StemCell Therapy

LOS ANGELES, July 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) has collaborated with aconsortium of 41 leading patient advocacy organizations, professional societies and industry partners to publish a white paper detailing recommendations for the use of testing terminology in precision medicine for patient education throughout the cancer community. Use of consistent language will significantly improve patient awareness and understanding of potentially life-saving testing options available for both new cancer diagnoses and progression or recurrence of disease. In prostate cancer, testing is a crucial tool that may reveal additional treatment options and/or information for a man's family about their own cancer risk.

Research shows that despite widespread acceptance of the importance of testing, actual testing rates lag far behind best-practice recommendations for both biomarker testing for somatic (acquired) mutations and other biomarkers, and for germline genetic testing for identifying germline (inherited) mutations (also known as variants). Analysis by The Consistent Testing Terminology Working Group(Working Group) indicates that language disparity is a primary obstacle to patient communication with providers about testing for their specific cancer type. Further, development of consistent language can increase patient understanding and communication, facilitate shared decision making, support value-based care and assure concordance in policy development.

"Both types of testing biomarker testing and genetic testing for inherited cancer risk are important in the care of prostate cancer patients," said Dr. Andrea Miyahira, Director of Global Research and Scientific Communications at PCF. "One example is the very recent approval of medications for men with advanced prostate cancer and certain mutations in their tumor or inherited mutations that would be revealed through testing. Therefore, clear terminology and understanding between patients and providers is all the more vital. PCF supports this valuable collaboration across cancer types."

The Working Group is a consortium of 20 cancer patient advocacy groups representing solid tumor and hematologic malignancies, three professional societies, and 18 pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies and testing laboratories. Over the course of many years, multiple activities, led by numerous individual patient advocacy organizations and professional societies have developed the groundwork for this effort. The Working Group has launched a multi-faceted dissemination and communications effort to ensure that its recommendations and supporting materials are widely available among all key stakeholders within the cancer ecosystem, including providers, patient advocacy organizations, guidelines agencies, payers, and policymakers.

In developing its recommendations, the Working Group, first convened in 2019 by LUNGevity Foundation, identified 33 terms related to biomarker, genetic and genomic testing that were being used in patient education and clinical care within the different cancer communities. In many cases, multiple terms were used to describe the same test. Various testing modalities, the source of testing samples, and the multiplicity of gene mutations currently identifiable by testing, were contributing factors in this often-confusing overlap.

In the final analysis, three umbrella descriptor terms emerged as recommendations from the Working Group's milestone exploration: "Biomarker testing"was selected as the preferred term for tests that identify characteristics, targetable findings or other test results originating from malignant tissue and blood; "genetic testing for an inherited mutation" and "genetic testing for inherited cancer risk" were selected as consensus terms for tests used to identify germline (inherited) mutations.

"Far too many patients across all cancer types are still missing out on essential tests for biomarkers and inherited mutations indicating cancer risk," said Michelle Shiller, DO, AP/CP, MGP, Co-Medical Director of Genetics at Baylor Sammons Cancer Center and Staff Pathologist at Baylor University Medical Center. "With rates of biomarker testing and genetic testing for an inherited mutation at sub-optimal levels for numerous patient populations, patients are not benefiting from biomarker-directed care or not learning about their inherited cancer risk. Confusion around testing terms is a driving factor in this undertesting and ultimately has a detrimental impact on patient care."

"When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they're swept into a whirlwind of bewildering words and complex, pressing decisions. Our Working Group's goal is to help calm that storm of confusion with clear and consistent language that facilitates communication and medical decision-making. A unified voice and message from providers, industry and the patient advocacy community about testing is absolutely vital to optimal cancer care," saidNikki Martin, Director of Precision Medicine Initiatives at LUNGevity Foundation.

An abstract on the Working Group's recommendations was published in May 2020 as part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Virtual Library. The White Paper can be viewed in its entirety athttp://www.commoncancertestingterms.org/.

About LUNGevity Foundation LUNGevity Foundation is the nation's leading lung cancer organization focused on improving outcomes for people with lung cancer through research, education, policy initiatives, and support and engagement for patients, survivors, and caregivers. LUNGevity seeks to make an immediate impact on quality of life and survivorship for everyone touched by the diseasewhile promoting health equity by addressing disparities throughout the care continuum. LUNGevity works tirelessly to advance research into early detection and more effective treatments, provide information and educational tools to empower patients and their caregivers, promote impactful public policy initiatives, and amplify the patient voice through research and engagement. The organization provides an active community for patients and survivorsand those who help them live better and longer lives.

Comprehensive resources include a medically vetted and patient-centric website, a toll-free HELPLine for support, the International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference, and an easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder, among other tools. All of these programs are to achieve our visiona world where no one dies of lung cancer. LUNGevity Foundation is proud to be a four-star Charity Navigator organization. Please visit http://www.LUNGevity.org to learn more.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993 by Mike Milken, PCF has raised more than $830 million in support of cutting-edge research by more than 2,200 research projects at 220 leading cancer centers in 22 countries around the world. Thanks in part to PCF's commitment to ending death and suffering from prostate cancer, the death rate is down more than 50% and countless more men are alive today as a result. PCF research now impacts more than 73 forms of human cancer by focusing onimmunotherapy, the microbiome, and food as medicine. For more information, visit PCF.org.

Media Contact: Donald Wilson Prostate Cancer Foundation (310) 428-4730 [emailprotected]

SOURCE Prostate Cancer Foundation

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The Prostate Cancer Foundation Collaboration With Pan-Cancer Consortium Clarifies And Promotes Consistent Use Of Common Terms For Biomarker And...

Researchers in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciencescontinue to spearhead a number of projects related to the COVID-19 global health pandemic.

Peter L. Elkin, professor and chair of biomedical informatics, says several current studies are focused on data collection that can be used to better understand how to combat COVID-19.

Much of the work is being completed through the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) consortium, of which UB is a member. It is one of more than 50 medical research institutions across the nation currently receiving CTSA program funding from the National Institutes of Health.

One such project is the launch of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), a joint program between the National Center for Data to Health and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Elkin says the projects aim is to build a warehouse of COVID-19 data for the entire CTSA consortium and for otherinterested contributing health care organizations.

This is intended to hold all patient data (inpatient and outpatient) on COVID-tested patients from all of the CTSA hubs, he says. It entails a cloud-based method for data collection on the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are working closely with N3C to see how this can be designed and implemented in astandardized and timely fashion.

The goal of developing a national-level COVID-19 database is to facilitate research and improve recruitment to clinical trials, he says.

N3C is looking to address the many difficult questions raised by the COVID-19 global emergency, such as:

UB is also a member of COMBATCOVID, a New York State initiative to save case report formson all hospital admissions for upper respiratory infections,including all patients tested for COVID-19 or patients who are suspected to have COVID-19.

The statewide consortium will collect and analyze the results from all the CTSA institutions in the state.

It is being run out of New York University, and I am participating from our site as our CTSA informatics core director, Elkin says. I am working on the design and data governance.

The data use agreements are being signed, and the database design and data definitions are being built, he adds. This larger row-level dataset will allow us to ask questions that would notbe possible at any one institution.

In UBs Department of Biomedical Informatics, Elkin and Frank D. LeHouillier, senior programmer and analyst, are involved in the project.

Clinical researchers in the Jacobs School who are involved include:

Researchers in the Department of Biomedical Informatics have also developed a validated microbiome platform that finds infected persons with COVID-19 whether symptomatic or not using deep sequencing of stool microbiome samples.

Elkin is working with postdoctoral associate Sapan Mandloi in using a National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) database to collect and process metagenomics data for the organism classified as human gut metagenome.

The more than 300,000 samples are divided into 3,464 projects, according to Mandloi.

We are performing comparison of all samples raw sequences with SARS-Cov-2 genome using a NCBI SRA Taxonomy Analysis Tool (STAT), which utilizes precomputed k-mer dictionary databases and gene-specific profiling, Mandloi says. This allows us to perform geographic mapping of samples identified across the world.

Some 9,720 samples were identified as potential cases of colonization for COVID-19, which were mostly from the U.S., China, Australia and the U.K., he adds.

The ability to identify and track this trafficking of genetic material is vital as a public health topic, he says. As of now, this large pool of genetic data remains largely untapped for clinical surveillance using the combined strategy of gene-based profiling and k-mer-based classification on raw genomic data.

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Jacobs School researchers collecting COVID-19 data - UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff - University at Buffalo Reporter

Genomic sequencing explained

Genomic sequencing creates a genetic fingerprint of organisms and maps the order of how chemical building blocks of a genome are organised.

The researchers looked at how the virus genetic sequence was organised by detecting and translating minute differences in each new infection. A genetic family tree was created showing which COVID-19 positive cases were connected and to track clusters.

The more fingerprints we took, and the critical information collected from the contact tracers, the easier it became to identify if someone contracted COVID-19 from a known cluster or case, said Dr Rockett.

Very early on we were able to discover cases which werent linked to a known cluster or case. This informed state and federal governments that community transmission was happening, and led to the border closures, revision of testing policies and other measures that stopped further spread of the virus.

Dr Rockett and her team managed to produce these genomic data so quickly because they leveraged years of experience in using genome sequencing to track down food-borne pathogens such as salmonella, during food poisoning outbreaks, and transmission of tuberculosis.

The study is a behind the scenes look at the complex and coordinated effort by virologists, bioinformaticians and mathematical modellers alongside clinicians and public health professionals.

Dr Rocketts lab is the dedicated facility hosted by NSW Health Pathology providing genomic sequencing data to NSW Health professionals working at the frontline of managing the pandemic.

Genome sequencing is the key to unlocking the puzzle of local transmission, and its critical that we continue to invest in this research to advance our ability to contain the virus in the long-term not just to trace locally acquired cases, but also to identify new cases once border restrictions are lifted and travel resumes, says Dr Rockett.

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Genetic fingerprints of first COVID19 cases help manage pandemic - News - The University of Sydney

The roulette wheel that decides who lives and dies from the coronavirus is weighted by the type of blood coursing through the veins of victims, gifting some with innate resistance and dooming others to misery and torment.

Infectious disease specialists say the worldwide pandemic is especially cruel to people with type A blood, which apparently lacks certain compounds that help fight off the disease.

A study published June 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people with type A blood have a higher risk of contracting the disease and suffering complications. The analysis, conducted by an international team of scientists, also showed that people with type O blood were at least partially protected from the virus.

It was one of several recent reports on the phenomenon, which epidemiologists say is not unique to COVID-19.

People with Type A blood... are more likely to have severe disease and death than people with other types, said John Swartzberg, an infectious-disease specialist at UC Berkeley. It doesn't surprise me because we know that blood types are associated with other infectious diseases.

Blood type is determined by a gene that tells the body what blood cell proteins to make. The different types, A, B, AB or O, have different antigens, which determine their properties, including weaknesses and strengths. A blood type that is positive means that persons red blood cells carry a protein called Rh, also known as the RhD antigen. Negative blood type does not.

Epidemiologists have long known that blood type plays a role in how peoples bodies react to infectious diseases, and type A positive and negative appears to be among the most problematic.

For example, people with type A blood have a higher chance of developing certain cancers, particularly stomach cancer. All the different types of blood have agreeable and disagreeable qualities, but type A is associated with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, according the National Institutes of Health.

Swartzberg said people with type A blood are also more likely to contract the most virulent form of malaria, known as plasmodium falciparum. The protozoan parasite is transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito.

On the other hand, people with type O blood are less likely to develop inflammation during infections, suffer from heart disease, pancreatic cancer or contract parasitic diseases like falciparum.

The Journal of Medicine study sequenced the genomes of 1,980 COVID-19 patients in Spain and Italy who had suffered respiratory failure and compared their results with an approximately equal number of people who were not sick. The researchers concluded that people with type A blood had as much as a 45 percent higher risk of getting severely ill from the coronavirus.

Another study, of more than 2,000 people in China last March, also found that blood group A had a significantly higher risk of coronavirus infection. That information aligns with other studies, most of them not yet peer reviewed.

In each case, type O blood was linked to lower risk and less severe illness. A study by the genomics site 23andMe calculated that people with blood type O were 9% to 18% less likely to contract COVID-19 than people with other types of blood.

Type O blood is handy in other ways. O positive is the most common blood type, and O negative is compatible with all other types of blood. Because O negative blood can be given to anybody, it is commonly used for transfusions.

Studies have shown that people with type O blood also get fewer blood clots, a serious problem among COVID-19 patients.

SARS-CoV-2, the specific coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is essentially a tiny parasite that uses its tell-tale spike proteins to latch onto the much larger human cells, like pepper on an egg. The virus uses the cells receptors to worm its way inside, where it replicates itself billions of times and spreads throughout the body.

There are a variety of factors that influence vulnerability to COVID-19 infection, including old age, underlying medical conditions and possibly race, although the high mortality rate among minorities is more likely related to poverty and a lack of medical care. A study, published Wednesday in Nature, said Latino and African Americans are three times more likely than white people to be infected by the coronavirus and nearly twice as likely to die.

Men are hospitalized and die from the virus more often than women, a disparity that researchers have linked to testosterone, the male sex hormone.

Researchers know that the coronavirus targets ACE2 receptors, a protein on the surface of human cells that normally helps regulate blood pressure. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at UCSF, said the genes that make the ACE2 receptors are next to the genes that provide the blood type codes.

Because they are so close to each other they influence each other in ways we don't understand, Chin-Hong said. Things are next to each other for a reason.

Nobody knows exactly how the coronavirus operates, but some scientists believe the virus, when it infects a new host, carries with it genetic coding blood type antigens from its last victim. Apparently, type O blood adapts better to the coronavirus coding.

Swartzberg said this may have something to do with the types of carbohydrates, or sugars, on the surface of red blood cells.

The type A carbohydrate may facilitate the entrance of the protozoan into the red blood cell, causing more severe infection, Swartzberg said. People with type O blood, which doesnt have any of those carbohydrates, may be somewhat protected.

George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, said caucasians of Mediterranean descent have the highest percentage of type A blood.

Most of these (blood type) observations are from Italy and Spain, which have had horrendous COVID outbreaks, Rutherford said.

A big puzzle is that blood type doesnt seem to matter when it comes to African Americans and other people of color. Type O blood is more common among African Americans a little more than half carry that type yet African Americans have disproportionately high infection rates. The same goes for Latinos, 57 percent of whom carry type O blood.

Its an indication, Rutherford said, that socioeconomic problems like poverty, obesity and stress may be bigger factors in who gets the disease and how ill they become than blood type.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite

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If you have this blood type, studies show youre at higher risk for the coronavirus - San Francisco Chronicle

News Release

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Comparing epigenetic differences between humans and domestic dogs provides an emerging model of aging.

One of the most common misconceptions is that one human year equals seven dog years in terms of aging. However, this equivalency is misleading and has been consistently dismissed by veterinarians. A recent study, published in the journalCell Systems, lays out a new framework for comparing dog-to-human aging. In one such comparison, the researchers found the first eight weeks of a dogs life is comparable to the first nine months of human infancy, but the ratio changes over time. The research used epigenetics, a process by which modifications occur in the genome, as a biological marker to study the aging process. By comparing when and what epigenetic changes mark certain developmental periods in humans and dogs, researchers hope to gain specific insight into human aging as well.

Researchers performed a comprehensive analysis and quantitatively compared the progression of aging between two mammals, dogs and humans. Scientists at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and collaborators at the University of California (UC) San Diego, UC Davis and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine carried out the research.

All mammals experience the same overarching developmental timeline: birth, infancy, youth, puberty, adulthood and death. But researchers have long sought specific biological events that govern when such life stages take place. One means to study such a progression involves epigenetics gene expression changes caused by factors other than the DNA sequence itself. Recent findings have shown that epigenetic changes are linked to specific stages of aging and that these are shared among species.

Researchers focused on one type of epigenetic change called methylation, a process in which molecules called methyl groups are attached to particular DNA sequences, usually parts of a gene. Attaching to these DNA regions effectively turns the gene into the "off" position. So far, researchers have identified that in humans, methylation patterns change predictably over time. These patterns have allowed the creation of mathematical models that can accurately gauge the age of an individual called "epigenetic clocks."

But these epigenetic clocks have only been successful in predicting human age. They do not seem to be valid across species, such as in mice, dogs, and wolves. To see why the epigenetic clocks in these other species differed from the human version, researchers first studied the epigenetic changes over the lifetime of a domestic dog and compared the resultsobtained with humans.

Dogs are a useful model for such comparisons because much of their environment, diet, chemical exposure, and physiological and developmental patterns are similar to humans.

"Dogs experience the same biological hallmarks of aging as humans, but do so in a compressed period, around 10 to 15 years on average, versus over 70 years in humans. This makes dogs invaluable for studying the genetics of aging across mammals, including humans," said Elaine Ostrander, Ph.D., NIH Distinguished Investigator and co-author of the paper.

Dr. Ostrander and her colleagues in Trey Ideker's laboratory at UC San Diego took blood samples from 104 dogs, mostly Labrador retrievers, ranging from four weeks to 16 years of age. They also obtained previously published methylation patterns from 320 people, whose ages ranged from 1 to 103 years. The researchers then studied and compared the methylation patterns from both species.

Based on the data, researchers identified similar age-related methylation patterns, specifically when pairing young dogs with young humans or older dogs with older humans. They did not observe this relationship when comparing young dogs to older humans and vice versa.

The study also found that groups of specific genes involved in development can explain much of the similarity, which had similar methylation patterns during aging in dogs and humans.

"These results suggest that aging can, in part, be explained by a continuum of changes beginning in development," said Dr. Ideker. "The programs of development are expressed incredibly strongly at defined periods when the pup is in the womb and childhood. But equally strongly are systems that clamp down to stop it. In a sense, we are looking at aging as the residual 'afterburn' of those powerful forces."

The researchers also attempted to correlate the human epigenetic clock with dogs, using this as a proxy for converting dog years to human years.

The new formula is more complicated than the "multiply by seven" method. When dogs and humans experience similar physiological milestones, such as infancy, adolescence and aging, the new formula provided reasonable estimates of equivalent ages. For example, by using the new formula, eight weeks in dogs roughly translates to nine months in humans, which corresponds to the infant stage in both puppies and babies. The expected lifespan of senior Labrador retrievers, 12 years, correctly translates to 70 years in humans, the worldwide average life expectancy.

The group acknowledges that the dog-to-human years formula is largely based on data from Labrador retrievers alone. Hence, future studies with other dog breeds will be required to test the formula's generalizability. Because dog breeds have different life spans, the formula may be different among breeds.

Dr. Ostrander noted, "It will be particularly interesting to study long-lived breeds, a disproportionate number of which are small in size, versus breeds with a shorter lifespan, which includes many larger breeds. This will help us correlate the well-recognized relationship between skeletal size and lifespan in dogs."

The study also demonstrates that studying methylation patterns may be a useful method to quantitatively translate the age-related physiology experienced by one organism (e.g., humans) to the age at which physiology in a second organism is most similar (e.g., dogs). The group hopes that such translation may provide a useful tool for understanding aging and identifying ways to maximize healthy lifespans.

"This study, which highlights the relevance of canine aging studies, further expands the utility of the dog as a genetic system for studies that inform human health and biology," said Dr. Ostrander.

This press release describes a basic research finding. Basic research increases our understanding of human behavior and biology, which is foundational to advancing new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Science is an unpredictable and incremental process each research advance builds on past discoveries, often in unexpected ways. Most clinical advances would not be possible without the knowledge of fundamental basic research.

NHGRI is one of the 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health. The NHGRI Extramural Research Program supports grants for research, and training and career development at sites nationwide. Additional information about NHGRI can be found at https://www.genome.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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NIH researchers reframe dog-to-human aging comparisons - National Institutes of Health

We may have mapped the human genome in 2003, but a new worldwide study has discovered the links between our genes and the conditions that ail us.

In this time of extra focus on health, allow me one more story from the brave new world of medical research. Every day, twenty American war veterans kill themselves. That is fifteen percent of the total amount of Americans who take their own lives each year; a disproportionally high number. A few weeks ago, the American Department of Veteran Affairs learnt a little more about why that might be the case.

While trauma is involved, surprisingly so is genetics. Research that looked at an astounding 200,000 veterans, concluded that quite a few of them were susceptible to anxiety and depression even before they were sent to Afghanistan or another warzone. In fact, in an astonishing number, there was a problem with a gene called MAD1C1, that is also implicated in bipolar disease and schizophrenia. On top of that, there were five other genetic variants that are linked to anxiety that were more prevalent in this group. Obviously, this is important information. Not only will it now be possible to better predict who should and shouldnt go to war, but deaths can also be prevented by teaching people how to cope before the shit hits the fan.

With 200,000 participants, this research is the largest ever study into anxiety in the world. But it is not the only mass investigation into illness that is going on at the moment. In fact, bigger is definitely better at almost all laboratories on the planet. For instance, a few months ago researchers looked closer at insomnia than had ever been possible before: 1.3 million people were involved, and 956 genes were found that could hold the key to solving a problem that a third of the general population suffers from. An issue, too, that is implicated in all manner of mental health issues, as well as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

This kind of research is part of Genome-Wide Association Studies that are taking place from New York to Melbourne and Cape Town to Oslo. As you may remember, in 2003 the Human Genome Project was completed, and that meant that suddenly researchers could look into genetic contributions to common diseases better than ever before.

Until the human genome was mapped, the only way to look at the role genes played in illnesses was to study families. That was relatively successful if they were suffering from a single gene disorder, but not so much if it was more complicated than that. But after humanity cracked the gene code in 2003, Biobanks started springing up everywhere. At the moment, weve got forty-five in NSW alone, and the largest in the southern hemisphere is at the RPA in Camperdown. It is run by NSW Health and stores more than three million human samples for use in research. Usually, that is left-over tissue from an operation, biopsy or blood test, of course, donated with written consent. At Camperdown, researchers can apply for access to those samples, so they can investigate whatever illness they are looking at at a much larger scale than pre-2003.

These studies, as usual, involve one group of people with an illness and a control group without. But because so many samples are available, it is possible to look at enormous populations. That means you are casting a wide net, but because there is no hypothesis before you start, anything can happen. The focus, of course, is finding the genes that are associated with a particular disease. And once youve found those, you can zoom in and look a little closer. This has two consequences: first of all, that you can know more about more illnesses much faster than before. Secondly, it is laying the groundwork for personalised medicine.

In the near future, it will no longer be one size fits all (like one type of chemo for everybody with bowel cancer, for instance). Treatments will be tailored to one individual patient, because when we know more about one persons particular gene make-up it is easier to design something that will be just right for them. Not just when they are already sick, but even in the prevention of that illness. Less guesswork, less adverse reactions to treatments, fewer mistakes.

Of course, there are limitations. Not everything can be explained by looking at genes, for instance, and every person responds differently to disease, which makes treatment still complicated. Also, completing a complete genome sequencing is still expensive. And the problem with quite a few of the Biobanks is that the owners of the samples are generally white and Western. Apart from that, just knowing which genes are associated with a disease is only the beginning.

The challenge is the road from that knowledge to new drugs, diagnostics and maybe prevention. Nevertheless, so far over three thousand GWA studies have been done, into almost two thousand different diseases. We now know more about what causes heart attacks (from a study started in 2004), have found a protein that is involved in producing macular degeneration and can pinpoint genes that are related to risky behaviour, like driving too fast, smoking, drinking and having high-risk sex. We have found the genes connected to intelligence, obesity, schizophrenia, childhood aggression, antisocial behaviour, depression and all manner of other things.

There are Biobanks in NSW that specialise in melanoma, stroke, sleep, childrens cancer, gynaecological issues and problems with the brain. I know it is a little brave new world, and we need to be careful it doesnt turn into an Orwellian nightmare. But limitless possibilities, and hope for those who are sick: there is something to be said for that, isnt there?

For this story I have used the following sources:

https://nsw.biobanking.org/locator

https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/biggest-biobank-in-the-southern-hemisphere-to-revolutionise-medical-research-in-nsw-20171113-gzk5os.html

NSW Health Statewide Biobank

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331328430_Genome-wide_analysis_of_insomnia_in_1331010_individuals_identifies_new_risk_loci_and_functional_pathways

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330368016_Genome-wide_association_analyses_of_risk_tolerance_and_risky_behaviors_in_over_1_million_individuals_identify_hundreds_of_loci_and_shared_genetic_influences

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330368016_Genome-wide_association_analyses_of_risk_tolerance_and_risky_behaviors_in_over_1_million_individuals_identify_hundreds_of_loci_and_shared_genetic_influences

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/09/health/anxiety-genetic-association-wellness-trnd/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&utm_content=2020-01-10T05%3A09%3A03&utm_medium=social&utm_term=link

https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp

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Worldwide genome research could change the course of medical history - The Big Smoke Australia

Genetic tests, also called DNA tests, are used to identify changes in DNA sequences or chromosomal structures. Genetic testing also includes measuring the consequences of genetic alterations, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, and biochemical analysis to measure specific protein outputs.

The Europe Genetic testing services market is expected to reach US$ 5,840.9 Mn in 2027 from US$ 2,521.6 Mn in 2019. The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 11.4% from 2020-2027.

Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of genetic tests can help identify or rule out suspicious genetic conditions or determine the likelihood of someone developing or inheriting a genetic disorder.

A medical device is any device intended to be used for medical purposes. Medical devices benefit patients by helping health care providers diagnose and treat patients and helping patients overcome sickness or disease, improving their quality of life.

The healthcare industryis undergoing rapid transformations since a few years now. Various technological improvementshave been witnessedin the segments including diagnosis and treatment options for chronic diseases. The increase in incidences of chronic illnesses and the increasing ageing population are the primary factors fuelling the growth of healthcare segment.

The Europe Genetic Testing Servicesmarketis growing along with the healthcare industry, but the market is likely to slow down its growth due to the shortage of skilled professionals, suggests the Business Market Insights report.

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France has well-developed policies and strategies in place for improving the prevention of hereditary cancers. Also, France is planning to develop a national plan for personalized medicine. Genomic Medicine France 2025, which was published in 2016, which appeals for healthcare and manufacturing firms to pilot genomic sequencing platforms. By 2020 the aim is to establish a network of centers able to process around 235,000 samples for whole genome sequencing.

These factorsare expectedto offer broad growth opportunities in the healthcare industry and this is expected to cause the demand forimmunochemistryassays in the market.

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EUROPE GENETIC TESTING SERVICES MARKET SEGMENTATION

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Europe Genetic Testing Services Market is expected to reach US$ 5840.9 Million by 2027 with CAGR of 11.4%. - Owned

Theres encouraging and not so encouraging news about COVID-19 testing.

The most common tests used to diagnose an infection with the novel coronavirus are almost 100 percent effective if administered correctly.

However, the same cant be said of tests to determine if youve already had the disease and have developed antibodies.

Experts say diagnostic testing is one of the most powerful public health tools for fighting the spread of the coronavirus.

The tests identify people who may need treatment. Results also trace those who have been in contact with other individuals to help prevent the transmission of the disease further. This can assist epidemiologists in determining how widely the virus has spread.

Testing makes the enemy visible, said Dr. Emily Volk, an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Texas-Health in San Antonio and president-elect of the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

There are two basic types of tests for the novel coronavirus. One type diagnoses an infection and the other tests for antibodies.

Diagnostic tests detect active infections. This is the test you want if you think youve been exposed to the coronavirus or are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

There are currently two types of diagnostic tests available.

The RT-PCR nasopharyngeal tests are more widely used and more familiar. Most involve sticking a 6-inch swab deep into your nose to collect virus samples to test.

However, some more recently approved RT-PCR tests seek to avoid the discomfort associated with the nasopharyngeal swab tests by allowing samples to be collected via a shallow swab of the nose or by testing saliva for the presence of the virus.

If performed correctly, RT-PCR swab tests would be pretty close to 100 percent accurate, Volk told Healthline.

We should be diagnosing people with PCR tests because they are the most accurate, added Dr. Christina Wojewoda, a pathologist at the University of Vermont and vice chair of CAPs microbiology committee.

To get the most accurate results, RT-PCR tests should be conducted 8 days after suspected exposure or infection, to ensure that enough viral material is present to detect.

Some clinicians know that, but people who are swabbing may not be passing that information along, Wojewoda told Healthline.

Its also possible to administer the test too late, after the body has successfully fought off the disease, according to Dr. William Schaffner, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee and medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

The test must also be administered properly, which means inserting the swab 3 inches or so to reach the cavity where the nasal passages meet the pharynx.

If youve had this test and it wasnt uncomfortable, it wasnt done correctly, Schaffner told Healthline.

False-positive results, while rare, can occur with PCR tests, said Wojewoda, because the coronavirus genetic material may linger in the body long after recovery from an infection.

You cant tell if the person [had an infection] 3 days ago or 5 months ago, she said.

Swabs are also used to collect samples for antigen testing. These tests have the advantage of yielding faster results (hours rather than several days).

Theyre also less accurate than RT-PRC tests, mostly because they require test samples to contain large amounts of virus proteins to yield a positive result.

False-negative results from antigen tests may range as high as 20 to 30 percent.

If an antigen test is positive, you can believe it, said Wojewoda. If its negative, you have to question that.

As the name suggests, these tests look for antibodies made by your immune system in response to an infection with the new coronavirus.

Antibody tests are not diagnostic tests.

Antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several weeks after recovery, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Because of this, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection.

Antibody tests also arent terribly useful.

Ideally, a positive antibody test would tell you that youve recovered from COVID-19 or a coronavirus infection and have immunity from future infections, allowing you to return to work, travel, and socialization without the risk of transmitting the infection or becoming sick again yourself.

However, researchers dont yet know whether the presence of antibodies means that you have immunity, whether you could still get sick from a different strain of the virus, or how long immunity lasts.

Antibody tests are problematic because they can be misused easily, said Volk. You may think if you have a positive antibody test that you dont have to wear a mask or conform to social distancing, but antibodies dont tell us that you have immunological armor against future infections.

Antibody tests also are subject to false-positive results.

The job of antibodies is to stick to things, so they can create a positive test result if they react to a different type of coronavirus, said Wojewoda.

Antibody tests show the most promise if the way the human body controls the coronavirus is with an antibody response, Wojewoda added. If not, it doesnt make any difference.

For example, she said, its T cells, not antibodies, that help the body fight an HIV infection.

Thats another piece of data that needs to be figured out before testing can be figured out, Wojewoda said.

Every COVID-19 test currently (and legally) available in the United States has been approved by the FDA under the agencys Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) protocol.

The EUA permits the FDA to allow unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life threatening diseases or conditions caused by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threat agents when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.

That has allowed novel coronavirus tests to quickly hit the market without the research and testing normally required for FDA approval.

To date, the FDA has approved 130 different RT-PCR, antigen, and antibody tests for the new coronavirus.

Doing a full clinical trial takes a long time, but we need tests now, said Sherry Dunbar, PhD, senior director of global scientific affairs for Luminex Corporation, which manufactures a pair of PRC tests and has submitted an application to the FDA for emergency approval of a new antigen test.

Experts generally agree that the RT-PCR tests are more accurate and useful than antigen and antibody tests, which are better used as confirmatory tools.

Dunbar told Healthline that some testing labs are using multiple tests to anticipate shortages on testing products. Theyre also using the quicker tests when demand is high and the slower but more accurate tests on weekends or during slower times.

Wojewoda said that while some tests promise quicker results than others, the biggest limiting factor to turnaround results is shortages of reagents the chemicals used to do the testing.

Im not looking for a new test, she said. Those on the market are as accurate and fast as they need to be. We have the instruments we need to test. We just need more stuff to do it with.

As with most other things regarding the novel coronavirus, pathologists and testing labs are learning about COVID-19 on the fly, said Dunbar.

Never in my career have I seen anything like this, where the public is discussing and analyzing the data at the same time as the researchers, she said. Were basing our response on past knowledge of other viruses, but as we like to say, the bugs dont read the book. What happened in the past can help us prepare, but things will continue to evolve.

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How Accurate Are the Coronavirus Diagnostic and Antibody Tests? - Healthline

NEW YORK & OSAKA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) and the New York Academy of Sciences announced today the Winners of the third annual Innovators in Science Award for their excellence in and commitment to innovative science that has significantly advanced the field of rare disease research. Each Winner receives a prize of US $200,000.

The 2020 Winner of the Senior Scientist Award is Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D., St. Giles Foundation Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Prof. Krainer is recognized for his outstanding research on the mechanisms and control of RNA splicing, a step in the normal process by which genetic information in DNA is converted into proteins. Prof. Krainer studies splicing defects in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a devastating, inherited pediatric neuromuscular disorder caused by loss of motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscle atrophy and eventually, death. Prof. Krainers work culminated notably in the development of the first drug to be approved by global regulatory bodies that can delay and even prevent the onset of an inherited neurodegenerative disorder.

Collectively, rare diseases affect millions of families worldwide, who urgently need and deserve our help. Im extremely honored to receive this recognition for research that my lab and our collaborators carried out to develop the first approved medicine for SMA, said Prof. Krainer. As basic researchers, we are driven by curiosity and get to experience the thrill of discovery; but when the fruits of our research can actually improve patients lives, everything else pales in comparison.

The 2020 Winner of the Early-Career Scientist Award is Jeong Ho Lee, M.D., Ph.D, Associate Professor, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Prof. Lee is recognized for his research investigating genetic mutations in stem cells in the brain that result in rare developmental brain disorders. He was the first to identify the causes of intractable epilepsies and has identified the genes responsible for several developmental brain disorders, including focal cortical dysplasias, Joubert syndromea disorder characterized by an underdevelopment of the brainstemand hemimegalencephaly, which is the abnormal enlargement of one side of the brain. Prof. Lee also is the Director of the National Creative Research Initiative Center for Brain Somatic Mutations, and Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SoVarGen, a biopharmaceutical company aiming to discover novel therapeutics and diagnosis for intractable central nervous system (CNS) diseases caused by low-level somatic mutation.

It is a great honor to be recognized by a jury of such globally respected scientists whom I greatly admire, said Prof. Lee. More importantly, this award validates research into brain somatic mutations as an important area of exploration to help patients suffering from devastating and untreatable neurological disorders.

The 2020 Winners will be honored at the virtual Innovators in Science Award Ceremony and Symposium in October 2020. This event provides an opportunity to engage with leading researchers, clinicians and prominent industry stakeholders from around the world about the latest breakthroughs in the scientific understanding and clinical treatment of genetic, nervous system, metabolic, autoimmune and cardiovascular rare diseases.

At Takeda, patients are our North Star and those with rare diseases are often underserved when it comes to the discovery and development of transformative medicines, said Andrew Plump, M.D., Ph.D., President, Research & Development at Takeda. Insights from the ground-breaking research of scientists like Prof. Krainer and Prof. Lee can lead to pioneering approaches and the development of novel medicines that have the potential to change patients lives. Thats why we are proud to join with the New York Academy of Sciences to broadly share and champion their workand hopefully propel this promising science forward.

Connecting science with the world to help address some of societys most pressing challenges is central to our mission, said Nicholas Dirks, Ph.D., President and CEO, the New York Academy of Sciences. In this third year of the Innovators in Science Award we are privileged to recognize two scientific leaders working to unlock the power of the genome to bring innovations that address the urgent needs of patients worldwide affected by rare diseases.

About the Innovators in Science Award

The Innovators in Science Award grants two prizes of US $200,000 each year: one to an Early-Career Scientist and the other to a well-established Senior Scientist who have distinguished themselves for the creative thinking and impact of their research. The Innovators in Science Award is a limited submission competition in which research universities, academic institutions, government or non-profit institutions, or equivalent from around the globe with a well-established record of scientific excellence are invited to nominate their most promising Early-Career Scientists and their most outstanding Senior Scientists working in one of four selected therapeutic fields of neuroscience, gastroenterology, oncology, and regenerative medicine. Prize Winners are determined by a panel of judges, independently selected by the New York Academy of Sciences, with expertise in these disciplines. The New York Academy of Sciences administers the Award in partnership with Takeda.

For more information please visit the Innovators in Science Award website.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.

About the New York Academy of Sciences

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. With more than 20,000 members in 100 countries around the world, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy's core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Please visit us online at http://www.nyas.org.

Link:
Takeda and the New York Academy of Sciences Announce 2020 Innovators in Science Award Winners - Business Wire

AFM plays an important role in Nano medicine, focusing on imaging, early diagnosis, and pathological tissue analysis and drug delivery. Some of the major factors which are driving the growth of the market includes, growing necessity for high resolution microscopy, committed support from several governments to promote nanotechnology and nano science research and development, and high demand for 3D ICs from semiconductor and electronics industry.Click to access sample pages @https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/1321070

Major Manufacture the Market:-Park Systems AG, JPK Instruments AG Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Bruker, Horiba, Oxforfd Instrumenst, Nanosurf, WITec, NT-MDT, NanoMagnetics Instruments

What you can expect from our report:

* Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Market [Present Market Size forecasted to 2026 with CAGR]*Regional level split [North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East & Africa]*Country wise Market Size Split [Important countries with major market share]*Market Size Breakdown by Product or Service Types []*Market Size by Application or Industry verticals or End Users [Material Science, Life Science Semiconductors & Electronics, Academics, Others]*Market Share and Revenue or Sales of 10-15 Leading Players in the Market*Production Capacity of Leading Players whenever applicable*Market Trends Emerging Technologies or products or start-ups, PESTEL Analysis, SWOT Analysis, Porters Five Forces, etc.*Pricing Trend Analysis Average Pricing across regions*Brandwise Ranking of Major Market Players globally

Based on offering, the market is divided into:AFMProbesSoftware

Based on grade, the market is divided into:Industrial GradeResearch Grade

Development policies and plans are discussed as well as growth rate, manufacturing processes, economic growth are analyzed. This research report also states Import or export data, industry supply and consumption figures as well as cost structure, price, industry revenue (Million USD) and gross margin Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) by regions like North America, Europe, Japan, China and other countries.

Significant Facts of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Market Report:-

*To gain insightful analyses of the market and have comprehensive understanding of the global market and its commercial landscape.*Analysts will provide deep insights into the reports.*We focus on the quality and accuracy of the report.*Detailed Study of business strategies for growth of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Leading Players.*Global Market size and forecast from 2020-2026*Detailed insights on emerging trend with qualitative and quantitative information and facts.

The market estimates and forecasts have been verified through exhaustive primary research with the Key Industry Participants (KIPs), which typically include:ManufacturersKey Vendors

Table of Contents:-Executive SummaryMethodology and ScopeGlobal Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Market Market OverviewGlobal Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Market Industry TrendsGlobal Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Market Product Type OutlookGlobal Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Market Application OutlookGlobal Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Market By Regional OutlookCompetitive Landscape & Company Profile

Customization Service of the Report:-

Orian Research provides customisation of reports as per your need. This report can be personalised to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.

About Us: Orian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.

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COVID 19 Impact on Atomic Force Microscopy Market 2020-2026 Industry Top Companies Bruker, Horiba, Nanosurf, WITec, NT-MDT, Park Systems AG, JPK...

Nano-Zinc Oxide Market 2019: Global Industry Insights by Global Players, Regional Segmentation, Growth, Applications, Major Drivers, Value and Foreseen till 2024

The recent published research report sheds light on critical aspects of the global Nano-Zinc Oxide market such as vendor landscape, competitive strategies, market drivers and challenges along with the regional analysis. The report helps the readers to draw a suitable conclusion and clearly understand the current and future scenario and trends of global Nano-Zinc Oxide market. The research study comes out as a compilation of useful guidelines for players to understand and define their strategies more efficiently in order to keep themselves ahead of their competitors. The report profiles leading companies of the global Nano-Zinc Oxide market along with the emerging new ventures who are creating an impact on the global market with their latest innovations and technologies.

Get PDF Sample Copy of this Report to understand the structure of the complete report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @ https://www.researchmoz.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2708120&source=atm

The recent published study includes information on key segmentation of the global Nano-Zinc Oxide market on the basis of type/product, application and geography (country/region). Each of the segments included in the report is studies in relations to different factors such as market size, market share, value, growth rate and other quantitate information.

The competitive analysis included in the global Nano-Zinc Oxide market study allows their readers to understand the difference between players and how they are operating amounts themselves on global scale. The research study gives a deep insight on the current and future trends of the market along with the opportunities for the new players who are in process of entering global Nano-Zinc Oxide market. Market dynamic analysis such as market drivers, market restraints are explained thoroughly in the most detailed and easiest possible manner. The companies can also find several recommendations improve their business on the global scale.

The readers of the Nano-Zinc Oxide Market report can also extract several key insights such as market size of varies products and application along with their market share and growth rate. The report also includes information for next five years as forested data and past five years as historical data and the market share of the several key information.

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry [emailprotected] https://www.researchmoz.com/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=2708120&source=atm

Segment by Type, the Nano-Zinc Oxide market is segmented intoDirect MethodIndirect MethodMPP-Method

Segment by Application, the Nano-Zinc Oxide market is segmented intoRubberElectronicMedicineGlassCoatingPrinting&dyeingSurface Treatment

Regional and Country-level AnalysisThe Nano-Zinc Oxide market is analysed and market size information is provided by regions (countries).The key regions covered in the Nano-Zinc Oxide market report are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. It also covers key regions (countries), viz, U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, etc.The report includes country-wise and region-wise market size for the period 2015-2026. It also includes market size and forecast by Type, and by Application segment in terms of sales and revenue for the period 2015-2026.Competitive Landscape and Nano-Zinc Oxide Market Share AnalysisNano-Zinc Oxide market competitive landscape provides details and data information by players. The report offers comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on revenue by the player for the period 2015-2020. It also offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on revenue (global and regional level) by players for the period 2015-2020. Details included are company description, major business, company total revenue and the sales, revenue generated in Nano-Zinc Oxide business, the date to enter into the Nano-Zinc Oxide market, Nano-Zinc Oxide product introduction, recent developments, etc.The major vendors covered:US ZincZochemUmicoreChemetZinc NacionalZinc Oxide LLCSiloxGH ChemicalsRubaminGrilloPan-Continental ChemicalMario PilatoBrueggemannA-EsseHakusuiSeyangYongchangLongliZhongse

You can Buy This Report from Here @ https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=2708120&licType=S&source=atm

Some of the Major Highlights of TOC covers in Nano-Zinc Oxide Market Report:

Chapter 1: Methodology & Scope of Nano-Zinc Oxide Market

Chapter 2: Executive Summary of Nano-Zinc Oxide Market

Chapter 3: Nano-Zinc Oxide Industry Insights

Chapter 4: Nano-Zinc Oxide Market, By Region

Chapter 5: Company Profile

And Continue

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Growth of Innovations in Nano-Zinc Oxide Market by Major Players, Size, Segmentation, Projection, Analysis And Forecast To 2025 - 3rd Watch News

Mumbai July 07, 2020 : Institute of Medicine & Law (IML) conducted the 5th National Convention on Medicine & Law on July 05, 2020. This event is an influential and foremost meeting that discusses and deliberates on changes needed in laws relating to healthcare in India.

Session 1 was on Organ Transplant in India Legal Issues and Solutions, and a few prominent problems, issues, and recommendations discussed various issues like - low allocation in the state's budget for health, fear psychosis among doctors, definitions of death in Indian law, coordination between public and private hospitals, need for more hospitals as organ retrieval centres, procedures governing declaration of brain-stem death, etc,

Session 2 was on Legal & Regulatory Framework for Tele-Health The Way Forward and a few prominent problems, issues, and recommendations discussed the need for comprehensive and overarching legislation, apprehensions in minds of doctor and patients, security of data, confidentiality, privacy, commercialization of medicine, acceptance of telemedicine by medical insurance providers & indemnity providers to doctors and hospitals, problem of patients calling at odd hours, not paying fees, data charges of platforms, patients outside India, friendly advice, informal chats, adverse event reporting, bad audio / video, managing data, cyber security, different types of consultations, and so on needs to be clarified.

Dr. T N Ravishankar, ex-President, IMA Tamil Nadu was the convenor of the first session, whereas Dr. Dilip Walke, ex-President, Medico-Legal cell, FOGSI was convenor of the second session. Dr. Parag Rindani, CEO Wokhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central was the moderator of both the sessions.

Dr. Bhagwat Karad, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and himself a paediatric surgeon noted that the convention has involved everybody, viz. doctors, experts in law, patient group, and representation from other countries also.

A doctor has done his job till such time as he has given a reasonable standard of care. As a judge whenever a case would come to me, the scales of justice would always shift in favour of the doctor said Justice Sunil Ambwani, Former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, and also the Chairperson of the e-committee, Supreme Court of India.

The nation today needs a central law on uniform determination of death, even the WHO has recommended, and many countries are following this was one of the key recommendations that was proposed by Mahendrakumar Bajpai, Advocate Supreme Court.

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IML conducts the 5th National Convention on Medicine and Law - ETHealthworld.com

According to the CDC, people on medication who are virally suppressed and have adequate immune responses are not at a higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. However, factors common in some people living with HIV, in particular co-morbidities, do greatly increase the risk of poorer outcomes.

Despite COVID-19 creating unparalleled changes in how we live, theres been little discussion on how the Ryan White CARE Act, PEPFAR, and the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria will address safe practices, particularly at AIDS service organizations, and how these measures will be evaluated and where the funding for these provisions will come from. As restrictions continue to be lifted, how will people living with HIV at higher risk of illness safely receive services and medical care until there is a preventative vaccine?

Estimations suggest that it will be the spring of 2021 before a vaccine could be available to the general public. Although vaccine studies are moving forward at an unprecedented rate, clinical trials take time and it may take numerous attempts to discover a vaccine candidate that is safe and effective. After an effective vaccine is found, it will then take additional time to produce and distribute the vaccine globally. In the meantime, a significant risk will exist for some people living with HIV in accessing essential services.

Of the 1.1 million people in the U.S. currently living with HIV, only 53 percent are virally suppressed. In 2018, 17,032 individuals in the U.S. received an AIDS diagnosis. Initial observations indicate those with CD4 counts below 50 are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19. Viral suppression is most often needed to prevent further deterioration of the immune system and for the immune system to once again become effective at fighting off pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. However, not all virally suppressed individuals see a complete rebound of their immune system. Some people, particularly those who began antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) when their CD4 count was below 200, experience a decreased improvement in CD4s which may not return to normal levels.

Many people living with HIV experience co-morbidities which also significantly increase their risk of severe illness with COVID-19. Heart disease, diabetes, liver and kidney disease, and certain cancers are commonly seen in people living with HIV, particularly as they age. A recent South African study found the death rate of people co-infected with HIV and COVID-19 was 2.75-fold higher than those without HIV of equal age. Investigators determined that most of the individuals in this study had additional conditions including diabetes, and viral suppression or non-suppression was not a determining factor. In total, there is a large number of people living with HIV for who safeguards should be put in place to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 infection where possible.

Many people living with HIV receive vital services such as case management, food pantry, benefits counseling, housing assistance, treatment, and substance abuse referrals from AIDS service organizations and community-based organizations. Currently many organizations are temporarily closed or conducting onsite screening for symptoms of COVID-19 as well as offering teleconference services to their clients for certain programs. However, some services can only be accessed in person. As states reopen, AIDS service organizations, harm reduction centers, mental health and substance abuse facilities will need to make long-term adjustments in the way they provide basic services in order to protect their clients and staff.

Social distancing and symptom screening have become normalized practices with the restructuring of offices, waiting rooms, conference rooms, and other closed environments that people frequent simultaneously. Teleconferencing and phone appointments are now common in clinical practice. Hours are also extended or decreased to limit the number of individuals who occupy a given space at the same time. Another vital preventative method against COVID infection is environmental sterilization (remediation).

How will AIDS service organizations, already running on shoestring budgets, absorb the cost of the remediation needed to prevent COVID-19 and why are these sterilization procedures not being discussed as an overall strategy? Studies show that COVID-19 can remain infectious on different surfaces in different environmental conditions. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that studies showed the virus was detectable on copper for up to four hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic and steel for up to 72 hours. Over these periods, the viruss genetic code begins to deteriorate, but were unsure how quickly this occurs and at what point it becomes non-infectious.

Well thought-out plans for protecting vulnerable populations need to be proposed and carried out through state and federal recommendations and mandates, stated Dr. Roscoe Moore, former Assistant Surgeon General and Board Member of the Global Virus Network of The Institute of Human Virology.

Federal, state, and municipal governments are implementing strategies, albeit slower than expected, to protect the elderly, immune-compromised, and people with underlining conditions such as those we see in a growing percentage of people living with HIV and AIDS from COVID-19 acquisition. Proven social distancing measures in combination with additional support for those at risk and effective remediation of support service centers including AIDS service organizations, will help keep new infections down and protect those at highest risk.

Regular cleaning of places people living with HIV frequent will no longer be sufficient in protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19. These service providers will need to adapt new procedures that, through remediation procedures, will lessen the possibility of people becoming infected. Employing effective remediation of surfaces exposed to COVID-19 should be a priority along with other prevention methods.

One currently available method uses hypochlorous acid, which has been proven to be effective when dispersed in a electrostatic spray that completely covers any area being remediated for COVID-19. A second application of an antimicrobial being studied by independent labs, known commercially as SHIELD, is then disbursed, providing a molecular barrier to all surfaces from new containments for 90 days. The ionized microbicide clings to surfaces, which destroy viruses on contact. This method, performed by Germinator Mobile Sanitizing and Disinfection, should be evaluated for use at AIDS service organizations and other public spaces frequented by at higher risk individuals.

Another method was shown in recent studies by TheGlobal Virus Network, a coalition comprised of the worlds preeminent human and animal virologists in 32 countries. GVN announced in early June that two of its partners, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia, and the Rega Medical Research Institute of KU Leuven in Belgium, demonstrated that a quaternary ammonium sulfide biocide compound called BIOPROTECT inactivates SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19) on surfaces, providing continuous residual viricidal activity for at least 46 days. The tests conducted were designed to conform with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and equivalent standards of regulatory agencies in Europe and Australia.

The results of the tests conducted by the Doherty and the Rega Institutes demonstrate that BIOPROTECT eradicates SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and provides continuous residual antimicrobial protection for an extended period of time, said Dr. Christain Brchot, president of GVN. Effective antimicrobials will be extremely important in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, given the time it will take to implement mass vaccination and fully develop novel therapies.This represents a significant breakthrough in inhibiting the spread of COVID-19 by preventing surfaces from being contaminated by the virus.

Remediation is in its initial stages of development for reducing new COVID-19 infections. Yet, theres still no guidance on evaluating and employing remediation methods at AIDS service organizations by HIV planning councils around the country or by leading AIDS advocacy organizations like the International AIDS Society, AIDS United, or the National Minority AIDS Council, and no current funding mechanism exists for remediating the predictable risk of COVID-19 exposure at these places through Ryan White CARE Act funding. Evaluating this important method of protecting those at greater risk should be a priority.

As we prepare for COVID- 19 sticking around for a while, its critical to ensure people living with HIV are not lost to another epidemic.

Jeannie Wraight is a health writer and frequent contributor to Plus. Follow her on Twitter @JeaWra.

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People Living With HIV Need a Safe Way to Access Services During COVID - HivPlusMag.com

Three key government blunders are to blame for the intensity of Israels new COVID-19 wave, a former Health Ministry chief has claimed.

We could have [had] a smaller second wave if we would have treated the situation better, Gabi Barbash, a former director-general of the Health Ministry, told The Times of Israel.

And he cautioned against pointing fingers at citizens for their conduct, suggesting that the buck should stop with leaders. The public is not clear of responsibility, but I was raised in the army, with the saying there are no bad soldiers, there are bad commanders, said Barbash.

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His comments come as the number of new daily virus cases, which had dropped to low double digits through most of May, is soaring to some 1,000 per day, and the number of active cases is at an all-time high of more than 11,600. New restrictions reducing gathering sizes at synagogues and event halls to 50 went into effect Monday morning, and the cabinet is to consider further restrictions on Monday evening.

Magen David Adom medical workers perform COVID-19 tests at a mobile testing station, in Jerusalem, July 5, 2020 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

But Barbash, professor of epidemiology and preventative medicine at Tel Aviv University and former CEO of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, says the government could have prevented things getting this bad. He said that while the current government brought together Likud and its former foe Blue and White ostensibly so they could deal with the emergency, it didnt help in any way, it didnt do anything good.

Barbash added: Its a corona government that is really not about the corona.

In his view, the government both failed to take preventative measures and went too far in easing restrictions in late April and early May, because it didnt stand firm in the face of pressure from the public. As a result they have taken steps they shouldnt have taken, he said.

The intensity of the second wave has largely been caused by management issues, according to Barbash, who added that Israel should have responded more and earlier.

Gabi Barbash, Director General at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, April 7, 2020. (Channel 12)

In his view, these are the three main mistakes that account for Israels current situation:

1. Dangerous gatherings

Barbash says the government unnecessarily rushed to allow a resumption of gatherings in synagogues, at event halls and elsewhere. Im talking about gatherings of high density people in closed environments, he said. Wherever this happens, this is dangerous.

He added: They should have not opened these things.

He said there is no need for protracted discussions over which places should be open and which shouldnt, as one simple rule should govern all decisions. The issue is not the place; its gatherings of more than 10 or 15 people, he argued.

2. Testing neglected

Israel has neglected the development of efficient testing, according to Barbash.

He said: Were still waiting two to four days to get answers for tests and not enough of the people [who test positive] are being subjected to an investigation by an epidemiologist to trace their contacts.

If people they have encountered arent tracked down and quarantined, part of the potential benefit of testing is lost, he noted.

Barbash acknowledged that thousands of tests are performed per day, but said that the long turnaround time means that valuable time is lost in putting people who encountered carriers into quarantine. He also believes that it makes some people hesitant to get tested, given than the wait for results can be long, and they are expected to self-isolate as a precautionary measure while their sample is in the lab.

3. Schools mismanaged

Israeli students and teachers wear protective face masks as they return to school, at Hashalom School in Mevaseret Zion, near Jerusalem, May 17, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

When schools reopened in early May, children studied in small groups, smaller than regular classes, as a measure to stop the spread of the virus. But this so-called capsule arrangement was quickly stopped, and regular class sizes were restored.

According to Barbash this was a major mistake. Schools should have either stayed closed or allowed only 15 kids in classes, he said. Kids who are above nine should be treated like adults, and shouldnt gather in groups of more than 10 to 15.

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Where we went wrong: Expert says these 3 blunders caused new Israeli COVID chaos - The Times of Israel

By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jul 8 (PTI) The use of hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus patients has become highly politicized in the US but it is used widely in India, a top White House official has said, asserting latest research showed the malaria drug is highly effective in early stages of COVID-19.

It''s the politicization of this medicine by the mainstream media and portions of the medical community that somehow made this a battle between President Trump and them and created this undue fear and hysteria over a drug, a medicine that has been used for over 60 years relatively safely and is regularly prescribed to pregnant women if they are going to a malaria zone, White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director Peter Navarro told reporters.

The idea that this is a dangerous drug is just silly, but if you ask the American people based on the media''s coverage of it, that is kind of the state of play right now, he said.

Navarro said a day earlier four doctors at the Detroit Hospital System filed a request for emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine. The request was for three things.

One, for early treatment use in a hospital setting. Number two, treatment between a doctor and his patient in an outpatient setting. Three, not just as a therapeutic but also as a possible prophylaxis for preventative use, he said.

This request to the FDA comes on the heels of the publication of their study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases last week that showed an astonishing 50 percent reduction in the mortality rate for patients taking hydroxychloroquine, Navarro said.

Give hydroxy a chance, and please don''t contribute to hydroxy hysteria because if it''s prescribed under the supervision of a doctor, the odds that it can harm you are way, way smaller than the odds that it can help you, Navarro said.

This has become a highly politicized, but India uses this widely for prophylaxis. There is a number of studies which point to this actually working, White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director Peter Navarro told reporters.

The official said if he were to show any kind of symptoms, he would first ask his doctor whether hydroxychloroquine is appropriate. And then I wouldn''t hesitate to take it, he said.

He said if one looks at the 14-day arc of the virus from the beginning of symptoms, the first seven days are critical: when a person may have fever, dry cough, possibly a profound sense of fatigue.

At that point, your lungs are still intact, and the virus is not appreciably spread to the rest of your organs. Hydroxychloroquine, based on the science in articles like the one that originally appeared in 2005 in the Journal of Virology, works in a therapeutic way by raising the alkalinity of your cells which slows the replication of the virus and also can kill the virus, he said.

It also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why it is used for rheumatoid arthritis, and the drug can therefore also help manage what is called the cytokine storm, he said.

The latest request to the FDA also comes on the heels of two decisions by the FDA over the last several months to shut down hydroxychloroquine.

The first was what is called a black box warning, the second was a withdrawal of an EUA and what I can tell you as someone who works with the Health and Human Services Department and FEMA to manage the stockpiles of hydroxychloroquine the FDA decisions that they made which I think were precipitous and based on bad science had a tremendously negative effect on two things, he noted.

One is the ability for American people to use this medicine to protect themselves and two, the ability for hospitals like the Detroit Hospital System to recruit patients for the kind of randomized blind clinical trials that everybody wants to settle once and for all the questions of efficacy and safety, he added.

FDA''s previous decision to reject the emergency use authorization, he said, was based on two types of studies. One set of studies that were poorly designed and basically doomed to failure, another set of studies where if you look carefully at the data it is very clear that these were late treatment studies where the medicine would not work, he added.

Navarro said the Detroit doctors are bringing back to the FDA a clear case for early treatment.

If the results of the Detroit study are confirmed in later studies, President Trump was absolutely right that hydroxychloroquine can save lives and if in fact early treatment use can lead to a 50 percent reduction in mortality that is tens of thousands of American lives that are at stake by a phenomenon which I call hydroxy hysteria, Navarro said. PTI LKJ ABHABH

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Hydroxychloroquine has become highly politicised in US but India uses it widely: White House official - Outlook India

As a result of these efforts and sustained public activism, HIV-related deaths in the United States have plummeted by more than 80 percent since 1995.

But even as we celebrate these achievements, inequities stand out in black and white.

While Black Americans make up just 13 percent of the population, they represented 42 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2018. If youre a gay or bisexual Black man in the United States, you have a 50 percent lifetime chance of being diagnosed with HIV, compared with just 9 percent for gay or bisexual white men. In the American Southhome to the fastest-growing rates of HIV infection in the U.S. gay and bisexual Black men account for 60 percent of new diagnoses. Black trans women are more vulnerable still: As of last year, an estimated 44 percent of all Black trans women were living with HIV. Worst of all, Black people living with HIV/AIDS are seven times more likely than white people to die from the virus.

Read: The gay men who have lived for years with someone waiting on their death

These disparities are not random. Rather, they reflect centuries of discrimination. Persistent structural inequities in economic opportunity, education, and housing disproportionately expose Black families to serious health risks, including HIV/AIDS. And a lack of representation, combined with a painful history of racism in medicine, has undermined the Black communitys trust in health-care systems and made people less likely to seek care. The same disparities have become glaringly apparent as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic; Black Americans are dying at more than two times the rate of white Americans, and the death rate rises to sixfold in pandemic hot spots.

I started the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 because I believe that everyone deserves the right to a healthy life, no matter who you love, who you are, or where youre from. Today, Im proud that it supports organizations that serve and uplift marginalized communities.

Some of our most inspiring partners are in my adopted hometown of Atlanta, home to 37,000 people living with HIVmore than 70 percent of whom are Black. These partners include Thrive SS, a self-help support network for gay Black men living with HIV/AIDS, and Positive Impact Health Centers, which offer HIV preventive care and treatment, as well as services for those struggling with mental health and substance abuse. To ensure continued HIV care and treatment during the pandemic, my foundation has helped organizations transition from face-to-face to virtual appointments and provided personal protective equipment for staff members and the people they serve, as well as at-home delivery of lifesaving treatments and HIV self-testing kits. This tackles the immediate needs, but not the long-lasting stigma.

Read: The LGBTQ health clinic that faced a dark truth about the AIDS crisis

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We Cant End AIDS Without Fighting Racism - The Atlantic

In the era of technologies and digital screens, millions of products are marketed as healthy. But why is it a growing number of individuals are challenged with chronic diseases and mental illnesses? Here is maintaining perfect health in the world of new technologies and devices.

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While we have nutrition and fitness apps at our fingertips, the harsh reality is why these live-saving apps and tech are nowhere near as popular as fast food delivery apps. Internet addiction and trolls may also put some vulnerable people at risk of mental illnesses.

To live a healthy happy life in the midst of convenient choices, we must embrace the power of technology while practicing the most primitive ways of achieving health.

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Unleash the power of your genetics

Recently, CRISPR-based therapy was used to treat inherited blindness for the new in history. This officially brings human gene-editing from science fiction to reality.

Your DNA is the blueprint for building you your eye color, ancestry, and risks of genetic diseases.

If your quality of life is partly determined by genetics, doesnt it make sense to crack this code and prepare for what the future holds?

Indeed, commercial genetic testing has gained rapid popularity all over the world. Dozens of organizations like 23anMe are competing to offer you the most comprehensive genetic interpretations.

In our genetic makeup, millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, hold the secrets to your:

With this information, you are able to take active actions to enhance your lifestyle, inform your doctor, and manage potential diseases. Our medical system is moving towards a thrilling era of personalized data-driven practice these days.

Did you know our gut has 10 times the amount of cells compared to anything else in the body combined?

Its huge. Our gut houses at least 1000 different types of bacteria the good, the bad, and the ugly.

For good bacteria to flourish in our gut, we need to feed them with fermentable fibre from plant-based foods, also called prebiotics. With these healthier fuels, the good gut bacteria begin to:

If you are seriously interested in optimizing your gut health, you can even get yourself a microbiome sequencing that informs you exactly what bacteria are in your gut. Compared to conventional DNA sequencing, this can be a relatively new technology. Nevertheless, researchers are extremely excited about harnessing the wide range of of gut information for disease diagnosis and treatment.

In the not too distant future, it may become commonplace to have personalized nutrition plans and health care predicated on your genes and gut bacteria.

In todays fast-paced society, cognitive technologies like nootropics are well-liked by many people who desire 48 hours out of their day. Unfortunately, boffins have said that there is no strong evidence in synthetic cognitive supplements.

If you still want approaches to boost your productivity, natural compounds, and herbs for health (herbcottage.com) care might be the safer option that really works.

Have you heard of these popular natural cognitive enhancers?

Technology and devices are great for offering valuable data, but that entails that we are constantly bombarded with information. How do we shoot for a balance between performance and burnout?

The answer lies in our biology. Our body has intricate levels of different hormones that try to keep things in balance.

When we have been stressed, the body produces stress hormones like cortisol. The hormone it self is not bad. It actually helps us control blood sugar, metabolism and blood pressure. However, a constantly high level of cortisol could harm both physical and mental health. In women, high cortisol also plays a role in low libido and abnormal menstrual cycles.

But luckily, we have been also naturally equipped with happy hormones like endorphins. These are our natural painkillers that reduce stress and pain. They activate opioid receptors in the brain, but without getting your addicted.

There is not any need for supplements. The most elementary ways of relaxation can perform the trick:

Nourish your social connections

We need to thank the internet and electronic devices for bringing distant people closer. But at the same time, they could also push our close family and friends apart.

Lets not forget that the most primitive and effective way of happiness, even in the era of technology, is genuine human interaction.

The Harvard Medical School reports that people whove great relationships and social support are usually happier and healthier. These include satisfying marriages, family, friends, and community.

In a landmark paper published in the journal Science, researchers found that lack of social connections puts people at increased risk of obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure. In contrast, people who do nourish their social relationships have better longevity, immune system, self-esteem, and additional health advantages.

It may well not sound like a mind-blowing secret, but it is something that all of us forget sometimes. Social connections, just like the body and mind, need to be nourished. We can just only live cheerfully with new technologies whenever we use them for connecting, but not disconnect.

Michael Usiagwu is the CEO of Visible links Pro, apremium Digital Marketing Agency devoted to seeing your brands/company and products gain the right visibility on the internet search engine. He may be reached via [emailprotected]

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Maintaining Perfect Health in the World of New Technologies and Devices - Digital Market News

When it comes to staying healthy, most people have the same motivation: living as long and fulfilling a life as possible. And while science has yet to find a true fountain of youth, researchers have identified certain behaviors that can increase longevity.

One study, published in the journal Circulation last year, even argued that adhering to just five healthy habits could extend your lifespan by roughly a decade. Heres what they are, and what research to date says about living your longest life.

Diet is strongly linked to longevity. Research has long suggested that following a Mediterranean diet which includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and healthy fats, and not much sugar, red meat or processed food brings a host of health benefits, including a longer life.

Other studies have also found longevity benefits associated with some of the specific foods and nutrients included in a Mediterranean diet, such as whole grains, fiber, fish, plant-based proteins and healthy fats. On the other hand, foods including processed snacks and meats, fried foods and sugar-sweetened beverages have been linked to higher risks of chronic disease and death.

Even if your diet isnt perfect, research suggests that making smart changes can add up to sizable benefits. One paper published in 2017 concluded that people who ate 20% more healthy foods than they had at the beginning of the study, over the course of 12 years, decreased their risk of early death by up to 17%.

Working out regularly is a boon for both your physical and mental health, boosting everything from cardiovascular fitness to mood and energy so its no surprise that it can also extend your life. Federal physical activity guidelines recommend aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week, plus twice-weekly muscle-strengthening sessions, to reap health and longevity benefits.

But you dont have to go overboard. Even short bouts of light physical activity, such as walking and cleaning, increased the lifespans of older men and women in studies from 2018 and 2017, respectively. And a study published in January found that simply moving instead of sitting for 30 minutes each day could reduce early death risk by 17%.

If you do opt for a more vigorous workout, some research suggests that team sports like tennis and soccer are best for longevity, because they encourage social interaction as well as exercise.

And if you dont exercise now, you can still start. A recent study found longevity benefits associated with both life-long and later-in-life exercise.

Diet and exercise habits help people maintain a healthy body weight, which the Circulation study defined as a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9. Obesity is associated with chronic conditions including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, all of which can shorten your life. A 2018 study found that widespread obesity shaved a year off the U.S. life expectancy and is responsible for up to 186,000 deaths per year.

For years, moderate drinking was touted as a harmless and maybe even healthy habit. But recently, scientific opinion has begun to shift toward a more cautious stance on alcohol.

Last year, a large meta-analysis of prior alcohol studies concluded that there is no safe amount of drinking, because the net risks to a population addiction, cancer, traffic accidents and so on outweigh any potential benefits, such as improved cardiovascular and cognitive health. And while each persons risk-benefit analysis depends on his or her family and medical history, research is increasingly supporting the idea that people should limit their alcohol consumption to avoid health problems and increase longevity.

Moderate drinking, according to federal dietary guidelines, means that women should have no more than a drink per day, and men should have no more than two per day.

In addition to causing lung cancer, cigarette-smoking is associated with serious health problems including heart attack, stroke and mouth and throat cancers, making it a significant threat to longevity. The best way to reduce your risk, of course, is never to smoke at all but if you do, experts advise quitting as soon as possible to minimize threats to your health.

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Write to Jamie Ducharme at jamie.ducharme@time.com.

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Want to Live Longer? Science Says to Do These 5 Things | Time

If you could prolong your life by a few more years (or even live to be 100), would you do it? I can't think of many people who would say no.

I've devoted my entire career to geriatrics, a field that specializes in the care of older adults. I helped start one of the first geriatrics programs in the U.S. at Harvard Medical School, and I'm currently a professor of medicine and public health at Brown University.

Having been a geriatrician for 55 years, the one question I'm constantly asked by folks of all ages is, "What are the most important everyday habits that can lead to a longer, more vibrant life?" I've given a lot of guidance on this to my patients, and I've seen positive results in people who follow them, including myself.

I celebrated my eightieth birthday this year, and I'm still going strong. I feel about as healthy and sharp as I did a decade ago. (Even my medical school interns don't stand a chance at beating me in squash, a sport I play several times a week.)

At 80, I've outlived the average American's life expectancy, which, for the first time in 100 years, has been on the decline. In 2014, our anticipated lifespan was 78.9 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2017, it dropped to 78.6 years.

If you ask me, the biggest drivers are obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and substance abuse.But the good news is that that it's never too late to change your lifestyle.

Here are some of the simplest things you can do nowto increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life:

I believe in the power of a Mediterranean-like diet (think: a combination of Italian and Greek dishes).

According to theDietary Guidelines for Americans, this plant-based diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats can help prevent chronic disease and promote overall health.

I like to think of the Mediterranean diet as more of a lifestyle routine than a strict plan you follow for a while and then abandon, because it can be hard to keep up with. Want a T-bone steak every month? Go for it! But try to avoid processed and fast foods. Include seafood, lean meats and nuts in your meals instead.

Fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines and albacore tuna, are staplesfor a goodMediterraneandiet. They're rich omega-3s, which research shows can help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association recommends two 3.5-ounce servings of fish (particularly the fatty kind) weekly.

Extra-virgin olive oil, another staple of the diet, canhelp prevent heart attacks, stroke and cardiovascular death, even among people at higher risk.

Studies have shown that obesity and physical inactivity are two of the biggest contributors to diseases and a shortened lifespan. Fight back with exercise, which not only improves physical function, but also helps reduce the risk fordepression,canceranddiabetes.

TheAmerican Cancer Societyrecommends two and a half to five hours of moderate physical activity (e.g., walking, gardening) a week, or one to two and a half hours of vigorous physical activity (e.g., running, aerobics) a week.

I gravitate toward squash and anything else that gets my heart and respiratory rates up. But just 30 minutes of walking every day can make a difference.

Start moving now and keep it up. It can help add years to your life.

As everybody already knows, smoking has deadly consequences. It can cause health issues like heart disease, cancer, lung disease and emphysema, among many others. Research shows that even "light smoking" (as little as one cigarette a day) can greatly increase your risk of dying early.

But the benefits of quitting smoking start pretty quickly. The risk for a heart attack drops sharply just one year after quitting, according to the CDC. And, after two to five years, the chance of stroke could fall to roughly the same as a non-smoker.

Another thing: Don't be fooled into thinking vaping is a healthier alternative. Although there's limited research on the long-term effects of vaping, a recent study found that using e-cigarettes damages arteries in the same way that traditional cigarettes do.

Preventive care can help uncover health issues early, so schedule wellness exams as often as your health care provider recommends.

Some of the most important screenings and exams include cholesterol, blood pressure, skin cancer, and breast and cervical cancer for women (pap smears begin at age 21, mammograms start at 40). Depending on your family history, your doctor may suggest others.

Keeping up with these annual visits is a chance to review your lifestyle choices (e.g., diet, exercise habits, smoking status, alcohol use) and common behavioral health problems (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression). It's also an ideal time to talk about specific screening tests that you probably never even knew about.

You can discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of certain tests or vaccinations to help make a shared decision about whether or not you want to have them. The key is to stay better informed and engaged about your ongoing health.

I can't stress enough the importance of protecting your mental health.Studiesshow that having a major mental illness can shorten your lifespan by 14 to 32 years

If you're concerned, ask your general physicianto give you amental health assessment, which can help pinpoint problems.

Also, make time for stress relief activities, such as meditation and yoga. Engaging in meaningful hobbies and connecting socially with other people can have a powerful influence on your mental well-being and happiness.

It may be hard do some of these things during a pandemic (and with social distancing orders in place), but don't underestimate the power of video calls with friends and relatives; seeing people, even on a small screen, can emotionally rewarding.

Richard W. Besdine, MD, is a Professor of Medicine and Health Services Policy and Practice at Brown University.He is a member and former president of theAmerican Geriatrics Society.Dr. Besdine has authored more than 125 scholarly publications on aging, and trained in internal medicine, infectious diseases and immunology at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

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An 80-year-old doctor and longevity expert shares his 5 habits for a longer life: 'It's never too late to start' - CNBC

Planning to live beyond 100 years old? Then you do not have to live alone since one centenarian advised health and wellness website Well+Good. Instead, you can simply model your dietary and lifestyle habits after those living in Blue Zones.

For those who may not be familiar about them, the Blue Zones are five areas around the world that have the longest-living and healthiest populations. These are:

All the locations listed above have nine things in common and one of these is their eating habits, all in spite of being in completely different geographical locations and cultures.

Though their long life owes mainly to where and how they live, some of their dietary methods for longevity can easily be applied to an American lifestyle. Originally shared in a seminar hosted by the Global Wellness Summit, journalist and Blue Zones expert Dan Buettner gives us some of his top nutrition hacks that will help you live like the longest-living people on Earth, all based on years of research:

Drinking Wine After 5 In The Afternoon

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this one seems tricky to pull off since it requires having meals with friends. Buettner said that there is plenty of evidence in Blue Zones suggesting that just two glasses of wine daily probably lowers your mortality, especially with friends and a meal.

A few glasses of wine are good for at least a few potetntial reasons. Registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman told Well+Good that wine is rich in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been linked with a reduced risk of heart disease.

(A Mostly) Plant-Based Diet

People living in the Blue Zones have been practicing a mostly plant-based diet for generations. According to Buettner, they are eating 90 to 100 percent plant-based food "beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Plant-based diets have been shown to be heart-, gut- and brain-friendly. In addition, vegetables, grains and other plant-based foods have less carbon footprint compared to meat and dairy.

Lots Of Carbs

Buettner said that people in Blue Zones typically consume about 65 percent of their daily calories in carbohydrate form. This makes sense for one reason: It typically comes with lots of gut-filling fiber, in addition to vitamins and minerals that are needed by your body to function optimally.

However, the carbs they consumed are not refined, processed carbs such as those found in white bread or in sugary treats, but those from grains, greens, nuts, beans and other natural sources. Beans, in particular, beat all other carb types. Buettner said that eating about a cup of the "longevity all-star food" adds an extra four years to your life expectancy.

Occasional Meat Eating

According to Buettner, meat is considered a celebratory food in the Blue Zones and is typically only eaten about five times per month. He added that those living in these communities typically stick to a portion "no bigger than the size of the deck of cards" -- equivalent to about 3 ounces. This makes sense from a scientific perspective: Meat may be loaded with protein, B vitamins and bioavailable iron but too much of it can lead to health issues such as cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. Plus, higher meat intakes in men and women are tied to higher rates of cancer and all-cause mortality.

Sticking To Water, Coffee And Wine

That means no soda and other sugary beverages. Buettner said that people living in Blue Zones drink six glasses of water a day, plus coffee in the morning and a glass of wine for dinner.

Modified Forms Of Intermittent Fasting

That does not mean those living in Blue Zones are dieters. More accurately, they typically eat in ways that are similar to what is called intermittent fasting, per Buettner. According to him, "they breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper, and they tend to eat all their calories in an eight hour window, leaving 16 hours for their digestive systems to rest." This means they eat more of breakfast and less of dinner and do not eat late at night. (Intermittent fasting itself does have its share of potential longevity-related benefits.) Do note, however, that intermittent fasting is not for everyone, especially those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a history of eating disorders.

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Gallery: 20 Unhealthiest Foods That Nutritionists Hate (Eat This, Not That!)

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Eating For Longevity Hacks From The Longest-Living People On Earth - MSN Money