StemCell Therapy

Taking a deep breath is not just a simple act for calming yourself and your nerves but can also help you take your immunity a notch higher, and yes this is true! Taking deep breaths, breathing heavily during a workout can help your body fight diseases in a much better way because the heart and lungs play an important role in powering the pathways of immunity. The lungs move oxygen-rich blood to the heart through capillaries and the heart extracts oxygen from the bloodstream to pump it to the entire body. The improvement in muscle movement and flow of oxygen sparks the increased circulation of immunity cells. Exercise prepares the heart and lungs to pump oxygen-rich blood more efficiently to all parts of the body and thus more immunity cells launch themselves into action.SittingEven when you sit to breathe in and breathe out slowly, you activate your parasympathetic system- which calms down the nervous system and similarly when we breathe heavily, the sympathetic nervous system is deactivated which triggers the flight or fight response that pumps stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.Stress hormones for immunityEven though stress is bad and its consequences are mostly negative, and cortisol and adrenaline can find their way to our lymphoid tissue which is located in the thymus gland- the site for maturation of the immune cells. If the maturing immune cells are exposed to these hormones, they damage cell development which is why it is advisable to spare the developing immune cells from exposure so that they develop into efficiently-functioning immune cells.The power of exerciseThe heart-lung action is activated by exercise and initiates the circulation of immune cells that are mostly resting in the lymphoid tissue. However, when a person breathes deeply and more quickly, the heart rate increases and muscle movement improves to activate immune cells to patrol the body for up to three hours afterwards. This gradually has long-lasting effects that protect the body from diseases in the long run and leads to fewer sick days when compared to a person who does not exercise.What to doTen minutes of any kind of belly breathing that works on the lungs by expanding their base can help you and make little but beneficial changes. One such exercise is a simple pranayama technique in which you breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply, gently and fully exhale through your nose. The pulling and pushing of breath should be continued at a regulated place for maximum benefit. Practising this regularly will help build a more stable and stronger immunity.

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Improving your cardiorespiratory fitness can strengthen your immune system. Heres how! - Times of India

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many people to learn more about their health, preexisting conditions, viral infections, and the healthcare system. They have learned about the FDAs Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority with regards to drugs and treatments for various ailments including the coronavirus. They have also experienced various levels of government responding very differently in how they deal with the outbreak of this version of the SARS CoV-2.

At the core of all these issues is the bodys immune system, which regularly works to protect people. The immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins that defends the body against infection. The immune system keeps a record of every germ (microbe) it has ever defeated so it can recognise and destroy the microbe quickly if it enters the body again.

A new compilation of 71 studies with over 50,000 patients, shows the positive attributes of using the repurposed drug ivermectin. It has been safely used roughly 4 billion times, successfully fighting river blindness and other ailments around the world. The meta analysis using the most serious outcome shows 66 percent improvement with early treatment of COVID and 83 percent improvement when used as a prophylaxis against the COVID coronavirus.

The winter cold and flu season is now upon us, adding to peoples health concerns. Boosting your immune system and giving it the tools it needs to keep you healthy is at the core of the current pandemic health discussions.

Respiratory infections, including influenza, the COVID-19 virus and particularly pneumonia are a leading cause of death in people over 65 worldwide.

On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against disease-causing microorganisms. But sometimes it fails: a germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Is it possible to intervene in this process and boost your immune system? What if you improve your diet? How about taking certain vitamins or herbal preparations? Can you make other lifestyle changes in the hope of producing a near-perfect immune response?

The Frontline COVID Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) is a group of healthcare professionals dedicated to fighting the SARS-Cov-2 virus and all its variants. They emerged seeking to use existing treatments in the care of their patients. They found certain treatments were successful in either preventing COVID sickness, or reducing the severity of the symptoms and duration of illness.

The FLCCCs I-MASK+ protocol provides a wide range of ways to build your immune system as well as protecting yourself from COVID-19.

These are all of the compounds, which have shown efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19, said Dr. Pierre Kory at a November COVID-19 Summit in Florida. Do you see the sheer number of trials and studies and compounds that have shown efficacy?

The FLCCC Alliance is not opposed to vaccination, and furthermore supports policies such as mask wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene to prevent the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our treatment proposals are designed, first of all, to mitigate the effects of the pandemic until it is overcome, and to allow for an earlier return to daily life.

The Omicron variant of the virus has more than 30 mutations. The current three FDA-approved vaccines offer uncertain levels of protection against this new variant, as breakthrough cases continue to rise in vaccinated people. This week, the FDA essentially stopped recommending the Johnson & Johnson vaccination due to serious side effects on a small but growing number of people. Therefore boosting your immune system becomes even more important.

The FLCCC clinicians are driven by their desire to save lives. They continually update their protocols based on clinical observations as well as the best studies of modes of prevention and treatment therapies for COVID-19.

The I-MASK+ Protocol is physiologic-based combination of treatment regimens developed by leaders in critical care medicine. All component medicines are FDA-approved, inexpensive, readily available and have been used for decades with well-established safety profiles. In October 2020, they added ivermectin as a core medication in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Their immune boosting protocols and supportive therapy focuses on five treatments. Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Zinc, and melatonin.

Their viral protection protocols are taking ivermectin twice weekly, and gargling with antiseptic mouthwash twice a day.

lvermectin

Gargle mouthwash 2 x daily gargle (do not swallow) antiseptic mouthwash with cetylpyridinium chloride (e.g. ScopeTM, ActTM, CrestTM), 1 percent povidone/iodine solution or ListerineTM with essential oils.

Alternatively, they suggest Nigella Sativa (black cumin seed) at 40mg/kg daily, can be used if ivermectin is not available or added to ivermectin for optimal prevention.

Vitamin D appears to be one of many important components impacting your immune system. Many studies and healthcare professionals strongly recommend increasing the vitamin D in your system, especially as people remain indoors and get less sun exposure during the winter..

The quercetin appears to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 virus from binding with the spike protein, which is how COVID-19 invades your body and spreads sickness.

Quercetin, a flavonoid with an excellent safety profile, has powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral properties. It can potentially help in the early stage of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection to prevent disease development and progression. Its excellent safety profile allows widespread use in the early phase of the disease or when it is suspected, starting even before a confirmatory nasal swab is obtained. Quercetin acts as a free radical scavenger, and both in vitro and in vivo studies showed quercetin as a potent antioxidant.

There are some relevant cautions regarding quercetin. Due to a possible drug interaction between quercetin and ivermectin these drugs should be staggered (take one in the morning and one at night). Patients taking cyclosporin or tacrolimus should avoid quercetin. And for anyone with pre-existing thyroid disease or thyroidism, the lowest dose of quercetin should be used when taken as a preventative.

People who took zinc had symptoms go away about two days sooner, (compared to placebo), reports one recent study mentioned by Harvard Health. The estimated effect in preventing infection was modest: about one infection was prevented for every 20 people using zinc. More importantly, there was an 87 percent lower risk of severe symptoms among those taking zinc.

An Aug 2020 article in Womens Health affirmed the melatonin recommendation:

Melatonin is a special kind of clean antioxidant, meaning that its able to protect cells without triggering production of free radicals. This appears to be important for immune cells, including phagocyte cells. Think of phagocyte immune cells as little Pac Men traveling through your bloodstream gobbling up pathogens. Studies show that melatonin helps to optimize phagocyte action.

Children, who are much less likely to have severe COVID-19 symptoms, have as much as 10 times the amount of natural melatonin production as older adults. Now, there are also other factors that give children healthier immune function, but this may go a long way toward explaining why youth is so protective when it comes to coronavirus risk.

Besides boosting your immune system, the FLCCC supports people taking antiviral precautions. These include gargling twice a day with antiseptic mouthwash and ivermectin.

The gargling makes sense because these cold and flu viruses enter your body primarily through your mouth or nose. If you can kill them before they incubate and travel down your air passageways into your lungs, you have a much greater chance of mild symptoms and better health outcomes.

The I in the FLCCCs recommended protocol is ivermectin. It has been safely used for decades, with roughly 4 billion doses administered globally. Yet there has been a huge battle by the government and the drug companies to keep citizens from using ivermectin.

Many of those compounds are repurposed, Kory said. You know why? Because when this disease hit, theres a lot of smart doctors, a lot of investigators who just started studying what they had available, instead of sitting around waiting till people turn blue.

Nature magazine recently reported on repurposed drugs and compounds. Given the high attrition rates, substantial costs and slow pace of new drug discovery and development, repurposing of old drugs to treat both common and rare diseases is increasingly becoming an attractive proposition because it involves the use of de-risked compounds, with potentially lower overall development costs and shorter development timelines.

There is a new report showing 71 studies demonstrate the effectiveness of ivermectin for both prevention and aiding patients in the recovery from COVID-19 sickness. The Meta analysis using the most serious outcome shows 66 percent and 83 percent improvement for early treatment and prophylaxis. The studies had over 50,000 patients.

Dr. Pierre Kory has been a leading advocate of using repurposed drugs and treatments in the battle against COVID-19. He shares a new metadata study with 71 studies and over 50,000 people. It shows excellent results for ivermectin in preventing sickness and improving recovery from COVID sickness. Video courtesy FLCCC Alliance

While many treatments have some level of efficacy, they do not replace vaccines and other measures to avoid infection, the analysis reports. Only 25 percent of ivermectin studies show zero events in the treatment arm. Multiple treatments are typically used in combination, which may be significantly more effective.

The greatest benefit appears to be an 83 percent improvement for people who took ivermectin prophylactically to improve their immune systems chances of battling the virus should they encounter it.

The FLCCC Alliance originally recommended one dose per week of the ivermectin. Because of the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant of COVID-19, they increased their recommendation to twice per week, and suggested it be taken with a meal.

The amount you take is based on your weight 0.2 mg per kg of weight. The conversion factor is 2.2 pounds per kg. A 132 pound person would take 12 mg; a 165 pound person would take 15 mg; and a 200 pound person would take an 18 mg dose.

The FLCCC is currently reviewing data regarding the Omicron variant to see if they need to adjust any of their treatments to offer better protection against this variant. Early reports indicate the symptoms are much more mild than the Delta variant. However it appears Omicron can be transmitted to others much more easily than either Delta or the original COVID-19 virus.

As always, they recommend you consult with your healthcare professional regarding any and all treatments, especially if you have preexisting conditions that add to your health risks.

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Boosting your immune system good for all colds, virus and flu this winter - clarkcountytoday.com

LITCHFIELD, Conn., Dec. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --SeaCare USA announced today that its 100% natural sea cucumber-based supplement with powerful immune-boosting properties is now available in the US.

SeaCare nourishes and strengthens the immune system in order to help fight off pathogens and keep the body healthy, especially in compromised immune systems. In today's world, the body's ability to fortify itself is more important than ever.

SeaCare's warm-water species and proprietary extraction and combining methods are a game-changer. Though there are hundreds of different species of sea cucumber, there are only a small number known to actually possess immune-boosting benefits. Extensive research demonstrates that the benefits to the immune system are produced only from warm-water species. Unlike most brands that have access to only cold-water species, SeaCare harvests only warm-water species, sourcing all of their ingredients from the tropical waters of Vanuatu, a small island nation in the South Pacific; and it's the only company that has the rights to these waters.

In addition to warm-water sea cucumber, SeaCare includes additional nutrient-rich marine ingredients such as sea urchin and various sea plants. But it's in their proprietary harvesting and combining methods that separate SeaCare from the field. Together, the ingredients produce a formula that boasts greater potency and absorption, with zero toxinssomething competitors haven't figured out how to do. This makes SeaCare one of the safest and most powerful immune-boosting supplements in the world.

No other brand can compete with SeaCare's potency, absorption and immune-boosting benefits.

It would take approximately 120 pills from another brand to equal the active ingredients found in a single dose of SeaCare. While competitor supplements produce a pill derived from fillers and dehydrated cold-water sea cucumber carcassesdevoid of the nutrients critical to producing actual benefits; SeaCare employs a complex and expensiveprocess of extracting rich nutrients from each of its marine ingredients to produce a fresh gel-like supplement packed with the key nutritional minerals, amino acids and vitamins critical to nourishing the body's natural immunitynaturally.

SeaCare will be made available on their online store (www.seacarehealth.com).

SeaCare USA 860.489.9569 [emailprotected] http://www.seacarehealth.com

SOURCE SeaCare USA

seacarehealth.com

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SEACARE, A WARM-WATER SEA CUCUMBER-BASED SUPPLEMENT KNOWN TO NOURISH AND BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, LAUNCHES ITS AMERICAN DIVISION -- SEACARE USA,...

When Dr. Joshua Ishal got his 5- and 7-year-old daughters their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine last week in Queens, he joined millions of other parents in protecting their 5- to 11-year-old children since the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was authorized for this age group in late October.

Dr. Ishal, a dentist who lives in Great Neck, N.Y., never questioned whether he would get his children vaccinated, but he has been wavering over the timing of their second shots.

The clinical trials that tested the Pfizer vaccine separated the doses by three weeks, which is why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that interval. But emerging data suggests that a longer wait bolsters the immune response in the long run. Whats more, the extra time may reduce the risk of myocarditis heart inflammation a rare but serious side effect of the mRNA vaccines in adolescents and younger adults.

Health authorities in Canada recommend that children wait at least eight weeks between doses. In Britain, kids wait 12 weeks for the second shot.

Still, the potential benefits of waiting for the second dose must be balanced against the real risks of catching and spreading Covid during the wait. With the United States on the cusp of another major wave of cases and the new Omicron variant spreading rapidly, delaying means leaving children vulnerable to infection and illness for longer.

I think thats a hard call, said Aubree Gordon, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Is it more important for children to have good protection sooner? Or a better, more lasting protection later? The conundrum reminds Dr. Ishal of an episode of Seinfeld in which Jerry tells a story about picking a cold medicine from a wall of options at the drugstore. This is quick acting, but this is long-lasting, Jerry said. When do I need to feel good, now or later?

Trish Johnson, a financial adviser in Oakland, Calif., plans to push her sons second dose back to six or even eight weeks. She has been swayed, she said, by the studies showing that a longer interval between doses leads to a better immune response.

Ive taken it upon myself, especially during this later part of the pandemic, to follow doctors on Twitter and do my own investigation, she said. Almost two years into the pandemic, she feels that public health officials are taking too many precautions and failing to adapt to changing data. That doesnt work for me anymore, she said.

Many experts agree that three weeks between doses is too short an interval for an optimal immune response.

From an immunological standpoint, it makes more sense to wait, said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona. Pfizer didnt choose three weeks between doses because it was the perfect interval. That decision, he said, was more about public health and reducing community transmission, and completing this process quickly. Dr. Bhattacharya plans to hold off on a second dose for his children until eight weeks.

The immune system needs time to ramp up after that first dose. Immune cells in the blood, known as B cells, can start producing antibodies within a week. But to generate really high-quality antibodies, those cells need to go through an intense kind of training camp inside the lymph nodes, and that process takes more than three weeks.

Dec. 21, 2021, 8:38 p.m. ET

You need them to sweat a little bit, those B cells, said Andrs Finzi, an immunologist at the University of Montreal.

Much of the research on different dosing intervals comes from countries, like Canada and Britain, that opted to wait on the second shot for adults when vaccine doses were scarce last winter and spring. Dr. Finzi and his colleagues examined the immune response in 26 people who received their second shots three months or more after their first. They also looked at responses in 12 people who received their shots four weeks apart. The two groups produced roughly the same quantity of antibodies, but the group with a longer interval between doses produced stronger antibodies with a greater capacity to latch onto the virus and stay there.

In Britain, officials lengthened the dose interval for all vaccines to 12 weeks last December. Researchers at the University of Oxford studied hundreds of health workers who had received second doses before or after that policy took effect.

Their study found that people who waited 10 weeks between their first and second doses had antibodies levels about twice as high as those who only waited three or four weeks. Those antibodies are produced by B cells, which continue to develop over that long interval.

It seems that giving the second dose at three to four weeks is just a bit too soon for your B cells to be ready to receive that boost, said Susanna Dunachie, an immunologist at the University of Oxford, who led the study. Whats more, the longer dose interval also affected T cells, which help ramp up the bodys immune response. After the long interval, the T cells of study participants produced greater quantities of interleukin-2, a chemical signal that helps long-term immune memory.

We were quite surprised, Dr. Dunachie said.

She added, however, that a more robust immune response measured in the laboratory would not necessarily translate to better protection in the real world.

On this issue, the results are mixed. Surveillance data from British Columbia and Quebec suggest that a longer dosing interval improves the effectiveness of the vaccine, according to a study that has not yet been peer-reviewed. That is, people who had a longer stretch between doses had a lower risk of becoming infected than those who opted for less time.

But studies from Britain havent been as clear-cut. One found a modest benefit of delaying the second dose. Two other studies didnt find any effect.

The impact of dosing intervals on the risk of myocarditis is even less clear. In one study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers examined Ontarios vaccine safety surveillance data and identified 297 cases of inflammation of either the heart muscle or the outer lining of the heart after vaccination in people 12 and older. Of those, 207 occurred after the second dose. The rates were higher among people who separated their vaccines by a month or less compared with those who waited six weeks or more.

Whether the vaccine will trigger excess myocarditis in 5- to 11- year-olds remains to be seen. So far, more than seven million doses of the vaccine have been administered to this age group in the U.S. and only 14 possible cases of myocarditis have been reported to the government.

The risk of myocarditis is far higher among teenage boys and young men: about 11 cases for every 100,000 males between ages 16 and 29 receiving a second dose, according to one study.

That worries Lisa Rollins, a software trainer in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her son turned 12 in early December after receiving his first dose. She plans to wait six weeks to get him his second shot. Hes doing virtual learning for now, she and her husband work from home, and the rest of the family is fully vaccinated. So his risk is pretty low, Ms. Rollins said. I think waiting a little bit longer makes sense for us.

Scott Hensley, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine, points out that we also cant yet quantify how much benefit children might get from waiting a few weeks. His children received their second doses four weeks after their first.

If there was not a pandemic going on, the answer would be simple longer duration would be better, Dr. Hensley said. But we are at a point in time in the United States where Omicron is going to sweep our nation and its going to probably sweep across the world. And so there has never been a better time to get vaccinated.

Its an argument that Dr. Ishal finds increasingly persuasive. Cases are surging in New York City. The city-run vaccination site in Queens where he took his daughters for their first shots booked second-dose appointments for three weeks out. Given whats happening with Omicron, he may just keep that time slot.

Well take all the protection we can get right now, he said. I think I just decided.

Read more:
Parents Grapple With How Long to Wait for Their Childrens Second Shots - The New York Times

It wont be a zero to 100 type scenario where we had really great protection with [the] delta [variant] but now were going to go completely on the other side, says Mansoor Amiji, university distinguished professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering at Northeastern.

We still dont have the data to show exactly how well a vaccinated immune system fares against omicron specifically, Amiji points out. But as long as it doesnt evade those antibodies entirely, the existing vaccines and booster shots will still be key tools in fighting the pandemic, he said.

How can vaccines and boosters fight the new omicron variant?

There are two ways to strengthen your immunity: Make antibodies that are better at identifying and attacking the virus, or make antibodies in greater numbers.

When coronavirus enters through the nose or mouth, the virus works to bind to receptors on the surface of cells in the upper respiratory tract. The virus binds to those cells through what Amiji describes as a lock and key mechanism. Its outer spike protein is the key, and receptors on the cells are the locks.

The vaccines are designed to train the immune system to block that binding from happening. A vaccinated immune system creates antibodies that essentially form fake locks and bind to the spike protein on the viruses to prevent it from entering the cells.

The worry with the omicron variant is that the structure or shape of the spike protein is changing, Amiji said, but the vaccines have trained our immune system to identify the structure of the spike protein of the original strain of the virus.

But that doesnt mean all will be lost.

While the antibodies may not be quite so adept at identifying and latching onto omicron, they likely still can much of the time.

A booster shot would also prompt the immune system to make more antibodies, he said. The idea would be that, even if those antibodies arent as good at targeting a specific variant, it would become a numbers game. The more antibodies in your body, the more chances they could counter all the viral particles and stop them from infecting your cells.

But there is also another line of defense our bodies can mount.

In addition to the antibody responses, Dr. Baozhong Wang, professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University said the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) also induce robust T-cell responses that play an important role in immune protection. Those tiny white blood cells called T-cells help our immune system reject foreign substances in our body.

T-cells can continue fighting a virus after antibodies have waned. They are also less likely to be affected by viral mutations, such as those seen with the omicron variant, so they have a better chance at combating it and future variants.

What do we know about how well boosters work?

Moderna announced Monday that its booster shot, the equivalent of half of the dose of the first two, increased antibody levels against omicron by 37 times, based on preliminary data. Similarly, Pfizer said last month that its own booster shot improves protection against omicron 25-fold compared to the first two doses.

Will we need an omicron-specific booster?

Maybe. The omicron variant appears to have significant mutations compared to previous versions of the virus, which may make it more likely to overcome immunity from vaccines or prior infections. But it will take weeks or longer for the data to come in on whether this is actually happening, and even more time to know what it would mean for people who are already vaccinated.

While its too early to know whether a variant-specific booster is needed, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have said they are working on vaccines that specifically target omicron in case its needed. It would take about three months to develop a variant-specific shot.

Why get a booster now? Why not wait?

While theres still a lot we dont know, current vaccines could ultimately prove to be enough to protect against omicron, which is why the CDC is urging all adults to not wait.

But perhaps more urgently, getting boosted offers additional protection against the delta variant, still responsible for the vast majority of COVID-19 infections in Georgia and around the U.S.

Will people need to get a booster every year?

Maybe. Experts arent sure if the COVID-19 vaccine will be needed on a regular basis, like the flu shot.

Pharmaceutical companies are already preparing for annual boosters. Moderna is in the process of developing a single vaccine that covers COVID-19 and flu. Pfizer is in the process of developing a separate mRNA-based flu vaccine, which could be given at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine.

But the necessity of an annual booster is still unknown. Experts say much will depend on the durability of the existing vaccines and boosters to protect people from severe illness, and how much the coronavirus changes over time.

So if youve already had a case of COVID-19 and are vaccinated, do you really need a booster?

Dr. Anthony Fauci recently said that a prior coronavirus infection acts as a primer and thereafter vaccination functions as a booster. Other experts say there is not enough data to know for sure, but early data suggests hybrid immunity conferred by a mix of an infection and a vaccine offers stronger protection than vaccination alone.

The immunological advantage from hybrid immunity, according to Wang, stems in part from what are called memory B cells or long-lived immune cells that are produced in response to an infection or vaccination.

Both vaccination and natural infection turn on memory B cells antibody-generating abilities. But research has found memory B cell levels can be higher in people who have been both naturally infected and vaccinated.

Vaccines and boosters in Georgia

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported 152,787 booster doses administered in Georgia between Dec. 8 and Dec. 14, up 55% from the week before.

In Georgia, about 60% of the population has received just a single dose of vaccine, and 50.1% are considered fully vaccinated, or having received two shots of the Moderna and Pfizer shots, or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Out of the Georgians considered fully vaccinated, about 1.2 million, or about 22.4%, have received a booster shot.

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What you need to know about omicron and COVID boosters - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Gutfeld: Our world is run by 'but-heads'

'Gutfeld' panel discusses how people say one thing, then follow up with a 'but' that contradicts what they just said, as weve seen with regard to the COVID pandemic.

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Happy Tuesday everyone. It's time for my favorite show: The But-Heads.

Our world is run by buttheads. These are people who tell you one thing, then follow up with a "but," that contradicts what they just said. They start with a panic line, but then condition it with: "but we still dont know." That way they get to scare your ass, then cover their own.So let's follow the "buts", and see where these asses take us.

According to Axios, the website, not my Pilates instructor, the country is bracing for a terrifying wave of omicron. But, the new variant seems to be much less severe. But Boris Johnson says there is a tidal wave coming. But one of his experts adds: only ten people have been admitted to the hospital with it. Butwe should have known: never believe anything a person says who doesn't own a comb.

HOW IS COVID GOING TO END?

Still, you must get a third dose to bring the level of protection back up! Because the variant seems to spread among people who've received two jabs. Butit's not a big deal for those who get it. Still, you gotta mask up and get another dose.

Butthis is nothing like the previous strains. Compared to delta -- you barely notice it, and its much less powerful. If Alec Baldwin were the first strain, this one is Billy... Or Danny... Or Steven.

But! -- new data from Europe "hint" that omicron is poised to explode in the US. True, they said the same thing about the metric system. But the variant is less likely to lead to hospitalization in adults! So this is the PG version of an R-rated film. Like when they cut out all the swearing and boobs from "Old Yeller."

Fact is, more people are hospitalized for putting power tools in their butts, according to emergency rooms located near Home Depots. But two doses of Pfizers vaccine appear to be much less effective against severe disease -- but you should still get a booster. Although - we have not seen anyone with severe disease -- but hold on, it's coming! But, so was the medical device I ordered online, and Im stillwaiting. I had to make my own using an attachment from an old vacuum.

OMICRON IS BETTER AT EVADING VACCINES, NEW COVID-19 TRANSMISSIBILITY DATA CONFIRMS

Buta senior Biden flack told Axios omicron will come fast! But it won't be as severe... But...There will be hospitalizations! But-- the analysis of South Africa data said that the risk of hospital admission was 30 percent lower than the first wave. But- a two-dose regimen was 70 percent effective against severe disease requiring hospital admission. But only 33 percent effective against omicron.

So-omicron is less severe good. Butit could still overwhelm the health care system even if a small percentage require hospital care! (s***!) The cases could reach a million a day here in America (s***!) But those cases could be asymptomatic and mild. (hooray!)

But--the growth of the cases could double quickly- - butit also appears to be already slowing down in other countries. Butit's too soon to tell. Butdon't panic. But also, panic.

Butmaybe even in hospitalizations, adults are less sick than previous waves. But while vaccinations do help reduce infection -- butnot transmission.

OMICRON COVID-19 VARIANT NOW ACCOUNTS FOR 2.9% OF ALL CASES IN THE UNITED STATES

In Denmark, 75 percent of omicron cases are among fully-vaccinated people. Butyou can't compare countries except when you do. But you can't!

So omicron has high transmissibility. But it appears to be mild. Butit could lead to a huge projection of cases. Butwe don't have nearly enough data to make any firm predictions. So the people who are telling you to do something, are the same people who are talking you out of it! These people are sending more mixed messages than a straight hairdresser. So maybe call us when you know what the f*** you're talking about!

Because to quote Axios, again-- "there is certainly a strong possibility that a lot of Americans are about to get sick... Soon." Someone actually wrote that sentence. Imagine if your doctor had that mentality.

Skit of doctor sending mixed signals to a patient

So what's the bottom line for all the buttheads? Omicron is like that carton of Chinese food in the back of the fridge. It could be dangerous, butwe can't find anyone who died from it. Butwe don't have enough data. So just in case, get a booster and mask up now, whether you're vaxxed or not.

DR. OZ LAMENTS POLITICIZATION OF COVID, VACCINES ON HANNITY

ButI thought that's why we got vaxxed? To stop with the masks. Not anymore. Look at Joe Biden. He's gotten three shots, buthe stillwears a mask. He's like one giant walking butt.

So even if you're alone at your desk, or alone driving a truck, or alone having sex... Mask up! But-- not if you're a politician! Then you can go to bars, parties, galas -- and do whatever you want.

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So these buttheads cover their asses by temporarily covering their mouths when a camera is near. Problem is -- how can they tell the two holes apart? You can't go by the smell of their breath.

So turns out the only thing that all these different viruses can't penetrate are the immune systems of habitual liars. Butit would be nice if they could. No ifs, ands, or buts.

This article is adapted from Greg Gutfeld's opening monologue on the December 14, 2021 edition of "Gutfeld!"

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Greg Gutfeld: The only thing viruses can't penetrate is the immune system of a habitual liar - Fox News

The team points to the increase of IL-25, an important agent of the immune system, in the recipient post-transplant, which led to a decrease in damaging tissue inflammation.

The University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine team conclude changes triggered by the transplants, including beneficial gene activity changes, support the immune system in battling recurrent C. difficile infection.

Even though we know that faecal microbiota transplants can treat recurrent C. difficile infection, we don't know exactly why some microbe combinations work better than others or why the same combinations can have different effects on different people, explains researcher Ning-Jiun "Ninj" Jan, of UVA's Division of Infectious Disease and International Health.

We believe that this variability stems from each person's immune system being unique. That is why it is important for us to find out what immune markers change in patients where faecal microbiota transplantation was successful in preventing C. difficile re-infections.

"Finding that a specific immune signalling molecule, IL-25, was increased in successful faecal microbiota transplantations indicated that maybe IL-25 can be used as an adjunctive therapy for treating C. difficile infection."

The discovery was made after previous efforts by the team found dysbiosis in a mouse model of CDI reduced activity of interleukin 25 (IL-25) in the colon. FMT appeared to restore this IL-25 signalling.

This study involved taking colonic biopsy specimens and blood from patients at the time of FMT and 60days later.

These specimens were analysed for IL-25 protein levels, total tissue transcriptome, and epithelium-associated microbiota before and after FMT, and peripheral immune cells were immunophenotyped.

Findings suggested FMT increased diversity of the colonic microbiota and levels of IL-25 in colonic tissue.

Furthermore, FMT increased expression of homeostatic genes and repressed inflammatory genes.

Circulating Th17 cells, which play a key role in healthy immune system function were decreased in numbers post-FMT.

The transplants also increased the diversity of the microbes that naturally live in human colons, according to the researchers.

The increase in levels of the cytokine IL-25 accompanied by decreased inflammation is consistent with FMT acting in part to protect from recurrent CDI via restoration of commensal activation of type 2 immunity, suggests the study, which appears in the journal mSphere.

Despite the increasing use of FMT for treatment of rCDI, the mechanisms of action of FMT are poorly defined.

FMTs inhibitory effects on C. difficile may occur via niche exclusion, nutrient competition, and the production of antimicrobial peptides, according to past studies looking into this approach.

FMT may also promote changes in the host intestinal epithelium that increase resistance to recurrence of disease via fortification of the mucus layer and differentiation and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells.

One reason the mechanisms of FMT are unclear is that host immune responses can vary greatly and have complex effects on C. difficile infection severity, as well as the efficacy of FMT.

Type 1 responses via type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) have been shown to be protective, type 17 immune responses have been related to increased host damage, and type 2 immune responses via ILC2s have been related to tissue repair via eosinophil recruitment.

"In the future it may be possible to combine faecal microbiota transplants with cytokine-based therapies to increase the success rate of treatment," adds Jan.

"There is a lot of interplay between our immune system and our intestinal microbes, and it's exciting that understanding their relationship is helping us find new therapies."

Source: mSphere

Published online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00669-21

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Increases Colonic IL-25 and Dampens Tissue Inflammation in Patients with Recurrent Clostridioides difficile.

Authors: N. Jan et al.

Link:
Team puts forward FMT insight into its success against C. difficile infection - NutraIngredients.com

Scientists searching for the source of Omicron suspect it originated in someone whose immune system was already weakened by a severe disease such as HIV or cancer.

The idea that the emergence of new Covid variants such as Omicron could be linked, in some cases, to mutations taking place inside immunosuppressed people was described as a highly plausible hypothesis .

Immunosuppressed people who might have hosted Omicron or other new variants include those with diabetes, auto-immune diseases, chronic TB, hunger, and obesity.

That is because the virus can linger for months in some of these patients compared to a few weeks for most people as their immune systems are too weak to combat it.

During this prolonged stay the virus can replicate itself over and over again. Occasionally, an error occurs during the viruss copying process, which is how a mutation is created. Most disappear but occasionally they can lead to a new variant.

The longer a virus stays inside a person, the greater the risk of generating a game-changing mutation.

One woman in South Africa continued to test positive for Covid-19 for nearly eight months earlier this year, while the virus underwent more than 30 genetic mutations.

She is thought to be one of around 10 to 15 such cases of ultra-high mutations in the world, including the UK.

Its a very rare event. But it is a plausible explanation that individuals that are immuno-suppressed can basically be a source of virus evolution, Professor Tulio de Oliveira, head of the team at South Africas Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, which discovered Omicron, told the BBC.

Keen to avoid stigmatising HIV patients, scientists point out that there is no evidence yet to suggest a link between the condition and Omicron. Instead, they are making a more general point about weakened immune systems and an increased risk of mutations.

They stress that anti-retroviral medication does restore the immunity of HIV patients, and say that the lingering cases occur in patients who are HIV positive but who have not been taken their medication, for various reasons.

The emergence of the Alpha variant has been linked to a patient receiving treatment for cancer in the UK, Professor Oliveira noted.

More here:
Omicron: scientists seeking source of Covid variant probe links with immunosuppressed patients - iNews

With developing technological innovations in the health care sector comprising biosensors, smartphone apps, lab-on-chip and tech tops, that offer a nearer association with the patient. Decentralized testing techniques are therefore becoming a catalyst in the transformation of the health care sector. The main reason that this type of testing is trending nowadays is because of its access and quicker results. It can be done closer to the patient, the results are convenient and quicker to the provider to further rush for the diagnosis and treatment. Decentralized infectious testing lets faster clinical decisions at the physicians clinic, ambulance, and home. Decentralized testing can make a difference in the treatment of the patient. As this testing system is portable and moving it to the site of the patient, increases the chances of the physician, patient and the care team to have faster results and immediate decision making.

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The demand for decentralized testing is increasing due to rising incidences of infectious diseases in developing countries. The increasing usage of decentralized testing and technological innovations with respect to ease of use and faster testing devices are encouraging the usage of decentralized testing. The decentralized testing market has professional and patient friendly or self-monitored testing like food pathogens, hematology, infectious diseases, coagulation test and urine analysis. Rapid results and first hand treatment reduces the downstream costs. As the conventional health care sector shifts to modern health care, more services can be presented to the patients at the decentralized testing of the patient.

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The factors driving the trend of decentralized infectious disease testing include increasing trend of patient centric care, technological innovations, shortage of laboratory staff, increasing aging population, and rising incidences of infectious diseases. Even the diagnostic laboratories are also transforming on the basis of this format, where complex tests are performed in core labs and decentralized testing is performed in clinics, outpatient clinics or at patients home. This improves quality of care and access of care to the geriatric population. Advancements in the technology have been made such that it can be performed even by moderately trained staff. Many tests require labs for testing but now can be performed at the point of care. Another factor which drives the decentralized infectious disease testing market is the lack of trained staff in the laboratories. With less trained laboratory staff, drives the labs towards automated testing procedures and towards minimal user interaction systems. Thus, factors such as reduced sample volume, less specimen processing, shorter hospital stay, optimized medicine treatment and less post-operative care time support the growth of decentralized infectious disease testing market.

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The decentralized infectious disease testing gives results for over 75 type of infectious diseases across varied testing platforms which include advanced technology laboratory equipment along with rapid diagnostic tests that can provide results for individual patients in less than or equal to 5 minutes. Infectious diseases such as malaria, measles, mumps, rubella, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, dengue fever, HIV and many more, can be detected through decentralized infectious disease testing procedures.

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Briefly, North America has more options and a bigger share in the decentralized infectious disease testing market followed by Europe. With improved infrastructure and increasing awareness the global decentralized infectious disease testing market will have a boost in emerging countries of Asia Pacific. The prominent players having presence in the global decentralized infectious disease testing market are Becton-Dickinson and Company, Abbott Laboratories, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Siemens Medical Solutions, Nipro Diagnostics and Johnson & Johnson.

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Decentralized Infectious Disease Testing Market: Rising incidences of infectious diseases in developing countries to drive the market - BioSpace

As more countries roll out booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, conversations over how well these additional doses will protect people have centered on three things breakthrough infections, waning antibody levels, and highly transmissible variants such as Delta and Omicron.

All of these, of course, are interrelated.

The concern is that as antibody levels decline during the months after full vaccination, people will be less protected, especially from the highly contagious Delta and Omicron variants, which could increase breakthrough infections.

In addition, preliminary data suggests that Omicron may be able to overcome some of the immune protection offered by vaccines and prior infection.

Booster doses are seen as a way to shore up immune protection against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

However, the booster shot debate is more complicated than this.

When talking about how well COVID-19 vaccines work over time, theres not only one type of effectiveness. Some vaccines might still prevent most people from getting severely ill or dying but may have less protection against infection that leads to minor symptoms.

In addition, antibodies are only one tool used by the immune system to fight infection. Focusing solely on antibody levels misses the protection offered by the other parts of the immune system, some of it longer-lived.

Still, its important to understand how antibodies work and what waning levels might mean for protection against COVID-19.

Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins the immune system produces in response to an infection. They recognize and bind to specific molecular structures known as antigens such as those found on the surface of a virus or bacterium.

Many of the antibodies involved in preventing coronavirus infection bind to the viruss spike protein on the surface, which the virus uses to infect cells.

Antibodies are produced by immune cells called B cells, found in the blood, lymph nodes, spleen, and other tissues. Each B cell produces a specific type of antibody.

Scientists estimate that the human immune system can produce at least a trillion unique antibodies, although it could be substantially higher.

When the body encounters a virus or other pathogen for the first time, and a B cell can bind to that pathogen, the B cell is activated.

Once activated, a B cell multiplies and forms different cells, including plasma cells, which are antibody-producing factories.

Antibodies remain in the body for some time after infection, although their numbers wane over months or years, depending on the pathogen and other factors.

B cells and antibodies are part of the adaptive immune system, the branch that targets specific pathogens.

The other branch is known as the innate immune system, which provides a general defense against infection.

These two branches can work together to fend off a virus or bacterium before you get severely ill. If there is a virus or bacterium that your immune system has never encountered before, the innate immune response may sense something is wrong and respond quickly to an invading virus or bacterium.

This is important because it can take days to weeks for the adaptive immune system to effectively build up enough antibodies to fight the specific pathogen.

However, once your immune system has that exposure to the pathogen, it can then be ready to respond more quickly next time. Meaning it may be able to fend off invading bacterium or virus youre exposed to before you develop any symptoms.

If youve been exposed for the first time to a particular pathogen, and your adaptive immune system was involved, you will develop what are called memory cells both on the T-cell side and the B-cell side, explained Ralph Pantophlet, PhD, an associate professor at Simon Fraser University who studies antibody responses to HIV and other viruses.

One type of T cell, called helper T cells, stimulates B cells to produce antibodies. Another type, known as killer T cells, attacks cells that have already been infected by a pathogen.

If you are re-exposed to the same pathogen or a very similar one, its usually the antibodies that help protect or blunt that second exposure, said Pantophlet.

Vaccines trigger a similar immune response without the risk of severe disease that comes with natural infection.

[Vaccination] is basically a trick to provide the body with antibodies, said Pantophlet, so when you are exposed to the real thing, you are protected, at least somewhat, from that assault.

Vaccines accomplish this by presenting the immune system with an antigen from a pathogen.

Some vaccines contain the entire pathogen but in a weakened or inactivated form. Others contain only a specific piece of the pathogen.

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make antibodies that target the coronavirus spike protein.

The immune system doesnt produce only one antibody in response to a pathogen, but many different kinds. Some of these antibodies bind strongly to an antigen, others less so.

They can also be divided into neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies. As the name suggests, neutralizing antibodies can neutralize a pathogen.

For example, to respond to SARS-CoV-2, certain neutralizing antibodies bind tightly to the coronavirus spike protein and keep it from infecting the cell.

Although non-neutralizing antibodies dont do this or do it only weakly they can still play a role in fighting pathogens.

Non-neutralizing antibodies do not protect the cell from infection, said Pantophlet. However, non-neutralizing antibodies can recognize viral antigens that are exposed, or presented, on the surface of infected cells.

When non-neutralizing antibodies bind to these surface antigens, other parts of the immune system can come along and eliminate the infected cells.

Pantophlet says that for COVID-19, most labs measure neutralizing antibodies because that gives you a reasonable measure of protection [against infection].

However, with COVID-19, he says we dont yet have a clear sense of how high neutralizing antibody levels need to be to provide some protection from infection or severe disease.

Emily S. Barrett, PhD, an associate professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health, said identifying this minimum immune response is complicated because the immune system has other ways of protecting you besides antibodies. This includes the cellular, or T-cell-mediated, immune response.

So, unfortunately, although we would all like to identify a threshold of protection, theres no simple answer at the moment, she said.

Still, what we do know from just monitoring and measuring vaccine effectiveness, said Pantophlet, is that as the level of neutralizing antibodies decline, there is more chance of a breakthrough infection.

In recent weeks, scientists have inched closer to defining this protective immune response or correlate of protection for COVID-19, but were not quite there yet.

In the meantime, scientists rely on other measures to know how well vaccines are working. This includes looking at the effectiveness of vaccines in the real world, both in certain groups of people and over time.

This is the approach that Israel used in deciding to roll out COVID-19 boosters over the summer.

Data from the country showed that breakthrough infections were occurring more often in people who were vaccinated earlier in the year than those vaccinated more recently.

The lack of a correlate of protection for COVID-19 is also why you cant take an antibody test after vaccination or natural infection to see how well protected you are against the coronavirus.

After vaccination or natural infection, antibody levels increase but then start to decline. This is not unexpected.

Antibodies only survive for a certain amount of time, said Pantophlet, and it depends on a whole bunch of biological factors as to how long they may persist.

How long antibodies remain in the blood varies.

After two doses of the measles vaccine, antibody levels against the measles virus persist for at least 10 years, according to some research.

But with the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, some studies have found that antibody levels start to drop within several weeks after the second dose.

This doesnt immediately translate into a noticeable loss of immune protection.

However, research suggests that the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines starts to wane around 6 months after the second dose.

Its clear that once [antibody levels] start to go down to a particular level, your likelihood of getting a breakthrough infection increases, said Pantophlet. Basically, all that means is that the virus has a greater chance of being able to infect you.

But that does not automatically translate to you ending up in a hospital or developing severe disease, he added.

According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, 2 to 12 weeks after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine, the vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization was 86 percent overall. After 13 to 24 weeks, it was 84 percent.

This decrease was not statistically significant.

Even several months after COVID-19 vaccination, it appears that your immune system as a whole antibodies, T cells and the other parts that are involved have the ability to protect you enough that you dont necessarily end up in the hospital, said Pantophlet.

But we dont know and this is this is a big if whether that protection will remain for another 6 months, he said. And thats why theres this debate as to whether a booster should be given.

Scientists continue to monitor breakthrough infections and peoples immune responses to understand how long the immune protection lasts after COVID-19 vaccination or natural infection.

Because antibodies are proteins, they cannot replicate. In contrast, antibody-producing B cells can linger in the body and multiply when needed.

One study found that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are still detectable after 11 months. Researchers also found plasma cells in the bone marrow capable of producing these antibodies if needed.

One of the studys authors told NPR that these cells might be capable of producing antibodies for decades.

However, if the coronavirus changes significantly during that time, the immune system may need to learn to recognize and attack this new variant.

Understanding how well a certain antibody level protects against coronavirus infection or severe COVID-19 is also complicated by other factors that can affect the effectiveness of a vaccine.

A vaccines effectiveness means how well it works in the real world.

This is in contrast to its efficacy, which is a measure of how well a vaccine works in a clinical trial. During a vaccine trial, researchers try to consider other factors that can influence the risk of infection or severe disease.

Whether a vaccinated person wears a face mask or practices physical distancing can influence their risk of infection after vaccination. Even community-wide mask or vaccine mandates can influence vaccine effectiveness.

Shortly after California dropped its mask mandate in June of this year, coronavirus cases among fully vaccinated UC San Diego Health employees had risen compared to earlier in the year, according to a recent study.

This also coincided with the spread of the Delta variant, which may have also increased the risk of breakthrough infections.

Still, researchers found that people vaccinated in January and February had a higher risk of breakthrough infections than those vaccinated in March through May.

A combination of these factors is likely at work.

Although scientists often look at vaccine effectiveness for large groups, peoples immune response to vaccination and natural infection can vary, sometimes widely.

In one study, researchers found that people with severe symptoms of COVID-19 were more likely to have detectable antibody levels than those with mild/moderate symptoms. People with no symptoms had even lower antibody levels.

This was a pattern that emerged almost immediately following infection and persisted throughout up to 6 months of follow-up, said Barrett, one of the studys authors.

Most study participants had sustained antibody levels up to 6 months after infection, but the levels increased differently during that time based on symptoms.

People with severe symptoms saw a sharp rise in antibody levels within the first 2 months, while people with asymptomatic infections had slow increases in antibody levels over 6 months.

Researchers did not look at whether people with higher levels of antibodies were better protected against reinfection.

However, antibodies were detectable in the vast majority of infected individuals, said Barrett, and you dont need high circulating antibody counts to mount a response to an infection.

Another study found that even people who had mild COVID-19 cases appear to be protected against reinfection, at least during the 6 months after infection.

When it comes to waning antibody levels after vaccination, one preprint study suggests that different groups see a similar decline.

Researchers studied blood samples from 120 nursing home residents and 92 healthcare workers who had received 2 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

After 6 months, antibody levels decreased more than 84 percent in both groups.

Researchers also found that the declines were similar in people who had previously contracted the coronavirus compared to those who were infection-naive.

However, older adults who were infection-naive generated less of an initial antibody response to vaccination.

This kind of lower immune response occurs among this age group with other vaccines, including the seasonal flu vaccine.

By 6 months after vaccination, 70 percent of these nursing home residents had neutralizing [antibody] levels that were very low, at the limit of detection, said study author Dr. David Canaday, a professor in the School of Medicine at Case Western University.

The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Canaday said the waning antibody levels, coupled with the lower starting point for nursing home residents, are particularly concerning for this group because they may be frail or have other chronic health conditions.

This huge drop in antibodies puts them at continued high risk, and even higher risk, due to those extra conditions, he said. This means a higher risk of requiring hospitalization or of passing away.

People with weakened immune systems may also not generate a strong immune response to vaccination, putting them at a lower starting point for antibody levels.

This includes organ transplant recipients and people undergoing cancer treatment or taking drugs that suppress the immune system.

In the CDC study, the vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization in people with immunocompromising conditions was 63 percent over the entire study period.

As of Dec 9, the CDC also recommends boosters for everyone 18 years and older who received an mRNA vaccine, and for everyone 18 years and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This includes people who are immunocompromised.

In addition, 16- and 17-year-olds who received an mRNA vaccine can choose to get a booster based on their individual benefits and risks.

People eligible for a booster can choose from any COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for their extra dose.

Continued here:
How the Immune System Fights Invaders Like the Coronavirus - Healthline

Its that time of year again when people start planning for the holidays. During the holiday season, many of us tend to gain weight. This is mostly because of the increased consumption of calorie-rich food and the sedentary behavior during the holidays. In Western societies, this annual weight gain is around 1 pound which doesnt sound like much until you have to get rid of it after the holidays.

While it can be overwhelming to start making New Years resolutions, it can be helpful to start with a plan to maintain your health style throughout the festivities. Mindset is important during the holidays, as it can be challenging to maintain a healthy eating plan and stay positive when things go wrong. Self-compassion is also a great way to allow yourself to come out on the other side happy and healthy.

Its important to be realistic when it comes to goals. Trying to go the entire holiday season without eating chocolate is likely not going to work. Once you have a good idea of which events are worth a food splurge, you can then evaluate them. That way, you wont feel left out but will also remain in control. Once you have decided which events youre going to splurge on, enjoy them guilt-free.

Eating mindfully is ultimately much more critical than controlling what you eat with an iron fist. We tend to get busy over the festive season and thus dont plan ahead or eat proper food. We end up eating in a rush or snacking rather than eating slowly and enjoying the food.

Whilst you eat, try to remove all your electronics. You dont need to be distracted by your phone while you are eating. In fact, being distracted by your TV or phone will likely lead to overeating. When you eat, chew slowly and focus on enjoying the food. This will give you a much better idea of when you are full.

One of the most important factors to consider when planning for food is making sure that youre eating properly both before and after the event. This is particularly important when it comes to cocktail parties and drinks after work. Eating a healthy snack or meal beforehand will help you to avoid making poor food choices. For longer dinner parties, try eating a balanced meal and top up on veggies to avoid feeling hungry. If you do snack, try to make sure you choose a healthy option that will help keep you fuller for longer.

Its also best to really think about why youre snacking: are you hungry or just bored? During the festive season, there are often treats everywhere. Sweets and chocolates are much more easily accessible than they are during the rest of the year.

If you struggle not to grab a bar of chocolate when theyre on the counter, try putting them away and bringing them out only occasionally. You dont have to totally avoid sugary snacks, just try to opt for fruit, nuts, or veggies most of the time.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Unfortunately, most of us tend to become very sedentary over the holiday season. In the Northern hemisphere, it gets colder outside, and youre less inclined to go outside for a walk when its freezing cold. But sitting on the couch during the holidays can definitely contribute to weight gain.

Even a simple walk with your family can help prevent overeating. Its also a feel-good activity that gets you out of the house. Fresh air is always a good idea, and getting outside with the family can be a great bonding experience. You dont have to go with a crazy winter sport like skiing or start hiking up mountains. But just a walk with your dog and family can really help to keep you healthy.

Things can get crazy around the holiday season, but its important to make sure that you are taking care of yourself. We can tend to become stressed about all the tasks that need to be done. This might be getting jobs finished before work closes or even preparing for Christmas dinner, buying gifts, etcBut high stress causes high cortisol levels. This can lead to weight gain and is also linked to overeating. To reduce stress, you can try meditation, exercise yoga, or even just deep breathing. Dancing around to the new Taylor Swift album may also help.

Sleep is also vital. Stress can lead to a lack of sleep and vice versa. Sleep deprivation, like stress, is linked to weight gain. Lack of sleep seems to increase your hunger levels and is even linked to a lower metabolic rate. Try to make sure that you are getting enough sleep and arent sacrificing it in order to get through your to-do list.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tips-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/how-prevent-holiday-weight-gain-according-nutritionist-ncna938176

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yes-you-can-avoid-weight-gain-over-the-holidays-2019112518309

https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/dont-gain-weight-during-the-holidays#1

Here is the original post:
Managing Your Weight Over The Holiday Season - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

When it comes to anxiety, its not a rare problem. In fact, about 40 million Americans live with anxiety disorders. Over the festive season, anxiety can become even worse, especially if you have a tense relationship with some of your family. Generally, we can manage to avoid those family members that are difficult to deal with for the duration of the year. But over the holiday season, it can often feel like we are pressured into seeing all of our family. This can cause even more anxiety and stress. Strangely, though, it seems that some foods are linked to anxiety and may even trigger it. So what are these foods and could avoiding them around the holiday season help?

Bizarrely, we often tend to use alcohol as a crutch and a way to manage anxiety, especially in social situations where we feel uncomfortable. Generally, the holiday season also sees us consuming more alcohol than we might in the normal course of events. Its no secret that alcohol can have a negative impact on hydration and sleep.

Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE explains it can trigger anxiety symptoms. Technically, alcohol is a depressant that can make you feel calmer. But actually, usually, this backfires. Another thing that alcohol does is change the levels of serotonin and neurotransmitters in the brain. Not only can this make the anxiety worse when youre drinking, but once the alcohol wears off, you may feel even more anxious than before.

Drinking on an empty stomach is a particularly bad idea as it can lead to a severe spike in blood sugar which can trigger feelings of anxiety. If you do want to have a drink, its best to do so in moderation and make sure that your alcohol intake is not excessive. Healthline recommends about 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. Of course, if you are on medication, its also a good idea to check in with your doctor. If you dont want to feel left out but want to avoid drinking, mocktails or alcohol-free beer are typically good options.

Rather frustratingly is that you, like me, are a bit of a coffee fiend, caffeine really inns your best friend if you suffer from anxiety. The more caffeine you consume, the more likely it is to cause anxiety. Dr. Daniel Devine, a Philadelphia-based, dual-board certified internist, and geriatrician explain that the

Liderina/Shutterstock

effects seem to be most prominent in those that consume five or more cups of coffee per day. Of course, this depends on your tolerance levels, so its best to try to ascertain what works for you and what your personal limits are.

The reason behind this seems to be the fact that it activates adenosine receptors in the central nervous system. These receptors are linked to the mediation of the fight or flight response. In general, caffeine is perfectly safe as long as you dont have too much. It is however important to mention that coffee isnt the only thing that contains caffeine, and its important to think about other foods and drinks that might contain it. The FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake of no more than 400 mg. For reference, the average grande medium roast coffee from Starbucks contains about 310 mg of caffeine.

Its important to start off with the fact that not all sugar is bad for you. And theres no way to completely avoid it, especially over the holiday season. The real culprit is added sugar. It has a nasty effect on your blood sugar levels. This rollercoaster also causes spikes and dips in energy and when your blood sugar crashes, it can cause a decline in mood and this is when anxiety levels tend to spike.

This happens as the body releases insulin in an attempt to stabilize blood sugar levels. However, this results in the body working harder in order to get back to

Photo by Andres Ayrton from Pexels

normal. This is what causes those nasty highs and lows. And it isnt just your usual culprits of soft drinks, cakes, and biscuits, there are a whole host of unlikely foods to watch out for, including:

If you already suffer from anxiety and are worried about becoming even more anxious over the holiday season, you might also be able to look to your plate. There seems to be no doubt that there is a direct connection between blood sugar levels and anxiety levels.

Making sure that you monitor and regulate your alcohol intake, caffeine, and sugar levels could definitely help you to combat anxiety. Of course, its definitely not a cure for it and, if you are on medication, make sure that you keep taking it as you should, especially during a time that can cause high stress and anxiety levels.

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/foods-and-drinks-linked-to-anxiety

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/surprising-foods-trigger-anxiety?slot_pos=article_1&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=generalhealth&utm_content=2021-11-08&apid=37389314&rvid=79199d9de2b1a6fe12578e0247f02df8428514e8feeee772acc106b4d6f580e5

Read more from the original source:
Holiday Season Anxiety: What Are The Worst Foods To Eat? - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

People who have recovered from a serious bout of COVID-19 may still have reason to be concerned for their health within the year of their recovery.

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine suggests survivors of severe COVID-19 are more than twice as likely to die within a year after infection compared to patients who tested negative for the disease or experienced only mild symptoms.

Researchers from the University of Florida analyzed electronic health records of 13,638 patients who were tested for the virus using a PCR test in the Florida health system. Among those tested, 178 patients experienced severe symptoms and were hospitalized while 246 had only mild or moderate symptoms. The rest tested negative for the virus.

The study tracked patients over 12 months after they fully recovered and found those who had severe COVID-19 were 233 percent more likely to die.

Our country is in a historic fight against the coronavirus. Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

COVID-19 is even more devastating than we thought when only focusing on the initial episode. The downstream risk for the most severe outcome, death, is definitely high enough to hopefully make everyone rethink the impact of COVID-19, Arch G. Mainous, a professor at the University of Florida and the studys lead author, said in a statement.

Most deaths among severe COVID-19 survivors were not attributed to complications commonly associated with the disease, such as cardiovascular, respiratory and clotting problems. Just 20 percent of deaths were associated with these issues while the majority were the result of a variety of other conditions not typically associated with the coronavirus.

Surprisingly, the study found the increased risk of dying was greater for severe COVID-19 patients under 65.

Researchers said the study underscores the importance of vaccinations in reducing severe disease.

These findings reinforce that the internal trauma of being sick enough to be hospitalized with COVID-19 has a big consequence for peoples health. This is a huge complication of COVID-19 that has not been shown before, Mainous said.

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New study finds serious COVID-19 infection could be fatal even after recovery | TheHill - The Hill

- Mikra patent focusing on novel cellular therapeutic targeting systemic fatigue- Mikra partners with InVivo Biosystems for pre-clinical trials to strengthen patent application and generate further data confirming expression pathways for genes

TORONTO, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lifeist Wellness Inc. (Lifeist or the Company) (TSXV: LFST) (FRANKFURT: M5B) (OTCMKTS: NXTTF), a health-tech company that leverages advancements in science and technology to enable you to find your path to wellness, today announced that its newly launched biosciences and consumer wellness subsidiary, Mikra Cellular Sciences Inc. (Mikra), is poised to launch its first product CELLF, a novel cellular therapeutic compound targeting systemic fatigue. As part of pre-launch activities of CELLF, Mikra has filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and partnered with InVivo Biosystems, Inc. (InVivo Biosystems) for pre-clinical trials to strengthen its patent claim.

The real health crisis isnt reduced longevity were living longer than we have in the past. Its extended morbidity thats the problem. While were all familiar with mortality, morbidity is attributable to age-related diseases that lower your quality of life which is why so many of us when we hit our 30s, 40s and 50s experience multiple physiological and mental walls notably brain fog, fatigue, and inflammation. This all happens at a cellular level, and it can cascade into poor sleep, mood drops, and an inability to enjoy life like you want to, said Faraaz Jamal, COO of Lifeist and CEO of Mikra. With that in mind, Im extremely excited to present Mikras first product, CELLF (pronounced self). We engineered this product for everyone who has started to feel like their biological age is affecting their everyday performance and ability to feel like the best version of themselves.

Continued Jamal, CELLF works at a cellular level to help combat systemic fatigue, inflammation, and brain fog by promoting the creation of mitochondria and subsequently increasing their efficiency. This is in addition to the upregulation and downregulation of certain cellular detoxification pathways that can remove the buildup of senescent (old/dysfunctional) cells that may cause excessive chronic inflammation and uncontrolled cell division.

CELLF - A science-backed cellular therapeutic, treating systemic fatigue and low-grade cellular inflammation

CELLF is manufactured in a proprietary oxygen-deprived environment to maintain biopotency and bioavailability with clinically tested United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) certified GRAS (generally recognized as safe) bioactive ingredients. The CELLF compound delivery system is a two-stage, patented mechanism it is first bound to a transferrin glycoprotein and then encapsulated within a liposome. This allows safe passage of CELLF through the gastric environment and delivery directly into the blood plasma. The result is optimal delivery of our compound with minimal degradation to the best site of absorption. CELLF will be shipped in a package containing 30 X 10ml single-serve sachets to prevent oxidation and maximize bioavailability.

Youve got to satisfy two conditions for a product like this to work. The first is that the molecules within the compound need to be backed by rigorous science. The second is that you need to deliver it effectively into your body, and more specifically, your cells so that it is maximally absorbed. Very few products satisfy the first, let alone the second, said Jamal. As one of my lifelong heroes, Carl Sagan once said, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, which is why weve partnered with Invivo Biosystems to prove and strengthen our patent claim that CELLF does both.

Mikra Partners with InVivo Biosystems

Mikra has partnered with InVivo Biosystems, experts in genetic model creation and in vivo testing, to strengthen its patent application by conducting a pre-clinical study identifying genetic signatures and pathways associated with average human healthspans and to test the effects of CELLF on healthy aging.

We are proud to partner with Mikra in developing a family of healthy living products that reduce biological aging. At InVivo Biosystems, we take a systematic, multi-omics approach to make gene-by-gene discoveries and uncover the different genetic pathways that are up or down regulated during aging. The InVivo Longevity Platform measures the complex interplay of cellular proliferation, autophagy, mitochondrial oxidative stress, genetic predisposition, and transcriptional changes that occur during aging, said Chris Hopkins, PhD, Chief Science Officer at InVivo Biosystems. In our collaboration with Mikra, we are exploring how its flagship formulation, CELLF, increases the efficiency of mitochondrial ATP production and cellular respiration. Using the InVivo Longevity Platform, we measure at the molecular level how Mikras CELLF formulation can counter periodic bouts of fatigue by providing improved cellular respiration. In our partnership, we will be generating the science-based evidence that Mikra can use as further backbone for their intellectual property claims. Here at InVivo Biosystems we are also excited to continue partnering with Mikra in the future to uncover further how CELLF, and their future product lines, can create a new baseline for healthy living after 30.

CELLF Product & Community Launch

Im very excited about adding incremental value to Lifeist shareholders and unlocking the earnings potential of Mikra and subsequently Lifeist. Were taking the first steps here with bringing something novel to the market, validating and protecting it. But lets be clear, its only the first step, said Meni Morim, CEO of Lifeist. The initial traction Mikra has had around the pre-launch has been very promising to grow to a community of nearly 20,000 with a huge level of engagement, in such a short amount of time and with no sign of stopping is a testament to the teams expertise and validates the consumers desire for this type of product.

Mikras CELLF will be available for pre-sale in mid-Q1 2022 with a waitlist sign up available at http://www.wearemikra.com. CELLF will be available on http://www.wearemikra.com and Amazon following the pre-sale for full public launch.

Follow Mikras journey on your favorite social media platform with @wearemikra.

About Mikra, Cellular Sciences Inc.Mikra is a biological sciences and consumer wellness company on a mission to increase your healthspan by focusing on the tiniest aspect of your health: the cell. People are made up of over 37 trillion cells with a variety of different sizes, shapes, functions and lifespan. These cells are responsible for energy, happiness, recovery potential and so much more. Mikra is exploring the link between changes at a cellular level and the cascading effects it can have on health.

About InVivo Biosystems, Inc.InVivo Biosystems, an expert in genetics, delivers scientific proof and evidence for ingredients at the molecular and cellular level via a proprietary analytical approach. Its analytical platform helps branded ingredient developers and manufacturers substantiate their product claims, file IP patents, or refine their formulations using the best science backed measure of outcome. Managed by experienced PhD scientists, InVivo Biosystems gene expression platform can help find new applications for novel ingredients, discover new molecules, and conduct proof-of-concept studies for therapeutic purposes. Visit http://www.invivobiosystems.com/longevity for more information.

About Lifeist Wellness Inc.Sitting at the forefront of the post-pandemic wellness revolution, Lifeist is a portfolio of wellness companies leveraging advancements in science and technology to enable individuals to find their personalized path to wellness. Portfolio business units include: CannMart, which operates a B2B wholesale distribution business facilitating recreational sales to Canadian provincial government control boards and the CannMart.com marketplace which provides Canadian medical customers with a diverse selection of cannabis products from a multitude of federally licensed cultivators and its U.S. customers with access to hemp-derived CBD and smoking accessories; Australian Vapes, the countrys largest online retailer of vaporizers and accessories; Findify, a leading AI-powered search and discovery platform; and Mikra, a biosciences and consumer wellness company seeking to develop innovative therapies for cellular health and recovery.

Information on Lifeist and its businesses can be accessed through the links below:www.lifeist.com http://www.cannmart.com http://www.everyonedoesit.co.uk http://www.australianvaporizers.com.au http://www.wearemikra.com

Contacts

Lifeist Wellness Inc.Meni Morim, CEOMatt Chesler, CFA, Investor RelationsPh: 647-362-0390Email: ir@lifeist.com

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not historical in nature contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as may, expect, likely, should, would, plan, anticipate, intend, potential, proposed, estimate, believe or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will happen.

The forward-looking information contained herein, including, without limitation, statements related to the launch of Mikras first product CELLF and its anticipated therapeutic benefits, are made as of the date of this press release and is based on assumptions management believed to be reasonable at the time such statements were made, including, without limitation, expectations that pre-clinical trials will prove successful and that the Companys application for a patent will be granted, expectations that CELLF will gain market acceptance along with the expansion of the market for nutraceutical products and managements perceptions of Lifeists standing in the online marketplace for wellness and related products, Lifeists beliefs regarding the expected demand for wellness and related products and the expected growth of that market, the timing of product availability, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While we consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management, there is no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release. Such factors include, without limitation: unforeseen developments that would delay the Companys ability to launch CELLF as anticipated and in a timely manner, the risk that pre-clinical trials are not as successful as anticipated and do not demonstrate anticipated therapeutic benefits and/or fail to strengthen the Companys patent claim, the risk that the expected demand for nutraceutical products in general and those of the Company does not develop as anticipated, regulatory risk, risks relating to the Companys ability to execute its business strategy and the benefits realizable therefrom and risks specifically related to the Companys operations. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Companys current MD&A and annual information form, both of which have been filed under the Companys SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Source: Lifeist Wellness Inc.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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Lifeist Subsidiary Mikra Cellular Sciences to Launch First Product CELLF to Combat Brain Fog and Unlock Healthy Aging, Announces U.S. Patent...

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Dogs' eyes are not that different from our own. They have pupils, corneas, lenses, rods, and cones that work similar to ours, although they see things a little differently.

Since their eyes are similar, they can develop some of the same eye conditions that we do. One of the eye conditions our canine friends share with us is cataracts or clouded eye lenses.

Its important to know what cataracts are, how dog cataracts are caused, and what veterinarians can do to treat them. This way, you can take measures to reduce the chances of your dog developing cataracts and get them the treatment they need.

As they age, dogs develop cataracts in much the same way that humans do. A cloudy film sets into the eyes lens and keeps light from entering.

Your dog's eyes have water and proteins in them. Cataracts form when the proteins begin to clump together and form into a cloud-like substance in the eyes lens.

More and more proteins gather, eventually clouding the entire lens. Cataracts can start small and grow large, or they can appear overnight and completely blind your dog.

Cataracts are an inheritable trait, so if a dog is one of the breeds known for cataracts, there is a good chance they might develop them.

Diabetes Mellitus (sugar diabetes) can also cause cataracts in dogs.

Its also possible for eye injuries, which can cause inflammation, to lead to cataracts. Age is another leading cause of cataract development, appearing suddenly without an underlying condition.

It's important to know that another condition is similar to cataracts nuclear sclerosis, or hardening of the lenses as your dog ages.

This condition causes their eyes to become more cloudy but does not cause blindness. Your dog can see even though their eye lenses have changed. Your veterinarian will examine your dogs eyes to determine if they have nuclear sclerosis or cataracts.

Dogs eye structures change as they age, much like ours do. If your dog is aging and begins to develop a cloudy look in their eyes, or if they have an underlying eye disease cataracts can start to appear.

They might stay small or grow, depending on the condition that has caused them and where they are in the lens. If cataracts develop because your dog has diabetes, they might expand rapidly to cover the entire lens.

When a dog with cataracts is left untreated, they can become blind. The cataract completely blocks light from entering the eye through the lens and keeps your dog from seeing. The condition is still treatable at that time with surgery, but without treatment, it can develop into glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a condition where there is too much pressure in the eye, which damages the optic nerve. If the nerve is damaged, your dog will be permanently blind in the eye where the nerve sustained the damage.

Its important to note that not all cataracts can lead to glaucoma or blindness. Sometimes, they develop only enough to cause some reduction in sight.

Glaucoma isnt the only condition that can be caused by untreated cataracts. Another is lens luxation, or a condition where the lens can float around out of place. Cataract dissolution, where the cataracts dissolve on their own, can cause deep inflammation within the eye and lead to uveitis or glaucoma.

Uveitis is an inflammatory condition within the eye that is painful for your dog and can cause blindness.

All dogs can develop cataracts, but some breeds are more prone to the condition because of genetic traits.

Some of these are:

Your veterinarian will examine your dogs eyes using a light. Veterinarians also use blood tests to determine if any underlying conditions might have caused your dog's cataracts.

In most cases, you cannot prevent cataracts, but there are ways to ensure that your dogs vision is preserved, especially if a medical condition like diabetes causes it. These include:

One of the goals of cataract surgery in canines is to return functional vision. There are no known remedies that can reverse the forming of a cataract surgery is the only option for cataracts once they have formed.

Cataracts are removed with a surgical procedure under general anesthesia. The lens is removed, and the veterinarian replaces it with a lens made from plastic or acrylic. There may only be a need to operate on one eye, or the veterinary ophthalmologist may need to perform the procedure on both eyes.

Veterinarians also run tests to look for underlying conditions that are known to cause cataracts. Treating any conditions that can cause cataracts to form is essential because it reduces the chances that those conditions might cause further health issues.

Your dogs eyes will be sensitive after the surgery, so they have to be placed into a protective collar to keep them from rubbing them and causing damage. Veterinarians also give you eye drops to put in your dogs eyes a few times per day to keep them moisturized and let them heal correctly.

Your pet will need to rest and stay in a calm environment for a few weeks as their eyes heal. If you notice any complications, notify your veterinarian immediately.

Surgery for canine cataracts can be costly. The procedure itself can cost up to a few thousand dollars per eye. If your dog has any underlying conditions, the costs continue to rise as you continue visiting the office and your veterinarian prescribes medications for them.

Depending on the severity of your dogs health and cataracts, you might face medical bills of over $5,000. In general, pre-operative costs are between $500 and $1,000, while the price of surgery ranges from $3,000 to $4,500.

While this might seem steep, when everything is complete, your dog will see you again and be able to enjoy time with you to the fullest. Be sure to monitor your dog's eye after cataract procedure, because they can still develop glaucoma and other eye conditions after surgery.

WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Vanessa Farner, DVM on February 10, 2021

Sources:

American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists: Cataracts.

American Kennel Club: Cataracts Can Occur as Your Dog Ages.

American Kennel Club: Cloudy Eyes in Dogs.

American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation: 2061: Emergence of Pigmentary Uveitis as a Potential Cause of Cataracts and Glaucoma.

National Eye Institute: Cataracts.

The Royal Society Publishing: Colour cues proved to be more informative for dogs than brightness.

UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: Hereditary Cataracts in Australian Shepherds.

Veterinary Partner: Cataracts in Dogs and Cats.

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Cataracts in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention & More

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Diabetic eye disease is a group of eye problems that can affect people with diabetes. These conditions include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Over time, diabetes can cause damage to your eyes that can lead to poor vision or even blindness. But you can take steps to prevent diabetic eye disease, or keep it from getting worse, by taking care of your diabetes.

The best ways to manage your diabetes and keep your eyes healthy are to

Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.

Often, there are no warning signs of diabetic eye disease or vision loss when damage first develops. A full, dilated eye exam helps your doctor find and treat eye problems earlyoften before much vision loss can occur.

Diabetes affects your eyes when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.

In the short term, you are not likely to have vision loss from high blood glucose. People sometimes have blurry vision for a few days or weeks when theyre changing their diabetes care plan or medicines. High glucose can change fluid levels or cause swelling in the tissues of your eyes that help you to focus, causing blurred vision. This type of blurry vision is temporary and goes away when your glucose level gets closer to normal.

If your blood glucose stays high over time, it can damage the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eyes. This damage can begin during prediabetes, when blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with diabetes. Damaged blood vessels may leak fluid and cause swelling. New, weak blood vessels may also begin to grow. These blood vessels can bleed into the middle part of the eye, lead to scarring, or cause dangerously high pressure inside your eye.

Most serious diabetic eye diseases begin with blood vessel problems. The four eye diseases that can threaten your sight are

The retina is the inner lining at the back of each eye. The retina senses light and turns it into signals that your brain decodes, so you can see the world around you. Damaged blood vessels can harm the retina, causing a disease called diabetic retinopathy.

In early diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels can weaken, bulge, or leak into the retina. This stage is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

If the disease gets worse, some blood vessels close off, which causes new blood vessels to grow, or proliferate, on the surface of the retina. This stage is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. These abnormal new blood vessels can lead to serious vision problems.

Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.

Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.

The part of your retina that you need for reading, driving, and seeing faces is called the macula. Diabetes can lead to swelling in the macula, which is called diabetic macular edema. Over time, this disease can destroy the sharp vision in this part of the eye, leading to partial vision loss or blindness. Macular edema usually develops in people who already have other signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nervethe bundle of nerves that connects the eye to the brain. Diabetes doubles the chances of having glaucoma, which can lead to vision loss and blindness if not treated early.

Symptoms depend on which type of glaucoma you have. Learn more about glaucoma.

Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.

The lenses within our eyes are clear structures that help provide sharp visionbut they tend to become cloudy as we age. People with diabetes are more likely to develop cloudy lenses, called cataracts. People with diabetes can develop cataracts at an earlier age than people without diabetes. Researchers think that high glucose levels cause deposits to build up in the lenses of your eyes.

Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.

About one in three people with diabetes who are older than age 40 already have some signs of diabetic retinopathy.1 Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. Each persons outlook for the future, however, depends in large part on regular care. Finding and treating diabetic retinopathy early can reduce the risk of blindness by 95 percent.

Your chances of developing glaucoma or cataracts are about twice that of someone without diabetes.

Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease. Your risk is greater with

High blood cholesterol and smoking may also raise your risk for diabetic eye disease.

Some groups are affected more than others. African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Hispanics/Latinos, Pacific Islanders, and older adults are at greater risk of losing vision or going blind from diabetes.

If you have diabetes and become pregnant, you can develop eye problems very quickly during your pregnancy. If you already have some diabetic retinopathy, it can get worse during pregnancy. Changes that help your body support a growing baby may put stress on the blood vessels in your eyes. Your health care team will suggest regular eye exams during pregnancy to catch and treat problems early and protect your vision.

Diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, does not usually cause eye problems. Researchers aren't sure why this is the case.

Your chances of developing diabetic eye disease increase the longer you have diabetes.

Often there are no early symptoms of diabetic eye disease. You may have no pain and no change in your vision as damage begins to grow inside your eyes, particularly with diabetic retinopathy.

When symptoms do occur, they may include

Talk with your eye doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Call a doctor right away if you notice sudden changes to your vision, including flashes of light or many more spots (floaters) than usual. You also should see a doctor right away if it looks like a curtain is pulled over your eyes. These changes in your sight can be symptoms of a detached retina, which is a medical emergency.

Having a full, dilated eye exam is the best way to check for eye problems from diabetes. Your doctor will place drops in your eyes to widen your pupils. This allows the doctor to examine a larger area at the back of each eye, using a special magnifying lens. Your vision will be blurry for a few hours after a dilated exam.

Your doctor will also

Your doctor may suggest other tests, too, depending on your health history.

Most people with diabetes should see an eye care professional once a year for a complete eye exam. Your own health care team may suggest a different plan, based on your type of diabetes and the time since you were first diagnosed.

Eye exam guidelines for diabetes 2,3,4:

Women who develop gestational diabetes dont usually need an eye exam because they dont develop diabetic eye disease during pregnancy. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.

Your doctor may recommend having eye exams more often than once a year, along with management of your diabetes. This means managing your diabetes ABCs, which include your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol; and quitting smoking. Ask your health care team what you can do to reach your goals.

Doctors may treat advanced eye problems with medicine, laser treatments, surgery, or a combination of these options.

Your doctor may treat your eyes with anti-VEGF medicine, such as aflibercept, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab. These medicines block the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Anti-VEGF medicines can also stop fluid leaks, which can help treat diabetic macular edema.

The doctor will inject an anti-VEGF medicine into your eyes during office visits. You'll have several treatments during the first few months, then fewer treatments after you finish the first round of therapy. Your doctor will use medicine to numb your eyes so you dont feel pain. The needle is about the thickness of a human hair.

Anti-VEGF treatments can stop further vision loss and may improve vision in some people.

Laser treatment, also called photocoagulation, creates tiny burns inside the eye with a beam of light. This method treats leaky blood vessels and extra fluid, called edema. Your doctor usually provides this treatment during several office visits, using medicine to numb your eyes. Laser treatment can keep eye disease from getting worse, which is important to prevent vision loss or blindness. But laser treatment is less likely to bring back vision youve already lost compared with anti-VEGF medicines.

There are two types of laser treatment:

Vitrectomy is a surgery to remove the clear gel that fills the center of the eye, called the vitreous gel. The procedure treats problems with severe bleeding or scar tissue caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Scar tissue can force the retina to peel away from the tissue beneath it, like wallpaper peeling away from a wall. A retina that comes completely loose, or detaches, can cause blindness.

During vitrectomy, a clear salt solution is gently pumped into the eye to maintain eye pressure during surgery and to replace the removed vitreous. Vitrectomy is done in a surgery center or hospital with pain medicine.

In a surgery center or hospital visit, your doctor can remove the cloudy lens in your eye, where the cataract has grown, and replace it with an artificial lens. People who have cataract surgery generally have better vision afterward. After your eye heals, you may need a new prescription for your glasses. Your vision following cataract surgery may also depend on treating any damage from diabetic retinopathy or macular edema.

To prevent diabetic eye disease, or to keep it from getting worse, manage your diabetes ABCs: your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol; and quit smoking if you smoke. Read more information on how to manage diabetes.

Also, have a dilated eye exam at least once a yearor more often if recommended by your eye care professional. These actions are powerful ways to protect the health of your eyesand can prevent blindness.

The sooner you work to manage your diabetes and other health conditions, the better. And, even if youve struggled in the past to manage your health, taking better care of yourself now can protect your eyes for the future. Its never too late to begin.

Ask your eye care professional to help you find a low vision and rehabilitation clinic. Special eye care professionals can help you manage vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. Special devices and training may help you make the most of your remaining vision so that you can continue to be active, enjoy hobbies, visit friends and family members, and live without help from others.

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report: Estimates of Diabetes and Its Burden in the United States, 2014. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2014.

[2] Diabetic retinopathy preferred practice pattern guidelines. American Academy of Ophthalmology website. https://www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/diabetic-retinopathy-ppp. Updated January 2016. Accessed June 2, 2017.

[3] Fraser CE, DAmico DJ. Diabetic retinopathy: prevention and treatment. UpToDate website. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diabetic-retinopathy-prevention-and-treatment. September 28, 2016. Accessed June 2, 2017.

[4] American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes2016 abridged for primary care providers. Clinical Diabetes. 2016 Jan;34(1):321.

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Diabetic Eye Disease | NIDDK

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world.  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

In a world that is witnessing rapid progress in the arena of science and technology, one hopes that researchers can find answers to some of the most vexing medical maladies. Glaucome or Kala Motiya Bindu is one of them. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.

What is Glaucoma?Glaucoma is a general term used to describe a group of eye disorders that damage the optic nerve. Damage to the delicate optic nerve leads to vision loss. In most cases of Glaucoma, fluid builds up in the front part of the eye -- putting pressure (intraocular pressure (IOP)/eye pressure) on the eye, gradually damaging the optic nerve.

Left untreated, this eye pressure can permanently affect vision. Treatments including eye drops, laser treatments and surgeries can slow down vision loss and save your sight.

What causes Glaucoma?According to Cleveland Clinic, glaucoma can occur without any cause but is affected by many factors. The most important of which is the intraocular eye pressure. Your eyes produce a fluid called aqueous humor that nourishes them. This liquid flows through the pupil to the front of the eye. In a healthy eye, the fluid leaves through a drainage canal located between the iris and cornea.

Is Glaucoma curable? If not now, maybe in the near future?At the moment we have no treatment that can restore the lost vision. We will need to insert new nerve cells, reconnect the new cells to the cells that are still there, and make those connections work with the existing connections in the way that they did originally. Doctors and researchers across the world have taken the first steps in this process, it will be years before the successful restoration of vision in a human eye is possible

Why is glaucoma not caught early?One of the reasons that glaucomas damage is not noticed early on is that it typically affects only one eye at first. The other eye is still fully functional. Since the brain converts the two separate signals from both eyes into a single picture, we see it and we think nothing is missing. Until of course, too late.

Can glaucoma affect both eyes?Most people develop glaucoma in both eyes, although the disease initially may be worse in one eye. Certain types of glaucoma appear to cause moderate or severe damage in one eye initially, while the other eye may be mildly affected. Over time, the disease damages both eyes. People with closed-angle glaucoma in one eye have a raised likelihood of developing the same type of glaucoma in the other eye within five to 10 years.

Which hospitals are the finest in glaucoma treatment?According to the Global Clinic Rating (GCR) website, the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute, the Jules Stein Eye Institute, and the Ahad Mahootchi, MD, PA are the four top-most among the best all-around ophthalmology centres in the United States. These are also top-ranked clinics for glaucoma treatment. ()

Indian-origin Dr Pradeep Ramulu, MD, PhD is the Chief of the Glaucoma Division at the Johns Hopkins -- Wilmer Eye Institute.

How to prevent glaucoma:Early detection of glaucoma through routine eye exams is the best way to protect eye health and prevent vision loss. Make sure that you have eye health checkups periodically, just as one sets the calendar for a dental check-up and other health issues. Cleveland Clinic suggests that you must visit your ophthalmologist as per the table suggested below:

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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Glaucoma: How to defeat this leading cause of blindness before it strikes; treatment, future - Times Now

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have made a discovery linking lupus, a potentially debilitating autoimmune disorder, and macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

The two diseases share a common contributor to harmful inflammation, the scientists found. The insights could let researchers develop new treatments for those diseases and other conditions driven by the newly discovered inflammation source.

We were quite surprised at the common link between lupus and macular degeneration, said Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati of UVAs Department of Ophthalmology and the founding director of UVAs Center for Advanced Vision Science. It appears that the new inflammatory pathway we identified could be therapeutically targeted for many chronic diseases.

Ambati and his collaborators have discovered an unknown role for an inflammasome an agent of the immune system called NLRC4-NLRP3. Inflammasomes play an important role in marshaling the bodys defenses to protect it from invaders such as viruses and bacteria.

In lupus and atrophic macular degeneration, however, it appears that NLRC4-NLRP3 contributes to harmful inflammation, the UVA researchers found. In lupus, it helps drive the hyperactive immune response that leads to symptoms such as joint pain, rash, fever and more. In macular degeneration, meanwhile, NRC4-NLRP3 appears to contribute to inflammation that destroys the vital light-sensing cells in the eyes retina.

Ambatis new work helps explain why. The inflammasome, he found, is sent into action by a special class of genetic material calledshort interspersed nuclear element RNAs,or SINE RNAs. This type of RNA makes up more than 10% of our genomes, and it activates in response to cell stresses such as infection, genetic damage and aging. The resulting inflammation caused by SINE RNAs can be harmful in many chronic diseases.

SINE RNAs are elevated in both macular degeneration and lupus, Ambati found. In addition to discovering the role of SINE RNA in the two diseases, Ambati and his colleagues identified an unknown receptor for the SINE RNAs called DDX17. Scientists have been looking for this receptor for decades, and the new discovery helps them better understand the process that leads to the harmful inflammation.

These findings indicate that blocking a single inflammasome might not be enough, and that targeting both the NLRC4 and NLRP3 inflammasomes would be a superior strategy, Ambati said.

Using this new information, scientists may be able to target the source of harmful inflammation in lupus, macular degeneration and other diseases driven by SINE RNAs. That could lead to new treatments to benefit patients, the UVA researchers say.

Were excited to have developed drugs called Kamuvudines that block this dual inflammasome, which we anticipate will be in clinical trials next year, Ambati said.

The researchershavepublished their findings in the scientific journal Science Immunology. The work is featured on the journals cover. The research team consisted of Shao-bin Wang, Siddharth Narendran, Shuichiro Hirahara, Akhil Varshney, Felipe Pereira, Ivana Apicella, Meenakshi Ambati, Vidya L. Ambati, Praveen Yerramothu, Kameshwari Ambati, Yosuke Nagasaka, Dionne Argyle, Peirong Huang, Kirstie L. Baker,Kenneth M. Marion, Kartik Gupta, Bo Liu, David R. Hinton,Scott W.Canna, Tamer Sallam, Srinivas R. Sadda, Nagaraj Kerur, Bradley D. Gelfand and Jayakrishna Ambati.

Jayakrishna Ambati is a co-founder of iVeena Holdings, iVeena Delivery Systems and Inflammasome Therapeutics and has done consulting work unrelated to the research. A full list of the authors disclosures is included in the paper.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, grantsDP1GM114862, R01EY028027, R01EY29799, R01EY031039, R01AI148741, R00EY024336, R21EY030651, R01EY028027, R01EY031039 and R01EY032512. It was also supported by the John Templeton Foundation, grant 60763; the UVA Strategic Investment Fund; the DuPont Guerry III professorship; a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Eli W. Tullis; the BrightFocus Foundation; and the Owens Family Foundation.

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UVA Discovers Harmful Inflammation Trigger in Lupus, Macular Degeneration | UVA Today - University of Virginia

Ever been told to properly eat your carrots and spinach because theyre good for your eyes? If yes, chances are you are familiar with the many benefits of the wonder nutrient - Vitamin A. Abundantly available in carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, and broccoli, Vitamin A is required by the human body for normal functioning. Its deficiency can also cause a range of problems ranging from vision, immune function, reproduction and skin health.

Benefits of Vitamin A

Vitamin A helps vital organs like the heart, kidneys, and lungs function optimally. When it comes to eyes, it helps them adjust to dim light conditions. Its benefits are more easily understood if one knows what insufficient Vitamin A could translate to, health-wise. A mild vitamin A deficiency could be behind dry skin, fatigue, vulnerability to infections, and even infertility. If one is seriously deficient in this essential micronutrient, they could majorly undermine eye health, and experience issues such as severe eye dryness, night blindness and irregular patches on the white of the eyes. According to the World Health Organisation, Vitamin A deficiency contributes to maternal mortality and other poor outcomes of pregnancy and lactation. Insufficient Vitamin A diminishes the ability to fight infections.

What does Vitamin A help with?

Better overalleye health

Lessening the risk of blindness, including night blindness, and vision loss due to macular degeneration

Development of immune cells and strengthen bodys ability to fight infections

Supporting a healthy pregnancy and fetal growth

Treating acne and supporting skin health, to some extent

Reducing the risk of some types of cancers, such as lung and prostate cancers

Sources of Vitamin A

As a rule of thumb, no matter the health goal, a balanced diet plan should factor in all nutrients according to the daily requirement of the specific micronutrient. Coming from both animal sources (called retinoids and including retinol) and plant sources (called carotenoids and including beta-carotene), Vitamin A is formed within the human body by the conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin A.

The provitamin Vitamin A can be naturally obtained from green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach, bright-coloured vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and squash, as well as bell peppers, tomatoes, apricots, mangoes, and dairy products like milk. It is also found in certain kinds of cheese.

One can also find a type of this vitamin, called preformed Vitamin A, from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. If you are keeping your meals balanced, theres a strong possibility that you are meeting the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin A which is about 600 micrograms for both men and women.

These limits, however, have recently been revised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to about 1000 micrograms for men and 840 micrograms for women, applicable from 2023. In addition to filling up your plate with healthier food choices, one way of upping your daily Vitamin A intake could be oral supplements. However, one must be aware of the amount of every micronutrient going inside the body, so it does not cause exceed the tolerable upper level (UL) intake.

(The writer is a nutrition specialist)

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The many benefits of Vitamin A - Deccan Herald

JEDDAH: With more than 130 films set to be screened at the Red Sea International Film Festival, VOX Cinemas are on a mission to support and promote local films the best way they can.

The Red Sea International Film Festival kicked off its festivities at Jeddahs UNESCO World Heritage Site old town, Al-Balad, on Dec. 6. It will run until Dec. 15, in partnership with VOX Cinemas and others.

VOX Cinemas will screen 138 feature films and shorts from 67 countries in 34 languages. The content was produced by established and emerging talent, with fans, film enthusiasts, filmmakers and actors in attendance for many of the films.

A slate of new Saudi films 27 from an exciting wave of Saudi filmmakers will be shown alongside the best of contemporary international cinema.

Were very proud to be partners of this festival, especially since this has been the first international Red Sea Film Festival taking place in Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Toni El Massih, managing director of VOX Cinemas, told Arab News.

RSIFF is a significant breakthrough for the whole industry, exhibitors, distributors and producers, he said. This platform will help future filmmakers and storytellers know that this country is so full and rich in culture and storytelling. This is the exact platform that is needed for the talent to come across and present their project, he added.

HIGHLIGHT

VOX Cinemas will screen 138 feature films and shorts from 67 countries in 34 languages. The content was produced by established and emerging talent, with fans, film enthusiasts, filmmakers and actors in attendance for many of the films.

On tour to the main VOX Cinema sites in Al-Balad that have been constructed to screen RSIFF films, Arab News spoke to Mohamed Al-Hashemi, KSA chief of Majid Al Futtaim. He said: The Red Sea Film Festival is a statement for the Kingdom. There were no cinemas prior to April 2018, however, customers enjoyed the set of experiences as soon as they opened.

With life coming back to normal after the COVID-19 period, the Red Sea Film Festival is a statement from the Kingdom to the world that Saudi Arabia will be a major player when it comes to local content production, demand for international content, and most importantly, demand for exhibitions as well, when it comes to the best of the best that can be offered to consumers.

With movie theaters in more than six cities across the Kingdom in over 15 locations, VOX Cinemas operates 154 screens in Saudi Arabia. We are considered to be the largest cinema exhibitors in the Kingdom in terms of site numbers and screen counts, Al-Hashemi said.

Why is the screen count so important?

The screen basically is the only platform where people can showcase local content producers on the big screen. With more big screens, more local content will be produced for the local market and the regional market, and hopefully Saudi as well to the international market, Al-Hashemi said.

The RSIFF is where the Kingdom can act as a local content producer and where we can bring out the folded and untold stories of this beautiful company, to the customers within Saudi, he added.

On Dec. 6. during the inaugural red-carpet event, VOX Cinemas announced an ambitious initiative that aims to foster homegrown talent and showcase untold stories on the big screen.

A plan was made to boost regional film production and develop 25 Arabic films in the next five years.

El Massih said that many of these films would be from Saudi Arabia, with Saudi talent working as directors, producers and actors. There will also be films coming out of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

Speaking on the genres of the future films, he said: The genre that we are focusing on and that has proven to work best is the comedy-drama. This is the sort of film that well be working toward.

As part of the initiative, VOX Cinemas will continue to support the next generation of homegrown content developers and provide resources for emerging filmmakers to bring their scripts to screen.

This platform will search and scout for talent. Itll be the same case later in the UAE and in other festivals that are taking place across the region.

Accordingly, well start putting a team together, building screening and writing rooms, getting stories from each of the different regions together, and then well take that forward and then do the necessary films that well see on the big screen, El Massih said.

Majid Al Futtaim has been very active in the region since 1999, starting off with exhibition, and then elevating our activities into film distribution, and recently in film production.

Being a main contributor and partner of RSIFF is huge, he added, saying that such an opportunity will support emerging talent.

El Massih said: This is the perfect platform for us to be participating and searching for the emerging talent and filmmakers that we can bring on board.

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Saudi aid agency drive to combat blindness in Djibouti ends - Arab News