StemCell Therapy

By Deepak Chopra, MD and Anoop Kumar, MD

When people seek personal change in their lives, they often dont get very far. Even in this day when online advice is bewilderingly abundant and self-improvement books are at our fingertips, change eludes us. One way to remedy this is to start from the ground up. Normally, we feel compelled to start where we are right now, and thats a tremendous problem.

No matter how different people are, each of us woke up this morning to the same situation. We are constantly involved in thinking, feeling, and doing. No one starts this activity afresh. Instead, we are heavily invested in habits, beliefs, opinions, hopes, dreams, and fears collected from the past. So our thinking, feeling, and doing is entangled with the past even when we want something new, better, fresh, and different.

You cant always use will power or desire to cut the ties that bind you to the past, but you can do something that will lessen the influence of the past: You can start to see yourself clearly. With that one intention, you are starting from the ground up, because seeing yourself clearly happens here and now. You detach yourself from your story, which is the accumulation of your past. You take a fresh look at what is generating all this thinking, feeling, and doing. The process has to have an origin, a source, a wellspring that sets the active mind going every minute of the day.

Normally, if we try to see ourselves clearly, we are actually looking through a lens. We filter and arrange our experiences. Some experiences we reject, ignore, judge against, or censor. Other experiences we encourage, value, appreciate, and allow to enter our minds. The lens you choose is critical, yet people often dont realize they have a choice. It doesnt strike them in the first place that they see themselvesand everything around themthrough a lens.

The lens you see through can also be called your mindset, worldview, or simply your state of awareness. Your perspective, on life, family, relationships, work stem from it. Things become confusing because we are caught up in the conflicting stories, explanations, and belief systems that everyone gets exposed to. This confusion can be sorted out once you start to see yourself clearly. Cutting through all the clutter, you discover that you actually know whats going on. Deep inside, you are fully aware already.

There are three lenses you can view life through, configured as Mind 1, 2, or 3 at this moment.

Mind 1: You view life as a separate individual. The leading indicator of Mind 1 is the sense of localization within the body. As a result of being limited by the body, Mind 1 can only detect a world of localized things. As we see ourselves, so we see the world. You localize yourself in your body, and as a result you see a world of separate things. Other people live inside their own bodies, which gives them their own sense of separation. In Mind 1 you provide fertile ground for the ego. I, me, and mine become all-important. This makes perfect sense, because your agenda as a separate person is all about the experiences of pleasure and pain that emanate from the body. Even a mental state like anxiety is rooted in the body, because what you fear comes down to a painful feeling in here. In every respect Mind 1 is dominated by yes and no to the experiences that come your way. To achieve peace, you must successfully compete in the arena of separate people and things, experiences and events.

Mind 1 seems totally right and natural in the modern secular world. Mind 1 is reflected in sciences total focus on physical things, from microbes and subatomic particles, from the Big Bang to the multiverse. A bestselling book from 1970, Our Bodies, Ourselves, applies to all of us in Mind 1.

Mind 2: Mind 2 is centered in the unity of mind and body. It isnt necessary to see yourself confined to the physical package of a body. In fact, this mindset can be turned on its head. In place of isolation there is connection; in place of things there is process; in place of hard facts, there is an easy continuous flow. You relax into the flow of experience rather than slicing life into bits that must be judged, analyzed, accepted or rejected. Mind 2 lets you see yourself more clearly, because in reality the mind-body connection is a single continuity. Every thought and feeling creates an effect in every cell. You can consciously create change in the whole system through a switch in awareness. Mind 2 is subtler than Mind 1you have moved deeper inside who you really are, and those aspects and abilities that were filtered out by Mind 1 begin to come into view. You are the one who experiences, observes, and knows.

For most people Mind 2 begins to dawn when they meditate or do Yoga, finding access to the quiet mind that lies beneath the surface of the restless active mind. With this discovery comes a way to see beyond the separate egos fruitless search for perfect pleasure, power, or success. As a deeper vision of self and life soaks through all experience, Mind 2 is established.

Mind 3: Mind 3 expands awareness beyond all particulars. It is a radical redefining of what we mean when we use the indicator I. It places you in an infinite field of pure awareness, where all things exist as possibilities. This is not only a clear view, it is clarity itself, because there is no thing or process to obstruct your vision. Boundaries dont exist. There is no past or future. Even the idea of a present vanishes. the clearest view you can possibly have, because there are no boundaries to limit your vision. You are awake, you see things without any filter, your past no longer holds you captive, and therefore you are free, which is why Mind 3 has been known for centuries as liberation. There are no more mind-forged manacles, as the poet William Blake memorably called our self-imposed limitations.

Mind 3 is open to everyone, but there is a large obstacle that must be overcome, which is this: We are convinced by the lens we see things through already. Each mindset feels real and complete. You identify with physical things in Mind 1, the most important thing being your body. In Mind 2 you identify with your field of awareness as it brings experiences and sensations that rise and fall. Because it takes an inner journey to reach, Mind 2 isnt where the mass of humankind is, yet without a doubt anyone can go there. Mind 2 is a more natural fit than Mind 1, in fact, because if you see yourself clearly, you cannot doubt that thinking, feeling, and doing is constantly on the move, ever-changing, ever renewing itself.

But Mind 2 has its own peculiar limitation. I lingers and holds its own by experiencing my thinking, feeling, and doing. There is no need for this. Everyone alive, with the fewest exceptions, has been indoctrinated into Mind 1. In Mind 2 you escape this crude, second-hand, socially approved indoctrination. But there is a subtle indoctrination that replaces it, which sees the spiritual life as higher, better, and more valuable than ordinary life. This leads to a subtle clinging, a desire to keep the spiritual goodies coming your way and a self-image superior to those people who have not yet seen the light.

The subtle tendency to possess any idea, however fine that idea is, keeps the ego going. Letting it go entirely feels threatening. Who will I be if there is no I anymore? But if you stand back, this fearful worry only exists because the ego is asking it. Of course I will never agree to its own demotion. I is about self-preservation. The shift into Mind 3 occurs when you see that there are countless moments when you did without your ego.

Every experience of joy, love, compassion, beauty, peace, and service sets the ego aside. You go beyond I in a simple, natural glimpse of who you really are. You are the field of awareness itself, unbounded and free. Every possible experience originates here, before the whole interference of ego, society, family, school, and painful memories even begins.

Thats why Mind 3 has been dubbed the first and last freedom. It is the freedom you attain when you realize that you had it all along. Clear away the clutter, and it is simply there. Mind 1 and Mind 2 are creations, while Mind 3 is uncreated. It is the womb of creation, and when we arrive there, the inevitable feeling is that weve returned home at last. NOTE: For a visual journey through these Three Minds, visit anoopkumar.com/mind.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

Anoop Kumar, MD, MMgt is a Mind-Body Strategist who is Board-Certified in Emergency Medicine and holds a Masters degree in Management with a focus in Health Leadership. He is a keynote speaker and author who enjoys bringing clarity to the intersection of consciousness and everything else. Anoop is the author of numerous articles as well as two booksMichelangelo's Medicine and Is This a Dream? In addition to speaking and writing services, he offers consultations with individuals, teams, and organizations interested in deepening their understanding and experience of human potential, mind-body systems, and consciousness. Visit Anoop at anoopkumar.com and @dranoopkumar.

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If You Want to Change, Start from the Ground Up - SFGate

Yan Wang,1,* Yingru Zhang,1,* Gang Cai,1 Qi Li1,2

1Department of Medical Oncology & Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, Peoples Republic of China; 2Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, Peoples Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Qi Li Email qili@shutcm.edu.cn

Abstract: In recent years, it has been found that exosomes can be used as nanocarriers, which can be used in the treatment of tumors by carrying contents. The exosomes are derived from the secretion of the organisms own cells and are characterized by a phospholipid bilayer structure and a small particle size. These characteristics guarantee that the exosomes can carry a wide range of tumor drugs, deliver the drug to the cancer, and reduce or eliminate the tumor drug band. The toxic side effects were significantly eliminated; meanwhile, the therapeutic effects of the drug on the tumor were remarkably improved. This paper reviewed the strategies and drugs presented by different scholars for the treatment of tumors based on the drugs carried by exosomes.

Keywords: exosomes, nanocarriers, function, tumor therapy

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Exosomes as Actively Targeted Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapy | IJN - Dove Medical Press

Oregon State University is helping the National Institutes of Health to harness the power of big data in the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The NIHs National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences is creating a centralized, secure digital enclave for collecting medical record data from COVID-19 patients throughout the United States. The enclave is part of an effort called the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, or N3C, designed to help scientists expedite their understanding of the disease and to develop treatments.

For example, can we predict who might have severe outcomes if they have COVID-19? What drugs are most likely to exacerbate or be protective against COVID-19?

Vast amounts of clinical data are being generated that can be used to push research forward, but the datasets are hard to meld in meaningful ways, said Melissa Haendel, director of OSUs Translational and Integrative Sciences Laboratory.

In the United States, there hasnt been a standardized way to collect, harmonize, securely share and reproducibly analyze all the COVID-19 data being generated, she said. N3C is overcoming these varied challenges in order to rapidly transform clinical data into useful knowledge that can improve clinical care and understand the long-term impact of COVID-19.

Haendel stressed that multiple security measures will safeguard patient privacy throughout the data collection process and that the data will not include information such as names or addresses.

The cohort collaborative is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and is a partnership among NCATS-supported Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program hubs and the National Center for Data to Health, or CD2H.

The N3C platform will enable machine learning approaches and rigorous statistical analyses that require large amounts of data to reveal patterns.

The N3C pulls in extensive capabilities, and by leveraging our collective data resources, unparalleled analytics expertise and medical insights from expert clinicians, we can catalyze discoveries that address this pandemic that none of us could enable alone, said Haendel, who directs the CD2H program at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine.

In addition to OSU and OHSU, CD2H consists of the University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Sage Bionetworks, the Scripps Research Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Iowa, Northwestern University and the Jackson Laboratory.

The CD2H was created in 2017 by a five-year, $25 million grant from NCATS.

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OSU helping to drive National Institutes of Health effort to harness analytics in COVID-19 fight - The News Guard

A cheap, readily available steroid drug reduced deaths by a third in patients hospitalized with Covid-19 in a large study, the first time a therapy has been shown to possibly improve the odds of survival with the condition in the sickest patients.

Full data from the study have not been published or subjected to scientific scrutiny. But outside experts on Tuesday immediately embraced the top-line results. The drug, dexamethasone, is widely available and is used to treat conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and some cancers.

In a statement, Patrick Vallance, the U.K. governments chief scientific adviser, called the result tremendous news and a ground-breaking development in our fight against the disease. Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, called it a very positive finding in an interview on CNBC. I think it needs to be validated, but it certainly suggests that this could be beneficial in this setting.

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Atul Gawande, the surgeon, writer and public health researcher, urged caution, tweeting, after all the retractions and walk backs, it is unacceptable to tout study results by press release without releasing the paper.

The study randomly assigned 2,104 patients to receive six milligrams of dexamethasone once a day, by mouth or intravenous injection. These were compared to 4,321 patients assigned to receive usual care alone.

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In patients who needed to be on a ventilator, dexamethasone reduced the death rate by 35%, meaning that doctors would prevent one death by treating eight ventilated patients. In those who needed oxygen but were not ventilated, the death rate was reduced 20%, meaning doctors would need to treat 25 patients to save one life. Both results were statistically significant.

There was no benefit in patients who didnt require any oxygen. The researchers running the study, called RECOVERY, decided to stop enrolling patients on dexamethasone on June 8 because they believed they had enough data to get a clear result.

Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in COVID-19, Peter Horby, one of the lead investigators of the study and a professor in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford, said in a statement. He added that the drug should now become the standard treatment for patients with Covid-19 who need oxygen. Dexamethasone is inexpensive, on the shelf, and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide.

A different arm of the same study showed on June 5 that hydroxychloroquine, widely touted as a potential Covid treatment, had no benefit in hospitalized patients. Yesterday, based in part on those results, the Food and Drug Administration revoked an Emergency Use Authorization for using hydroxychloroquine in those patients.

From the start of the pandemic in March, researchers have focused on two different stages of Covid-19, which will likely require very different interventions. Some drugs are designed to directly combat the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes the disease. The first medicine shown to have a benefit, remdesivir from the biotech firm Gilead Sciences, falls into this category, even though, because it must be given intravenously, it has been tested in hospitalized patients. Remdesivir shortens the course of infection, but has not been shown to save lives.

After patients have become profoundly sick, the problem starts to become not only the virus but their own immune system, which attacks the lungs, a condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. For these patients, doctors have believed, they would need to dampen patients immune response even as they fought the virus.

Initially, excitement in this area fell on new and expensive drugs, such as Actemra, a rheumatoid arthritis drug from Roche that is used to treat a similar condition caused by some cancer immunotherapies. But a study in patients who needed oxygen showed no benefit from a similar drug, although another arm in sicker patients is continuing. The National Institutes of Health is conducting a study of an Eli Lilly pill targeting rheumatoid arthritis, an extension of the study that showed remdesivir has a benefit.

Dexamethasone, which reached the market 59 years ago, seemed an unlikely candidate to help these patients; it was seen as too crude a way of tamping down the immune system. In guidelines for physicians treating the disease, the NIH doesnt even mention the therapy.

Studies that are testing other medicines may now need to incorporate the use of the drug, which could complicate analyzing the results. A spokesperson for Regeneron, which is testing Covid-19 drugs focused on both attacking the virus and dampening the immune system, said the companys studies are written so that when a new medicine becomes the standard of care, it becomes available to patients in the trial.Some studies have shown a benefit for using dexamethasone in acute respiratory distress syndrome not related to Covid-19, although the benefit was smaller than in RECOVERY.

The result, should it hold up to further scrutiny, shows the benefit of the strategy of Horby and Martin Landray, the Oxford researchers who designed the study, leveraging the U.K. health system to start a study of multiple inexpensive potential Covid-19 therapies including hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, and also some older HIV medicines. Several months into the Covid-19 pandemic, two of the most important results come from this single study.

Neither of those results, however, have been scrutinized or published.

Excerpt from:
Major study finds steroid reduces deaths in patients with severe Covid-19 - STAT

With On-Site Clinics on the Rise, Employers See Productivity and Cost Savings

On-site clinics are increasingly popular in workplaces, and for good reason. Not only do employees need to monitor their physical and ergonomic health, employers save money by protecting their workers.

Benefits and wellness leaders are increasingly adding on-site natural care clinics to workplaces as a way to further drive a culture of health and wellbeing among employees. Growth forecasts for worksite health offerings are bullish, with the biggest growth area being mid-sized employers (200-500 employees). As the popularity of this offering increasesand employers of all sizes, employees and health professionals work together to focus on preventionemployees experience positive health outcomes and decreased medical expenses.

Designed to reduce employee injury but also enhance employee health and increase productivity, on-site clinics have been known to bridge the gap between information and taking action in one's health, often resulting in reduced stress, improved mental, movement and physical wellbeing.

On-site clinics come in several forms and most recently include complementary and integrative healthcare such as chiropractic, educational and motivational services; balance and workstation assessment; and chair massages. Employees are empowered to engage as the provider, and offering the services has no out-of-pocket cost to them.

While the costs of risk management related to employee health and wellbeing are typically regarded as business overheads, business, operations, benefits and wellness leaders should consider the positive impacts of this long-term investment.

Reduced Healthcare Costs and Injuries

According to a recent survey, disabling workplace injuries cost U.S. companies more than $55 billion per year. Musculoskeletal conditions and poor health habits drive nearly 33 percent of these costs. Workers in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, leisure and hospitality, transportation, retail and professional and business services are at the greatest risk of these injuries. It is in these industries where the repetitive nature of the job can have a negative impact on workers physical health.

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With On-Site Clinics on the Rise, Employers See Productivity and Cost Savings - Occupational Health and Safety

We found that misplaced fears are deflecting attention from other real concerns, resulting in missed opportunities for leveraging technology and online communication to address adolescent mental health problems.

IRVINE, Calif. (PRWEB) June 23, 2020

With or without physical separation due to COVID-19, youth are using social media to connect and support each other, according to a report released today. Three leading researchers have just published Youth Connections for Wellbeing, an integrative review paper that illuminates how teens support each other through digital media during times of stress and isolation.

Leveraging their expertise across the fields of cultural anthropology, developmental psychology, and clinical psychology, scholars Mimi Ito, Candice Odgers, and Stephen Schueller discuss the potential of digital media to support youth wellbeing.

The work underlying the paper was completed prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The physical isolation that has resulted from shelter-in-place orders has yielded a seismic shift, making it even more critical to understand and leverage technology in a way that benefits youth.

The position paper summarizes current knowledge and redirects the conversation about adolescent social media use and wellbeing in three ways that are particularly relevant today:

1. Refocusing the debate over the relationship between youth social media use and wellbeing to reflect existing evidence, varied youth perspectives and backgrounds.

2. Identifying teen vulnerabilities and assets that may influence problematic and healthy social media engagement.

3. Suggesting opportunities where youth social engagement might mitigate vulnerabilities and leverage assets.

In the position paper Ito, Odgers, and Schueller highlight the need to move beyond the simple question of whether more time spent using social media causes mental health problems in adolescents. Instead, people should consider the specific forms of social media engagement that amplify or mitigate mental health risks for different adolescents. The team integrates findings from existing large-scale reviews, the voices of youth who have grown up on social media, and a systematic review of digital mental health apps available for youth.

The team finds that adolescents online risks often mirror offline vulnerabilities. They note that it is particularly important for messages, interventions, and strategies to be targeted and tailored to the most vulnerable youth and those underserved by traditional mental health services.

A number of relevant findings, opportunities, and benefits are outlined in the paper, including:

For example, one student interviewed shared how they experienced a supportive community online, saying: I think a lot of my mutuals on Instagram, they're very open to being emotionally vulnerable on Instagram, so they'll actually say, I'm not doing fine. I like it because it's a very nice community, just spreading love whether it be through comments or someone will actually say through messages like, Are you okay?

A freshman adjusting to life away from family shared how online connections made her feel close to them: My mother just started using Messenger. I taught her how to use it. And so she texts me here and there. She's like, Good morning, or, How are you doing?, and then we FaceTime. Then my siblings, we use Instagram because that's where we're mostly at. We send each other videos and memes, and then we kind of comment just to make our day.

Given the rising rates of mental health concerns among young people in the U.S., Ito, Odgers, and Schueller encourage a sense of urgency in focusing research, investment, and public attention on how digital spaces and tools can be better designed and used to support youth's mental health.

The paper, which was supported by Pivotal Ventures (https://www.pivotalventures.org/), a Melinda Gates Company, was published by the Connected Learning Lab at the University of California, Irvine, and is available at https://youthwellbeing.online/ReportRelease.

About the Authors

Mimi Ito is a learning scientist and a cultural anthropologist of technology use, examining children and youths changing relationships to media and communications. She is Director of the Connected Learning Lab, Professor in Residence and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Chair in Digital Media and Learning at the University of California, Irvine.

Candice Odgers is a developmental psychologist who studies adolescent mental health and how digital technologies can be leveraged to understand and support wellbeing. She is the Co-Director of the Child and Brain Development Program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, a Professor of Psychological Science at University of California, Irvine, and a Research Professor at Duke University.

Stephen Schueller is a clinical psychologist and mental health service researcher who focuses on using technology to expand access to and improve the accessibility of mental health services. He is an Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine.

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Teens' technology use and mental health: New report from the Connected Learning Lab provides insight into Youth Connections for Wellbeing - PR Web

More than 8.4 million people have contracted the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 453,290 have died across the world in nearly six months after it was first reported from Chinas Wuhan late last year.

Around 10 potential vaccines are now undergoing trials in humans, in the hope that a shot to prevent infection can become available in coming months. And even before any vaccines have been proven to work, several countries have already begun making deals with pharmaceutical companies to order doses.

The World Health Organization (WHO) hopes hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine can be produced this year and 2 billion doses by the end of 2021, chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Thursday.

The WHO is drawing up plans to help decide who should get the first doses once a vaccine is approved, she said.

Priority would be given to frontline workers such as medics, those who are vulnerable because of age or other illness, and those who work or live in high-transmission settings such as prisons and care homes.

Here are all the latest updates you need to know about Covid-19 vaccines:

Caution on dexamethasone

Dexamethasone, a cheap steroid that can help save the lives of patients with severe Covid-19, should be reserved for serious cases in which it has been shown to provide benefits, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Mike Ryan, the head of the WHOs emergencies programme, said the drug should only be used in those serious cases where it has been shown to help.

It is exceptionally important in this case, that the drug is reserved for use in severely ill and critical patients who can benefit from this drug clearly, Ryan said during a briefing.

Trial results announced on Tuesday by researchers in Britain showed dexamethasone, a generic drug used since the 1960s to reduce inflammation in diseases such as arthritis, cut death rates by around a third among the most severely ill coronavirus patients admitted to hospital.

The research body involved in the trial was the same one which found evidence that HCQ (Hydroxychloroquine) was not extremely effective on all Covid-19 patients.

That makes it the first drug proved to save lives in fighting the disease. However, some doctors were cautious, citing possible side-effects and asking to see more data.

Volunteers lining up to be infected

Thousands are signing up to take part in a high-stakes experiment willing to deliberately expose themselves to the coronavirus to test a potential vaccine, should researchers decide to proceed.

Known as human-challenge studies, these tests can hasten research by placing volunteers in the path of the virus, rather than waiting for accidental exposure.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc, said the controversial approach may become necessary at some point as the disease ebbs in some cities, making it harder to evaluate shots in the more conventional way.

The company is working with the University of Oxford on one of the most advanced vaccines against the virus.

The initiative is organized by 1DaySooner, a group that advocates on behalf of people who want to join challenge studies. The organisation has held discussions with potential partners and vaccine manufacturers in a bid to start production of the virus, said Josh Morrison, one of its founders.

More than a quarter of the volunteers are in Brazil, where the coronavirus is spreading fast.

Morrison said 1DaySooner has contacted vaccine developers planning final-stage studies there to suggest they consider people on its list for conventional studies, too.

Proponents note that the approach was used safely for diseases such as malaria, typhoid, cholera as well as the flu. Some experts are calling for a cautious approach.

Caution towards polio vaccine for Covid-19

Indian scientists have responded cautiously to a suggestion by global researchers that the oral polio vaccine be tested for Covid-19 treatment, saying it is a testable idea based on a sound scientific concept but may offer only limited protection against the infection.

With a vaccine for Covid-19 at least a year away, scientists say repurposing already safe and effective vaccines is the way to go for immediate relief against Covid-19.

The repurposed vaccines could include the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the Bacillus CalmetteGuerin (BCG) used against tuberculosis, both part of the immunisation given to Indian children.

It is worth conducting a clinical trial, said Ram Vishwakarma, director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) in Jammu.

A study was published last week by an international team of researchers in the journal Science. The researchers, including Shyamasundaran Kottili and Robert Gallo from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the US, said the OPV should be tested to see if it might protect people from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

They noted that the vaccine used to prevent poliomyelitis infections has been around since the 1950s, and is found to provide some protection against other viral infections.

Hydroxychloroquine wont stop coronavirus deaths

WHOs top scientist has said its now been definitively proven that the cheap malaria drug hydroxychloroquine the drug favoured by President Donald Trump doesnt work in stopping deaths among people hospitalised with the new coronavirus.

But Dr Soumya Swaminathan said there could still be a role for the drug in preventing people from catching Covid-19 in the first place and noted that clinical trials testing hydroxychloroquines role in this are ongoing.

Swaminathan said in a press briefing on Thursday that there is still a gap in determining whether hydroxychloroquine has a role at all in the prevention or minimising the severity of the illness in early infection or even in preventing it.

The UN health agency announced this week that it is suspending the hydroxychloroquine arm of its own trial testing various experimental therapies for Covid-19, referring to previous results from a large UK trial and a separate analysis of the evidence on the drug.

The other drugs being tested by WHO, including treatments used in the past for Ebola and AIDS, are still being pursued.

(With agency inputs)

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From warning on dexamethasone to HCQ: Latest on Covid-19 treatment, vaccines - Hindustan Times

Achilles Therapeutics doses first patient in Phase I/II Study in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Stevenage, UK 23 June 2020 Achilles Therapeutics (Achilles), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing personalised cancer immunotherapies, today announced that it has dosed the first patient in a Phase I/II CHIRON study of a clonal neoantigen T cell (cNeT) therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In May 2020, Achilles dosed the first patient with cNeT in its Phase I/II THETIS study in recurrent or metastatic malignant melanoma.

Achilles precision tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy uses cutting edge genomics to selectively target patient specific clonal neoantigens targets which are believed to be present on all tumour cells this approach has the potential to transform the treatment of cancer.

The CHIRON study is an open-label, multi-centre Phase I/II trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and clinical activity of cNeT therapy as a single dose in adult patients with advanced metastatic NSCLC. The trial is expected to recruit approximately 40 patients and report interim data in the first half of 2021. Recruitment is ongoing across sites in the UK, with additional sites to open in the US and Europe. Link to Study.

The cNeT dosing of the first patient with NSCLC marks another important milestone for Achilles. Our opportunity to serve patients is tremendous as NSCLC remains one of the most prevalent and poorly served of the solid tumours, said Dr Iraj Ali, CEO of Achilles Therapeutics. As with our melanoma study, the CHIRON study is an entirely personalised cell therapy designed to be exquisitely specific and effective and has the potential to help us fundamentally change how certain cancers are treated.

We have been working closely with the Achilles team to design and set up this study across the UK, and are delighted to be dosing the first NSCLC patient with this innovative experimental cell therapy here at University College London Hospital (UCLH), the lead clinical site, said Dr Martin Forster, Associate Professor in Medical Oncology and Study Chief Investigator.

Achilles is developing personalised T cell therapies for solid tumours targeting clonal neoantigens: protein markers unique to each patient that are present on the surface of all cancer cells. Using its PELEUS bioinformatics platform, Achilles can identify clonal neoantigens from each patients unique tumour profile which are present on every cancer cell. Achilles uses its proprietary process to manufacture T cells (cNeT) which exquisitely target a specific set of clonal neoantigens in each patient. Targeting multiple clonal neoantigens that are present on all cancer cells, but not on healthy cells, reduces the risk that new mutations can induce immune evasion and therapeutic resistance, and allows individualised treatments to target and destroy tumours without harming healthy tissue.

- Ends -

Notes for Editors:

About Achilles Therapeutics

Achilles Therapeutics is a clinical stage, biopharmaceutical company developing personalised T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens: protein markers unique to the individual that are expressed on the surface of every cancer cell. The Company has two ongoing Phase I/II studies, the THETIS study in patients with recurrent or metastatic malignant melanoma and the CHIRON study in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Achilles uses DNA sequencing data from each patient, together with the proprietary PELEUS bioinformatics platform, to identify clonal neoantigens specific to that patient, and then develop personalised T cell-based therapies specifically targeting those clonal neoantigens.Achilles was founded in 2016 by lead investor Syncona Ltd and in September 2019 the Company raised 100M in an oversubscribed Series B financing led by RA Capital, cornerstoned by Syncona and joined by new investors including Forbion, Invus, Perceptive Advisors and Redmile Group. For further information please visit the Companys website at:www.achillestx.com

About Lung CancerLung cancer, which forms in the tissues of the lungs, usually within cells lining the air passages, is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than die of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. The two main types of lung cancer are non-small cell and small cell. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all cases. The five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed in the United States with any stage of lung cancer is estimated to be 18%.

About TRACERxThe TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through therapy (Rx)) is a translational research study, led by Achilles founder, Professor Charles Swanton, aimed at transforming our understanding of cancer evolution and take a practical step towards an era of precision medicine.

Despite major advances in the understanding of cancer biology and the translation of these findings into novel therapeutics, the majority of patients with advanced melanoma fail to derive durable clinical benefit from existing standard-of-care therapies. Through integrative analysis of genomic and immunological landscapes, the TRACERx study seeks to address this. Tumour specimens and peripheral blood are studied in highly relevant contexts at multiple stages of a patients treatment journey, from potentially curative resections of locally-advanced disease, through to biopsies of lesions responding or refractory to systemic therapies in the setting of advanced disease.

Wherever possible, analyses will be performed in a longitudinal manner, allowing serial assessment of anti-tumour immunity, tumour-specific genomics and their interaction. Key objectives of the study include determination of spatial and temporal changes in immunological, genomic and transcriptomic landscapes, identification of novel molecular drivers, immunotherapeutic targets and assessment of the impact of cytotoxic, immune-modulatory and targeted therapies on both the tumour microenvironment and peripheral blood.

Further information:

Achilles TherapeuticsDr Iraj Ali Chief Executive Officer+44 (0)1438 906 906media@achillestx.com

Julia Wilson Head of Communications+44 (0)7818 430877j.wilson@achillestx.com

Consilium Strategic CommunicationsMary-Jane Elliott, Sukaina Virji, Melissa Gardiner+44 (0) 203 709 5000achillestx@consilium-comms.com

US Investor Relations - Solebury Trout Lee Stern +1 646-378-2922 lstern@troutgroup.com

Original post:
Achilles Therapeutics doses first patient in Phase I/II Study in advanced non-small cell lung cancer - GlobeNewswire

NEW YORK (CNN) As states gradually reopen even as the pandemic wears on, many of us are concerned about our health and well-being. Especially now, with some continuing to stay at home and social distance while others join the throngs at nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, it may even be a priority.

From state to state, the loosening of restrictions vary, and within our local communities, the reality is that not only do people have different ideas on what constitutes social distancing but for many others still, in the face of racial inequality, the desire to create social change far outweighs the potential risk of spreading or catching the virus.

It's all the more reason to make sure we're taking the best care of ourselves to fortify against the disease. But while living a healthy life may be a desired goal, how to achieve it is another story.

Even if you're someone whose healthful habits were perfected to a tee during pre-pandemic times, you may find yourself struggling to engage in even the most basic self-care in these increasingly unpredictable days.

That's where a wellness routine can come in handy.

I'm not talking about a spa escape every so often or even regular massages or chef-prepared meals (though all of that may sound really nice). I'm talking about creating your own personalized routine that will benefit you physically and emotionally, one that simply requires a regular commitment to yourself.

Creating a wellness routine allows you to shift from diet culture and adopt healthy habits that easily fit into your daily lifestyle. What's more, having a routine allows you to focus on health goals by creating structure and organization, which can be particularly beneficial when things seem out of your control, like life during an unprecedented pandemic and simultaneous upheaval as people fight against social injustice.

In fact, predictable routines, or ritualistic behavior "developed as a way to induce calm and manage stress caused by unpredictability and uncontrollability, heightening our belief that we are in control of a situation that is otherwise out of our hands," according to researchers at Tel Aviv University.

"We need an internal structure because our external lives have become totally unstructured and that triggers anxiety and stress," said Robin Foroutan, a New York City-based integrative medicine dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"In the beginning, we thought this was going to be a little break; a couple of short weeks, and then we'd resume life as we knew it. Now we know that probably is not going to be the case. We don't know how long this will last, but we can find ways to stay steady and structured on the inside amidst the chaos outside."

Engaging in a wellness routine with a focus on good nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management can boost our health and well-being and strengthen our immunity during a time when we may need it most.

And while social obligations, travel and other commitments typically make it challenging to start new habits, being stuck at home without these distractions provides an opportune time to start creating a wellness routine that is accessible, doesn't require a lot of money and is something that you can count on during this uncertain time and in the future, too.

Health experts say it's important to create a manageable routine that you can stick with as part of a lifestyle not something overly ambitious that you can't sustain. One way to do that is to start small and build upon it, as you feel comfortable.

Here are some tips to get started in creating your personal wellness routine.

"Most people feel better when they are going to bed and waking up at consistent times, eating regular meals and snacks and getting a steady dose of exercise, said Marysa Cardwell, a registered dietitian, nutrition therapist and certified personal trainer based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For sleep: Everyone's sleep schedule is different, and that's OK, as long as you stick to your natural circadian rhythms, experts say. That means going to sleep when the sun is setting (or a bit later) and waking up when sun is rising (or a little later, according to your individual needs).

Aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep is key, as it helps to "reduce the stress hormone cortisol and your adrenal load," Cardwell said.

Getting adequate sleep also bodes well for engaging in other healthful behaviors by going to bed at a reasonable hour, you'll be less likely to engage in nighttime eating or mindless eating in front of the TV, and you're more likely to wake up early and start exercise, Cardwell explained.

For eating: Setting regular meal times, and taking a break to eat your food mindfully is key, Cardwell advised, but when you actually eat is up to you. "Some do well on three meals per day with an afternoon snack; others prefer three smaller meals and three snacks."

Regardless of the pattern you choose, aim to eat at least every four hours, which prevents blood sugar from crashing and can lead to overeating. For example, if you're eating three meals and one afternoon snack, you might choose to eat breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m., a snack at 4 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

Taking a few deep breaths, enjoying the wonderful smells of the food you are about to eat and chewing food really well can all help make mealtime a healthful ritual, Foroutan explained.

Additionally, dinnertime can become a daily social ritual by sharing the meal with family or friends, advised Jen Scheinman, a Denver-based registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Jen Scheinman Nutrition, a virtual nutrition coaching practice. "Even a Zoom dinner with a friend if you're by yourself can help you feel connected."

For fitness: Pick a time that you're most likely to stick with. That might mean taking a morning walk before your day gets started, or scheduling your favorite fitness class on your calendar so you won't forget.

"I shut my day down with a run or yoga at around 5:30 p.m. That's my last thing for the day. The more you can make it a routine, the less you have to think about it," Scheinman said.

Planning what you will eat and how you will exercise means that you are more likely going to do what you intend to do, which will ultimately help you achieve your health goals. For example, planning meals in advance means you'll be less likely to reach for quick sugary snacks when you run out of energy. It also helps to limit shopping trips.

"Not only does planning your meals ahead of time help cut down on the number of times you're going to the grocery store, but it can also help reduce food waste and ensure you have meals that were intentionally picked to fit your nutritional goals," said Denver-based registered dietitian nutritionist Kelli McGrane.

For food: Eating a nutrient-rich breakfast sets the stage for making other healthful choices throughout the day.

Choose protein-rich breakfasts like egg whites, cottage cheese or smoked salmon on a bagel; Greek yogurt, smoothies with low-fat milk, high fiber cereals with milk or peanut butter on whole wheat toast.

Scheinman recommended preparing breakfast foods ahead of time, like making overnight oats with milk. "It makes the breakfast routine less daunting."

For lunch and dinner, Cardwell encouraged a fist-size portion of protein, such as fish, chicken or beans; a fistful of carbohydrates like whole wheat pasta or brown rice; and a half plate of veggies. This will help meet your micronutrient needs, as well as fiber. Use fats sparingly, as a condiment, to make your food taste better, but limit fried foods and saturated fat, Cardwell advised.

For snacks, choose protein and carb combos, like cheese with crackers, sliced fruit with peanut butter, nuts and seeds with dried fruit or Greek yogurt. Pairing protein with carbs "helps keep your blood sugar level stable, and helps you stay fuller longer," Cardwell said.

Scheinman recommended using the weekends for batch cooking, like making chili or soups, which you can freeze to enjoy later in the week. Washing and chopping veggies and fruit during the weekend can also save you time during the week.

For fitness: Pick a fitness activity that inspires you and is doable. There are a lot of fitness apps offering free trials and online Zoom fitness classes, so you can use this time as an opportunity to try something new. Cardwell recommended aiming for at least 30 minutes per day, if possible.

If you are looking for a simple at-home cardio workout, MaryAnn Browning, founder and CEO of Browningsfitness in New York, recommended jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, burpees and switch jumps during which you'll jump to turn 180 degrees and then back again for 15 seconds each. Then repeat the circuit five to 10 times, depending on what you can handle.

For at-home fitness essentials, Browning recommended getting a set of yellow, green and red resistance bands, which can be used for back, bicep, triceps, shoulders and leg work. She also recommended looped bands to go around the calves or thighs, which strengthen the glutes and can help prevent knee and back injuries.

If you want to weight train but don't have equipment, anything that will give you muscle tension will be beneficial, such as jugs of water, books or even your children. "I use my kids I'll do planks and have them sit on me ... or I'll do leg presses while letting them do airplane," Cardwell said.

And don't forget to keep moving throughout your day. Tracking apps like Lose It! are a good way to see how normal daily activities can all count toward our daily fitness goals.

"Dancing with your kids or partner, yard work, house projects, sex and cleaning are all trackable activities. Doing these activities with intention and extra vigor all count towards a healthy lifestyle," said Cardwell, who is also a contributing dietitian for Lose It!

For sleep: Engage in a bedtime routine where you can quiet down and prepare for sleep. "Turn off electronics, including the TV, iPad, and cell phones an hour before bedtime," Scheinman advised. This helps to reduce exposure to blue light, which "the brain perceives as daylight, so your brain is not quite getting the signal that it's nighttime and melatonin is not produced."

Unplugging also prevents you from checking one more email or scrolling through social media while in bed, which can be stimulating and interfere with sleep, Scheinman explained.

Most experts recommended engaging in a morning ritual that brings you pleasure. "Starting your day with the same routine each morning can bring steadiness and calm to the rest of the day. You are starting from a more grounded and positive place, versus waking up; grabbing the phone and checking the news and getting stressed out," Foroutan said.

"The morning is a nice time to start integrating things you didn't have time for previously like taking the dog for a longer walk in the morning, making a nice cup of coffee you can sit and enjoy or engaging in a meditation practice," Scheinman added.

"It sets the day off with a healthy intention, with a sense of comfort. ... I know this is what I do," Scheinman said.

Foroutan enjoys waking up and writing down three things she is grateful for. "Starting the day with a thought about gratitude can be really centering. Writing it down does something extra it solidifies the thought and intention. Not every day is good but there's something good in every day. Even if it's one small thing that gives you a sense of gratitude that's really grounding and it can help shift your perspective."

Stretching your body after you wake up or doing a sun salutation can help to get your blood flowing and your body moving in the morning.

It's also important to prioritize self-care. "Make stress relievers like enjoyable activities a non-negotiable right now," Cardwell said. That may include knitting, taking an extra-long shower or bath, reading, taking a tea break, enjoying a glass of wine or calling family members. Even better, schedule these stress relievers into your day just like mealtimes and other obligations.

"We're taking stock of what's important ... and (our) health is important. Doing these things now can help you deal with the stress of right now," Cardwell said.

It can also keep you healthy and feeling good well into the future, too. That's a gift from quarantine life if there ever is one.

The-CNN-Wire & 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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Why a wellness routine is your top priority amid the pandemic and how to start - KSL.com

Pediatric neurology patients frequently use integrative medicine; however, providers may feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar with these therapies. Child neurologist attitudes toward integrative medicine and educational needs in integrative medicine have not been assessed. A national, anonymous survey was distributed to Child Neurology residents (n=294) and program directors (n=71) to assess attitudes toward specific integrative medicine modalities, practices in discussing integrative medicine with patients, and perceived need for a curriculum on integrative medicine; 61 (17%) partially and 53 (15%) fully completed the survey. Comparative analyses applied chi-square and independent tests. Qualitative content analysis was performed on free text responses. Most providers surveyed consider mind and body practices safe (93% of respondents) and effective (84%), but have concerns about the safety of chiropractic manipulation (56% felt this was harmful), and the efficacy of homeopathy (none considered this effective). Few inquire about patient integrative medicine use regularly. Child Neurology residents are interested in further education on this topic.

PubMed

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Integrative Medicine in Child Neurology: What Do Physicians Know and What Do They Want to Learn? - Physician's Weekly

Creating a healthy, healing environment for our family is so important as we navigate the stress and anxiety of this time. 75% of the immune system is the result of environmental and lifestyle factors. Top Immune Health Expert, Board Certified Integrative MD Dr. Taz, shares easy ways to create a healing home by reducing toxicity and activating our senses.

HOW TO CREATE A HEALING HOME with Dr. Taz

1) Lighting: Create ambient, soft light with lots of natural light to help enhance mood and lower cortisol. Replace fluorescent bubs, led bulbs. Consider sun lamps. Natural light is the most beneficial to the body.

2) Color: Color can be healing and color influences our feelings. White color on walls, dcor and furniture leads to a feel of clean and serenity. Teal accents in a room or overall color scheme of a house are associated with purity, relaxation and calmness. If someone needs to benefit from being in a relaxing envornment considere adding teal to the room. Red embodies power, vitality, energy. Rooms that need to be productive can utilize having red incorporated into their dcor. Magenta provides emotional balance and Yellow gives off a sense cheerfulness. Depending on the room and purpose, consider color to make the most out of the space.

3) Air: Household plants reduce indoor air pollution. My favorite house plants include: Peace Lily, Ferns, Aloe, Snake Plants, and Lemongrass. All plants have different needs for growth so make sure when choose a plant it is in a place and environment where it thrives. Plants also give us a way to feel closer to nature and be connected to mother earth.

Dr. Taz Bhatia, M.D. is a board-certified integrative medicine physician and wellness expert, who gained national recognition as a best-selling author of the books, What Doctors Eat, The 21 Day Belly Fix, and Super Woman RX. Her integration of Eastern medical wisdom with modern science, along with her unique Power Type discovery, has led to featured segments on The Today Show, Dr. Oz, Live with Kelly & Ryan and eventually the premiere of own PBS special Super Woman RX with Dr. Taz.

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Create a "healing" home with lighting, color and plants - AZFamily

The Heal the Healers Now project of Delmarva is part of a nationwide initiative to bring the stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation technique to doctors, nurses and medical providers who are battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Kim Bemis, head of the Transcendental Meditation program for Delmarva, said, "The TM program is an effortless, enjoyable, and easy-to-learn mental technique for deep relaxation and stress reduction. It has been successfully offered in hospitals and clinics as well as medical schools, academic and VA medical centers, military academies, substance abuse centers, prisons and other settings."

Most recently, the program was offered at Weill Cornell Medical Center-New York Presbyterian Hospital with significant reductions in physician burnout, insomnia and symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

Bemis said, "Even before the pandemic, a Harvard report cited physician burnout as a public health crisis that urgently demands action. And today, the situation is far worse. This highly effective program can help our healthcare providers during this devastating public health crisis."

Laurie Vonasek, RN, MSN, an adjunct professor at Wesley College, said, "Practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique twice daily for the past three years has been transformative. I have increased focus, quieted my mind, decreased anxiety, slept better, increased efficiency, and I am slower to react to negative stimulus. I think before I react. TM has decreased the effects of stress. I am healthier and happier. I could not navigate life, especially now with all the uncertainty and pain related to COVID-19 without meditating. It has helped me to achieve balance and peace. Nurses by nature care for others before they care for themselves. It is time to help nurses heal.

Dr. Uday Jani, a doctor of integrative medicine in Lewes, said, The power of meditation to activate the bodys capacity for self-healing by reducing levels of stress-related hormones and strengthening the immune system has been well documented over the years. We are fortunate to be able to learn from master meditation teacher Kim Bemis, who draws on two decades of studying and living in the Himalayas to teach this remarkably effective technique in our community.

For more information on learning the Transcendental Meditation program, or to donate to help make this program available to medical providers who need it, go to http://www.healthehealersnow.org or contact KimBemis@tm.org.

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Meditation initiative benefits healthcare workers - CapeGazette.com

Dion Diep,1 Jasmine Ko,2 John Lan,3 Kinga T Koprowicz,3 Gordon Ko3,4

1MD Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 2Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; 3Canadian Centre of Integrative Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada; 4Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

Correspondence: Gordon KoClinical Adjunct Lecturer, Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaTel +1416-480-4342Fax +1416-480-6885Email drgordko@rogers.com

Introduction: There is a paucity of long-term treatment benefit and safety data of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) for cervical dystonia (CD) and myofascial neck pain syndrome (MPS). Additionally, the prevalence of adjunct modality uses during this period is unknown despite evolving practices.Objective: To assess and compare treatment benefit, safety, and adjunct modality prevalences of long-term BTX-A injections between CD and MPS patients.Design: Retrospective cohort study.Setting: Private practice tertiary care clinics in Toronto.Patients: Convenience sample of 37 (52.9%) CD and 33 (47.1%) MPS patients treated for a meanSD duration of 7.2 4.3 and 8.3 4.7 years, respectively.Interventions: BTX-A injections administered at least once yearly, for a duration longer than 1 year.Main Outcome Measures: Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scales (TWSTRS) for disability and pain, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) score, time to peak effect, duration of total response, adverse effects, and prevalence of adjunct modalities.Results: CD patients experienced improvements in TWSTRS disability (17.57 6.79 to 9.81 4.35, p< 0.001) and pain (14.61 3.08 to 9.05 3.49, p< 0.001) scores as well as PGIC score (52.00% 23.60% to 64.80% 23.60%, p=0.007). MPS patients experienced improvements in TWSTRS disability (15.86 7.70 to 10.07 7.01, p=0.01) and pain (15.25 4.09 to 10.85 4.49, p=0.01) scores. In both cohorts, there were no changes in time to peak effect and duration of total response. Adverse effects were minimal and self-limiting. Prevalences of adjunct modalities used by CD versus MPS patients were 28.13% versus 50.00% for anesthetic procedures, 23.08% versus 15.38% for image-guidance, 65.71% versus 56.25% for pectoralis minor injections, and 47.06% versus 53.13% for cannabis-use.Conclusion: There were demonstrated and comparable treatment benefit, safety, and adjunct modality prevalences. Our study is the first to demonstrate that long-term BTX-A injections for MPS, although commonly used off-label, can be effective and safe.

Keywords: botulinum toxin, cervical dystonia, myofascial pain syndrome

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Benefits, Safety, and Adjunct Modality Prevalences of Long-Term Botuli | JPR - Dove Medical Press

Sleep wrinkles arent your average fine lines: While expression lines can form overtime from repeatedly moving your face, these wrinkles form exclusively from your sleeping positionsay, if you curl up on your side or sleep on your stomach, face smashed into the pillow. Thats why one study on facial aging identified a distinct set of wrinkles that form from sleep alone, which brings us to the anecdotally dubbed sleep wrinkles.

It makes sense, no? If you sleep with your face smashed into the pillow for eight or some hours each night, thats quite a long time for the delicate skin on your face to endure that pressure. Not only that, but theskin is more permeable at night, which means it is more vulnerable to transepidermal water loss (also why you might opt for a heavier night cream to seal in moisture; nighttime skin care is no joke). This means your skin is not only experiencing friction, but may dry out faster, too. All things considered, of course you may wake up to some folds across your skin.

Now, those indents tend to fade when youre young, as your plump skin is chock-full of collagen and can quite literally bounce back from the pressure. (Think of a firm mattress molding to your weight as you sleep, then filling out once you leave your cozy bed.) But as you grow older and your collagen levels start to decline, you may notice those lines stick around well after mid-morning.

More here:
So Sleep Wrinkles Are A Thing: Here's What It Says About Your Skin - mindbodygreen.com

State by state, America is reopening after sheltering in place and we're doing it on a wing and a prayeror at least, with a face mask and rubber gloves. Only a few protections stand between us and a virus so menacing, it actually has spikes. Even more than disinfectant wipes and hand washing, we need good science to fight COVID-19. A safe, widely available vaccine could take months to roll out, as cells in a petri dish can only grow so fast. That's why scientists are carrying out parallel efforts to explore more rapid-fire solutions. Around the globe and close to home, doctors and researchers are uncovering every stonefrom repurposing existing drugs to developing antibody treatments and exploring nutraceuticals that could offer safe, affordable protection naturally. The following two research endeavors hold promise, and they're unfolding right here in our local communities.

When his 48-year-old mother struggled to recover from COVID-19 in late March, James Bruzzese, a second-year medical student at CUNY School of Medicine in Harlem, knew where to turn. He called his mentor, Dr. Richard Horowitz, a board-certified internist with a private integrative medicine practice in Hyde Park. Considered among the country's top Lyme disease doctors, Horowitz has built a practice around combining classical and complementary treatments for tick-borne infections. Not everyone jibes with Horowitz's stylesome online patient reviews bristle with talk of long waitlists and steep la carte expenses for his services. But after he became instrumental in helping Bruzzese's younger sister, Julia, in her battle with Lyme, Bruzzese grew close to the doctor. "He's been letting me shadow him, so every time I get a little break from school, I do that," says the 23-year-old Brooklynite. "I've been exposed to a lot in his practice and it's been an amazing experience."

Bruzzese's mother, Josephine, had woken up on the morning of March 22 with severe symptoms in line with COVID-19fever, body aches, coughing, and such severe shortness of breath that she couldn't get up from bed. "It was scary from the start," recalls her son. His family called New York's coronavirus hotline, which advised getting her to an emergency room. When her ambulance pulled in at NYU Langone Hospital in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the ER was eerily empty. The hospital had no coronavirus tests at the time, but a lung X-ray showed that Josephine had severe lobe pneumonia and she was clinically (if not serologically) diagnosed with COVID-19 on the spot. Yet the doctors declined to admit herinstead, they gave her a dose of Zithromax (azithromycin) and sent her home with four more days of the oral antibiotic. Bruzzese was shocked. "We learn as medical students that the treatment for pneumonia is IV antibiotics," he says. "They didn't even do a culture. On my board exams, if I were to answer a question about a patient presenting with pneumonia and I didn't say, 'Order a culture to see what type of bacteria it is and [administer] IV antibiotics,' I would get that question wrong. What was going on during this crisis, just giving people a very weak oral antibiotic for a severe pneumonia, was just crazy."

Bruzzese knew his mother needed more. Back home, the family happened to have Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) on hand because of his sister, but they didn't want to administer it blindly. He reached out to a local doctor for guidance who advised him on dosing, and Josephine remained on Zithromax and Plaquenil for about 10 days. Her fever and body aches went away, but the respiratory symptoms lingered. "She was still coughing like crazy and couldn't breathe," Bruzzese recalls. That's what prompted him to reach out to Horowitz for help. "I called him in desperation, and I gave him the rundown like I would do on rounds." (Current FDA guidelines caution against the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment outside of the hospital setting.)

As it turned out, Horowitz had recently treated another COVID-19 patient successfully with a simple, natural therapyglutathione. Produced in the liver and also available to take as a nutritional supplement, glutathione is one of the body's main antioxidants. It assists with detoxification and helps to combat free radicals, the molecules that can damage cells when there is too much inflammation in the body. "He said, 'If you're willing, let's see if it helps your mom, too,'" recalls Bruzzese, who happened to have glutathione in the family medicine cabinet. Horowitz suggested a 2,000-milligram dose, and within an hour Josephine was breathing easier and even got out of bed to take a shower. The next morning, she took a double dose and felt even better, and in the following days she made a full recovery. "We saw these miraculous effects very quickly," says Bruzzese, "and Dr. Horowitz said, 'We need to write this up. This is definitely something.'" With Bruzzese as a coauthor, Horowitz went on to publish a study of the two patients in the online journal Respiratory Medicine Case Reports in May.

"It is a miracle and it's not," says Horowitz of glutathione, which he has used on thousands of patients in his medical practice over the past 30 years. "It's already in the literaturethere are published articles on glutathione showing that it has anti-viral activity against herpes viruses, HIV, and hepatitis. The problem is, all of the COVID research is happening through pharmaceutical companies. No one is looking at natural approaches. You hear a little about how low vitamin D might put you at risk, so it's coming out in dribs and drabs." And just like with vitamin D, you can be deficient in glutathioneespecially if you've been exposed to a lot of environmental toxins (which is everyone). Older people are also more likely to be depleted of the compound.

Horowitz's a-ha moment with glutathione came from reading dozens of scientific articles about COVID-19. "I saw that the inflammatory molecules that are released when people are exposed to COVID are exactly the same inflammatory molecules that are released when you're exposed to Lyme," he says. "There's a cytokine storm that happens, which is like a fire in the body, a huge inflammatory reaction that can affect all the organs. And we know that with COVID, it's not the virus itself that's killing people. It's this overstimulated immune response with all the inflammation. When I saw that the cytokines in COVID were the same molecules in Lyme, I thought, well, we already know how to lower these cytokines." (Cytokines are molecular messengers between cells. Inflammatory cytokines are molecular messengers that can increase the inflammatory response.)

On a biochemical level, the way to reduce this inflammation is to turn off a switch inside the nucleus of the cells called NF-kappa-B. Three different compounds effectively shut down these inflammatory cytokines: glutathione itself; N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is the precursor of glutathione; and alpha lipoic acid, which helps to regenerate glutathione. Horowitz recommends taking all three as supplements600 mg of NAC two to three times a day; 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid once or twice a day (the higher dose can cause reactive hypoglycemia in sensitive individuals); and 250 to 500 mg of glutathione twice a dayas a preventive measure against COVID-19. People who have multiple chemical sensitivities or a sulfa allergy should be careful using glutathione, as it could cause an allergic reaction (Dr. Horowitz has seen this only rarely in IV forms of glutathione). The oral version is generally safe for everyone, but it is always best to check with your healthcare provider before starting a new regimen.

The next step is to conduct a randomized controlled study of glutathione for COVID-19, but Horowitz will need help to make that happen. One way would be to give the therapy to residents at a nursing home at high risk and see how well it protects them compared to residents of a nursing home that doesn't use it. He reached out about a glutathione study to his contacts in government after serving on a committee that gave recommendations on tick-borne diseases to Congressand got back only two responses. "The medical journals are excited about remdesivir, an antiviral that only lowers your course in the hospital by four days," he says. "I'm sorry, but we're not going to base our hopes on getting four days less in the hospital. We really need something that's going to protect the public now, that is cheap, safe, and effective. Based on the peer-reviewed literature, and my clinical experience, there is a high likelihood that it will be NAC, alpha lipoic acid, and glutathione."

The upshot: The evidence on glutathione for COVID-19 is anecdotal and we need a solid study to explore its potential.

If anyone knows the importance of controlled clinical trials, it's the folks at Regeneron, a local biotech company that has seven FDA-approved medicines and about 20 investigational drugs in the pipeline. Headquartered in Tarrytown, with manufacturing facilities near Albany and in Ireland, Regeneron is buzzing with COVID-19-related activity these days. "This is a once-in-a-career thing for many people," says Alexandra Bowie, Regeneron's senior director of corporate communications, about her colleagues' opportunity to help find a cure for the biggest health crisis of our time. "The company has really rallied around this and made it our main priority, while still ensuring that we're able to deliver the medicines we make and give to people every day. We're shifting a lot of our R&D resources, our clinical resources, to prioritize the COVID projects." While the endgame is to develop a vaccine, that's not in Regeneron's wheelhouse, but they are going full force on two projects that harness their expertise. One looks to repurpose an existing medicationthe FDA-approved rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzarawhile the other is a novel antibody therapy that could serve as a bridge of protection before a vaccine is widely available.

Jointly developed by Regeneron and the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi, Kevzara (sarilumab) is an injectable medication that inhibits the pathway of an inflammatory cytokine called interleukin-6 (IL-6). "Some data came out of China indicating that IL-6 medicines may be helpful in addressing some of the [hyperactive] inflammatory response that comes at late stages of COVID-19," says Bowie. However, that data came from a 21-patient trial without a placebo group for comparison. So, Regeneron and Sanofi quickly launched a larger, double-blind trial to investigate the drug further. The results from phase 2 of the trial, which was conducted in both severe and critical hospitalized COVID-19 patients, did not show much effect on the severe patientsthough it did show a positive trend in the critical patients at high doses. The next step will be to focus only on critical patients in phase 3 of the trial. "We'll see what goes on there," says Bowie, "but this really confirms how important it is to conduct trials with rigor, and with a placebo arm."

Regeneron is more optimistic about its work creating a novel antibody treatment for COVID-19. The idea is that if you can find an antibody, or combination of antibodies, that can block the spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus (coronavirus) cell, then you are effectively disarming it, because the virus uses its spikes to infect into healthy cells. To find these virus-neutralizing antibodies, Regeneron uses its VelociSuite platform, which is an antibody discovery development technology. "Essentially, we've replaced portions of a mouse's immune system with a human immune system, with genes that code for human immune response," explains Bowie. "When these mice are challenged with a virus or a bacteria, they produce antibodies, which are protective proteins, that look just like human antibodies. We then comb through those antibodies and pick the ones that are the most potent at blocking the virus." (If this sounds very Frankenstein, it is, especially to anyone interested in animal rights. Unfortunately, the FDA requires animal testing for most new medicines, though Regeneron says it adheres closely to the industry's ethical laws related to animal welfare.)

Moving quickly, Regeneron has already created a cocktail of two antibodies, and the treatment will go into clinical trials in humans in June. They chalk up their speed to their prior experience developing similar antibody cocktail treatments against Ebola as well as against Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which is another type of coronavirus.

It's important to note that an antibody treatment differs from a vaccine in a number of ways. While a vaccine "teaches" the body how to make antibodies that protect against a pathogen, an antibody treatment skips that step and simply administers the necessary antibodies directly into people. Unlike a vaccine, which can protect you for years or even a lifetime, an antibody treatment is effective for only a month or so. But it could offer stop-gap protection, especially for high-risk groups like healthcare providers, who could be re-dosed as needed. More important, an antibody treatment could also help treat people who are already infected, effectively curing the virus. "That's why we think that our option is really a bridge to a vaccine," says Bowie. "We're still going to need a vaccine in the longer term, but this can be a good solution for the next year or however long we need it."

The upshot: Kevzara might help treat critical COVID-19 patients, but Regeneron's antibody treatment is the one to watch as we await results from the clinical trials. Stay tuned.

The rest is here:
Two Potential Treatments for COVID-19 Unfold in the Hudson Valley - Chronogram

With America on lockdown the past two months, many people turned to the woods for safe isolation and social distancing. And now as sections of the country reopen and summer approaches, the outdoors will be filled with hikers, campers, hunters and fishermen. It will also be filled with ticks that may be carrying the bacterial infection that spreads Lyme disease to humans and pets.

Unlike a mosquito bite where people know immediately if they have been bitten, a tick bite may go undetected; and one of the challenges with Lyme disease is that symptoms may not appear for two to six weeks. That makes it critically important to take steps to avoid catching the disease and to know its warning signs so treatment can begin early when it is most effective.

"While not all deer ticks cause Lyme disease, it is still smart to avoid areas where deer ticks live, especially wooded, bushy areas with long grass," said Sean McCloy, M.D., a family medicine physician with an expertise in Lyme disease at the Integrative Health Center of Maine. "You can decrease your risk of getting Lyme disease with some simple precautions, such as wearing shoes, long pants tucked into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat and gloves. And after spending time in vulnerable areas you should always check your clothing, yourself, your children and your pets for ticks; and remove any that you find as soon as possible with tweezers. Only a minority of tick bites leads to Lyme disease; but the longer the tick remains attached to your skin, the greater your risk of getting the disease."

For those who are bitten by an infected tick, early warning signs include fever, headache, fatigue, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, weakness in the limbs and a characteristic skin rash often in a bull's-eye pattern. If untreated, new symptoms could include neurological problems and, though less common, heart problems (such as an irregular heartbeat), eye inflammation, liver inflammation and severe fatigue.

"If you think you've been bitten and have signs and symptoms of Lyme diseaseparticularly if you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalentit is critical to get tested as treatment is more effective if begun early," said Robert Dracker, M.D., chairman of the heart, lung and cancer committee for the Medical Society of New York and medical director of Summerwood Pediatrics and Infusacare Medical Services in New York. "Fortunately, new tests are available that are easy to administer and provide results faster than ever."

Leading the way in Lyme disease testing is the innovative Sofia 2 Lyme FIA test. This in-office test provides a patient as well as his or her physician with indicative results within minutes as opposed to days, which has historically been the norm. Performed in the privacy of a doctors office or local clinic, it is also the only test that can get results from a simple finger prick of blood. The test was developed by Quidel, a California-based diagnostic healthcare manufacturer and one of the nations leaders in developing rapid diagnostic health solutions.

"Given that the vast majority of patients tested are negative, getting results quickly will mean discernable peace of mind and remove a significant weight off a persons shoulders," said Dr. Dracker. "Not having to wait days for test results allows physicians and nurse practitioners to more rapidly treat those patients with positive results while more quickly pursuing other diagnosis and treatment for those who test negative."

Patients seeking more information are encouraged to contact their private physician to find out more about the availability of this innovative new test in their area. More information on Quidel may be obtained at quidel.com.

About Quidel Corporation

Quidel Corporation serves to enhance the health and well-being of people around the globe through the development of diagnostic solutions that can lead to improved patient outcomes and provide economic benefits to the healthcare system. Quidels products aid in the detection and diagnosis of many critical diseases and conditions including not only Lyme disease but, among others, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, strep A, herpes, pregnancy, thyroid disease and fecal occult blood. Quidels research and development engine is also developing a continuum of diagnostic solutions from advanced immunoassay to molecular diagnostic tests to further improve the quality of healthcare in physicians offices and hospital and reference laboratories. For more information about Quidel, visit quidel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200602005149/en/

Contacts

Jim Yeager424-644-0225 (office)818-264-6812 (mobile)jim@breakwhitelight.com

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Knowing Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease Is Critical for Early Detection and Treatment, Says Industry-Leading Quidel - Yahoo Finance

Calmaria means calm in Portuguese, and is the word chosen by Fabio Sasso to launch his first application. Sassos name may not sound too much to you, but its a designer who currently works for Google and he is the founder of Abduzeedo: a prestigious blog design that we have already talked about on other occasions.

In the midst of a global pandemic and seeing racial unrest increase in the United States, one could feel somewhat anxious. There are many breathing techniques to relax, and Calmaria invites us to try a well-known one.

Obviously, coming from the hand of Abduzeedo, design is one of its most striking points. A kind of minimalist sunset, with warm tones, will indicate the way in which we must breathe.

Although there are many websites and applications that use this method, the truth is that a nice and easy to follow interface It can help us establish a habit or that we feel like using it throughout the day.

Calm is based on the 4-7-8 technique, a method designed by Dr. Andrew Weil (director of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and a popular character in the United States).

As the name suggests, this technique is made up of three steps different: inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds and exhale for eight seconds.

It has a web app and an Android version (the iOS version will be soon)

We will not have to be counting time, since this app will indicate the missing seconds in each phase at all times. Currently it has a web app and an Android version, and they assure that soon the iOS version will arrive. Another positive point is that its completely free.

ShareAbduzeedo launches its first app: beautiful and minimalist design that helps us breathe and relax

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beautiful and minimalist design that helps us breathe and relax - Explica

Leading breast cancer specialists to share best practices on leveraging the latest in cancer therapies to enhance patient care and minimize virus exposure

NASHUA, N.H., June 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iCAD, Inc. (ICAD), a global medical technology leader providing innovative cancer detection and therapy solutions, today announced it will host a free virtual roundtable event for clinicians, titled The Impact of COVID-19 on Breast Cancer Surgery and Targeted Radiation Therapy, on June 4, 2020 at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT. Event registration is available via this link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5960832272590383888.

The roundtable will feature leading specialists in breast cancer treatment, including the following experts*:

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented challenges to our health care system and specifically impacted cancer screenings and treatment in our country and worldwide. During these extraordinary times, it is imperative for clinicians to share best practices and adapt approaches to patient care. iCAD is honored to host virtual events such as this, which provide an educational forum for clinicians to enhance patient care during this global healthcare crisis and beyond, according to Stacey Stevens, President of iCAD. In the face of this pandemic, iCADs technology is now more relevant than ever. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) with the Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) System offers a viable solution that could potentially alleviate the burden to our health system, while enabling clinicians to administer high-quality care to patients who are candidates, while minimizing their potential exposure to the novel coronavirus.

Xoft breast IORT is a single-fraction therapy option that allows select early-stage breast cancer patients to replace weeks of daily radiation with one treatment, delivered at the time of surgery. This targeted treatment option offers a full course of radiation in just one day, which could contribute to a reduction in the healthcare system resources needed for breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce those patients risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus by minimizing the number of visits required to a hospital or medical facility.

In the recent months during the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital resources have become limited in many areas, and guidelines issued by a number of medical societies advise clinicians to determine how best to triage the care of cancer patients safely.1 Some breast cancer patients are choosing to delay parts of their treatment for safety concerns, according to Sadia Khan, DO, FACS, Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Keck School of Medicine, USC, Director of Integrative Breast Oncology at Hoag Breast Program. In areas where there is still a high incidence of COVID-19, some patients with breast cancer may opt to choose IORT, which offers a one-dose radiation option for patients who meet the criteria. For those who are candidates, IORT gives patients an additional option to complete their radiation in a one-time dose, which decreases their exposure to the hospital.

Positive results from a long-term study involving Xoft breast IORT conducted at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology in 2019.2 Led by Melvin J. Silverstein, MD, Medical Director of the Hoag Breast Center, the prospective study, titled Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT): A Series of 1000 Tumors, found breast cancer recurrence rates of patients who were treated with Xoft breast IORT were comparable to those seen in the cornerstone, randomized TARGIT-A and ELIOT trials, which evaluated IORT using different technology.

A number of breast cancer patients at our facility have had their treatment delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is concerning to physicians and patients alike, as some cases could potentially progress and it could result in a considerable backlog of patients who require urgent treatment with more advanced disease, according to Michael Howard, PhD, DABMP, RSO, Director of Oncology Services, Chief of Medical Physics, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute, Parkridge Medical Center, HCA Healthcare. The concern for a second wave of COVID is very real, but IORT offers a way to help reduce this potential backlog.

Story continues

The reality is, IORT may be able to play a bigger role right now in the treatment of patients. In some cases, it may be ultimately more beneficial to offer IORT to avoid the backlog in treatment as a means of not overrunning hospitals and radiation centers once we are back up and running, added Barry Rosen, MD, FACS, Chief of Breast Surgery, Advocate Healthcare and Managing Partner, TME. IORT is one of those exceptional interventions that I believe satisfies the triple aim in treatment: it offers benefits to patients, providers and payers alike. For patients, it offers added convenience, with better cosmetic outcomes and fewer side effects; from a physician standpoint there is an inherent efficiency, as it enables them to condense one month of daily treatments to a single dose of targeted radiation. Lastly, for payers, the overall cost of treatment is reduced as the course of treatment may be reduced from weeks of daily fractions to one concentrated dose of radiation, administered at the time of surgery.

As clinicians, we are going to have to adapt to the COVID-19 situation as it evolves. At a certain point, delaying treatment for even early-stage breast cancer is going to come with risk. In many cases, the decision really should be made to go forward with cancer treatment; IORT offers a treatment option that may allow more women to get the treatment they need during this time, according to Charles Wesley Hodge, MD, Radiation Oncologist, Florida Hospital Celebration Health/AdventHealth. We are facing an unprecedented challenge in healthcare, and as clinicians we need to come together and adjust to these new realities. For those of us who practice in the oncology space, it is particularly challenging because we are dealing with a potentially life-threatening illness that requires appropriate management. Now is the time for clinicians to work together, to adjust to our new reality, and to come up with an approach that will do the greatest good for our patients.

This virtual roundtable event is a part of larger series of webinars hosted by iCAD in recent weeks, featuring leading experts in breast cancer detection and treatment. This series has examined various aspects of breast cancer care in the era of COVID-19, including risk adaptive tools and pragmatic solutions for both screening and treatment. To view the schedule, register for an upcoming free event, or view a prior event on-demand, visit https://www.icadmed.com/educational-webinars.html.

*Panelists have been compensated with an honoraria/speaking fee, but are encouraged to provide their own expert opinions and viewpoints. Dr. Patel is a member of iCADs Board of Directors.

About iCAD, Inc.

Headquartered in Nashua, NH, iCAD is a global medical technology leader providing innovative cancer detection and therapy solutions.

ProFound AI is a high-performing workflow solution for 2D and 3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), featuring the latest in deep-learning artificial intelligence. In 2018, ProFound AI for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) became the first artificial intelligence (AI) software for DBT to be FDA-cleared; it was also CE marked and Health Canada licensed that same year. It offers clinically proven time-savings benefits to radiologists, including a reduction of reading time by 52.7 percent, thereby halving the amount of time it takes radiologists to read 3D mammography datasets. Additionally, ProFound AI for DBT improved radiologist sensitivity by 8 percent and reduced unnecessary patient recall rates by 7.2 percent.1

The Xoft System is FDA-cleared, CE marked and licensed in a growing number of countries for the treatment of cancer anywhere in the body. It uses a proprietary miniaturized x-ray source to deliver a precise, concentrated dose of radiation directly to the tumor site, while minimizing risk of damage to healthy tissue in nearby areas of the body.

For more information, visitwww.icadmed.com and http://www.xoftinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this News Release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the future prospects for the Companys technology platforms and products. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited, to the Companys ability to achieve business and strategic objectives, the ability of IORT to alleviate the burden to our health system and minimize a patients potential exposure to Covid-19, to be more beneficial for patients that traditional therapy or to be accepted by patients or clinicians, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties, uncertainty of future sales levels, to defend itself in litigation matters, protection of patents and other proprietary rights, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties, product market acceptance, possible technological obsolescence of products, increased competition, litigation and/or government regulation, changes in Medicare or other reimbursement policies, risks relating to our existing and future debt obligations, competitive factors, the effects of a decline in the economy or markets served by the Company; and other risks detailed in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words believe, demonstrate, intend, expect, estimate, will, continue, anticipate, likely, seek, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. The Company is under no obligation to provide any updates to any information contained in this release. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iCAD, please see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available on the Investors section of our website athttp://www.icadmed.comand on the SECs website athttp://www.sec.gov.

Contacts:Media inquiries:Jessica Burns, iCAD+1-201-423-4492jburns@icadmed.com

Investor Relations:Jeremy Feffer, LifeSci Advisors+1-212-915-2568jeremy@lifesciadvisors.com

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iCAD Hosts Virtual Roundtable Event on Breast Cancer Surgery and Targeted Radiation During COVID-19 - Yahoo Finance

At some point, youve probably been told totake a deep breathin a moment of anxiety. As it turns out, theres more to the clich than you might think. We spoke to experts about 4-7-8 breathing, a technique that, in a matter of seconds, can ease your negative response to stress. Inspired by yoga, 4-7-8 breathingisnt just a psychological tool: It can actually change the speed at which your heart beats and promote the effective pumping of blood to various organs and muscles. Heres how (and why) to do it.

Its a breathing pattern based on pranayama, which is the part of yoga that deals with breath control. 4-7-8 is relaxing because it extends the exhale portion of the breathing, said Dr. Victoria Maizes, the executive director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Extending the exhale has a quieting effect on the body by interacting with the parasympathetic nervous system (essentially the flip side of the fight-or-flight stress response).

Its free,its simple, and you can choose to use it any time youre feeling stressed.

Sit upright with your chest open and put the tip of your tongue at the roof of your mouth. Theres a little ridge behind your upper front teeth where your tongue will stay for the entire exercise (the placement of which will cause a whoosh sound when you exhale). Inhale through your nose to the count of four, hold your breath for seven counts, and exhale slowly through your mouth for eight counts (you can purse your lips while exhaling if that feels more comfortable for you).

This is one breath, so do this three more times for a total of four breaths. If its helpful, you can count on your fingers to track how many cycles youve done. You have to exhale slowly or else youll run out of air pretty fast, since your exhale is now twice as long as your inhale, says Maizes. The ratio is whats important not the exact time you spend on each phase so you can speed the whole thing up or slow it down as long as you keep the 4-7-8 count intact.

I think its hard to learn anything new when youre really anxious, but in particular, I think its hard to learn to relax, says Maizes, which is why she suggests making 4-7-8 a practice by doing it twice a day, every day. You can do it more than twice a day do it 20 times a day if you want but you should only do the 4-7-8 breath four times in a row at a time. Once you get really good at it after practicing it for about a month or longer the typical recommendation is to bump it up from four to eight times in a row, but no more. (Its not exactly clear why this restriction exists, but Maizes theorises that its because you can blow off more carbon dioxide while slowly exhaling, and doing too much of that could make you lightheaded or uncomfortable.)

Because youre doing no more than four cycles (or, eventually, eight) at a time, the exercise will only take seconds. It is physiologically impossible to be stressed and relaxed at the same time, Maizes said. Practicing 4-7-8 breathing makes your nervous system smarter, so then if youre anxious, your body goes, Oh yeah, I know how to relax. Ive been practicing this for weeks. Sometimes, Maizes adds,if youre feeling really anxious, you might have difficulty both taking a deep breath and holding your breath. Thats why its helpful to familiarise yourself with the practice throughout the day, particularly in moments when you are not feeling stressed. The more you practice it and get better at it, the more helpful it will be for you when youre feeling a lot of anxiety, says Dr. Sarah Kate McGowan, assistant clinical professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Thats not to say that you shouldnt try 4-7-8 in the moment if youve never done it before it will likely still be helpful but ina highly anxious moment, its easier to draw on something youve done before.

Its free,its simple, and you can choose to use it any time youre feeling stressed. Part of anxiety is loss of control, says McGowan. With something like 4-7-8, you dont need to rely on anyone but yourself. Dont underestimate the self-efficacy aspect of this practice.

But there are physiological components at play, too. This sort of breathing helps regulate the bodys stress response the fight or flight reaction that helps us survive life-threatening situations. In stressful circumstances, your breath increases in order to get extra oxygen to your lungs and your brain helpful, should you actually have to fight or take flight. But in a lot of modern day stressors, there isnt a physical threatcreating that anxiety.So what were doing with breathing exercises is trying to slow down our bodys sympathetic response, McGowan said.

The bodys stress response isnt inherently a bad thing. Even fruit flies have a stress response, said Dr. Esther Sternberg, research director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. You cannot live without it. The goal is not to get rid of the stress response thats not possible. The question is how you turn that negative stress into good stress and make it work for you.

And the way to do that is by engaging whats called the relaxation response. This response isactivated by the vagus nerve, which connects the spinal cord to the internal organs of the body. One way to quickly engage the vagus nerve in other words, to quickly engage the relaxation response is through deep breathing. Its like putting your foot on the brake and putting the brake on the stress response, Sternberg says.

Breathing deeply changes the speed at which your heart beats.

Breathing deeply changes the speed at which your heart beats. If you look at one minute of heart rate, youll see that your heart doesnt beat exactly evenly. This is whats called heart rate variability, which is the variation in the spaces between the beats. Thats because the vagus nerve is directly connected to the part of the heart that controls heart rate, the rhythm center, says Sternberg. When you inhale the heart rate increases, and when you exhale, it decreases. As you breathe deeply, it changes the speed at which the heart beats, so you get more variability. The greater the heart rate variability, the more effective the pumping of the blood to all your different organs and muscles.

Just as there are brain pathways engaged with negative experiences of stress, Sternberg says positive experiences such as deep breathing, walking in nature, and even prayer engage other brain pathways that are rich in endorphins and feel-good molecules. In addition to making you feel good, they contribute to putting that break on the stress response, Sternberg says. Remember,if youre feeling anxious, your body is telling you something. she says. As soon as you change course, you shift from feeling stressed to feeling exhilarated the difference between the two feelings is whether or not youre in control.

This article originally appeared on Science of Us 2020 All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content

Link:
How to breathe using the 4-7-8 technique if you're feeling anxious - SBS

In the times when India is grappling due to the COVID-19 situation, swarms of locust attacking various parts of the country is another formidable challege the country has to tackle. According to the Agriculture Ministry, nearly 15 districts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have experienced locust attacks which are still active.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Wednesday informed that locust control operations have been stepped up in affected states to combat the menace.

"Amidst a wave of locust swarms sweeping across western & northwestern India, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare has stepped up locust control operations in affected states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh," said the Agriculture Ministry in a press release.

The ministry further added: "As of today, there are active swarms of immature locust in Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Sikar, Jaipur Districts in Rajasthan and Satna, Gwalior, Seedhi, Rajgarh, Baitul, Devas, Agar Malwa district of Madhya Pradesh."

The ministry further informed that till 26 May, control operations against locusts done in 47,308-hectare area at 303 places in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh by Locust Circle Offices (LCO) in coordination with District Administration and State Agriculture Department.

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Swarms of locust still active in 15 districts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh - Free Press Journal