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One of Dalhousies own has become a Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) Fellow, one of the highest honours for members of the countrys health sciences community.

Lois Jackson, a professor in Dals School of Health and Human Performance, is internationally recognized for her community-based, collaborative research with marginalized populations. Her highly productive program of research identifies how social inequalities impact access to health services, and her work draws attention to inequities across urban and rural places. She is a leader in population health research, providing a voice for communities living socially and economically on the margins of society.

It is a true honour to be elected into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) as a 2020 Fellow, says Dr. Jackson. The Academy is a unique organization providing assessments and advice on various critical issues that are important to the health of the Canadian population.

I am absolutely thrilled that I will be able to contribute to the Academys work, and I very much look forward to engaging with the many Fellows whose expertise on key health issues crosses a diverse range of disciplines in the health sciences.

The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences brings together Canadas top-ranked health and biomedical scientists and scholars to make a positive impact on the urgent health concerns of Canadians. CAHS Fellows are chosen through a peer review process for their demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies, and commitment to advancing academic health sciences. They agree to serve the Academy and be active in promoting improved health, health care and health-related policies. Dr. Jackson joins a cohort of 77 new Fellows this year.

Congratulations to Dr. Jackson on this well-deserved recognition from the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, says Alice Aiken, vice-president research and innovation at Dalhousie. She embodies the true meaning of a research scholar, displaying great rigor, integrity and humility as she works to support those who are seeking equal access to health care and social support from coast to coast to coast in Canada.

Born and raised in Toronto, Dr. Jackson completed her BA, MA and PhD (Sociology) at the University of Toronto, where she also completed a post-doctoral fellowship (Department of Preventative Medicine and Biostatistics) focused on HIV prevention research. Following her post-doctoral fellowship, she worked in the City of Toronto Department of Public Health as a research program consultant, after which she began a tenure-track position at Dalhousie.

It was when I was a post-doctoral fellow that I became involved in community-based research working with a small non-governmental organization providing HIV prevention education for women involved in the sex industry, says Dr. Jackson. This research, and my work with the City of Toronto Department of Public Health, made me realize how important social conditions are to shaping a populations health.

She was able to bring her academic training to her community-based health research. That began a career of working with different community-based organizations and people with lived experience, to examine and highlight how various structural forces such as poverty and stigma negatively impact the health of diverse populations.

Throughout her career, Dr. Jackson has been the recipient of many awards and accolades. In 2000, she received a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Investigator/Regional Partnership Award for her work on the social determinants of health and studies involving marginalized populations, which marked significant national recognition of the importance of her research. She also received the 2017 Public Health Champion Award from the Public Health Association of Nova Scotia, and more recently Health Promotion Canadas 2018 Team Award (with Mainline Needle Exchange and Direction 180), in recognition of her community-based research in improving the health of those living on the margins.

In addition, Dr. Jackson was acknowledged by her colleagues in 2015 with the Patricia Cleave Outstanding Leadership Award for the Faculty of Health. This award was presented in recognition of her leadership in the transformation of the forward-thinking, rebranded,re-conceptualized Healthy Populations Institute (HPI). And, in August 2020, she was named as Dalhousies newest University Research Professor.

To learn more about the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, visit the CAHS website.

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Health and Human Performance prof Lois Jackson honoured by Canadian Academy of Health Sciences - Dal News

The coronavirus death toll in the United States surpassed 200,000 on Sept. 22, which the Associated Press equated to a "9/11 attack every day for 67 days."

Many of these deaths have involved COVID-19 and at least one other condition, which is called a comorbidity. In some cases, coronavirus directly causes comorbid conditions like pneumonia or sepsis. Other comorbid conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are preexisting, but may complicate a patients reaction to COVID-19 and cause them to suffer a more serious outcome. The Centers for Disease Control has found that in as many as 94% of COVID-19-caused deaths, individuals also had a contributing comorbidity.

Stacker analyzed a National Center for Health Statistics dataset on conditions contributing to deaths involving coronavirus disease to examine common conditions that may contribute to COVID-19 deaths. The deaths tabulated in this dataset include Americans who had confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one or more other diseases or health conditions at the time of death. This story includes the deaths associated with COVID-19 and 21 common conditions from Feb. 1 to Aug. 15, 2020.

Keep reading to find out which common conditions can most contribute to COVID-19 fatalities.

You may also like: COVID-19 is the latest example of zoonosishere are 30 other diseases animals transmit to humans

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Common conditions that can contribute to COVID-19 deaths - Twin Falls Times-News

GALESBURG, Ill., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The COVID-19 pandemic forced K-12 schools to not only close their doors suddenly and unexpectedly, but to keep them closed for an unusually long period of time. Due to the prolonged shutdown, stagnant water left sitting in the pipes and plumbing systems of school buildings now poses a great threat of Legionella bacteria growth which can cause Legionnaires' disease, a type of severe pneumonia that can lead to death. Though there is always a risk of Legionella in stagnant water systems, schools may be at a much higher risk now due to the several months-long closures and continued low-occupancy which may allow for higher concentrations of Legionella to develop.

As schools across the country work to reopen, Intellihot, a leading commercial tankless water heating manufacturer, implores K-12 school administrators to take preventative health and safety measures such as proactively flushing all piping and water-using devices and to consider long-term solutions like tankless hot water heaters in order to minimize the risk of Legionnaires' disease and other waterborne hazards and diseases.

In just the past 30 days, Legionella has already been found in at least 10 schools in multiple towns in Ohio and Pennsylvania and experts predict there will be more. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled Management of Legionella in Water Systems, estimates that about 52,000 to 70,000 Americans suffer from Legionnaires' disease each year. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), in the United States, the rate of reported cases of Legionnaires' disease has grown by nearly nine times since 2000. Dr. Andrew Whelton, an associate professor of civil, engineering and environmental and ecological engineering at Purdue University, has studied the implications of water stagnation in school plumbing systems and has been vocal about the action school administrators and public health officials should take to reduce the risk for widespread disease before students, teachers and staff return to school.

"Widespread building shutdowns brought on by COVID-19 are unprecedented. Buildings aren't designed for these shutdowns, and water needs to stay moving to prevent bacteria and metal from concentrating in the pipes. Students and staff could be at risk of serious health issues if pipes aren't properly flushed before they return," said Whelton. "Even when schools reopen, fewer people in the buildings means lower water use. Problems need to be avoided with operating buildings at low occupancy, too."

The most common form of Legionella transmission occurs by breathing in contaminated water droplets or mist from sources such as drinking fountains, sinks and showers. Legionnaires' disease cannot be spread from human-to-human contact and the majority of cases can be successfully cured with antibiotics. However, because Legionnaires' disease shows similar respiratory signs and symptoms as COVID-19, there are additional concerns that those with Legionnaires' disease may be misdiagnosed with COVID-19 and thus, left untreated.

The traditional water heating systems used by many schools today are outdated, unreliable and require huge storage tanks that can grow and amplify Legionella and other microbial hazards such as leaching metals. Water safety must be examined before schools reopen and tankless water heating systems should be evaluated as a long-term solution to mitigate the risk of Legionella.

Designed for schools, hotels and other large facilities, Intellihot's groundbreaking commercial tankless water heaters are able to heat unlimited amounts of water on demand without the need to store any water which significantly reduces the risk of Legionella. The compact, floor-mounted units are drop-in-ready, fit existing water and gas connections, eliminate the need to re-pipe, and require very little installation time. Intellihot tankless systems also eliminate waste and environmental impact, and cut down greenhouse emissions by over 40%.

Intellihot commercial tankless water heaters power K-12 schools, educational institutions and Ivy-league universities around the country.

"Legionnaires' disease is very preventable. With a few simple steps and inexpensive precautions, school administrators can reduce the risk," said Sri Deivasigamani, co-founder and CEO of Intellihot. "If you haven't already considered a tankless water heating system as part of your school's water management plan, now is the time to do so. In addition to health and safety benefits, Intellihot tankless units save money, improve your school's carbon footprint and can be quickly installed before occupants return."

Though there are currently no government or industry standards for schools to safely reopen and to return plumbing to normal use following the extended closures, the C.D.C. has published voluntary guidelinesto aid building owners and property managers aiming to prevent Legionella from spreading as facilities reopen.

About Intellihot, Inc.Founded in 2009 in Peoria, Illinois, Intellihot is a clean technology, IoT company with a mission to do more with less and to create intelligent energy transformations. Today, Intellihot builds IoT devices and commercial tankless water heaters that help their customers cut energy costs and eliminate downtime. With customers like Abigail Adams Middle School, Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, 340 on the Park, Chicago's second tallest residential building, Costco and Marriott International, Intellihot is working towards a waste-free future in schools, homes, businesses and facilities across the planet. Learn more atwww.intellihot.com.

SOURCE Intellihot

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Prevention Efforts Prove Critical With Heightened Risk Of Legionella In School Water Systems - PRNewswire

South Africas second largest open medical aid scheme, Bonitas, has announced a weighted increase of 4.6% across all its plans for 2021 ranging between 0% and 7.1%.

The 0% increase is for the BonFit Select plan, the group said, adding that members on its growth options making up 91% of business will only experience an increase of 3.9%.

The guidelines received from the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), clearly highlighted that medical schemes should limit contribution increases as far as possible. We crunched numbers and worked tirelessly to find the sweet-spot between sustainability and ensuring affordability, said Lee Callakoppen, principal officer of Bonitas Medical Fund.

Bonitas noted that seven of its current options are priced between R1,500 and R3,000 per month, which is where the medical scheme market is experiencing growth currently.

Member behaviour has changed significantly and demand is for innovation, accessibility and technology. This has the benefit of attracting, a younger, target audience and driving sustainability, it said.

The group has introduced two new plans for 2021, which enter a technology-driven category called Edge.

The plans: BonStart and BonStart Plus, are designed for economically active singles or couples, living in the larger metros.

The plans include access to:

The cost for the plans are R1,452 and R1,731 respectively for the principal member.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the changing trends both globally and locally, Bonitas said it will focus more on core services like managed care for growing health risks (diabetes, high blood pressure, oncology) as well as the drive for home-based care.

It is also promoting the use of day hospitals and clinics, where possible, for procedures which are better suited to such facilities.

Other focus areas for 2021 include:

Our focus is on more primary healthcare, utilisation of preventative care benefits, digitally enabled solutions and self-help facilities for members who want access to their benefits 24/7, the group said.

Our goal is to improve integration of care, enable more access to out-of-hospital services, clinical information and benefits via various solutions.

Read: Momentum Medical Scheme reveals annual increase for 2021

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Bonitas medical aid announces price increases and 2 new plans for 2021 - BusinessTech

New recommendations from a panel of medical and scientific experts say that by relentlessly focusing on prevention and other measures, including the testing of guests and crew, public health risks associated with the pandemic can be mitigated in a cruise ship environment, according to a joint project from Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

The Healthy Sail Panel submitted its recommendations today to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in response to a CDC request for public comment that will be used to inform future public health guidance and preventative measures relating to travel on cruise ships.

The Healthy Sail Panel's 65-plus-page report includes 74 detailed best practices to protect the public health and safety of guests, crew and the communities where cruise ships call, according to a statement.

Recommendations include testing, the use of face coverings, and enhanced sanitation procedures on ships and in terminals.

The Panel is chaired by Governor Mike Leavitt, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"The Healthy Sail Panel spent the last four months studying how to better protect the health and safety of guests and crew aboard cruise ships," said Dr. Gottlieb. "Taken as a comprehensive approach, we believe the Panel's robust public health recommendations will help inform strategies for a safe resumption of sailing."

Gov. Leavitt said: "This Panel undertook an ambitious, cross-disciplinary, public health examination to develop standards and guidelines that create the highest level of safety in the complex environment of a cruise ship. We studied the industry's experiences combating the pandemic and we then incorporated the many lessons learned and advances made by medicine and science over the past six months. The Panel's recommendations are grounded in the best scientific and medical information available and are intended to meaningfully mitigate public health risks to those who sail."

"We understand our responsibility to act aggressively to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew, as well as the communities where we sail, and we asked the Panel to help us learn how to best live up to that responsibility," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. "We were inspired by the depth of the Panel's work and their determination to help us establish the strongest protocols in the travel industry."

"The Healthy Sail Panel's recommendations are robust and comprehensive, and they reflect the intense focus the panelists brought to their work," said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. "We know that both authorities around the globe and consumers expect cruise lines to provide the safest, healthiest vacations we can, and this work demonstrates our commitment to doing just that."

Fain and Del Rio said each company will use the Panel's recommendations to inform the development of new, detailed operating protocols, which will be submitted to the CDC and other authorities around the globe for review and approval.

The Panel's work is open sourced for others to incorporate in their protocols as well; Governor Leavitt and Dr. Gottlieb expressed appreciation that authorities and other cruise companies had already engaged in the Panel's work as observers.

The Healthy Sail Panel identified five areas of focus every cruise operator should address to improve health and safety for guests and crew, and reduce the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships:1. Testing, Screening and Exposure Reduction 2. Sanitation and Ventilation 3. Response, Contingency Planning and Execution 4. Destination and Excursion Planning 5. Mitigating Risks for Crew Members

In each category, the Healthy Sail Panel created practical and actionable recommendations to address specific safety concerns. Among the recommendations are key strategies such as: Taking aggressive measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from entering a ship through robust education, screening and testing of both crew and guests prior to embarkation Reducing transmission via air management strategies and enhanced sanitation practices Implementing detailed plans to address positive infection on board, including contingencies for onboard treatment, isolation and rapid evacuation and repatriation Closely controlling shore excursions Enhanced protection for crew members

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Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Reveal the Healthy return of Sailing - Cruise Industry News

This page has been fact checked by an experienced mesothelioma Patient Advocate. Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article.

We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date.

Please Contact Us with any questions or comments.

Asbestos use is in decline, but exposure to this harmful material is still possible, especially in occupational settings. Many victims of exposure have developed mesothelioma, but experts in abatement, prevention, medicine, and advocacy are helping these people and preventing future exposure.

Asbestos is a group of minerals made of silicon and oxygen and with a fibrous structure. People have mined and used asbestos for hundreds of years because of its unique properties:

Asbestos use in the U.S. took off in the late 1800s, but peak asbestos use occurred from the 1930s through the 1970s. Many industries used asbestos in materials, mostly for fireproofing and insulating. Some of the most significant users of asbestos historically were companies that made construction materials and components for ships.

Asbestos did not come under scrutiny until a connection was finally made between exposure to the fibers and poor respiratory health. The first regulations on asbestos use came in the 1970s.

The Environmental Protection Agency banned asbestos completely in 1989, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned it. Today, asbestos use is limited. It still lingers in older materials.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, the tissue lining organs in the body. Asbestos is the leading cause and risk factor, although the link has not always been understood. Mesothelioma can occur around the lungs, in the abdomen, around the heart, or very rarely in the testicles.

Pleural mesothelioma, around the lungs, is the most common type. This is because asbestos exposure typically occurs through inhalation of the fibers. Peritoneal, the abdominal type, is the second most common.

Mesothelioma is aggressive, spreads rapidly, is difficult to treat, and is almost always terminal. Survival rates are relatively low for this cancer.

Doctors first described pleural and peritoneal tumors in the 1700s and 1800s, respectively. A pathologist first used the word mesothelioma in 1920.

The earliest connection experts made to asbestos was in the 1930s. Doctors found that people with asbestosis, scarring in the lungs caused by asbestos fibers, also often had tumors.

In 1960, researchers in South Africa published a paper that linked cancer with mined asbestos. They noted that mesothelioma occurred much more often in the part of the country with asbestos mines.

In 1964, a doctor in the U.S. reported that asbestos insulation workers had high mortality rates from asbestosis and cancer. After these studies, evidence that asbestos causes mesothelioma continued to grow.

Occupational exposure is the main source of asbestos exposure. Secondary exposure from workers who bring fibers home on their clothing and exposure through nearby industries or naturally-occurring asbestos is much less common.

Historically, some of the industries that carried the highest risks of asbestos exposure for workers included:

Today, these jobs are safe, thanks to asbestos regulations. However, asbestos is still used in some materials and lingers in many materials these workers encounter.

All construction workers still face asbestos risks, but especially those in demolition and who repair or renovate older buildings. The same is true of older ships and auto mechanics working with asbestos parts in older cars.

A military career can also cause asbestos exposure, although that risk is much lower today. Nearly one-third of all mesothelioma diagnoses are in veterans. Navy veterans have the highest rates because of the extensive use of asbestos on ships.

The U.S. Veterans Administration offers compensation and healthcare to veterans whose asbestos exposure occurred during service. In addition to world-class care at leading VA hospitals, veterans may also be eligible for disability compensation.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is difficult. The symptoms of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are typically mild until the cancer is advanced:

Many victims of asbestos exposure are misdiagnosed because these symptoms are similar to more common illnesses. Often the true diagnosis comes later, when the cancer is advanced and more difficult to treat.

Diagnosis for mesothelioma typically includes a physical exam; an X-ray to rule out other illnesses; more advanced imaging scans to look for tumors; a biopsy to determine if cells are malignant and part of the mesothelium; and blood tests to look for mesothelioma-specific markers.

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the type, the cell structure, the stage, and the patients health and preferences. Most patients receive some combination of:

Mesothelioma is challenging to treat for several reasons: It is often diagnosed in later stages; the tumors are multiple and small, making surgery a challenge; and the cancer is aggressive and spreads rapidly. Too often, the standard treatments are inadequate to extend life by more than months or a year.

Researchers keep working on newer, better treatments to help patients live longer. Some important advances include:

Asbestos abatement, the safe removal of asbestos materials, is often needed in older buildings constructed during heavy asbestos use. Abatement professionals must be trained to do this skilled work and licensed by the state in which they work.

Homeowners may use home test kits to determine if they have asbestos or call in professionals to do it. Once the presence of asbestos is known, abatement usually follows these steps:

Most asbestos is disposed of, but technological advances may make it possible to recycle materials contaminated with the mineral.

Because asbestos lingers in so many older buildings, abatement professionals will continue to find work. Becoming an abatement professional does not require a degree. Most workers receive on-the-job training and then earn licensing through the appropriate state department. Workers may also become abatement managers with experience and additional training.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for skilled hazardous materials removal workers are growing. Abatement is not limited to asbestos. These workers also handle and remove lead, mold, radioactive materials, and harmful chemicals. Job responsibilities include:

Construction companies, asbestos, and other hazardous materials abatement contractors, government agencies, environmental companies and organizations, and disaster response organizations employ hazmat removal workers.

Abatement professionals play an important role in preventing asbestos exposure. Other professionals work with the victims of exposure who have become ill:

Victims of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, and their loved ones, can benefit from charities, support groups, awareness events, and other resources:

The Meso Foundation began Mesothelioma Awareness Day, which takes place every September 26. The organization hosts nationwide events, and local groups create smaller events to raise awareness for this rare cancer.

The coronavirus pandemic has made life difficult for everyone, but patients with compromising illnesses like mesothelioma are most affected. Patients have felt the impact in a few ways:

Mesothelioma is a terrible diagnosis, and so many cases could have been prevented. Today, professionals who work in abatement, medicine, and non-profit organizations are helping victims and ensuring no one has to suffer from asbestos exposure anymore.

Dave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.

Sources

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Asbestos Awareness and Education - Mesothelioma.net Blog

White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx visited Texas A&M Universitys campus Tuesday and praised its COVID-19 positivity rate, saying its one of the lowest shes seen, but is it really low?

The College Station flagship, which has more than 65,000 students and 10,160 faculty, reported that its weekly positivity rate for its random testing program, which includes student test results collected at special testing sites in the area, was 1.6 percent for the week ending on Sept. 12, according to A&Ms online dashboard. Tests in this program are performed specifically by its Student Health Services in efforts to identify students who are asymptomatic or where there are hotspots for transmission.

Texas A&Ms overall positivity rate, however which includes results of students, faculty and staff was around 10 percent. The college reports that tests factored into this postivity rate are conducted by both its health services and contracted company Curative Inc. within the Bryan-College Station area. The university also reported that more than 600 students and 23 faculty have tested positive this month, and 255 of these cases are still considered active as of Sept. 22.

A White House media representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ten percent seems pretty high to me, said Peter Hotez, co-director of Texas Childrens Hospitals Center for Vaccine Development. Maybe she was looking at the wrong number.

Compared to other Texas colleges, like Rice and Baylor universities, both of which provide their positivity rates and cases online and test both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals like Texas A&M, Texas A&M results are higher.

Birx also visited Auburn University, Louisiana State University, and Virginia Tech University. University of Kentucky, USC, Columbia

Rice, with about 8,000 students, reported a 0.09 percent positivity rate on its dashboard as of Thursday morning. The private Houston college has had 21 people test positive for the virus since Aug. 1 13 of them students and eight of them faculty or staff.

On HoustonChronicle.com: White House official Birx praises A&Ms low COVID-19 rates, vaccine manufacturing

Kevin Kirby, Rice vice president for administration, said positivity rates between different schools can vary depending on the testing strategy. For example, some schools test only those who are symptomatic, which can result in higher positivity rates. At Rice, officials test both those with and without symptoms, which can result in a lower positivity rate.

But Kirby adds that Rice has some structural advantages compared to many larger universities.

For one, Rice is situated next to the Texas Medical Center, which has been a crucial resource when it comes to testing and advice, Kirby said. Additionally, the opportunity and temptation of being around more people or to attend events, which can spread a virus, can be stronger at larger institutions. Rice also doesnt have fraternities and sororities, which Kirby believes has helped.

Rice has also aimed to implement best practices used at colleges around the country, including wearing masks, limiting class sizes, testing and prompt delivery of results. In addition, the college gives students and faculty the option of how they would like to engage in instruction and education, whether it be in-person, remote or hybrid.

Birx also visited Baylor University Monday. The Waco college boasts a 2.6 positivity rate as of Thursday, with 75 active COVID-19 cases reported within its community on Sept. 24 a drastic decline from the 477 cases reported on Sept. 3. Nearly all of its current active cases are students.

Baylor spokesman Jason Cook credits the private Baptist colleges decline to following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidelines on contract tracing, maintain social distancing, and adamant enforcement of masks and face coverings.

Cook said many colleges went into the semester expecting that there would be a spike in cases at some point.

Our students have indicated they want to be on campus for the fall semester and that has been a great motivating factor, Cook said. That desire from students prompted Baylor officials to prepare the college on how it would manage a spike with preventative education, quarantine efforts, and mask wearing.

As a result, Cook said Baylor, which enrolled 19,297 students this fall, has not had any COVID-19 cases linked to classrooms.

A lot of it is the infrastructure of the institution leading into the semester coupled with the ability to institute behavior change, Cook said.

As for Birxs assessment of low COVID-10 positivity rates, Hotez questions whether it is a reliable statement.

The White House Coronavirus Taskforce is such an unreliable source of information, Hotez said. Theres often a heavy political spin on it. Its really hard to sort out whats right, and its getting worse now.

Hotez, who also serves as dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, has predicted that there will be a third peak or surge of the virus later this fall, following the first in April-May and the second peak in Southern states in July-August. The third peak, he said, could be the worst, contributed to colleges and schools reopening for on-campus learning.

Hotez said in some cases U.S. colleges and universities have opened in areas of high transmission and are a bit oblivious to the greater impact on the communities and states that theyre in.

In-person voting in November, considering the restrictions to mail-in voting, could also contribute to an uptick, Hotez said.

Without more awareness and strong leadership, especially in the Southern states, its not going to go well, he said.

brittany.britto@chron.com

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Dr. Birx praised Texas A&Ms low COVID rates. Its higher than both Rice and Baylor. - Houston Chronicle

Jump rope is an easy, minimal-equipment way to get your heart rate up.

Image Credit: Innocenti/Cultura/GettyImages

Combining strength training and cardio in the same workout is a fantastic way to multitask. From increasing endurance to blasting calories to building lean muscle to gaining strength, consider the two a perfect pair.

Strength training builds muscle, which can help boost your metabolism and burn more calories at rest, according to the Mayo Clinic. Cardio, on the other hand, is amazing for supporting heart health, burning calories and increasing the "feel good hormones," such as serotonin, according to a April 2019 study published in Preventative Medicine.

So grab your jump rope and a set of dumbbells and get ready for a heart-pumping, strength building, fat-blasting workout!

Do: each of the exercises below, alternating between jumping rope for 30 to 60 seconds and performing 15 reps of the dumbbell exercise listed. Rest for 30 to 60 seconds before repeating the circuit once more.

The curling motion can be performed three ways: alternating arms, both arms at the same time or one arm at a time.

Don't let your knees go forwards past your toes.

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Combine Cardio and Strength With This 20-Minute Jump Rope and Dumbbell Workout - LIVESTRONG.COM

Ophthalmologists are filling a critical role in the collaborative management of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who are receiving belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep), said Shaily Shah, MD, who added that the potential ocular toxicities that can occur with the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) require consistent screening and management.

As a junior attending, what opened my eyes has been how incredible the field of medicine is in general, and how eager people are to work together to do what is best for the patient, Shah said. It is very exciting, in general, [that] oncology is a multidisciplinary specialty.

On August 5, 2020, the FDA approved belantamab mafodotin for use in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received 4 prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory drug, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 agent.1

Findings from the DREAMM-2 trial, which served as the basis for the approval, demonstrated a 31% overall response rate (ORR) with the recommended 2.5 mg/kg dose of belantamab mafodotin (n = 97).2 The ORR was 34% among patients who received the 3.4-mg/kg dose (n = 99).

Grade 3/4 keratopathy was observed in 27% of patients who received the 2.5 mg/kg dose versus 21% of patients who received the 3.4 mg/kg dose.

At 13 months of follow-up, deep responses were seen; more than half of responders in the 2.5 mg/kg (58%) and 3.4 mg/kg groups (66%) achieved a very good partial response or better.3

No new safety signals were identified with longer-term follow-up. Although keratopathy was common, only 6 patients discontinued treatment due to corneal events, suggesting that they were well managed with dose modifications.

According to Shah, with this ocular safety signal, patients treated with belantamab mafodotin should receive prophylactic treatment for dry eye, as well as have routine eye examinations to ensure ocular changes are identified early.

There is still a lot to be learned here, said Shah. Of course, the studies have been done, but now that belantamab mafodotin is going to be prescribed on a larger scale, there is going to be so much that we learn specifically regarding that agent, as well as how we can improve collaborative management for these patients.

In an interview with OncLive, Shah, an assistant attending ophthalmologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine, discussed disease and treatment-related ocular toxicities that can arise in patients with cancer, specific management strategies for patients receiving belantamab mafodotin who develop ocular toxicities, and the importance of collaborative management of these patients.

OncLive: What is the frequency of disease-related ocular toxicities among patients with cancer?

Shah: I dont have an exact percentage offhand, but [ocular toxicities] are more common than one may think. Oftentimes, it is not related to the cancer itself but, there are certain types of cancers that manifest with ocular findings, such as some lymphomas and leukemias. Multiple myeloma in itself can produce crystalline keratopathy, but it is uncommon that we see that.

How frequently are treatment-related ocular toxicities observed in oncology?

Treatment-related adverse effects (TRAEs) are fairly common to see. At Cornell, we are right next to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, so we see quite a few patients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), as well as patients who have received bone marrow transplants for leukemia. Those patients will often develop significant ocular toxicity from their systemic GVHD. Patients will sometimes come in with severe dry eye, lack of tear production, corneal haze, or corneal opacities. Patients could eventually develop limbal stem cell deficiency and go down a path of significantly decreased quality of life and visual acuity.

We have gotten good at having a protocol in place for our patients with GVHD. We know that patients may not respond to typical dry eye management, so we have steps to help them.

There are also certain medications such as chemotherapeutic agents that can cause cancer treatment-related ocular toxicities. We know that treating breast cancer with tamoxifen can cause retinopathychanges in the retina of the eye where crystal-type deposits [form] in the macula.

We may also see radiation-related toxicities in patients who had radiation near the face or around the chest and neck. Oftentimes, these patients will have problems with their tear ducts, tear drainage system, and sometimes, their tear production glands. They may develop significant dry eye either from scarring of the eyelids where they cant blink easily and the eyes dry out from exposure, or from a problem with tear production or drainage.

What ocular toxicities have been observed with belantamab mafodotin specifically? What sort of issues could arise if these AEs are not managed correctly?

Certainly, now with [the approval of] belantamab mafodotin, we have been seeing corneal toxicities [in patients with myeloma]. Throughout the clinical [trial] process for belantamab mafodotin with the DREAMM-1 and DREAMM-2 studies, the ocular toxicities [observed were] specific to the ocular surface. When [investigators] studied that further, they found that it [has] a corneal epithelial pathology. The cornea is the most superficial layer of the eye, and the epithelium is the most superficial layer of the cornea. Therefore, it is really [on] the most superficial layer of the ocular surface that we are seeing the majority of these toxicities.

Even just being confined to 1 portion of the tissue, the range of symptoms that the patient can feel is broad. Patients could be completely asymptomatic [although] the [ocular] changes are seen on the exam from the physicians standpoint, or the exam may not show changes, but the patient could have significant ocular surface-related complaints.

In general, these complaints will be similar to dry eyerelated complaints, including burning, grittiness, a foreign body or sandy sensation, an achy sensation, redness, and significant tearing. Oftentimes, patients may experience decreased visual acuity, so they may come in with complaints of blurred vision.

Our exam findings can range from no findings at all, to mild or moderate dry eye. We would see signs of dryness on the surface exam where a dye used to stain the surface of the cornea can pick up changes that correlate with dry eye and highlight dry spots in the corneal epithelium.

In terms of parameters, we look at whether there are any staining patterns. Are there any punctate epithelial erosions? An interesting finding that we have seen, and that was reported after the DREAMM-1 and DREAMM-2 studies, is microcystic keratopathy. These are small microcysts that we can see just underneath the surface layer of the epithelium.

[Microcysts] usually start in the periphery of the cornea and work their way in toward the center. That is consistent with what the studies had shown. Initially, the 2 patients I had seen who developed microcysts were completely asymptomatic. They came in for a routine follow-up with no visual complaints and their vision hadnt changed on their exams. It was an incidental finding.

Corneal exams [can also show] corneal haze. Again, this very fine opacity starts around the edges of the cornea and can eventually progress to the center. Sometimes the exam findings are correlated with patient symptoms such as blurred vision or discomfort, but again, patients may be completely asymptomatic.

It is important to screen these patients. If they do not have symptoms, they wont necessarily come in of their own accord. We have a great system in place where right before every infusion, we see patients for screening exams.

If a patient on belantamab mafodotin does develop ocular toxicities, what are some of the management strategies that can be used to treat these AEs?

With this expanded access [program] that I have been part of at Cornell through GlaxoSmithKline, the protocol that we have in place is to treat our patients prophylactically with artificial tears. We will start patients on preservative-free artificial tears anywhere from 4 to 6 times a day, or more if patients get [relief] from them. The idea is to lubricate the eyes and keep them as healthy and wet as possible to try to minimize discomfort and surface level toxicity.

One of the proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms for why corneal toxicity occurs is that some of the drug may be carried in through the tear film of the patient. Then every time that patient blinks and produces tears, the drug sits on the surface of their eye. In addition to keeping patients comfortable and preventing dry eye symptoms, artificial treats help to dilute their natural tear film and potentially prevent toxicity from building up.

Even if patients dont have dry eye, but they have any other eye conditions that can contribute to dry eye such as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), I will oftentimes have them start treatment for that ahead of time. The treatment [for MGD] is simple. At home, patients are asked to use warm compresses to try to open up the glands to increase oil production and improve the quality of their natural tears.

At this point, most treatment is preventative, and we try to maximize patients ocular health before they even start treatment. As soon as I see them for screening, I will go over the details of what the [potential] toxicities are and why it is so important to start these preventative treatments.

Additionally, some studies have shown that putting a cold compress on the eye during the time of infusion can increase patients comfort levels and potentially improve the ocular toxicity profile. That is also something that is built into our protocol.

How do these ocular toxicities affect the use of belantamab mafodotin?

It depends on the level of toxicity the patient is experiencing. If patients have mild toxicity with a little bit of dry eye on the exam, no significant haze, no microcysts, and they are asymptomatic, we would call that grade 1 toxicity. Patients can usually continue with their treatment as planned.

If they start to develop peripheral microcystic changes or corneal haze, with or without changes in their visual acuity, oftentimes we will dose reduce or halt the next dose of belantamab mafodotin until they resolve back to grade 1 or baseline.

If a patient has cysts in the central portion of their cornea, their vision has [declined] significantly, or they have haze in the center of their cornea, those are definite indications to hold the next treatment. If patients get back to a certain healthy baseline, we can start belantamab mafodotin at either a decreased dose or full dose depending on the patients corneal health.

In the DREAMM-2 study, [investigators] evaluated whether the use of corticosteroids would help in [preventing the] development of these changes. The toxicities associated with a drug are often thought to be related to the inflammation that they induce in a certain tissue.

However, it was found that prophylactic corticosteroid use did not make a difference in the ocular toxicity profile, so that is no longer recommended for patients starting on belantamab mafodotin.

Could you speak to the collaborative efforts required between oncologists and ophthalmologists to manage patients receiving belantamab mafodotin?

One of the really beautiful things about the expanded access protocol, as well as the DREAMM-1 and DREAMM-2 studies and the FDA approval, is that it encourages and requires collaborative management of patients. It is about collaborating with the patient, their oncology team, including the infusion specialist, nurses, pharmacists, and the ophthalmology team.

With the FDA approval, [we have seen] a lot of outreach into the community [regarding this agent and this collaboration]. Community oncologists are going to be prescribing this medication now, so community oncologists and community ophthalmologists [need to be educated on] what these toxicities are, how frequently patients should be screened, and how frequent follow-ups should be. The lines of communication between the ophthalmology team and the oncology team need to be kept open.

What are some of the challenges that remain in this space?

In an academic center, it is much easier to collaborate with other departments. For example, the ophthalmology department is in full collaboration with the oncology department [at Cornell] so that we can get these patients seen quickly and get the [treatment] decision over to the oncology department. Once community doctors are prescribing belantamab mafodotin more, the challenge will be getting patients quickly to an ophthalmologist or having ophthalmologists ready to see these patients. Additionally, making sure that the ophthalmologists are communicating efficiently, quickly, and clearly to the oncology team could become a challenge as well.

What would you like to emphasize regarding the management of ocular toxicities among patients receiving belantamab mafodotin?

The most important thing is to make sure that all parties are equally aware of the importance of communication with one another, as well as communication with the patient. Oftentimes, patients [receiving belantamab mafodotin] may feel like this drug is their last resort. Patients may ignore certain AEs that they are having or may not be aware of what AEs are important [to report]. Keeping those lines of communication open, not just among providers, but with the patient, as well as educating patients on the potential toxicities that could manifest is important. Additionally, making sure that patients follow up with the ophthalmologist, even if they are asymptomatic, is important.

It is a really exciting time because it affords us, as ophthalmologists, the opportunity to collaborate on a truly systemic disease. It is also exciting to be able to be part of a larger treatment team and to work within other specialties.

References:

See the article here:
From the Ophthalmologist's Eye: Managing Ocular Toxicities With Belantamab Mafodotin in Myeloma - OncLive

"Hey, baby!" my wife Caron said, smiling her way into the room. "The Health Departmentis doing free COVID tests on the church parking lot! Would you like to get one?"

What I thought:Isn't the best place to catch COVID a test site where people go to see if they have COIVD and be tested by people who test people for COVID all day? I'd rather attend a Trump rally in Alabamawearing my Huey P. Newton T-shirt and carrying a Black Lives Matter picket sign.

What I said:"I mean, we don't have any symptoms. I don't really wanna be around a bunch of people. But we can go if you want, baby."

"We'll go early on Friday!" she said, exiting with the same smile.

The old me would never voluntarily go and get a COVID test when I felt fine. I'd wait until my body performed each and every symptom across the board,from the feverand the shortness of breathto the inability to taste food. One or two symptoms wouldn't be good enough, either I'd have to have them allat the same time. Only then would I seek treatment.

This is how I was raised.I come from the school of you don't go to the hospital unless you're dying, even if you do have insurance. You could getshot, break a leg, or have your index finger swallowed by a lawnmower, doesn't matter: just drink some water or some ginger ale, take a nap and you'll be good in the morning.But I'm trying to be better now, and I'm encouraging the men around me to do the same.

By trying, I mean I havea primary care physician so I'm no longer playing Russian Roulette in the ER when I feel bad. I getannual physicals. Iaim to hit the dentist twice a year, when the pandemic isn't stopping me. And I actually listen to what these professionals say, keeping all of my self-diagnoses and Googled explanations for what's happing to my body to myself.

I also ride about 13 miles a day on my Peloton bike. I'm all in:wearingmy Peloton T-shirt, learning from my instructors, adopting their breathing techniques andpositive outlooks, reciting their motivational quotes with religious intensity.When confronted with life's annoying hurdles like systemic racism, I tell myself,"if you can conquer this 45-minute Hip Hop Arms and Intervals ride, you can conquer anything!"

I have not been perfect. I need to do better;we all do.But when news of Chadwick Boseman's death flashed across thescreen,I dropped my phone. The "Black Panther" star a manliterally built like a superhero was only 43, at the height of his career, and gone in the blink of an eye due to colon cancer.

Obviously thePeloton lifestyleisn't going to prevent me from getting coloncancer. But most of the men I know aren't being tested regularly, if they're even going in for check-ups at all. For men who were raised not to seek professional treatmenteven when they can feel or see something's wrong, preventative medicine often isn't even on the radar.We don't evenget the opportunity to fight these deadly illnesses before it's too late.

* * *

On the way to the testing site I thought about the ways I would respond if I tested positive for COVID or if my wife did. What if our baby was sick? What would that nightmare look like?The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to go.A test had the power to make a hypotheticalreal. Images of infants strapped to ventilators spiraled through my head as we pulled into the parking lot. I tried to calmmyself by remembering that we had no symptoms, even though there are asymptomatic people out right now spreading the virus around the world.

"Let me go first?" I asked my wife. "You can stay in the car with the baby. I'll get a feel for the test and tell you if it's weird or not."

She agreed. I put on my mask, flooded my hands and forearms with enough sanitizer to sting, exited our truck and took my place on line with the rest of the COVID-curious.

* * *

My distrust of medicine didn't come out of left field. I know how Black people have been treated since the beginning of American medicine. We'vebeen used as guinea pigs throughout its history, from Dr. James Marion Sims' brutal treatment ofenslaved womenduringthe invention of the vaginal speculum and the neonatal tetanus experiments he performedon enslaved babies, in which he beat holes into their heads with a shoemaker's awl,to the "Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male," in which white scientists lied to Black men saying that they were treating them for"bad blood" when they were actually watching them suffer. I carry that history with me into every exam room.

Many Black people see going to be tested or treated for COVID-19 as a death sentence, since conditions like asthma, which we are most likely to have because the air quality in our neighborhoods is poorer, and diabetes, which we are more likely to have because Black Americanshistorically have not had equal access tohealthy food, puts us more at risk for developing potentially fatal cases.

My college friend Cliff often posted on Facebook about poverty, inequality, and how Black people are treated in America. Cliff died from COVID-19."In poverty, there is a lack of access," Cliff wrote in response to a friend the day before he passed. "I grew up and live in West Baltimore. How many hospitals do we have? Two. Think of that. Two hospitals (Sinai and Bon Secours) for the ENTIRE West Baltimore. So, when you look at things like testing and treatment and combine them with things like access, you can clearly see how poverty plays a factor into who gets treated and who doesn't."

The increased likelihood ofcomplicating health factors and a systemic lack of access to quality care make Black people especially vulnerable to the coronavirus. But somany can't just chill in quarantine and #StayAtHome because they have to go to work in jobs designatedas "essential," which comes with an increasedlikelihood of contact with the virus. (The irony here is that America certainly doesn't treat Black people like we are "essential," as in "worth protecting.")All of the mail carriers, Amazon delivery drivers, and app courierswhose services help me stay at home to ride my Peloton and worry about my missed dentist appointment are Black.As usual, Black people are on the frontlines fighting for a country that kills us in multiple ways.

* * *

"Sir, fill this form out, front and back," a bubbly woman dressed in scrubs said, passing me a pen and a clipboard.

The line moved fast, with only about fivepeople in front of me. By the time I finished completing the form, another woman wearing a different color of scrubs walked toward me with a long Q-tipaimed at my nostril. Slowly, she inserted the Q-tip deep into my nose, swabbed around, then placed it into a bag and told me to have a good day. I watched her walk off because I wanted to see what she did with my sample. The woman laughed her way over to a sample collector insidea huge van that looked like a clinic on wheels, and then I watched her prepare for testing the next person by pouring hand sanitizer on her hands without removing the gloves she wore while testing me.

I flippedout.

It's called hand sanitizer, not latex glove sanitizer!I panicked.All of the residual distrust of medicine and health care and doctors and hospitals flooded back into my brain.She probably just gave me COVID!

I wanted to walk over to her and yell, "That is the nastiest, most unsanitary display of carelessness I ever saw in my life!"

But I remembered my breathing techniques, my positive outlook.I tapped into the new healthy me.

"Shut ya mouth, D. Watkins,"I mumbled instead on the way back to our truck. "Asking her why she didn't change gloves and not getting a satisfying response will only ruin your day."

The new healthy me had taken COVID-19 more seriously than anyone I knew. "Prepare for a lockdown! Load up on canned goods and Lysol wipes!" I had ranted to my friends and family like a maniacas quarantine approached.I just knew we were headed straight toward crazy times.

Before coronavirus, we had family and friends over daily.But six months ago we shut everything down anddecided to stay away from everyone. My daughter Cross was only three months old at the time, which means she can't say "my chest hurts" or "I'velost my sense of taste," so we took every precaution in our household, even breaking family members' hearts by telling them they couldn't see the baby until this is over.

Happy-go-lucky neighbors who intruded our six-foot imaginary bubble were told to get the f**k back.Groceries and other packages were disinfected as soon as they hit our doorsteps. We left the house only to take car rides.No meet-ups, no house parties, no quick visits to anywhere. And now I can't even trust the results of a test I didn't want to go take.

"What's wrong with you?" my wife asked. "Why you'd stand there like that?"

I inhaled, then exhaled, and calmly said, "CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT CHANGING THEIR $*%& GLOVES!"

"The health department is in charge of this," my wife said.

Was that supposed to make me feel better or worse?

"They should know better!" she said.

Then Caron morphed into full Karen mode. She was going to take the test, investigate, check their glove strategy, make sure they were clean and doing their jobs. And if they failed to meet what she thought the standard should be, then she was going to deliver the most devastating blow an agency could face from a person like her: My wife was going to write a letter.

She hopped out of the truck and marched toward the testing site. I looked at Crosssitting snug in her car seat and said, "Mommy is on a mission. They're in trouble now!"

Caron marched back to the truck about five minutes later looking as unhappy as I was. "The woman told me that they sanitize their gloves, and then double-glove for extra safety."

Double-glove?! I took a huge 45-minute Hip Hop Cycling inhale anda smooth 20-minute Rhythm & Blues exhale.

Then I directed my anger toward the health departmentfor allowing such sloppy practices at a community testing site. And thought about Cliff, and the new healthy me, all of my work-outs andsalads and dental appointments, and how we live in a country that claims it's a superpower even though our so-called leader shows no remorse for the 190,000 people who died of COVIDunder his watch. I thought of those 190,000 people too. Maybe a new healthy me doesn't even matter maybe my race and social context have already sealed my fate, my family'sfate.

I imagine Caron was already drafting the letter inside of her head as we headed home.

"I'm not worried," I reassured her. "You shouldn't be worried.We don't have any symptoms.I'm fine, you're fine, the baby will be fine. We will not let them ruin our weekend."

And it didn't. We had a pretty good weekend Idid my daily digital bike ride and forgot about the test until the following Monday.

We were having a classic clichd Black American Labor Day:Caron on the deck grilling, baby Cross in her tiny inflatable pool, and me eating crabs with my parents, trying to explain to my mom why Jay-Z's music is so much better and more important than all of the Luther Vandrossand Mahalia Jacksonsongs together.

Then Caron got the call from an unfamiliar number that turned out to be the health department. "Call us back," the voicemail said."We have very important information about your health."

When we filled out our forms, we elected to be notified by text for negative results, not letter or phone call. If they were calling us on a holiday, it had to be bad news.

"What do you think we should do?" Caron asked.

Then I noticed I had a missed call, too. Same number, same woman's voice, same message. I dialed it back and the call went straight to voicemail. I called back, then again, and again I might have redialed like 16 times only to get the same result.

"Should we ask your parents to leave?" Caron asked me. "This is really anxiety provoking."

Both of my parents are high-risk for COVID.They fitinto those preexisting conditions categories, especially my dad who recently received a kidney transplant. Before that, hehad his gallbladder removed, and before that, a piece of his liver removed, and something was done to his spleen before that all while juggling high blood pressure and diabetes.

But myparents weren't worried.We continued with our day, even though that terrible message from the health department festered inside both of our heads for the rest of the night. We receivedanother round of voicemails later that evening, too, putting us both on edgeuntil the next morningwhenwe finally got the health department on the phone and were informed that we had both tested negative.

Emotions soared. I thanked God and Peloton.

"Why did you decide to get a Covid test, Mr. Watkins?" the woman from the Health Department asked me.

I hung up on her.

Caron was already working on her letter.

Apparently my precautions areworking,so I'll continue to mask up,wash my hands every two minutes and encourage others to do the same. Realizing that I can calm myself down and work to keep my coolthrough this stressful period has been an unexpected reward.I can't imagine what my reaction would have been if we had tested positive, but I hope it would have been to keep doing what's right. The new healthy me is worthless if I only focus on my body and ignore my mindset, my outlook on life and the way that I treat other people, especially in times of crisis.

Continue reading here:
The new healthy me is still Black in COVID's America - Salon

With a lack of certainty surrounding the future, being and feeling healthy may help bring the security that you need during these unpredictable times.

When it comes to your health, there is a direct relationship between nutrition and physical activity that play an enormous part in physical, mental, and social well-being. As COVID-19 continues to impact almost every aspect of our lives, the uncertainty of the future may seem looming. Sometimes improvisation is necessary, and understanding how to stay healthy and fit can significantly help you manage your well-being during these times.

Gyms, group fitness studios, trainers, and professionals can help you to lay out a plan that will either keep you on track through all of the changes and restrictions or help you to get back on the ball so that all of your health objectives are met.

Most facilities and providers are setting plans to provide for their clients and customers to accommodate the unpredictable future. The key to remaining consistent is to have solid plans in place. This means setting a plan A, plan B, and perhaps even a plan C. An enormous amount is on the table for this coming fall and winter; if your gym closes again, what is your plan? If outdoor exercising is not an option due to the weather, what is your plan? Leaving things to chance will significantly increase your chances of falling off of your regimen and will make consistency a big problem.

The key to remaining consistent is to have solid plans in place. This means setting a plan A, plan B, and perhaps even a plan C.

The rise of stress and anxiety as a result of the uncertainty around COVID-19 has affected everyone in some way. Staying active by exercising helps alleviate stress by releasing chemicals like serotonin and endorphins in your brain. In turn, these released chemicals can help improve your mood and even reduce risk of depression and cognitive decline. Additionally, physical activity can help boost your immune system and provide long term health benefits.

With the new work-from-home norm, it can be easy to bypass how much time you are spending sedentary. Be aware of your sitting time and balance it with activity. Struggling to find ways to stay active? Start simple with activities like going for a walk outside, doing a few reps in exchange for extra Netflix time, or even setting an alarm to move during your workday.

If you, like many others during the pandemic shift, have taken some time off of your normal fitness routine, don't push yourself to dive in head first, as this may lead to burnout, injury, and soreness. Plan to start at 50 percent of the volume and intensity of prior workouts when you return to the gym. Inactivity eats away at muscle mass, so rather than focusing on cardio, head to the weights or resistance bands and work on rebuilding your strength.

Be aware of your sitting time and balance it with activity.

In a study published earlier this year, researchers found drug-resistant bacteria, the flu virus, and other pathogens on about 25 percent of the surfaces they tested in multiple athletic training facilities. Even with heightened gym cleaning procedures in place for many facilities, if you are returning to the gym, ensuring that you disinfect any surfaces before and after using them is key.

When spraying disinfectant, wait a few minutes to kill the germs before wiping down the equipment. Also, don't forget to wash your hands frequently. In an enclosed space where many people are breathing heavier than usual, this can allow for a possible increase in virus droplets, so make sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Staying in the know and preparing for new gym policies will make it easy to return to these types of facilities as protocols and mutual respect can be agreed upon.

From work to working out, many routines have faltered during the COVID pandemic. If getting back into the routine seems daunting, investing in a new exercise machine, trainer, or small gadget can help to motivate you. Whether it's a larger investment such as a Peloton, a smaller device such as a Fitbit, or simply a great trainer, something new and fresh is always a great stimulus and motivator.

Make sure that when you do wake up well-rested, you are getting out of your pajamas and starting your day with a morning routine.

Just because you are working from home with a computer available 24/7 doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your entire day to work. Setting work hours, just as you would in the office, can help you to stay focused and productive.

A good night's sleep is also integral to obtaining and maintaining a healthy and effective routine. Adults need seven or more hours of sleep per night for their best health and wellbeing, so prioritizing your sleep schedule can drastically improve your day and is an important factor to staying healthy. Make sure that when you do wake up well-rested, you are getting out of your pajamas and starting your day with a morning routine. This can help the rest of your day feel normal while the uncertainty of working from home continues.

In addition to having a well-rounded daily routine, eating at scheduled times throughout the day can help decrease poor food choices and unhealthy cravings. Understanding the nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy can help you stay more alert, but they do vary from person to person. If you are unsure of your suggested nutritional intake, check out a nutrition calculator.

If you are someone that prefers smaller meals and more snacks throughout the day, make sure you have plenty of healthy options, like fruits, vegetables and lean proteins available (an apple a day keeps the hospital away). While you may spend most of your time from home, meal prepping and planning can make your day flow easier without having to take a break to make an entire meal in the middle of your work day. Most importantly, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

While focusing on daily habits and routines to improve your physical health is important, it is also a great time to turn inward and check in with yourself. Perhaps your anxiety has increased and it's impacting your work or day-to-day life. Determining the cause and taking proactive steps toward mitigating these occurrences are important.

For example, with the increase in handwashing, this can also be a great time to practice mini meditation sessions by focusing on taking deep breaths. This can reduce anxiety and even lower your blood pressure. Keeping a journal and writing out your daily thoughts or worries can also help manage stress during unpredictable times, too.

While the future of COVI9-19 and our lives may be unpredictable, you can manage your personal uncertainties by focusing on improving the lifestyle factors you can controlfrom staying active to having a routine and focusing on your mental healthto make sure that you emerge from this pandemic as your same old self or maybe even better.

See the rest here:
5 Most Desirable Medical Specialities Around the Globe - SWAAY

Doctors and experts say that improved medical tactics and earlier treatment are helping improve the outcomes for very sick patients, said Andrew Badley, head of Mayo Clinics Covid Research Task Force.

Health-care preparedness today is much better than it was in February and March, Badley said in an interview. We have better and more rapid access to diagnosis. We have more knowledge about what drugs to use and what drugs not to use. We have more experimental treatments available. All of those contribute to possible improvements in the mortality rate.

One study looked at 4,689 Covid-19 hospitalizations from March to June in New York, adjusting patients mortality rate for factors such as age, race, obesity and any underlying illnesses they might have had. In the first half of March, the mortality rate for hospitalized patients was 23%. By June, it had fallen to 8%. The research hasnt yet been peer-reviewed, a process through which other experts examine the work.

Despite the gains, the U.S. will soon pass 200,000 deaths, and tens of thousands of Americans are confirmed infected each day. The number killed by the disease is still in large part a factor of how many are infected in the first place -- the more people who get sick, the more die. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has emphasized that a mask is still the best available protection from the virus for most people. And experts warn that the virus is still very dangerous and can kill even seemingly healthy individuals.

Even with these improvements, this is not a benign disease, said Leora Horwitz, an associate professor of population health and medicine at New York Universitys Grossman School of Medicine who conducted the New York study of Covid-19 hospitalizations. This does not mean that coronavirus is now a non-dangerous disease. It remains a very serious threat to public health.

Public-health officials, epidemiologists, amateur observers and others have watched as the pandemic has unfolded, looking for how to measure the viruss deadliness. Tallying deaths as a percentage of the greater population sheds light on the scope of the pandemic. Excess mortality compares fatalities to what the death rate is expected to be. But neither method offers insight into whether the virus is becoming more or less deadly for an individual with a severe case.

Even looking at deaths per the number of confirmed cases can be misleading as the result is largely a function of testing, experts say. If many mild or asymptomatic cases are captured, mortality rates will be skewed lower. In Europe, for example, there are anecdotal signs of a similar trend, though much of the lower death rate may be because of more cases being found in younger, healthier people. More infections in young people are being found in the U.S., as well.

You have to understand who youre testing and then what the real fatality rate is for that demographic, said Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital.

There is even a hypothesis that public health-measures like mask-wearing and distancing can help decrease the amount of virus people are getting infected with, leading to less severe cases because the body isnt overwhelmed with a large dose of virus at once.

Even though theyre getting infected with the virus, perhaps they are getting less of a dose of the virus and so theyre just getting less sick from it, Horwitz said.

In New York, the first major U.S. city hit hard by the virus, knowledge among doctors was limited as cases poured into emergency rooms this spring. There have been more than 27,000 confirmed and probable Covid-19 deaths in the city, the bulk of them at the peak of the outbreak there in March and April.

As the outbreak moved on to other parts of the country, such as Texas, health-care workers had more time to prepare and learn what works.

We kind of had a play book before we even started seeing any patients in Texas, said Robert Hancock president of Texas College of Emergency Physicians. We understand the things that work at this point with Covid much better.

Since March, doctors have learned valuable lessons, not only about how to ensure hospitals dont run out of ICU beds and ventilators, but also that flipping a patient onto their stomach, known as prone positioning, can help. Giving patients steroids early on and treating them with blood thinners can also improve someones prognosis.

Now that we know that we might need to start these patients on blood thinners and Heparin pretty quickly, thats helping, said Diana L. Fite, president of the Texas Medical Association. A lot of these deaths from Covid are because of the blood coagulation; the blood clots ruin their organs.

Though there is still no cure for the coronavirus, all of the improvements in treatment and preventative measures combined contributes toward an improved prognosis for patients, Fite said. In Texas, there have been at least 14,590 deaths from the virus, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Even if these things arent cures, they help a small percentage do better, Fite said. You add several of those things up and youve got a better outcome overall.

Original post:
COVID-19 grows less deadly as doctors gain practice and drugs improve - The Boston Globe

Eli Lilly said it planned to discuss with regulators the possible emergency use of baricitinib for hospitalized patients. Other news is about early research on an antibody that might neutralize COVID and how the virus controls the brain, as well.

AP:Anti-Inflammatory Drug May Shorten COVID-19 Recovery TimeA drug company says that adding an anti-inflammatory medicine to a drug already widely used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients shortens their time to recovery by an additional day. Eli Lilly announced the results Monday from a 1,000-person study sponsored by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The study tested baricitinib, a pill that Indianapolis-based Lilly already sells as Olumiant to treat rheumatoid arthritis. (Marchione, 9/14)

The Hill:Drugmaker Says Anti-Inflamatory Medicine May Shorten COVID-19 Recovery TimeThe use of Baricitinib, arheumatoidarthritis drug from Eli Lilly, led to a one-day reduction in recovery time for patients when combined with Remdesivir compared to patients who only took Remdesivir, according to a trial. The finding was statistically significant, Eli Lilly said in a statement. The company did not release the full results of the study but stated the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is expected to publish full results in peer-review studies and that additional analyses are ongoing to understand clinical outcome data, including safety and morbidity data. (9/14)

In other scientific developments

Fox News:University Of Pittsburgh Scientists Discover Antibody That 'neutralizes' Virus That Causes CoronavirusScientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have isolated the smallest biological molecule that completely and specifically neutralizes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the novel coronavirus. The antibody component is 10 times smaller than a full-sized antibody, and has been used to create the drug Ab8, shared in the report published by the researchers in the journal Cell on Monday. The drug is seen as a potential preventative against SARS-CoV-2. (Deabler, 9/14)

Fox News:Coronavirus Can 'Hijack' Brain Cells To Replicate Itself, Yale Researchers DiscoverThe coronavirus can affect the brain and hijack brain cells to replicate itself, Yale University researchers have discovered. A new study from Yale University, on BioRXiv, which is awaiting peer review, found that the brain is another organ susceptible to an attack by the novel coronavirus. (McGorry, 9/14)

Stat:23andMe Research Finds Possible Link Between Blood Type And Covid-19A forthcoming study from genetic testing giant 23andMe shows that a persons genetic code could be connected to how likely they are to catch Covid-19 and how severely they could experience the disease if they catch it. Its an important confirmation of earlier work on the subject. People whose blood group is O seemed to test positive for Covid-19 less often than expected when compared to people with any other blood group, according to 23andMes data; people who tested positive and had a specific variant of another gene also seemed to be more likely to have serious respiratory symptoms. (Sheridan, 9/14)

Originally posted here:
Drug Company Touts Anti-Inflammatory Drug's Role In Shortening COVID Recovery - Kaiser Health News

Interview by Nicole Aschoff

For the better part of a year the world has battled SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that has killed nearly a million people and sickened tens of millions. In the United States the virus has wreaked havoc, particularly on older members of the population. Americans aged fifty-five and older account for more than 90 percent of the nearly two hundred thousand US COVID-19 deaths, while roughly 0.2 percent were people under twenty-five.

Efforts to quell the virus have brought additional pain. As of late August, roughly nineteen million Americans were out of work as a result of the pandemic, and food and housing insecurity has increased dramatically. But the pain caused by lockdowns has not been shared equally.

Elites have seen their stock portfolios balloon in value, and many professionals have been able to keep their jobs by working from home. It is the countrys poor and working-class households, particularly those with children, who have borne a disproportionate share of the burden. Lower-income Americans were much more likely to be forced to work in unsafe conditions, to have lost their livelihoods due to business and school shutdowns, or to be unable to learn remotely.

Jacobin editorial board member Nicole Aschoff sat down with two public health experts to discuss the challenge of keeping Americans safe without forcing working people to bear the lions share of pain and risk.

Katherine Yih is a biologist and epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School where she specializes in infectious disease epidemiology, immunization, and post-licensure vaccine safety surveillance. Yih is also a founding member of the New World Agriculture and Ecology Group, a former and current member of Science for the People, and a long-time activist in farm labor and anti-imperialist struggles.

Martin Kulldorff is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Kulldorff has developed methods for the detection and monitoring of infectious disease outbreaks which are used by public health departments around the world. Since April, he has been an active participant in the COVID-19 strategy debate in the United States, his native Sweden, and elsewhere. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Read more here:
We Need a Radically Different Approach to the Pandemic and Our Economy as a Whole - Jacobin magazine

I have a warm heart for our community. As a NEPA native, Im inspired by the ways The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and our larger community have navigated together this unprecedented and very challenging time of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a longtime, passionate primary care provider and medical educator, I am especially proud to be witnessing and experiencing the very best of what Ive always known about the noble profession of medicine: that the people maintaining the front lines of health care delivery do so for all the right reasons, striving to serve humanity with an abundance of courage, care and compassion, especially for the most vulnerable among us.

With World Heart Day coming up on Sept. 29, its important to acknowledge that although we dont know what the ongoing public health crisis still has in store for us, there is no doubt that taking care of ourselves and each other and promoting cardiovascular health are just as important as ever.

According to the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death on our planet, and its primary causes are all too familiar to our regional community: smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Heart failure which happens when the heart fails to pump enough blood to the body and brain, resulting in symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue and swollen limbs affects 26 million worldwide and it is the top cause of hospitalization. Most concerning at this time is that people with underlying conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, are most vulnerable to complications and death from COVID-19.

And yet one of the most troubling trends during the pandemic has been that many patients, including those with cardiovascular issues, have been avoiding routine medical care, preventative immunizations and even foregoing emergency room visits for fear of contracting the novel coronavirus within our healthcare systems.

Its absolutely critical that we tackle the double-edged threats cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 pose through raising awareness and promoting prevention and early detection, while offering reassurance. As everyone remains vigilant about staying safe and slowing transmission of the virus by wearing face masks, washing their hands frequently and continuing social distancing, I want to make sure the message is loud and clear that your primary care and specialty doctors offices and hospital emergency rooms are safe.

Please keep your health care on track, including timely acute and chronic disease management visits and also vaccination and cancer screening prevention services. The risks of undertreated hypertension and diabetes and untreated heart attacks and stroke far outweigh the risks of contacting COVID-19. And in times of cardiovascular troubles like heart attacks or strokes, every second counts.

The biggest keys to fighting cardiovascular disease education and prevention through healthy lifestyle behaviors are at the heart of two major Wright Center innovations aimed at enhancing the quality of and lengthening the lives of people in NEPA and across the country.

One is relatively brand new. Our Lifestyle Medicine initiative launched this summer as both a focused field of study for our resident doctors and fellows, as well as a key component of our patient-centered care for all routine clinical visits.

The other initiative is celebrating its 10th anniversary: our pioneering Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, which launched in response to NEPAs well-documented cardiovascular health needs under the leadership of Dr. Samir Pancholy, with support from Geisinger, the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Commonwealth Health System.

Lifestyle Medicine encourages prevention by empowering patients to make better choices. We can look after our hearts and help to prevent cardiovascular disease by eating a healthy diet, saying no to tobacco and other risky substances, and getting plenty of sleep and exercise.

Our Cardiology Fellowship, meanwhile, trains doctors in community-based and hospital settings throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Over the course of their years in the program, fellows train one-on-one with our globally and nationally recognized, NEPA-based, board-certified cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Under our distinguished facultys guidance and on rotations through cardiac consultations, cardiac care units, cardiac catheterization and cardiovascular surgeries, our fellows acquire the knowledge and skills needed to provide state-of-the-art cardiac care, all while advancing our regional healthcare delivery system through their research projects and system improvement efforts.

The last decade of our Cardiology fellowship has produced a number of cardiac specialists who have stayed in NEPA to serve our community and to make meaningful contributions to our regions comprehensive care opportunities.

Celebrate World Heart Day by paying worthy attention to your self care and optimizing your cardiovascular health. Learn more about Lifestyle Medicine and the Million Hearts National Campaign. Most importantly, when you need help, reach out to your doctor and stay connected to other resources within our local health care community.

Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., a primary care physician triple board-certified in pediatrics, internal medicine and addiction medicine, leads The Wright Center for Community Health as CEO and serves as President of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. She lives with her family and practices primary care in Jermyn. Send your medical questions to news@thewrightcenter.org.

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The Wright Medicine: Getting to the 'heart' of the matter - Valley Advantage

A monitor depicts the structure of SARS-CoV-2 during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss vaccines and protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in Washington. (Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP)

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said they have isolated a molecule that could be used as a treatment against COVID-19.

According to a report released earlier this week, the scientists isolated the smallest biological molecule that specifically neutralizes the virus that causes the virus.

The molecule has been used to create the drug Ab8 and has been viewed as a potential preventative treatment. Head researchers said the molecule is 10 times smaller than a regular sized antibody, which means it can penetrate into more areas of the body.

Its fully human, meaning that theres no foreign material thats likely to be rejected by the host, explained Dr. John Mellors, Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Pittsburgh. Its extremely potent.

The molecule also doesnt bind to human cells, which suggests there would be no negative side effects. Researchers are also looking into different ways to administer the treatment and said it could be inhaled rather than injected.

Read more from the original source:
Researchers discover antibody molecule that could be used as preventative to COVID-19 - One America News Network

Rachel Roberts, Opinion contributor Published 6:16 a.m. ET Sept. 18, 2020

The rise of COVID-19 has understandably refocused our attention on health care access and inequities.One component that hasnt gotten as much attention, but should, is access to mental health care.Were in a moment where more of us than ever before could benefit from having an established relationship with a qualified provider.

Although we have seen sustained success in the fields of mental health care, counseling and addiction services in recent decades from gains in medicine to a more aware and understanding publicthe statistics are clear that this is not enough.

Indeed, two of the main drivers behind reports showing life expectancy is declining in the United States are the rising rates of drug addiction and suicide.The public has a good understanding of the importance of addressing the former, but comparatively less attention is given to how to spot and then stop someone from taking his or her life.

Related:Inequity in mental health care is yet another challenge facing the minority community

To understand suicides sizable scope, consider that its number here in the United States is four times higher than those murdered and a third larger than those killed in traffic accidents.Suicide rates are highest among adults between 45 and 64, and those with substance abuse disorders are six times more likely to commit suicide than those without, according toMental Health America.Worldwide, there are 800,000 suicides a year, or an average of one every 40 seconds.

I learned from an early age how much of a difference it makes when someone in crisis gets the care they need.My dad worked as an addiction specialist and had his office on the ground floor of our home.There were many times that I saw him open the door for clients who were struggling to survive, and there is no telling how many lives he and his friends in the field saved.

I will never forget the example he set, and it is one of the reasons why I proudly serve as a board member for Mental Health America of Kentucky andwhy improving access to mental healthand addictionservices across Kentucky is so important to me as a state legislator.

To further that goal, I am sponsoring legislation that would make what I think is a long-overdue change.I chose toannounceit Sept.10 to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month for our country.

Kentucky Rep. Rachel Roberts, a Democrat,represents District 67.(Photo: provided)

In short, my bill calls for comprehensive health insurance plans to include anannual preventative mental health checkup.

Just as we understand the importance of monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol and regularly visiting the dentist and eye doctor,we shouldcheck on our mental health in the same way.

If we want toprioritize mental health and well-being for all Kentuckians, were going to have to do more than we have done.There may be no single answer to get us to that destination, but my bill undoubtedly would move us in the right direction.

If you or someone you know is at risk of committing suicide, please do not hesitate to act.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day and can be reached at 800-273-8255.If it is an immediate emergency, please call 911.

Rachel Roberts, a Democrat,is a Kentucky representative forDistrict 67.

Read or Share this story: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2020/09/18/kentucky-bill-would-help-increase-access-to-mental-health-care/5786847002/

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With addiction and suicide on the rise, we must increase access to mental health care - Courier Journal

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The Cura Foundation in collaboration with The Marcus Foundation, Sanford Health and Alliance for Cell Therapy Now, is supporting a clinical trial of human cord tissue mesenchymal stromal cells (hCT-MSC) to treat children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). The trial is being led by Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg at Duke University to determine if infusions of hCT-MSCs are safe and can suppress the hyper-inflammatory response and positively impact the symptom course and duration, as well as the long-term effects of this life-threatening syndrome. The hCT-MSCs are manufactured in the Robertson GMP Cell Manufacturing Laboratory at Duke. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Investigational New Drug (IND) Application, and Dr. Kurtzberg will proceed with a multi-site pilot study later this month.

As the school year is underway more children are being diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the cumulative number of coronavirus cases diagnosed in children has more than tripled between July 2 and September 3 from 165,845 to 513,415. As of September 3rd, children represent at least 9.8% of diagnosed cases in the U.S. and in states such as Alaska, Minnesota, Tennessee, South Carolina, New Mexico and Wyoming, children account for more than 15 percent of total cases. Some of these children have developed very serious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of September 3rd at least 792 children in 42 states have been diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and 16 have died.

The Principal Investigator of the study, Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, is the Jerome Harris Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics; Professor of Pathology; Director, Marcus Center for Cellular Cures; Director, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program; Director, Carolinas Cord Blood Bank; Co-Director, Stem Cell Transplant Laboratory at Duke University School of Medicine/Duke Health and a leader in transplantation, cell therapy, and regenerative medicine in children. Clinical sites include Duke University (Durham, NC), Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, GA), New York Medical College (Valhalla, NY), and others as cases occur.

"We hope this is just the beginning of our ability to support the development of cell therapies to treat COVID-19 Related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children," said Dr. Robin Smith,president of the Cura Foundation. "As students across the country return to in-class instruction, it is more important now than ever to ensure we are equipped with potential treatment options to care for children who develop this serious disease."

About the Sponsors

The Cura Foundationleads a global health movement with the goal to improve human health. Cura unites public and private sectors, partnering with doctors, patients, business leaders, philanthropists and thought leaders to create a collaborative network that tackles major health issues and accelerates funding to advance innovations in medicine. Cura believes that by encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to medicine, promoting preventative measures and advancing the development of breakthrough medical technologies you can improve access to care, streamline health care delivery and eliminate social disparities in health care. The Cura Foundation is a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, public and tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, please visit: https://thecurafoundation.org/

The Marcus Foundationwas founded in 1989 by Bernie Marcus, co-founder and former CEO of The Home Depot, to support programs in Children and Youth Development, Community, Free Enterprise, National Security, Veterans, Jewish Causes, Healthcare and Medical Research.

Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 46 hospitals, 1,400 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and 10 countries. Learn more about Sanford Health's transformative work to improve the human condition at sanfordhealth.orgor Sanford Health News.

Duke Healthconceptually integrates the Duke University School of Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System, Private Diagnostic Clinic (Duke physicians practice), and incorporates the health and health research programs within the Duke Global Health Institute as well as those in schools and centers across Duke University, including the Duke-Robert J. Margolis Center for Health Policy.

Duke Health is committed to conducting innovative basic and clinical research, rapidly translating breakthrough discoveries to patient care and population health, providing a unique educational experience to future clinical and scientific leaders, improving the health of populations, and actively seeking policy and intervention-based solutions to complex global health challenges. Underlying these ambitions is a belief that Duke Health is a destination for outstanding people and a dedication to continually explore new ways to help our people grow, collaborate and succeed.

Alliance for Cell Therapy Now(ACT Now) is an independent, non-profit organization devoted to advancing the availability of and access to safe and effective cell therapies for patients in need. ACT Now convenes experts and stakeholders to develop and advance sound policies that will improve the development, manufacturing, delivery, and improvement of regenerative cell therapies. Seehttp://allianceforcelltherapynow.org/

Contact

The Cura FoundationRobin Smith, MD, +1-212-584-4176[emailprotected]

SOURCE Alliance for Cell Therapy Now

allianceforcelltherapynow.org

More:
FDA Approves Study to Investigate the Use of Cell Therapy to Treat COVID-19 Related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) - PRNewswire

Decatur, GA DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is partnering with Kaiser Permanente to host a special countywide town hall to share important information on how to stay healthy through the COVID-19 pandemic and upcoming influenza season, according to a press release from the county.

The Flu in an Era of COVID-19 Town Hall will take place Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at 6 p.m. and will feature medical doctors that specialize in population health.

According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a high probability that the flu and COVID-19 viruses will begin increasing in October and will spread this fall and winter. Commissioner Cochran-Johnson feels now is the time stress the importance of coupling education with preventative measures to avoid contracting both.

It is vital that we continue to stay steadfast in our efforts to decrease and ultimately stop the spread of COVID- 19, said Commissioner Cochran-Johnson. With flu season approaching, we must be equally intentional in educating the public on what to expect and how to stay healthy in the midst of this pandemic.

The Flu in an Era of COVID-19 Town Hall will educate DeKalb residents on the differences between the flu and COVID-19 and how they can affect each other, according to the press release from the county. In addition, residents will learn from medical experts how the flu and COVID-19 can impact ones mental and physical health, including pregnancies.

Presentations will be made by Dr. Chris Griffith (child, adolescent & adult psychiatrist & obesity medicine at Kaiser Permanente), Dr. Fatu Forna (physician program director for perinatal safety and quality at Kaiser Permanente), Dr. Belkis Pimentel (physician program director, quality performance and population health and flu expert at Kaiser Permanente) and Dr. Lynette Wilson-Phillips (pediatrician and co-medical director for Kids-Doc on Wheels).

COVID-19 and influenza are both respiratory illnesses that are contagious and have similar symptoms, however they are caused by different viruses and neither should be taken lightly, said Dr. Chris Griffith. Kaiser Permanente and its staff of medical professionals understand this and are dedicated to educating the public on the facts and how to stay healthy.

Decaturish.com is working to keep your community informed about coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. All of our coverage on this topic can be found at Decaturishscrubs.com. If you appreciate our work on this story, please become a paying supporter. For as little as $3 a month, you can help us keep you in the loop about what your community is doing to stop the spread of COVID-19. To become a supporter, click here.

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Dekalb County town hall will provide information about flu and COVID-19 - Decaturish.com

Demonstrating what is possible when working together to deliver higher quality care at lower costs, New Hanover Regional Medical Centers Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Physician Quality Partners (PQP), earned top scores in the latest data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

PQP improved care for almost 20,000 Medicare beneficiaries in New Hanover and the surrounding counties, saving Medicare over $9.7 million by meeting quality and cost goals in 2019, according to recently released performance data from CMS, the federal agency that administers Medicare. PQP reduced the average cost of care by $501 per beneficiary.

PQP earned a quality score of 98.75 percent on performance measures ranging from preventive health checks, to use of electronic health records, to preventing avoidable hospitalizations, according to Medicare data.

Our work to improve care and quality while lowering costs within this group is just the beginning of what we can do to improve our regions health, said NHRMC President and CEO John Gizdic. By growing in our ability to provide new care options and access data that can be used to identify ways to improve care, we can help more people and lower overall costs.

The $9.7 million of gross savings to Medicare that PQP generated also resulted in a shared savings payment of $4.4 million to PQP, which will be used to help fund further investments in quality improvement and care management support to improve our beneficiaries health outcomes.

Partnering with our ACO providers is foundational in better serving patients, driving outcomes, and delivering value in this complex healthcare landscape, said Leelee Thames, MD, MBA, NHRMCs Chief Value Officer and ACO Medical Director. ACOs like ours are not only driving down costs, but most importantly, making remarkable improvements in the health and quality of life of our beneficiaries.

For example, PQP providers strive to improve long-term outcomes by directing efforts to services like annual wellness visits and evidence-based preventative screenings, known to impact disease conditions. The ACO also focuses on ensuring care is coordinated to ensure smooth transitions from the hospital to home or a nursing home if needed. All ACO providers receive detailed information about their performance on quality measures, and clinicians and providers share best practices to coordinate the care beneficiaries receive to prevent complications and repeat hospitalizations.

Through these efforts to improve outcomes, PQPs hospital admission rates dropped 17% and ED rates dropped 6.3% since the programs inception in 2016. Over the last year alone, PQP reduced unnecessary admissions and readmissions by over 2%, and Emergency Department visit rates by over 3%.

ACOs empower local physicians, hospitals and other providers to work together and take responsibility for improving quality, enhancing patient experience and keeping care affordable. The Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program) creates incentives for ACOs to invest in transforming care by allowing them to share in savings they generate after meeting defined quality and cost goals.

According to CMS, 541 Shared Savings Program participants generated $1.19 billion in total net savings to Medicare in 2019. ACOs continued to show improved or comparable quality performance on measures compared to other physician group practices.

The Medicare ACO shared savings program is the largest value-based payment model in the country and a critical tool in moving the health system toward higher value, said Lydia Newman, PQPs Executive Director.

PQP is a collaborative that includes the NHRMC Physician Group and Intracoastal Internal Medicine, an independent practice in Wilmington.

Founded in 2013, Physician Quality Partners (PQP) was created by New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The participating providers are united with the common goal of helping beneficiaries receive the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. In 2016, PQP began participating as a Tack 1 ACO in the Shared Savings Program and renewed participation on July 1, 2019 in the new Pathways to Success Model as a Track B participant.

To learn more about Physician Quality Partners, call 910-667-7640 or visit http://www.physicianqualitypartners.com.

You also can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048 and tell the representative youre calling to learn more about ACOs or visit Medicare.gov/acos.html.

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Physician Quality Partners generated $9.7 million in savings while improving care quality [Free read] - Port City Daily