StemCell Therapy

Health professionals have raised concerns over a current habit people picked up of over-consuming certain food flavours with the aim of strengthening their immune system, so as to fight the Covid-19 infection. Commonly consumed ones, they say, are ginger, garlic, and lemon.

For instance, youll notice more people taking water with lemon and ginger; either at home or in the office. This, they believe, is one way of fighting the virus as it aids in strengthening immunity.

Private Kamanzi, a nutritionist, says he has observed that many people do this, which is not advisable. Although the above mentioned flavours help in boosting the immune system, when taken in excess and if not well-balanced with other foods, however, could result in health issues.

Unintentionally, one may find themselves overdoing it, or consuming in excess, which is not advisable as it may come with health complications, he warns.

Kamanzi says studies have identified that there is no definite medication for coronavirus, although it has been ascertained that when the immune system is strong, it can fight the virus. And, of course, nutrition plays a big role in boosting immunity.

In this case, he says focusing on just specific foods is not helpful at all; the thing is to ensure you have a balanced diet all through.

For instance, the nutritionist points out that in small doses, ginger has very few side effects while high doseslike more than five grams a dayincreases the chances of side effects.

When it comes to consuming it in excess, ginger can lead to heartburn, diarrhoea, burping, general stomach discomfort, and mouth irritation. Also, some women have reported more menstrual bleeding while taking ginger, he adds.

Studies suggest that over-consumption of garlic has the potential to induce liver damage.

According to a report published by the National Cancer Institute of Unites States (U.S), consuming fresh garlic on an empty stomach could lead to heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.

As per a report published by Harvard Medical School, garlic contains certain compounds that can cause GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Drinking lemon water on a regular basis can cause enamel erosion or tooth decay because of the acid in the citrus fruit.

Also, too much lemon water can lead to heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and gastroesophageal reflux.

What to consider

Rene Tabaro, a nutritionist at King Faisal Hospital, says diverse research suggests that one way of improving your immunity is through nutrition.

Kamanzi says some of the best foods are proteins as they help improve the cells of the immune system.

Protein is essential to build and repair body tissue and fight viral and bacterial infections. Immune system powerhouses such as antibodies and immune system cells rely on protein, he says.

Too little protein in ones diet may lead to weakness, fatigue, apathy, and poor immunity.

He further notes that a weak immune system also needs carbohydrates for a boost in energy.

However, Kamanzi says, these should be good carbohydrates, for example whole grain breads, beans and cereals and products made from whole wheat flour, and avoid junk or sugary carbohydrates as they weaken the immune system instead of boosting it.

When we are recommending energy foods, we normally emphasise on carbohydrates with less simple sugars, he says.

Tabaro says consuming foods that are rich in vitamins and mineral salts is also ideal. These can be found in fruits and vegetables and facilitate the body to break down the carbohydrates and proteins and absorb them swiftly. This will strengthen the immune system automatically.

Tabaro says the food you eat plays a key role in determining your overall health and immunity. Eat low carb diets, as this will help control high blood sugar and pressure.

Also, focus on a protein-rich diet to keep you in good shape, and regularly consume vegetables and fruits rich in beta carotene (a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, especially carrots and colourful vegetables), ascorbic acid (a natural water-soluble vitamin), and other essential vitamins.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com

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Dos and don'ts of giving immune system a boost - The New Times

An important cell in mice and humans' immune systems has been shown to have gut-healing properties in mice with a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In a new study, researchers have used the cell to 'trick' the immune system into helping repair damage in the guts of mice, instead of attacking them. They hope to one day target similar intestinal cells in patients with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.

Both of these diseases are caused by the immune system attacking the lining of the gut, and most current medication aims to limit the immune response.

While those medications can help, this blanket approach lumps the good immune players in with the bad, and sometimes, the same player can be a bit of both.

Macrophages, for instance, are known as the 'gatekeepers' of intestinal immunity. This type of white blood cell consumes foreign bodies and plays important roles in inflammation and tissue repair.

Its presence could therefore be essential to stimulating recovery. When researchers looked at macrophages in the intestines of a handful of people with IBD, there was one particular molecule that stood out.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a messenger molecule in the immune system. It's also linked to tissue regeneration, triggering macrophages that in turn communicate with stem cells in the lining of the gut.

Compared to a database of information on healthy individuals, researchers found the colons of those with IBD showed fewer intestinal macrophages with receptors for prostaglandin (PGE).

These receptors are what receive messages about gut injury, but the signal can't get through to intestinal stem cells if the macrophages can't 'hear' the warning and kickstart the healing process.

"If the patients had acute disease, they had a lower amount of these beneficial cells, and if they went into remission, then amounts of macrophages went up,"explains immunologist Gianluca Matteoli at KU Leuven in Flanders, Belgium.

"This suggests that they are part of the reparative process."

If the authors are correct, the findings may represent a new avenue for novel drugs to treat IBD, and while there's still a long way to go before that becomes a reality, initial tests on mice show promising results.

Similar to what was seen in humans, the authors found that animal models with ulcerative colitis did not possess as many macrophages sensitive to prostaglandin compared to healthy controls.

However, if extra prostaglandin was introduced to the gut, the few macrophages sensitive to PGE2 began to stimulate tissue regeneration. When these receptors were knocked out completely, tissue repair once again dropped.

Together, the findings support the emerging perspective that macrophages are major drivers in tissue regeneration following inflammation in the gut. By attaching to receptors on these intestinal white blood cells, PGE2 appears to stop inflammation and promote protective effects.

Unfortunately, scientists don't yet know the exact source of intestinal PGE2, but the fact that macrophages like to eat foreign material makes targeting them with synthetic, prostaglandin-like drugs that much easier.

When the authors enticed intestinal macrophages in the mouse gut to eat up a juicy bubble of stimulating 'medicine', it triggered the secretion of a repair agent, which further stimulated cell proliferation and budding organoids.

This technique of 'feeding' macrophages is often used as an experimental tool, but this is one of the first times it's been used to therapeutic effect.

"We want to identify other factors that trip the switch that turns macrophages from inflammatory cells to non-inflammatory cells," says Matteoli.

"Then... these could be used to target the macrophages and so produce very precise drugs."

The study was published in Gut.

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Scientists Trick The Immune System Into Healing The Gut of Mice With Inflamed Bowels - ScienceAlert

Read: Immunology is where intuition goes to die

In epic tales of the immune system, B cells and their antibodies tend to hog the limelight. Antibodies, which are proteins that drift through the blood, are easy to capture and measure; theyre sometimes powerful enough to waylay a virus before it has the chance to break into a cell. But no antibodies would be produced without the help of T cells, which coax B cells into maturing and play vital roles in their training regimenloyal wingmen at the ready. T cells are also formidable foes in their own right, capable of recognizing virus-infected cells and forcing them to self-destruct.

T cells dont undergo the same supercharged mutation process that their B-cell colleagues do. They are stuck with the pathogen sensors theyre born with. But the starting repertoire of T cells, and the number of bugs they can recognize, is similarly massive. And like their B-cell counterparts, T cells are capable of remembering past pathogenic encountersand their discerning gaze is especially difficult to elude.

When viruses undergo a substantial costume change, it can disrupt this iterative process. Its a big part of why flu vaccines have to be updated every year, Ellebedy said: We are always trying to catch up with the virus.

But coronaviruses mutate far more slowly than flu viruses do. And this new one has yet to undergo a makeover that fully neuters the vaccines weve developed against it. I think theres probably a very small probability that there will be complete escape, David Masopust, an immunologist at the University of Minnesota, told me.

B cells and T cells develop so many unique ways of recognizing a given virus that any one mutation, or even a handful, wont fully thwart them. A change to the equivalent of a viruss elbow, for example, will have little impact on a T cells ability to recognize its earlobe. Memory cells will rapidly seize upon commonalities between the two versions of the virus; in some people, this alone could be enough to nip an infection in the bud.

Certain memory cellsespecially T cellsmight have enough flexibility to recognize a modified version of their viral target. Experts call this cross-reactivity, and its a crucial part of the T cell way of life, Laura Su, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told me. Some scientists have hypothesized that T cells previously marshaled against other coronaviruses, such as those that cause common colds, might even play a small role in quelling this new one.

Even in the complete absence of memory and cross-reactivity, the body still has a huge reserve of backup cellsthe multitude of B and T cells that were not triggered by the first go-round with the virus, Su said. The war against variants is not a fight just for veterans: Chances are, rookies are waiting in the lymph nodes to be called to the front lines. Depending on the extent of the viruss metamorphosis, another infection, perhaps another illness, may be possible. But the body is not left wholly defenseless.

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The Body Is Far From Helpless Against Coronavirus Variants - The Atlantic

We understand much of how the immune system works but, as recent efforts to combat COVID-19 have shown, its sheer complexity means many mysteries still remain. For example, how our immune system learns to remember past infections has proved very difficult to study in humans. But our new study has brought us one step closer to understanding how our body remembers past infections so we can fight them in the future. We uncovered the important role antibodies play in creating long-lived immunity and that different types of immune cells, called B cells, can influence the type of immune memory generated.

Our research focused on so-called germinal centres which form during infections in our lymph nodes, spleen, and tonsils. These play an important role in our immune system, as theyre where immune cells assemble and interact during immune responses. Theyre also where our immune memory is created, so the immune system can remember how to defend against certain pathogens in the future.

Germinal centres are made up of different immune cells, and one type, called B cells, are particularly important for generating immune memory. These B cells make antibodies (a protein) in response to infections or vaccinations, which bind to pathogens (like bacteria and viruses) and either destroy them or trigger other immune cells into action.

Early on in an infection, some of our bodys B cells respond by releasing a burst of antibodies that provide an early line of defence against the pathogen. But most of these B cells released in this initial first wave are short-lived and die once the infection is over, resulting in the loss of their antibodies. However, some B cells enter germinal centres where they can evolve stronger antibodies and become long-lived cells that protect us from future infection.

Although the germinal centre is incredibly important to immune memory, its complexity has made it very difficult for scientists to completely understand how B cells behave while inside them. So we set out to create a roadmap of the germinal centre response using human tonsils to understand which types of B cells are present, and how their behaviour contributes to creating long-lived immunity. Knowing these factors could be important for developing effective vaccines.

We used a cutting-edge technology called single cell genomics, which measures the genes expressed by tens of thousands of individual cells and the genetic sequence that produces their antibody. The genes expressed by each individual B cell tells us about the cells behaviour and function, while the antibody gene sequence reveals how the antibodies change in the germinal centre. This approach allowed us to identify very rare types of B cells that would be missed with other technologies.

We then used this information to reconstruct the entire germinal centre response, which showed us exactly how different B cells evolve from the moment they detect a pathogen through to immune memory formation.

One of our key discoveries was that the type of antibody a B cell makes affects how it behaves and how likely it is to create long-lived immunity. B cells can express one of five antibody classes, and each class triggers different immune responses. For example, the antibody class IgG triggers strong antiviral immune responses, while the IgA class protects our gut and airway.

All B cells start off making the antibody class IgM, which offers broad immune protection, but is less effective compared to other classes. But B cells can switch to another class when they are activated during an immune response. It was previously thought that this process of class switching occurs in the germinal centre. But recent studies in mice have found B cells switch their antibody class before the germinal centre response. We were able to confirm this happens in humans as well. We also identified which genes are expressed by B cells at this important stage.

We also found that B cells that had switched from making IgM to IgA or IgG antibodies express different levels of certain genes, including genes that control whether a B cell becomes long-lived. So, whether a B cell switches its antibody class before entering a germinal centre influences whether it develops long-lived immunity to that particular pathogen. However, we still dont completely understand why a B cell switches or not.

Whether a B cell is part of the short-lived first wave or helps form the germinal centre also depends on many factors, including how quickly a pathogen is cleared, a persons age, and the type of infection. Because B cells need germinal centres to develop immune memory, the more we can discover about these different factors, the better our understanding of our susceptibility to different diseases.

Understanding precisely how germinal centres work is key to designing effective vaccines that generate lifelong immunity. In the future, combining different technologies such as those we used in our study with other methods would allow us to directly compare immune responses to vaccines against many infectious agents, like the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and understand immune memory, more generally.

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Mystery of how human immune cells develop lifelong immunity uncovered new research - The Conversation UK

(UroToday.com)In this session, Dr. Karen Autio discussed the indications for immune checkpoint inhibitors in prostate cancer, what is known about the tumor immune milieu in prostate cancer, and discussed ongoing work to further harness the immune system in the fight against this disease.

There are currently two FDA approved indications for immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in prostate cancer, and these are based on studies that looked at these agents across all solid tumors. The first indication is mismatch repair deficiency, which occurs in 2-3% of advanced prostate cancers. The efficacy of ICB in this context is speculated to be the large number of neoantigens generated by errors in DNA microsatellites that result from loss of function of mismatch repair proteins. The second indication is a tumor mutational burden of greater than 10 mutations per megabase. This high mutational burden is also thought to generate more neoantigens for targeting by the immune system, though is not present in the majority of prostate cancers. Indeed, the average tumor mutational burden in prostate cancer is less than 3 mutations per megabase. Importantly, in the basket trials that led to the approval of ICB in prostate cancer, prostate cancer patients were very under-represented. Nonetheless, testing for microsatellite instability (MSI/MMR deficiency) and high tumor mutational burden is still recommended in advanced prostate cancer. This can be accomplished by tissue-based genomic analysis, immunohistochemistry, or circulating free DNA.

Dr. Autio then went on to discuss the characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment in prostate cancer. She first discussed the vicious cycle of bone, whereby growth factors and chemokines facilitate the establishment of a tumor metastatic niche. Once established, tumor cells activate osteoblasts with IL-6 and PTHrP, which secrete RANKL and stimulate osteoclasts to secrete TGFbeta and insulin growth factors. Together these promote tumor growth in bone, but also impact the immune milieu around the tumor. TGFbeta signaling in particular within the bone microenvironment may be immunosuppressive, limiting the potential efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade especially in patients with metastatic bone lesions. There may therefore be a benefit from dual ICB and TGFbeta inhibition.

Second, she discussed the many other immunosuppressive cells present in the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment. These include myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages which can vary by metastatic site, and regulatory T-cells - which are especially enriched in PTEN-deficient tumors.

Third, it is established that androgen deprivation therapy remodels the tumor microenvironment. In mouse models, ADT induces an immune infiltrate that includes CD8 T cells and also macrophages and regulatory T cells. PTEN null mouse models are especially associated with increased tumor infiltration with Tregs. Further studies in human samples are needed to understand how the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment evolves over time.

Multiple strategies that may help overcome prostate cancers inherent resistance to immune therapies were then discussed. These can include targeting a resistance pathway such as by inhibiting TGFbeta signaling, or by depleting immunosuppressive cells like MDSCs. Efforts could also attempt to stimulate an underactive process by driving cytotoxic T cells into the tumor and increasing the maturation of antigen-presenting cells. And finally, it is possible to create supra-physiologic environments that bypass standard mechanisms required for immune activation using tools like bispecific T cell engagers (BITEs), bi or tri-specific killer engagers (BIKES/TRIKES), and chimeric antigen receptor adoptive T cell therapy (CAR-Ts). There are several advantages to these approaches directed at prostate cancer-specific proteins like PSMA that are listed in the slide below. Many BiTEs are under development, including the AMG160 CD3-PSMA BITE, with data that was recently reported at ESMO 2020 demonstrating that 34% of patients treated had greater than 50% reductions in their PSA. The principal toxicity of these agents is cytokine release syndrome, which is an on-target side effect due to activation of the immune system.

In summary, Dr. Autio reminded the audience that (1) MMR deficiency and TMB are the only FDA approved indications for ICB in prostate cancer, (2) the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment varies by site, and the bone niche is especially enriched for growth pathways and immunosuppressive cells that could potentially be targeted, (3) ADT models the immune microenvironment in prostate cancer, and (4) PSMA is a tumor-associated antigen that can be targeted by novel immunotherapeutic models to create tight synapses between tumor cells and immune cells.

Presented by: Karen A. Autio, MD, MSc, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Written by: Alok Tewari, MD, Ph.D., Medical Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, during the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (#GU21), February 11th-February 13th, 2020

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ASCO GU 2021: Beyond the Basics: Harnessing the Immune System to Fight Prostate Cancer - UroToday

People who have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been found to have strong T-cell responses against the Kent and South African variants of Covid, suggesting that the vaccine will continue to protect against serious disease in the coming months.

In the first study to test immune responses against the variants circulating in populations, researchers found that although antibody responses against the new variants were blunted, they may still be high enough to protect most people from becoming infected, after a second dose of vaccine has been given.

Although previous studies had suggested that antibodies from those vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab could recognise and neutralise viruses carrying some of the individual mutations found in the South African and Kent variants albeit at slightly lower levels compared with previous variants these were tested on engineered viruses rather than ones isolated from real patients.

These studies also did not look at T cells, which annihilate virus-infected cells and support the production of antibodies. Both immune responses help provide lasting protection after vaccination, but antibody responses are easier to measure.

William James, a professor of virology at the University of Oxford, and his colleagues took blood samples from people who had recovered from Covid-19, and health workers who had received either one or two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. They also obtained isolates of the B117 and B1.351 virus variants first identified in Kent and South Africa, and of an older variant similar to those circulating a year ago. Antibodies and T cells from the individuals were then tested against these viruses to see how well they performed.

The study, which has not yet been reviewed by other scientists, found that peoples antibodies were moderately effective against the original virus after their first dose of vaccine, less effective against the Kent variant, and were unable to neutralise the South African variant.

However, they had strong T-cell responses against all known variants after the first jab. It may not necessarily protect you against infection, but its very likely that this first dose will make it much easier for your immune system to make a good response the next time around, said James. We think this is why that second dose produces such a good strong antibody response, because the T cells are already there, ready to react.

The discovery that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and those who have received at least one dose of vaccine possess T cells capable of responding to the new variants is encouraging, because it suggests the T cells are recognising different regions of the spike protein to the antibodies. It could imply they will be more resilient to future variants. It doesnt promise you wont get ill from the new variants, but it does suggest theres something to work from and that your immune system can respond to them, said James.

Peoples antibody responses were also boosted by the second Pfizer jab. In more than 90% of cases, the antibodies that people are generating after the second dose are up at the sort of level that neutralises the virus and which we would expect to protect them from infection, said James. Were pretty confident that theyll be protected from infection by the South African strain and the Kent strain, as well as the [original] strain of the virus.

This virus hasnt finished evolving, but I think that as long as the vaccines get rolled out, and people get those second doses, were going to be in a much better position by the summer than we are now, said James.

Deborah Dunn-Walters, a professor of immunology at the University of Surrey, said: It does look like good news and suggests it is really important that people go back for their second dose of vaccine.

Prof Paul Morgan, the director of the Systems Immunity Research Institute at Cardiff University, said: I was supportive of the pragmatic decision to delay second doses to get more people immunised as quickly as possible and I still am. However, this work shows that the broad immune response needed to deal with current and future variants of concern is really dependent on boosting.

I think that the message is to get the second doses going as soon as possible perhaps as soon as the high-risk groups have all had first doses, which means pretty soon.

The findings also shed light on the risk of reinfection with new variants for people who have already recovered from Covid-19. T-cell activity was detected in all of them, but there was widespread variation in their antibody responses. In the best responders, you could still measure some neutralisation against even the South African strain, but those who had rather weaker responses had no neutralisation activity, said James. It shows its really important to get vaccinated, even if youve think youve recovered from the virus.

Although they did not look at immune responses from people injected with other types of Covid-19 vaccines, James suspects they will generate similar immune responses.

Morgan said: The findings add to the growing confidence that the current vaccines will have a large impact on the course of the pandemic, whether by completely protecting from or markedly ameliorating disease.

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Pfizer vaccine found to give strong immune response to new Covid variants - The Guardian

Life sciences research organisation Verily has partnered with Janssen Research & Development on a home-based study to investigate the early immune system response to COVID-19 infection.

The COVID-19 Immune Response Study will collect detailed information about how the SARS-CoV-2 virus affects the immune system, as soon as someone tests positive for COVID-19.

It will enrol participants with a confirmed, positive COVID-19 diagnosis, and the volunteers will participate from home.

Researchers will collect biological measurements, clinical and epidemiological data at the time of COVID-19 testing.

This information will be use to characterise biomarkers associated with progression of disease resulting from COVID-19 infection, over 28 days.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by SARS-COV-2 and other viral and bacterial pathogens carries with it a high mortality rate, and more than 2.2 million people will suffer each year as a result, said James Merson, global head of infectious diseases R&D, Janssen.

Since immune response patterns observed in COVID-19 patients are similar to those caused by other respiratory pathogens, it is our hope to apply the findings from this study beyond COVID-19 to other illnesses that carry a high patient burden, he added.

The researchers will also collect real-world data from participants from up to two years prior to enrolment in the study and up to two years following the last study assessment.

There is a critical need for studies to identify biomarkers and potential signals which will give clinicians the ability to make evidence-based treatment decisions, allocate resources and facilitate more meaningful conversations with patients and families about the anticipated disease trajectory, said Faith Holmes, primary investigator of the COVID-19 Immune Response Study.

This study will have the ability to contribute to a myriad of future studies to shed some light on these issues, she added.

Verily is also conducting another programme the Baseline COVID-19 testing programme to advance and expand testing and containment for COVID-19 in the US.

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Verily and Janssen to collaborate on home-based COVID-19 immune response study - PMLiVE

Some coronaviruses take in some genetic material of their host in order to blend in and become less detectable to the immune system, according to a study.

The study, published in the journal Viruses, noted that coronaviruses encompass a sophisticated evolutionary mechanism.

19 genetic variants of Covid-19 that can dodge antibodies found in India: Study

Research in this field is fundamental to understand the functioning of illnesses that can spread from animals to humans so that we can efficiently manage ecosystems and provide a balance between the species inhabiting them, said Mauro Delogu, a researcher at the University of Bologna and one of the authors of this study.

Researchers made this discovery while they were examining coronaviruses found in specimens of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). They named this strain EriCoV.

The authors of the study observed that the viruses belong to the same strain of Beta-CoV responsible for Covid-19 as well as MERS. However, there is no evidence that they can spread to humans.

Study sheds more light on role played by immune system's T cells against coronavirus

These hedgehog coronaviruses are able to steal a gene (CD200) that belongs to the host. When combined with its receptor, this gene prevents an excessive inflammatory response. By incorporating this gene, the virus can hinder the immune defence of the host, the researchers explained.

The authors of the study believe that with this evolutionary strategy, coronaviruses can influence the duration of the infection and therefore prolong the time necessary to eliminate the virus.

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Some coronaviruses steal genes of their host to evade immune system response: Study - BusinessLine

If we recognize it early, it's treatable. It shouldn't hold us from encouraging them to get the vaccine.

NEW ORLEANS The CDC, the FDA, and the makers of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, are looking into reports of a rare blood disorder in a small number of people who got the vaccine.

After more than 31 million people in the U.S. have gotten a COVID vaccine, three dozen cases of a rare blood auto immune disorder, causing one death, have been reported.

Immune thrombocytopenia, or ITP, causes a lack of platelets, the part of the blood necessary for clotting.

There are some cases that have predisposing or history of autoimmune disorder, but some cases are occurring in otherwise healthy individuals, explained Dr. Maissaa Janbain, a Tulane Hematologist and Oncologist who is the Associate Director of the Louisiana Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders.

Autoimmune means your own immune system attacks cells that are supposed to be in your body. Dr. Janbain says this condition was not seen in the clinical trials, is extremely rare, and it is still unknown if it's a coincidence or linked to the vaccine.

When asked if the new ITP cases are about equal or fewer than is seen in the normal population, she replied, I would say they are even less.

If you are prone to autoimmune conditions vaccines can uncover this. Flu vaccines, and MMR vaccines have exposed this in people in the past, but natural viruses can too.

So the risk of getting ITP after getting coronavirus in the community is higher than with a vaccine. In fact there have been cases reported after COVID-19.

If we recognize it early, it's treatable. It shouldn't hold us from encouraging them to get the vaccine.

Here are the early signs:

Report those immediately to your doctor for a blood count.

Now if you already have the rare condition of ITP, the American Society of Hematology recommends this:

They are still encouraging patients with stable, chronic ITP, or ITP that has been in remission, to get the vaccines, said Dr. Janbain.

For now, Dr. Janbain wants her blood disorder patients to get the COVID vaccine. She'll just monitor them more closely.

On a separate note, the doctor says people on blood thinners should get the vaccine since getting the COVID infection can cause blood clots.

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Rare blood auto immune disorder appearing in very small amount of COVID vaccine recipients - WWLTV.com

The British Nutrition Foundation outlines key nutrients that can help both children and parents fight infections, and explains which foods theyre in.

Having a healthy immune system is vital for both children and adults and what we eat plays a major part in this.

Paediatric infectious diseases expert Professor Kirsty Le Doare from St Georges, University of London, explains that the nutrients we get from food and our good gut bacteria, which are affected by food, help modulate the immune system and keep its natural balance, helping to protect us from disease and infection.

A healthy diet helps keep our immune system healthy and can help prevent or reduce the risk of immune-mediated diseases, she says. Malnutrition affects how the immune system works, and a poor, unhealthy diet thats low in vitamins and minerals can have the same effect.

To make it clearer to parents which foods can help keep children and young peoples immune systems healthy, the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has put together a list of the essential nutrients for the job.

All of these nutrients are essential for other functions in the body, as well as supporting the immune system, says Sara Stanner, the BNFs science director.

But whats really key isnt the role of one or two specific nutrients but how a range of vitamins and minerals are needed to support all the different ways the immune system fights off infections. And the best way to get all of these nutrients is to have a varied and balanced diet.

Every child is different, but its likely that having consistently low intakes of these nutrients, below the recommended amount, will mean their immune system may not be working at full strength, they may be more vulnerable to infections, and other aspects of their health may also be affected.

As well as nutrients such as protein and omega-3 fats, a number of vitamins and minerals have key roles in supporting the immune system.

The BNF says they are:

Vitamin A

Found in: Eggs, cheese, whole milk, liver. The body can also make vitamin A from beta-carotene, found in dark green leafy vegetables, orange-coloured fruits and vegetables (e.g. carrots, melon).

Did you know? Carrots are rich in beta-carotene which can be converted to vitamin A in the body three tablespoons will provide children under 10 with all they need for the day, and a baked sweet potato can give teenagers and adults all the vitamin A (as carotene) needed daily.

Vitamin B6

Found in: Poultry, fish, fortified breakfast cereals, chickpeas, soya beans, some fruit and vegetables (e.g. bananas, avocados, green peppers), nuts and seeds.

Did you know? A banana provides around a third of the vitamin B6 needed for a 4 to 10-year-old. A snack of walnuts (20g, or six halves) provides around 10% of the daily vitamin B6 requirement for teenagers and adults.

Vitamin B12

Found in: Meat, fish, milk, cheese, eggs, fortified breakfast cereals, fortified milk alternatives.

Did you know? Two tablespoons of tuna in a sandwich can provide all the vitamin B12 a child needs for the day, and two poached eggs will provide all the daily vitamin B12 adults and teenagers need.

Vitamin C

Found in: Citrus fruits, berries, kiwi fruit, green vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage), cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes.

Did you know? Broccoli is a good vitamin C provider five small steamed florets will provide under 11s with the vitamin C they need for the day. A stir-fry with portions of sugar snap peas and red peppers will give teens and adults their required daily vitamin C.

Copper

Found in: Wholegrain breakfast cereals, wholewheat pasta, couscous, quinoa, shellfish, pulses, dried fruit.

Did you know? Baked beans are an easy source of copper that children often enjoy, and for teens and adults pulses used in soups, stews, and curries are good copper sources.

Vitamin D

Found in: Oily fish, eggs, some fortified breakfast cereals, some fortified dairy and dairy alternative products (check labels).

Did you know? During the UK autumn and winter the sun isnt strong enough for the body to make vitamin D, so we should eat foods rich in the vitamin. Oily fish is a good source, so try a sardine Bolognese. Children between one and four years should be given a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement all year, and older children should take a supplement in autumn and winter.

Vitamin D is particularly important to keep childrens growing bones healthy, and our main source is from sunlight on our skin, explains Stanner. As over the past year many of us have been indoors more than usual, its even more important that both children and adults take vitamin D supplements, as its difficult to get enough from diet.

Folate

Found in: Green vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage, spinach), chickpeas, oranges, berries, cheese, wholemeal bread.

Did you know? Green veg are packed with folate, whether its peas, plenty of lettuce, rocket and spinach in salads, and pak choi in stir fries.

Iron

Found in: Red meat, pulses, nut butters and seed pastes like peanut butter and tahini, fortified breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread, dried fruit.

Did you know? Surveys suggest around half of teenage girls and a quarter of women may have low iron intakes, so we should all try and include a variety of food sources of iron in our diets, advises Stanner. Vitamin C can help the body absorb iron, so try a glass of orange juice with fortified breakfast cereal.

Selenium

Found in: Nuts and seeds (particularly Brazil nuts, cashews, and sunflower seeds. For children under five years, nuts and seeds should be offered ground or as a nut butter/seed paste to reduce the risk of choking), eggs, poultry, fish, shellfish.

Did you know? Fish is a great selenium provider teenagers and adults should be eating at least two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily (e.g. salmon, sardines).

Zinc

Found in: Meat, poultry, cheese, nuts and seeds (offered ground or as a nut butter/seed paste to the under fives), some shellfish (like crab and mussels), wholegrain breakfast cereals, wholegrain and seeded breads.

Did you know? Lean beef mince is a good source of zinc, so favourites like chilli, meatballs and cottage pie will all boost zinc intake. Wholegrains are also a source of zinc so try wholegrain cereal or a cheese sandwich on wholegrain bread with plenty of salad.

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10 crucial vitamins and minerals children need to keep their immune systems healthy - Bromsgrove Standard

How long does natural protection from a first infection last?

There is no clearcut answer to this, but several studies suggest protection generated by a previous infection lasts for at least a few months.

According to one preprint study from Public Health England (PHE) released in January, which looked at hospital staff, the median interval between the first infection and reinfection was more than 160 days about five months. Meanwhile, a study from Qatar suggests protection by natural immunity of about 95% efficacy lasts about seven months.

Again, that is unclear. Different people will react differently to reinfection, depending on how their immune responses reacted to the first infection, probably, says Julian Tang, a clinical virologist and honorary associate professor in the respiratory sciences department at the University of Leicester.

For some, a second infection is less severe than the first. According to a study from Qatar, less than 0.2% of people tested positive for Covid at least 45 days after their first positive test, with only about a fifth of these showing strong or good evidence for reinfection. Of these 54 people, just one was hospitalised, and even then only with a mild infection.

A second study from Qatar yet to be peer-reviewed supports this, with two-thirds of reinfections only picked up through random or routine testing. Again it suggest reinfection is rare, with just 129 people out of 43,044 followed showing evidence of reinfection over a median of 16.3 weeks.

The PHE study also suggested that reinfection tended to be less severe, with about a third of those who caught Covid for a second time showing symptoms, compared with 78% for first infection.

But there have been a number of cases around the world of reinfection leading to worse disease.

A recent study from researchers in Brazil, about to be published in the Journal of Infection, found that of 33 people thought to have caught Covid for a second time, 12% were hospitalised one of whom died - although none required such care for their first infection.

If you didnt have a good immune response, you could get infected again by exactly the same virus, says Deborah Dunn-Walters, a professor of immunology at the University of Surrey and the chair of the British Society for Immunologys Covid-19 and immunology taskforce.

If that immune response was good, the chances of being reinfected by the same variant will be lower, but reinfection might still occur by other variants.

However, the situation is not black and white as this depends on the mutations a new variant contains, and how they affect the ability of the virus to infect the cell and its interactions with the bodys antibodies and T-cell responses generated by the immune system as a result of the previous infection.

The possibility for a new variant to fuel reinfections has been highlighted by researchers in Brazil: despite about three-quarters of the population of Manaus thought from antibody tests to have been infected with Covid by October, there was a sharp uptick in hospital admissions for Covid in January this year. One explanation, they say, is the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus that may evade immunity gained from earlier infection.

Indeed, research published this week by researchers in Oxford, yet to be peer-reviewed, revealed that people who had recovered from Covid showed T-cell activity towards new variants, including the South African variant. But in general their antibodies were less able to neutralise the Kent and South African variant than the original coronavirus variant, suggesting a potentially lower level of defence.

It appears so, but there are several factors at play. Whether you catch it or not is a combination of whether you have got immunity and whether you have seen [the virus], says Dunn-Walters.

Some people may be at greater risk because of social factors such as occupation, which means they have greater chance of coming into contact with the virus again for example, healthcare workers would be expected to be at greater risk of both infection and reinfection because of this.

But there are also biological factors that might leave some people more at risk of catching Covid for a second time. Each human is unique, as are their immune responses, which govern both the risk of reinfection and the severity of these reinfections, so it is very difficult to generalise research findings and clinical trial results to individuals in any population, says Tang.

Vaccination plays a key role in protecting individuals from a first infection. But it is also important for those who have already had Covid. While natural immunity can be gained from a previous infection, jabs give much more certainty over the level of protection produced and boost protection gained from a previous infection.

Vaccines may also offer greater protection against different variants. According to the preprint by Oxford researchers, people who received two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab had a strong T-cell and antibody response against the original coronavirus and the Kent and South African variants, suggesting the vaccine probably offered protection against infection for all of these variants. That contrasts with the findings for those who had only previously had a natural infection.

Natural infection doesnt guarantee you immunity as well as perhaps the vaccination might, says Dunn-Walters.

While studies have suggested that some other Covid vaccines may be less effective against the South African variant than against the original or Kent variants of the coronavirus, experts say these jabs still offer good levels of protection against serious disease. Whats more, vaccines are being tweaked to better target new variants, a move that will also bolster protection.

This article was amended on 13 February 2021. The original incorrectly stated that a study about to be published in the Journal of Infection found that of 33 people thought to have caught Covid for a second time, one died, and 12 were hospitalised. It was actually 12.1% (four people) of the 33 who needed treatment in hospital.

Continued here:
What we know about Covid reinfection, immunity and vaccines - The Guardian

Stem Cell Banking Market

Stem Cell Banking Market Projections (2020-2029): The Global market Stem Cell Banking theologizes is the most recent of the world business market curves. The report prospects the current and frequent collectors, technological innovations, product supplementation, and their representation of performance broadly across the foreign market.

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Market split by Type, can be divided into:Umbilical Cord Blood Stem CellEmbryonic Stem CellAdult Stem CellOther

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Ourstudypasses through ahaven ofprofound qualitative and quantitativeresearch by industryexperts andprofessionals.Within the reportcontributes a broadperceptionof thepast as well ascurrent marketvista,which implies future statistics and prospects in position with the technical developments over time. Furthermore, the report includes and provides analyses of demand and supply, microeconomic and macroeconomic elements, administrative components and growth indices through the Stem Cell Banking marketplace. The report outlines keytacticsutilized bykey market participants.

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Stem Cell Banking Market Analysis Revealing Key Drivers & Growth Trends through 2029: CCBC, CBR, ViaCord, Esperite, Vcanbio, and others. KSU |...

TheAutologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Marketresearch report thoroughly explains each and every aspect related to the Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market, which facilitates the reports reader to study and evaluate the upcoming market trend and execute the analytical data to promote the business.

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Autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to account to USD 121.68 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 3.75 % in the above-mentioned forecast period. The introduction of novelautologousstem cell based therapies inregenerativemedicine will help in driving the growth of the autologous stem cell and non-stem cell based therapies market.

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Antria Inc., BrainStorm Cell Limited, Cytori Therapeutics Inc., Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC., Fibrocell Science, Inc., thinkBiotech LLC, Caladrius, Opexa Therapeutics, Inc., Orgenesis Inc, Regeneus Ltd,

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Table Of Contents: Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market

Part 01:Executive Summary

Part 02:Scope of the Report

Part 03:Research Methodology

Part 04:Market Landscape

Part 05:Pipeline Analysis

Part 06:Market Sizing

Part 07:Five Forces Analysis

Part 08:Market Segmentation

Part 09:Customer Landscape

Part 10:Regional Landscape

Part 11:Decision Framework

Part 12:Drivers and Challenges

Part 13:Market Trends

Part 14:Vendor Landscape

Part 15:Vendor Analysis

Part 16:Appendix

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The global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market report studies the contemporary market to forecast the growth prospects, challenges, opportunities, risks, threats, and the trends observed in the market that can either propel or curtail the growth rate of the industry. The market factors impacting the global sector also include provincial trade policies, international trade disputes, entry barriers, and other regulatory restrictions.

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Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Size Is Expected To Generate Huge Profits and Competitive Outlook - The Courier

After announcing topline data from two identical Phase III trials, Roches Genentechhas doubled down on dataand is now showing positive results from four studiesfor itsnewestblindness-fighting treatment.

Faricimabis an injectable treatment to maintain the vision of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). These are two of the leading causes of blindness withnAMDresponsible for 90% of all blindness resulting from AMD.

Genetechs Lucentis was thefirst FDA-approved drugprovento restore sight innAMDpatients.Since 2006 it had been a game-changer in theophthalmologyworld. But thenRegenerons Eyleacame in as the main contender andthe companies have had to share the market since 2011.

Genentech is now stepping it upwithfaricimab,a new class of medicine. Instead of focusing onthesingle protein targetVEGF, like Lucentis and Eylea,faricimabis a bispecific antibody.The drug targets two distinct pathways -via angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and VEGF-A.This approach bothreduces the growth of blood vessels on the retinalike its predecessorsandstabilizesvessels to reduce inflammation in the eye.

Thetreatmentalso gets a major leg up from proof of ability to go longer between injections.

Patients are understandably put off by an injection to the eyeball. Couple that with fears over COVID-19 exposure and sales of current Lucentis treatments seriously dipped in 2020 by 16%, about $1.6 billion.

Lucentisinjections wereneededmonthly for most patients.Competitor Eylea was needed monthly or bi-monthly, depending on the patient.The burden of treatment has proven to lead to under-treatment and therefore less than optimal outcomes for patients vision.

Faricimabspotential to extend time between treatments may benefit those patients who struggle to keep up with the regular physician visits and eye injections needed to preserve their vision,said Jeffrey Heier, M.D., Director of Retinal Research at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston in Boston, Mass.

Genentechs clinical trial design was the proofin the pudding forthis new drug. The four studies consistently showedfaricimabto bejust aseffectiveas competitor Eylea even when administered at longer intervals. Half of the patients were able to be treated effectively once every four months. About75% were eligible for treatment every three monthsor longer.Both are a major improvement to patient convenience compared to monthly or even bi-monthly injections.

These positive results show the potential forfaricimabas the first new type of medicine in 15 years for people with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and in close to a decade in diabetic macular edema, said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. This is an exciting time for our ophthalmology clinical development program, with multiple Phase III successes for two medicines from our late-stage pipeline. We hope to bring these potential treatments to people living with vision-threatening retinal conditions as soon as possible.

Genentech has not yet announced when they will seek FDA approval forfaricimabbut experts anticipate an aggressive timeline.

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Genentech Could Regain the Blindness-Related Disease Market with New Treatment - BioSpace

TipRanks

We are indeed living in interesting times and in many ways, thats a good thing. Take the automotive industry, for example. Technology is changing a rapid pace, and when it settles, it will dramatically change the way we drive. In 2030, our concept of car will likely be unrecognizable to drivers from 1980. The biggest changes are coming from power systems and artificial intelligence. AI will bring autonomous tech to our cars, making self-driving vehicles a reality. But the power systems changes will hit us first. In fact, electric-drive vehicles are already on our roads, and electric vehicle (EV) companies are proliferating rapidly. For the moment, there are several roads to potential success in the EV market. Companies are working to position themselves as leaders in battery tech, or electric power trains, or to maximize their range and performance per charge. Its a fact-paced industry environment, offering both opportunity and excitement for investors. Smart investors will look for companies capable of meeting scaling demands, once they have settled on marketable models. Investment firm Morgan Stanley has been watching the EV industry, seeking out innovative new design and production companies that are positioning themselves for gains as the market matures. The firms automotive analyst, Adam Jonas, has selected two stocks that investors should seriously consider buying into, saying As we survey the EV/battery startup landscape, we are prioritizing highly differentiated technology and/or business models with a path to scale at a reasonable level of risk. Opening up the TipRanks database, weve pulled up the details on both of Jonas picks to see whether they could be a good fit for your portfolio. Fisker (FSR) First up, Fisker, is based in Southern California, the epicenter of so much of our ground-breaking tech industries. Fiskers focus is on solid-state battery tech, a growing alternative to the lithium-ion batteries that most EVs depend on. While more expensive that the older lithium-based systems, solid state batteries are safer and offer higher energy densities. Fisker has been busy patenting its moves into solid-state batteries, a sound strategy to lock in its advances in this field. For EVs, solid-state batteries offer faster charging times, longer range per charge, and potentially lower battery weight all important factors in vehicle performance. Every car company needs a flagship model, and Fisker has the Ocean an EV SUV with a mid-range price ($37,499) and a long-range power system (up to 300 miles). The vehicle features stylish design and room mounted solar panels to supplement the charging system, and is scheduled to enter serial production for the markets in 2022. The stylish design reflects the sensibilities of the companys founder, Henrik Fisker, known for his work on the BMW Z8 and the Aston Martin DB9. Fisker entered the public markets through a SPAC merger agreement last fall. Since completing the SPAC transaction on October 29, shares in FSR are up 112%. Morgan Stanleys Jonas is impressed by this company, describing the value proposition of Fisker as design, time to market, clean sheet user experience and management expertise, and saying that the 4Q22 launch schedule for the Ocean is likely to be met. Fisker is specifically targeting the personal owned/passenger car business as opposed to commercial oriented end markets, where emotive design and user experience matter more. Additionally, the company wants to create an all-digital experience from the website to the app to the HMI in the car and continued customer engagement through its flexible lease product, Jonas added. In line with his upbeat outlook on the company (and the car), Jonas rates Fisker an Overweight (i.e. Buy), and sets a $27 price target suggesting an upside of 42% for the coming year. (To watch Jonas track record, click here) Turning to the TipRanks data, weve found that Wall Streets analysts hold a range of views on Fisker. The stock has a Moderate Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 7 reviews, including 4 Buys, 2 Holds, and 1 Sell. Shares are currently priced at $18.99, and the $21.20 average price target implies a one-year upside of ~12%. (See FSR stock analysis on TipRanks) QuantumScape (QS) Where Fisker is working on solid-state batteries in the context of vehicle production, QuantumScape is setting itself up as a leader in EV battery technology and a potential supplier of the next generation of battery and power systems for the EV market. QuantumScape designs and builds solid-state lithium-metal batteries, the highest energy density battery system currently available. The key advantages of the technology are in safety, lifespan, and charging times. Solid-state batteries are non-flammable; they last longer than lithium-ion batteries, with less capacity loss at the anode interface; and their composition allows faster charging, of 15 minutes or less to reach 80% capacity. QuantumScape is betting that these advantages will outweigh the technologys current higher cost, and create a new standard in EV power systems. The companys strongest tie to the EV production field is its connection with Volkswagen. The German auto giant put $100 million into QuantumScape in 2018, and an additional $200 million in 2020. The two companies are using their partnership to prepare for mass-scale development and production of solid-state batteries. Like Fisker, QuantumScape went public through a SPAC agreement late last year. The agreement, which closed on November 27, put the QS ticker in the public markets where it promptly surged above $130 per share. While the stock has since slipped, it remains up 47% from its NYSE opening. For Morgan Stanleys Jonas, involvement in QS stock comes with high risk, but also high potential reward. In fact, the analyst calls it, "The Biotech of Battery Development." "We believe their solid state technology addresses a very big impediment in battery science (energy density) that, if successful, can create extremely high value to a wide range of customers in the auto industry and beyond. The risks of moving from a single layer cell to a production car are high, but we think these are balanced by the commercial potential and the role of Volkswagen to help underwrite the early manufacturing ramp," Jonas explained. Noting that QS is a stock for the long haul, Jonas rates the shares an Overweight (i.e. Buy), and his $70 price target indicates confidence in an upside of 28% for one-year time horizon. Granted, not everyone is as enthusiastic about QS as Morgan Stanly. QS's Hold consensus rating is based on an even split between Buy, Hold, and Sell reviews. The shares are priced at $54.64 and their recent appreciation has pushed them well above the $46.67 average price target. (See QS stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for EV stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Prevent Blindness to Hold Sixteenth Annual "Eyes on Capitol Hill" Advocacy Event - Yahoo Finance

The legend says that in the 3rd century Rome lived a priest named Valentine, who married Roman soldiers with the women they were in love with, despite a law that prevented them from getting married.

Valentine, who later on was jailed for breaking the law, fell in love with his jailors blind daughter, whom he cured of blindness. Before he was executed, he wrote her a love message signed from your Valentine.

2020 may have needed a Valentine more than ever, to enable thousands and thousands of couples who were left apart for months, amid the Coronavirus outbreak, and the measures that were imposed in a bid of the governments to halt the spread of the infection, to reunite.

With entry bans in place, borders closed all over the world, embassies refusing to issue visas, and the absence of flights, thousands of lovers have had to spend the summer apart, thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Years Eve, and now even Saint Valentines day, the day of lovers.

Many of these people have once again taken the issue to Twitter, to protest the entry bans on the days that they were supposed to be with their significant other more than on any other day.

I woke up to a photo of my partner with a rose this is the most romantic its going to get today, wrote a Twitter user from Germany that goes by the handler @lealovinglifea1.

Many couples & families have been separated for almost a year now, and there is still no end in sight. How much longer do we have to suffer? another Twitter user wrote.

A tweet of the European Union Council asking Twitter users how many European languages can they say I love you in, and sharing a romantic soundtrack has upset many.

In 5 languages, but I cant say it to the one I love, Twitter user Alessandra Simoni answered among others.

Whereas, another Twitter user named Rita wrote that they [couples] dont need romantic soundtracks but need the EU to help them to reunite us with their non-EU partners no matter what language they speak.

Many of these couples now count over a year of being apart from each other, with no other option available for them that to hope this will soon end.

Spaniard Javier, on the story of whom SchengenVisaInfo.com previously reported, on Valentines day this year marked 416 days apart from his fianc Nazym, who is a Kazakh citizen. Desperate to find a solution, he has even proposed a hunger strike to push the government to undertake any measure in order to help their situation.

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No Valentines for Thousands of Couples That Remain Apart Due to COVID-19 - SchengenVisaInfo.com - SchengenVisaInfo.com

Many of us are used to seeing face masks but many still find it hard to recognize faces with the said covering on the face.

(Photo : Reuters Connect/Juan Medina)A man smokes a cigarette with his eyes covered by a face mask as he takes part in a protest against the use of protective masks during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Madrid, Spain

Unfortunately, while safety measures help deter and control coronavirus's spread, some individuals face a whole new covering problem: a touch of face blindness.

In a recentpreprint studyreported on the PsyArXiv Preprints server, researchers noticed that, relative to unmasked individuals, people were less likely to recognize masked images.

Although the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, further research is required. It revealed that participants find it challenging to identify masked faces that they might have suffered from face blindness.

However, something to bear in mind: only because you might be unable to recognize masked figures right now, that does not imply that you have face blindness, but it does go a small distance to explaining what dealing with the condition feels like. Here's what, in general, you ought to hear about face blindness.

Face blindness, also known as prosopagnosia, is a neurological condition that, according to theNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke(NINDS), relates to the failure to recognize images. There are various levels of face blindness. Some people will find it challenging to identify the face of the person. Others cannot differentiate between unfamiliar faces, and some will not discern faces from separate items in certain extreme situations.

Brad Duchaine, PhD, Dartmouth University professor of psychological and brain sciences,tells Healththat approximately one in 50 persons who suffer from facial blindness have a significant effect on their everyday lives.

Doctors think that face blindness is induced by brain defects or disability, especially the correct fusiform gyrus, or a certain fold in the brain that, according to the NINDS, helps with facial vision and memory. Some persons experience a lifespan of facial blindness. Others acquire it unexpectedly following brain injuries, such as stroke, head damage, or certain neurodegenerative disorders. Face blindness is not induced by visual deficiency, disabilities of literacy, or lack of memory.

ALSO READ:7 Tips to Avoid Fogging Your Eyeglasses While Wearing Face Masks

It is also interesting that while face blindness is not a typical autism spectrum disorder occurrence, it tends to be more frequent among children who have it, according to the NINDS, likely due to disrupted social progress. Yet in addition, face blindness can be challenging to live with individually and professionally. In rare situations, in photographs or mirrors, persons with facial blindness often struggle to recognize near relatives and even their own faces, Duchaine notes. They have difficulty following films and TV programs, as well.

While face covers can render facial identification challenging for anybody, and although masks do not cause true face blindness, as you would expect, they are not usually as big a concern for people with face blindness.

Duchaine said face masks make it more difficult to recognize others for people with face blindness. However, because many people with face blindness may not rely on the face as strongly, face masks might have less influence on them than individuals with regular face identification.

In reality, Duchaine recently went through responses from prosopagnosia patients who visited his research platform Faceblind.org (the research team involves doctors from Harvard University and London University) and he came across a message from a woman who said she "loves COVID-19 masks."

It's because they don't inhibit her ability to identify faces. Rather they impair her ability to recognize objects." Only something to think about the next time you do a double-take on a pal sporting a mask.

However, a shocking positive lining to masks might have been uncovered through recent findings from the U.S. We may be rendered more desirable by them.

Collaborativeresearchbetween the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University College of Health asked participants to rate the attractiveness of a cross-section of people with and without masks. When wearing a surgical-style mask, they observed that 70 percent of allegedly "average-looking" individuals were more desirable.

According toCBC.ca, research co-author and clinical psychologist David Sarwer said that either prominent characteristics or asymmetrical features of the lower face are camouflaged by the mask.

He explained that we see certain people as more attractive in reality since less attractive features are now concealed by the face's covering.

Sarwer suggests that another explanation is that the pupils, which are left visible, are essential indicators of facial beauty.

It's something we're trained from a very early age. Sarwer explained that we're taught to look them right in the eyes while we're talking to others as adults. Because we're definitely getting some of the socialization, as well as some ingrained biology that drives us to be drawn to the eyes of strangers.

ALSO READ:Which Offers the Best Protection? 8 Face Masks Ranked Based On Effectiveness

Check out more news and information onMedicine and Healthon Science Times.

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Wearing Face Masks Could Make It More Challenging for You to Identify People; What's The Catch? - Science Times

February 12, 2021 - In the final few verses of the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 20, we read of Jesus encounter with two blind men. The duo desired to be healed of their blindness and had joined the great crowd that formed around Jesus. The Lord passes by and the two cry out, Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! What happens next? In verse 31 we read, The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!

Jesus does heal their blindness, but let us look at this verse above. Do we understand what is going on here? In the crowd were the literal followers of Christ. The disciples were in the group along with those interested in just seeing what the big deal was. There were people there who would be followers of Christ after the resurrection. There would be others that would join the mob that wanted Christ crucified. All started rebuking the blind men from crying out to the Lord for mercy. As Christians, we can understand people who are not Christians doing this but again, followers of Christ were doing the rebuking as well.

The disciples, time after time, failed to get what Christ was saying. Here in this short passage, we see two blind men getting it. They call Christ the son of David, a term reserved for the Messiah. Those who could see Christ in the flesh did not understand. The two blind men knew more about Christ than his disciples. They did what we do, go to Christ to receive mercy and we are given it. Rest upon that Christian. You are forgiven.

Wynter is an Elder at Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church. Find out more at MariposaChurch.org or email him at wynter@mariposachurch.org. Visit Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church on Facebook.

Pastors Corner isa column from Pastor Wynter Sturtevant III of the Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church.

TheChurch has moved locations, services are now held at the Bootjack Stompers Hall (located at 4662 Morman Bar Crossing) across from the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.

Time of service is at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.

I am happy to announce that MRBC has its own sermon podcast. Please check it out by clicking on the link below or searching MRBC Sermons on iTunes. New sermons will be posted every Wednesday.

https://mariposachurch.transistor.fm/episodes

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Pastor's Corner Articles of Faith - Mercy on the Blind - 2021-02-12 - Sierra Sun Times

In an inspiring documentary called Not Everything Is Black, six blind people from different cities around the world were encouraged to carry a camera and take photos of anything they wanted.

The documentary, which was initially released in 2019 and recently premiered on YouTube, aimed to grasp an understanding of how blind people perceive reality.

In Lebanon, young and adventurous Ramy Jarjoura put the camera up to his face to capture a picture of a bird in a cage as though from his own eyes.

Birds are trapped in a cage in need of freedom, and like birds, a blind person needs to escape the cage inside themselves in order to fly amongst others, he said.

He also expressed that he could relate to birds pain because of the accident that caused his blindness.

You see, Ramy began to go blind at the age of 10 after he was accidentally shot in the head by a bird hunter in the woods nearby his house.

In 2010, after many surgeries to try to restore his sight, he became completely blind. But to Ramy, it was a blessing in disguise.

I became blind in the sense most people understand blindness. But from my perspective, 2010 was when I began to see, he said.

His acceptance of the pain of his situation transformed into the strength that keeps him going.

When asked if he would ever like to see again, he tells people that he forgets that he cant see because of all the blessings he experiences from blindness.

Follow Ramy and others on their inspiring journey to capture photos by using their senses to visualize the world around them and also get inside their heads.

Watch the full documentary here:

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Video: 6 Blind People, Including a Lebanese, Were Given A Camera And Told To Take Pictures - The961

UP to 100,000 colour blind fans were left furious on Sunday after Chelsea wore their light blue away kit at Sheffield United, making the match almost impossible to watch.

For the fifth time this season, colour blind Premier League supporters were barely able to distinguish between the sides due to the bizarre choice of jersey.

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Chelsea wore their light blue away kit to take on the Blades in their predominantly white strip in Sky Sports' live showdown.

But fans were left perplexed, believing the West Londoners' home strip - a much deeper shade of blue - would have been less of a clash.

Opting for the almost-white away jerseys made life tough for those who suffer from colour blindness.

The Colour Blind Awareness charity predicted around 100,000 viewers for the game - a 2-1 win for Chelsea - would have suffered from colour blindness.

Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

And fans took to Twitter in their droves to complain.

One wrote: "I turned it on, saw 20 matching shirts and simply turned it off again.

"I wonder where I could inquire to get some refunds for streaming expenses, since they are actively making it impossible to watch what I pay for."

Another said: "Someone with a bigger brain has got to explain how this is easier to see than Chelsea playing in their home BLUE kit?"

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A third sarcastically added: "Well done Chelsea. You really needed your almost white away kit for this fixture.

"The traditional blue would obviously have clashed with the mostly white shirts of Sheffield United."

Another viewer even called it 'blatant discrimination', tweeting: "It's been happening all season.

"So many kit clashes and absolutely nothing gets done about it, it's utterly shameful.

"People think colour blindness is a trivial issue. It's not.

"These kit clashes are ENTIRELY AVOIDABLE, that's the worst part of it. Blatant Discrimination!!'

It is the fifth time alone a Premier League clash has thrown up a colour-blindness issue, with Liverpool and Manchester United both featuring twice.

The game between the two rivals at Anfield last month was the most-watched Premier League game in history amongst Brits.

But of the five million who tuned in, a predicted 300,000 of those struggled to distinguish between the two sides.

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Liverpool wore their red home strip, while Man Utd wore their 'earth green' alternate colours.

Reds and greens - particularly in similar shades - are almost impossible to distinguish between for those suffering from colour blindness.

That meant the red of Liverpool's socks merged with the green of the grass, while the deep shade of green in United's strip also clashed with that of the grass and the home side's red.

The Premier League has developed a 'colour blind friendly flag to help clubs pick the colours best-suited to all viewers.

However, the final say lies with the club.

And Colour Blindness Awareness spokesperson Kathryn Albany-Ward lashed out at the Premier League for their failure to act.

Albany-Ward said: "They know about this issue. They know it's disability discrimination and they are not doing enough about it."

Southampton vs Man Utd, Sheff Utd vs Southampton and Liverpool vs Crystal Palace have also been criticised for their lack of empathy to those suffering from colour blindness.

Around one in 12 men suffer from colour blindness, with the disability affecting roughly one in 200 women.

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Prem in FIFTH kit clash this season as up to 100,000 colour blind viewers cant tell Sheff Utd and Chelsea a - The Sun