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Archive for the ‘Longevity Genetics’ Category

Passing the test of time to build businesses that last – YourStory

Saturday, May 2nd, 2020

April 1, 2020. On this day, most of the world was battling to defeat a virus that has wreaked havoc, created chaos, and upended normality as we know it.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Fauja Singh quietly celebrated his 109th birthday in the UK. Born in 1911, Fauja Singh has lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Indian fight for independence, and the Cold War. In 2004, Fauja Singh was chosen as the face of Adidas, replacing David Beckham.

Born in Punjab, Fauja is the worlds oldest marathoner. At the age of 92, Singh ran a marathon in 5 hours 40 minutes, having taken up running only when he was 89. In 2011, Fauja Singh became the first 100-year-old to complete a marathon. Even now, Fauja says he walks at least 5 miles a day after a hernia finally put a stop to his marathon running.

Last year, in a different sport, Serena Williams became the oldest Grand Slam finalist in Open Era tennis history. At 37 years 291 days, Williams joined the 37-year-old Roger Federer in the Wimbledon finals. All three of Federers last Grand Slam trophies have come after the age of 35. Closer home, Sachin Tendulkar was 40 when he played his last Test innings of 74 against the West Indies in 2013.

Sports can offer parallels to situations that we face in our personal and professional lives. Thinking of the longevity of some of the worlds most remarkable athletes during these times made me think of the longevity of businesses too, especially during a crisis.

Sportspersons like Serena and Federer have shown remarkable endurance in staying at the top for decades in a highly competitive sport. Athletes like them are built to last. But its not just talent that has made them last these years.

Their fitness is not mere genetics, even though their skills are unique. Hours of hard work, relentless hours of practice, and a constant desire to hone their skills have made them endure the best of times and the worst of times.

Founded in 578 AD, Kongo Gumi in Osaka, Japan, is the oldest continually operating company in the world. This construction company specializes in building Buddhist temples. I hadnt thought a company could be that old! Companies such as Bofors and Saint Gobain were established in the 16th century, and as I scrolled down that list, I came across increasingly familiar names.

In India, companies such as the Wadia Group, State Bank of India, the Tata Group, Aditya Birla Group, Shalimar Paints, and more have been around for more than 100-300 years.

They were there before the internet, air travel, automobiles, and before televisions. And they are still here now in the times of Snapchat, Facebook, supersonic jumbo jets, luxury cars, and smart TVs.

These are not companies that have barely made it. No. Some of them are giant companies that have constantly reinvented themselves and remained at the forefront of innovation. They have adapted to every situation possible to stay current. They have survived wars, depression, plague, booms, busts, rebellions, revolutions, political upheavals, and more in the process.

Clearly, theres something we can learn from companies that were built to last. Take GE, for example. The company is the only one still listed in the Dow Jones Industrial Index from 1896. Its power to endure comes from its range. Throughout its history, GE has constantly added and exited different business segments. This diversification and divestiture have helped the company stay afloat despite constant market and business fluctuations.

When you look at the list of the worlds longest-surviving companies, you will find that they have strong guiding principles that quickly become living history in these companies. Their purpose and values are defined by those principles. They are led by the right strategic vision and adherence to fundamental values through the ages.

The key values that stand out for me from these companies are: heritage, value, flexibility, and adaptation.

So, how do you build a startup that will last? All long-lasting companies had strong founders who made building the company their life mission. Over time, they created strong organisational structures and built their philosophy into the foundations of the business.

Founders need to dream of growing their companies beyond the startup phase.

Building companies that last requires creating operating guidelines in mind:

Leverage cash flow: The oldest-surviving companies all understood the importance of money in an old-fashioned way. They knew how useful it is to have spare cash all the time. Crucially, they pursued growth within their means, practicing fiscal discipline.

It may seem like empty advice, but startups, I believe, should always be thinking about cash flow.

Cash is important to come out of any crisis stronger and thriving.

Invest in innovation: Long-lasting companies also focus on pragmatic innovation. They are paranoid about innovation. They have taken capital-efficient, well-thought-out risks to drive innovation consistently and creatively.

Indias digital revolution has been led by a dramatic rise in innovation. The ArogyaSetu app is a wonderful example of pragmatic innovation with more than five crore downloads just 13 days after its launch. Without an internal commitment to innovation, I believe that even the strongest brands in the fastest-growing industries will eventually face immense difficulties and wither.

Adapt to the times: Learning from the worlds longest-surviving companies shows that they changed with the times. They remained aware of the environment around them, and embraced change, instead of opposing it.

Barclays, for example, started off in the 16th century as goldsmith bankers. But its the same brand that launched the UKs first debit card and introduced the worlds first ATM in 1969. Quite a change from being goldsmith bankers!

Kongo Gumi, as I wrote earlier, specialised in building Buddhist temples. But during World War II, when funds were low, the company switched to making coffins to survive.

Whenever there is new customer behavior, there is an opportunity to think about doing your business differently.

Twinings, which has been around for 300 years, produced such high-quality tea that Queen Victoria gave the company a Royal Warrant for tea in 1837.

Long-standing companies focus on building long-lasting relationships with customers and partners.

A startup needs to focus on delighting customers - client satisfaction cant be lost while scaling.

Building strong processes means your business is protected from any eventualities, like a drastic drop in revenue as triggered by the current pandemic or even the exit of a key member of the top management.

And we can move through these extraordinary times, too, when we learn, adapt, and embrace this change. For that, we have the timeless weight of history to guide us.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

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Global Precision Medicine Software Market Growth and Forecast Research 2020-2027 Cole Reports – Cole of Duty

Saturday, May 2nd, 2020

Globalmarketers.biz recently added a detailed research study focused on the Global Precision Medicine Software Market across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of Market from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Precision Medicine Software market and estimates the future trend of industry on the basis of this detailed study.

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The Major Players are:

Abbott Laboratories(US)Syapse, Inc. (US)Roper Technologies(US)Sunquest Information Systems Inc. (US)Pfizer, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc.(US)N-of-One, Inc. (US)NantHealth, Inc. (US)LifeOmic Health, LLC (US)Fabric Genomics (US)Allscripts(US)GlaxoSmithKline plc(UK)Gene42, Inc. (Canada)Foundation Medicine, Inc. (US)Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands)PierianDx, Inc. (US)Translational Software, Inc. (US)Flatiron Health, Inc. (US)IBM Watson Group (US)Sanofi S.A.(France)Tempus Labs, Inc. (US)AstraZeneca plc(US)2bPrecise LLC (Israel)Qiagen(Germany)SOPHiA GENETICS SA (Switzerland)Human Longevity, Inc. (US)

The latest research study on the Precision Medicine Software market is a pivotal collection of insights pertaining to this industry vertical, with respect to certain parameters. The research report focuses on providing an in-depth synopsis of this industry, specifically illuminating the market industry size and share, application bifurcation, product types, as well as novel opportunities in the business space.

Segmentation Overview:

Product Type Segmentation :

Cloud-basedOn-premise

Application Segmentation :

Healthcare providersResearch centers & Government institutesPharmaceutical & Biotechnology companiesOther end users

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Driving Forces as well as Challenges of the Precision Medicine Software market: How does the study elaborate on the same?

The report entails the various drivers and restraints impacting the commercialization landscape of the Precision Medicine Software market.

The Precision Medicine Software market research report illustrates details about the myriad challenges which this industry presents. Also, the impact that these challenges may have on the overall industry trends.

Significant details revealed in the report also fall along the likes of market concentration ratio over the forecast years.

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The geographical spectrum of the business as well as its influence on the overall Precision Medicine Software market outlook:

With respect to the regional frame of reference, the report segments the Precision Medicine Software market into USA, Europe, Japan, China, India, South East Asia.

Pivotal insights about the product consumption across numerous regions are provided. The revenue recorded by these topographies have been included in the study.

The study explains details about the consumption market share spanning the numerous geographies. It is also inclusive of the market share that these regions accrue over the forecast period, as well as the product consumption growth rate.

For More Details On this Report:

Some of the Major Highlights of TOC covers:

Executive Summary

Global Precision Medicine Software Production Growth Rate Comparison by Types (2015-2027)

Global Precision Medicine Software Consumption Comparison by Applications (2015-2027)

Global Precision Medicine Software Revenue (2015-2027)

Global Precision Medicine Software Production (2015-2027)

North America Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Europe Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

China Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Japan Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Southeast Asia Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

India Precision Medicine Software Status and Prospect (2015-2027)

Check Table of Contents of This Report @ https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/others/2015-2027-global-precision-medicine-software-industry-market-research-report,-segment-by-player,-type,-application,-marketing-channel,-and-region/146709#table_of_contents

Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis

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From ‘eating delicious things’ to avoiding marriage, these are the secrets to a long life, according to people who lived beyond 100 – Business Insider…

Saturday, May 2nd, 2020

Though improved medical care and knowledge has helped people live longer and healthier lives, there still arent many that live beyond a century. According to a recent study, just 0.0173% of Americans live to 100.

These people from around the world have all lived well beyond that, beating the odds to achieve long lives. Each centenarian or super-centenarian (those who live beyond 110) on our list shared their tips for longevity.

From daily eating habits to exercise routines, these are their tips for a long life.

Misao Okawa was born in 1898 in Japan. Japan has the most centenarians in the world. According to the Japan Times, in 2018, the country had 69,785 people over 100, nearly 90% of whom were women.

In 2014, Guinness World Records recognised Okawa as the worlds oldest living person. She cited eating sushi and getting a good nights sleep as the reasons for her long life.

Morano was born on 29 November, 1899, in the Piedmont region of Italy. She told the BBC that she believed her long life was partly due to genetics, but she also ate a diet of three eggs a day, two of them raw, for more than 90 years.

Morano didnt have an easy life her only son died at just 6 months old, and she had an abusive marriage. She believed leaving her marriage in 1938 contributed to her longevity. She told the New York Times, I didnt want to be dominated by anyone.

Morano was alive in three centuries, and before her death on April 15, 2017, she was believed to be the last living person born in the 19th century.

Weaver was the oldest living person in the United States from her 116th birthday on July 4, 2014, until her death in her home state of Arkansas in April 2015. She was also the worlds oldest living person for less than a week before her death.

She told Time that her secret to long life was kindness, but she also attributed it to not drinking or smoking, and getting plenty of sleep. Additionally, she didnt have any chronic health conditions, a rarity for people of her age.

Gallan was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1906, and died in March, 2015, at age 109.

In an interview with STV News, she said, I also made sure that I got plenty of exercise, ate a nice warm bowl of porridge every morning, and have never gotten married.

Imich was born in Poland on February 4, 1903. He moved to the United States in 1951 after surviving the Holocaust and a Soviet gulag.

He told the New York Times that he believed his long life came down to genetics and exercise. I was a gymnast. Good runner, a good springer. Good javelin, and I was a good swimmer, he said. He also never drank alcohol, which he believed was another contributing factor.

He was given the title of worlds oldest man by Guinness World Records at 111 years old on May 8, 2014, and held the title until his death on June 8, 2014.

Veillard was born on February 28, 1907, in Haiti. He was married in 1932, and he and his wife, Jeanne, moved to the United States in 1968.

USA Today interviewed the Veillards, one of the oldest living couples, in 2015. At the time, Jeanne was almost 105 and Duranord was about to celebrate his 108th birthday.

He told USA today that his secret was waking up early each day to do five to seven push-ups before eating a healthy breakfast of oatmeal and fresh fruit. The couple would also have fish and vegetables for lunch and dinner.

Duranord died at age 111 in June 2018, and Jeanne died just a few months later, in November of that year, at age 108.

Jeralean Talley was born in Montrose, Georgia, in 1899. She moved to Michigan in the 1930s, where she spent the rest of her life until she passed on June 17, 2015.

According to USA Today, Talley was very religious, and her friends and family said she lived by the motto treat people how you want to be treated.

She told Time that her secret to a long life included her devout faith, as well as a diet rich in pork, including pigs feet and ears.

Bernardo LaPallos family believe he was born on August 17, 1901, in Vitoria, Brazil. Both his parents lived long lives his father reached 99 and mother lived to 105. He died on 19 December, 2015, at age 114.

LaPallo was known for his healthy lifestyle books, where he shared how he lived such a long and healthy life.

In an interview with National Geographic, he said, My longevity is due to my obedience and moderation. I have based my life on following what my father told me. He also said eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, going to bed early, and exercising kept him healthy.

He also shared his daily routine: I get up at 3:30 or 4 in the morning, go for my walk, take my shower, rub my body down with olive oil, make my breakfast. Stress is a killer, my daddy told me that. Its important to take time to relax and exercise your brain, such as by doing crossword puzzles.

Jiroemon Kimura was born on April 19, 1897, in Kyoto, Japan. In 2012, at 115, he became the worlds oldest living person and held the title until his death on June 12, 2013.

In an interview with the Guardian, he said his secret to a long life was watching his food portion sizes, waking early in the day, and reading newspapers.

He told Patch a few other ways he kept healthy for so long. Its important to make daily exercise a discipline, he said. He also cited overcoming adversity as something that made him strong. After every storm, peace always comes, he said.

According to his papers and reportedly verified by the Indonesian government, Mbah Gotho was born in December 1870. However, the country only started recording births in 1900, so the topic remains up for debate.

Gotho told the BBC that his long life was due to his loving family. He was a heavy smoker until his death, and outlived four wives, 10 siblings, and all of his children.

Calment is believed to have been born in Arles, France, in 1875. However, some doubt has been cast on this date, as many researchers cite her age at the time of death as statistically impossible. Nevertheless, she remains the official oldest person to have lived.

According to the New Yorker, she smoked for most of her life, only quitting at 117, five years before her death. She also drank a glass of port every night. She also thoroughly enjoyed chocolate. Calment passed on August 4, 1997, of unknown causes.

Jones was born on July 6, 1899, in Lowndes County, Alabama. She was the third of 11 children. She moved to New York in the 1920s, and although she never had any children, she remained very close with her siblings and their children.

According to Insider, at 115, Jones was still eating bacon and grits for breakfast, and she cited bacon as a food that helped her live a long life. She also ate a lot of fruit. Additionally, her niece said that she never drank, partied, or did drugs.

However, more than anything, it was a loving family that kept Jones alive so long, as they cared for her and visited every Sunday.

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The bodies of COVID-19 victims may be contagious, coroner’s case reveals – Livescience.com

Monday, April 20th, 2020

Even after death, COVID-19 could be contagious, a new report finds.

A forensic practitioner working in Bangkok, Thailand, most likely caught the virus from a deceased patient, according to the report, which was posted online April 11 as a preprint for the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine.

The forensic practitioner later died of the virus, marking the first case on record of a "COVID-19 infection and death among medical personnel in a forensic medicine unit," the researchers wrote in the report.

Related: Latest COVID-19 news and US case counts

At the time the report was written on March 19, just 272 people in Thailand including the forensic practitioner and a nurse assistant had tested positive for the new coronavirus. Most of these cases were imported, meaning they weren't from community spread, the researchers wrote. So, it's unlikely that the forensic practitioner caught the new coronavirus outside of work or even from a patient at the hospital, the researchers wrote.

"There is [a] low chance of forensic medicine professionals coming into contact with infected patients, but they can have contact with biological samples and corpses," the researchers wrote in the report.

It's not surprising that the body of a recently deceased COVID-19 patient might be contagious, said Dr. Otto Yang, a professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

"Absolutely, a dead body would be contagious at least for hours if not days," Yang told Live Science in an email. "The virus will still be in respiratory secretions, and potentially still reproducing in cells that haven't yet died in the lungs."

COVID-19's longevity in the body can be problematic for people in the funerary industry. For instance, following reports that temples in Thailand were refusing to perform funeral services of COVID-19 victims, the head of Thailand's Department of Medical Services incorrectly announced on March 25 that the disease was not contagious in bodies after death, according to Buzzfeed News.

It's unclear, however, just how long the virus remains infectious in a dead body.

In light of this finding, forensic scientists should take a number of precautions while examining the remains of COVID-19 patients, the researchers said. For instance, forensic professionals should wear protective gear, including a protective suit, gloves, goggles, a cap and a mask, they wrote.

"The disinfection procedure used in operation rooms might be applied in pathology/forensic units too," they added.

Usually, pathogens that kill people don't survive long enough to spread to others after the person's death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "Human remains only pose a substantial risk to health in a few special cases, such as deaths from cholera or haemorrhagic fevers," such as Ebola, the WHO said.

Other illnesses that are contagious in human remains include tuberculosis, bloodborne viruses (such as hepatitis B and C and HIV) and gastrointestinal infections (including E. coli, hepatitis A, Salmonella infection and typhoid fever), according to the WHO.

Originally published on Live Science.

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The fundamentalsof fertility in beef cattle – Farmer’s Weekly

Monday, April 20th, 2020

A livestock farmer is firstly a veld and pasture farmer. It is vital that the animals nutritional requirements are met, especially during breeding and when the cows are raising calves.

Moreover, the cattle should be fully fed in a relatively short period of grazing. This implies that the farms fodder flow must be sufficient throughout the year.

Arguably the most crucial aspect of grazing management after establishing the correct stocking rate is to ensure that a portion of the veld and pasture is given a periodic rest period comprising a full growing season.

The foremost economic factor of a cattle farming enterprise is fertility. It is five times more important than growth performance, which in turn is five times more important than carcass quality. Obviously, it is better to have a poorly performing calf than no calf at all.

Management & geneticsFertility has both a management and a genetic component. The management component includes all those aspects, such as feeding correctly and maintaining animal health, that are your sole responsibility as a farmer.

It also includes maintaining strict breeding seasons in order to establish which animals are not reproducing. Breeding seasons make it far easier for you to use a veterinarian to determine which cows have failed to conceive.

Good management enables animals to produce and reproduce optimally. The genetic component of fertility is limited to 10% heritability. However, it is highly repeatable, so make sure to identify the cow families that calve every year.

Just to be clear: heritability is a reflection of the degree to which offspring performance is a reflection of the performance of their parents.

Repeatability is a measure of the strength of the relationship between repeated records. As a producer, knowing the repeatability of a trait can help you make culling decisions. You can also use repeatability as a measurement to predict early on how productive a cow will be over her lifetime in terms of milk production and calf weaning.

Breeding valuesSelect for genetic traits that are positively correlated with fertility, such as scrotal size and mature body mass, and consider the fertility index itself, such as days to calving. These are expressed as estimated breeding values (EBVs).

Remember, however, that if the animals feed and other requirements are not met, you cannot correct for this by selecting for higher fertility on a genetic level.

Scrotal size in bulls plays a major role in determining the fertility of the female offspring. It is true that bigger is better, but only up to a point. Look at the scrotal size or scrotal circumference EBVs of the bulls you buy, and physically examine scrotal development. Two equally well-developed testes with good epididymis development are very important.

Another key trait is mature weight, which should always be kept in check. The EBV for mature weight should ideally be around breed average. Your aim should be to breed cows that calve easily and produce fast-growing calves, but you dont want breeding stock that are too large by the time they wean their first calf, because big cattle have high maintenance requirements. Moreover, animals that are heavy at maturity are often less productive.

The days-to-calving fertility index identifies bulls and cows that carry the genes producing fertile progeny. Animals that take less time to calve from the initial mating date have a better days-to-calving index and are thus more fertile.

This index also plays a large part in the overall economic indices for certain systems, such as a self-replacing feedlot.

Bull selectionA bull has a 50% genetic influence on a herd of females that he gets into calf. Its therefore crucial to buy and use bulls with the correct fertility and growth attributes. The old adage, A good bull is half your herd and a bad bull is your whole herd, holds true.

Be sure to maintain the correct bull-to-cow ratio and to test bulls regularly for fertility and sexually transmitted diseases.

As a general guideline, a two-year-old bull should be able to cope with 20 females in a two- to three-month breeding season. At three years old, a bull should service 30 females within this time frame, and by four years, he should be able to breed with 40 females.

Early calvers are generally the more fertile animals. The shorter you make your calving season, the more fertile your herd will become. Ideally, 60% of your females should calve in the first 30 days of the season. By selling your late calvers, you also in effect shorten your breeding season.

CrossbreedingHybrid vigour increases fertility, growth and longevity, so it pays to crossbreed. But this must be carried out in a structured way, and good management is essential. A normal crisscrossing system or a three-way cross system can be followed.

It is also very important to choose a breed or type of cattle that is suited to your environment and farming system.

Under more extensive conditions (in large parts of the country), breeds with a certain mix of Bos taurus (for production) and B. indicus (for hardiness and adaptability) demonstrate greater fertililty. Under more intensive and higher-rainfall systems, B. taurus-type breeds do better.

Under extremely arid and hot conditions where the stocking rate is very low, indigenous B. indicus-type cattle and Brahmans fare best.

Email Llewellyn Angus at [emailprotected].

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Gianficaro: COVID-19 took my mom, but her legacy lives on – The Sunday Dispatch

Monday, April 20th, 2020

Editors note: Phil Gianficaro is a native of Pittston as was his mom, Josephine Gianficaro, who died Wednesday, April 8, of COVID-19. She was 88.

***

Our moms lifetime of generosity, not her death due to COVID-19 last week, will endure as her legacy.

She was where we could not be. A stranger with compassion in her heart and wings on her back. A palliative care nurse doing for my mom in her final hours that which COVID-19 forbade us from doing.

The nurse sat at Moms bedside in the dark and quiet of the quarantine hospital room as the stroke of midnight and her final moments approached. Head to toe in protective garb, she gently wound rosary beads in Moms fingers, stroked her cheek, held her hand, offered prayers. Administering Gods providence. A stranger doing for Mom what the virus wouldnt allow us to do: comfort her at the end.

The nurses name is Mary.

Fitting.

Coronavirus took my mother from us last week. Hers was the cruelest of goodbyes. Isolated. Unconscious. Alone, except for a nurse dispensing endless helpings of love we could not. Saying thank you from the bottom of our hearts comes up woefully short.

A week earlier, cancer was losing its battle against my mom. After three months and four cycles of chemotherapy, tumors caused by diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma were shrinking. Mom, at 88, was punching like a champ, whipping cancers tail. Only two chemotherapy cycles remained before she could begin thinking about returning to her kitchen to bake and deliver cakes and cookies for family and friends. While everyone thanked her, her gift was in the giving. A lesson for us all.

Cancer, fighting out of its weight class, looked at the scorecard with swollen eyes from unsteady knees about to surrender. Trailed late in the fight. Reinforcements were summoned. Enter coronavirus. A week later, Moms fight was over.

Sometimes there just arent enough punches.

While our hearts are breaking, anger toward the Lord does not rule my heart. When the end came, I closed my eyes and said a prayer, thanking God not only for blessing us with a wonderful mother for 60 years, but also for calling her home before more intense pain and suffering took hold.

While we wait for a shuttered world to reopen, to return to some degree of normal, our grief continues. Moms funeral arrangements, as are those of so many loved ones across the nation, are on hold. So, too, is what we as a family need most: a gathering to hug and cry and laugh and reminisce and celebrate the most loving, caring and magnificent person I ever knew. So we wait.

Mom was an umbrella when it rained, a scarf to blunt the chill, a smile to chase the sadness. A well of humanity that never ran dry. She checked all of Jesus boxes: Caring. Generous. Friendly. Faithful. Nurturing. Selfless. Loving. In the alphabet of concern, Mom was letter Z. Back of the line. Her choice. The less fortunate needed love and attention and comfort more. You go ahead, shed say. I can wait. Ill make do.

Whats Mrs. G. baking today? our friends would ask when my younger brother and I were kids. They loved sitting around Moms kitchen table, eagerly waiting for the oven door to open. Your kitchen always smells so good, Mrs. G., they would say. Pies. Cakes. Cookies. Comforting aromas from the oven, my friends assumed. They were wrong. What made them feel so good came not from her stove, but from her heart.

The stories are endless. Leaving a Thermos of coffee and a bag of baked goods on the front porch for trash collectors every week during the harsh winter months. Baking a Thanksgiving dinner for a poor neighbor family whose husband and father had lost his job a few weeks earlier. Several years ago, she phoned a surgeon decades after his medical magic ensured her sons a better life, to thank him again. The docs wife called back the next day. Hes beaming! she told Mom. You made his day! The well never ran dry.

As I turn an ear to heaven, I can hear the conversation:

St. Peter!

Yes, Jesus.

Your pants are getting a little tight around the waist, dont you think?

Yeah, Lord, um, Josie has been up here with us for a few days now. The cheesecakes. The Italian cookies. The cannolis. The rigatoni and meatballs in homemade sauce. The stuffed peppers. I cant resist. It all just smells so good.

Any cheesecake left?

Um, dont think so, Lord.

Then a sweet voice from heavens kitchen to Jesus ears:

How big a slice do you want? I have more.

With Mom, there was always more.

Phil Gianficaro

Columnist Phil Gianficaro can be reached at 215-345-3078, pgianficaro@theintell.com, and @philgianficaro on Twitter.

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Aging is a mixed picture – Great Bend Tribune

Sunday, April 12th, 2020

During my lifelong practice of geriatrics, I observed many people reaching the end of their lives. Truth is, what Ive seen is a mixed picture. The two patient stories I describe here are really a blend of hundreds of experiences.

Ms. A is in her late 80s, walks two miles every day, mostly outside but inside a wellness center when sidewalks are icy. She eats a balanced light diet and is connected to many friends. Ms. A is spiritually connected, and life has been and continues to be meaningful to her.

Ms. B is also in her late 80s, has never been much for exercise and now is unable to walk without the help of her walker. She lives in an assisted living center and has made some friends there but remains rather critical of them. Whenever her kids visit, she asks them to take her home. Ms. B had some tough times and some happy times during her life, but now, she remains rather bitter.

At age 82, comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who had studied the relationship between sexuality and longevity said, Im at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, Ive just had a mirror put over my kitchen table. Reading that made me laugh out loud, but I see Dangerfields comment as both funny and sad. Indeed, this thing called growing old is a mixed picture. Should we celebrate it or fear it? Does it give wisdom and meaning or just aches and pains?

I suggest we embrace both sides of the picture. Lets choose to live as long and as well as our luck and genetics allows. We would all do better with regular exercise, eating less, connecting with both the earthly and the spiritual. Lets also choose to kindly accept the fact that someday we will reach the end of our lives. We can take healthy steps by creating an advanced directive, by understanding the kinds and causes of dementia and facing the inevitable death of the ones we love. Embracing this mixed picture helps us in accepting aging processes we cannot change, avoiding suffering and savoring things that matter.

Bottom line lessons from Ms. A and B: Like any piece of art, we can choose how we view the picture of our own aging. Those who live with misery, anger and vengefulness will likely die that way. Those who glean meaning and joy from observation, giving to others and opening their hearts to the spiritual will find aging a grand masterpiece.

Richard P. Holm, MD passed away in March 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He is founder of The Prairie Doc. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc

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Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market: Strategic Analysis to Understand the Competitive Outlook of the Industry, 2025 – Science In Me

Sunday, April 12th, 2020

The Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market globally is a standout amongst the most emergent and astoundingly approved sectors. This worldwide market has been developing at a higher pace with the development of imaginative frameworks and a developing end-client tendency.

Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market reports deliver insight and expert analysis into key consumer trends and behaviour in marketplace, in addition to an overview of the market data and key brands. Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market reports provides all data with easily digestible information to guide every businessmans future innovation and move business forward.

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The worldwide Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market is an enlarging field for top market players,

key players and government is expected to spur the adrenomyeloneuropathy treatment market.

The North America market for adrenomyeloneuropathy treatment is expected to retain its dominance, owing to increasing patient pool for rare disease, increasing government funding to accelerate the research and development for rare disease. According to Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, more than 25 million Americans are suffering from rare disease in United States.Europe is expected to account for the second largest share in the global adrenomyeloneuropathy treatment market owing to growing clinical trial funding programs for orphan drug development and high prevalence of adrenomyeloneuropathy and high treatment seeking rate. Asia Pacific is expected to show significant growth, owing to increasing diagnosis rate and improvement in healthcare infrastructure. China is expected to show significant growth in the adrenomyeloneuropathy treatment market, due to rising population improving R&D capability, increasing per capita heath spending. Latin America and Middle East & Africa is expected to show growth owing to lack of diagnosis and inadequate healthcare facilities and lack of skilled physicians for Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market.

Examples of some of the key manufacturer present in the global adrenomyeloneuropathy treatment market are Ascend Biopharmaceuticals, Novadip Biosciences, Eureka Therapeutics, Human Longevity, Regeneus, Allogene Therapeutics, BioRestorative Therapies, Immatics Biotechnologies, NewLink Genetics, Cytori Therapeutics, Talaris Therapeutics among others.

The report covers exhaustive analysis on,

Regional analysis includes

Report Highlights:

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This Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment report begins with a basic overview of the market. The analysis highlights the opportunity and Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment industry trends that are impacted the market that is global. Players around various regions and analysis of each industry dimensions are covered under this report. The analysis also contains a crucial Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment insight regarding the things which are driving and affecting the earnings of the market. The Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment report comprises sections together side landscape which clarifies actions such as venture and acquisitions and mergers.

The Report offers SWOT examination and venture return investigation, and other aspects such as the principle locale, economic situations with benefit, generation, request, limit, supply, and market development rate and figure.

Quantifiable data:-

Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India

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Finally, the global Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market provides a total research decision and also sector feasibility of investment in new projects will be assessed. Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment industry is a source of means and guidance for organizations and individuals interested in their market earnings.

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Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market: Strategic Analysis to Understand the Competitive Outlook of the Industry, 2025 - Science In Me

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Aging Is A Mixed Picture; Let’s Choose To Live Long – Vermillion Plain Talk

Friday, April 10th, 2020

During my lifelong practice of geriatrics, I observed many people reaching the end of their lives. Truth is, what Ive seen is a mixed picture. The two patient stories I describe here are really a blend of hundreds of experiences.

Ms. A is in her late 80s, walks two miles every day, mostly outside but inside a wellness center when sidewalks are icy. She eats a balanced light diet and is connected to many friends. Ms. A is spiritually connected, and life has been and continues to be meaningful to her.

Ms. B is also in her late 80s, has never been much for exercise and now is unable to walk without the help of her walker. She lives in an assisted living center and has made some friends there but remains rather critical of them. Whenever her kids visit, she asks them to take her home. Ms. B had some tough times and some happy times during her life, but now, she remains rather bitter.

At age 82, comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who had studied the relationship between sexuality and longevity said, Im at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, Ive just had a mirror put over my kitchen table. Reading that made me laugh out loud, but I see Dangerfields comment as both funny and sad. Indeed, this thing called growing old is a mixed picture. Should we celebrate it or fear it? Does it give wisdom and meaning or just aches and pains?

I suggest we embrace both sides of the picture. Lets choose to live as long and as well as our luck and genetics allows. We would all do better with regular exercise, eating less, connecting with both the earthly and the spiritual. Lets also choose to kindly accept the fact that someday we will reach the end of our lives. We can take healthy steps by creating an advanced directive, by understanding the kinds and causes of dementia and facing the inevitable death of the ones we love. Embracing this mixed picture helps us in accepting aging processes we cannot change, avoiding suffering and savoring things that matter.

Bottom line lessons from Ms. A and B: Like any piece of art, we can choose how we view the picture of our own aging. Those who live with misery, anger and vengefulness will likely die that way. Those who glean meaning and joy from observation, giving to others and opening their hearts to the spiritual will find aging a grand masterpiece.

Richard P. Holm, MD passed away in March 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was founder of The Prairie Doc and author of Lifes Final Season, A Guide for Aging and Dying with Grace available on Amazon. Dr. Holms legacy lives on through his Prairie Doc organization. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc library, visit http://www.prairiedoc.org and follow Prairie Doc on Facebook, featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc a medical Q&A show streaming on Facebook and broadcast on SDPB most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central.

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The Better Half by Sharon Moalem review on the genetic superiority of women – The Guardian

Friday, April 10th, 2020

Lets hear it for the female of the species and (more guardedly) for her second X-chromosome! Female superiority in colour vision, immune response, longevity, even basic survival from birth to death are illustrated in Sharon Moalems The Better Half. After decades, if not centuries, of bad press for women and their vulnerable biology, this book argues that in fact almost everything that is biologically difficult to do in life is done better by females.

Moalem, a Canadian-born physician, is a research geneticist who has identified two new rare genetic conditions. He has worked across the world in paediatric medicine, including clinics for HIV-infected infants and is also a biotechnology entrepreneur and bestselling author. The Better Half is his latest foray into the field of popular science, and presents a general argument for the superiority of womens biology to mens.

In most circumstances, a human female has two X-chromosomes, one from her father and one from her mother; a male has just one, inherited from his mother, which is paired with a Y-chromosome, inherited from his father. Moalem believes that the X-chromosome has always received a poor press, and that it is time this negative view is counteracted. He draws on swathes of medical and historical data to show that, in many instances, the superiority of womens biology is explicitly linked to their possession of the second X-chromosome. The greater complexity of womens biology, he claims, is the secret of their success it is more difficult to make a female but, once made, she trumps the male in her lifelong survival skills, for instance in her hyperefficient immune system shrugging off infection and maximising the benefits of vaccination which means that females can avoid the consequences of a wide range of life threatening events ranging from starvation and cancer to, Moalem has cautiously concluded, Covid-19.

In mainstream genetics it was long held that, despite having two X-chromosomes, female cells only made use of one: the second randomly switched off or deactivated early on in embryonic development, a process rather summarily described as an instance of genetic redundancy. There was some evidence that the deactivation reduced female chances of succumbing to X-linked problems, due to the availability of an undamaged back-up. It was acknowledged, for example (though rather grudgingly), that women generally escaped being colour blind. Moalem notes that when he was studying genetics there was much emphasis on the tiny Y-chromosome as what makes a man. He observes wryly that maybe this positivity was related to the fact that most of the people who were speaking breathlessly about the Y had one as well.

Now a new spin on the X-inactivation story is emerging in genetics. Via a process called escape from X-inactivation, it turns out that the silenced X-chromosome is not so silent after all there are escapees which may continue to offer back-up services, for instance providing extra cellular recovery options in the face of traumatic injury. It is to the benefits offered by this flexible availability within different cells that Moalem attributes the secrets of womens biological superiority.

Statistics going back as far as 1662 show women living longer than men, and todays figures show that 95% of people who have reached the age of 110 and over are female. In sport, womens success in races such as ultra-marathons offer a different perspective on what it means to be physically superior. In the spirit of Angela Sainis book Inferior, Moalem notes that this superiority has largely been ignored by medical science. And he discusses the medical trial data whose absence is observed by Caroline Criado-Perez in Invisible Women, her exploration of how the world is designed for men. Medicine needs to stop ignoring the secrets of womens biological successes, Moalem argues, and find ways of harnessing them to improve the survival chances of the whole of the human race.

Imagine you live in a world where most individuals can see 1m colours. But in one group of these people (lets call them males), about 8% cannot tell the difference between colours such as red and green, and a smaller number are totally colour blind. In a second group in this population (lets call them females), almost all can see the standard 1m colours, but some (perhaps as many as 15%) can see 100m colours. Would you excitedly rave about the amazing talent of this latter group? Or would you just describe them as not usually colour blind? This same group has an immune system that has a profound talent to fight off many forms of infection and reap major benefits from vaccinations with the down side that sometimes such hyperefficiency can lead to autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Would you celebrate the former or emphasise the latter? For years, it is the drawbacks that have been underlined.

Research geneticists rarely get out in the field to notice the much greater survival rates of girls in paediatric ICUs

The Better Half is an eye-opening book. In explaining why the advantages that accompany females greater genetic options have to date been largely ignored, Moalem points to paradigm blindness, and to the fact that research geneticists rarely get out in the field to notice, for example, the much greater survival rates of girls in paediatric ICUs (rates which, he discovers, have been clearly obvious to the nurses doing the frontline caring).

I take issue with one part of his chapter on The Male Brain, for the moment setting aside the unproven assumption that the brains of men are different from the brains of women. Moalem chooses to consider autism, and it appears as a given in his book that autism is more common in boys than girls (itself an assumption that is increasingly being challenged). Yet at the more impaired end of the autism spectrum, it is possible that there are as many girls as boys, and his suggestion that females have a different kind of autism doesnt quite prove his wider argument. The X-linked disorders such as fragile-X or Rett syndrome receive only a passing mention not surprisingly perhaps as they run counter to his argument about the superiority of the X-chromosome.

What about hormones? Moalem has perhaps missed a good opportunity to counter oestrogens frequently negative press, and to laud its potentially neuroprotective effects. The greater susceptibility of women to Alzheimers disease is put down by Moalem to a form of anti-inflammatory process linked to an overefficient immune system; their lesser susceptibility to Parkinsons disease (surely a possible inclusion in the list of female genetic successes) is unexplained.

One section of the book focuses on why womens health is not mens health, and considers the failures of drug companies to test their products on females as well as males. For sure this has had detrimental consequences on, for example, the accuracy of dosage rates. But in at least one of the examples he gives, that of Ambien, body mass and blood volume are key factors in calculating dosage rates: because people vary enormously in size and shape, simply dividing test participants into males and females still risks inaccuracy. He is talking about averages, its true, but even so Moalem seems firmly wedded to the notion that genetic females and genetic males can be neatly categorised into two distinct types, and that the understanding of genetic sex will provide all the answers we need.

The impression given in The Better Half is that there is a lifelongfree-ranging choice between X-chromosomes available to the female, her cells dancing back and forth between the best options that will help her to heal quicker after a car crash or to overcome the bacterial infection that might lead to an ulcer. There are brief and tantalising hints about the escapees from X-inactivation in several chapters of Moalems book, but it is a shame that we are never given a full, head-on account.

Yet this book is full of wonderful titbits of information from the existence of a female prostate gland to the number of honey bee flying miles it takes to make 1lb of honey. The celebration of the genetic diversity offered by the females second X-chromosome is wholehearted and the examples Moalem gives are highly effective. He has written a powerful antidote to the myth of the weaker sex.

The Better Half: On the Genetic Superiority of Women by Sharon Moalem is published by Allen Lane (RRP 20).

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Inherited Metabolic Disorders Market Trends, Type, Segmentation, Analysis, Assessment, Development, Application and Forecast 2025 – Science In Me

Friday, April 10th, 2020

Global Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) Market: Snapshot

Inherited metabolic disorders (IMD), as the name suggests, are genetic conditions resulting in metabolism issues. The root cause behind maximum cases of inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) is a gene mutation that probably happened a lot many generations back. The mutation in the gene is carried through the generations.

Treatment of inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) consists of dietary supplementation, dietary restrictions, drugs that thwart or regulate metabolism, gene therapy, transplantation of the concerned organ, and dialysis in extreme cases. Currently, the dietary supplements account for a leading position in the global inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) treatment market. Drug manufacturers, however, are slated to come up with more condition-specific therapeutics in the near future.

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The specificity and high risk affinity of IMD differs from disorder to disorder. Some disorders such as familial cylomicronemia are generally associated closely with Caucasians, while others, namely porphyria is mostly recorded among African Americans. Most of such metabolic disorders are be brought under control with certain changes in the diet and lifestyle of the person. Some inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) are, however, life threatening. Huntingtons or Zellweger syndrome is to name one such.

The inherited metabolic disorders market lies mostly with the Caucasian and African American populations of world, especially in North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa, followed by the minority populations from South Asia and East A.

At present, genetic screening using mass spectrometry and DNA testing among all newborns are carried out in almost all of the developed nations of the world and also in developing economies of India, Brazil, and China. This helps uncover inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) at an early stage.

GlobalInherited Metabolic Disorders Market: Overview

Globally, IMD affects nearly one in every 2,500 to 5,000 individuals with nearly 300 to 600 new cases found in the U.K., according to Public Health Genetics U.K. The specificity and high risk affinity of IMD varies from disorder to disorder, with some disorders like familial cylomicronemia being closely associated with Caucasians and others like porphyria being recoded largely among African Americans. These metabolic disorders are often controllable with certain lifestyle and diet changes, including Familial Cylomicronemia and Phenylketonuria. But some IMDs are highly dangerous and may affect the survivability of a person, such as Huntingtons or Zellweger syndrome.

A lot of IMDs arise when the mutated gene responsible is inherited by the natural selection process and a large number of these genes are recessive. This is probably why a large number of these metabolic disorders are rare occurrences, whereas certain other genes are dominant in nature; this makes it difficult for a willing parent to conceive a child as the risk for transferring a gene remains high (e.g. Huntingtons). Familial chylomicronemia occurs when an individual genetically inherits Lipoprotein lipase enzyme mutation. This is a very rare genetic disease at occurrence rate of 1 individual per million with chances of symptoms occurring only in homozygous individuals (receiving mutation genes from both parents) or in other words recessive gene transmission.

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GlobalInherited Metabolic Disorders Market: Current Market Trends

Nowadays, genetic screening via mass spectrometry and DNA testing of all newborn children are done in nearly all of the developed countries and also some developing countries of the world, including India, China, and Brazil, albeit across a small percentage of the national population. This prepares a parent and the child with the necessary precautions and treatment for increasing the longevity of the concerned newborn. The life expectancy of such a child with all the necessary care and precaution is at par with the average individual.

However among many adult populations and in some children, rare genetic metabolic disorders are abruptly presented and often not accurately diagnosed. In such individuals, abnormal metabolic changes are considered to be a type of genetic mutation in routine diagnosis. Symptoms such as growth failure, precocious puberty and development delay in children below 12, and anemia, neurological disorder, cancer, muscle weakness, rapid hormonal changes, and skin changes in adults, are regarded to probably have a genetic metabolic cause.

GlobalInherited Metabolic Disorders Market: Treatment Classifications

The treatment of IMDs is broadly classified into dietary restrictions, dietary supplementation, drugs that inhibit or regulate metabolism, transplantation of the concerned organ, gene therapy, and dialysis in severe cases. In the case of familial cylomicronemia, gene therapy includes Alipogene tiparvovec recombinant gene therapy drug, manufactured by UniQure Inc. This therapy utilizes viruses (adenovirus vector) designed in such a way that upon infection, the gene for producing the lipoprotein lipase is induced into the host cell, thereby producing the enzyme in-vivo. This therapy has shown positive results and is expected to be released into the market soon. For now, the global inherited metabolic disorders Market lies broadly in the dietary supplements market.

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GlobalInherited Metabolic Disorders Market: Regional Evaluation

The overall estimated global populations of IMD individuals lie in few millions. The niche category of this segment gives little market for specific condition-related products. However, the implications of therapy are huge as some treatments have the potential to completely eradicate these disorders. Several suitable models have been considered for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia, which can in turn alter the outcome of cardiovascular diseases to a bare minimum in the future. For now, the inherited metabolic disorders is open for limitless possibilities.

The inherited metabolic disorders lays primarily with the Caucasian and African American populations of world, especially in North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa, followed by the minority populations from South Asia and East Asia.

The study presents reliable qualitative and quantitative insights into:

The regional analysis covers:

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TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.

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Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus: Before, During, After and How to Build Immunity Against Future Viruses – India New England

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

WALTHAM, MACoronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease is the worst pandemic the world has ever seen. If you are confused with the overwhelming information about the virus, you may want to watch this video interview with Dr. Sailaja Reddy, MD, IFMCP, ABoIM, ABOM, CCMS.

In an exclusive video interview with INDIA New England News, Dr. Reddy explains coronavirus, how it is different from other viruses, how we can prevent it from infection, how it infects and how to take care after recovery from COVID-19.

To watch the full interview, please click here or on the image below.

Dr. Reddy educates, supports, treats and transforms peoples lives by getting to the root cause of illness using the best of science and nature. Dr. Reddy is functional and integrative medicine specialist, amd is founder of RootHealthMD in Framingham, Mass, focusing on reversal of chronic diseases and supports the development of vibrant longevity.

Dr. Reddy did her residency at St. Elizabeths Hospital and received advanced training in obesity medicine, Integrative medicine and culinary medicine. She is a certified physician through Institute of Functional Medicine.

Immunity, says Dr. Reddy, is a defense system that has biological structure and process within humans that protects against diseases.

Our body builds immunity through healthy lifestyle. Diet, genetics and environment play a major role, says Dr. Reddy, adding that one should change lifestyle in order to build immunity.

A diet that is nutrient rich, with low sugar, good quality protein and less processed will strengthen your immune system, says Dr. Reddy. The latest science suggests that being fit boosts our immune systems, and that even a single workout can amplify and improve our ability to fight off germs.

PS: This information is for information purposes only. If you have any discomfort, please consult your physician immediately.

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Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus: Before, During, After and How to Build Immunity Against Future Viruses - India New England

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How to live longer: Five habits to adopt into your life to increase life expectancy – Express

Saturday, March 21st, 2020

Life expectancy is defined as the number of years remaining for an individual or a group of people at a given age. Longevity refers to the characteristics of the relatively long-life span of some members of a population. A persons life span is thought be largely determined by the combined effects of genetics and environmental factors. No matter where you live in the world, adopting these five habits will ensure a long, healthy and disease-free life.

Eating healthily

Consuming a diet with a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and beans may increase a persons life longevity and reduce the risk of diseases.

Eating plenty of plant foods is likely to help a person live longer. In turn, reducing the amount of fat, refined carbohydrates, sugar and salt will also help to increase life.

The benefit of exercise is seen regardless of peoples weight, age, sex and health conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

Greater amounts of physical activity are associated with additional life expectancy gains.

Exercise helps a person breath better, reduces stress and gives people a more positive outlook to life, all of which increases life expectancy.

In fact, at the highest level of activity of 450 minutes of exercise per week equated to 4.5 extra years to ones life.

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Coronavirus: Immunity your best bet, build it up – The Tribune India

Saturday, March 21st, 2020

Dr Sachin Mittal

Your immunity will be your biggest ally in the fight against coronavirus pandemic. A detailed analysis of the infection shows that those with underlying illness or weakened immunity are more susceptible to a worst outcome.

Immunity or immune system is our bodys ability to protect us against any type of illness or disease.

The immune system is not a single entity, an organ or a type of cell but a complex system with many components that create it, strengthen it or weaken it. The idea of having a stronger immunity is very desirable, so many people are running a random Google search to find ways to strengthen it.

Heredity and genetics also determine our immune system and that is something beyond our control. One must keep in mind there are no easy quick fix solutions but we can always work gradually to strengthen our bodys defence mechanism against any form of illness.

Heres how you can boost up your immune system:

Sleep like a baby

Dalai Lama once said sleep is the best meditation. We cannot underestimate the importance of recharging our batteries with a regular seven to eight hour sleep.

Greg McKeown, the author of bestseller Essentialism, calls it an asset that we need to protect.

Sleep helps restore our immune, nervous, skeletal and muscular systems.

Research shows that regular sound sleep is associated with longevity and sleep difficulties are associated with problems like depression, alcoholism, bipolar disorder but also a weakened immune system.

Smoking and substance abuse

Apart from increasing the risk of many cancers and heart diseases, smoking weakens immune system. Research shows that smoking not only decreases our adaptive and innate immune responses but also increases abnormal disease-causing immune response. So, it acts like a double-edged sword and kills our soldiers in the last line of defense against infection and illness. Excessive alcohol consumption is also detrimental. Both smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can damage the lungs and impact the mucosal immune system negatively. Mucosal immune system facilitates the body to identify pathogens and fight the infection. Thats the reason why alcohol or tobacco addicts fall prey to common cold or any form of viruses easily.

Stress

Mahatma Gandhi said: There is nothing that wastes the body like worry. Stress is another big culprit that weakens our immunity. Chronic stress leads to high levels of cortisol the stress hormone which interferes with T-cells (a type of blood cells important for immune response) and decreases production of protective antibodies, thus decreasing the bodys immune response. So, our body would perform well and heal well when it is not under stress. Lets take out some time everyday for meditation and breathing exercises, which are beneficial in lowering down our stress levels.

Eat well; exercise often

Immunity comes with fitness and balanced diet. A nutritious diet is vital. We should not eat just to fill our tummy or satisfy our palate but to nourish our body. As per My Plate nutrition guide, we should have half our plate filled up with fruits and vegetables and the remaining half should be divided into grains and proteins. Avoid any kind of fad or extreme diets. Equally important is staying physically active because that increases blood flow and recharges the white blood cells, which have the responsibility of searching and destroying the infection in the body.

Low to moderate exercise naturally lowers levels of stress hormone Cortisol and helps our immunity. Consistency and regularity matters a physical activity of minimum 30 to 45 minutes a day is recommended for 5 days a week for a healthy lifestyle.

Supplements

While there is a lot of hype surrounding the so-called immune boosters, the evidence backing them is scanty. Yes, we need to ensure theres no deficiency of significant vitamin or micro nutrient like zinc, iron, selenium, etc. If we have any, then replenishing them will be helpful, though a balanced diet takes care of our nutrition needs. Vitamin D, which we get from the sunlight, plays an important role in bodys immunity. Research shows that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased autoimmune diseases and higher chances of infection. So, getting some sunshine has real health benefits. Take expert help in its treatment as overenthusiastic supplementation and excess of it can have serious health consequences. If consuming any special foods for building immunity, have it in moderation. The bottom line is, there is no magic wand to enhance our immunity overnight. Work on your health holistically, and gradually you will be able to build up good immunity.

The writer is a Chandigarh-based endocrinologist

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The Global Precision Medicine Software Market is expected to grow by USD 882.65 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 11% during the forecast…

Monday, March 9th, 2020

New York, March 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Precision Medicine Software Market 2020-2024" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05873485/?utm_source=GNW Our reports on global precision medicine software market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by benefits of precision medicine.In addition, digitization of healthcare is anticipated to boost the growth of the global precision medicine software market as well.

Market Segmentation The global precision medicine software market is segmented as below: Delivery Mode: On-premise

Cloud-based

Geographic Segmentation: Asia

Europe

North America

ROW

Key Trends for global precision medicine software market growth This study identifies digitization of healthcare as the prime reasons driving the global precision medicine software market growth during the next few years.

Prominent vendors in global precision medicine software market We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global precision medicine software market , including some of the vendors such as F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Fabric Genomics Inc., Gene42 Inc., Human Longevity Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Koninklijke Philips NV, NantHealth Inc., Roper Technologies Inc., SOPHiA GENETICS SA and Syapse Inc. . The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05873485/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The Global Precision Medicine Software Market is expected to grow by USD 882.65 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 11% during the forecast...

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Ancestry releases longevity study from partnership with …

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

The road to achieving a long life is littered with hype. The usual life-extension suspects include pricey pills and supplements; the peculiar involve infusions of young blood and chambers pumped with sub-zero temperatures.

Then there's science. And one scientific factor that has long been presumed to dictate much of how long we live is our DNA. For decades, it was assumed that the genes we inherit from our parents explain anywhere from 15% to 30% of the variations in longevity that are observed between people.

But a new study that came from quiet collaboration between genetics company Ancestry and a Google life-extension spinoff called Calico suggests that our genes play less of a role in our lifespan than we thought.

Instead, traits and behaviors that include everything from diet and exercise to friendliness appears to play a strong role in longevity. Surprisingly, we still pass these traits on through generations mostly by picking partners who look and act like us, the researchers report.

In essence, the findings suggest that people effectively transfer longevity from one generation to the next much in the same way that wealth and socioeconomic status are passed from parents to children: by choosing partners with attitudes and attributes that mirror our own, regardless of how different their DNA may be.

seyfettin dincturk / Unsplash

For decades, researchers studying longevity and genetics had estimated that the genes we inherit from our parents play a significant role in determining how long we live. Previous studies suggested that genes account for as much as 30% of the total variability in lifespan between individuals.

But the new study from Ancestry and Calico indicates that our DNA may be much less important in determining longevity than traits and behaviors like diet, exercise, and personality. After looking at data from more than 54 million family trees and the birth and death information for over 400 million individuals, the researchers concluded that our DNA accounts for less than 10% of lifespan variability.

Instead, we pass on longevity through generations by choosing partners whose attitudes and attributes look much like our own. In research parlance, that's known as "assortative mating."

"The true heritability of human longevity or birth cohorts across the 1800s and early 1900s was well below 10%, and ... has been generally overestimated due to the effect of assortative mating," the scientists wrote.

Put another way, we tend to pick partners with attitudes and attributes from eating and exercising to friendliness that mirror our own. And as a result, we tend to live similar amounts of time, and have children who do as well.

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Previous studies shed light on how important lifestyle factors are when it comes to how long we live. In a recent study published in the journal Circulation, for example, scientists pinpointed five lifestyle factors that appear to be linked with a significantly longer lifespan, judging by the outcomes of two long-term studies that involved about 123,000 adults.

People in the study who lived long lives tended to:

As part of several other recent studies, scientists have uncovered a handful of personality traits that also appear to be strongly linked to longer-than-average lives. They include:

Taken together, the findings suggest that how long we live may be less a matter of what we're born with than the circumstances in which we live and the choices that we make. Those choices, as the Ancestry and Google researchers acknowledge in their new paper, tend to be based on everything from social status to wealth and then, just like genetics, passed on from one generation to the next.

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The Contextualized Genetics of Human Longevity – PDF Free …

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY

VOL. 75, NO. 8, 2020

2020 BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY FOUNDATION PUBLISHED BY ELSEVIER

The Contextualized Genetics of Human Longevity JACC Focus Seminar Claudio Franceschi, MD,a,b,* Paolo Garagnani, PHD,a,* Fabiola Olivieri, PHD,c,d Stefano Salvioli, PHD,a,y Cristina Giuliani, PHDe,y ABSTRACT The genetics of human longevity has long been studied, and in this regard, centenarians represent a very informative model. Centenarians are characterized by 2 main features: 1) the capability to avoid or postpone the major age-related diseases; and 2) a high level of heterogeneity of their phenotype. The rst suggests that longevity and resistance to diseases are mediated by shared mechanisms, the latter that many strategies can be used to become long lived, likely as a result of variable genome-environment interactions. The authors suggest that the complexity of genome-environment interactions must be considered within an evolutionary and ecological perspective and that the concept of risk allele is highly context dependent, changing with age, time, and geography. Genes involved in both longevity and cardiovascular diseases, taken as a paradigmatic example of age-related diseases, as well as other emerging topics in genetics of longevity, such as microribonucleic acid (miRNA) genetics, polygenic risk scores, environmental pollutants, and somatic mutations are discussed. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2020;75:96879) 2020 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

I

n recent decades the brand-new phenomenon

considered, compared with large genome-wide as-

of worldwide longevity is emerging, boosting

sociation studies (GWAS), and starting from 2 of

the

to

their peculiar features: 1) the heterogeneity of cen-

longevity. However, the results of this research

tenarians phenotype; and 2) the fact that they

have

avoid

study

been

of

the

sometimes

genetic extremely

contribution

heterogeneous

and often contradictory, possibly at least in part

or

postpone

major

age-related

diseases

(ARDs).

because of the denition of long-lived people that

Starting from this viewpoint, we will try to illus-

applies. In this regard, centenarians (age $100

trate some informative examples of genetic de-

years), semi-supercentenarians (age $105 years),

terminants of longevity, showing that: 1) genetics is

and supercentenarians (age $110 years) are people

context dependent; 2) the genetics environment

who are not only indisputably long lived but also

equation has multiple solutions, accounting for the

those

heterogeneity of the phenotype in centenarians;

who

better

exploited

the

potential

lifespan of Homo sapiens as a species. In fact, no

and

one has been reported so far to live more than

diseases such as cardiovascular ones are highly

about 120 years. We thus focus this review on the

interconnected, suggesting that they may be consid-

results

ered 2 sides of the same coin.

of

studies in

which

centenarians were

3)

genetic

determinants

of

longevity

and

From the aDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; bDepartment of Listen to this manuscripts

Applied Mathematics, Institute of Information Technology, Mathematics and Mechanics, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny

audio summary by

NovgorodNational Research University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; cLaboratory of Experimental Pathology, Department of

Editor-in-Chief

Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Universit Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; dCenter of Clinical Pathology and Regenerative

Dr. Valentin Fuster on

Therapy, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy; and the eLaboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Depart-

JACC.org.

ment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. *Dr. Franceschi and Dr. Garagnani contributed equally to this work. yDr. Salvioli and Dr. Giuliani are co-senior authors. This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Agreement (075-15-2019-871) and by ALMA IDEA-2017 project from the University of Bologna to Dr. Giuliani. The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. Manuscript received November 14, 2019; revised manuscript received December 13, 2019, accepted December 17, 2019.

ISSN 0735-1097/$36.00

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.12.032

Franceschi et al.

JACC VOL. 75, NO. 8, 2020 MARCH 3, 2020:96879

However,

HIGHLIGHTS

The effect of nuclear DNA variants (single or combinations) on longevity is context dependent. The genetics of longevity is informative to identify GxE interactions that protect against ARDs.

have

mixed

extreme limits of human life thanks to their capability to successfully adapt to a variety of stressors and to remodel better and more harmoniously (1). The prevalence of centenarians in a population can be assumed as an ecological indicator of optimization of the anthropological environment (2). The peculiar characteristics of centenarians are reported in Table 1. As a whole, centenarians maximized the product of their personal gene environment (GxE) equation, which is dynamic and dependent on a variety of historical and ecological factors (such as individual and population genetics, demography, sex, family and and

geographic environment, cultural and anthropological environment, social networks, and socioeconomic status) that we term ecological space, according to the evolutionary and anthropological concept of niche construction (3). This concept may help in understanding why only a few longevity variants and genes shared among different populations have been identied in GWAS, as recently reviewed consequence

of

this

concept

is

that

longevity variants are strongly context dependent. The following evidence supports this idea. First, it is known that longevity runs within families, as demonstrated by many studies, including those conducted on Sardinian people (3). Assortative mating (based on behavioral and cultural traits), favoring an excess of homozygosity, may play a role in the genetics of longevity in some populations (6) but not in others (such as in Utah and among the Dutch), as suggested by spouse data (7,8). On the whole, these data support the importance of context.

example, the European project GEHA (Genetics of Healthy Ageing) considered 2,118 nonagenarian sibling pairs enrolled at 15

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ARD = age-related disease CVD = cardiovascular disease DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid GxE = gene 3 environment

centers from 11 European countries. The re-

GWAS = genome-wide

sults highlighted the importance of APOE and

association studies

TOMM40, as well as the possibility to identify

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Mystery of lifespan gap between sexes may be solved, say researchers – The Guardian

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

From humans to black-tailed prairie dogs, female mammals often outlive males but for birds, the reverse is true.

Now researchers say they have cracked the mystery, revealing that having two copies of the same sex chromosome is associated with having a longer lifespan, suggesting the second copy offers a protective effect.

These findings are a crucial step in uncovering the underlying mechanisms affecting longevity, which could point to pathways for extending life, the authors write. We can only hope that more answers are found in our lifetime.

The idea that a second copy of the same sex chromosome is protective has been around for a while, supported by the observation that in mammals where females have two of the same sex chromosomes males tend to have shorter lifespans. In birds, males live longer on average and have two Z chromosomes, while females have one Z and one W chromosome.

Scientists say they have found the trend is widespread. Writing in the journal Biology Letters, the team report that they gathered data on sex chromosomes and lifespan across 229 animal species, from insects to fish and mammals. Hermaphroditic species and those whose sex is influenced by environmental conditions such as green turtles were not included.

The results reveal that individuals with two of the same sex chromosomes live 17.6% longer, on average, than those with either two different sex chromosomes or just one sex chromosome.

The team say the findings back a theory known as the unguarded X hypothesis. In human cells, sex chromosome combinations are generally either XY (male) or XX (female). In females only one X chromosome is activated at random in each cell.

As a result, a harmful mutation in one of the females X chromosomes will not affect all cells, and hence its impact can be masked. By contrast, as males only have one X chromosome, any harmful mutations it contains are far more likely to be exposed.

The team found that in species where males have two of the same sex chromosomes, these males live on average 7.1% longer than females. However, in species where the sex chromosome pattern is the other way around, such as humans, females live 20.9% longer on average than males.

The researchers say the extent of the longevity gap may reflect other factors at play, including that males tend to take more risks when it comes to securing a sexual partner, including fighting. These pressures to travel far to find a mate, establish a territory and compete with other members of your sex are not seen often in females, said Zoe Xirocostas, a co-author of the research from the University of New South Wales.

But there are also other possibilities as to why the longevity gaps differ in size, including that oestrogen appears to protect the ends of chromosomes from being damaged a process linked to ageing.

Our study suggests that the unguarded X is an underlying genetic factor that can influence lifespan, but many external factors can influence longevity in different ways such as predation, risky behaviours, establishing territories and access to quality nutrition, said Xirocostas.

Prof Steven Austad, an expert on ageing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who was not involved in the study, said the theory that having two of the same sex chromosomes is beneficial for longevity was appealing.

I would think that it plays some role in understanding sex differences in longevity but it certainly isnt the only factor, he said, noting that both risk-taking behaviour and parental roles also appeared to be important. For instance, owl monkey males live longer than females and the males play a big role in infant care in that species, he said, noting such males have two different sex chromosomes.

Austad said the upshot was that longevity is not only about sex chromosomes. There is a general trend, but with numerous exceptions, he said.

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Former unicorn genetics startup Human Longevity loses its …

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

San Diego, California-based Human Longevity Inc. (HLI) was founded in 2013 with the audacious mission of radically extending the human lifespan through better understanding of peoples genetic makeup.

Back then the promise created by lower cost genetic sequencing seemed ripe for HLI co-founder and genetic sequencing pioneer Craig Venter to take to market. Venter is a legend in the field of genetics known for his efforts at Celera Genomics on one of the first attempts to successfully map the human genome.

Investors like Celgene, Illumina and GE Ventures agreed, pouring hundreds of millions into the company, including a funding round in 2017 that valued HLI at more than $1.6 billion.

Since that peak, however, the companys value has declined 80 percent to $310 million, according to a recent story in The Wall Street Journal.

Citing documents acquired by Lagniappe Labs and a letter to shareholders from HLI,the newspaper reported that the company is attempting to raise $25 million from existing investors at the new valuation.

The terms of the current funding roundinclude priority payments to those investors in the case of a liquidation event and an anti-dilution provision called full-ratchet that allows investors to keep their ownership stakes constant by adjusting their own share prices if HLI decides to raise capital again at a lower price.

The Journal reports that the companys employee count has dropped from 300 workers in 2016 to 150 today. Over the past few years, HLI has also had a virtual revolving door among its C-suite ranks.

Company co-founder Venter stepped down as CEO in 2017 and was replaced by Cynthia Collins, a former executive at GE Healthcare.

Collins herself left the company in less than a year later,along with a handful of other high level executives, and Venter again took the role of CEO.

Venter stepped down from the company for the second time in May and was subsequently sued by HLI for allegedly stealing trade secrets and trying to poach employees. Earlier this year, Saturnino Fanlo, Human Longevitys chief financial officer and chief operations officer alsodeparted.

Currently, Human Longevity is being led by its chief of radiogenomics and interim CEO David Karow which telegraphs the companys new focus on its Health Nucleus business line, which sells a package consisting of full DNA sequencing alongside a battery of tests including a whole body MRI, heart rhythm monitoring andneurocognitive testing.

The diagnostic focuses on early detection and prevention of disease like cancer and cardiac disease,as well as metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. While HLI has said the test has found early-stage issues in seemingly healthy patients,critics have often cited the lack of peer-reviewed validation for the companys claims.

Health Nucleus, which is not covered by insurance, ranges in price from $4,950 to $25,000 for the most robust diagnostic. It is currently only offered at HLIs San Diego headquarters, but the company said it plans to expand availability to other locations around the country.

Picture: Creative-Touch,Getty Images

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Frank Buckles, the last soldier to fight in World War I dies at 110 – SOFREP

Sunday, March 1st, 2020

Frank Buckles lived an amazing and long life.

He joined the Army at only 16 years old to fight in World War I, and later as a civilian, working in the Philippines, was captured by the Japanese at the outset of World War II. He survived three hellish years as a POW at Los Banos POW Camp before being rescued in a raid by American forces.He passed away on February 27, 2011, at the age of 110.

Buckles was born on Feb. 1, 1901, in Bethany Missouri. He was the youngest of five children and the third boy in the household. His familys ancestry traced back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. One thing that stood out, however, was that his family genetics were blessed with longevity. As a young boy, he remembered long talks with his grandfather who was born in 1817. His father lived to be 95, his grandmother 96. When he was young he had two aunts that told him to prepare himself for a long life. Both of them lived to be over 100.

When he just a teenager, his family moved from Missouri to Oakwood, Oklahoma, where Buckles went to school, worked in a bank and became an avid wireless operator. With the United States entering World War I, although he was just 16 years old, he tried to enlist. The war, which had started in 1914, was an important event, he remembered later. The world was interested in it. So, I was interested. The Marine Corps turned him down as being too small, sensing that he was underage; the Navy also turned him down ostensibly for having flat feet, also believing him to be too young. But the Army did not. An Army captain asked him for a birth certificate. I explained that when I was born in Missouri, birth certificates were not a public record, Buckles said. It would be in the family Bible. And I said, You wouldnt want me to bring the family Bible down here, would you? He said, Go on, well take you.' So, the U.S. Army hurting for manpower accepted the youngster and he joined on August 14, 1917.

Buckles underwent basic training at Ft. Riley, KS. After basic training, he was trained as a motorcycle rider and ambulance driver. Later in 1917, he was among the first Americans who made their way from England to France. He saw first-hand what combat in the trenches did to the men fighting there as he transported them to hospitals in the rear.

There was never a shortage of blown-up bodies that needed to be rushed to the nearest medical care. The British and French troops were in bad shape even guys about my age looked old and tired. After three years of living and dying inside a dirt trench, you know the Brits and French were happy to see us doughboys. Every last one of us Yanks believed wed wrap this thing up in a month or two and head back home before harvest. In other words, we were the typical, cocky Americans no one wants around, until they need help winning a war.

At the wars end, he helped transport thousands of German POWs back to their homeland. One German soldier gifted him with a belt buckle with the inscription Gott mit uns (God with us). It was a gift that he would keep for the rest of his life. Promoted to Corporal just before he was mustered out in November 1919, Buckles returned to the United States and took part in the dedication of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri where he met the Commander of the American Expeditionary Force General John Pershing.

After the war, despite many veterans having trouble finding work, Buckles never was at a loss for one. He worked in NYC, Toronto, then took a job as a ships purser, and later he ran the Manila office of the American President Lines when the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He and many other Americans, both civilian and military, were taken as prisoners of war.

Buckles was a POW for more than three years in the Santo Tomas and Los Baos prison camps. When I got down to 100 pounds, I quit looking at the scales, he said. Like many POWs, he contracted beriberi, a disease caused by malnutrition. To combat the disease, he led a daily calisthenics class for the POWs. I explained to them, he recalled, that were under severe circumstances, but you must keep yourself in shape for when the war is over.

On February 23, 1945, they were all liberated in a daring raid led by the Armys 11th Airborne Division and Filipino guerillas. All 250 of the Japanese guards were killed and the combined rescue force liberated 2147 POWs. Buckles had completed his second war and was now 44 years old.

After the war, he returned to the United States and married Audrey Mayo in 1946. The two bought a 330-acre cattle ranch in West Virginia. They raised a daughter, Susanah, and remained in WV. His wife died in 1999. He continued to drive the tractor on his farmland well into his 100s.

Gary Sinise and Buckles led the Memorial Day Parade of 2007; he was 106 at the time. He was later asked to visit the White House as a guest of President George Bush. Buckles thought that it was an interesting visit. I went to the White House and sat in the Oval Room, he recalled. And here came President Bush and he asked me: Where were you born? And I said, Thats exactly the words that General Pershing used.

Buckles became the honorary Chairman of the World War I Monument Committee and was an outspoken advocate for the dedication of a monument to honor the men who sacrificed so much during the Great War.

We still do not have a national memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the Americans who sacrificed their lives during World War I. On this eve of Veterans Day, I call upon the American people and the world to help me in asking our elected officials to pass the law for a memorial to World War I in our nations capital. These are difficult times, and we are not asking for anything elaborate. What is fitting and right is a memorial that can take its place among those commemorating the other great conflicts of the past century. On this 92nd anniversary of the armistice, it is time to move forward with honor, gratitude, and resolve.

Buckles died on February 27, 2011, aged 110. He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. As was noted by Paul Duggan, a reporter for the Washington Post:

The hallowed ritual at grave No. 34-581 was not a farewell to one man alone. A reverent crowd of the powerful and the ordinaryPresident Obama and Vice President Biden, laborers and store clerks, heads bowedcame to salute Buckless deceased generation, the vanished millions of soldiers and sailors he came to symbolize in the end.

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