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(Reuters) - Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

Senate grilling

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testify on Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee and are expected to answer questions about actions still needed to keep the world's largest economy afloat and missteps in rolling out some $3 trillion in aid so far.

Two months into the United States' fight against the most severe pandemic to arise in the age of globalization, neither the health nor the economic war has been won. Many analysts fear the country has at best fought back worst-case outcomes.

In remarks broadcast Sunday night, Powell outlined the likely need for three to six more months of government financial help for firms and families and said "medical metrics" were the most important data for the U.S. economy right now.

Glimmer of hope

An experimental COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna Inc , the first to be tested in the United States, produced protective antibodies in a small group of healthy volunteers, according to very early data released by the biotech company on Monday.

The vaccine has gotten the green light to start the second stage of human testing. In this Phase II, or midstage, trial designed to further test effectiveness and find the optimal dose, Moderna said it will drop plans to test a 250 mcg dose and test a 50 mcg dose instead.

Reducing the dose required to produce immunity could help spare the amount of vaccine required in each shot, meaning the company could ultimately produce more of the vaccine.

Empty middle seat?

As air travel restarts, travellers, airlines and airports are grappling with a hodgepodge of rules put in place during the pandemic that will make flying different in almost every country.

On planes, one of the biggest debates has been over whether middle seats should be empty. That would limit airplanes to two-thirds of their normal capacity, not enough for most airlines to make a profit without increasing fares.

Eating with your mask on

Israeli inventors have developed a coronavirus mask with a remote control mouth that lets diners eat food without taking it off, a device they say could make a visit to a restaurant less risky.

A squeeze of a lever, much like a cyclist operating a handbrake, opens a slot in the front of the mask so that food can pass through.

The process could get messy with ice cream or sauces, but more solid morsels can be gobbled up in a flash a la Pac-Man in the arcade game.

(Compiled by Karishma Singh; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

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What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus Right Now - The New York Times

Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8) underway in the eastern Pacific on April 20, 2020. US Navy Photo

When a COVID-19 outbreak hit USSKidd (DDG-100) last month, the Navy sent a medical team with specialized lab equipment to the guided-missile destroyer to test for novel coronavirus among the crew. An outbreak at sea could easily and quickly overwhelm a warships small medical department, in this case an independent-duty corpsman and two hospital corpsmen in a crew of about 330.

Fortunately forKidd, amphibious assault ship USSMakin Island(LHD-8) was training in the Southern California Operating Area when the Navy on April 23 ordered it to rendezvous withKiddand escort it to San Diego.

Extra medical help was on its way. AboardMakin Islandwere four members of Fleet Surgical Team 1, who were training with the ships medical staff during the at-sea operations.

Withindays, as both ships headed toward California,15Kiddcrew members suspected of being infected by the virus were flown toMakin Islandto be monitored for the virus.

The big-deck amphibious ships medical department is among the largest, most-advanced treatment facilities in the fleet, aside from the Navys two hospital ships operated by Military Sealift Command. It has large treatment spaces, including a 15-bed intensive-care unit and a 45-bed ward designed to treat combat-wounded Marines.

Along with the four members already embarked onMakin Island, the San Diego-based FST-1 sent an additional four a certified registered nurse anesthetist, critical-care registered nurse, respiratory therapy technician and laboratory technician to the ship to help treat theKiddsailors. When deployed, a Navy fleet surgical team generally has about 15 medical personnel and provides Role 2, or resuscitative damage control surgery and mental health, care to naval amphibious forces.

Navy Counselor 2nd Class Caileigh Almazo, assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG-100) on April 28, 2020. US Navy Photo

Once we were notified that there was a possibility that we would be helping the USSKidd, we decided to bring onboard four additional team members, just based on the possibility of getting patients, Lt. Jose PonceVega, the FST-1 division officer and medical regulating control officer, told USNI News.

As soon as we heard that call, we decided we were going to bring those people, said PonceVega. So within an hour, we called our staff and said, Hey, pack your bags, youre coming with us, and they were onboard within four hours.

They arrived the same dayMakin Islandgot directed to assist. The team had two-and-a-half days to prepare before the 15 sailors arrived. They workedwith Makin Islands medical department to treat the patients and handle necessary laboratory work and X-rays en route to San Diego.Our goal was to provide basically observation on the patients, based on their medical condition and based on the symptoms they were displaying, he said. The patients remained aboard theBremerton, Wash.-based shipuntil San Diego.

FST-1 sent one of its independent-duty corpsmen, who have specialized training including in preventative medicine, to theKiddtoassist the destroyers crew, PonceVega said. He is very experienced and very knowledgeable, so him going to that ship really helped out the crew and their medical staff.

On the trek to San Diego,Kiddgot extra support including fuel, protective masks and other medical supplies fromMakin Islandin air deliveries flown by Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, according to an Expeditionary Strike Group 3 news story. A MH-60R from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 75, embarked aboardKidd, transferred the patients fromKiddtoMakin Island, which instituted quarantine and decontamination measures to prevent the spread of any coronavirus.

We were standing by and able to bring those sailors toMakin Islandwhile still maintaining isolation and quarantine of them and the medical professionals that we have onboard who treated them, said Capt. Chris Westphal, the ships commander, said in the news story. We took every precaution to ensure the safety of bothMakin IslandandKiddsailors, and to ensureKiddreturned to San Diego safely, and we were proud to be able to help our fellow shipmates.

The emergent mission put FST-1 members to the test. This was definitely new for us. I think with the spirit of protecting our people, we had made some plans to care for COVID-positive patients at some point, PonceVega said. As soon as we got out of the pier and started doing normal operations in the SoCal area, we started making plans for that. But we didnt expect to employ those plans right away. So we planned for it, but we didnt think it would happen so soon. So we learned a lot through that process.

FST-1 leaned on the Naval Health Research Center and the Navy Environmental Preventative Medicine Unit for information and lessons learned from similar missions.

USS Kidd (DDG-100) arrives in San Diego on April 28, 2020. US Navy Photo

One thing that weve learned the most is about how to use our protective personnel equipment, our PPE, said PonceVega. When youre taking care of a patient, you dont typically wear a mask and face shield, so just getting used to using that and putting it on and taking it off appropriately is a learning experience itself. So they practiced in drills using the protective gear enroute to theKidd.

They took measures to limit interactions of medical staff with each patient, at least until they knew whether the sailor was infected with the coronavirus. You dont need everybody to have close contact with a positive patient right away, PonceVega explained. So you assess the patient and figure out what you need, then if you need additional staff to support the care that youre going to provide, then you bring them in.

That ability to scale your staff, based on the needs of the patient, was definitely something we learned, he said. Also from the perspective from the administrative requirements of moving the patient from one ship to the other and tracking them through the levels of care, that was something we paid close attention to to make sure we got it right.

We had developed plans what to do with patients if we ha positive patients onboard. Our initial plans were to get the patient to a medical facility to get the care they need. But in this situation obviously we had to keep the patient longer than expected, he said, so coordinating that care to make sure that once you get to a location that they get to the right facility for care.

The Navys primary mission is to protect our people, he added, so we pride ourselves on being able to provide care to our sailors and be ready to respond to whatever the needs are of the fleet.

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How USS Makin Island, Fleet Medical Team Responded to COVID-19 Outbreak on USS Kidd - USNI News

Many residents are doing their part to help flatten the curve by sheltering in place and reducing visits to local businesses during the COIVD-19 pandemic. But when they dont got to an emergency department because of an illness or injury, the delay could be life threatening.

Bunch

At Riverview Health, Lynne Bunch, the program director of the Fishers and Hazel Dell ER/Urgent Care facilities, said she worries daily that people are waiting too long to see a doctor for fear of coronavirus exposure.

People are afraid to come out to the ER, and it leads to a much higher acuity level, or sickness, with people who dont have a choice and have to come, and thats dangerous for all kinds of reasons, Bunch said.

Delays in seeking care can make otherwise treatable medical conditions worse.

Preventative medicine is shut down, too, right now, so thats an issue in delaying diagnosis, Bunch said. I have several examples of people waiting, and our acuity is much higher than it has been because when they do come in, they are much sicker than they would be.

Bunch said if someone is second-guessing whether or not to seek care, the answer is to seek it.

If you have an acute illness, go to an emergency department. Our facility is a unique model because if you are urgent level care, you are billed urgent level care and you will still see an ER physician and ER-trained staff, Bunch said. If you do need to be an ER patient based on what ails you, we can do that right there, too, and you wont have to be transferred.

Fry

Ascension St. Vincent is noticing a similar downturn in its non-COVID-19 patients.

Our experience has been same as pretty much everywhere around country. The number of patients presenting with stroke and heart attack are down significantly, said Dr. Edward Fry, chair of cardiology atAscensionSt. Vincent. Initially, people were embracing that as a good thing, a silver lining to isolation. Maybe people were not stressed and sleeping more, exercising and eating better, but what we are really finding out is people are fearful.

We are seeing the same phenomenon where people are deferring care and staying home.

Fry said a recent patient had a prolonged episode of chest pain and eventually visited the hospital a week later, where it was discovered he had had a heart attack.

He was lucky enough to survive, Fry said. There are a lot of examples of that. We are trying, through many different ways, to connect to patients to reassure them that every precaution to keep them safe is being put in place and to not forget their original health problem they had in the first place, especially for things like heart attack and stroke where time is of the essence in terms of treatment. If someone presents in a short timeframe of having a stroke, they can often be treated and reverse the effects of that stroke. Otherwise, it can be disabling lifelong. Thats similar with a heart attack.

Fry said heart attack cases are down by approximately 50 percent as of early March, but he doesnt believe that means heart attacks arent happening.

Hoeppner

IU Health has seen similar examples of patients delaying treatment and is taking steps to ensure patients feel safe enough to visit the ER.

We are separating folks based on screening in the emergency department, Director of the Medicine Service Line Christen Hoeppner said. If people are worried about sitting next to somebody who possibly has COVID, we are physically separating them with a wall.

There are two areas of the department, two entrances, all of that.

IU Health Emergency Dept. Physician Megan Crittendon said IU Healths emergency department when the pandemic began but has slowed since then.

Crittendon

I would say the evolution of this thing has been really interesting, she said. Initially, people were coming in just like regular when it first started, and people were concerned they had COVID, and so we were very busy because of it. It then reached this steady state where people started dropping off and not coming in except only for COVID, and we were seeing people in the extremes of illness. They were waiting until they reached the extremis. It has kind of become apparent that people were concerned that they were going to get coronavirus or have exposure or use valuable resources, so we werent seeing a lot of minor stuff, but we also werent seeing serious stuff, stuff people get admitted for. People were coming in extremely sick because they waited such a long time, so we have mitigated that risk by dividing the emergency department and waiting rooms into a cold side and hot side, as we call it, a side for COVID-exposed or concerned and a side of not concerned.

We still treat everybody with the upmost precaution. We mask everybody to mitigate the risk of spread.

Like other hospitals, Community Health has seen a steep downturn in patients.

Ross

Statistics have indicated overall numbers (of non-COVID-19 patients) are down significantly, and those illnesses obviously dont wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to go away. They happen, regardless, said Dr. Chris Ross, a Community Health emergency medicine physician. The overall emergency department volumes (that are) down significantly makes me concerned patients arent seeking care when they need help.

Ross said delaying a visit can result in serious health problems, including death.

We have seen people who have had pretty significant permanent injury because of the wait and also people who have had deaths, he said. We see that directly attributed to waiting to be seen because of coronavirus. Family members are afraid to come to the emergency department because they are concerned of getting the coronavirus, but unfortunately that (non-COVID) illness (and waiting to seek treatment) made them pass away.

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The extremes of illness: Delaying a visit to the emergency room could be life-threatening for non-COVID-19 patients - Current in Carmel

For the one in four men who dont have a primary care doctor in the U.S., the coronavirus pandemic should be a wake-up call. With a virus circulating the globe that mostly targets the elderly but also indiscriminately strikes young, healthy people, having a doctor who knows you and who you can call on without walking into a clinic is crucial for personal health. It also makes hospitals and emergency rooms safer and more effective. Its time to add one to your roster. Well wait.

Right now, the most obvious benefit of a primary care doctor has to do with social distancing. Their offices are typically less crowded than clinics, and most visits can take place by phone or online. With far fewer people walking in the door, many offices are set up for patients to go straight into the exam room, and others have removed chairs in their waiting rooms to ensure ample personal space.

Nowadays, primary care doctors only see patients in-person for rare, medically-necessary visits (like removing sutures or for wound care) virtually all docs are holding appointments online or by phone. That hasnt always been the case. Before the pandemic, telemedicine wasnt on our radar, says Dr. Ada Stewart, a family physician at Cooperative Health in South Carolina and president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Now its wide open. Were all doing it, she says.

The same is true in practices across the country. Weve all been hoping for telemedicine for a long time, adds Dr. James Heckman, a primary care doctor and assistant medical director at Healthcare Associates in Boston. COVID kind of forced the issue.

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A relationship with a primary care doctor goes beyond annual appointments or drop-in sick visits. They can be a trusted resource for medical questions, COVID-related, or otherwise. Once you have a primary care doctor, you have a doctor on retainer, says Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo, chief of general medicine at the University of Miami Health System. If you hear a dubious medical claim, you can just shoot your doctor an email or give them a call. We get that all the time, Hey, I just saw this on TV, what do you think about it? Dr. Carrasquillo says.

Another benefit primary care doctors offer has to do with preventative medicine. Your doctor is there to help you figure out if youre at risk for certain diseases, pick up signs of depression or anxiety, and manage other chronic conditions. They provide flu shots, tetanus shots (you should get one every ten years), colonoscopy exams (screenings should start at age 50, for most people), regular physical exams, and when the vaccine for the coronavirus finally rolls out, your primary care doc will have those too.

Were going to be on the front lines being the ones that are able to offer this, says Dr. Stewart. And encouraging patients to be vaccinated, just as we do with other vaccines that are out there.

If you get a primary doctor now, your first appointment is almost certainly going to be virtual. That first visit is about reviewing your medical history, figuring out a health care plan, and beginning a new relationship. Most of that can be done over the phone or with a video visit, says Dr. Heckman, of Healthcare Associates. Once were able to provide safe in-person care for routine things, well bring you in to do a physical exam and do the handshake, which is the most important thing.

But there are a few ways you can prepare. Start by writing down your medical and surgical history. (People forget a lot of stuff, says Dr. Carrasquillo.) Have your pill bottles on hand, so you can be sure of the names and dosages of your medications. Take note of what issues you want to address, and try to carve out a private place where you feel comfortable talking with your doctor. Finally, have your insurance information ready, or if you dont have insurance, have a social security or unemployment statement, advises Dr. Stewart.

And for patients who need their vitals taken or lab work done, your doctor will help you work out a plan. They can arrange a visit to a nearby commercial lab, or figure out creative ways to monitor your breathing or check your blood pressure. Dont worry about not having what you need, reiterates Dr. Heckman. Well troubleshoot. The best thing to do is just call usreach out to us.

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Its Time to Get a Primary Care Doctor - Fatherly

Close observers of gun politics might be surprised to learn that decades-long Chicago gun control advocate and Catholic priest Father Michael Pfleger is in fact capable of some logic.

An Agence France-Press piece on the continuing violence in Chicago amidst the COVID-19 lockdown shared Pfleger's thoughts on the Windy City's crime problem. Eschewing the notion that the ongoing lockdown could have ever stemmed the violence, AFP reported,"Pfleger argued that someone who was prepared to commit murder was unlikely to be too bothered about observing a stay-at-home order."

Pfleger's key insight will be familiar to gun rights supporters. Second Amendment activists have long understood that gun laws do not stop violent criminals. Simple logic dictates that an individual willing to commit criminal violence will give little thought to violating gun control laws. In bumpersticker form, this reads: When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.

Despite Illinois's stringent gun control laws, Chicago criminals have little trouble securing firearms. A 2015 study published in Preventative Medicine titled, "Sources of guns to dangerous people: What we learn by asking them," queried inmates in the Cook County Jail about where they obtained firearms. The overwhelming source was "family, fellow gang members, or other social connections." Discussing the efficacy of Illinois's firearms licensing system, an inmate opined, "All they need is one person who got a gun card in the hoodand everybody got one.In fact, the authorities can't even keep guns out of the Cook County jail.

It's unfortunate that this simple deduction only came to Pfleger in his 70s, as it might have spared Chicagoans some of the priest's more inane antics.

In 2007, Pfleger teamed up with social justice gadfly Jesse Jackson to protest a gun store in the Chicago suburb of Riverdale for having the temerity to sell guns to those who had already complied with Illinois's onerous licensing procedure. Pfleger and Jackson were arrested after trespassing on the gun store's property. Seeming to set aside the sixth commandment, during the incident the priest said about the gun store owner, "We're going to find you and snuff you out."

Following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, the handgun prohibitionist joined then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevitch (a one-time Firearm Owner's Identification card holder) to condemn the ruling.

Pfleger's anti-gun foolery seems to be too much even for his Chicago comrade Barack Obama. In 2016, then-President Obama held a CNN "town hall" on guns. During the contrived presentation, Pfleger asked Obama why the federal government won't institute full firearms registration. Obama shot down the priest's tired proposal, stating, "Issues like licensing, registration, that's an area where there's just not enough national consensus at this stage to even consider it. And part of it is, is people's concern that that becomes a prelude to taking people's guns away."

Now that Pfleger has demonstrated a rudimentary understanding of the criminal mind and a capacity for reason, one would hope the priest could apply this basic knowledge to his activism. Don't hold your breath.

Originally posted here:
Father Pfleger's Selective Reasoning - NRA ILA

Researchers need 30,000 health care workers from around the world to join the clinical trial to see if chloroquine can help prevent the novel coronavirus

ST. LOUIS A global study based in St. Louis launched Monday. The clinical trial will look at how 30,000 health care workers from around the world respond to a possible COVID-19 prevention medication.

"The world is a global village. We cannot successfully fight and defeat COVID-19 just in St. Louis, Missouri," explainedDr. Michael Avidan with Washington University's School of Medicine.

Dr. Avidan is leading a team of investigators from the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Ireland, Peru and many more countries on nearly every continent. The researchers will follow 30,000 health care workers who volunteer to be part of the study.

"They're at higher risk than the average person for developing this disease," explained fellow Washington University School of Medicine Professor Mary Politi.

Health care workers also are critical for public care. The researchers are hopeful that by testing preventative treatments like chloroquine they can fight COVID-19 more effectively.

"If you combine human ingenuity, if you put all of our efforts together, if we're collaborative and not competitive, there is no question in my mind that we will defeat this pandemic and future pandemics," Dr. Avidan told 5 On Your Side.

And that's exactly what he hopes to do with the group of international investigators called the "COVID-19 Research Outcomes Worldwide Network Collaborative," or CROWN for short.

CROWN rolled out the plan for its randomized study on Monday, May 18. Researchers will look at the effectiveness of three doses of chloroquine compared to a placebo in health care workers who are healthy and not previously affected with a novel coronavirus.

Avidan said chloroquine can decrease the replication of the COVID-19 in cells. It can treat pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure of the blood vessels in the lungs.

He said the drug can be also helpful in treating pneumonia and it can prevent the harmful immune reaction of the body that can occur with COVID-19.

It's important to note, the drug CROWN is working with is chloroquine, not the similar but more frequently referenced hydroxychloroquine.

"My suspicion is that what we will land on is not a single drug, but a combination of therapies will be most efficacious," Dr. Avidan explained. "And chloroquine will probably be one of the drugs that will be helpful, although we don't know that for sure. We need to find that out one way or the other."

Now, all his team needs is 30,000 health care workers from all over the world to sign up for the trial.

Dr. Avidan said no matter the clinical trial, participation is vital.

"We encourage you, all of you, to participate in a clinical trial, sign on and be enthusiastic. Because the more people we have participating in the research that we're doing, the more quickly we can answer these foundational questions that we have to figure out, as a society," he said.

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Washington University leads global COVID-19 treatment study for health care workers - KSDK.com

Ground-breaking new study shows the efficacy of a long-acting injectable to prevent HIV

GENEVA, 19 May 2020UNAIDS warmly welcomes the announcement that the long-acting injectable cabotegravir is safe and effective in preventing HIV among gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender women. The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 083 study enrolled almost 4600 HIV-negative people from across more than 40 sites in North and South America, Asia and Africa.

This is a breakthrough that will have a significant impact on the lives of gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender women when they are at higher risk of HIV infection. said Shannon Hader, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme. We are particularly pleased that the study met its targets to recruit substantial numbers of younger black men who have sex with men and transgender women, the very people for whom accessing effective HIV prevention still remains a huge challenge.

In 2018, UNAIDS estimates that there were 1.7 million new HIV infections, 54% of which were among key populations, including gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender women, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people in prison.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)HIV-negative people using antiretroviral medicine to prevent HIV infectionis an important element in the HIV combination prevention toolkit. PrEP allows people to reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV, particularly during periods of increased risk in their lives. It may also provide reassurance and reduce anxieties when the risks are uncertain.

Once it has passed regulatory approval, and when production of affordable cabotegravir can be scaled up, gay men and other men who have sex with men will have the choice of three highly effective ways to use PrEP to prevent HIV infection: daily pills, pills taken before and after sexual activity (event-driven PrEP) or an injection every two months. Transgender women will be able to choose between injections or daily pills, since the World Health Organization does not recommend event-driven PrEP because of possible drug interactions with some hormones. Injections of cabotegravir every two months are an important option for people who find it hard to take a pill every day, yet remain vulnerable to HIV infection.

The trial was scheduled to continue for at least another year, but the first interim analysis of the data was brought forward a few weeks because of the potential disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic might cause to high-quality clinical trial procedures. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) in the United States of America reviewed the data up to March 2020 and found that there was already clear evidence that cabotegravir was highly effective and not inferior to the currently recommended oral PrEP regimen.

Half of the study group were given oral PrEP and were injected with a placebo; the other half were given a cabotegravir injection and took a placebo pill. The study found a total of 12 HIV infections in the group using the injectable compared to 38 in the group taking the daily pill. The side-effects of both treatments were relatively mild, with only 2.2% of people in the injection group choosing to stop having the injections because of painful reactions. The DSMB therefore recommended that the study be halted and that all participants be notified of the result. The participants will be able to choose which regimen they wish to continue on.

Despite good adherence in the oral group and very few discontinuations in the injection group, the overall incidence of HIV infection in the study was 0.79 per 100 person-years. Planned analyses will explore why those 50 infections occurred among the 4565 trial participants.

An additional study (HPTN 084) is ongoing to establish the efficacy of the long-lasting injectable in non-transgender women. To date, more than 3000 sexually active women in seven African countries have enrolled in the study. Those results are expected in November.

We are eagerly awaiting the results of the ongoing HPTN 084 study among African women, said Dr Hader. We hope that by the end of this year there will be equally good news for women around the world.

HTPN 083 was conducted by the HPTN and funded by ViiV Healthcare and the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Cabotegravir has not yet been approved for the treatment or prevention of HIV as a single agent by regulatory authorities anywhere in the world. ViiV Healthcare plans to use the data from HPTN 083 for future regulatory submissions.

UNAIDS congratulates the research teams and urges continued investment in research and development for HIV vaccines, diagnostics, preventative medicines, treatment and a cure.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizationsUNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bankand works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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UNAIDS welcomes new tool for HIV prevention for gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender women - UNAIDS

As one of the most destructive business sectors, the fashion industry is poised for change, and COVID-19 might just be the catalyst it needs to become a more sustainable and ethical industry.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on bad practices and unsustainable business models across industries, but one sector in particular has found itself at the forefront of this exposurethe fashion industry.

As one of the worlds most destructive business sectors, fashion is the worlds second worst offender when it comes to water pollution, according to the 2019 Global Wellness Trends Report, and is responsible for approximately 10 percent of all carbon emissions. Not to mention, with overproduction running 30 to 40 percent each season, more than 70 percent of clothes end up in a landfill and an estimated $500 billion value is lost every year due to clothing being barely worn and rarely recycled, The Business of Fashion reports.

As weve seen the crisis unfold, the issues of resilience, or lack thereof, and various aspects of the supply chain have come to the fore within both the fashion and apparel space, said Niall Murphy, CEO and cofounder of EVRYTHING, a tech platform providing digital identities for the worlds consumer products and a pioneer in bringing transparency to the fashion industry. And in other categories, weve seen businesses called out, actually, with dependencies in their source materials, their raw materials, their components within their supply chain that they didnt realize that they had because they dont have sufficient level of visibility across the supply chain.

Last week, Murphy was joined by Vanessa Barboni Hallik, founder and CEO of sustainable fashion brand Another Tomorrow; e-commerce pioneer Julie Wainwright, founder and CEO of The RealReal; and Kathleen Entwistle, private wealth advisor at UBS, for a discussion with Worth CEO Juliet Scott-Croxford about how the business of fashion is changing amidst COVID-19 and how sustainability, brand values and innovative technology will play a larger role in how consumers choose their apparel in a post-pandemic world.

Weve had challenge after challenge in both going fromwe couldnt hire fast enough to now we have to lay people off, Wainwright said. Weve boarded up all of our stores. Hopefully, we can start doing curbside pickup at some point, but its been tough. On the flip side, the company and the team have shown tremendous innovation. The management team, the directors, the entire company has innovated beyond scope. And so, were going to end up in a really unique position when we pull out of this, which were starting to see some light.

But as supply chains have globalized over the last several years, the issues facing the fashion and apparel industry cut much deeper than just the current crisis. I think fashion and sustainability has been a hard sell historically, Barboni Hallik said, noting that this unique moment could be seen as a test for the fashion industry because it really has allowed so many people in so many critically vital areas of the economy to become seen in a way and create that empathy.

All of the panelists agree that consumer education is critical. I do think the first thing is understanding and having the information out there and available to people, UBS Entwistle said.

One of the things that I think is challenging, in terms of getting consumers to think about clothing as an asset, is this really disruptive sales cycle that the industry is in, Barboni Hallik added. And I think its really positive to see that some of the world is changing, but its very difficult to train a customer to think about clothing as an asset, when the retail price is only the retail price for a month, two months at best. And then its 40, 50, 60 percent off. So, I think thats really challenging. I do think that the education piece and the communication piece is so important to actually enable customers to make better decisions. It was one of the major reasons why I started Another Tomorrow, because I found it just so incredibly frustrating to actually get any level of procurement information about how a product was made. Youre pretty much lucky to know what country its manufactured in, let alone how it was made.

But even more important than education alone is that education, at least according to Wainwright, is turned into policy.

Until laws change, even COVID isnt going to change some of the practices, Wainwright explained. So, laws have to change. We cant continue to produce so many goods that end up in landfill. Theres a truckload a second going into landfill as we speak; 50 percent of whats made doesnt sell. A lot of the luxury brands are still burning their bags because they can. Theyre still burning their things because they can. Burberry stopped. Burberry partnered with The RealReal. Were in conversations with other large brands. But until the governments really force it, COVID is not going to force sustainability. We view this as a serious issue.

Look, consumers, its going to be tough, Wainwright continued. Were at this pivotal point where what governments do to help their people get back to work and also their focus on getting a vaccination and preventative medicine, how much effort is going to determine every countrys economy, and thats a weird thing to say. As an entrepreneur, you like to think you chart your own destiny, but this is bigger than whatever any of us are doing here. Governments are going to help get people back on their feet. Theyre also going to help science help give us some form of living with this horrible situation.

I do think that Julies point is right, that theres a macro situation thats much bigger than any of us, Murphy added. And weve got to keep our eyes on how those things affect us. But I am tremendously motivated by the degree of collaboration, and just conversations like this, thats going on every day across industries where people are trying to work out how to find paths to solution. And that bodes well, thats what you want to see in humanity, is collaboration and working out how we solve each others problems together. And Im pretty optimistic about the fact that were going to dig ourselves out of this hole. Were going to dig ourselves out of this hole well.

An indispensable guide to finance, investing and entrepreneurship.

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How the Current Crisis Could Impact the Future of Fashion Forever - Worth

NewsDeepMind's AI system can spot both the presence of age-related macular degeneration in eyes and predict its progression

Tuesday, 19th May 2020, 9:57 am

Google's DeepMind research lab has developed a form of artificial intelligence (AI) that is not only capable of detecting the presence of a sight-threatening eye condition but predicting its progression over six months.

The research, conducted in partnership with Moorfields Eye Hospital and Google Health, concentrated on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the UK's most common cause of sight loss.

While around three-quarters of patients with the condition have a relatively mild, early form called "dry" AMD, a further 15 per cent will develop exudative or "wet" AMD - which can cause permanent vision loss as a result of blood vessels leaking fluid under the eye's retina.

Early detection of wet AMD allows ophthalmologists to treat the condition, lowering the likelihood of permanent loss of a patient's central vision.

Interventional and preventative tool

The researchers developed an AI system capable of predicting whether a patient will develop wet AMD within six months, which could be a useful interventional and preventative tool.

The model was trained on an anonymised dataset of 2,795 patients who had been diagnosed with wet AMD in one of their eyes and were being regularly assessed using 3D optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the retina.

It used two neural networks informed by raw 3D scan of a patient's eye and different tissues within the retina to develop a prediction system capable of estimating a patient's likelihood of developing wet AMD in the next six months.

When testing against the assessment skills of experts three retinal specialists and three optometrists, the system performed as well as, and in some cases better than, the clinicians in predicting the progression of wet AMD.

The findings, published in medical journal Nature Medicine, could inform doctors in developing and studying preventative treatments for eye diseases.

More data required

While the system shows promise, it would be subject to robust clinical trials and regulatory approvals before it could be considered as a tool for doctors, Google Health said.

"The sample was representative of practice at multiple sites of the worlds largest eye hospital, but more work is needed to understand the model performance in different demographics and clinical settings," it said.

"Such work should also understand the impact of unstudied factorssuch as additional imaging teststhat might be important for prediction, but were beyond the scope of this work."

The British Medical Journal recently warned that many studies claiming AI is superior or as good as human experts at interpreting medical images may exaggerate machines' diagnoses ability and pose a potential risk to patient safety.

It cautioned that overpromising language "leaves studies susceptible to being misinterpreted by the media and the public, and as a result the possible provision of inappropriate care that does not necessarily align with patients' best interests".

See original here:
DeepMind: Google AI can predict the progression of sight-threatening eye conditions - inews

In the ongoing battle against the novel coronavirus, health care providers have recently started considering a type of patient that was previously overlooked: children.

While medical experts previously thought that COVID-19 was confined primarily to adults, they are now learning it is not exclusive to those older than 21. In the past few weeks, as New York City is just starting to move past the peak of the outbreak, upwards of 130 children have reportedly been treated in the states hospitals with symptoms of what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now calling multisystem inflammatory disease in children (or MIS-C), an illness that doctors believe springs from exposure to COVID-19 and causes an inflammation in at least two of the patients organ systems. Florida recently confirmed its first two cases.

Although Florida has not seen the number of children that New York has reported, cases are beginning to emerge in children in 18 other states and throughout Europe. So, pediatricians at the University of Miami are on high alert, said Dr. Judy Schaechter, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Miller School of Medicine and chief of service in child health at Jackson Health Systems. In her role, Schaechter teaches in the Miller School and sees patients at Jacksons Holtz Childrens Hospital, as well as in an outpatient setting at the Universitys Mailman Center for Child Development. She recently completed a two-week rotation in the COVID-19 unit at Holtz Childrens Hospital.

Schaechter shared what to look for in monitoring children for signs of this illness.

What do we know so far about multisystem inflammatory syndrome, this COVID-19 spinoff that is affecting children?

We are still learning about this condition, but what we do know is that it is associated with a positive coronavirus test (or past exposure to it), along with a persistent high fever (over 100.4 degrees for at least 24 hours) and the involvement of at least two organ systems in distress. That might be gastrointestinal disease (which could mean abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting), cardiac problems, respiratory symptoms, skin findings like a rash or swelling, headaches, fatigue, or other issues.

In addition, this syndrome seems to be presenting three to four weeks after the local community peak of COVID-19 occurs. In Miami-Dade, our COVID-19 cases peaked in April, and then we hit a plateau. We have seen a sustained number of coronavirus cases for more than a month, so we are on alert to watch for MIS-C and we are prepared to care for any child with this condition.

While Miami physicians are looking out for it and are in touch with our colleagues throughout the country, we encourage parents to take care of their children as they always would with any illness concerns. If you think your child is sick, call the doctor and discuss your concerns and any symptoms.

Moving on to COVID-19 in children. News reports seem to indicate there is a larger range of symptoms among children than adults. Are the symptoms of COVID-19 in children different?

It is still true that most children seem to be resilient to the new coronavirus. A majority of those infected will be asymptomatic. Still, if a parent is concerned a child is sick with anything, its okay to call the pediatrician. Because what were learning is coronavirus may present in children in atypical ways, or at least in ways that are distinct from the signs in adults.

The pandemic is evolving in front of us, so theres a lot we still dont know. Some kidsincluding teensmay present very much like adults in terms of respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath and inflammatory markers. (These are indications in the blood that organs are struggling.) In general, everything youve heard of what happens to adults (dry cough, muscle aches, fever, and shortness of breath) can happen in kids; but so far, it is less often. The research out there tells us that children experience less fever and cough than adults, so the presentation of COVID-19 in kids may be milder. For example, among children who were hospitalized for COVID-19 in China, only 48 percentless than halfhad a fever. Some hospitalized kids also experience rapid heart rate or rapid breathing; some have the loss of taste and smell. But based on what we know now, the vast majority of children will be asymptomatic and dont need any special treatment.

In the past few months, many parents have been afraid to take their children to the pediatricians office because they feel it may risk exposing their family to COVID-19. In this situation, what would you advise them to do?

If your child has a fever and looks sick, then you need to call and consult with a pediatrician. If they need to come in, get them that help and dont delay.

We know how to protect the people around uspatients, families, and staffin a health care setting. Pediatricians offices are using masks, practicing physical distancing, and separating the well-children from sick children in our offices. We do not have crowded waiting rooms, and we are disinfecting surfaces and using proper hand hygiene. Im confident that its much better to get the care a child needseither preventative care or care for a symptom by calling a physician and going into their officerather than for a child to be staying at home without a physician involved when care is needed.

I also want to urge parents to get children their regular vaccines. We dont want an outbreak from something preventable, such as measles or pertussis, because we are not vaccinating our kids. And we dont want kids to have more complicated disease because we delayed their care.

As things begin reopening in Miami, do you think its safe to send children to day care facilities?

This is a family by family decision. Up to 20 percent of childcare centers have stayed open in Miami-Dade, including our on-campus facility. Lets remember that the vast majority of childrenif they have COVID-19dont get sick. Also, children do not seem to be the ones primarily transmitting the virus to others, and children over the age of two can wear masks. So, for people who need to go back to work and who want to see their children get the great social benefits from being in school, I wouldnt fault them. But I also would not fault parents who want to keep their children at home and have a way to do so.

Coronavirus is going to be with us for a while, so itll be important to figure out how we live, work, and educate ourselves in this new normal. That means making it routine to wear a mask, practicing frequent hand hygiene, observing social distancing, and keeping away from others if you are having any symptomseven if you think it may be nothing. We have to be sure our culture is also about protecting others. If your child is sick, keep him or her at home.

What would you tell parents who are anxiously watching the headlines about this syndrome?

The numbers are small, and the chance that this will happen in your family is not something to panic about. We have the resources to take care of children here [at UHealth]. So, if your child is sick, let us know. We will thoroughly assess your child and provide the care that is needed. Still, remember this is very rare.

Its important to remember what hasnt changed: Dont worry about what you cant control. On the other hand, if your child has a fever, isnt eating, or otherwise seems ill, call your doctorjust as you would have before the pandemic.

Also, focus on what we can control. We can physically distance, use masks ourselves, and teach young children about the importance of wearing a mask for their protection and to protect others. We can all make sure we are washing our hands often and well.

Go here to read the rest:
Illness that is a by-product of COVID-19 affects children - University of Miami

as delivered

New York, 19 May 2020

Thank you, Mr. President.

I will focus my briefing today on two areas.

First: the impact of COVID-19 in Syria and the preparedness and response measures underway.

Second: the humanitarian response across Syria and the findings of the Secretary-Generals Review of Cross-line and Cross-border Operations, which you received last week.

Let me start with the latest update on COVID-19 cases.

Syrian government authorities have confirmed 58 cases in Syria to date, including three fatalities. Another six cases have been recorded in the north-east, including one fatality. No cases have been confirmed in the north-west.

Building up the limited laboratory and case investigation capacities remains a major priority, and the United Nations is reinforcing this effort across Syria.

This includes considerable support from the World Health Organization to the progressive expansion of testing capacities in Damascus, Aleppo, Lattakia and Homs from conducting repairs to providing essential equipment, reagents and on-site training of laboratory technicians.

Testing capacity is not yet sufficiently established for epidemiological evidence across the country, including in the north-east, where further efforts are underway with support from national and international partners. The United Nations including World Health Organization stand ready to further support expansion of testing capacities across Syria in accordance with the epidemiological situation and needs.

Support is also underway for infection prevention and control from risk communication and community engagement to isolation centres. Some $23 million has already been allocated from the Syria Humanitarian Fund, which my office runs, to support COVID-19 preventative measures. Thank you to the donors whose contributions have paid for that.

But there remain significant shortages of personal protective equipment and other medical items across the country.

Let me echo what Geir Pedersen said to you yesterday, further to the Secretary-Generals global call for the waiver of sanctions that can undermine the capacity of countries to ensure access to food, essential health supplies and medical support to respond to the pandemic. Like Geir, I note the public assurances by relevant States that their sanctions programs relating to Syria neither ban the flow of humanitarian supplies nor target medicine and medical devices. I welcome their commitments to fully and expeditiously apply humanitarian exemptions.I continue to follow this issue closely.

As in many other countries, we are seeing the economic impact of the pandemic before we see infections peak: after an initial jump at the end of March, the average price of the national reference food basket for April is 15 per cent higher than the March average, and more than double the average recorded in April 2019. It is now higher than at any time since the crisis began.

In the north-west, which relies heavily on imported goods, the Syrian Pound continues to lose value against the US Dollar. Local sources report that, as of this morning, the exchange rate in some parts of Idleb has fallen as low as 1,950 SYP to the US dollar. Thats a depreciation of 54% since the end of April. The cost of a dollar has more than trebled in the last 12 months: the rate was 570 SYP to the dollar in May 2019. The consequences of this for local communities purchasing power are severe.

In early 2020, before the economic impacts of COVID-19 were felt in Syria, an estimated 80 per cent of people already lived below the poverty line.

The added impact of the pandemic is now driving food insecurity to record levels: the World Food Programme announced last week that an estimated 9.3 million people in Syria are now food insecure up from an estimated 7.9 million people six months ago.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, warned this month that killings of civilians across Syria are increasing, and various parties to the conflict, including ISIL, appear to view the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to regroup and inflict violence on the population.

Mr. President, I now turn to humanitarian operations in the north-west, where aid deliveries continue at record levels.

In April 1,365 trucks crossed from Turkey into the north-west through the Security Council-authorized border crossings at Bab al Salam and Bab al Hawa. This is an increase of over 130 per cent on April 2019.

There are three main reasons for the scale up.

The first is the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation since December, which continues to demand increased levels of assistance.

The second is the need to prepare for the impact of COVID-19. As I have said before, the north-west is considered at extremely high risk of an outbreak

The third pressure stems from the uncertainty we are operating under.

The authorization of cross-border assistance under Security Council resolution 2504 represents the sole channel for the United Nations to deliver life-saving assistance to millions of people in north-west Syria. It is up for renewal in less than two months.

You have received the Secretary-Generals review of cross-line and cross-border operations. In paragraph 1, the Secretary-General highlights that he has submitted the review ahead of schedule to allow the Council to take a timely decision and avoid the disruption of aid.

The findings of the review are clear: meeting the enormous humanitarian needs in the north-west requires a renewal of the cross-border authorization for the Bab al Salaam and Bab Al Hawa border crossings for an additional 12 months. The United Nations Monitoring Mechanism should be extended for the same period.

This decision cannot be left to the last minute. Too many lives are at stake.

Sustaining pipelines in this massive operation requires weeks and often months of lead-time. An environment of uncertainty risks the continuity of aid. It undermines the ability of humanitarian organizations to save lives.

In the meantime, our colleagues involved in the operation from the loading staff to the drivers to the UN coordinators and monitors are at the border every working day relentlessly, during Ramadan, amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, to scale up deliveries.

Mr. President,

I now turn to the north-east and the ongoing efforts to increase cross-line deliveries of medical supplies following the removal of Al Yaroubiya as an authorized border crossing.

I am pleased to report that on 10 May the World Health Organization was able to deliver a 30-ton consignment of medical supplies to Qamishli by road. A second consignment of 23 tons is expected to arrive in the coming days.

This is the first overland delivery of WHO supplies to the north-east in two years. WHO is committed to respond to the humanitarian needs of all Syrians in the northeast by the most direct routes especially to reach the most vulnerable.

While this overland delivery is a very welcome step, let me be clear that much more needs to be done to bridge the gap in medical assistance for the north-east.

At present, medical supplies delivered cross-line to north-east Syria are reaching 31 per cent of facilities that previously depended on Al Yaroubiya border crossing for these supplies.

The findings of the Secretary-Generals review of cross-line and cross-border operations are also clear with regard to the north-east.

A combination of more cross-border and cross-line access is required to sustain, and preferably increase, humanitarian assistance.

Several cross-border options were identified in the Secretary-Generals report on alternatives to Al Yaroubiya, released in February. His report also described their limitations in comparison to Al Yaroubiya.

Mr. President, also in the north-east, the provision of water from Alouk Station was again interrupted and reduced many times since my last briefing, creating severe disruptions in water supply, especially in Hassakeh City and IDP camps in the area. At least half a million people are affected.

To compensate, humanitarian agencies have scaled up emergency water trucking, but this is neither a sufficient nor a sustainable solution. Access to water in all areas is all the more critical in this COVID-19 pandemic. Across Syria, relevant parties need to ensure the provision of basic services to civilians.

Mr. President, I have briefed you on the ongoing COVID-19 response across Syria as well as assistance being channeled through the cross-border operation.

Let me also highlight the broader response operation underway from within Syria in areas under the Governments control where the UN and its partner organisations reach most of the people we help. In the first quarter of 2020 the humanitarian operation has delivered food assistance for 3.3 million people; 3.3 million medical procedures; more than 2 million medical treatment courses; life-saving water, sanitation and hygiene assistance for 1.2 million people, education for 1.3 million people; and nutrition support for almost half a million people.

Mr. President, in closing I will reiterate my key ask to the Council today:

The cross-border operation for north-west Syria, authorized by the Security Council, is a lifeline for millions of civilians whom the United Nations cannot reach by other means.

It cannot be substituted. Its authorization must be renewed.

An early decision by the Council will avoid disruption of this vital operation and help humanitarian organisations continue the scale-up that the current needs and the prospect of COVID-19 demand. A delay will increase suffering and cost lives.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Read more from the original source:
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian...

A specialist in Preventive Medicine focuses on the health of individuals and defined populations in order to protect, promote, and maintain health and well-being, and to prevent disease, disability, and premature death. They may be a specialist in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, Occupational Medicine, or Aerospace Medicine. The distinctive components of Preventive Medicine include:

Biostatistics and the application of biostatistical principles and methodology;

Epidemiology and its application to population-based medicine and research;

Health services management and administration including: developing, assessing, and assuring health policies; planning, implementing, directing, budgeting,and evaluating population health and disease management programs; and utilizing legislative and regulatory processes to enhance health;

Control of environmental factors that may adversely affect health;

Control and prevention of occupational factors that may adversely affect health safety;

Clinical preventive medicine activities, including measures to promote health and prevent the occurrence, progression, and disabling effects of disease andinjury; and

Assessment of social, cultural, and behavioral influences on health.

Specialty training required prior to certification: Three years

A preventive medicine physician may become board-certified in three specialties as defined by the American Board of Preventive Medicine.

Aerospace MedicineAerospace medicine focuses on the clinical care, research and operational support of the health, safety and performance of crew and passengers of air and space vehicles, together with the support personnel who assist operation of such vehicles. This population often works and lives in remote, isolated, extreme or enclosed environments under conditions of physical and psychological stress. Practitioners strive for an optimal human-machine match in occupational settings rich with environmental hazards and engineering countermeasures.

Occupational MedicineOccupational medicine focuses on the health of workers, including the ability to perform work; the physical, chemical, biological and social environments of the workplace; and the health outcomes of environmental exposures. Practitioners in this field address the promotion of health in the workplace, and the prevention and management of occupational and environmental injury, illness and disability.

Public Health and General Preventive MedicinePublic health and general preventive medicine focuses on promoting health, preventing disease, and managing the health of communities and defined populations. These practitioners combine population-based public health skills with knowledge of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention-oriented clinical practice in a wide variety of settings.

Career paths can include working in public health, occupational medicine, aerospace medicine, clinical medicine, academic medicine, managed care, research, informatics, policy development and global health. These positions are often located in local, state and federal health agencies, professional health organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit health organizations, public health departments, industry, and all levels of government.

Traditionally, many physicians entering the field of preventive medicine had completed training and worked in another clinical specialty, but found they lacked the necessary skills to manage and treat larger populations, a core component of preventive medicine. Today, residency training for preventive medicine includes a preliminary clinical year (PY1) and specialty-specific training (PY2 and PY3) in general preventive medicine, occupational medicine or aerospace medicine. The PY2 and PY3 year includes a graduate degree for a Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MS) or Master of Business Administration (MBA).

According to the 2012 Association of American Medical Colleges salary survey, the median compensation for an academic medicine position in preventive medicine ranges from $144,000 to $172,000 in early career to $232,000 to $250,000 in late career.

Original post:
Preventive Medicine | American Medical Association

Dr. Barry Bloom, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said hes optimistic that one or more medicines better than remdesivir the experimental Gilead Sciences drug cleared for emergency use" on May 1 will be available by the years end. But he expects the standard of care will probably evolve and ultimately rely on a combination of drugs that pass muster in clinical trials.

You dont need only one drug, said Bloom, a pioneer in global health who devoted much of his career to treating tuberculosis. What we learned with HIV is that no one drug works very well. But if you put three drugs together that are pretty good drugs, you can control the virus for life.

Bloom and other experts suspect that unlike people with HIV, COVID-19 patients would require only short-term treatment with a combination of medicines and recover faster if they got them soon after symptoms appear.

A study published last Friday in Lancet, the respected medical journal, bolsters that notion. It found that patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at six public hospitals in Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong seemed to improve more quickly if treated with a three-drug combo, compared with a group that received a two-drug treatment. The triple combination featured three antiviral drugs: one used for HIV, another for hepatitis C, and a third for multiple sclerosis.

The federal website ClinicalTrials.gov lists more than 1,400 clinical trials related to COVID-19 planned or started around the world. A number of them involve combinations of approved and experimental drugs, including remdesivir.

Massachusetts General Hospital, which participated in the global trial of 1,063 coronavirus patients that led to the emergency use of remdesivir, plans to participate in a follow-up study that combines that antiviral medicine with another drug. That second drug is sold under the brand name Olumiant by Eli Lilly and is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Libby Hohmann, principal investigator of the remdesivir trial at Mass. General, said the Gilead drug had a real statistically significant effect, but as a lot of people are saying, its not a magic bullet or home run. Thats why it makes sense to try to combine it with something else, she said.

Patients who received remdesivir had a 31 percent faster recovery than those who got a placebo, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which ran the trial at 68 sites worldwide. The median recovery time was 11 days for patients who received remdesivir compared with 15 days for those who got a placebo.

Most researchers predict it will take a vaccine to end the pandemic and dont expect one to be approved and deployed for 12 to 18 months, in the most optimistic scenario. As a result, researchers around the world are studying more than 200 experimental treatments to help sick patients recover, according to a tracker by the Milken Institute, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based think tank.

At least 15 drug companies based in Massachusetts or with an outpost in the state are studying possible treatments, as are local academic laboratories.

The firms include the Japanese drug giant Takeda Pharmaceutical, which is working with multiple partners on a drug made from the plasma of people who recovered from disease; Cambridge-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, which is collaborating with a San Francisco biotech on technology to silence the genes in the virus that causes COVID-19; and Sarepta Therapeutics, a Cambridge biotech collaborating with the Defense Department on an RNA-based treatment.

Akshay Vaishnaw, who heads research and development at Alnylam, said his company and Vir Biotechnology hope to begin testing an inhaled medicine in humans around the end of the year. The partners will first see how the drug performs by itself, he said, but it would hardly be surprising if researchers ended up studying it as part of a combination treatment.

Combinations allow multiple lines of attack on the pathogen, Vaishnaw said.

Ultimately, researchers say, the standard of care may encompass a cocktail of antiviral drugs that use multiple targets, or it may be several different types of medicines, such as antiviral medicines and anti-inflammatory therapies.

"Infections between a virus and a host cell are complicated processes that involve many different steps, said Dr. Joseph Loscalzo, head of the department of medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital. That, coupled with the fact that these viruses can mutate quickly, would argue that combinations would help optimize the chance for a cure.

Loscalzo coauthored a recent study that ranked more than 80 approved drugs for their potential to work against COVID-19. The researchers used artificial intelligence and other tools to screen over 7,000 medications now used to treat other conditions.

The National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories at Boston University is testing the roughly 80 drugs on cells from monkeys and humans infected with the coronavirus, and scientists there expect to have results soon.

Although combining drugs holds promise, it can also pose risks, Loscalzo said.

Now you have to look at not just the toxicities of each drug, but the drugs when used in combination, he said. The [clinical] trial duration would likely be about the same, but getting to the point where you could, in a safe way, begin the trial requires more homework beforehand.

Some scientists say they would prefer to repurpose a medicine that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for another disease rather than develop a new drug and test it in clinical trials, which can take years.

With all the drugs being studied, said Bloom, the public health expert from Harvard, its likely that data will emerge in the next couple of months about medicines that are better than remdesivir. But, he said, its premature to bet on any single drug or mix.

Like combination drugs marketed for HIV, he added, an effective cocktail might also become a medicine that doctors could prescribe as a preventative to patients who are at high risk for catching COVID-19. Gilead, which makes remdesivir, sells such a pre-exposure prophylaxis," or PrEP, to prevent HIV. The product, marketed as Truvada, combines two medications.

A drug that you could give to healthy people who would be exposed that would be a new and appealing preventative therapy," Bloom said.

Jonathan Saltzman can be reached at jonathan.saltzman@globe.com

Continued here:
Scientists say the best treatment for COVID-19 may be a cocktail of medicines - The Boston Globe

Rajgopal Noidamboor in this Madras Courier piece:

If you have cold, put some turmeric in hot millk, add some ground pepper, cardamom and honey, froth it and drink it. It will make your throat feel good. Alternately, you can make some hot pepper rasam, mix it with rice and slurp it. To get rid of that darn cold, you coulf also mix ginger, lemon and honey to hot water and drink it. These are age-old recipes passed down from generations. Most of us remember getting these lessons from our grandmother.

Today, turmeric mixed in milk is called Turmeric Latte and sold in fancy cafeterias. But why does turmeric work? Thats because it is the one ingredient which has curcumin natures antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Similarly, Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera)is a natural, preventative intervention.

In the fight against COVID-19, the Ministry of Healths Ayush has creted a task force to look into how preventative complementary and alternative medicine can help fight COVID-19.

We have commissioned an independent scholar to produee a report that looks into the science behind natural alternatives.

Todays storyby Rajgopal Noidamboor looks at the role of complementary and alternative medicine in fighting COVID-19.

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Excerpt from:
Can Complementary and Alternative Medicine Help Fight Covid-19? - stopthefud

Earlier this month, 15-time Grammy winner and esteemed artist Adele wowed the world when she showed off her slimmed-down figure out of nowhere. Thankfully, her doctor shared the singers tips and tricks in order to achieve her type of weight loss in a successful and healthy way shortly after the reveal.

Adeles Doctor Reveals How Singer Lost Weight In A Healthy Way

Winning the esteemed Grammy award 15 times in her ongoing career, Adele is best known for writing songs and ballads that explore lost love, heartbreak and finding ones self after. Shes also known for her powerhouse voice, which only helps in taking her songs to new heights.

But it seems like she still has more surprises up her sleeve since the singer recently wowed everyone by unexpectedly posing a photo showing her slimmed-down figure earlier this month. Shortly afterwards, Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read, her own doctor, revealed just how the singer managed to lose all that weight. Fradin-Read is MD-board certified in preventative medicine and anti-aging medicine with a university degree in nutrition .

I start by telling my patients that when it comes to weight loss, diet and exercisealonewill not be enough in most cases. That is why many patients that come to us have tried to lose weight, they did lose somewhat but put everything back on and often even more.For a successful and sustainable weight loss, we need to look at the whole person and not just address the weight upfront, the physician said.

I combine all the tools and methods in our therapeutic arsenal, starting with the most natural approaches and lifestyle changes, vitamins/supplements, to recommending peptides, rebalancing hormones and finally prescribing medications as appropriately for each patient, she added, saying that after starting her process with the patients, she works toward more intensive treatment.

As for what to eat, Fradin-Read suggested a diet made up of nutrient-rich food as well as protein, good fats, good carbohydrates, dairy and a few wine glasses a week. Green veggies should also take around two-third of the plate. One-third should be for protein, while the remaining space should be for carbs. She also suggested following the well-known Mediterranean diet.

Obesity may occur because of genetics, family history, environment and medical conditions, among other reasons that affect body weight. Pixabay

Originally posted here:
Adele's Doctor Details Healthy Diet That The Singer Took To Help Her Lose Weight - Medical Daily

Functional Remedies

Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world with remnants of hemp cloth found in Mesopotamia (currently Iraq and Iran) dating back to 8,000 BC. Though the US history of hemp use does not date back that far, the first recorded use of hemp in the colonies dates to the 17th century. However, until the 2018 Farm Bill was signed, hemp cultivation in America was prohibited for nearly a century. This complete overhaul of the law made it legal for farmers to once again grow, process, and sell hemp commercially and legalized nationwide use.

We spoke to Andrew Campbell, the CEO of Functional Remedies, about the companys perfection of its proprietary hemp plants, its unique control from farm to cultivation to finished products using vertical integration, and the nutritional benefits of the phytonutrients in,Synchronicity, its full-spectrum oil.

Functional Remedies newest Brand Ambassador, the plant-based cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn, also described the integration of Holistic Cardiology into his practice, how he became the founder of a vegan restaurant, and his love of the benefits Functional Remedies offers his patients.

Please introduce Functional Remedies to our readers and describe its history and mission.Functional Remedies has been developing the genetics of our plant and hand-pressed infusion process of our oil for over two decades. We have made all this effort to deliver our customers the most efficacious hemp oil on the planet. Everything we have done and continue to do is with consumers at the center of all our thinking and actions. We have developed a new branding proposition, Synchronicity, and have introduced new products that speak directly to our customers and meet their needs throughout their days and nights. Our mission, or our why, is straight forward; we exist to help people by bringing them healing qualities of the hemp plant. Our how is by creating the most efficacious hemp oil on the planet, and our what are the various form factors (tinctures, capsules, etc.) that act as delivery mechanisms for our full-spectrum oil and all its healing properties.

Please explain to our readers how full-spectrum hemp oil can support and enhance their wellness.Our full-spectrum hemp oil works in concert with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) by enhancing its ability to function properly. The human body naturally makes cannabinoids, but unfortunately, at times, it doesnt make the amount the ESC requires, thats where our full-spectrum hemp oil comes into play; it replenishes the body of its cannabinoid deficiencies. The ESC works with all the other systems in the human body (immune, nervous, respiratory, sensory, cardiovascular, etc.) and helps them work more efficiently. So our full-spectrum hemp oil makes the ECS system work better, and the ESC system makes all your other systems work better- all of this leads to a healthier, more balanced human.

What are the benefits of Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil versus CBD? The easiest way to put it is, Would you rather have freshly squeezed orange juice or frozen concentrate? Our full-spectrum hemp oil is freshly squeezed orange juice. CBD is only one cannabinoid that the hemp plant offers; our oil offers over 100 cannabinoids, along with other nutrients: terpenes and flavonoids. Additionally, to get the CBD isolate, companies burn and mangle the plant. We use a gentle hand pressed method to slowly infuse our hemp oil into MCT oil that produces the most bioavailable product on the market.

Have you seen an increased interest in your hemp oil products since the outbreak of COVID-19? Yes, we have. Yesterday the National Institute of Health (NIH), an organization we have been working with for years, asked us to participate in a working group regarding Covid-19. This will entail a series of calls with scientists discussing ideas and findings around this topic.

Functional Remedies is the only hemp company to receive three Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certifications. Please describe what this achievement means. It demonstrates to our customers the care we use throughout our growing and manufacturing processes to deliver the most efficacious and safest product to their bodies. We are all about quality and safety, and we spare no expense to ensure these two points. Additionally, we have an NSF certification and are well down the path in obtaining our ISO 9001 certification (the highest international standard involving the manufacturing of the forms we sell).

You recently announced your partnership with Dr. Joel Kahn as the companys new Brand Ambassador. How did this relationship develop? We are thrilled to have Dr. Kahn as part of the Functional Remedies family and team. We met Dr. Kahn a few years back, and he was gracious enough to try our products, and he noticed the difference with his patients immediately. Partnering with Dr. Kahn is another example of how Functional Remedies demonstrates its laser focus on quality, purity, and potency. Dr. Kahn only associates with first-class organizations, and we are honored and grateful to have his vote of confidence.

Dr. Joel Kahn, Cardiologist & Brand Ambassador:

You describe yourself as a Holistic Cardiologist. Please explain to our readers how your treatment differs from a typical Cardiologist.The inside joke is that a holistic doctor sees patients with a whole list of questions and problems. But more formally, holistic is interchangeable with functional, integrative, or natural. It is a training in cardiology that is quite rare so far that focuses on the root causes of illness and the whole person. Traditional cardiology makes a diagnosis of high blood pressure. Holistic cardiology inquiries about diet, sleep, fitness, stress, toxins at home and work, allergies, food intolerances, trauma, genetics, and silent infections. By diving deeper into causes of disease, some people can receive a natural therapy that corrects the underlying issue and avoids a prescription drug for life or a procedure or surgery.

You are considered one of the worlds top cardiologists. Do you attribute that to your focus on using plant-based nutrition as preventative medicine?I had a heart murmur as an infant, a noise the doctor heard, and began seeing a pediatric cardiologist from my earliest days. It proved to be more of a scare to my parents than any serious issue, but it put me in contact with heart specialists all of my youth. I was fascinated by the smells, noises, technology, and concerns the medical team expressed. By age ten, if you asked me my career plans, I would answer cardiology. Another coincidence is that in my first week in undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, the dormitory food was so miserable, but the salad bar was amazing. I stopped eating animal foods at age 18 to survive and learned that I felt amazing on plant-based foods. I merged the two events in my medical training and strived to be the best in class in traditional training but also to further my new interest in nutrition. The final piece to the puzzle was three weeks after I began my first position teaching and practicing aggressive cardiology, a major research study was published showing that plant-based diets could reverse heart disease. I looked to the left and saw balloons and stents that I was using to reverse blockages, and I looked right at my fork and spoon being used only on plant meals, and I merged the two to practice what I called Interpreventional cardiology. I might need to put in a stent, but you were also going to get a lecture on nutrition, prevention, and plant-based recipes. It has been a wonderful combination.

What interested you in becoming the Brand Ambassador for Functional Remedies?I have strict criteria for sharing my name and energies with a project. Is there strong science? Are there high standards of quality? Are there passionate people? Can this help people? When I visited Functional Remedies and met the team, I saw how the product was made with love and vertical integration, how the quality and certifications were of the highest standards and heard the testimonials of people that worked for the company and many of my patients, I was hooked. I have a passion for helping people improve their lives with safe and natural approaches. Functional Remedies is simply the best in class, and I am so proud to be on board.

What motivated you to open your Detroit-based GreenSpace & Go plant-based eatery?I was lecturing all over the USA about the benefits of a plant diet for decades, but when I got back to Detroit, the choices of going out for a healthy meal consistent with my lectures were very limited. My son Daniel had restaurant experience and an MBA, and we sat down to consider a variety of food-related business plans and franchises. Ultimately, we laid out a plan to open a high-quality plant-based cafe to dine in or carry out. We strived to teach our guests the pleasures of fresh foods, prepared to order, and emphasizing quality, taste, and health. The response has been strong and joyful, and we have a lab to change options and lives by opening minds and mouths.

Your goal is to prevent all future heart attacks. If you can accomplish the task, what would be your next dream job?I am living my dream job. I am over 60 years old but jump out of bed every day excited to take on the challenges.If I could prevent all heart attacks, I would focus on aging. Aging is considered a natural process and not a disease. Yet all the common diseases that rob us of joy and health, like cancer and heart disease, are much more common as we age. We are learning the basic mechanisms of aging and developing ways to intervene to avoid the chronic deterioration that may rob us of our dignity in our later years. Imagine feeling good and energetic at 70, 80, or 90 years old! It can be a reality, and I am excited to be part of it. Using the highest quality natural products like Functional Remedies is part of that process. Farm, not Pharma is the answer, and being part of this team is a dream come true.

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Functional Remedies & Dr. Joel Kahn: "I Stopped Eating Animal Foods at Age 18 to Survive and Learned That I Felt Amazing on Plant-Based...

May 14s budget will surely be remembered as the pandemic budget. It might seem like the worst possible timing economic uncertainty rages, Treasury has had to abandon its usual economic forecasts, and the pandemics viral economic spread is far from over.

On the contrary, this may be very good budget timing. With the governments swift lockdown and border actions, we all hope coronavirus will soon be eliminated in New Zealand. The government also rightly took immediate action to support an economy forced into hibernation.

So now the budget arrives just as we are ready to move into phase two of recovery when government spending and tax policies need to change from preventative medicine to patient care.

So what budget action is needed? Despite some clamouring for a new pandenomics to guide policy, there is nothing different in principle about the post-elimination recession about to hit New Zealand, even if it turns out to be bigger than the unprecedented recession caused by the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC).

Negative economic shocks can be supply-driven, demand-driven or both. Each requires different policy responses.

The current crisis started as a (self-imposed) supply shock: firms had no choice but to scale back output while their costs persisted. This is why the governments supply-side wage subsidies and small business support were the right call (even if reasonable people can argue over their size and detail).

Read more: The ghosts of budgets past haunt New Zealand's shot at economic recovery

But as firms come out of hibernation, widespread wage subsidies should be mostly withdrawn. The government cannot possibly provide current levels of wage support for the next one to two years of economic fallout. Nor would it be desirable, as the economy adjusts to a longer recessionary phase. Keeping unsustainable businesses going through this would only undermine the needed adjustments.

Looking ahead, weak demand is more likely as unemployment rises, some businesses fail during this second phase and real wages fall. That is why this budgets timing is helpful. It is time to pivot away from sensible but unsustainable supply-side support, to combating the expected demand contraction and its consequences.

This doesnt depend on Treasury forecasts. We already know that output has dropped massively, with more to come. So preparation for stimulating fiscal policy such as expanding some government spending programmes (though much of this will happen automatically as tax revenues fall and welfare spending rises). Looser monetary policies should help, with the central bank injecting more liquidity into the economy.

This years pandemic budget should, however, look to redirect spending towards immediate support for those businesses and households that will now suffer most. Since total spending will inevitably rise, cutting back longer term and low impact projects needs to form part of this.

A good place to start would be the Provincial Growth Fund, the result of little more than expensive political horsetrading among the governments coalition partners. But somehow I doubt this option is what finance minister Grant Robertson meant last week when he signalled that certain pre-COVID-19 budget priorities will be put on ice.

In my view, two guiding principles should inform budget initiatives.

First, flexibility. Uncertainty around who will be worst affected, for how long and how severely, suggests that flexible support packages make more sense than widespread, predetermined handouts. Lets see where the economic recession bites, with packages in place to respond quickly, rather than trying to predict where the worst effects will be.

Direct government-to-business loans, for example, that can be applied for and granted subject to conditions, would ensure more targeted support. And with interest rates set close to government borrowing rates, they are a relatively low risk, low cost option. Those needing short term help and are able to recover will repay in due course. Those without a long term future would not be well served by delaying the inevitable at taxpayer expense.

Read more: Past pandemics show how coronavirus budgets can drive faster economic recovery

Secondly, plan a future debt trajectory. Much current debate surrounds the eventual taxpayer cost of massive public debt increases, perhaps rising from 20-50% of GDP. As with the post-WWII debt response, this will need to be brought back down, but more slowly than after the GFC, for example.

Public debt increases are global, and New Zealand will not look like a bad international credit risk for the foreseeable future. Plus, with interest rates almost certain to remain low for years, the governments debt servicing costs have never looked better. Nevertheless, a credible plan towards lower debt is essential if we are to be well prepared for the next crisis as we were for this one.

Some are suggesting this years budget initiatives will be pivotal for the economy. Maybe. Mostly, budgets are like yesterdays news. Who remembers the 2019 budget beyond the slogans? It was the hacked budget (which wasnt actually hacked, but prematurely revealed due to Treasury slip-ups). Or the Well-being Budget (the official title that was little more than political spin with a smiley cover photo; what were Bill Englishs social investment budgets about if not well-being?).

So, good luck Mr Robertson we hope your pandemic budget (or recovery budget as you are calling it) delivers more than a catchy strapline.

Read more:
The pandemic budget: moving New Zealand from critical care to long-term recovery - The Conversation AU

Chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison draws inspiration from her British Columbia counterpart, who is also a fellow Prince Edward Islander.

Dr. Bonnie Henry has inspired me certainly as a public health leader, Morrison told The Guardian in a recent telephone interview.

She is a friend and a colleague that I reach out to regularly. She has had such a steady, calm way of leading.

Henry, like Morrison, has received ongoing praise for demonstrating strength and compassion in the face of COVID-19. Henry has even reportedly been nominated for the Order of Canada in recognition of her leadership during the global pandemic.

The accolades being heaped on Henry come as no surprise to Morrison.

She is a great public health leader and role model, says Morrison.

She has had that ability to care and is able to have such a critical thinking about public health and population risk and to be able to communicate that, which is really something special.

Morrison's first working relationship with Henry was when Henry was working as interim provincial executive director of the B.C. Centre of Disease Control from December 2013 to August 2014 and Morrison was more than a handful of years into her current role.

The pair, of course, have had regular interaction during the pandemic.

Shes a pleasure to work with, says Morrison.

She will often say something referencing P.E.I. In the past we have had face-to-face meetings, and I always looked forward to seeing her then.

Henry, who grew up in Charlottetown, maintains a strong connection to Prince Edward Island.

Her parents live just a couple of blocks away from Morrisons home, and Henry's sister, niece and nephew live in the capital city.

Henry, unlike Morrison, has made a career away from P.E.I.

In 2000, Henry worked with the World Health Organization and UNICEF on a polio eradication program in Pakistan. The following year she went to Uganda to help combat an Ebola outbreak.

Morrison says her feet have been firmly planted on native soil since she was appointed chief public health officer for P.E.I. in 2007. She has never considered working elsewhere since the prestigious appointment.

Morrison makes a point to mention, whenever she can, that Henry, who was appointed as B.C.s provincial health officer Feb. 1, 2018, is a native of P.E.I.

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P.E.I.'s chief public health officer inspired by B.C. counterpart - The Guardian

New ways of working will boost medical innovation and benefit companies, shareholders, and the wider population

There are three things we know always happen in a crisis. Poor leaders get found out, as voters in the United States may already have already started to realise. The initial response is always completely hopeless, as we have discovered once again in Britain. And finally, and most importantly, whether it a war, a natural disaster, or an epidemic, eventually it sparks a wave of innovation because in the end human ingenuity always rises to a challenge.

The Covid-19 crisis is, at the risk of stating the obvious, the worst medical crisis we have witnessed in a century. But here is a bet, and one that matters to investors: it will also spark a much-needed wave of medical innovation. The last decade has been terrible for the pharmaceuticals and life sciences industry, with slowing innovation, defensive mergers, and dismal returns for shareholders.

However, that could be about to change because new ways of working will be discovered, regulations will be re-invented for a new era, and spending on healthcare will be increased. The companies that come up with treatments will be the big winners but the whole industry will start to flourish once again.

Over the next few months, every developed country will work its way through different strategies, from partial lockdowns to social distancing to herd immunity, to cope with Covid-19. But it remains the case that the only real solution will be scientific. Until we have a vaccine, or an effective drug treatment, the virus will justcome back again and again. There is no other way of beating it. One way or another, technology will have to rescue us.

The pharmaceuticals industry, although it wouldnt want it to happen this way, could use a boost. Its giants have all struggled over the past decade, and while the biotech start-ups may have raised a lot of money, very few of them have managed to live up to the hype. Just take a look at the figures.

Link:
Why Covid-19 will spark a wave of medical innovation - Telegraph.co.uk

Photo: Contributed

The Spotlight Series is a series of articles looking at common, and preventable, diseases. I explain the science behind the condition, how to spot early signs and what you can do to prevent it.

The science

Coronary heart disease (also known as cardiovascular disease, or ischaemic heart disease) is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. It is also relatively preventable, by making small lifestyle adjustments.

Coronary heart disease is caused by a build-up of atheromas along the lining of the arteries around the heart (coronary arteries). Atheromas are deposits, made up largely of fat and cholesterol. This build up in the walls of the arteries makes the arteries narrower, which is called atherosclerosis.

This narrowing of the arteries means that the heart receives less blood. This can cause a variety of problems, the most common of which is angina. Angina is chest pain, that is brought on when the heart isnt getting enough blood. This can be because of physical activity or stressful situations, where the heart is beating faster and therefore requires more blood.

Another form of coronary heart disease is a myocardial infarction, or heart attack. This occurs when the arteries become completely blocked, meaning the heart isnt receiving any blood.

Heart failure can also be a consequence of coronary disease, as the heart becomes too weak to pump blood properly around the body. This can happen either suddenly or gradually.

Signs and symptoms

Angina causes chest pain that is typically associated with a heaviness, tightness or uncomfortable sensation, that may spread to the jaw, neck, arms or back. Angina is often triggered by exercise, and will pass quickly when you rest or use a nitrate spray.

If the pain doesnt go away when you rest, or if the pain is particularly severe, it may be a heart attack. People also experience symptoms like nausea, sweating, feeling faint or short of breath. If you experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately, as this is a life-threatening emergency.

Heart failure can happen gradually or suddenly, and usually presents with shortness of breath. This is due to a build up of fluid in the lungs because the heart cant effectively pump fluid around the body.

How to prevent heart disease

Luckily, you can reduce your risk of getting coronary heart disease easily by keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the normal range.

Eating a cardio-protective diet is the best place to start. Here are the key aspects of the cardio-protective diet:

The heart is a muscle like any other, and so its important to treat it as such. Giving it regular exercise is the best way to keep it healthy and prevent the onset of disease. Regular exercise keeps your circulatory system efficient, reduces your cholesterol, and keeps your blood pressure at a healthy level.

As well as eating well and exercising to protect your heart, giving up smoking is a hugely important part of preventing disease. Smoking is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, as it causes the blood to be more sticky, and likely to atherosclerose.

Good news: drinking alcohol (albeit in small doses, and in low sugar forms) is actually a positive thing for heart health. Enjoy a glass of this regions awesome wine once or twice a week, and know that its on doctors orders! However, any alcohol in excess is not good, and binge drinking increases the risk of a heart attack. Be sensible.

Take home message

You guessed it its my motto! Eat well, exercise, and be aware of the signs and symptoms. If you believe you may be suffering from heart disease, speak to your family doctor. Even if you have heart disease, it is possible to reverse some of the damage to your arteries. Get in touch if you have any questions, or want to discuss this topic more.

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The Spotlight Series: coronary heart disease - Health and Happiness - Castanet.net