StemCell Therapy

For centuries, stories have been told of people whose hair turned prematurely white from harrowing stress. Now, Harvard researchers have found a scientific explanation.

"Marie Antoinette syndrome" is the term commonly used to for the rapid, premature graying, because legend has it that the French queen's hair turned white the night before she faced the guillotine.

Mice get "Marie Antoinette syndrome" when they're highly stressed, too, so Harvard researchers studied them to figure out how stress can induce a permanent loss of hair pigment.

"We started by thinking maybe the immune system is involved," says Harvard stem cell scientist Ya-Chieh Hsu. The hypothesis was that under stress, the immune system attacks the stem cells that generate hair pigment cells.

But when the researchers tested it in mice with defective immune systems that couldn't attack, "They still got gray hairs under stress so that's incorrect," Hsu says.

Next hypothesis: that the stress hormone cortisol was killing the pigment stem cells. The research team tried removing the adrenal glands that make cortisol, but the mice still developed gray hair.

"So we know that cortisol is not involved," Hsu says.

Finally, the research team focused on the sympathetic nervous system the network of nerves best known for the "fight-or-flight" response to danger. Hsu says it just didn't seem like a likely candidate, even though it gets activated by stress, because the fight-or-flight response is temporary.

But now it's clear that "a very transient fight-or flight response can lead to permanent changes in stem cells," she says. "That is a much bigger effect than what we would initially anticipate."

The research finds that during stress, the sympathetic nervous system over-activates and so depletes the stem cells that make pigment cells. No more pigment cells no more hair color.

The paper is just out in the journal Nature.

William Lowry, a biology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles who studies hair follicles, says we've long known there's a connection between stress and graying hair, but not what it was.

"This paper really nails that, in the sense of figuring out what different types of systems in your body come together" to produce the effect, he says.

And that mechanism could apply to more than hair, Lowry says.

"Is this happening in different organs? Is this the canary in the coal mine?" he asks. "I think sure. There's no reason to think that this is a one-off."

Ya-Chieh Hsu at Harvard says the hope is that understanding how stress harms stem cells could lead to ways to block that harm.

Also --- it's not clear whether the stress mechanism that turns hair white is the same as the normal graying that comes with age, but if it is, there could be a way to block that, too.

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How Stress Turns Hair White: Harvard Study Points To 'Fight-Or-Flight' Response - WBUR

In her mind, its as if she took a seven-month nap, with no memory of the lost time.

ALLIANCE Kertisha Brabson lost seven months of her life, but she has plenty of time to make up for it.

The 31-year-old mother of two is happy to be alive. Shes fortunate to be home with her children. And shes hopeful, anxious and restless about getting back to her old self as a soccer mom and dental hygienist, back to the way it was before.

I know nothing about those seven months, she said from the living room of her South Freedom Avenue home where she raises daughter, Diamonique, 12, and son, Perez, 5.

Brabson was in a coma for seven months after losing consciousness on Sept. 7, 2018. In her mind, its as if she took a seven-month nap, with no memory of the lost time.

We knew we couldnt give up ... shes got two little ones waiting on her, explained Brabsons mom, Kertease Williams. Gods hands were all over me, telling me what to do.

Her battle

Brabsons medical ordeal began earlier in 2018. For months, she wasnt feeling well and was fatigued. In early September, it got really bad. Her speech turned nonsensical. She got confused and lost on an attempted drive to Aultman Hospital in Canton.

She wound up being rushed to Alliance Community Hospital, then was moved to Aultman. Already in a comatose condition, Brabson was taken to Cleveland Clinic where she was diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Its the same affliction that had terrorized young New York Post reporter Susannah Cahalan, who wrote a book, Brain on Fire, in 2013 about her ordeal. The story was turned into a Netflix movie, starring Chlo Grace Moretz, in 2016.

The form of encephalitis that struck Cahalan -- and Brabson -- is caused by a virus that makes the body's immune system attack its own brain cells, leading to psychiatric symptoms, seizures and even cardiovascular complications.

Its cause remains unclear, though recent research is being conducted to determine a possible genetic link.

Still in a coma, Brabson was moved to a nursing home in Boardman. She was there more than a month, but began having multiple seizures daily, so she was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital for additional medical treatment.

Aggressive treatment

My husband (Larry Williams) helped keep me going, Brabsons mom said. All the support from the community was amazing; and we were getting prayers from all over the world.

Kertease Williams wanted to do more for her daughter.

You do what you got to do, she said.

Her research led her to The Ohio State Universitys Wexner Medical Center. The facility has a Neuro Critical Care Unit, where doctors would work on controlling the 10 seizures per day Brabson was experiencing -- all while still in a coma.

Dr. Shraddha Mainali, an assistant professor of neurology and director of the neurovascular ultrasound lab at Ohio State, said the medical team attacked Brabsons case on two fronts:

Aggressive immunity suppression to control her disease while carefully monitoring antibody levels circulating in her brain fluids.

Aggressive treatment of her seizures using multiple IV drips, oral medications and surgery to help control her relentless seizures.

After about four months of treatment at Wexner, Brabson awoke from her coma.

It was April 7, Williams recalled.

She remembers the time, too.

I get a call at 5:10 a.m. ... they said Kertisha woke up, she said.

Story of hope

Dr. Mainali was thrilled.

Kertisha's case is definitely one of the memorable cases in my career and one of the success stories for our unit as well as the medical community, she said. It is not everyday that we get to see a patient wake up after remaining comatose for seven months.

Although her primary disease (anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis) is quite treatable, Brabsons complications along the way meant there were no guarantees shed ever wake up. It was anyones guess how much damage was done due to the prolonged bouts of seizures.

Her story is one of hope ... , Mainali said. And her outcome (of being alive and independent) goes to show how persistent and meticulous care can help improve outcomes in other patients with her condition, even when the disease is severe enough to make the odds of recovery very slim.

After she woke from her coma, Brabson received ongoing physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation, to help gain back strength and function. When she returned to Stark County, Brabson spent time at Rose Lane Nursing and Rehabilitation in Jackson Township to continue her recovery.

Brabson is back at her home in Alliance. She still goes to therapy. She sees a neurologist weekly. Her short-term memory comes and goes but is getting better.

She was so angry for a while; she wanted to be better right way, Williams said. I keep telling her its going to take time. And I think she realizes that now.

Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @tbotosREP

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Alliance womans remarkable recovery from 7-month coma - The-review

Irving Weissman and Joseph McCune, Opinion contributors Published 7:00 a.m. ET Jan. 24, 2020

Severe Trump administration restrictions mean millions of Americans of all political and religious stripes won't benefit from fetal tissue research.

Last summer the Trump administration curtailed federal funding of medical research using human fetal tissue; the new rulestook effect Oct. 1. More recently, the administration addedrestrictions that are even more severe.

Immediately, important work at two NIH-supported labs in Montana and California that are fighting the AIDS epidemic stopped because they were testing new medications against HIV using mice with human immune systems derived from human fetal tissue. In the near term, all National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding of research using fetal tissuewill likely cease.

More than 30years ago, we invented SCID-hu mice for biomedical research on diseases affecting humans, by implanting human fetal blood-forming and immune system tissuesinto mice whose immune systems had been silenced. The implanted immune tissues came from an aborted fetus, and allowed our otherwise immune-deficient mice to exist and be vulnerable to viruses that infect humans.

Tissues from living infants would not have worked;they are too far along in development and nearly impossible to obtain. This mouse model (and later versions of it) became the only living system, outside of a human, in which advanced therapies for diseases like AIDS and other viral infections could be evaluated before they were given to people.

Our work with human fetal tissue proceeded with the highest level of caution and vigilance. We received advice from bioethicists, clergyand government officials, which led to the establishment of strict guidelines that are still used today. No woman was asked or paid to terminate a pregnancy, the termination process was unaltered, and the women were asked for donation of the organs only after they had decided to terminate the pregnancy. Thus, obtaining the fetal tissue for medical research had no impact on ending pregnancies.

Since then, mice with transplanted human fetal tissues have been successfully used by scientists to identify blood stem cells and to devise treatments now availableor in clinical trialsfor cancer, various viral infections, Alzheimers disease, spinal cord injuries, and other diseases of the nervous system. Such diseases kill or cripple many Americans including pregnant women, fetusesand newborn infants. Many of them have only a short window of opportunity wherein a new therapy can treat them, and a delay can be fatal.

National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, on Oct. 21, 2013.(Photo: *, Kyodo)

The Trump administration's new rules are tantamount to a funding ban. In academic labs, the experiments are done by students and fellows in training, and the new rules block any NIH-funded students or fellows from working with human fetal tissue. Those who imposed the banmust bear responsibility for the consequences: People will suffer and die for lack of adequate treatments.

Americans pay the price:Trump administration's 'scientific oppression' threatens US safety and innovation

At a December 2018 meeting at NIH,after hearing scientific evidence about alternative research methods such as the use of adult cells, experts concluded that the use of fetal tissue is uniquely valuable. Nonetheless, the administration severely restricted the use of fetal tissue, thereby denying millions of Americans the fruits of such research Americans of all political stripes, since deadly viruses and cancers do not care who you vote for.

These restrictions subvert the NIH mission, which is to advance medicine and protect the nations health. To the extent that it was motivated by the religious beliefs of those in charge, it bluntly transgresses the American principle of separation of church and state. As a result, both believers and non-believers will die.

Of course, all who take the Hippocratic Oathto "do no harm,"which includes all medical doctors, will always offer and deliver all types of therapies that are available.

Restricting science: Trump EPA's cynical 'transparency' ploy would set back pollution science and public health

However, we believe that thoseresponsible forthis de facto ban, and perhapsthose who agree with them, should personally accept its consequences. We challenge them tobe true to their beliefs. They should pledge to never accept any cancer therapy, any AIDS medication, any cardiac drug, any lung disease treatment, any Alzheimers therapy, or any other medical advance that was developed using fetal tissue including our mice. Its a long list, one that you can learn about from us here. Should this apply to you, be faithful and be bold: Take the pledge.

Irving Weissman is a Professor of Pathology and Developmental Biology and the Director of the Stanford Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell at Stanford University School of Medicine. Joseph McCune is Professor Emeritus of Medicine from the Division of Experimental Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. The views expressed here are solely their own.

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If you want to ban fetal tissue research, sign a pledge to refuse its benefits - USA TODAY

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the tissue in one or both lungs, usually caused by a bacterial infection. It causes tiny air sacs at the end of the breathing tubes in the lungs to fill up with fluid. The body sends white blood cells to the lungs to try to fight the infection, which helps kill the germs but can also make it harder for the lungs to pass oxygen into the bloodstream.

People with a weaker immune system, whether because of age, illness or disease. Babies, infants and older people, as well as smokers and heavy drinkers, are at higher risk. People with other health conditions, including cancer, long-term heart, lung and kidney diseases and diabetes are also at increased risk, as are those whose immune system has been weakened through chemotherapy or certain medications or because they have HIV/Aids.

They are typically similar to a flu or chest infection so would include a high temperature or fever, sweating, shivering and a cough that brings up phlegm, as well as a loss of appetite. Signs that it is more serious include breathing quickly and feeling confused or disoriented, which is mostly observed in older people. A sharp pain in the side of the chest, which becomes worse when taking a deep breath, usually means that pleurisy an inflammation of the thin outer covering of the lung has developed.

The vast majority of people will recover from pneumonia and return to good health. In milder cases it could involve a few days or a week of being unwell and then a steady return to normality. But in severe cases it can take six months or even longer to clear and it is a leading cause of death among old and seriously ill people. In a person in poor health or with a weak immune system, untreated pneumonia can cause oxygen levels to fall so far that body tissue is starved particularly in the heart and brain of the oxygen it needs to function.

In a healthy person, rest and plenty of water plus antibiotics if it is bacterial can suffice as their natural defences kick in. If symptoms are severe (more common with bacterial infections), hospital treatment will be needed. Patients will receive antibiotics and fluids through a drip, and may need oxygen to help them breathe. In very serious cases patients may be put on a ventilator.

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Pneumonia: what are the symptoms and who is at risk? - The Guardian

Adenoviruses can result in colds, bronchitis, respiratory infections, croup (barking cough), ear infections, pink eye, pneumonia, stomach infections, UTIs, and in rare cases, meningitis.(iStock)

Dear Dr. Manny,

My daughters keep getting sick in elementary school. They always have colds and fevers. Recently the school put out a warning about adenovirus, and I was wondering: What is the adenovirus? What kills adenovirus on the surface? How long is the disease contagious?

Thanks for your question.

Adenoviruses are viruses that affect the lining of the eyes, airways, lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and the nervous system. They cause coughs, pinkeye, fevers, diarrhea, and sore throats. Typically children catch them more frequently than adults.

IS A CANKER SORE CAUSING YOUR MOUTH PAIN?

These infections are usually somewhat mild and go away on their own. But if someone has a weak immune systemor a pre-existing condition, these infections can be dangerous. They are very contagious, and spread through droplets from a cough or sneeze.

Adenoviruses can result in colds, bronchitis, respiratory infections, croup (barking cough), ear infections, pink eye, pneumonia, stomach infections, UTIs, and in rare cases, meningitis.

WHAT IS DRY FASTING?

You cant treat these infections with antibiotics, because they are viral, not bacterial, so prevention is key.

Hand sanitizers do not prevent the spread of adenoviruses. Rather, its important to wash your hands with soap and water. Dont rub your eyes or your nose in public places. Clean surfaces like sinks, counters, floors, doorknobs, cell phones, and commonly used toys with cleaner and water.

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The virus stays contagious long after someone recovers from an infection, and will infect any person with a low immunity.

Do you have a health question for Dr. Manny? Email us atAskDrManny@FoxNews.com

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What is the adenovirus? - Home - WSFX

TOKYO Lurking deep inside some tumours are "factories" full of immune cells that help the body fight a rearguard action against cancer and are key to helping some patients recover, new research has shown.

In recent years, doctors have turned to a new treatment for cancer - immunotherapy - that works by leveraging the body's immune system to fight tumours.

The technique has largely focused on white blood cells called T-cells, which are "trained" to recognise and attack cancer cells.

But the innovative treatment works well for only around 20 per cent of patients, so researchers have been trying to understand why some people respond better than others.

Three papers published last Thursday in the journal Nature point the way, identifying a key formation inside some tumours: tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS).

TLS function like factories or schools for immune cells that help the body fight cancer, said Professor Wolf Fridman, a professor emeritus of immunology at the Cordeliers Research Centre of the Paris Descartes University medical school, who led one of the studies.

He said the cells need to be educated in "schools" - the TLS - where they learn to recognise and attack cancer cells.

Key to the findings is that T-cells are far from the only immune cells capable of taking the fight to cancer. Researchers found the TLS were full of B-cells, a kind of immune cell that produces antibodies.

"We have been T-cell addicts for 15 years in cancer," Prof Fridman said. "We analysed these sarcomas to see what groups they had and what's striking is that these B-cells appeared."

Dr Beth Helmink, a fellow in surgical oncology at the University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Centre, who worked on a second study, said the research had changed perceptions of the role of B-cells in immunotherapy.

"Through these studies, we find that B-cells are not just innocent bystanders, but are themselves contributing in a meaningful way to the anti-tumour immune response," she said in a statement from the centre.

The discovery is a surprise, as an abundance of B-cells in cancer patients has sometimes been seen as a marker for poor prognosis.

But the studies found patients with high levels of B-cells inside TLS in their tumours were more likely to respond well to immunotherapy.

Dr Louisa James, a lecturer in immunology at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, said: "This series of studies is exciting because (it represents) real progress in the treatment of different types of cancer."

Dr James, who was not involved in the studies, added: "In the short term, these results provide a new tool to help predict which patients are likely to benefit from treatment with immunotherapy and may also pave the way for improved treatments in the future."

There are still many unanswered questions, including why TLS form in some tumours and not others.

While it now seems clear that B-cells inside the structures play a key role in the success of immunotherapy, scientists are not sure precisely how.

It may be that the B-cells are on the front lines, producing antibodies that attack cancer cells efficiently - or they may be bolstering T-cells, or perhaps even doing both.

And not all TLS are created equal: The researchers found three categories, but only one type was "mature" enough to churn out cancer-fighting immune cells.

The research opens up promising new avenues, the authors said.

Initially, the findings could help doctors screen patients to see which of them are most likely to respond well to immunotherapy.

It could eventually mean more patients are successfully treated with the technique, said Professor Goran Jonsson, a professor of oncology and pathology at Lund University in Sweden, who worked on a third study.

"If we come up with a treatment that could enhance TLS formation, we could combine this with current immunotherapy regimens," he said. "Most likely, this would lead to more patients responding to immunotherapy."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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Scientists find immune cells that fight tumours from within - The Straits Times

Once-forgotten diseases have returned to the forefront of everyones attention after outbreaks like the recent Measles cases.

Unvaccinated children are around 25 times more likely to get contagious diseases like Measles, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

And unfortunately, unvaccinated children make up a large proportion of children in Michigan. According to I Vaccinate, only 59% of Michigan toddlers are up to date on all of their recommended vaccines.

LISTEN UP: Add theMichigan Medicine News Breakto your Alexa-enabled device, orsubscribe to our daily updates oniTunes,Google PlayandStitcher.

On a larger scale, the World Health Organization named vaccine hesitancy one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019.

SEE ALSO: Whats Causing the Latest Measles Outbreak?

Misconceptions about the recommended vaccine schedule, or vaccines in general, have led parents to opt out or delay vaccines, putting their children and others at risk of preventable diseases, says Aarti Raheja, M.D., a pediatrician at C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital.

Some parents worry combination vaccines may harm their baby or overwhelm their immune system. This causes parents to delay certain vaccines or follow an alternative, or non-standard vaccine schedule.

The CDC refers to the alternative schedule as non-standard as opposed to alternative, which is how I address it with families because there isnt an alternative, says Raheja. No research has been done on non-standard schedules, so we dont know if they are safe or if a child would be protected.

The 2019 recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedules have been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Raheja adds: The recommended vaccine schedule is the only evidenced-based schedule that has been researched for safety and efficacy. It provides all the necessary protection that can be given to children with the least amount of risk.

Vaccines are added to the schedule based on when an infant is likely to be most susceptible to the disease. Administering vaccines at scheduled intervals provides the broadest immunologic protection to children when theyre most vulnerable, minimizes the number of shots needed and office visits.

Getting all the recommended vaccines at one visit provides the best protection. Studies have shown that spacing out vaccinations over multiple visits causes children more stress and leaves them vulnerable to disease, according to Raheja.

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Follow the Right Path: A Traditional Vaccine Schedule - University of Michigan Health System News

DETROIT (WXYZ) Health leaders from around the world are continuing to monitor the spread of the coronavirus, now responsible for the deaths more than 2 dozen people in China.

The outbreak started in the city of Wuhan.

Two cases of the virus have been confirmed in the U.S one north of Seattle and another in Chicago.

Tonight, were learning the CDC is testing 3 people from metro Detroit for the virus.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Marcus Zervos stresses that unless youve traveled to the affected region in China, or youve been near someone who has, your chances of exposure are very low.

The virus is contagious person-to-person, so its a good idea to wash your hands and the obvious here avoid travel to Wuhan for right now.

Zervos was just in Wuhan in November as part of his job with the Henry Ford Health System.

The city is building a 1,000-bed hospital. Theyre putting up a 1,000-bed hospital in just a period of a week, Zervos says.

Thats the city of Wuhans emergency response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, something Dr. Marcus Zervos with the Henry Ford Health System says presents a lot like the flu. It can also cause fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

For people in Detroit the risk of getting the infection is very rare. It requires travel to China or being exposed to somebody who has been exposed to the virus or has infection with the virus, says Zervos.

The CDC is now testing 3 people from metro Detroit for the highly contagious virus. But Dr. Zervos says Henry Ford, nor Wayne State where he also works, has been made aware of any extra precautions or concerns related to the virus.

Its a new virus, its something we dont have immunity to. And in that way, it can spread possibly pretty easily between people, says Zervos.

In response to the outbreak, U of M has issued a travel warning for china, and restricted travel to the province where the outbreak started.

Michigan State also sent out a memo to students saying that their following CDC and WHO guidelines, but that at this time no programs are affected.

Symptoms of the virus may appear between 2 to 14 days after exposure, and those with weaker immune systems are most at risk,

But Dr. Zervos says for the average metro Detroiter who hasnt been to that region of China, their biggest health risk this time of the year, should be the flu.

Zervos says the way doctors handle possible cases once theyre confirmed, is quarantine.

Right now, there is now vaccine for the virus.

Coronavirus normally starts in animals and then is transmitted to humans.

In this case, it started at a seafood market in Wuhan. And again, its shared person-to-person, so thats why you see so many people in china, especially using public transit, wearing those face masks.

Zervos says thats not a precaution he thinks is necessary here.

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News Extra precautions being taken in Metro Detroit to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus Jenn - WXYZ

A Nebraska couple have spoken of the horrifying ordeal their child went through as a result autoimmune encephalitisa condition sometimes referred to as "brain on fire."

Omaha residents Christina and Brian Beck first noticed that something was wrong with their 14-year-old daughter Meredith in December 2018, KETV reported.

"I mean, it was horrific. We didn't know what was happening," Christina Beck told KETV. '[Meredith] said 'I sometimes feel really scared and confused, and kind of like I'm going really crazy.'"

Suspecting that Meredith was suffering from mental health issues, the Becks took her to see a psychologist, who prescribed the teen anxiety medications. However, these drugs did nothing to alleviate her symptoms and her condition began to worsen.

"She's starting to act lethargic, she started to say she was hearing voices," Christina Beck said. "She would feel like someone was touching her back and no one was there."

The couple said that Meredith began throwing up frequently and also had extreme difficulty getting to sleep.

"We had no idea what was happening and truly, the pediatrician didn't really know and the psychologist didn't know," Christina Beck said.

Then one day the family received a call from Meredith's school saying that she had been found in a catatonic state.

In response, the couple took her to get an electroencephalogram test (EEG), which measures electrical activity in the brain and can reveal whether patients are suffering from seizures.

However, the EEG did not reveal the source of Meredith's problem. With Meredith often relapsing into a catatonic state, the couple subsequently took her to other doctors. However, none could diagnose her condition.

Eventually, one pediatric neurologistDr. Mary Rickardnoticed a tumor the size of a "deflated football" on her left ovary.

"Immediately, when I saw her, I grew very concerned," Rickard told KETV.

She diagnosed her with autoimmune encephalitis, saying that the tumor was causing Meredith's immune system to attack her own brain. Specifically, it led her body to create antibodies that attacked her brain's NMDA receptorsthe same receptors affected by the mind-altering drug PCP.

"Unless you know what you're looking for, it's sometimes difficult," Rickard said. "If it attacks NMDA, that's what the drug PCP works on. So think of a child acting like they're on PCP all day. That's what we're dealing with."

After discovering the tumor, Rickard booked Meredith in for surgery the next day to remove it, while also treating her with steroids and giving her a blood transfusion.

The treatment was successful and after about a month or so, Meredith had made a full recovery.

"The neurologist told us that 12 years ago, our daughter would have been put in a psychiatric unit and she would've died there... because they didn't know as recently as 12 years ago, what was happening or how to stop it," Christina Beck said.

According to the National Institutes of Health, autoimmune encephalitis refers to a group of conditions that occur when the body's own immune system starts to attack healthy brain cells.

This can lead to a range of symptoms, including impaired memory and cognitive abilities, seizures, balance problems, speech problems, vision problems, psychosis, aggression, euphoria, fear, panic attacks, compulsive behaviors, loss of consciousness and coma.

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Nebraska Family Tells of Daughter's Terrifying Ordeal With 'Brain on Fire' Condition - Newsweek

An unprecedented cold spell has taken over Pakistan and the country, even the safely tropical city of Karachi, has not experienced the kind of chills that it has been suffering this year. In this kind of weather, its understandable that people have chosen to go into hibernation, finding the perfect excuse to stay in bed and not turn up for work. Those who do have to step out of the home have been struggling with warm clothing and temperature control. Fan heaters and inverters have had a lucky run, thanks to the nationwide gas shortage which accompanies harsh winters.

With shorter days and colder weather, amplified by weddings, family reunions and oodles of unhealthy food choices, it tends to get difficult to find the motivation to stay healthy and fit but to counter the general air of overeating and inactivity, there are plenty of wellness tips that may help keep your health on track...

Two-thirds of our body is made of water and therefore, keeping ourselves hydrated is one of the healthiest things to do. Symptoms of dehydration range from headaches to nausea to fatigue but its effects on ones immune system may not always be obvious. If one is hydrated, it keeps mucus membranes moist and, in turn, the immune system functions optimally. The best thing would be to up ones intake of fluids (including of course water), which is incredibly beneficial. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day and see the difference!

Science confirms that poor nutrition impairs the immune response while fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, grains and legumes or pulses are full of immune-boosting properties and antioxidants. It is advisable to eat in season; nature provides fresh, seasonal foods to compensate what our bodies lack at a particular time of the year. For instance, citrus fruits are in season throughout winter and are full of Vitamin C.

Though stress is not always bad, especially when one has a work deadline, studies have linked high stress levels to making a person more susceptible to catching colds and flu. Everyone has a way of coping with and reducing stress; whether its taking a bath, working out, sitting outdoors in the garden or having fun with the kids, do something to unwind. One can also minimize stress by working reasonable hours at their job and using free time to rest and relax alone or with friends and family.

We often overlook the simple things like washing our hands; it is a simple prevention method from germs and diseases. Washing hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds, and ensuring they are thoroughly dry, helps control infection. When coughing or sneezing, one should use a tissue and dispose if off. If one becomes mindful of this for a few weeks, it will soon become second nature.

Sleep is essential for ones body to rest, repair and rejuvenate. This is why people look their best after a good nights sleep. The human growth hormone that is released during sleep helps repair ones body at a cellular level besides benefitting the immune system. If one has interrupted or less sleep that the body requires, it significantly reduces the effectiveness of ones immune system; particularly, the natural killer cells which is your bodys first line of defence against germs.

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Take care of yourself this winter! - The News on Sunday

A new study by an environmental watchdog group finds more drinking water systems containing "forever chemicals," including in the D.C. region.

A new report by an environmental watchdog group finds more drinking water systems around the country than previously believed are contaminated by what the group characterizes as high levels of forever chemicals, which arent broken-down over time.

Water systems in D.C. and Prince Georges County, Maryland, were among those with a high amount of the man-made chemicals, known as perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, according to the Environmental Working Group study.

Of tap water samples from 44 places in 31 states and D.C., only one location had no detectable PFAS, according to the EWG study.

In D.C., the groups testing found 21.7 parts per trillion, while in Prince Georges County, the values were 17.8 parts per trillion.

The advocacy group cites 1 part per trillion of PFAS as a safety threshold.

The Environmental Protection Agency has not set any nationwide limits. However, in a 2016 water health advisory, the EPA recommended a level of no more than 70 parts per trillion, which the agency said offers a margin of protection for all Americans throughout their life from adverse health effects resulting from exposure.

In December, the EPA said it would move forward to study two chemicals that fall under the PFAS umbrella perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFAS) to determine whether it should set a maximum level for those chemicals. The EPA has known about the existence of PFAS in drinking water for almost two decades.

The chemicals, which are used to make carpets, clothing, paper packaging for food, cookware and firefighting materials, have been in use since the 1940s. Exposure to the chemicals over certain limits has been linked to excessive cholesterol levels, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular and kidney cancer, and problems in pregnancies, according to the EPA.

John Lisle, of DC Water, acknowledges the utility and scientists are continuing to learn about PFAS chemicals.

Testing in 2014 by DC Water and other local utilities did not detect the chemicals, but the detection threshold was higher, Lisle said. Newer, more precise methods of testing have since been developed to detect very low levels of PFAS.

Still, Lisle said risk to humans is low: The report confirms the PFAS detected in tests conducted in D.C. are at levels well below any established EPA health advisory for these compounds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on its website, said the safety risk from PFAS is still unclear: Human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFAS are uncertain. Studies of laboratory animals given large amounts of PFAS have found that some PFAS may affect growth and development, reproduction, thyroid function, the immune system and injure the liver.

Though the environmental advocacy group would like to reduce the amount of PFAS in the nations water, inexpensive home carbon filters, as well as reverse osmosis, and ion exchange water treatment systems appear to be helpful in minimizing risk.

Lyn Riggins, with WSSC Water, which provides tap water in Prince Georges County, said: For more than 101 years, our water has consistently met all Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. In fact, we have never had a single drinking water quality violation in our history.

The [EPA] does not yet regulate PFAS compounds, but maintains a health advisory of 70 parts per trillion for two of the most common compounds, PFOA and PFOS, said Riggins. The EWG analysis reported WSSC Waters total PFAS to be 17.8 ppt, well below the EPAs health advisory.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Study shows high amount of forever chemicals in tap water; local systems respond - WTOP

Today, we will study why Oncolytics Biotech (ONCY) is risky but attractive in 2020.

Oncolytics Biotech is a clinical-stage company focused on the development of an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus called Pelareorep. The company is targeting solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Oncolytics Biotech has partnered with multiple big pharma players such as Pfizer (PFE), Merck (MRK), and Roche Holding (OTCQX:RHHBY) to explore the efficacy of Pelareorep in combination with oncology drugs belonging to different classes, across a range of cancer indications.

On December 6, the company received notice from Nasdaq that it was in compliance with the exchanges minimum bid price requirement.

The global immune checkpoint inhibitors market is anticipated to cross US$ 25 Billion by 2022. Unlike surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, checkpoint inhibitors do not directly target the tumor cells. Instead, they amplify and accelerate the immune system in the patients body to identify and then destroy the tumor cells.

The market opportunity would have been even higher if immunotherapies would not have failed frequently. A major reason for the failure of immunotherapies stems from the ability of tumor cells to alter the microenvironment and avoid getting identified by the bodys immune system. Cancer cells are not foreign bodies like bacteria and viruses. Hence, the immune system finds it difficult to identify them. Besides, immunotherapies also fail when the patient does not have T-cells. T-cells also require to be at the location of the tumor. There are certain indications where only around 20% of patients are currently benefitting from checkpoint inhibitors.

The immune system is categorized into two types, innate and adaptive. The innate immune system comprises of nonspecific defense mechanisms such as skin, chemicals in the blood, and natural killer cells. This activates immediately or within hours of an antigen's appearance in the body. The adaptive immune system comprises of T-cells, which generate an antigen-specific immune response. Adaptive immunity also involves memory, thereby resulting in improved response to that specific antigen in the future.

To make immunotherapies work, there are three core requirements. T-cells have to be present in the body. These T-cells have to be moved to the location of the tumor. The tumor cells also need to express PD-L1, the target of checkpoint inhibitors. Hence, to make checkpoint inhibitors work, we need to increase the number of T-cells, move them to the location of the tumor, and cause the tumor to overexpress PD-L1.

Oncolytics Biotech is working on Pelareorep, an oncolytic virus that aims to activate the innate and adaptive immune system in the patients bodies. This, in turn, is expected to increase inflammation in tumors, which would cause overexpression of checkpoint inhibitors. This will finally help the immunotherapy to effectively detect the tumor cell.

Oncolytic viruses are retroviruses that replicate only and specifically in tumor cells. Hence, there is no effect on normal tissues. Hence, the goal of oncolytic viruses is to infect and replicate into tumor cells and allow the immune system to identify these tumors.

Pelareoreps genome is double-stranded RNA. The immune system can detect this structure very easily in normal cells. Cancer tissue does not have the ability to identify the double-stranded RNA, thereby allowing the virus to replicate. The companys first patents were based on this understanding of biology.

Pelareorep not only activates the innate immune system to destroy tumor cells but also activates the adaptive immune system. When tumor cells are destroyed by the innate immune systems natural killer cells, it leads to cell debris. Thereafter, the adaptive immune system or T-cells learn to identify the tumor cells based on this debris.

Pelareorep is currently being evaluated in combination with other cancer therapies in metastatic breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma indications.

Oncolytic Biotech is also developing a biomarker blood test to identify patients most likely to benefit from Pelareorep. In April 2017, the company had reported median OS (overall survival) of 20.9 months in Phase 2 randomized, open-label study in patients with mutated p53 metastatic breast cancer when treated with Pelareorep combined with paclitaxel. This was more than double the OS of 10.4 months seen for patients treated only with paclitaxel. Since the OS benefit is a function of the immune system, the FDA has asked the company to measure the strength of the immune system.

Oncolytic Biotech is using TCR sequencing to evaluate the robustness and reactivity of the patients immune system called T-cell clonality. The biomarker blood test can help evaluate the patients immune reserve and thereby predict the response to this oncolytic virus therapy. Within three weeks, the company can evaluate whether new T-cells are being formed and if the patient is actually responding to therapy.

Oncolytic Biotech has reported the creation of new T-cells and existing T-cells becoming reactive to the tumor for the first early-stage breast cancer patient treated with Pelareorep combined with Roches Holdings Tecentriq in AWARE-1 trial. Unlike normal individuals in an urban setting whose forms 2-3 new T-cell clones every month, the patient had about 450 T-cells. This is a clinical proof of Pelareoreps ability to train the immune system.

The company also demonstrated an increase in T-cells within the tumor as well as at tumor periphery. The company expects to complete enrollment of this study as well as announce interim data in the first quarter of 2020. Oncolytics Biotech also expects final data from this trial in mid-2020.

Oncolytics Biotech, Pfizer, Merck KGaA, and a leading cancer research network, PrECOG, are also studying a combination of Pelareorep, Bavencio, and paclitaxel in three-arm open-label Phase 2 study, BRACELET-1 in metastatic breast cancer indication. The company plans to commence enrollment in this trial in the first quarter and complete enrollment by the fourth quarter of 2020. The company also expects interim data from this trial in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the final data in the first half of 2021.

In May 2018, Oncolytics Biotech received SPA (special protocol assessment) from the FDA for its Pelareorep program in breast cancer indication. FDA recommended the company to identify a biomarker for this therapy before the Phase 3 trial. The agency has also confirmed that only one successful Phase 3 trial will be required for securing approval for this therapy.

In October 2019, the company presented clinical data across 13 clinical studies across various cancer indications, which demonstrated the effectiveness of intravenous delivery for Pelareorep. 81% of the tumors were positive for replicating the virus. Excluding melanoma skin biopsies, the number of tumors with replicating virus was almost 96%.

Pelareorep has demonstrated efficacy in combination with CDK 4/6 inhibitors in early-stage breast cancer indication in pre-clinical studies. The drug is also demonstrating activity in combination with proteasome inhibitor, Amgens (AMGN) Kyprolis (carfilzomib) in an ongoing NCI's sponsored multiple myeloma study. In December 2019, the company announced positive results for a combination of Pelareorep and carfilzomib in multiple myeloma.

Oncolytics Biotech expects interim data from both the above trials in the fourth quarter of 2020.

In November 2019, Oncolytics Biotech announced a partial response of 17.4 months from 1b REO 024 study evaluating Pelareorep in combination with Mercks (MRK) Keytruda in Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma patients. The partial response has already exceeded the historical overall survival data in this indication. The company is now evaluating this combination regimen in the Phase 2 trial. Oncolytics Biotech expects to complete Phase 2 enrolment by mid-2020 and release final data from the trial in the second half of 2020.

Pelareorep has demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability in these trials.

Oncolytics Biotech has a strong patent estate for Pelareorep, which involves 399 patents worldwide. The composition of matter patent protects the particular strain used in this therapy. This IP estate will protect the therapy from competition till 2028.

Pelareorep scores ahead of other OV (oncolytic virus) therapies in three key aspects of delivery, safety, and efficacy. Unlike other OVs which require intratumoral delivery, Pelareorep is administered intravenously. This will allow nurses to administer Pelareorep with chemotherapy drugs the same way they infuse other cancer therapies. Intratumoral delivery requires specialized training and hence is costlier for the oncologist.

Pelareorep has also been found to target cancer cells across the body, while not affecting normal cells. This systemic mechanism of action is yet to be demonstrated by other OVs. Finally, Oncolytic Biotechs efforts to identify a biomarker for this therapy can help identify patients most likely to benefit from Pelareorep.

Oncolytic Biotechs growth prospects depend solely on the clinical and commercial prospects of its investigational IOV (immuno-oncolytic virus), Pelareorep. This exposes the company to a high degree of business concentration risk. The companys research programs are in Phase 1 or Phase 2 of clinical development.

The probability of final regulatory approval for an asset currently in Phase 1 in oncology indication is only 5.1%. The probability of final regulatory approval for an asset currently in Phase 2 in oncology indication is only 8.1%. Based on these numbers, we see that the company is exposed to a high degree of R&D failure risk.

Oncolytic Biotech has cash of $9.28 million and zero debt on its balance sheet. In the last 12 months ending September 2019, the company spent around $12.9 million cash on operational activities. While the company is scheduled to earn up to 86.6 million from collaborators, these payments are spread over multiple years. Hence, the chances of a possible dilutive round of funding remain high. The company may also raise some debt to fund its operations.

Finally, the company is not yet profitable and may continue to be loss-making for many more years. This can dampen the companys valuations.

On January 2, Roth Capital analyst, Jonathan Aschoff reiterated the Buy rating and increased Oncolytics target price from $6.80 to $9.0. The analyst expects final data from the Phase 2 AWARE-1 breast cancer trial in the second quarter of 2020. In December 2019, Echelon Wealth Partners Douglas Loe reiterated buy rating for the stock and set target price at $8.43. In May 2019, RBC Capital analyst Douglas Miehm maintained an Outperform rating and set target price at $6.89.

The above table highlights the change in analyst recommendations and target price for the stock since December 2018.

Oncolytics Biotech will not have a steady stream of revenues for the foreseeable future. Analysts expect the company to reduce its loss per share in 2020. However, the improvement will most likely be due to additional equity dilution and not a reduction in net losses.

Oncolytic Biotech stands a solid chance of being an acquisition target for big pharma companies. There have already been many licensing and acquisition transactions in the oncolytic virus space.

In this backdrop, I believe the target price of $6.0 is a likely estimate of the company's share price after 12 months. Although a very risky stock, the companys oncolytic virus technology holds huge promise in the oncology space. Hence, I recommend investors with above-average risk appetite to consider this stock in 2020.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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Oncolytics Biotech: A Small But Very Promising Cancer Player In 2020 - Seeking Alpha

Sometimes the end of an intestinal infection is just the beginning of more misery. Of those who contract travelers diarrhea, for example, an unlucky few go on to develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract.

Scientists arent sure exactly how this happens, but some think an infection may contribute to IBS by damaging the gut nervous system. A new Rockefeller study takes a close look at why neurons in the gut die and how the immune system normally protects them.

Conducted with mice, the experiments offer insight on IBS and could point toward potential new treatment approaches.

Keeping inflammation in check

In a healthy gut, the immune system must strike a careful balance between responding to threats and keeping that response in check to avoid damage.

Inflammation helps the gut ward off an infection, but too much of it can cause lasting harm, says Daniel Mucida, an associate professor and head of the Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology. Our work explores the complex mechanisms that prevent inflammatory responses from destroying neurons.

To understand the effects of an infection on the nervous system, Mucida and his colleagues gave mice a weakened form of Salmonella, a bacterium that causes food poisoning, and analyzed neurons within the intestine. They found that infection-induced a long-lasting reduction of neurons, an effect they attributed to the fact these cells express two genes, Nlrp6 and Caspase 11, which can contribute to a specific type of inflammatory response.

This response, in turn, can ultimately prompt the cells to undergo a form of programmed cell death. When the researchers manipulated mice to eliminate these genes specifically in neurons, they saw a decrease in the number of neurons expiring.

This mechanism of cell death has been documented in other types of cells, but never before in neurons, says Fanny Matheis, a graduate student in the lab. We believe these gut neurons may be the only ones to die this way.

Macrophages to the rescue

Its not yet clear exactly how inflammation causes neurons to commit cell suicide, yet the scientists already have clues suggesting it might be possible to interfere with the process. The key may be a specialized set of gut immune cells, known as muscularis macrophages.

Previous work in Mucidas lab has shown that these cells express inflammation-fighting genes and collaborate with the neurons to keep food moving through the digestive tract. If these neurons die off, as happens in an infection, a possible result is constipationone of a number of unpleasant IBS symptoms. In their recent report, the team demonstrate how macrophages come to the neurons aid during an infection, ameliorating this aspect of the disorder.

Their experiments revealed that macrophages possess a certain type of receptor molecule that receives stress signals released by another set of neurons in response to an infection. Once activated, this receptor prompts the macrophage to produce molecules called polyamines, which the scientists think might interfere with the cell death process.

Getting back to normal

In other experiments, the researchers found that Salmonella infection alters the community of microbes within the guts of miceand when they restored the animals intestinal flora back to normal, the neurons recovered.

Using what we learned about the macrophages, one could think about ways to disrupt the inflammatory process that kills the neurons, says Paul Muller, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab.

For instance, it might be possible to develop better treatments for IBS that work by boosting polyamine production, perhaps through diet, or by restoring gut microbial communities. Since short-term stress responses also appear to have a protective effect, Muller thinks it may also be helpful to target that system.

Reference

Matheis et al. (2020) Adrenergic Signaling in Muscularis Macrophages Limits Infection-Induced Neuronal Loss. Cell. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.12.002

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

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Something Chronic: How a Gut Infection May Lead to IBS - Technology Networks

Staying healthy in 2020! The No. 1 factor in remaining healthy and not getting sick is a strong immune system!

On episode 3 of The Secrets to a Healthier, Happier You in 2020 podcast, Us Weeklys Christina Garibaldi is joined by RxSavers medical expert Dr. Holly Phillips to discuss everything you need to know about maintaining a healthy immune system.

Its essentially our bodies defense against everything outside, and particularly diseases and infections, Phillips explains. Ranging from viruses and bacteria and everything thats outside of our body that we want to keep out.

The first tip? Get enough sleep.

I really have to emphasize that, the doc reveals. If you dont get enough sleep, it creates a cascade of stress hormones.

During the episode, Phillips also reveals the right and wrong foods to help your immune system stay strong.

If youd like to boost your immune system, make your plate as colorful as possible, she says. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables If its really bright, you know you have the antioxidants you need.

For more tips to avoid catching the common cold or ending up stuck on the couch for weeks, listen to Secrets to a Healthier, Happier You episode 3.

The podcast, which also tackles mental health, New Years resolutions and more, is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

Read the original here:
The Secrets to a Healthier, Happier You in 2020 Podcast Episode 3 Reveals Secrets to Maintaining a Healthy Immune System - Us Weekly

White blood cells circulate around the blood and help the immune system fight off infections.

Stem cells in the bone marrow are responsible for producing white blood cells. The bone marrow then stores an estimated 8090% of white blood cells.

When an infection or inflammatory condition occurs, the body releases white blood cells to help fight the infection.

In this article, learn more about white blood cells, including the types and their functions.

Health professionals have identified three main categories of white blood cell: granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. The sections below discuss these in more detail.

Granulocytes are white blood cells that have small granules containing proteins. There are three types of granulocyte cells:

These white blood cells include the following:

Monocytes are white blood cells that make up around 28% of the total white blood cell count in the body. These are present when the body fights off chronic infections.

They target and destroy cells that cause infections.

According to an article in American Family Physician, the normal range (per cubic millimeter) of white blood cells based on age are:

The normal range for a pregnant women in the 3rd trimester is 5,80013,200 per cubic millimeter.

If a person's body is producing more white blood cells than it should be, doctors call this leukocytosis.

A high white blood cell count may indicate the following medical conditions:

Surgical procedures that cause cells to die can also cause a high white blood cell count.

If a person's body is producing fewer white blood cells than it should be, doctors call this leukopenia.

Conditions that can cause leukopenia include:

Doctors may continually monitor white blood cells to determine if the body is mounting an immune response to an infection.

During a physical examination, a doctor may perform a white blood cell count (WBC) using a blood test. They may order a WBC to test for, or rule out, other conditions that may affect white blood cells.

Although a blood sample is the most common approach to testing for white blood cells, a doctor can also test other body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, for the presence of white blood cells.

A doctor may order a WBC to:

The following are conditions that may impact how many white blood cells a person has in their body.

This is a condition wherein a person's body destroys stem cells in the bone marrow.

Stem cells are responsible for creating new white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

This is an autoimmune condition wherein the body's immune system destroys healthy cells, including red and white blood cells.

HIV can decrease the amount of white blood cells called CD4 T cells. When a person's T cell count drops below 200, a doctor might diagnose AIDS.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. Leukemia occurs when white blood cells rapidly produce and are not able to fight infections.

This condition causes a person's body to overproduce some types of blood cells. It causes scarring in a person's bone marrow.

Whether or not a person needs to alter their white blood cell count will depend on the diagnosis.

If they have a medical condition that affects the number of white blood cells in their body, they should talk to a doctor about the goals for their white blood cell count, depending on their current treatment plan.

A person can lower their white blood cell count by taking medications such as hydroxyurea or undergoing leukapheresis, which is a procedure that uses a machine to filter the blood.

If a person's white blood cell count is low due to cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, a doctor may recommend avoiding foods that contain bacteria. This may help prevent infections.

A person can also take colony-stimulating factors. These may help prevent infection and increase the number of white blood cells in the body.

White blood cells are an important part of the body's immune system response. There are different types of white blood cell, and each has a specific function in the body.

Certain conditions can affect the number of white blood cells in the body, causing them to be too high or too low.

If necessary, a person can take medication to alter their white blood cell count.

More here:
White blood cells: Function, ranges, types, and more - Medical News Today

Based on FMCG Gurus The Impact of Immunity Global Report 2020, Will Cowling explores how the results reflect a consumer shift towards a focus on immunity when considering diet.

Immunity is becoming a key area in which consumers are looking to actively improve. This is due to many factors including changing dietary habits and greater levels of inactivity, which is having an impact on consumer health. Many people can be concerned about germs and bacteria and are also becoming more educated on the topic of immunity. This is leading to consumers being more proactive when it comes to addressing the immune system. So, what are consumers doing to improve their immune system?

FMCG Gurus research shows that 54 percent of global consumers believe to have a good or very good immune system. However, 25 percent still believe they do not have a good immune system. The growing rise of consumers understanding the importance of immunity aligns with consumers embracing the concepts of holistic health and being healthier for longer. People are recognising the link between their immune system and their overall health. This being said, three in 10 consumers state they have suffered from health problems which has impacted the quality of their day-to-day life.

The growing rise of consumers understanding the importance of immunity aligns with consumers embracing the concepts of holistic health and being healthier for longer

Consumers associate many different variables to what constitutes a poor immune system. Globally, the majority of people believe that being easily susceptible to day-to-day illness such as catching a cold (61 percent) is a key sign to a poor immune system. FMCG Gurus consumer insights show that four in 10 consumers feel vulnerable to illness. This is a further reflection of how a considerable proportion of consumers across the globe are not satisfied with their immune system.

Half of consumers in the last 12 months have looked to improve their immune systems. Consumers are taking a proactive approach to health maintenance and recognise that a good immune system is not linked to physical health alone. Mental wellness is also at the forefront of consumers minds as 54 percent stated that they have looked to improve their mental wellness to improve their overall quality of life and immune system.

Consumers are taking a proactive approach to health maintenance and recognise that a good immune system is not linked to physical health alone

One key movement that consumers are trying to improve their immune system through is by eating more fresh vegetables (63 percent). Globally, consumers are changing their diets, another key change which have consumers have made is increase their protein intake (62 percent). This shows that consumers are taking an active approach to their health. This is also seen as 35 percent of consumers stated that they do not suffer with any problems but wanted to take a proactive approach to their health.

Food and beverage products are one of the main ways in which consumers look to improve their health. Globally, 58 percent of consumers would be interested in products that promote heart health, cognitive health and immune health benefits. This is the same with nutritional supplements; although the research shows consumers may not necessarily be seeking such products out, it does show that they want products with active ingredients. FMCG Gurus research shows that iron is the ingredient consumers most associate with boosting their immune systems (70 percent).

Consumers are now prioritising their health and are actively looking to keep their immune system in top condition to stay fitter and healthier for longer. The rise in people taking a proactive approach has led to many opportunities within food and drink. As such, the industry should encourage consumers to take steps to improve their health and wellness in general, because this will have a positive impact on their immunity.

As Marketing Manager of FMCG Gurus, Will Cowling is responsible for managing day to day marketing tasks ranging from campaigns to PR, to managing content on social channels and the website. Understanding the business and the industry is key to providing innovative ideas and producing quality content. He has a strong focus on evaluating consumer perceptions and deciphering insights.

See the rest here:
Are consumers concerned about their immunity? - New Food

All available episodes can be streamed on all major podcast platforms: LISTEN NOW

Staying healthy in 2020! The No. 1 factor in remaining healthy and not getting sick is a strong immune system!

On episode 3 of The Secrets to a Healthier, Happier You in 2020 podcast, Us Weeklys Christina Garibaldi is joined by RxSavers medical expert Dr. Holly Phillips to discuss everything you need to know about maintaining a healthy immune system.

Its essentially our bodies defense against everything outside, and particularly diseases and infections, Phillips explains. Ranging from viruses and bacteria and everything thats outside of our body that we want to keep out.

The first tip? Get enough sleep.

I really have to emphasize that, the doc reveals. If you dont get enough sleep, it creates a cascade of stress hormones.

During the episode, Phillips also reveals the right and wrong foods to help your immune system stay strong.

If youd like to boost your immune system, make your plate as colorful as possible, she says. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables If its really bright, you know you have the antioxidants you need.

For more tips to avoid catching the common cold or ending up stuck on the couch for weeks, listen to Secrets to a Healthier, Happier You episode 3.

The podcast, which also tackles mental health, New Years resolutions and more, is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

Continued here:
New Podcast Reveals Tips to Boost Your Immune System - In Touch Weekly

Your research looks at the links between obesity and the immune system and metabolism in children. Why?

We know that obesity in adults is linked with more than 200 different diseases. Research tells us that in obesity the immune system becomes overactivated, which damages tissues in the body, and some immune cells become depleted so they cant protect properly. I want to see how we can protect children living with obesity from these immune system changes, to protect them against future disease and damage.

How did you get into this area of research?

I am the first person in my family to go to university. I went to Maynooth University through the access programme, then after my PhD I worked as a Newman scholar with Donal OShea and Lydia Lynch in University College Dublin.

We were interested in a type of cell in the immune system called the invariant natural killer T-cell. It attacks viruses and tumours, but stops working properly in obesity. When I moved back to Maynooth to set up my own research group, I thought it would be interesting to look at immune changes in younger people living with obesity.

What did you find when you looked at children with obesity?

We did a project with the National Childrens Research Centre, where we worked with children living with obesity at age six, 10 and 16. We could see kids as young as six were starting to show signs of chronic inflammation, a type of immune-system overactivation.

They already had molecular markers of it in their bloodstream. I thought maybe if we can intervene with children who are living with obesity and stop this immune activation, turn down the chronic inflammation, we could perhaps delay or reduce related disease in adulthood.

We are looking at options there, using a gut hormone that is known to tone down chronic inflammation. There is a shorter-term outlook too: in another project we are looking at obesity and vaccinations.

Tell us more about that.

We know that some vaccines are less effective in adults with obesity, which makes sense. After all, we have been showing for 15 years that in obesity the immune system is overactivated or exhausted.

So we looked at the responses to childhood measles and rubella vaccinations, and in a small study we found that children with obesity have far less of the antibody titre after vaccinations, which means they may not be as well protected from these diseases. Now we are looking at this more closely in larger numbers of children, and we hope to examine responses to the HPV vaccine too.

What do you love about your work?

I just really enjoy it. Of course there are times when things dont work out as you expect, but Im a sunny-side-up kind of person, and you just rethink the experiment or find a new direction.

What do you do to take a break?

I find that exercise is a great way to clear the mind. When I was a teenager I did a lot of kickboxing, I was number one in the world at one point. In the last few years I have been doing CrossFit, and I was involved in opening a gym where I teach classes. Its one of those things that, no matter how you feel at the start of the class, you will always be happy about having done it afterwards. Its a great way to unwind.

Read more from the original source:
Seeking immunity from the ill effects of obesity - The Irish Times

How long does it take to get a dose of nature high enough to make people say they feel healthy and have a strong sense of well-being?

Precisely 120 minutes.

In a study of 20,000 people, a team led by Mathew White of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health at the University of Exeter, found that people who spent two hours a week in green spaces local parks or other natural environments, either all at once or spaced over several visits were substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who dont. Two hours was a hard boundary: The study, published last June, showed there were no benefits for people who didnt meet that threshold.

The effects were robust, cutting across different occupations, ethnic groups, people from rich and poor areas, and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Its well-known that getting outdoors in nature can be good for peoples health and well-being, but until now weve not been able to say how much is enough, White said. Two hours a week is hopefully a realistic target for many people, especially given that it can be spread over an entire week to get the benefit.

The study by White and his colleagues is only the latest in a rapidly expanding area of research that finds nature has robust effects on peoples health physically, mentally, and emotionally.

When I wrote Last Child in the Woods in 2005, this wasnt a hot topic, said Richard Louv, a journalist in San Diego whose book is largely credited with triggering this movement and who coined the term Nature Deficit Disorder. This subject was virtually ignored by the academic world. I could find 60 studies that were good studies. Now its approaching and about to pass 1,000 studies, and they point in one direction: Nature is not only nice to have, but its a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive functioning.

These studies have shown that time in nature as long as people feel safe is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Attention Deficit Disorder and aggression lessen in natural environments, which also help speed the rate of healing. In a recent study, psychiatric unit researchers found that being in nature reduced feelings of isolation, promoted calm, and lifted mood among patients.

The growing body of research combined with an intuitive understanding that nature is vital and increased concerns about the exploding use of smart phones and other forms of technology has led to tipping point at which health experts, researchers, and government officials are now proposing widespread changes aimed at bringing nature into peoples everyday lives.

WATCH: Why doctors are increasingly prescribing nature

For example, researchers and policymakers now talk about park deserts in urban areas. Cities are adding or enhancing parks, and schools and other institutions are being designed with large windows and access to trees and green space or blue space, as in aquatic environments. Businesses are increasingly aware of the desire among employees for access to green spaces. Its needed to attract a skilled work force, said Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix. Young people are demanding high-quality outdoor experiences.

The number of forest schools which have long been a tradition in Scandinavia and where much of the learning takes place in natural settings in the outdoors has mushroomed in the United States, up by 500 percent since 2012, according to Louv. Oregon recently passed a ballot measure to raise money for outdoor schools, and the state of Washington just became the first state to license outdoor preschools, where much of the play and learning occurs outside.

The organization Children & Nature Network, founded by Louv and others, advocates for more time in nature for children, tracks the research, and has a long list of abstracts that summarize studies on the subject on its website.

And The Trust for Public Lands (TPL) has just finished a seven-year project to map the parks of the U.S., with the aim of identifying places in need of parkland. Weve mapped 14,000 communities, 86 percent of the nation, and looked at who does and doesnt live within a 10-minute walk of a park, said Adrian Benepe, a senior vice president of TPL. The organization has a Ten Minute Walk campaign to work with mayors across the U.S. to make sure all people have that kind of access.

An increasing number of healthcare providers are also embracing the back-to-nature paradigm. One organization, Park RX America, founded by Robert Zarr of Unity Healthcare in Washington, D.C., declares its mission to decrease the burden of chronic disease, increase health and happiness, and foster environmental stewardship, by virtue of prescribing Nature during the routine delivery of healthcare by a diverse group of health care professionals. The organization has 10,000 parks in its prescribing platform.

The global Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides shows clients how to use immersion in nature for healing. The forest is the therapist, the groups slogan reads. The guides open the door.

Studies show that the effects of nature may go deeper than providing a sense of well-being, helping to reduce crime and aggression. A 2015 study of 2,000 people in the United Kingdom found that more exposure to nature translated into more community cohesion and substantially lower crime rates.

And while more vegetation is thought to encourage crime by providing security for criminals, another study found the opposite vegetation abundance is associated with a reduction in assault, robbery, and burglary, although not theft.

Still, many of these studies are correlational rather than causal. That means its hard to show that natural landscapes cause these effects, though these things happen when people are in a natural environment.

Sara Weber, professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan, noted that there are no randomized, controlled studies on the effects of nature on human health. Nonetheless, she said, there are epidemiological studies and measurements of before and after exposure to nature, and the results from this research are robust.

Peter H. Kahn, a professor of psychology at the University of Washington who has worked on these issues for decades, is encouraged by the new focus on the subject but concerned that the growing interest in more contact with nature relies too much on only experiencing it visually. Thats important, but an impoverished view of what it means to interact with the natural world, he said. We need to deepen the forms of interaction with nature and make it more immersive.

What are the active ingredients in a dose of nature? Pioneers in this work, Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, who began studying the subject in the 1970s, devised Attention Restoration Theory, which holds that paying attention in bustling cities, at work, or in other stressful environments requires a good deal of effortful attention. In a natural environment, however, the Kaplans found that people paid attention more broadly and in a less effortful way, which leads to far more relaxed body and mind.

Japanese researchers have studied forest bathing a poetic name for walking in the woods. They suspect aerosols from the forests, inhaled during a walk, are behind elevated levels of Natural Killer or NK cells in the immune system, which fight tumors and infections. A subsequent study, in which essential oils from cedars were emitted in a hotel room where people slept, also caused a significant spike in NK cells.

However this growing field might be defined, it is gaining momentum. In a recent paper, 26 authors laid out a framework to create a formal role for the positive impacts nature has on mental health and to formulate a model for conserving nature in cities and integrating it into planning for these health effects.

However this growing field might be defined, it is gaining momentum. In a recent paper, 26 authors laid out a framework to create a formal role for the positive impacts nature has on mental health and to formulate a model for conserving nature in cities and integrating it into planning for these health effects.

We have entered the urban century, with two-thirds of humanity projected to be living in cities by 2050, said Gretchen Daily, director of the Natural Capital Project at Stanford University and a senior author of a recent paper arguing that the cognitive and emotional benefits of nature should be factored into economic ecosystem service models. There is an awakening underway today to many of the values of nature and the risks and costs of its loss. This new work can help inform investments in livability and sustainability of the worlds cities.

While the research has grown leaps and bounds, Kahn and others argue in a recent review paper that research into the topic is still lacking in many ways, and they lay out a research agenda they say would help formalize the role of nature in public health policy.

Understanding natures therapeutic effects may be arriving at a propitious moment. Some studies have found that anxiety over climate change is a growing phenomenon. Ironically, one of the best antidotes for that might be a dose of green space.

If I am feeling depressed and anxious and worried about the environment, Weber said, then one of the best things I can do is go out in nature.

This article is reproduced with permission from Yale Environment 360. It was first published on January 9, 2020. Find the original story here.

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SEATTLE, Jan. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (Nasdaq:ADPT), a commercial stage biotechnology company that aims to translate the genetics of the adaptive immune system into clinical products to diagnose and treat disease, today announced a multi-year, global diagnostic agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) to utilize Adaptives next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based clonoSEQAssay to assess minimal residual disease (MRD) status in response to venetoclax in the registrational Phase III CRISTALLO (CO41685) study for the treatment of newly diagnosed people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) plus additional future venetoclax studies in CLL. Adaptive and Genentech will partner to incorporate the clonoSEQ Assay to measure MRD status as a primary endpoint in this registrational study. Under the terms of the agreement, Adaptive will receive upfront and sample testing payments to advance the development and potential expedited approval of venetoclax in this setting.

Adaptive is pleased to partner with Genentech to support the continued clinical development and potential regulatory approval of venetoclax in people with untreated CLL, which expands our work with Genentech in oncology, said Chad Robins, CEO and co-founder of Adaptive Biotechnologies. This partnership represents another significant step towards the adoption of MRD status as a primary clinical endpoint using clonoSEQ as the preferred MRD test. This is Adaptives second meaningful partnership which we recently announced that includes the use of clonoSEQ in the development of venetoclax.

Venetoclax is a first-in class small molecule selective B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitor being studied in investigational trials for the treatment of people with previously untreated CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Adaptive and Genentech will evaluate the depth and duration of response to venetoclax and obinutuzumab by using Adaptives clonoSEQ Assay as a primary endpoint to measure and monitor MRD negativity from peripheral blood in newly diagnosed CLL. clonoSEQ is the only MRD test authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect and monitor MRD in multiple myeloma (MM) and B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using DNA from bone marrow samples.clonoSEQ is available as a laboratory develop test (LDT) in CLL using DNA from peripheral blood and bone marrow.

MRD is a measure of the amount of cancer in the body, specifically the very small number of cancer cells that remain during or after treatment. MRD testing can be useful to see if a patient is responding to treatment or if the cancer has come back

About the clonoSEQAssay

The clonoSEQ Assay was granted de novo designation and marketing authorization by FDA for the detection and monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using DNA from bone marrow samples. clonoSEQ is the first and only FDA-authorized in vitro diagnostic assay for MRD testing. It is also the first clinical diagnostic powered by immunosequencing to receive FDA clearance. clonoSEQ leverages Adaptives proprietary immunosequencing platform to identify and quantify specific DNA sequences found in malignant cells, allowing clinicians to assess and monitor MRD during and after treatment. The assay provides standardized, accurate and sensitive measurement of MRD that allows physicians to predict patient outcomes, assess response to therapy over time, monitor patients during remission and detect potential relapse. Clinical practice guidelines in hematological malignancies recognize that MRD status is a reliable indicator of clinical outcomes and response to therapy, and clinical outcomes are strongly associated with MRD levels measured by the clonoSEQ Assay in patients diagnosed with ALL and MM. More than 175 million people in the US now have access to clonoSEQ through Medicare and private payor coverage.

clonoSEQ is a single-site assay performed at Adaptive Biotechnologies. It is also available as a CLIA-regulated laboratory developed test (LDT) service for use in other lymphoid cancers. For important information about the FDA-cleared uses of clonoSEQ, including the full intended use, limitations, and detailed performance characteristics, please visitwww.clonoSEQ.com/technical-summary.

About Adaptive Biotechnologies

Adaptive Biotechnologiesis a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on harnessing the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We believe the adaptive immune system is natures most finely tuned diagnostic and therapeutic for most diseases, but the inability to decode it has prevented the medical community from fully leveraging its capabilities. Our proprietary immune medicine platform reveals and translates the massive genetics of the adaptive immune system with scale, precision and speed to develop products in life sciences research, clinical diagnostics, and drug discovery. We have two commercial products, and a robust clinical pipeline to diagnose, monitor and enable the treatment of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions and infectious diseases. Our goal is to develop and commercialize immune-driven clinical products tailored to each individual patient. For more information, please visit adaptivebiotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Adaptive Biotechnologies partnership with Genentech, ability to develop, commercialize and achieve market acceptance of our current and planned products and services, our research and development efforts, and other matters regarding our business strategies, use of capital, results of operations and financial position, and plans and objectives for future operations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words may, will, expect, plan, believe, ongoing or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in the documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") from time to time. We caution you that forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result, the forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

ADAPTIVE MEDIABeth Keshishian917-912-7195media@adaptivebiotech.com

ADAPTIVE INVESTORSLynn LewisorCarrie Mendivil415-937-5405investors@adaptivebiotech.com

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Adaptive and Genentech Partner to Use clonoSEQ Assay to Measure Minimal Residual Disease as a Primary Endpoint in Phase III Study of Chronic...