StemCell Therapy

Joseph Duffy PhD brings 20+ years of small molecule discovery chemistry and operations to his role as SVP Chemistry of Skyhawk Therapeutics, Elliot Ehrich MD brings 20+ years of clinical development for novel pharmaceuticals to his role as Chief Medical Officer of Skyhawk Therapeutics,and Rob Hershberg MD-PhD with 25+ years of biotech and pharma experience has joined Skyhawk's Scientific Advisory Board.

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyhawk Therapeutics today announced that Dr. Elliot Ehrich has joined the Company as Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Joseph Duffy has joined as Senior Vice President of Chemistry. The Company also strengthened its Scientific Advisory Board with the addition of Dr. Rob Hershberg.

"We are delighted that Joe and Elliot have come on board at Skyhawk," said Bill Haney, co-founder and CEO of Skyhawk Therapeutics. "Their combined scientific and clinical accomplishments will be invaluable in shepherding our novel RNA-targeting small molecule drug candidates successfully into the clinic. We are also excited to welcome Rob to our Scientific Advisory Board. His clinical and scientific insight and deep experience as a drug developer will be a tremendous addition to Skyhawk."

Elliot Ehrich, MD most recently served as a Venture Partner at 5AM Ventures and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Expansion Therapeutics, a 5AM Ventures portfolio company. Previously, Dr. Ehrich spent 17 years at Alkermes ultimately as Executive Vice President of R&D and CMO. At Alkermes he led the development and successful FDA registration of multiple new medicines. Dr. Ehrich has also worked in clinical pharmacology and clinical research at Merck &Co, Inc..

Dr. Ehrich received a BA in biochemistry from Princeton University and an MD from Columbia University. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University Medical School followed by postdoctoral research the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

Over the past four years, Joseph Duffy PhD, served as Executive Director of Discovery Chemistry atMerckResearch Laboratories in Rahway and Kenilworth, New Jersey, where he oversaw multiple preclinical drug discovery teams. Dr. Duffy's contributions over 24 years at Merck included all phases of drug discovery, from lead identification through clinical phase candidate development. He directed successful lead optimization efforts for multiple indications, resulting in clinical candidates and Investigational New Drug (IND) applications from both internal projects and international collaborative research with biotech organizations. Dr. Duffy received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Kent State University and his Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Rob Hershberg MD-PhD began his career as an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Later, Dr. Hershberg co-founded VentiRx Pharmaceuticals and, as President and Chief Executive Officer, led the company through its transformational partnership with Celgene. Dr. Hershberg joined Celgene in 2014 to lead their efforts in Immuno-Oncology, was promoted to Chief Scientific Officer in 2016, and was subsequently Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development & Global Alliances and served as a member of the Executive Committee until the acquisition of Celgene by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2019. Rob is currently a Venture Partner on the Frazier Life Sciences team. He completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles and received his Ph.D. at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Dr Hershberg joins Skyhawk's distinguished Scientific Advisory Board which includes:

Skyhawk Therapeutics is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing therapies that use its novel SkySTARTM (Skyhawk Small molecule Therapeutics for Alternative splicing of RNA) platform to build small molecule drugs that bring breakthrough treatments to patients.

For more information visit: http://www.skyhawktx.com, https://twitter.com/Skyhawk_Tx, https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyhawk-therapeutics/

SKYHAWK MEDIA CONTACT:Anne Deconinckanne@skyhawktx.com

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SOURCE Skyhawk Therapeutics

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Skyhawk Therapeutics Expands Leadership Team with Chief Medical Officer and Head of Chemistry, and adds to its Scientific Advisory Board - BioSpace

New Zealand, which will go into elections on October 17, will also be holding a referendum to decide whether cannabis should be legalised or not.

If New Zealanders are to vote for legalising cannabis for recreational usage, it would join the likes of countries such as Canada, Uruguay and certain states in the United States where consumption of marijuana is legal. Early poll numbers, from the latest Newshub Reid-Research poll, however, reveal that only 37.9 per cent population support the proposition.

In India, the investigations into Sushant Singh Rajputs death has thrown open a Pandoras box of drug abuse in Bollywood. The arrest of actor Rhea Chakraborty by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) over the discovery of 59 gms of curated marijuana seized, and the questioning of lead Bollywood actors such as Deepika Padukone over certain WhatsApp chats which referred to maal and hash, has brought back a much-debated topic - that of legalisation of marijuana.

Also known as Weed, Pot or Ganja, Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world.

Around 3 crore people use it in India, alone, with Delhi the third-largest cannabis consumer in the world and Mumbai, the 6th largest.

India also grows some of the most sought after varieties of weed in the world the stunning Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh is a Hippies paradise, where the hugely popular Malana weed is cultivated. Keralas Idukki Gold is renowned as one of the best strains of weed in Asia.

Ariel view of and from the mountain village of Malana, India. The place lushes with greenery in the summers, but as it is at 10000 ft, conical rooftops are made to stand the snowfalls of the winter. Its famous for its Quality Hashish, 5K

India is no stranger to marijuana, a drug that has been used for thousands of years, dating back as far as 4000 BC. The cannabis plant even finds a mention in the Vedas and is closely associated with Lord Shiva. The drink Bhang or thandai served during Holi is prepared from dried cannabis leaves and milk, with other spices added to it. Bhang is legal in the country and is sold at specific government authorised shops.

Weed also has a connection with Ayurveda, which, while connoted as a toxic substance in Ayurvedic texts, has traditionally been used in medicines. In 2018, the Centre Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences in collaboration with Gujarat Ayurved University found that cannabis leaves can be effective in alleviating pain and other symptoms in cancer patients post-chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Further, research is being conducted to develop cannabis-based drugs for the treatment of pain in illnesses such as epilepsy, anaemia and cancer by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR - IIIM) in collaboration with Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO), a startup which works with industrial hemp.

So, with such religious and historical connections to it, how can the consumption of marijuana be illegal in India?

The recreational usage of marijuana is illegal in India and is governed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Consumption of marijuana is punishable with a jail term of six months or a fine of Rs 10,000, while illegal production and cultivation can be punished with a jail term of up to 10 years.

However, marijuana was legal in India until 1984. It was in the 1960s that the United States launched an offensive against the drug and a drive to ban it. During the 1961 Convention on Narcotics Drugs, India had even opposed the classification of marijuana as a hard drug.

Bucking under pressure, the Rajiv Gandhi administration passed the NDPS Act in 1985 which criminalised cannabis in its resin and bud form, but allowed the sale of bhang at government-approved shops.

Ironically, several states in the United States have now either legalised marijuana or are considering it. In India, various NGOs and activists have been asking for its legalisation. Their argument is that the criminalisation of marijuana has pushed the drug underground and to onto the hands of criminals who make it more potent and dangerous.

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Arguments favouringlegalising marijuana also say that it could lead to fewer chances of addiction. A study conducted in 1994 by epidemiologistJohn Anthony who surveyed more than 8,000 people about their marijuana usage, discovered that the chances of getting addicted to the drug were 9 per cent. For alcohol, this figure was 15 per cent, for heroin 23 per cent and for nicotine, 32 per cent.

Legalisation will also help villagersin areas like the Parbati Valley and the upper reaches of Kullu and Manali, and Idukki in Kerala whose main source of income comes from cannabis. Currently, with marijuana being illegal, farmers are forced to sell it to drug peddlers at low prices, and have problems with the police. Those for legalising the drug argue that by making the drug legally available, farmers would benefit from a more regulated market.

However, the fact remains that cannabis, when taken recreationally still remains a drug which could have harmful effects on the consumer. While a plant, it contains the mind-altering chemical, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), which is responsible for the intoxication that people who consume it feel.

The plant also has over 400 other chemicals. Researchers from the University of Alberta have identified potentially toxic chemicals in marijuana smoke which could have health effects. In a single puff of cannabis smoke, researchers have isolated around 110 toxic chemicals which may have carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic effects, which could affect the development of the embryo or foetus.

Research conducted in Pittsburgh has also discovered that children of frequent marijuana users have relatively less attention span than their peers. Early marijuana usage has also been linked to a loss in I.Q levels of pre-teens.

Further, The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study conducted in Dunedin, New Zealand has found that people who smoke even one joint a week are prone to developing respiratory illnesses. Occasional smokers who cut down on weed, also had reduced symptoms, while heavy smokers had a persistent cough and wheeze even after cutting down, or quitting completely. This proves that the side effects of smoking weed on heavy smokers may linger for long.

Those who are against the legalisation of weed are also worried that its usage could prove to be a gateway to other, more potent, hard drugs.

Marijuana, if used responsibly, could help those cultivating it and using it. However, with India already grappling with problems of alcoholism, excessive tobacco usage, much more research needs to be carried out to ensure that the risks do not outweigh the potential benefits.

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Hazy road to legalise marijuana: The case for it and risks involved - Yahoo Canada Shine On

Child Care of the Berkshires Inc.staff have returned to the office as of June 15.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) BerkshireCountyhas announced the addition of a Warm Line, 413-445-1136,a phone number that people can call to talk toeither a NAMI BC staff or a community trained volunteer having lived experience with mental health issues, trauma, and/or to assist individuals through a difficult time, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.NAMI Berkshire County will provide support over the phone as well as resources as available. Calls will be accepted during the day and evening until 8 p.m. Callers experiencing isolation, fear, stress can speak to someone so they will not feel as isolated and find some coping strategies that have worked for the operators staffing the phone.If operators are not available callers can leave their phone number and first name and they will be called back within 24 hours or sooner. The information is strictly confidential.

BHS Helpline.People should contact their primary care physician if theyhave concerns. Testing must be authorizedthroughthe primary care. TheBerkshire Health Systems helpline can answer many questions regarding findinga primary care, testing, or other health related issues.The Nurse Triage line has reduced its hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, still available seven days a week. The number remains 855-BMC-LINK, or 855-262-5465.

Northern Berkshire Adult Education has gone virtual!All classes are offered online, even the PCA class. Free to all adult learners. Brush up your skills to get your GED or to prepare to return to college from the comfort of your home. Contact Bob or AnnaMaria at 413-662-5330 or 413-662-5386.

nbCC Changes to Open Hours and Programs-The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC), in an effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19, has made the following changes to open hours and programs:

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nbCC E-Zine - Oct. 1, 2020 - News and Events in Northern Berkshire - iBerkshires.com

As you age, and as a normal response to just going through life, proteins and organelles in your body get damaged or die. If theyre not cleared out, these damaged particles accumulate in your cells and jam things up. When this happens, your cells cant divide and function normallythis can cause cell death and age-related diseases, contribute to poor tissue and/or organ function, and even become cancerous.

Enter the process called autophagy. During autophagy, the body marks damaged parts of cells, unused proteins, and other junk in the body for removal and clears them out. This is a form of cellular cleansing and, really, the true meaning of a detox. Autophagy also helps deliver nutrients to cells that need them.

Autophagy can dictate not only how well we live but perhaps how long we live, says board-certified integrative neurologist Ilene Ruhoy, M.D., Ph.D. It is a key physiological mechanism that has been conserved throughout evolution for the distinct purpose of allowing the human species to thrive. But when the autophagic mechanisms are overwhelmed or dysfunctional, cells are unable to perform optimally and disease can occur, as well as more rapid aging.

Autophagy is absolutely essential for healthy, functioning cells and if its never kicked on to its full potential, you can get sick. One of the most notable ways these dead proteins accumulate is seen in Alzheimer's disease. Because they are never cleared from the body, dead proteins travel to the brain and get stuck there, causing the characteristic plaques associated with the disease.

Think of it this way: autophagy is like the robot vacuum you have in your house. When things get messy, it kicks on, cleaning up debris and unwanted junk, leaving you with a nice clean slate and preventing a buildup that can lead to a bigger mess down the road.

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The Healthy Aging Benefits Of Autophagy & How To Activate The Cellular Process - mindbodygreen.com

Frances Jean Beebe, 78, of West Monroe, passed away Sept. 22, 2020. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Apostolic Restoration Church in West Monroe. Interment was in Kilpatricks Serenity Gardens in West Monroe, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe.

Mrs. Adrienne Delery Day, 82, of Monroe, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. Interment was at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe. Visitation was 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at the funeral home.

Funeral service for Marc Felts, 55, of West Monroe, will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at First West, West Monroe. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Calhoun, under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the funeral hoe, and from noon until time of service Friday at the church. He passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

Mr. Alex John George, 88, of Monroe, passed away Sept. 21, 2020. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. 2020 at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, in Monroe. Interment was at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe.

Memorial services for Billy Ray Johnson, 69, of West Monroe, will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Interment will follow at Carter Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. He passed away Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020.

A celebration of life for Steve Mitchel Netherland, 62, of Farmerville, was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Visitation was from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. He passed away Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.

Shonda Lea Carroll Parker

Shonda Lea Parker, a devoted wife, mother and author of Christian herbalist study courses, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the age of 53 after battling cancer for several years. She was with her family in Calhoun when she peacefully departed to be with her Lord Jesus Christ.

Shonda was born Oct. 17, 1966 in DeRidder. She grew up in Pitkin under the care of her parents, Shelvia Shelby and Virginia Ginny Carroll, each of whom previously died.

Shonda met her husband, Keith Parker, at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. They married in 1986 and reared seven children in Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.

In the late 1980s, Shonda pursued an interest in integrative medicine and herbal therapies. At the time, American herbalism was mostly associated with New Age movements, but Shonda believed she could help reclaim a Christian view of herbal therapies that had been lost in the 20th Century. For more than 30 years, Shonda shared her faith-based approach to understanding Gods creation and how such knowledge could improve the treatment of the human body. She traveled for speaking engagements at midwifery conferences and wrote four books about herbal therapies, family health and food. Under her Naturally Healthy brand, Shonda developed an exhaustive course in Christian herbalism and formulated a line of herbal medicines as well. Though she focused her career on using herbal therapies to assist healthy living, Shonda encouraged reliance on medical professionals as well as the enjoyment of delicious food and drink items like Dr. Pepper.

In addition to her career as a successful author and businesswoman, Shonda devoted herself to her family and church. Whether aiding her children in their various pursuits or hosting large gatherings, Shonda was passionate about helping other people find satisfaction in their calling or meals. Many people knew Shonda as an enthusiastic hostess through her dinner parties and festal work at large gatherings.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Redeemer in West Monroe, 715 Cypress St., West Monroe, Louisiana, 71291. Pastor Steve Wilkins, of Church of the Redeemer, will officiate the service and David Alders, of Nacogdoches, Texas, will deliver the eulogy. Services can be livestreamed at redeemertwincities.org

Shondas remains were cremated and will be spread in Texas.

Shonda is survived by her beloved husband, Keith, her seven children and their spouses: Zachary and his wife, Samantha; Emily and husband, Jonathan, of Fort Worth, Texas; Eryn and husband, Braden; Eliana; Zebediah and wife, Bayley; Samuel; Simon; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. Margaret Johnson Rhone, 103, of West Monroe, were at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, with Rev. Ted Freeland officiating. Interment was in Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe. Visitation was 9-11 a.m. Thursday.

Margaret Johnson Rhone was born on Jan. 11, 1917, in Crockett, Texas, the ninth child of Mary Eldora Harrison Johnson and James E. Johnson. She died in West Monroe, on Sept. 22, 2020, after a long illness. Mrs. Rhone married her childhood sweetheart, Robert Franklin Rhone and they made their home in West Monroe, where he was employed by Brown Paper Mill. While many of their peers were offended by the smoke and cinders from the mill, they considered it their bread and butter. They were blessed by the births of two daughters, Barbara Jean Rhone and Denna Maureen Rhone. When the daughters were aged 13 and 10, they were blessed by the birth of a son, Robert F. Rhone Jr.

Margaret and her family were charter members of Brownville Methodist Church, which later evolved into Asbury United Methodist Church. Her church family was very important to her. She was very talented and could do anything she set her mind to. Mrs. Rhone enjoyed all kinds of crafts, canning and freezing vegetables and fruits. She was always busy. She enjoyed quilting and sewing especially. She sewed all her mothers clothes without benefit of patterns and sewed for her daughters until they started working. She also sewed for a good friend, Mrs. Shirley Works Moore, sewing pretty dresses, and gowns for every season and occasion up until she was 95. Mrs. Rhone was a good cook and enjoyed preparing home-cooked meals. It was a source of pleasure for her to provide a safe haven in her home for recreation and social activity for her children and their friends. The last months of her life were difficult as she was forced to admit she couldnt do what she used to and wanted to do.

When her son entered school, she enrolled in and completed the Louisiana Practical Nursing Course, so shed be prepared for his education should she be required to do so. Luckily that was not required.

Mrs. Rhone is preceded in death by her parents; eight siblings; her husband; her son; and grandson-in-law, Mark Zachry.

Survivors include her daughters, Barbara Jean Rhone, and Denna Maureen Rhone Ballard and husband, Richard; daughter-in-law, Frances Luffey Rhone; granddaughter, Tammy Ballard Zachry; great-granddaughter, Katie Zachry Meredith and husband, Jamie and their sons, Noah, Jonah, Luke, and Levi; great-grandson, Paul Zachry and wife, Lauren and their children, Haylea and Owen.

Pallbearers were Paul Zachry, Jamie Meredith, Joey Gardunio, Alex Gardunio, Rick Ray, and Richard Ballard.

Mrs. Gayla Banks Rogers, 73, of Monroe, passed away Sept. 22, 2020. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. Interment was in the Old Union Church Cemetery in Grayson, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe.

Timothy Corbin Sanderford

Timothy Corbin Sanderford, 62, of West Monroe, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Arrangements are under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Riley Dale Sanderson, 84, of Calhoun, died on Sept. 24, 2020. Private family graveside services were held on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Calhoun, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Mr. James E. Smith Sr., 80, of Bastrop, passed away Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Funeral services were at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. Interment was at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe.

Memorial service for L.D. Smith, 77, of Monroe, was at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at Rowland Road Baptist Church. Services were under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home, Monroe. L.D. passed away, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.

Funeral service for Jerry Lynn Taylor , 65, of Calhoun, was at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Interment followed at Cheniere Baptist Church Cemetery. Jerry passed away, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.

Funeral services for Justin M. Vallery, 37, of Keller, Texas, were at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home, West Monroe. Interment was at Kilpatricks Serenity Gardens. Visitation was from noon Saturday until service time.

Mrs. Gail Wheelis, 83, of West Monroe, passed away Sept. 27, 2020. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe. Interment was in Rutledge Cemetery in West Monroe.

Mr. Dan Paul White, 64, of Monroe, passed away Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. A celebration of life service was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. A private family interment followed at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe.

Lois Ann Whittington, 81, of Calhoun, LA, died on Sept. 27, 2020. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church in West Monroe with Dr. Marty Black officiating. Interment was at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

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Obituaries published on Oct. 1, 2020 | Obituaries - The Franklin Sun

The Jammu-based Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) is undertaking clinical trials of 3-4 formulations for developing a COVID-19 drug, a senior official had said. The IIIM is also in the final stages of validating a new machine-less coronavirus diagnostics kit, as already reported by the PTI, which can help the country scale up COVID-19 testing.

"For Covid-19, we are undergoing clinical trials. In collaboration with Ayush ministry and industry, we are involved in it. Three to four clinical trials are going in different plant species with regard to COVID-19 drugs on 3 to 4 formulations, Director CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Dr D Srinivasa Reddy, told PTI. If they (all the requisite trials) are successful, we can make medicines soon available, Reddy said.

"We are definitely getting closer. So many research groups from across the world are giving their best to find treatment for COVID-19. Discovering new medicines is a very long and costly process, he said. The director said that repurposing already known drugs to treat COVID-19 patients is the best option under the present circumstances.

"Several academic and industry groups across the globe are continuously working. In India, in particular the CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) is a frontrunner in this direction, he added.

Dr Reddy, who recently took over as the director of IIIM for the next six years, said the first activity that IIIM undertook under him was testing COVID-19 samples.

"We started testing in the first week of April, in collaboration with Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. We have completed over 40,000 samples till date, he said. We are in the process of increasing the number of samples tested, he said.

The IIIM is also in the process of developing a new formulation based on Zinc Gluconate and natural Vitamin C coming from Acerola Cherry for boosting immunity, he said. It is in collaborations with a company.

He said that the development processes for Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API)as part of repurposing of drugs is underway and our scientists have made significant progress on this activity and one of the processes has been demonstrated to an industry partner in Jammu.

"We continue to work along these lines and start some new initiatives to address COVID-19 related problems. Our scientists and students rose to the occasion and contributed significantly in a short time, he added.

Dr Reddy said that the IIIM laboratory is a unique place for discovering medicines based on natural products everything is under one roof for plant-based or new chemical entity (NCE)-based drugs. It has got rich biodiversity in the region which is known for medicinal and aromatic plants. It has a diverse scientist pool with expertise and experience from various functions. I see a lot of opportunities here, he added. He said that IIIM can lead programmes of national importance in addition to existing assets and expand compound or natural product extracts library and open it to others research purposes.

The IIIM can develop agricultural technologies and commercial cultivation in the Western Himalayas Kashmir Valley and Ladakh regions, he said. There are high-value medicinal and aromatic plants, (but) they seem to be facing problems in the supply chain, in particular, for the international markets. The IIIM can put more efforts in that direction, he added.

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Institute of Integrative Medicine Conducting Clinical Trials of 3-4 Covid-19 Drug Formulations: Director - Yahoo India News

Western medicine, also known as traditional medicine, is the familiar system in which healthcare providers treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation and/or surgery. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a term used for medical products and practices that are typically not part of traditional medicine or included in standard medical care. The terms complementary and alternative both refer to treatments like herbal remedies or acupuncture. However, complementary medicine is when these therapies are used along with traditional western medicine practices. Alternative medicine refers to using alternative approaches instead of using traditional western medical approaches. Some practices of CAM include massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, Tai Chi, aromatherapy, herbal medicine and chiropractic.

When it comes to CAM, there are four major alternative medical systems that were developed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in 2000. These four alternative medical systems include:

1. Mind-body interventions: involve using specific techniques to boost the minds capacity to influence bodily function and enhance health (i.e. meditation and yoga)

2. Biologically-based treatment: the use of substances found in nature (i.e. herbs, foods and vitamins)

3. Manipulative and body-based methods: focuses on applying specific treatments to address health issues (i.e. reflexology and chiropractic)

4. Energy therapies: based on the idea that energy fields surround and penetrate the human body (i.e. therapeutic touch and Reiki)

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As you can see from the four major alternative medical systems, CAM is used for physical, mental and spiritual health. In addition, CAM is widely used today and is increasing in popularity. In the United States, complementary and alternative medicine is used by about 38% of adults and 12% of children, according to John Hopkins Medical.

If you are interested in integrating or learning more about CAM, ask your primary care provider if integrated therapy is right for you. You can also ask your primary care provider if they can provide you with recommendations and/or contact your local hospital or medical school as they often keep lists of integrative medicine practitioners in the area.

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A message from the health center: complementary and alternative medicines - The Lion's Roar Newspaper

In recent years, the popularity of aromatherapy has significantly increased, especially after celebrities like "Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo and "Sister, Sister" actress Tamera Mowry admitted that essential oils were included in their routines.

As Elizabeth Ko, medical director of the UCLA Health Integrative Medicine Collaborative, explained, essential oils carry the "essence" of the plant, and our smell receptors quickly absorb it.

AROMATHERAPY AND ESSENTIAL OILS

Depending on the plant you're using, the effect is different. Most commonly, they range from having anxiolytic or anti-inflammatory properties to boosting your energy and preventing acne.

It is worth noting that the best way to use essential oils is with a diffuser, which is a device that you have to fill with water and add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil.

Celebrities like Kerry Washington ("Scandal"), Gwyneth Paltrow ("Shakespeare in Love"), and Jenna Dewan ("Soundtrack") have been open about their use of aromatherapy, so after doing our research, we found some of the best essential oils on the market.

CHAMOMILE

This herb has been consumed for hundreds of years by different cultures as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions, so it was only natural to have it as an essential oil.

Chamomile oil is recommended for people who want to go to sleep without struggling so much, but it is also a good option for sore muscles and to reduce swelling on the skin.

ORANGE

Since orange oils are extracted from sweet oranges, it is one of the most affordable essential oils on the market. If that wasn't enough, it has an anxiolytic effect on people due to its sweet aroma, making it one of the best essential oils for anxiety.

Apart from that, it can also reduce some symptoms of PTSD. It is one of Ellen Pompeo's favorites ("Grey's Anatomy"), so that should give you a good idea of its benefits.

CINNAMON

While cinnamon is commonly used as a spice to give your food that extra touch of quality, it can also be breathed in as an essential oil to boost your focus, as it can impact the area of your brain that governs alertness.

"Soundtrack" star Jenna Dewan confessed that she boosts her immune system by putting Thieves oil, which combines clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils, under her tongue.

LAVENDER

Lavender is one of the best essential oils for sleep on the market as investigations have shown that people wake up more refreshed. Apart from that, it is used in dermatology to heal wounds quickly, ease the consequences of insect bites, and reduce redness.

"Sister, Sister" star Tamera Mowry recommends lavender oils to get rid of "a pesky migraine" due to its anxiolytic effect, so this one is a no-brainer.

YLANG YLANG

Due to its sweet floral scent, ylang ylang essential oil is mostly recommended as a soothing option, especially after investigators found that it helped lower people's heart rate and blood pressure.

If that wasn't good enough, this oil is reported to lift people's moodsand their self-esteem while also helping with inflammation.

TEA TREE

Also known as melaleuca, tea tree oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which is probably why Australian aboriginal people used it for wound healing in the past.

Nowadays, it is mostly recommended to prevent and treat acne and to help with your energy levels, but it can also be used to repel bugs.

ROSE

One of the best smelling essential oils out there is rose oil, which is reported to relieve pain, including the unsettling menstrual cramps. Additionally, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which makes it an excellent option to prevent fungal and staph infections.

If you are like Ellen Pompeo and don't like too-flowery scents, you can combine rose oils with "a dash" of vetiver or sandalwood to give it "a little earthiness."

The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, and images contained on, or available through this NEWS.AMOMAMA.COM is for general information purposes only. NEWS.AMOMAMA.COM does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider.

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Best Essential Oils: How to Choose the Proper One and Use the Power of Nature - AmoMama

If your life these days is anything like mine, a pre-pandemic routine that included regular exercise and disciplined eating has probably given way to sedentary evenings on a big chair, binge-watching reruns of your favorite TV series while guzzling chocolate ice cream or mac 'n' cheese.

But let's not beat ourselves up about it. Several doctors I spoke with recently said most of their patients and many of their colleagues are struggling to maintain healthy habits amid the anxiety of the pandemic. "The Quarantine 15" (pounds, that is) is a real phenomenon.

The double challenge of protecting our health, including our immune systems, while battling unhealthy temptations "is a struggle everyone is dealing with," says Dr. David Kilgore, director of the integrative medicine program at the University of California-Irvine.

Well before COVID-19, more than 40% of U.S. adults were obese, which puts them at risk for COVID-19's worst outcomes. But even people accustomed to physical fitness and good nutrition are having trouble breaking the bad habits they've developed over the past five months.

Karen Clark, a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, discovered competitive rowing later in life, and her multiple weekly workouts burned off any excess calories she consumed. But the pandemic changed everything: She could no longer meet up with her teammates to row and stopped working out at the YMCA.

Suddenly, she was cooped up at home. And, as for many people, that led to a more sedentary lifestyle, chained to the desk, with no meetings outside the house or walks to lunch with colleagues.

"I reverted to comfort food and comfortable routines and watching an awful lot of Netflix and Amazon Prime, just like everybody else," Clark says. "When I gained 10 pounds and I was 25, I just cut out the beer and ice cream for a week. When you gain 12 pounds at 62, it's a long road back."

She started along that road in July, when she stopped buying chips, ice cream and other treats. And in August, she rediscovered the rowing machine in her basement.

But don't worry if you lack Clark's discipline, or a rowing machine. You can still regain some control over your life.

A good way to start is to establish some basic daily routines, since in many cases that's exactly what the pandemic has taken away, says Dr. W. Scott Butsch, director of obesity medicine at the Cleveland Clinic's Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. He recommends you "bookend" your day with physical activity, which can be as simple as a short walk in the morning and a longer one after work.

And, especially if you have kids at home who will be studying remotely this fall, prepare your meals at the beginning of the day, or even the beginning of the week, he says.

If you haven't exercised in a while, "start slow and gradually get yourself up to where you can tolerate an elevated heart rate," says Dr. Leticia Polanco, a family medicine doctor with the South Bay Primary Medical Group, just south of San Diego. If your gym is closed or you can't get together with your regular exercise buddies, there are plenty of ways to get your body moving at home and in your neighborhood, she says.

Go for a walk, a run or a bike ride, if one of those activities appeals to you. Though many jurisdictions across the United States require residents to wear masks when out in public, it may not be necessary and may even be harmful to some people with respiratory conditions while doing strenuous exercise.

"It's clearly hard to exercise with a mask on," says Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases at Stanford University's School of Medicine. "We go hiking up in the foothills and we take our masks with us and we don't wear them unless somebody starts coming the other way. Then we will put the mask on, and then we take it off and we keep going."

If you prefer to avoid the mask question altogether, think of your house as a cleverly disguised gym. Put on music and dance, or hula-hoop, Polanco suggests. You can also pump iron if you have dumbbells, or find a cable TV station with yoga or other workout programs.

If you search on the internet for "exercise videos," you will find countless workouts for beginners and experienced fitness buffs alike. Try one of the seven-minute workout apps so popular these days. You can download them from Google Play or the Apple Store.

If you miss the camaraderie of exercising with others, virtual fitness groups might seem like a pale substitute, but they can provide motivation and accountability, as well as livestreamed video workouts with like-minded exercisers. One way to find such groups is to search for "virtual fitness community."

Many gyms are also offering live digital fitness classes and physical training sessions, often advertised on their websites.

If group sports is your thing, you may or may not have options, depending on where you live.

In Los Angeles, indoor and outdoor group sports in municipal parks are shut down until further notice. The only sports allowed are tennis and golf.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, the Ron Schell Draft League, a softball league for men 50 and older, will resume play early this month after sitting out the spring season due to COVID-19, says Dave Hyder, the league's commissioner.

But he says it has been difficult to get enough players because of worries about COVID.

"In the senior group, you have quite a lot of people who are in a high-risk category or may have a spouse in a high-risk category, and they don't want to chance playing," says Hyder, 67, who does plan to play.

Players will have to stay at least 6 feet apart and wear masks while off the field. On the field, the catcher is the only player required to wear a mask. That's because masks can steam up glasses or slip, causing impaired vision that could be dangerous to base runners or fielders, Hyder explains.

Whatever form of exercise you choose, remember it won't keep you healthy unless you also reduce consumption of fatty and sugary foods that can raise your risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension all COVID-19 risk factors.

Kim Guess, a dietitian at UC-Berkeley, recommends that people lay in a healthy supply of beans and lentils, whole grains, nuts and seeds, as well as frozen vegetables, tofu, tempeh and canned fish, such as tuna and salmon.

"Start with something really simple," she said. "It could even be a vegetable side dish to go with what they're used to preparing."

Whatever first steps you decide to take, now is a good time to start eating better and moving your body more.

Staying healthy is "so important these days, more than at any other time, because we are fighting this virus which doesn't have a treatment," says the Cleveland Clinic's Butsch. "The treatment is our immune system."

This KHN story first published onCalifornia Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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Exercise and diet are more important than ever with COVID at large - Salon

Coronavirus contagion spreads by just talking

Forsythia is a plant that produces fruits called Lian Qiao, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help treat various symptoms including fever, nausea, swelling, and sore throat.

There is limited evidence to prove the forsythia's effectiveness. The Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine suggests that Lian Qiao can be used to treat or prevent Coronavirus. The journal also lists Radix astragali (Huangqi), Radix glycyrrhizae (Gancao), Radix saposhnikoviae (Fangfeng), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu) and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua) for Coronavirus treatment.

As of now the majority of studies on forsythia's medicinal properties were conducted either in animals or in vitro, performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. That is why there is very little scientific evidence on its effectiveness in humans. But from animal and vitro studies, scientists have found many properties that could help explain some of its benefits in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

A 2017 study found that in vitro dried Lian Qiao has shown a potential to combat bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and streptococcus, while a 2013 research revealed the effects of both forsythia and Japanese honeysuckle on the influenza virus, the researchers found that they both restrain the virus from multiplying and boost immune cell function.

A vitro study, which came in 2010 in the Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, said that the plant, mostly native to eastern Asia, could be effective against H1N1. As per another 2017 study, which was conducted on mice, forsythia has shown promising signs in treating intestinal inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis.

Forsythia has been studied in treating certain cancers. In a study published in Molecular Medicine Reports, esophageal cancer cells were put into mice, and researchers found that forsythia inhibited the growth of the cancer cells. But further study is needed to completely understand the effectiveness of this herb.

The Use of Natural Remedy

The name 'forsythia' may sound familiar because it was mentioned in the 2011 movie, "Contagion," which became highly popular during the Coronavirus pandemic. There is no solid proof that forsythia can be useful to treat or cure Coronavirus. But, for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, the plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat bacterial and viral infections.

As per the experts, the safest and best way to take forsythia is to discuss dosage with an herbal medicine expert, as there is not enough and reliable information to know the side effects of this herb. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. has not approved forsythia products.

Deborah Ann Ballard, MD, MPH, internal medicine doctor at Duke Integrative Medicine said she does not prescribe forsythia to her patients and does not recommend anyone to take forsythia without consulting a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor. "Proper use of this or any remedy requires an individualized assessment and approach," she added.

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Can Forsythia Cure Coronavirus? Herb With Antibacterial, Antiviral Properties Is Popular in TCM - International Business Times, Singapore Edition

In general, inflammation is good. However, when inflammation is bad, its very bad. Inflammation is good when it is the bodys response to tissue damage or the invasion of a harmful intruder like a toxin, bacteria, virus, or even a splinter.

Inflammation is bad when it becomes chronic (long-term) and has the potential to cause diseases like obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, blood vessel disease, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and even Alzheimers.

When inflammation lasts for a short duration (a few days), it is called acute inflammation. This is the bodys short-term response and attempts to fix a localized effect.When acute inflammation occurs, the body produces proteins, white blood cells, hormones, and nutrients that are carried from the circulatory system to the site of the problem.This type of inflammation is a protective healing process. As the body heals, the acute inflammation gradually subsides.

Conversely, when the duration of inflammation last longer, this is called chronic inflammation. Although acute inflammation is a healing process, chronic inflammation is most often just the opposite.As inflammation persists for weeks, months, or even longer periods of time, white blood cells often end up causing harm to healthy tissue.

As inflammation persists, it often contributes to the progression of many chronic diseases affecting physical and cognitive health. Some of the physical health issues associated with chronic disease are heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.

The link between inflammation and cognition is complicated and somewhat unclear as it is difficult to be sure about cause and effect. Dr. Robert H. Shmerling from Harvard Medical School says: Its a chicken-and-egg scenario, does chronic inflammation increase the risk of these ailments, or is it a byproduct?

Daniela Kaufer, a University of California at Berkeley professor of integrative biology and Alon Friedman of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel and Dalhousie University in Canada have been studying inflammation in the brain cognitive decline for some time. In a publication from the journal Science Translational Medicine, Mr. Kaufer stated, We tend to think about the aged brain in the same way we think about neurodegeneration: Age involves loss of function and dead cells. But our new data tell a different story about why the aged brain is not functioning well: It is because of this fo of inflammatory load. But when you remove that inflammatory fog, within days the aged brain acts like a young brain. It is a really, really optimistic finding, in terms of the capacity for plasticity that exists in the brain. We can reverse brain aging.

One of the best counter measures we can do to prevent or reduce chronic inflammation is exercise. Both observational studies and controlled trials have shown that exercise suppresses production of proteins that have harmful effects on inflammation. Further, exercise increase the production of certain molecules that play an important role in inducing anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms

Foods are anther powerful tool to assisting in fighting inflammation. By choosing to avoid certain types of food and integrating others, you can make a profound difference to your ability to fend off chronic inflammation.

Here are some of the foods that combat inflammation: tomatoes, fruits (berries, oranges) olive oil, green leafy, vegetables (spinach, kale), nuts (almonds and walnuts), fatty fish (salmon, tuna,) omega-3 fatty acids; high-fiber foods; and foods high in zinc and magnesium.

Here are some of the foods that exacerbate inflammation: sugar, saturated fats (dairy, fatty meat), refined carbohydrates (fruit juices, pastries, white bread), processed meats (sausage, deli meats high in sodium)

Physical, cognitive, and emotional health can all be tied to chronic inflammation.When you get too tired of the boob tube, go online and educate yourself about inflammation.Do a search for terms like, health risk of inflammation, chronic inflammation symptoms, or reducing inflammation in the body.

When diet and exercise are not accomplishing what you need, consider talking to your medical provider.There are prescription medications that have proven to be helpful in mitigating inflammation.

Judson Haims is the owner of Visiting Angels Home Care in Vail, Beaver Creek, and throughout Eagle County. He is an advocate for our elderly and is available to answer questions. He can be reached at http://www.visitingangels.com/comtns or 970-328-5526.

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Haims: Inflammation the good and the bad | VailDaily.com - Vail Daily News

Medsafe has withdrawn its prosecution of Promisia Integrative Ltd in relation to its product Arthrem, in return for an agreement that will see the product removed from supply.

The settlement means Promisia accepts it breached the Medicines Act and will now cease manufacturing, advertising and selling Arthrem which has been linked to serious cases of liver harm.

In turn, Medsafe has agreed to withdraw the nine charges laid in the District Court against the company last year.

The prosecution of Promisia Integrative Limited, began in January 2019, followed Medsafes earlier warnings to the company about the sale, supply and advertising of Arthrem.

The company was warned that its advertising of Arthrem breached the Medicines Act.

Promotional claims made by the Company about Arthrems use for arthritis effectively made the product a medicine, which was unapproved, and was in breach of the Act.

In 2018 Medsafe published two privileged statements made by the Director-General of Health warning of the possible link between the Artemisia annua extract contained in Arthrem and reports of liver harm in people using it.

Despite the warnings, Promisia continued to supply Arthrem both within New Zealand and overseas, resulting in Medsafe laying charges.

Medsafe Group Manager Chris James says a settlement was seen as preferable given the length of time likely to be involved in pursuing a prosecution.

Under the Medicines Act, a substance that is supplied for a therapeutic purpose and that is to be administered to human beings is (with some exceptions) a medicine and, except in closely limited circumstances, cannot be sold, supplied, distributed, or advertised unless first approved by Medsafe on behalf of the Minister of Health. Promisia was supplying Arthrem for a therapeutic purpose without the necessary approvals.

Medsafe contends that Arthrem was intended to be taken for a therapeutic purpose but was being marketed under the guise of a dietary supplement.

Mr James emphasised that this is an example where a potentially harmful product was illegally marketed to the public as a dietary supplement, with fewer safety controls, when it should have been subjected to the more rigorous controls required for medicines.

Background

Promisia was first warned in 2016 that its advertising of Arthrem breached the Medicines Act because a therapeutic purpose was being claimed for the product.

Information on the safety issues relating to Arthrem can be found in the following links to the section 98 privileged statements: 15 Feb 2018; 27 Nov 2018. The New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre reported that up till 28 February 2020 it had received reports of 46 cases relating to adverse reactions reported in association with the use of Arthrem.

Medsafe operates an approval system for medicines that ensures they are safe, effective and of an acceptable quality.

The nine charges related to breaches of section 20 of the Medicines Act 1981; specifically, sections 20(2)(a) (selling) and 20(2)(c) (advertising).

The penalty, on successful prosecution, for a breach of section 20 is, for a body corporate, a fine not exceeding $100,000.

A product is a medicine if it comes within the definition of medicine in the Medicines Act 1981. Sections 3 and 4 of the Act are relevant.

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Medsafe takes action to prevent the supply of illegally marketed medicine linked to liver harm - New Zealand Doctor Online

The end of the day often comes too fast, and many of us may find ourselves not quite ready to settle down. There may be those last-minute emails to send, dishes to do, others in the household who need your attention, or anxieties about tomorrows to-do list. All of that buzz makes it tough to drift off to sleep.

Thats where before-bed yoga comes in. The gentle physical movement is relaxing itself, and the principles yoga is founded on gratitude, self-compassion, and contentment when practiced before bed can be calming, too, helping to promote sleep, says Carol Krucoff, a yoga instructor certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Yoga Alliance and a yoga therapist at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

RELATED: 9 Ways Practicing Yoga Benefits Your Health and Well-Being

Restorative yoga is becoming more popular, particularly since COVID-19 has people on edge, says Krucoff, who has a gentle yoga class on YouTube. A review and meta-analysis published in May 2020 in the journal BMC Psychiatry looked at 19 studies with nearly 2,000 women with sleep problems and found that, overall, a yoga practice (at any time of the day) improved sleep quality compared with not practicing yoga.

RELATED: The Basics on Hatha, Kundalini, and Other Types of Yoga

Before you try these poses, set the stage for sleep by centering your mind. Krucoff recommends practicing the Three Good Things exercise. The intention is to think about three good things that happened to you that day. It can be as little as having a really great cup of coffee that morning, she says. (For more details, find this how-to from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California in Berkeley.) It helps alleviate worry and get you into a positive mindset that helps you relax.

Then try these five gentle poses and exercises to get you all set for sleep:

If you can only do one thing to prepare yourself for sleep, take a few minutes to work on your breath, says Krucoff. What shes referring to is the relaxed abdominal breath, also known as the yoga belly breath. During the day, you are likely in the habit of breathing shallowly from your chest, but deeper breaths fill the lungs completely. This triggers a cascade of physiological changes. Your heart rate slows, your blood pressure decreases, and muscle tension eases, she explains.

How to Do It Lying down, put one hand below your belly button. Breathe in through your nose to fill your lungs (your belly should rise). Breathe out through your nose. Repeat for a few minutes.

RELATED: 7 Quick Stretches for Stress Relief You Can Do Right Now

Here, youll take your joints through their full range of motion. This is something thats quieting, releases tension and tightness, and is convenient because it can even be done lying down in bed, says Krucoff. Whats more, it helps bring attention to body sensations, making you consider not just whatever happened with your family or at work, or what was on the news over the course of the day, but also how your body actually feels. Are certain muscles sore? Are certain muscles tired? Many of us spend much of our day in our heads, Krucoff says. This practice guides you back into your body, which is a good way to prep for sleep.

How to Do ItLie down on the floor or in your bed. Circle your ankles. Extend your legs out long then bend your knees. Lift and lower your hips to make circular movements. Bend your elbows, then extend your arms long at your sides. Shrug and circle your shoulders. Repeat as needed and as feels good.

If you have back issues, the knee hug will feel particularly nourishing, Krucoff says. In fact, low back pain is one of the most common reasons for seeing a doctor; it also keeps people out of work, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Working hunched over at a desk all day can cause the ache. This pose will relieve it.

How to Do ItLie down and hug one or both knees into your chest. (Whether or not you do one or both depends on your physical abilities.) If you can hug both knees into your chest at the same time, rock from side to side to massage your spine.

RELATED: The Best Home Remedies for Back Pain

Its common to hold tension in your neck and shoulders, says Krucoff. Its even more common for tightness and pain to creep up here if you spend your day working at computer or staring at your smartphone.

How to Do ItSit on your bed, sitting up straight with good posture. Inhale and bring your shoulders up to your ears and squeeze your arm and shoulder muscles tightly. Exhale and release your shoulders, pulling your shoulder blades downward. Repeat a few times.

If you practice yoga, you know this as Savasana, which is the final pose of class. It looks extremely easy to lie down and do nothing, but its among the hardest poses to master because it requires you to release all physical and emotional tension and let go of mental thought, explains Krucoff. But no need to stress about getting Savasana right: Just lie down, be still, and try to not think about anything in particular and it will help you relax. Krucoff calls it relaxed alertness which might sound contradictory but is really about noticing whatever thoughts and feelings do come up without dwelling on any one particular one.

How to Do ItLie down with your arms at your sides, palms up and relaxed. Close your eyes and focus on the rise and fall of your breath. If you have trouble with intrusive thoughts, acknowledge their presence and picture them floating away.

RELATED: Yoga Poses for Beginners

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Yoga Poses and Exercises to Help You Sleep - Everyday Health

This article was originally published here

Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2020 Sep 3:e13299. doi: 10.1111/ecc.13299. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Over recent decades, supportive care and patient quality of life, advocated by dedicated guidelines, have become a core focus of the concept of integrative medicine. The Calista 2 survey was conducted in France between September 2016 and October 2017 among oncologists and their patients being treated for early breast cancer, adjuvant colorectal cancer or advanced lung cancer. The present analysis sought to ascertain, understand and rank the expectations of cancer patients with regard to supportive care.

METHODS: Data were collected from 467 questionnaires from patients recruited by 82 oncologists. Inclusion criteria were patients already on treatment for breast cancer, colorectal cancer or lung cancer. Most supportive care facilities were available at the point of care.

RESULTS: Physicians were mainly seen to offer management of adverse events (81%), and pain (72%), psychological support (56%), and advice on diet/nutrition (49%). Patient uptake of supportive care related essentially to management of adverse events (72%) and pain (61%), diet/nutrition (34%), and self-image improvement techniques (31%). The main unmet needs voiced by patients were information on complementary medicines (28%), management of fatigue (27%), and relaxation techniques (24%).

CONCLUSION: Supportive care was essentially seen to satisfy patient requirements with regard to the management of adverse events and pain. However, patients highlighted the need for a wider access to fatigue management and information on complementary medicine and relaxation techniques.

PMID:32885521 | DOI:10.1111/ecc.13299

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Patient perspectives on supportive care in cancer: Results of the Calista 2 study - DocWire News

Taylor Brune @heartsinbloomhealth is many things. To start, perhaps above all else, she is passionate about healthcare. Brune, who recently survived COVID-19, suffers from chronic autoimmune deficiencies, which began from a bite from a tick. As a result, she has had to learn and research much in the medical world so that she is as well equipped as possible to survive her severe afflictions.

On top of all that, Brune is also a Medical Assistant. In this capacity, she works with healthcare providers as a liaison to patients, in administrative capacities and other roles to ensure the facility operates smoothly. Brune, never one to shy away from a challenge, is also a student continuing her education. She is using her experience as a Medical Assistant to help transition to, one day, becoming a doctor. That is her ultimate aim.

We caught up with Brune to ask her about this long professional journey, her fight with COVID-19, her passion for healthcare and much more.

@heartsinbloodhealth

When and why did you decide you wanted to be a Medical Assistant?

The last ten years, I have dealt with my own health issues and my own health journey of developing chronic disease and autoimmune disease after a bite from a tic. So, when I lost my health, I was engulfed in the medical world and I was a patient 24-7 and having to do research for myself and be my own health advocate. In the process of learning how to heal myself, I grew the passion of wanting to help heal others.

While I was going through treatments, I was like, this is my calling. This is where Im supposed to be. This is why Im having my health issues and going through this huge life transition and transformation. When that realization happened, I decided to learn about medicine and how to switch my degree over to pre-med and integrative health.

Going into medical assisting school, was the first step in my path. And Im going to be a doctor one day no matter how long it takes! No matter what challenges I face, I know that everything Im going through in my own health is helping me transform into the best person that I can be so that I can be the best doctor for patients. Since Ive had the perspective of being a patient for so many years, I know exactly what theyre thinking and feeling.

If youre interested in becoming a medical assistant here is an awesome guide to start your research - it answers questions like,

After you read this interview go to the full Medical Assistant Career Guide.

Show Me Medical Assistant Programs

What was the process like for you to become a Medical Assistant?

First, I prayed a lot about it. I knew I wanted to switch my degree to pre-med but, I also wanted to work in the medical field a lot sooner. Becoming a doctor takes years in pre-med and medical school.

So, I figured the first step to completely immerse myself in the medical field as soon as possible was to complete a medical assistant program and to actually start working in the field that I love so much. Once I graduated from my medical assistant and phlebotomy program I immediately started working in the field. The experience Ive gained has just confirmed that this is where Im supposed to be and I love it!

How long did the process take, what type of schooling did you?

For medical assisting in California , I needed to go to a medical assisting school. I went to a trade school and enrolled into a medical assisting program. Medical assisting programs are more about gaining hands-on experience in an actual doctors office. This is how the program was set up,

The program style was really beneficial to help me to get on-the-job training and also land a great position right after graduation,

At the same time, though, Ive been going to Arizona State University Online to finish my Bachelors degree, which Ill be finishing in the fall. This fall, Ill have my Bachelors as well as my medical assisting diploma.

As a medical assistant its important to be certified. I took a national certification exam and every two years, I complete the required credits and retake the test to keep my certification up to date.

@heartsinbloodhealth

How did you land your first job as a Medical Assistant?

It was actually pretty easy for me because I seem to interview really well with medical places. My first job was working at a naturopathic office. Next, I went to primary care and oncology. So, thats where Ive been working the last year. Now, Im at Scripps Health Hospital in dermatology.

Theres a lot to know for the job and you have a lot of responsibilities - from first-aid to computer work to patient liaison. Do you like having all these aspects to your workday?

I love it! I have gained so much experience including,

Drawing blood is my absolute favorite because I really enjoy direct patient care. But, overall working with different modalities, systems and technologies has taught me so much about the medical field. Each private practice is completely different and the providers are unique in that they offer different specialties and treatments. Its been fun learning all these different skills.

@heartsinbloodhealth

Your long-term goal is to be a doctor. How did you choose becoming a medical assistant for that aim and how has it helped?

There are a few reasons why I chose medical assisting as my first step towards my goal of becoming a doctor,

What do you like least about being a Medical Assistant or the healthcare field, in general?

For my own personal experience, I have an immune compromised self. I just dont like that I pick up illnesses so easily. I even picked up COVID. Flu season is also difficult for me. Im thankful for the fact that everyone is now taking more precaution in the medical field. Ive observed that people are more mindful of sanitizing and patients are wearing masks. It gives me hope that at least this year I will have stronger defenses and not catch as many illnesses. But theres many great things about working as a medical assistant, too. Each person has their own experience.

As a chronic illness patient myself, the one negative that I dont like is that I feel some doctors dont have time to really hear their patients. When Im a doctor, that is something that I really want to change. However, Ive been really fortunate to work with providers who are integrative in their mindset and do give their patients time. Even now, working with providers who arent integrative, they still give patients time and hear them. Ive been really fortunate to work with good providers. But, from the perspective of a patient, I had to go through multiple providers to get to good ones - and, I didnt like that.

@heartsinbloodhealth

What advice do you have for other people looking to become a Medical Assistant today - first steps, things to keep in mind?

One of the main things is to really look inside yourself and question yourself. Ask yourself really important questions like,

@heartsinbloodhealth

As you said, you recently recovered from COVID-19. What was that experience like for you personally and professionally?

In the beginning of the year, we actually started seeing patients have lung flues and pneumonias with weird symptoms and they were just really sick in January. I believe that COVID-19 was definitely here in the United States in California in January. But we didnt know what it was yet. But then when they started announcing it in February, we definitely got more traffic in the office and we were taking care of patients - even though it was primary and oncology, a lot of the patients in the beginning stages when they were starting to get sick would come to us. So, we were being exposed to COVID-19 and it spread through the staff.

The COVID-19 symptoms started out mild for me. I just figured it was the stress from working and being the only medical assistant since we were short-staffed during that time. Then once the rest of the clinic tested positive, I was like, Oh, no! I think I may have it!

I got tested. The week after I tested positive the illness became super severe for me. I have asthma and type-one diabetes - it went straight into my lungs. I decided to just face it and not be crippled by fear. I set my mind to believe that I would not die from it. Because Id learned with my chronic illness that you just have to stay positive no matter how grim it looks. And really just focus on what you can do to heal.

During the time when it was really severe, I went to the hospital and towards the end, I was able to go home and recover.

Now, its been three months since I've been cleared. I still have lung damage. My body is still healing. My body is still recovering from it in that aspect. But I was very fortunate because Ive had over ten years of experience being a chronic illness patient and working in the medical field. With that experience in mind, I knew how to take care of my immune system and listen to my body. When I got it, it was the beginning of the pandemic when doctors really didnt know anything about it. They didnt know what to tell me. They didnt know how to help me. So, for a lot of it I was on my own. I had to figure out how to survive COVID-19.

Luckily, my knowledge and prayer and by the grace of God and blessings, I was able to fight it, survive it. I was able to apply my knowledge to quickly do a regimen of trying to boost my immune system fast. I made a point to not stress, not think negatively, not fear, and not feed into any of that. I just tried to stay calm through the whole thing. Eventually, after 70 days, I was cleared.

What was the most difficult symptom of COVID-19 for you?

I think, honestly, the worst part was not being able to breathe. Even now, its still hard to breathe. It felt like I was suffocating 24-7, there was no relief. I was even on a breathing machine, not a ventilator, but a nebulizer breathing machine every four hours and taking medication just to be able to survive. I probably should have gone on a ventilator at that point because my oxygen stats were just in the 80s and so low and I was so sick. But I just didnt want to go on the ventilator. When I went into the hospital, they gave me fluids, took all the tests to make sure there was no other organ damage.

So, it was just kind of traumatic, honestly! But I learned a lot. Im grateful to be alive. Im grateful to be able to help anyone, you know? Or to face it without as much fear, even though it is really scary. To have hope and to try to stay calm.

You seem connected with people, both in-person and digitally. How has this helped, how has Instagram helped spread your story?

Its so amazing because I just started sharing my story of being a chronic illness patient and so many people could relate to that. Then when I started sharing my story and my experiences working in the medical field so many more people would message me and connect with me. Ive met so many amazing people, its amazing whats come out of Instagram. Whats come out of this community is just so many different opportunities and abilities to be able to hear other peoples stories, share my story, be able to learn from others, be able to help others. Its made me a better person and its also helped me be able to have a stronger voice.

When youre about to start your day, what is the final thing that passes through your mind before you open the doors to work?

Every morning, I just say a prayer, walking in, in my mind. And I dont know if this is going to sound corny but because this is my calling, I really, truly want to make the most of my job.

I pray right before I walk in every single morning that God uses me as a light of warm light and love to each person that I come across so that my day is very purposeful and meaningful and that Im able to uplift someone in some way. Or help someone in another way or just comfort a patient in a way that they need. I pray every day that my light shines through to the patients and staff around me.

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This Is Why I'm Working as a Medical Assistant While I Advance My Education - Nurse.org

September is National Self Care Awareness Month, traditionally a time when "back to school"has always meant personal renewal, stretching yourself, and trying new things. Here's how to take care of yourself by eating a whole-food plant-based diet, according to Dr. Sari Eitches, an LA-based integrative internist whopromotes wellness through lifestyle choices and takes a holistic approach to personal health.

In an exclusive interview with The Beet, Dr. Eitches, a long-time vegan, talks about guiding her patients to a plant-based lifestyle, as well as what to look out for when transitioning to a vegan or plant-based approach to eating, and her love ofvegan cuisine from around the world. She leads by example and shows that a plant-based diet can optimize our bodys self-healing properties, by lowering inflammation and adding antioxidants to every meal.Lether advice will inspire you to nourish your body and start adding plants to your meals, and take care of you.

Dr. Eitches: I was just finishing my first year as a medical student and I was the least healthy I'd ever been. I was super addicted to caffeine and getting by with convenience food. One week, I signed up for a yoga retreat to reset and relax. The retreat center had a vegetarian dining hall and my teacher was a long-time raw vegan. I intended to eat a raw diet to cleanse at the week-long retreat, but I felt so incredible that I continued to follow the raw diet for two years and remain vegan 14+ years later.

Dr. Eitches: I was pretty fascinated by the vast data that the majority of chronic conditions that Americans suffer from can be controlled, prevented, or even reversed with lifestyle changes including a plant-based diet. We literally are what we eat. The food choices we make (or are made for us) can either cause inflammation and accelerate chronic disease or, if we choose whole food plant-based diet, for example, our foods can slow, reverse and prevent chronic diseases. I now see it in my office every day.

Dr. Eitches: I think of my role as a holistic approach to primary care. I get to learn about my patient's backgrounds, families, hobbies, and values. I understand their health goals and concerns in this context. I do have conventional training as a board-certified MD and run standard tests and prescribe medications when needed. I also have a board certification in integrative holistic medicine, which I lean into, to recommend supplements and refer to complementary healing modalities. With all of my patients, I always address optimizing nutrition, activity, sleep, and mental wellness.

Dr. Eitches: My nutrition plans are evidence-based and customized for each patient's preferences and underlying conditions. For instance, I recommend a plant-based diet for heart disease, diabetes and cancer, but a gluten-free diet for Hashimoto's, or a dairy-free diet for acne, or a low-FODMAP diet for IBS. In all of these cases, I recommend a three-month trial of the diet to see whether we see a difference in their symptoms or labs. I try to balance these recommendations by focusing on the healthful foods to include rather than on what to avoid. We need to be aware that restrictive diets can be isolating and triggering for some people, so there is no one-size-fits-all.

I do think that everybody should eat more greens and fruits and veggies and that nobody should consume dairy. There is great evidence that a whole-food, plant-based diet decreases cholesterol and blood sugar, decreases cancer risk, decreases inflammation and improves bowel regularity. When a patient is ready to try a plant-based lifestyle I am so excited to guide and encourage them on this journey.

Dr. Eitches: Start with adding plants to every meal. Think about the different types of plant foods: Fruits, veggies, greens, legumes, grains, and nuts, and explore all of them. Get excited about a recipe or a farm-share. Some non-vegan foods are simple to swap out such as dairy for plant-based milk and others can be slowly crowded off of the plate.

Dr. Eitches: I recommend that all vegans have their B12 and homocysteine levels checked yearly. Ideally, our B12 levels should be over 400, and homocysteine should be below 8. We should take a B12 supplement, such as a methylcobalamin lozenge or spray to get to these goals. B12 is hugely important for our energy levels, mood, and neurologic function. I often will check omega 3's, vitamin D and iodineas all of these levels tend to be lower in vegans.

Dr. Eitches: There is some meal planning that has to happen around traveling and events, but it's pretty easy to plan ahead. I do make sure to always have vegan cupcakes on hand, either as a mix or in the freezer, so that my kids never feel left out at a birthday party.

Dr. Eitches: I eat plenty of legumes, especially lentils, black beans and edamame. I sometimes add pea protein to my smoothies. I also love (sprouted, organic, non-GMO) tofu and seitan.

Dr. Eitches: I love food, so I can't pick just one. I do love to make a huge green salad and tofu scramble, which I have a few times a week. I live in LA, where it is easy to order amazing vegan food. Some of my favorites are Thai eggplant with brown rice or papaya salad, Ethiopian platters, Japanese ramen and veggie sushi, Indian bharta or bhindi, and Mexican fajitas or burritos.

Dr. Eiches: I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion and where it isnt, thats where my work lies. -- Ram Dass

Read more:
September is Self Care Month. Here's how to Eat for Wellness - The Beet

How three equine athletes returned from injury to the show ring

At some point in your horse care journey, youve likely ridden a beautiful round, brought your horse in from turnout, or unloaded him from the trailer and realized something was off. Maybe it was a lame step or the slightest bit of swelling but, either way, it prompted a call to your veterinarian. If you were lucky, the root cause was something minor that would resolve with time off and anti-inflammatories. With the more challenging cases, however, you and your veterinarian might have pursued further diagnostics to determine the cause.

After reaching a diagnosis and settling on a treatment plan, you began the arduous process of healing and rehabilitation. This stage can be trying for even the most patient equestrian. But, with a good equine care team and some time, it can be smooth and fruitful.

To see what effective rehabilitation looks like, we found three real-life examples of equine athletes that made full recoveries from their injuries. Well share each ones diagnostic challenges, rehab modalities, and recovery details.

Chanel, a 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare competing in Western pleasure, had been struggling for years with a nagging intermittent left front lameness. Her owner and veterinarian managed this with routine coffin joint corticosteroid injections for about two years. However, the injections ultimately proved to be ineffective at keeping Chanel completely sound and comfortable, so she was referred to Carrie Schlachter, VMD, Dipl. ACVSMR, who founded and designed Circle Oak Equine Sports Medicines rehabilitation and fitness programs and also founded Animals In Motion, a practice that focuses on integrative sports medicine, rehabilitation, and injury prevention.

The case was pretty routine, says Schlachter. We nerve-blocked (used local anesthesia to numb and pinpoint the painful area) her foot, then we X rayed the area, and the X rays showed some mild abnormality in her coffin bone. We recommended an MRI so we could look at the area more deeply.

The MRI showed that Chanel actually had two injuries to her left front foot. The first was mild coffin bone bruising and remodeling in the area we had been looking at radiographically, Schlachter says. But, on the opposite side of the foot, she also had a collateral ligament injury. Collateral ligaments are located on either side of most joints.

This was the aha! moment, she says: Without the MRI I wouldnt have known about the collateral ligament injury so, because the owners were willing to do the MRI, I was not only able to confirm my diagnosis of the bone bruising and remodeling but I was also able to see the reason for it.

Chanel had likely been compensating for the collateral ligament injury by bearing more weight on one side of her foot, creating the bruising in the coffin bone. The injections helped initially because they suffused the area with steroids, reducing inflammation and allowing her to continue working soundly for a brief period.

With a diagnosis in place, Schlachter recommended putting Chanel in a bar shoe to support and stabilize the collateral ligament and the coffin bone. She and her team also injected the coffin joint and the collateral ligament with autologous protein solution (a biologic therapy that stimulates the bodys production of anti-inflammatory mediators and growth factors) and treated the area with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (believed to improve new blood vessel growth, recruit mesenchymal stem cells, and have pain relieving effects).

Schlachter also recommended for Chanel a controlled exercise program, which she modifies to meet the needs of different injuries and disciplines but typically involves:

Two months post-diagnosis, Schlachter reevaluated Chanel. At that point she was 80-90% better, so we allowed her to be walked under saddle for the next two months, she says. When we looked at her again at the four-month mark, she was 100% sound, so we started her on some trot work.

Once she was sound at the canter, Chanel began working back into training. Eight months post-diagnosis she was still sound and back in the show ring. She is now free of bar shoes, and her only maintenance since recovering has been a round of hock and sacroiliac joint injections to manage normal wear and tear.

Chanel was a wonderful patient, Schlachter says. She is the picture perfect example of what a good diagnosis, good treatment, compliant owners, and a well-behaved horse can do.

Melissa King, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, is an associate professor at the Colorado State University (CSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Fort Collins, where she specializes in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. King treated JR, a 16-year-old Thoroughbred who had shown as a four-star eventer. From repetitive use in his job, JR developed an insertional lesion in his deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT, which runs from the knee down the back of the leg and around the navicular bone, attaching to the coffin bone) and a second, discrete tear at the pastern level. This article continues in the August 2020 issue of The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. Subscribe now and get an immediate download of the issue to continue reading. Current magazine subscribers can access the digital edition here.

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The Journey Back: Three Horses Go From Rehab to Recovery - TheHorse.com

J.D. Prose|Beaver County Times

U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb has co-introduced a trio of bills with three different Republican colleagues to help veterans gain mental-health services and improve government suicide prevention efforts.

In the past week, Lamb, D-17, Mount Lebanon, has teamed with Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Bucks County, on the Testing, Researching and Expanding Alternative Treatments (TREAT) Act; Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., on the VA Precision Medicine Act and Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., on the VA Data Analytics and Technology Assistance (DATA) Act.

We must do more to combat the veteran suicide crisis, said Lamb, a Marine Corps veteran and vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, in a joint statement. Congress needs to give the (Department of Veterans Affairs) every tool possible to meet the mental health challenges facing our veterans before they get to the point of danger.

Lamb added that the work is critical, and it is bipartisan because we all know that one more veteran lost to suicide is one too many.

Fitzpatrick said that "it is imperative that our nations veterans receive access to the highest quality medical testing and holistic treatment options, including for mental health.

Under the TREAT Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would be required to create a two-year program to provide complementary and integrative care services for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, as well as to conduct a study on treatments such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic care and others that address mental and physical conditions.

The VA Precision Medicine Act would direct the VA to establish the Precision Medicine Initiative for Veterans that Lambs statement said would identify and validate brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans, with specific consideration for depression, anxiety, PTSD, TBI (traumatic brain injuries), and bipolar disorder.

That bill also would have the VA create a robust data privacy and security measures to ensure veterans personal information is kept secure.

The VAs capacity to contract and work with academic and research groups on analyses and data evaluation would be expanded under the DATA Act.

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Lamb partners with GOP colleagues on three veteran-focused bills - The Times

CoachCare, a virtual health and remote patient monitoring platform for providers and patients across specialties, today announced survey results for over 1,400 patients currently undergoing virtual visits on the CoachCare platform during COVID-19. According to the survey, the patient response to virtual visits was highly positive, with a significant number of patients expecting virtual visits to be a part of their treatment going forward. These findings indicate that clinics and providers must implement a long-term virtual care solution to remain competitive.

CoachCare providesvirtual health and remote patient monitoring servicesto over 3,500 clinics, and approximately 100,000 providers and patients. Earlier this year, as the healthcare industry found itself forced to evolve into a virtual environment practically overnight due to COVID-19, CoachCare sought to understand how patients were reacting to the new reality. The survey revealed that patients were both accepting and optimistic about the changes to their healthcare routines.

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Our survey shows that although only a small percentage of patients had used virtual video visits prior to COVID-19, they quickly adjusted. Many patients now prefer virtual care or a combination of virtual and in-person care compared to strictly in-person appointments, said CoachCare Marketing Director, Carol Duke, who ran the survey. This is encouraging news for clinics and providers who are worried their patients will resist virtual care, now and in the future.

Providers in the healthcare space have faced unprecedented changes to their businesses and patient programs as they have been forced to look for ways to continue to care for their patients during COVID-19. Part of the challenge is the need to implement new services and technologies for staff and patients to stay safe, while keeping their clinics open. Today, patient services such as remote patient monitoring and secure video visits are a necessity for providers.

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The CoachCare survey shows that these virtual technologies are beneficial to both the clinic and patient, allowing clinics an acceptable way to monitor and check on their patients at any time between in-person visits, and providing patients with more flexibility, time, and money when it comes to their healthcare journey.

Secure video visits are just the tip of the iceberg here. Duke continued. COVID has brought to the forefront the need for providers to not only visit with their patients remotely but also to fully monitor their conditions and programs from home, 24/7. This is not something that will go away once COVID passes. Patients will expect personalized remote care moving forward.

All of the survey highlights can be seen below:

Title: Patient Response to Virtual Visits Due to COVID-19

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90% Of Patients Utilizing Virtual Visits; 63% Say They Want to Continue - AiThority

Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, were among the earliest celebrities to catch the novel coronavirus. In an interview at the beginning of July, Hanks described how differently COVID-19 had affected each of them in March.

My wife lost her sense of taste and smell, she had severe nausea, she had a much higher fever than I did. I just had crippling body aches, he said. I was very fatigued all the time and I couldnt concentrate on anything for more than about 12 minutes.

Why does COVID-19 present such different symptoms or none at all in different people?

Preexisting conditions can only be part of the story. Hanks is over 60 and is a Type 2 diabetic, putting him in a high-risk group. Nevertheless, he survived his brush with the virus with no pneumonia and apparently without any long-lasting effects. Knowing what causes variation in different patients could help physicians tailor their treatments to individual patients an approach known as precision medicine.

In recent years, a gene-centric approach to precision medicine has been promoted as the future of medicine. It underlies the massive effort funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to collect over a million DNA samples under the All of Us initiative that began in 2015.

But the imagined future did not include COVID-19. In the rush to find a COVID-19 vaccine and effective therapies, precision medicine has been insignificant. Why is this? And what are its potential contributions?

We are a physician geneticist and a philosopher of science who began a discussion about the promise and potential pitfalls of precision medicine before the arrival of COVID-19. If precision medicine is the future of medicine, then its application to pandemics generally, and COVID-19 in particular, may yet prove to be highly significant. But its role so far has been limited. Precision medicine must consider more than just genetics. It requires an integrative omic approach that must collect information from multiple sources beyond just genes and at scales ranging from molecules to society.

Inherited diseases such as sickle cell anemia and Tay-Sachs disease follow a predictable pattern. But such direct genetic causes are perhaps the exception rather than the rule when it comes to health outcomes. Some heritable conditions for instance, psoriasis or the many forms of cancer depend on complex combinations of genes, environmental and social factors whose individual contributions to the disease are difficult to isolate. At best, the presence of certain genes constitutes a risk factor in a population but does not fully determine the outcome for an individual person carrying those genes.

The situation becomes yet more complicated for infectious diseases.

Viruses and bacteria have their own genomes that interact in complex ways with the cells in the people they infect. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 underlying COVID-19 has been extensively sequenced. Its mutations are identified and traced worldwide, helping epidemiologists understand the spread of the virus. However, the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 RNA and human DNA, and the effect on people of the viruss mutations, remain unknown.

Tom Hanks and his wife caught the virus and recovered in a matter of weeks. Presumably each was infected over the course of a few minutes of exposure to another infected person, involving cellular mechanisms that operate on a timescale of milliseconds.

But the drama of their illness, and that of the many victims with far worse outcomes, is taking place in the context of a global pandemic that has already lasted months and may continue for years. People will need to adopt changes in their behavior for weeks or months at a time.

What should a precision medicine approach be in a pandemic? The gene-centric vision of precision medicine encourages people to expect individualized gene-targeted fixes. But, genes, behavior and social groups interact over multiple timescales.

To capture all the data needed for such an approach is beyond possibility in the current crisis. A nuanced approach to the COVID-19 pandemic will depend heavily on imprecise population level public health interventions: mask-wearing, social distancing and working from home. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity to begin gathering the kinds of data that would allow for a more comprehensive precision medicine approach one that is fully aware of the complex interactions between genomes and social behavior.

With unlimited resources, a precision medicine approach would begin by analyzing the genomes of a large group of people already known to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 yet asymptomatic, along with a similar-sized group with identified risk factors who are dying from the disease or are severely ill.

An early study of this kind by Precisionlife Ltd data mined genetic samples of 976 known COVID-19 cases. Of these, 68 high-risk genes were identified as risk factors for poor COVID-19 outcomes, with 17 of them deemed likely to be good targets for drug developments. But, as with all such statistical approaches, the full spectrum of causes underlying their association with the disease is not something the analysis provides. Other studies of this kind are appearing with increasing frequency, but there is no certainty in such fast-moving areas of science. Disentangling all the relevant factors is a process that will take months to years.

To date, precision medicine has proven better suited to inherited diseases and to diseases such as cancer, involving mutations acquired during a persons lifetime, than to infectious diseases. There are examples where susceptibility to infection can be caused by malfunction of unique genes such as the family of inherited immune disorders known as agammaglobulinemia, but these are few and far between.

Many physicians assume that most diseases involve multiple genes and are thus not amenable to a precision approach. In the absence of the kind of information needed for a multi-omic approach, there is a clear challenge and opportunity for precision medicine here: If it is to be the future of medicine, in order to complement and expand our existing knowledge and approaches, it needs to shift from its gene-centric origins toward a broader view that includes variables like proteins and metabolites. It must consider the relationships between genes and their physical manifestations on scales that range from days to decades, and from molecules to the global society.

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How to use precision medicine to personalize COVID-19 treatment according to the patient's genes - The Conversation US