vet bond is that mutual provision of support and if a client feels they can reach out to us to check on a problem particularly if they are unwell or self-isolating then this must be a winner for all involved particularly our loved felines.

No hype, just the advice and analysis you need

Dr Campbell predicts that in future, this mode of veterinary consultation could run alongside traditional vet visits for things like routine post-operative checks, weight management and nutritional consultations. The current crisis is making people more aware of the technology and more comfortable with it.

His colleague, Dr Serina Filler, agrees: We have long in-clinic appointment times to ensure we get to examine the entire cat and often pick up on subtle changes like heart murmurs or small tumours before the owner has noticed anything being wrong. But follow-ups for already diagnosed conditions could be done remotely to a greater degree which we have been doing for a lot of our cases via telephone and email all along.

For anxious pets, video consultations have another advantage: they can remain in the comfort of their own home free of the pokes and prods they associates with a trip to the vets.

Whether coronavirus has opened up a whole new world of veterinary treatment via remote consultations remains to be seen. For now, video consultations are a very useful innovation in our socially distanced times, with the potential to open up veterinary treatment to more patients, and prevent needless anxiety for armchair diagnosticians.

Marie Carter is the editor and publisher of Pets Magazine

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Why video vet appointments are just the ticket for anxious pets - The Independent

From snakes and pangolins to farms and wet markets, our relationship with animals has come under intense scrutiny as many search for answers to the origin of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Yet while definitive evidence remains elusive, we can be confident that our knowledge and understanding of animal health at a global level is actually more robust than ever, including within livestock farming, which has been among the scapegoats for the pandemic.

Scientists have found that aroundsix out of every 10infectious diseases are, like COVID-19, zoonotic, or pass between animals and people. However, we also know that the vast majority of these diseases originate inwildliferather than in pets or livestock.

Moreover, to date, there isno evidence that farmed livestock, including pigs and poultry, transmit COVID-19 and contribute to the global spread of infection.

Rather, global co-operation and advances in veterinary medicine mean that livestock diseases whether zoonotic or not do not usually spread internationally in the same way and with the same speed that COVID-19 has done.

This is due to the development of global systems ofdisease surveillance, which allow countries to share information about outbreaks, as well as mechanisms such ascompartmentalisation, which allow livestock trade and movement to continue between defined areas that are demonstrably disease-free.

These measures, along with the improved availability and use of animal vaccines and medicines, have meant that even if diseases pass from wild animals to domesticated animals, outbreaks and their impact on people can be confined and managed. This is crucial in ensuring that livestock do not become a source of major global health issues.

Nevertheless, to properly understand and manage the risk factors associated with diseases like COVID-19, health authorities must treat the pandemic as part of a wider system, which includes animal, human and environmental health, or what we call One Health.

For example, many achievements in improving public health in recent years have resulted from innovations in animal agriculture that protect farmers, food handlers and consumers as well as animals.

These developments have included the preventative use of vaccines as well as measures designed to keep disease out of farms, or to contain them within the farm if a disease outbreak does occur.

Such innovations are often most effectively and rigorously applied in indoor or contained farms, where conditions can be closely managed to maintain animal health and welfare, which is critical to productivity and sustainability.

An effective vaccine for poultry widely administered across breeding farms since the mid-1990s resulted in humancases of salmonella plummetingwhile efforts to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle will also protect people. Vaccinating cows against leptospirosis, meanwhile, reduces the risk of exposure of dairy farmers. And even in the throes of a pandemic, veterinarians are working closely with livestock farmers to maintain animal health for safe food production and to minimise animal welfare issues that might arise through disruption caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

This has included veterinarians advising on steps to continue the safe testing of cattle for tuberculosis while observing social distancing practices where handling systems make this possible, protecting cattle and people alike from the threat of disease.

Screens and dividers have also been introduced in abattoirs and meat-packing plants to allow staff to keep processing livestock during the pandemic, providing food supplies and incomes at a crucial time.

Governments worldwide have identified vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and veterinary services as essential, not only in the interests of animal health but in the associated interests of human health as well.

Animal health threats may be changing as the world is changing, but there are sadly no halcyon days to which we can revert to avoid threats like COVID-19. This is why ongoing collaboration across human and animal medicine is vital. A key element of this is developing and sharing an understanding among doctors, veterinarians, and environmental experts around the identification of risks in terms of zoonotic potential.

This means assessing and understanding the critical control points in the entire farm to fork supply chain and taking action to mitigate risks, from improved genetics and breeding to hygienic farm conditions, widespread vaccination, and food safety standards. But ultimately, we need to create the One Health systems that will maintain an appropriate balance between humans, animals, and environment.

The coronavirus pandemic has reminded everyone just how closely linked our fortunes health, social and economic are.

Although there is no evidence livestock or pets transmit the virus, it matters less which animal or market started the outbreak and more how we collectively respond to similar risks in the future.

Dr Simon DohertyGuest authorInstitute for Global Food Security, Queens University Senior Vice-President of the British Veterinary Association

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Improving 'One Health' is more important than the COVID-19 blame game - Health Europa

Manufacturing leaders expect some elements of the industrys pandemic response, such as reduced business travel and more employees working from home, might be here to stay.

Nobody is traveling right now, obviously I think thats going to be one of the permanent legacies of this crisis, said Austin Ramirez, CEO of Husco International, a manufacturer of vehicle components with locations in Waukesha and Whitewater.

During a webinar yesterday hosted by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Ramirez predicted a permanent, significant downturn in business travel, adding the associated expense reduction has helped the company better respond to COVID-19. Plus, he noted that holding virtual meetings has saved a lot of time.

Husco has also eliminated inter-facility travel between three nearby sites in Wisconsin and Iowa, keeping each location self-contained.

Meanwhile, about 20 percent of the team at Pindel Global Precision have been working from home for the past few months. And company leaders have taken action to limit the spread of the virus among workers still on the manufacturing floor.

Read the full story at WisBusiness.com: https://www.wisbusiness.com/?p=1452357

Alliant Energy is planning to acquire six new solar energy projects in the state as part of the companys long-term strategy for shifting to renewables.

Pending approval by the state Public Service Commission, the company expects the projects will produce enough energy to power 175,000 homes per year. Theyre also expected to create more than 1,200 construction jobs and provide about $80 million in local tax revenues over a 30-year period.

The projects would be located in Grant, Jefferson, Richland, Rock, Sheboygan and Wood counties. They would range in size from 50 to 200 megawatts.

Along with the rest of the Clean Energy Blueprint, these projects will help customers avoid more than $2 billion in long-term costs, said David de Leon, president of Alliant Energys Wisconsin energy company.

Alliant Energy will be submitting applications for the projects with the PSC this week, according to a release. The company expects the agency to make a decision in the first half of 2021.

See more on the companys plans: http://poweringwhatsnext.alliantenergy.com/clean-energy/

After Alliant Energy recently announced plans to retire a coal plant in Sheboygan, the Sierra Club of Wisconsin is urging the company to go further and retire another coal plant near Portage.

Coal costs us. It pollutes our air and water, it threatens the health of our climate, and now we know its also unnecessarily costing customers millions of dollars. We in Wisconsin have had enough. Its time to retire the Columbia coal plant and go all-in on investing in clean energy, said Sierra Club volunteer leader Victoria Gillet.

According to Elizabeth Ward, director of the Wisconsin chapter of the Sierra Club, a recent analysis by the organization found closing both plants and replacing them with renewables would lead to millions in savings for the companys customers.

The company announced Friday it would be closing the Edgewater coal plant near Sheboygan, which was losing millions of dollars each year.

We are encouraged by Alliants recent decision to close Edgewater, and its pledge to build 1000MW of new solar by 2023 will bring new jobs to one of Wisconsins fastest growing industries: clean energy, Ward said in a statement. Now its time to commit to retiring the Columbia coal plant and double down on the benefits for customers, public health, and our climate.

See the Sierra Club analysis: http://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce-authors/u2196/SierraClub_CostOfCoal.pdf

See the statement on the Edgewater plant closing: http://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2020/05/sierra-club-statement-alliant-s-edgewater-coal-plant-retirement-announcement

UW researchers have found that COVID-19 can spread between animals. But theyre not sure if it can be spread from a pet to its owner.

Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka in the UW- Madison School of Veterinary Medicine infected three cats with SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19. In one to three days, the cats had the virus. Then, they put a different cat in each of the cats cages. Each cat introduced became infected in three to eight days.

Cats can transmit the virus between each other, but they dont and have not been demonstrated to pass the virus between cats, for example, and humans, said Dr. Mark Markel, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, in a Milwaukee Rotary Club briefing.

For pet owners who are worried about their companions getting infected, Markel said, theres so low of a likelihood that theyre going to be infected, that you dont need to worry about it.

But if owners do want to take precautions, Markel advised to keep the pet at home and separate an infected family member from the pet. However, no typical symptoms are shown in animals with COVID-19; even Kawaokas cats didnt show symptoms of coronavirus.

Although we do have the ability at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to do SARS-CoV-2 testing of animals, we are trying to do it as little as possible primarily because we are creating the test kits and the media for the human testing, said Markel. Most of those resources, the same media and reagents that might be used for animals, are being dedicated to human use.

Another reason the vet school is reluctant to test pets is the concern that owners will abandon that animal with no real justification for doing that.

Thats because there is no evidence that pets do transmit COVID-19 to their owners.

As far as predicting which viruses could jump from animals to humans, UW is hoping to develop a consortium to find out. Markel touted UWs School of Medicine and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agricultural and Life Sciences as the leaders of infectious disease research to find out what viruses can spread between animals and humans.

UW is already researching this. The Goldberg Lab sequences viruses and bacteria in Uganda to decide which ones transmit to humans like COVID-19 that went from a bat to a pangolin to a human.

The answer is a very challenging problem, said Markel. The more rational pathway is to be ready when an outbreak begins to begin testing and create testing very quickly. They did do this to some extent with SARS. When there was funding around SARS, there was some initial vaccine development. But the money dried up when SARS went away.

When funding goes away, its difficult to make a vaccine that is adaptable to the next outbreak, he said.

UW has two different COVID-19 vaccines in trials.

One is by Kawaoka and his company FluGen. The other is by Jorge Osorio, a professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

But the goal is to kind of have a basebone of this vaccine so that if a new in this case, coronavirus, comes in the picture somehow, then you can create a vaccine much more readily than the 12 to 18 months or earlier or longer that it might take to create a vaccine, said Markel. Its very difficult to predict the next pathogen.

DHS reports the states COVID-19 death toll at 517 up three since the last count.

The states number of confirmed cases also rose since Monday by 279 bringing the cumulative case count to 15,863. The positive tests results account for 3.6 percent of the total tests received Tuesday, continuing the steady decline in positive tests since Saturdays peak of 6.8 percent.

DHS continues to monitor the spread of this virus at all times, according to Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk, adding she hopes people in close proximity were not harboring COVID-19 over Memorial Day weekend.

Monitoring the virus will be the work of DHS until there is a vaccine, she said in a briefing.

Even if we have periods of time when the virus seems more quiet and we havent seen as much spread, we know it can come back, said Willems Van Dijk. We dont want to be caught off guard. Thats why testing is so very important for even when were not seeing hundreds of cases like we are today when we test, that we want to keep testing so that if we do start to see the virus increase after a lull that we are all prepared.

An estimated 59 percent of those who tested positive have recovered from COVID-19, while 3 percent of patients have died. Thirty-seven percent are still in a 30-day waiting period of symptom onset or diagnosis.

Counties reporting deaths include: Milwaukee (277), Brown (32), Dane (26), Waukesha (26), Racine (25), Kenosha (22), Rock (16), Walworth (13), Grant (12), Ozaukee (11), Outagamie (7), Fond du Lac (5), Clark (4), Richland (4) and Washington (4).

Door, Jefferson, Sauk and Sheboygan counties report three deaths each. Marinette County reports two deaths.

Adams, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Columbia, Dodge, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Polk, Waupaca, Winnebago and Wood counties report one death each.

Click here for more coronavirus resources and updates: http://www.wispolitics.com/wisconsin-coronavirus-resources/

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state are the highest theyve been in over a month with 416 patients in hospitals statewide.

According to the Wisconsin Hospital Associations dashboard, thats up 34 from Monday and 24 from last week. Its the highest amount of patients statewide since April 14.

While DHS is aware of the statewide increase, Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk assured that the spike is nothing that would put us in a surge situation with hospitals.

Were in regular touch with our hospitals, and they have indicated theyre good, but something we want to keep an eye on, she said.

Of the states 15,863 confirmed cases, 15 percent have been hospitalized and 3 percent have received intensive care, according to DHS.

DHS reports that 295 of the total COVID patients are in southeastern Wisconsin, and fewer than 60 patients are in each of the six other regions of the state.

And Wisconsin appears to have an adequate supply of beds and ventilators, according to WHA.

ICU beds immediately available in the state number 385 out of 1,436 total in Wisconsin; intermediate care beds 187 out of 878; surgical beds 1,540 out of 7,206; and isolation beds beds in negative pressure rooms meant for isolating patients 1,164 out of 1,970.

Statewide, hospitals have a total of 1,273 ventilators and 307 ventilated patients.

But PPE supplies are still lagging. The WHA data shows that 36 hospitals in the state have seven days or less supply of N95 masks, 34 have a limited supply of gowns and 29 hospitals have limited paper medical masks.

Regardless of federal funding, the Wisconsin National Guard will continue working the statewide pandemic response.

Specimen collection only requires half of the 1,400 Guard members in the states coronavirus response, Wisconsins Adjutant General Paul Knapp told reporters in a briefing.

The other 700 or so citizen soldiers monitor self-isolation facilities and warehousing operations, transport personal protective equipment and testing kits, and assist with a statewide call center and mortuary affairs. The number of soldiers and airmen is based on the requests the Guard has received.

Right now, the Wisconsin National Guard is on a Title 32 order federal active duty through June 24. Gov. Tony Evers and other governors requested President Trump to extend Title 32 through July 31.

We are available and ready to continue testing under state active duty if that were to expire, said Knapp. So as long as the need exists for the Guard to assist in this effort, well be here in one of those statuses or another.

Willems Van Dijk attributes the increase in state testing to the great partnership with the Wisconsin National Guard.

The pandemic is likely to last a year or two until we get (a) vaccine, and well continue to need expanded testing, she said.

Willems Van Dijk noted the funding Evers announced last week will assist local health departments to ramp up testing so that if the Guard is not available, we have established systems and processes and counties for expanding testing throughout our state.

Despite Dane County meeting its health departments metrics to begin phase 1 of its reopening plan, state health officials warn the virus is still out there.

DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said the metrics Dane County has met to reopen regarding mitigating COVID-19 doesnt mean its absent from the community.

The first phase of Forward Dane allows businesses such as restaurants, gyms and retail establishments to open at 25 percent capacity with physical distancing.

But Willems Van Dijk said to refrain from going out with a hundred different friends that you havent seen since March. She recommends being cautious about leaving the house, limiting interactions to a small social circle and diligence with common sense things, such as hand washing.

Phase 1 also allows indoor gatherings at commercial facilities of 50 people or less; indoor gatherings at a private residence of 10 people or less; outdoor gatherings of 50 or less; and reopening public courts and fields.

The order notes that select businesses and activities with high risk for disease transmission, such as K-12 schools and public playgrounds, are still closed.

The county will remain in Phase 1 for a minimum of 14 days, which is one incubation period for COVID-19. In order to get to phase 2, the county has to meet certain criteria. If thats not met, then the data will be reassessed regularly until the county is ready to continue through the phases.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. announced a new online retail portal to connect shoppers with more than 230 Main Street businesses statewide.

The website, linked below, is a searchable database of locally owned shops organized by region or type of goods that can be bought online or shipped.

Local small businesses have been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes in a statement. This is a great opportunity to help sustain local and small businesses in our downtown districts throughout Wisconsin.

According to a release from the WEDC, in order to be listed, shops must be located in one of the 34 Wisconsin Main Street communities. Wisconsin Main Street is a community development program administered by WEDC that targets Wisconsins historic commercial districts.

Additional offerings from local businesses in Connect Communities member communities will be added in the future, read the release.

Visit the website: http://www.mainstreetwi.com/

#TOP STORIES#

# Wisconsin State Fair decision will be made by board chairman Yingling

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/05/26/board-chairman-in-charge-of-state-fair-decision.html

# Takeout just isnt the same: Handful of restaurants reopen in face of virus

http://madison.com/wsj/news/local/takeout-just-isnt-the-same-handful-of-restaurants-reopen-in-face-of-virus/article_d55abf6c-4826-5b23-8530-c5cd82e63aba.html

#TOPICS#

# AGRIBUSINESS

WFBF seeking 2020 Leadership Institute participants

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=572&yr=2020

# ECONOMY

Area restaurants carefully approach reopening dine-in service

Dane County takes first tentative steps toward getting back to business

http://madison.com/wsj/news/local/dane-county-takes-first-tentative-steps-toward-getting-back-to-business/article_66ec048e-762e-5d09-bce9-f0979cbee54f.html

# EDUCATION

Two UWRF students named CAFES outstanding seniors

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=570&yr=2020

Sheila Briggs running for Wisconsin State Superintendent https://www.wpr.org/sheila-briggs-running-wisconsin-state-superintendent

Back to school? 1 in 5 teachers are unlikely to return to reopened classrooms this fall, poll says https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/education/2020/05/26/coronavirus-schools-teachers-poll-ipsos-parents-fall-online/5254729002/

# ENVIRONMENT

NRCS announces second EQIP signup for 2020 funding

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=569&yr=2020

Grazing goats abound: Madison Parks Division hires herd to remove invasive plants https://www.wpr.org/grazing-goats-abound-madison-parks-division-hires-herd-remove-invasive-plants

# HEALTH CARE

Advocate Aurora invests in Texas-based PPE manufacturer

A progress report on how Wisconsin is doing against coronavirus https://www.wpr.org/progress-report-how-wisconsin-doing-against-coronavirus

Visit link:
WED AM News: Manufacturers expect some elements of pandemic response are here to stay; UW researchers have two COVID-19 vaccines in trials -...

LONGMEADOW Just in time for the stay at home advisory that was put in place in the beginning of March, one Longmeadow resident had started her own mobile veterinary practice, Paws Calls.

Kara Ryczek grew up in Longmeadow and graduated from Longmeadow High School in 1992. After graduation, she attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where she earned a BcS in biology in 1996. While she attended Trinity, she worked at a local veterinary hospital during her senior year. Following her time at Trinity, she chose Tufts University for Veterinary Medicine as her next move, and graduated with her DVM in 2001.

From there, Ryczek completed a 13-month rotating internship at VCA South Shore.

After my internship, I worked in small animal hospitals. At these practices, Id see routine visits, sick appointments and surgical cases once a week, Ryczek explained. I missed emergency work, as this was mostly what I saw during my internship, so I picked up shifts at Boston Road Animal Hospital on weekends and holidays.

Eventually, Ryczek moved back to Longmeadow, and worked part time at the VCA Shaker Road Animal Hospital, and currently, she works at West Springfield Animal Hospital.

I decided to open Paws Calls at the beginning of this year. I wanted to be able to help local family and friends with their pets emergencies, routine care, and overall ease of maintaining the pets health care at home, Ryczek said.

She no longer has a routine surgical day through West Springfield Animal Hospital, as she stopped when she became pregnant with her son. However, with her new practice, she now has the opportunity to do minor procedures.

With the mobile practice, Im able to perform minor surgical procedures as needed. Im seeing patients on scheduled appointments, but I am also open to fit in emergencies as needed, Ryczek explained.

The opening of Paws Calls occurred at the beginning of 2020, and the timing just happened to coincide with COVID-19, and the closing of many local businesses, Ryczek said. Veterinarians are considered essential, so she has been helping a friend at her local clinic, while building Paws Calls.

Paws Calls is only seeing dogs and cats at this time. Ryczek is working by herself for now, and is using her own SUV. During the pandemic, she is asking owners to see the pets outside for dogs, and to see cats in an enclosed porch, mud room or garage. The business is currently set up for annual physical examinations, vaccinations, microchips, routine diagnostic testing, sick visits and at-home euthanasia.

Paws Calls can be reached at 617-797-3070, on her Facebook Page, Dr Paws Calls, or by email at dr.pawscalls@gmail.com.

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Paws Calls offers vet appointments in the comfort of home - Reminder Publications

When it comes to cognitive testing, the Goffins cockatoos at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna are pros.

Researchers have tested them on toolmaking, shape-matching and other tasks, and found that a cockatoo can learn how to solve a problem from watching another cockatoo do it just once.

Now, researchers in Alice M. I. Auerspergs lab, the home of the Austrian cockatoo colony, have created an experimental setup they call an innovation arena. Its a new way to test the ability of animals to innovate, and might be used for a variety of species, in principle. And they compared the performance of laboratory-raised cockatoos and wild-caught birds, to see if the lab-raised birds had acquired an edge by hanging out with human beings.

It might seem like pure human arrogance to think that we make animals smarter, but previous research efforts have found a captivity effect in animals, including chimpanzees, that have been in long-term human custody. Their cognitive performance was better than that of their wild relatives on human-devised tests. Therefore, the humans hypothesized, exposure to human environments and interaction with humans might improve animals ability to innovate.

The hypothesis did not hold up in this experiment. As the researchers reported Tuesday in the journal Scientific Reports, the wild birds were just as smart as the captive birds but a good deal less interested in bothering with the experiment at all.

Perhaps the birds did not appreciate that the innovation arena was like the set of an avian TV game show: a semicircular area with 20 doors, each with a different task behind it to solve for a food reward. It certainly looks like fun from a human point of view. And perhaps birds that have spent a lot of time around humans and their experiments get the idea that a weird-looking apparatus indicates that humans are going to offer food for otherwise nonsensical tasks like moving a lever or pushing a button.

Among the 20 tasks revealed by the doors were ones the researchers called the seesaw, the swish, the shovel, the swing, the mill and the twig. Each task required a different solution to earn the treat. The bird might have to push a platform down or a lever sideways. Or it might have to press a knob, nudge a bowl, rotate a wheel or bend a wire. Each time the birds were set in the arena, the tasks were shuffled, hidden behind different doors.

Innovation in animals is defined in different ways, but it more or less means coming up with new ways to solve problems. The researchers wanted to test the rate of innovation: how many solutions a bird could come up with in a given amount of time. And they wanted an experimental setup that, in principle, might be adapted to different species. Thus, the arena.

The experiment was designed both to show that the arena was workable and to test the captivity effect. The researchers set up a kind of competition between the major-league, lab-raised team in Vienna and a pickup squad of temporarily captive cockatoos. (The latter had been caught in the wild in Indonesia and kept long enough that they were comfortable around people and the experimental apparatus.)

The A-team performed in Vienna; the scrubs were in a field station lab in Indonesia. The competitions were often run more or less simultaneously, according to Theresa Rssler, who conducted the experiments in Vienna while Berenika Mioduszewska ran them in Indonesia.

As anticipated, the apparatus worked out. The Vienna birds, familiar with experiments and their rewards, dove right in when placed at the starting point. They very quickly approach the tasks and wander around and try to open the boxes and get out the rewards, Ms. Rssler said.

But they didnt always follow the game plan no surprise to a cockatoo researcher. Sometimes the birds, both lab-raised and wild, had their own idea of how a problem might be solved. For instance, some opened the Wire task in several instances by removing the window hinges (which were closer to the reward) instead of unbending the wire, the researchers wrote. Ms. Rssler said, In many of the experiments they seemed to outsmart us at some point.

The big difference between the two groups was in their interest in doing the tests at all. The researchers classified 10 of 11 lab birds as motivated, meaning they began right away to open doors and look for food. Only three of the eight wild birds were motivated.

The unmotivated birds rarely approached the setup or interacted with the tasks, the researchers reported. But the motivated birds both wild-caught and lab-raised performed at the same level in solving the tasks.

Ms. Rssler said that if the wild birds decide they want to interact with the apparatus, they are just as skillful problem solvers.

Read the rest here:
Wild Cockatoos Are Just as Smart as Lab-Raised Ones - The New York Times

Is there anything a dog can't do?

Emotional support animals, medical support animals, drug sniffing dogs, bed bug sniffing dogs...and soon Coronavirus sniffing dogs!

YES!

A new program at theUniversity of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) has scientests and researchersworking with dogs to see if their nosescan help with early detection of COVID-19 in humans.

In this program happening right now,8 dogs are being trained in a laboratory setting. Over three weeks, they will first learn to recognize the smell of COVID-19 in saliva and urine samples from infected patients (through an imprintingtechnique) and will then be tested to see if they can detect the infected samples from the non-infected samples.

Cynthia Otto, a Vet and director ofPenn Vet's Working Dog Center says:

"The potential impact of these dogs and their capacity to detect COVID-19 could be substantial.This study will harness the dog's extraordinary ability to support the nation's COVID-19 surveillance systems, with the goal of reducing community spread."

So when could we start seeing COVID-19 sniffing dogs? These trained dogs could be ready to start sniffing humans by July.

For more info on this training click here: COVID Sniffing Dogs

Read more:
Dogs Being Trained to Sniff Out COVID-19 - RADIO.COM

PUHI The Kauai Humane Society has added two new members to its board of directors, making 11 members now serving on the board.

Recently joining the KHS board are Dr. Ranaella Steinberg and Mindy Smith, Kauai residents who are also board members of other animal-advocacy groups and bring varying expertise to the table.

Smith moved to Kauai more than 20 years ago, formerly owned a travel agency in Lake Tahoe, and founded an interior-design business in San Francisco. On Kauai, shes spent 20 years managing a restaurant in Hanalei, and has an active Hawaii real Estate license. In addition to her new position on the KHS board, she is involved in the Zonta Club of Hanalei Foundation, the Puamana Condos Homeowners Association in Princeville, the Kauai Society for the Protection of Animals and Habitat for Humanity North Shore Committee, and is a member of the Best Friends Society.

Steinberg is a graduate of the college of veterinary medicine at the University of Florida, where she was the recipient of the Presidential Service Award as both an undergraduate and graduate student. She is associated with the North Shore Veterinary Service, but it was an internship in marine-mammal medicine that initially brought Steinberg to Hawaii. Her experience is diverse, with a current focus on companion-animal medicine that blends both conventional and holistic approaches. Shes involved in several professional organizations, including the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and the Human Society Medical Association.

We are thrilled to have such talented individuals join our board, said Mirah Horowitz, executive director of KHS. Both of these women are extremely dedicated to animal welfare and to the island of Kauai.

Dan Giovanni, president of the KHS board, said he is pleased to welcome Steinberg and Smith to the team.

(We) look forward to working with them as we broaden and align the roles of KHS and KSPCA for the betterment of animal welfare on Kauai, said Giovanni, a Kauai resident who originally hails from the San Francisco Bay area, is the former vice president of Hawaiian Electric Company and is now an independent consultant to the electric-power industry.

Other current KHS board members include both Kauai and Mainland residents.

Living in Kalaheo with her husband and their 11-year-old dog Mango, Alicia Iverson joined the KHS board in June 2017, and has served as treasurer since 2018. She has more than 28 years of financial and accounting experience, including serving as the chief financial officer for Koloa Rum Company, a local manufacturer of small-batch, premium, craft Hawaiian rum.

Boardmember and Kauai resident Kurt Last moved to Hawaii in 2013. Last also serves as a consultant for universities and industrial clients, including Duke University, Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center in their efforts to advance novel therapeutics. He is a former member of the National Institutes of Health Red Team, and is a current member of the Bryant University board of trustees, serving on the investment and finance committees.

Pat McGrath moved to Kauai with her family from Canada in 2003, has been a board member since 2017, and has fostered almost 300 kittens for KHS since 2012. McGrath is the professor of English and chair of the Languages, Arts &Humanities Division at Kauai Community College, where she also serves as one of the campus commissioners on the University of Hawaii Commission on LGBTQ+ Equality, and advises the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) on-campus student club. McGrath was the president of the Kauai Performing Arts Center advisory board from 2015 to 2018.

Dallas resident Dana Rhoden is founder and chief creative officer for Veterinary Education Network, a consulting firm for veterinarians. Rhoden is fear-free certified in veterinary sciences, is trained in animal behavior, and has been in animal rescue and in human and veterinary health care for over 25 years. She was the founder of Southwest Veterinary Symposium, held annually in Texas for veterinarians. She currently lives in Texas with her husband Lee, five dogs, one bird and two ducks. Rhoden joined the KHS board in 2019 and recently chaired the annual Paws for a Cause Gala.

Kauai resident Ann Hayashi joined the KHS board in 2018, and is the executive director for Blue Zones Project in Hawaii, a community well-being-improvement initiative that helps make healthy choices easier for Hawaii residents. She spends her days supporting strategic planning and implementation of the statewide initiative, and her background includes research in global public health and behavioral medicine. Hayashi said she joined the board with the desire to better support her community and the people and animals that live in it. She has two cats and a dog, all of which are the bosses of her house, and now her office, since she has been working at home.

The two remaining boardmembers are Howard Appel and David Cohen, retired entrepreneurs who founded the luxury real estate and travel company Destinations In Paradise. The company has partnered with KHS to help fund transfers of animals to the mainland over the past couple years and, in addition to providing support for KHS, Appel and Cohen are also active supporters of a rare turtle protection and breeding/release program in Mexico. Appel has more than 30 years of experience as president, chief financial officer and certified public accountant. He served as president of Millennium Health until his retirement in 2015, and has sat on multiple directing boards of both public and private firms.

Cohen was the chief operating officer of Millennium Health until his retirement in 2014, and enjoys helping start-up companies and organizations. A non-practicing certified public accountant, Cohen was raised in South Africa and has a bachelors degree in economics and accounting form the University of Cape Town, and he supports education for extreme poverty-stricken young girls in Uganda.

Stephanie Shinno, features and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.

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Humane society welcomes 2 to board - Thegardenisland.com