StemCell Therapy

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) now includes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as part of its newborn screening effort.

The addition of SMA the 49th disorder in the states screening program means that every baby born in Illinois will be tested for the autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease that affectsone in every 8,000 to 10,000 people worldwide.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a disease that robs people of physical strength, including the ability to walk, eat, or breathe, Ngozi Ezike, MD, director of the IDPH, said in a press release. It is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. Early diagnosis of babies with SMA can lead to potentially life-saving interventions. By screening every baby born in Illinois, we hope to identify cases early so therapy can begin as soon as possible, she said.

SMA is characterized by progressive muscle weakness caused by the loss of specialized nerve cells motor neurons in the spinal cord and the part of the brain connected to the spinal cord. Because motor neurons control voluntary muscle movements, their loss leads to muscular weakness and atrophy. Movement becomes increasingly slower, and the ability to control voluntary movement ultimately may be totally lost.

Starting treatment early is the only way to prevent motor neuron loss. In fact, infants identified as having SMA should begin therapy before SMA symptoms appear. Currently, Biogens Spinraza and the gene therapy Zolgensma, developed byNovartissubsidiaryAveXis,are the only disease-modifying SMA treatments available. Other medications aim to manage SMA symptoms or prevent complications. Several experimental therapiesalso are being developed.

In 2018, SMA was added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborn testing (RUSP). The RUSP is a list of disorders the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends for states universal newborn screening programs. Such disorders are chosen based on evidence that supports the potential net benefit of screening, the ability of states to screen for them, and the availability of effective therapies.

In preparation for adding SMA to its screening program, the IDPH bought new equipment, developed new test methods, and modified computer systems to provide lab results and facilitate follow-up tracking.

The agency also obtained test validation from the federalClinical Lab Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The CLIA regulate laboratory testing and require clinical labs to be certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services before they can accept human samples for diagnostic testing.

Newborn screening for SMA tests for the presence of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. If testing results reveal that the gene is absent or markedly reduced in signal, immediate referral will be made to a pediatric multidisciplinary neuromuscular center for diagnostic testing and evaluation. This sitehas for more information.

Still, screening newborns for genetic diseases that have therapies that can prevent disease progression has a long way to go in the U.S. As it is, no state currently tests for all 35 disorders federally recommended, and even those that come close can be hamstrung by competing interests and obligations. Each state decides the scope of its newborn screenings.

The 2019 approval of Zolgensma Spinraza has been on the market since 2016 sparked a pushamong some scientists, physicians, and patient advocates to have all babies around the world tested for the disease.

Mary M. Chapman began her professional career at United Press International, running both print and broadcast desks. She then became a Michigan correspondent for what is now Bloomberg BNA, where she mainly covered the automotive industry plus legal, tax and regulatory issues. A member of the Automotive Press Association and one of a relatively small number of women on the car beat, Chapman has discussed the automotive industry multiple times of National Public Radio, and in 2014 was selected as an honorary judge at the prestigious Cobble Beach Concours dElegance. She has written for numerous national outlets including Time, People, Al-Jazeera America, Fortune, Daily Beast, MSN.com, Newsweek, The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. The winner of the Society of Professional Journalists award for outstanding reporting, Chapman has had dozens of articles in The New York Times, including two on the coveted front page. She has completed a manuscript about centenarian car enthusiast Margaret Dunning, titled Belle of the Concours.

Total Posts: 85

Ana holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of Lisbon and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM) in Lisbon, Portugal. She graduated with a BSc in Genetics from the University of Newcastle and received a Masters in Biomolecular Archaeology from the University of Manchester, England. After leaving the lab to pursue a career in Science Communication, she served as the Director of Science Communication at iMM.

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Illinois Department of Public Health Expands Newborn Screening to SMA - SMA News Today

Representative Image (Reuters)MADRID - Results from the final stage of a nationwide antibody study show some 5.2% of Spain's population has been exposed to the new coronavirus, health officials said on Monday, confirming findings from earlier stages.

The study, which tested nearly 70,000 people across Spain three times over the past three months, found the virus' prevalence had not altered significantly since preliminary results were published in May.

It also suggested that immunity to the virus can be short-lived, with 14% of participants who tested positive for antibodies in the first stage subsequently testing negative in the last stage.

"Immunity can be incomplete, it can be transitory, it can last for just a short time and then disappear," said Dr Raquel Yotti, director of Spain's Carlos III Health Institute, which co-led the study.

The loss of immunity was most common among people who never developed symptoms.

Speaking at a news conference, she appealed to Spaniards to remain prudent, particularly those who had recovered from the virus and considered themselves immune.

"We can't relax, we must keep protecting ourselves and protecting others," she said.

Hit by one of the world's most severe outbreaks, Spain confined its population to their homes in mid-March, gradually lifting restrictions from May as the death rate fell.

International borders were opened at the beginning of July, providing a shot in the arm to the country's struggling tourism sector.

But in a sign that the risk is far from over, the regions of Galicia and Catalonia imposed local lockdowns over the weekend, isolating some 270,000 people after small-scale outbreaks were detected.

Catalonia - which was in 2019 the most visited Spanish region by foreign tourists - sought on Monday to reassure visitors, saying the lockdown in the Segria county only affected 2.5% of the region's population.

"Catalonia remains open and with all guarantees," said regional foreign affairs top official Bernat Sole at a news briefing. "Tourists and the commercial and economic sector can enter and leave Catalonia in the same conditions (as before)".

(Reporting by Nathan Allen, Inti Landauro and Joan Faus; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Alex Richardson)

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Spanish antibody study shows 5% of population exposed to coronavirus - ETHealthworld.com

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that begins in tissues such as bones and muscles. Osteosarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma are the main types of sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcomas occur in soft tissues such as fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, and deep skin tissue. They can be found anywhere on the body.

The Asia Pacific Cancer tissue diagnostics market is expected to reach US$ 730.09 Mn in 2027 from US$ 410.78 Mn in 2018. The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 6.9% from 2019-2027.

Imaging tests used to diagnose cancer include computed tomography (CT) scans, bone scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scans, ultrasound, and x-rays. biopsy. During a biopsy, the doctor will collect a sample of cells for laboratory testing.

Biotechnology is a broad field of biology that utilizes biological systems and organisms to develop or manufacture products. Depending on the tool or application, it often overlaps with the relevant scientific discipline. Biotechnology is the technology of developing or creating various products using biological systems, living things, or parts thereof. Baking brewed bread is an example of a process that is part of the concept of biotechnology (using yeast to produce a desired product).

The Asia Pacific Cancer Tissue Diagnosticsmarketis growing along with the Biotechnology industry, but the market is likely to slow down its growth due to the shortage of skilled professionals, suggests the Business Market Insights report.

The Business Market Insights subscription helps clients understand theongoingmarket trends,identifyopportunities, and make informed decisions through the reports in the Subscription Platform. The Industry reports available in the subscriptionprovidean in-depth analysis on various market topics and enable clients to line up remunerative opportunities. The reportsprovidethe market size & forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

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In addition, South Asian women have a lower rate of breast screening services, especially among socio-economic groups. The screening rate for people in South Asia is low. They have low knowledge and awareness of cancer, low awareness of the community, poor communication between patients and health care professionals, and limited access to cancer health care services. Therefore, LMIC cancer mortality is high compared to high-income countries (HIC).

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

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ASIA PACIFIC CANCER TISSUE DIAGNOSTICS MARKET SEGMENTATION

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Immunohistochemical Tests

In Situ Hybridization Tests

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Asia Pacific Cancer Tissue Diagnostics Market is expected to reach US$ 775.97 Million by 2027 with CAGR of 6.9%. - Cole of Duty

This research report studies and gauges through the current market forces that replicate growth trajectory and holistic growth trends.

Aligning with changing market scenario in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak , this in-depth research offering shares a clear perspective of resultant output that tend to directly impact the overall growth trajectory of the White Biotechnology market.

This thoroughly compiled research output shares relevant details on overall industry production chain amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.Besides assessing details pertaining to production, distribution and sales value chain, this detailed research output on the White Biotechnology market specifically highlights crucial developments across regions and vital countries, also lending a decisive understanding of the upcoming development scenario likely to be witnessed in the White Biotechnology market in the near future.

This study covers following key players:DSMBayerDSMEvonikDow ChemicalsHenkelBASFDuPontLANXESS

Request a sample of this report @ https://www.orbismarketreports.com/sample-request/81902?utm_source=Pooja

In this latest research publication on the White Biotechnology market, a thorough overview of the current market scenario has been portrayed, in a bid to aid market participants, stakeholders, research analysts, industry veterans and the like to borrow insightful cues from this ready-to-use market research report, thus influencing a definitive business discretion.

The aim of the report is to equip relevant players in deciphering essential cues about the various real-time market based developments, also drawing significant references from historical data, to eventually present a highly effective market forecast and prediction, favoring sustainable stance and impeccable revenue flow despite challenges such as sudden pandemic, interrupted production and disrupted sales channel in the White Biotechnology market.

Access Complete Report @ https://www.orbismarketreports.com/global-white-biotechnology-market-growth-analysis-by-trends-and-forecast-2019-2025?utm_source=Pooja

Market segment by Type, the product can be split into BiofuelsBiomaterialsBiochemicalsIndustrial Enzymes

Market segment by Application, split into BioenergyFood & Feed AdditivesPharmaceutical IngredientsPersonal Care & Household Products

The report is targeted to offer report readers with essential data favoring a seamless interpretation of the White Biotechnology market.Therefore, to enable and influence a flawless market specific business decision, aligning with the best industry practices, this specificresearch report on the White Biotechnology market also lends a systematic rundown on vital growth triggering elements comprising market opportunities, persistent market obstacles and challenges, also featuring a comprehensive outlook of various drivers and threats that eventually influence the growth trajectory in the White Biotechnology market.

Some Major TOC Points:1 Report Overview2 Global Growth Trends3 Market Share by Key Players4 Breakdown Data by Type and ApplicationContinued

The report also incorporates ample understanding on numerous analytical practices such as SWOT and PESTEL analysis to source optimum profit resources in White Biotechnology market.

Besides presenting a discerning overview of the historical and current market specific developments, inclined to aid a future-ready business decision, this well compiled research report on the White Biotechnology market also presents vital details on various industry best practices comprising SWOT and PESTEL analysis to adequately locate and maneuver profit scope.The report in its subsequent sections also portrays a detailed overview of competition spectrum, profiling leading players and their mindful business decisions, influencing growth in the White Biotechnology market.

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Global White Biotechnology Market Projected to Reach USD XX.XX billion by 2025- DSM, Bayer, DSM, Evonik, Dow Chemicals, Henkel, etc. - Cole of Duty

Give a natural boost to your immunity with this powder made from turmeric, ginger, cumin, fennel and other simple kitchen ingredients.

Spices like turmeric, ginger and cinnamon are known to be immunity boosters

If you catch a cold too easily, are prone to allergies, cough and sneeze to often and easily catch an infection, then your immunity needs to be worked on. In this pandemic, the importance of taking care of your immunity and building a strong one has been more than ever. A healthy immune system not only helps in keeping viral diseases and infections away, it also helps in protecting the body proactively in case you catch an infection or fall ill.

The immune system protects by creating a barrier which stops invaders and antigens from entering the body. If some of these manage to slip away and infect us, then the immune system produces white blood cells and other chemicals that attack and destroy these foreign substances.

Following a healthy lifestyle, being physically active and eating certain foods or natural immunity boosters can help in giving the much-needed boost to immunity.

Also read:Monsoon Diet: This Monsoon, Keep Your Immunity In Check With These Tips From Nutritionist

So here's an immunity boosting powder that you can make at home. Shared by lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho in one of his Instagram stories (that are now saved in highlights), this immunity boosting powder can be made with the help of some simple and basic ingredients like turmeric, ginger and cinnamon.

Turmeric is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunity boosting propertiesPhoto Credit: iStock

To prepare this immunity boosting powder, you need organic turmeric powder (7 tbsp), cumin seeds (4 tbsp), coriander seeds (4 tbsp), fennel seeds (7 tbsp), dry ginger powder or saunth (2 tbsp), whole black pepper (2 tbsp), cinnamon powder (1/2 tbsp) and cardamom (3 tbsp).

Keep turmeric powder and dry ginger powder in a separate bowl. Do not roast them.

Lightly roast all the remaining ingredients on low flame. Be careful as the spices should not burn. Roast them till you get a nice aroma. Once roasted, allow them to cool. Now transfer them to a grinder and grind them to get powdery consistency.

Also read:Not Just Immunity, Vitamin C Can Boost Heart Health Too: Here's How

Add turmeric and dried ginger to this powder. Store it in a steel or glass jar.

According to Coutinho, you can have 1/2 tsp of the powder with water, or add it as a seasoning to your food. It can be an alternative to garam masala.

Another way of including this powder in your diet is by adding 1/2 tsp of it to 1 tbsp of heated ghee. Mix it to form a paste and have it every morning.

If you are on medication or have an underlying health condition like diabetes or high blood pressure, do check with your doctor before having this powder.

Promoted

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Make This Powder With Turmeric, Dry Ginger, Fennel And Other Kitchen Ingredients To Naturally Boost Your Immunity - NDTV Doctor

Editor: We have the medicine we need to slow the coronavirus. As we wait for COVID-19 vaccine and drug therapies, we have powerful tools to reduce the transmission of coronavirus. Washing hands, social distancing and mask wearing all slow the spread of the virus.

While we normally do not think of physical barriers and actions as preventative medicine, these are the tools we have available today. These are simple, effective, affordable and accessible tools in slowing the spread of coronavirus. They do not have side effects and have limited environmental impacts. They are being employed at a global level to slow the virus.

Economic research has shown that a national mask mandate would save 5% of the GDP. To support our economy, keep our schools open and maintain quality health care, wash hands, wear a mask and social distance. The pandemic has had a significant, long term economic and social impact on all Americans. The pandemic has left millions of Americans unemployed and reduced state and local budgets which will cause cuts in social, medical and infrastructure programs. The pandemic has closed schools, increasing the burden on working parents and compromising the education of American children.

Let's not amplify these economic and social costs. Use the tools available today to save money, jobs and lives tomorrow.

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Letters to the Editor: July 9, 2020 | Opinion - Sonoma West

Congress should make primary care a top priority for the Medicaid program, the nonpartisan Bipartisan Policy Center said in a report Monday.

The group called on Congress to support a comprehensive framework to improve primary care by directing HHS to help states share best practices and innovations and measure and report "spending on primary care as a percentage of total healthcare spending." In addition, Congress should fully fund the Primary Care Extension Program.

Lawmakers should also boost access to insurance coverage by allowing states to expand Medicaid. States could follow traditional expansion to adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level and receive 100% matching federal funds, eventually phasing down to 90%. Or they could expand Medicaid coverage to people making 100% of the federal poverty level and receive 88% matching federal funds if they do it within two years.

Likewise, Congress should allow states to automatically enroll eligible people in Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program or marketplace subsidies. States would only be permitted to enroll people in marketplace subsidies if the subsidies fully covered an individual's premium costs. BPC also recommended creating a new option for states to sign up eligible adults in 12 months of continuous Medicaid coverage, preventing coverage lapses and reducing reporting for enrollees.

Congress should also mandate fee-for-service Medicaid to cover preventative care services with no cost-sharing to make sure beneficiaries aren't discouraged from seeking high-value care.

"Access to primary care can help individuals live longer and help avoid or delay the onset of costly chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer," according to the report. "Access to primary care can also help reduce more expensive care, including hospitalizations and emergency department visits."

Hemi Tewarson, director of the National Governors Association's health division, said during a panel discussion that she's concerned states won't have enough resources to invest in primary care because of the downward pressure on state budgets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have long-term ramifications on the U.S. healthcare system.

The Bipartisan Policy Center also recommended boosting Medicaid's matching federal funds to 100% for primary care services for five years if states pay for them at the Medicare rate. According to the report, higher reimbursements for primary care services would ensure enough primary care providers to deliver care to Medicaid enrollees.

Likewise, HHS should delay any changes to network adequacy requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations until the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission develops data-driven access standards. According to the report, Congress should order HHS to regulate network adequacy for Medicaid MCOs "based on the new data-driven standard."

The Bipartisan Policy Center recommended several other actions to increase the primary care workforce, including increased federal coordination of workforce development efforts and more visa waivers for foreign medical graduates.

The report also includes a wide range of recommendations to address racial, ethnic and economic disparities in Medicaid. They include blocking implementation of the June rule eliminating nondiscrimination regulations, requiring HHS to issue guidance to states about how to pay community health workers to address chronic conditions and empowering HHS to approve Medicaid coverage of non-medical services to address the social determinants of health.

Congress created the Primary Care Extension Program under the Affordable Care Act to improve primary care quality, but it never funded the program. According to the legislation, it was supposed to transform primary care by educating "providers about preventive medicine, health promotion, chronic disease management, mental and behavioral health services, and evidence-based and evidence-informed therapies and techniques."

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Primary care should be a top Medicaid priority, think tank says - ModernHealthcare.com

IN March this year we reported Dr Jennifer Brown Tomlinson, medical director at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), urging people living with HIV to ensure that they take their medication daily.

A compromised immune system, Dr Tomlinson cautioned, may not be able to function at its optimum to fight against the coronavirus.

Said Dr Tomlinson: People living with HIV who are on their antiretroviral medication have the same risk [of contracting the novel coronavirus] as the normal population. All of the precautions that are being advised for the general population also apply to people living with HIV who are adherent to their antiretovirals.

That very sound advice takes on more relevance now as we are being told by health experts that Covid-19 could cause an additional half a million AIDS deaths if treatment is disrupted long term.

That chilling projection was made Monday at the start of the virtual International AIDS Conference at which it was noted that the Covid-19 pandemic was jeopardising years of progress against HIV.

The United Nations (UN), in its annual report, pointed out that the world was already way off course in its plan to end the HIV/AIDS threat before the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to the UN, despite the fact that AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 60 per cent since the peak of the HIV epidemic in 2004, approximately 690,000 people still died from the virus and 1.7 million people were infected last year.

The emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus now means that the UNs target of reducing AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections to fewer than 500,000 this year will now be missed.

A key contributor to that danger is that the pandemic is impacting access to preventative medicine among communities at risk because of lockdowns and distribution difficulties.

A report from the UN conference tells us that one model run in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that if Covid-19 measures disrupted HIV treatment programmes for six months it could leave an additional 500,000 people dead.

Indeed, WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is reported as saying: We cannot let the Covid-19 pandemic undo the hard-won gains in the global response to this disease.

The information coming out of the UN conferences should not be lost on the just over 32,000 people living with HIV in Jamaica. Those who are not compliant with their medication need to heed Dr Tomlinsons advice. In fact, anyone living with HIV should not, in the first place, be in a position of non-compliance.

As it now stands, our health authorities, and indeed the government, need to ensure that the Covid-19 pandemic does not result in a shortage of antiretroviral medicines here.

For, while, as we have already stated, we are disappointed that Jamaica will not meet the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 target, which was set to be attained this year, we are encouraged that JASL has already achieved one of the targets and is close to the 2020 goal of having 90 per cent of its more than 730 HIV-positive clients virally suppressed.

Courtesy Jamaica Observer

Originally posted here:
Frightening projection of Covid-19s effect on HIV treatment - Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers

For decades, the premise of diets have revolved around what you eat.

Atkins dieters believe that carbs are the devil, keto dieters are all about that high-fat lifestyle, while Paleo dieters wont eat grains that didnt exist pre-agricultural revolution. Today, that focus has shifted to not what we eat, but when we eat.

Everything that happens in our daily life revolves around the time of the day, and as much as wed like to think that we have total control over our meals, a lot of what we eat and when we eat has been scheduled around work, appointments, and everything in between.

This pattern of eating means that people often find themselves eating at odd hours and often too close to bedtime, leaving their brains confused and their bodies struggling to keep up.

Like sleeping, how we process food is also deeply reliant on the bodys circadian rhythm. Essentially an internal daily timetable, the cycle responds primarily to light and darkness, with sleeping at night and being awake during the day being the most common example.

Chronically disrupted circadian rhythms not only affect sleep, but also prevent the body systems from working efficiently,leading to insulin resistance, fat storage, and increased risk of disease over time, which explains why the most widely touted preventative medicine today is at least eight hours of good sleep every night.

Chances are your eating pattern now lasts over 15 hours a day and well past dark, which clashes with the bodys release of melatonin and lowered insulin resistance as it prepares for sleep.

Like intermittent fasting, the circadian rhythm diet advocates time-restricted eating of your daily calories within an eight to 10 hour block when the sun is up, leaving a 14-hour fast between your last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day.

For this diet, experts have suggested swapping your dinner for breakfast. Instead of bagels or processed cereal, eggs and avocado with toast or a portion of salmon with pasta will help keep you more satisfied and less hangry thoughout the day, especially after the long overnight fast.

Lunch should be less heavy but with a good proportion of protein, fat, and healthy carbohydrates, while dinner should be the smallest meal of the day, especially as your bodys insulin sensitivity decreases before bed. Ideally, you should consume bout 75 percent of your nutrition before 3pm.

No one likes being hungry and thats why diets like these are hard to stick with. The team kindly suggested I gave this diet a go earlier this week and so quite begrudgingly, I sacrificed my happiness for the sake of an honest report and lasted all but two days. If youre someone whos used to small meals and lives for snacking in between, this diet will be a difficult one to get used to.

The reported benefits, however, make it worth it. When the body is depleted of sugar, it taps into the bodys reserves, such as the carbohydrates that get stored in the liver. Fasting overnight allows the body to convert fat to ketone bodies, which fuel the brain and heart. Besides, your body isnt struggling to digest your leftover pizza binge while also trying to repair itself. Youll also be more inclined to skip dessert after dinner, which is truly a habit we could all get behind.

Interestingly, the circadian rhythm works for exercising too; working out outside in the early morning can be a big mood booster, especially since thats when your cortisol levels begin to rise before peaking. To fight the midday slum, a quick visit to the gym brings oxygen back into the body after hours spent hunched over the desk while rushing deadlines. An evening sweat session, on the hand, is associated with lower stress levels,better endurance and improved anaerobic performance, like sprinting and resistance training.

Unlike many diets, the circadian rhythm diet isnt about skipping meals or cutting calories. Its about listening to what your body needs and not what your mind wants, and not eating during the time when you dont need fuel can make a whole lot of difference to how your body takes on the day, whether the sun is up or not.

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Everything you need to know about the circadian rhythm diet - Lifestyle Asia

You might not be able to run to the local MMJ outlet to buy a cure-all for COVID-19, but cannabis is still on the menu, with at least two clinical studies underway evaluating CBDs for prevention and treatment of the novel coronavirus.

Even if it is not the panacea the world is looking for, use of MMJ is probably a lot safer than injecting disinfectant into your veins.

While studies for coronavirus therapies are in the infancy stages, some have shown promise blocking the virus, and as an anti-inflammatory agent for those afflicted with the disease. Two such studies, originating in Canada and Israel, have recently caught the attention of medicinal cannabis advocates hoping to further legitimize the herb as mainstream medicine.

The studies are not for an anti-virus vaccine, but as therapies that could enhance primary treatment and "prevention strategies" to deny the virus entry into the body or as an anti-inflammatory treatment that may help prevent acute respiratory distress for those afflicted with the disease.

The Canadian study is a collaboration between the University of Lethbridge, Pathway Rx, a Canadian pharmaceutical research company that develops cannabis therapies and Swysh, Inc., a cannabinoid-based oral health company.

In April, the group released a preclinical study for peer review titled, "In Search of Preventative Strategies: Novel Anti-Inflammatory High-CBD Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in COVID-19 Gateway Tissues."

The study looked at hundreds of strains of cannabis and their effect on artificial lung, oral/nasal and intestinal tissue and their ability to modulate angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). According to researchers involved in the study, ACE2 is a receptor required for COVID to enter the cells.

"ACE2 may be the way COVID enters the cell," Heather Moroso, NMD said. "If you make more of it, it's basically like opening more doors for the virus to enter. If you make less or block ACE2, then potentially that's fewer doors for the virus to enter."

If the research proves successful, the resulting medications could be administered in the form of mouthwash, gargle, inhalants or gel caps, according to those involved with the study. Smoking cannabis, on the other hand, might exacerbate lung problems brought on by the virus.

"There is some evidence that smoking in general may make one more vulnerable to COVID," Moroso said.

Researchers say a fraction of the strains that have been tested have shown success in reducing virus receptors by as much as 73 percent.

Studies may have hit roadblocks though, as a lack of clinical trials and insufficient funding has kept the work in its infancy phase.

The Israeli study, a collaboration between InnoCan Pharma of Israel and Tel Aviv University, focuses on products using CBD-loaded exosomes to treat lung inflammation.

The exosomes could be safely administered without adverse reactions, creating a potentially safe delivery system via inhalation for a variety of lung infections in COVID patients. The study focused on CBDs in order to reduce patient impairment that may be caused by higher levels of THC in other forms of the drug.

While the studies represent something of a boon for cannabis advocates, locally, response to the reports is that it's "not ready for prime time."

To begin with, the Canadian study utilized artificial tissue models, so it is not clear if the results would be the same if conducted on living humans.

"The [Lethbridge] paper utilizes tissue models which are very far removed from human, or animal, organs in-situ and hence any conclusions must be taken with great caution," said a retired Tucson neuroscientist who declined to be identified for this report. "In my opinion, the results are extremely preliminary and may not have any relevance to the question at hand: adjunct therapies to combat COVID-19 infection."

There is also a problem of "confirmation bias," which means there may be a subconscious desire for a cannabis "miracle cure" that may lead to a loss of objectivity in processing the results of studies on the drug.

"Everybody wants cannabis to be a cure-all miracle drug," Moroso said, adding that while the state of Arizona does not recognize sleep issues as qualifying conditions, sleep can be an important aspect to stress reduction.

Additionally, during the current state of the pandemic, MMJ can have positive effects on patients experiencing anxiety over their lives and futures, as the economic and health impacts of a global pandemic make the future murky, at best.

"Cannabis can help people suffering from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder," Moroso said. "The stress and anxiety of being in isolation; unknown job and family situations; domestic abuse and isolation? I'm not a rocket scientist, but sensible use of the drug can help reduce the anxiety."

Go here to read the rest:
Cannabis and Coronavirus - Tucson Weekly

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., July 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- electroCore Inc.(Nasdaq: ECOR), a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company, announced today that Dan Goldberger, Chief Executive Officer, will participate in three upcoming investor conferences:

Maxim Group/M-Vest COVID-19 Virtual Conference Series: Re-Engaging Medical Practices in an Era of COVID-19Format: panel discussionDate: Thursday, July 16Panel 2, Cant Touch This! Time for These Devices to Shine!Time: 12:30pm 1:45pm ET

To access the panel discussion, please RSVP HERE

Zooming with LD MicroFormat: corporate presentation followed by 1x1 virtual investor meetingsDate: Tuesday, July 21Time: 8:00am 8:40am PT

Investors can register for the presentation HERE.

Canaccord Genuity 40th Annual Growth ConferenceFormat: 1x1 virtual investor meetingsDate: Tuesday, August 11

About electroCore, Inc.

electroCore, Inc. is a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company dedicated to improving patient outcomes through its platform non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy initially focused on the treatment of multiple conditions in neurology. The companys initial targets are the preventative treatment of cluster headache and migraine and acute treatment of migraine and episodic cluster headache.

For more information, visit http://www.electrocore.com.

About gammaCoreTM

gammaCoreTM (nVNS) is the first non-invasive, hand-held medical therapy applied at the neck to treat migraine and cluster headache through the utilization of a mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve that passes through the skin. Designed as a portable, easy-to-use technology, gammaCore can be self-administered by patients, as needed, without the potential side effects associated with commonly prescribed drugs. When placed on a patients neck over the vagus nerve, gammaCore stimulates the nerves afferent fibers, which may lead to a reduction of pain in patients.

gammaCore is FDA cleared in the United States for adjunctive use for the preventive treatment of cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache in adult patients, and the prevention of migraine in adult patients. gammaCore is CE-marked in the European Union for the acute and/or prophylactic treatment of primary headache (Migraine, Cluster Headache, Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias and Hemicrania Continua), Bronchoconstriction and Medication Overuse Headache in adults.

In the US, the FDA has not cleared gammaCore for the treatment of pneumonia and/or respiratory disorders such as acute respiratory stress disorder associated with COVID-19.

Please refer to the gammaCore Instructions for Use for all of the important warnings and precautions before using or prescribing this product.

Investors:

Hans VitzthumLifeSci Advisors617-430-7578hans@lifesciadvisors.com

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Media Contact:

Jackie DorskyelectroCore973-290-0097jackie.dorsky@electrocore.com

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electroCore to Participate in Three Upcoming Virtual Investor Conferences - BioSpace

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As Canada continues to reopen, some grocery stores, salons and other businesses have implemented temperature screening an approach that uses a touchless scanner to measure a persons body temperature in an attempt to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The process was made mandatory for all air travellers in Canada in mid-June. Any passenger who shows a fever on two measurements, taken 10 minutes apart, will be asked to rebook after 14 days.

However, some experts wonder whether the step is effective given a person can shed the COVID-19 virus without having a fever or any change in body temperature. The tool often used to measure temperature has also been shown to be unreliable.

READ MORE: Temperature screening not always reliable to mitigate coronavirus risk, experts say

For those reasons, temperature screening has not been recommended by Canadas chief public health officer Theresa Tam. In fact, she quickly shut down the approach when more businesses began implementing the practice in May.

The more you actually understand this virus, the more you begin to know that temperature-taking is not effective at all, Tam said in a ministerial update that month.

Tam said the likelihood of screening someone who was symptomatic was relatively inefficient in comparison to those who were asymptomatic.

If we have a significant number of asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people, that also even reduces the effectiveness even more.

Dr. Susy Hota, the medical director of the Infection Prevention and Control and Medical Device Reprocessing department at the University Health Network in Toronto, agrees.

"There really are a lot of limitations to temperature checks, and I'm not really convinced that they're worth investing in for this purpose," Hota said.

READ MORE: Canada to screen air travellers for fever amid coronavirus pandemic: Trudeau

There are also inaccuracies with the temperature probes used for this purpose, Hota said.

She worries they can give patrons and business owners a "false sense of security."

Temperature screening is typically not an effective way to detect COVID-19 when used on its own, and that's because of the way the virus spreads.

"When we talk about the issue of pre-symptomatic shedding and transmission, we're talking about people who have no symptoms yet so no fever," Hota said.

"Once you've developed the fever, we know what we're dealing with ... but in the pre-symptomatic phase, a temperature check won't help."

Problems can also arise from the touch-less temperature probes currently being used in airports, grocery stores and by other businesses.

"It's a variable that ... isn't infallible," said Dr. Leighanne Parkes, infectious disease specialist and microbiologist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

"It depends on the instrument that we're using, the ambient temperature, (if) the instrument is calibrated correctly, is the individual coming in from a hot outside or a cold outside?"

All these things come into play when a temperature probe is used, making true measures hard to come by.

READ MORE: You might be wearing your mask, gloves wrong. How to use PPE properly

There are also other reasons a person's body temperature could be elevated that don't have to do with COVID-19.

Medication, certain pre-existing conditions, weather and what you were doing immediately prior to having your temperature checked are all factors that can affect your body temperature, Hota said.

"It is possible that your ambient temperature and what you were doing before ... might register a higher temperature than you really would have otherwise," she said.

However, Parkes believes temperature screening could be helpful when it's "bundled" with other preventative health measures.

"If you have an adequately calibrated machine, you're [testing the person's temperature] indoors using appropriate techniques and ... you're also symptom-screening for things that are not fever, and risk factors including contact, those altogether can pick up some of the most high-risk cases," Parkes said.

Temperature screening should be considered just one layer in a "pyramid of prevention," she said.

"It's not a replacement for the other means that we have in place, such as social distancing, masking in public spaces, adequate ventilation, adequate environmental cleaning ... all those things combined."

Although temperature screening may not accurately detect COVID-19, it's still within the rights of a business to deny you service on the grounds of a high temperature.

This is because employers and employees have the right to a safe working environment.

"You can't be denied entry on grounds of race or religion ... because that's discrimination, but if your temperature is above some arbitrary scale, then you can be denied entry," said Bernard Dickens, professor emeritus of health law and policy in the faculty of law, faculty of medicine and Joint Centre for Bioethics at the University of Toronto.

READ MORE:Planes, salons and grocery stores: Companies that require masks in Canada

"It's a security ground ... to protect the staff who work in the facility. They have a right to a safe working environment, and the store is responsible for the safety of its employees."

Basically, any business can make conditions for who they serve as long as they don't discriminate [and they're not] in violation of the human rights code.

For this reason, you can refuse to take a temperature test, but the store can refuse your entry upon doing so.

"You have no right to go into the store ... because the store can set reasonable conditions [for protection]," Dickens said.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

In situations where you can't keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

With files from Global News' Emerald Bensadoun

Meghan.Collie@globalnews.ca

See the article here:
Can I refuse a temperature check? What to know about the COVID-19 screening tool - MSN Canada

Louisiana is now one of the leading states in the nation for most new coronavirus cases.

It ranks third in the U.S. this week for most new cases per capita on a rolling seven-day average, according to new data from Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Its a trajectory that could spark another shutdown. But you wouldnt know it by listening to state Rep. Danny McCormick.

The Constitution is being shredded before our very eyes, McCormick claimed in a video he released this week railing against the new mandate to wear a mask in public in Shreveport. Kenner and Jefferson Parish have also announced mask mandates, which are already in place in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

McCormick represents parts of Caddo Parish, including Shreveport, where 243 people have died since the pandemics outbreak and where Black people have died at twice the rate of white people. Its also one of the parishes with the highest rates of new daily COVID-19 cases per capita in the state.

In the video, McCormick says mask mandates one of the key preventative measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, especially in urban hotspots such as Shreveport are an attack on liberty. Then he attempts to destroy a mask with a chainsaw.

McCormick also makes the goading claim that people who dont wear masks will be treated like Jews in Nazi Germany.

While other Republican leaders Texas Gov. Greg Abbott among them have shifted to embracing mask mandates, McCormick isnt the only Louisiana politician to attack mask-wearing. Thats despite the swelling pandemic and medical consensus that theyre not just helpful, but imperative.

Congressman Clay Higgins represents Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish, one of the most worrying regions in the state, and has repeated conspiracy theories about the coronavirus, made false claims about the efficacy of masks, and called wearing a mask part of the dehumanization of the children of God.

In Lafayette, another alarming hot-spot, Mayor-President Josh Guillory rejected a mask mandate this week. He claimed he made the move based on the information Im getting on the medical task force, but The Advocate reported the task force wasnt asked for its opinion and would actually support such a mandate.

Republicans in Baton Rouge spent most of the legislative session resisting requests to wear masks. And it appears that many people across the state have been doing the same.

Louisianas startling trajectory

Louisianas jump to the top of the list for most new coronavirus cases cannot be explained by increased testing. Hospitalizations grew by more than 50 percent over the last two weeks, and the percentage of positive tests in the state has also been rising. On Thursday the latter rate hit 12 percent positive over the 10 percent threshold set by the state for safe opening in Phase 2. The 7-day rolling average is 8.7 percent, according to AH Datalyitcs.

But that could already be too high. The World Health Organizations recommended goal is 5 percent. A high positivity rate indicates that the viruss spread is too great for contact tracing to work and thats assuming contact tracing is actually being broadly embraced by the public, which hasnt been the case in Louisiana.

Dr. Vin Gupta, an assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Washington, is among the medical experts warning that contact tracing is now useless across much of the U.S. because the virus has already spread too widely.

On Wednesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said the state has lost all the gains made in June and is now seeing some numbers that rival our peak back in April.

And while Texas, Florida and Arizona are seeing higher increases in hospitalizations, Dr. Thomas Tsai, a surgeon and assistant professor at Harvards School of Public Health, said it could be a matter of time.

My worry is that Louisiana may just be a few weeks behind Texas and Arizona and Florida, unless more concerted efforts are taken, he said.

Its unclear whether theres public appetite for that or even to abide by the guidelines already in place. Health officials say that as the state reopened too many people have ignored public health guidelines, particularly around wearing masks and keeping distance. Bars in particular have become a key source of outbreaks.

Frankly, it's been really, really frustrating. Because just a few weeks ago, we were in a really, pretty good place, said Suan Hassig, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Tulane University.

The curve is going to bounce back up if we don't keep jumping on it and stomping it down.

The plea of local public health leaders

If Louisianas hospitals are overwhelmed, if deaths once again spike, and if more people contract a virus that were learning could have long-term impacts on major organs including the brain and the heart, it wont be because public health leaders across the state havent been sounding the alarm.

Amanda Logue, the chief medical officer for Lafayette General Health, released a video on Facebook last week talking with another hospital leader about the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in Acadiana. She said her hospital had seen about a 200 percent increase in hospitalizations over the last three weeks, which really correlated with the timing of Phase 2.

For Lake Charles mayor Nic Hunter, the time has come to plead with the public to take the advice of local health leaders.

God help us if we've come to a point in our society where during the middle of a pandemic, he said, if we want to know medical or scientific information, we are trusting a meme on Facebook, or what my brother-in-law overheard at the supermarket, more than guys like Dr. Tim Haman and Dr. Mac Jordan.

Hunter was introducing Haman and Jordan the head physicians of two Lake Charles hospitals in a video on Monday. The Lake Charles area has the highest rate of new cases in the state. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have doubled from their previous peak in April. And the rate of positive tests has hit 25 percent.

All three denounced the polarization of mask-wearing, and Haman said he hates that masks have become a political football.

We wear them in the hospital all day. We wear them 10 to 12 hours at a time here. So I don't think it's asking too much of someone to wear a mask for 20 minutes while you're in a grocery store, he said. I think it puts people at risk. We don't think anything of following traffic laws, wearing seatbelts, holding the door for somebody.

Haman fears the consequences if people dont change their behaviors.

We are approaching the situation we're seeing in other cities like San Antonio and Houston where the healthcare system is on the verge of being overwhelmed, he said.

How New Orleans became a relative bright spot in the state

Whats happened in Louisiana is the same story across the country: Areas that werent initially hit hard by the pandemic in the spring are now seeing an exponential growth in cases.

According to Harvards data, 26 parishes in Louisiana and the entire state are past a tipping point where stay-at-home measures should be implemented.

Amid that, New Orleans is now one of the bright spots in the state, with some of lowest rates of new cases. But even here, the trajectory is in the wrong direction.

On Wednesday, Mayor Latoya Cantrell announced new restrictions based on trends in new cases and hospitalizations. Now, bar seating is prohibited in restaurants and bars only table seating is allowed. Private indoor events are being limited to 25 people.

And theres now the added worry of another shortage of test supplies.

New Orleans has had to nearly cut in half the number of daily tests it performs for free at its mobile testing site, amid rising demand. The citys mobile testing sites have run out of spots even before they opened twice this week.

Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the citys health department, said shortages in materials needed for the machines that analyze the tests are to blame, along with surging cases across the country.

My great concern is that if there's a shortage, there's a shortage. And I don't know how they're prioritizing where they're sending the materials, she said.

Testing is also being cut back by some hospital groups in the state Ochsner Health is now only testing people with symptoms. And while Louisiana has been testing far above its goal of 200,000 tests per month, the Harvard analysis suggested that in order to suppress the virus, that could need to be quadrupled.

For Steven Procopio, the Policy Director at the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, the one bright spot in the exponential growth of cases is that deaths so far have not followed the same trajectory.

It may be because of the younger ages of people who are getting it, or we have better treatments, or it just could be there's a lag and we havent been hit, he said.

Hassig, the epidemiologist, said she wants to see mask mandates in every urban area. It could be that local leaders will be forced to make that call, because the governor has so far said he wont implement such a requirement statewide.

Link:
Louisiana's COVID-19 Surge Is Among The Worst In The U.S. And Some Leaders Are Still Fighting Mask - WRKF

Researchers are still uncovering the different ways that COVID-19 can affect the body.

Now, a new study out of the United Kingdom has found that COVID-19s neurological complications can include delirium, brain inflammation, stroke, and nerve damage.

A rare and sometimes fatal inflammatory neurological condition also appears to be increasing in prevalence due to the pandemic, according to a new study by British scientists.

The study, which appears this week in the journal Brain, was led by researchers from University College London and University College London Hospital.

In particular, researchers found a spike in adults with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare condition typically seen in children and that can be triggered by viral infection, during the study period. The researchers typically see one adult patient with this condition each month.

During that study period, however, they saw an average of one adult per week with ADEM.

For this study, researchers retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiological, laboratory and neuropathological findings of 43 people ranging in age from 16 to 85 who had either confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The patients were treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. In all, there were 24 males and 19 females. Twenty-nine of these patients were defined as definite COVID-19, eight were probable and six were possible. The severity of the COVID-19 symptoms varied from mild to critical.

The researchers identified 10 cases of transient encephalopathies, or temporary brain dysfunction with delirium. There were also 12 cases of brain inflammation, 8 cases of strokes, and 8 others with nerve damage.

The researchers found evidence that the brain inflammation was likely caused by an immune response to the disease. The researchers say this suggests that some neurological complications of COVID-19 might come from the immune response rather than the virus itself.

Researchers say this new study confirms previously reported findings of a higher than expected number of stroke patients conditions that were triggered by the excessive stickiness of the blood in COVID-19 patients.

Still they say that because the disease has only been around for a few months, the long-term damage of COVID-19 remains unclear.

Additionally, experts are not certain exactly why the virus increases the risk of these neurological challenges.

Possibilities include direct effects of the virus, the bodys own immune or inflammatory response, the effects of hypoxia (low body oxygen levels), changes to blood vessels, changes in the coagulability (stickiness) of the blood, the effects of severe illness (including prolonged ICU stay in some patients), or a combination of these factors, Dr. Rachel Brown, a clinical research fellow at University College London and a joint first author of the paper, said by email.

We saw neurological effects of COVID-19 in adult patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities, and in patients both with or without underlying health conditions and with both mild and severe COVID-19 infection. As a retrospective cohort study, we cannot at this stage say why these particular patients were affected but this should be a focus of future study.

Brown added that while researchers cannot give a definite estimate of the numbers affected, neurological complications of COVID-19 are likely to be rare.

We are probably reporting on the more severe end of the spectrum in this respect, she said. For patients who have been affected by neurological complications however, the effects can be life changing and should not be downplayed. As ever, we need to consider COVID-19 seriously, and continue to follow public health advice to limit the spread of the virus and the number of people affected.

Dr. Serena Spudich, a professor of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, called the study a very valuable collection of descriptions by a group of world-class neurological experts, all putting their heads together to try to draw cohesive conclusions from a disparate group of patients. It represents the best, most thoughtful sort of clinical case series.

Still, Dr. Guilherme Dabus, an interventional neuroradiologist at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute and Baptist Neuroscience Institute, said the study demonstrates that we are yet to have a good understanding of why some patients may develop neurological syndromes and why there are so many different types of neurological manifestations among those who do.

He noted that this emphasizes the need for the medical community to be aware of possible neurological syndromes that may affect COVID-19 patients, so they are attentive to the signs and symptoms.

Some of these neurological manifestations such as stroke are time sensitive, and a prompt suspicion and diagnosis may be the difference between life and death, he said.

Added Dr. George Teitelbaum, an interventional neuroradiologist and director of the Stroke & Aneurysm Center at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, the study shows that COVID-19 is turning out to be a very virulent virus that has a variety of presentations.

Its turning out to be a more complex virus than we thought it was, he said.

He added that one of the lessons of this study is a reminder about the need to follow basic preventative guidelines such as the use of face masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing.

Those are things that are highly effective at reducing the spread, he said. This is not a political issue; its a public health issue. For some people, it is a life and death issue, particularly if they are older and have underlying conditions. This is not rocket science.

Read more:
COVID-19 Linked to Major Neurological Conditions Including Stroke - Healthline

INDIANAPOLIS Dr. Herman G. Morgan, the 33-year-old secretary of the Indianapolis Board of Health, presented the situation in simple terms.

In November 1918, Indianapolis and the rest of the world were in the grips of the worst influenza pandemic in history. Less than two months had passed since the city's newspapers reported the first cases among soldiers stationed at the Indiana School for the Deaf and Fort Benjamin Harrison.

Morgan's Board of Health issued sweeping orders in early October 1918, similar to those the city imposed in March and April 2020 in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools and churches closed. Businesses and theaters shut down. Public meetings were banned. Streets emptied.

Newspapers.com

By November, Indianapolis began reopening and its citizens gathered in celebration of victory in World War I, leading to another rise in cases, according to Bill Beck, a current member of the Marion County Historical Society's board of directors.

"Flu cases had spiked late the week before in the wake of the Armistice celebrations on Monday, Nov. 11, and the Board of Health reacted by trying to get ahead of the curve," Beck said.

Morgan determined it was time for citizens to wear masks in public or risk the city shutting down for a second time.

"The board of health has placed on the individual and, to a larger extent, his employer, the matter decided of whether business shall continue in Indianapolis," Morgan said in the Indianapolis Star on Nov. 20, two days after the mask requirement was announced. "If there is a tendency on the part of the public to disregard the health regulation, the only resort is to close up all business houses and public gathering places."

No ordinary flu

The H1N1 flu, also known as the Spanish Flu and La Grippe, was both rapid and violent.

Fueled by soldiers moving around the globe at the end of World War I, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the flu infected one-third of the world's population and killed at least 50 million people worldwide, including 675,000 Americans.

The author John H. Barry wrote in his book "The Great Influenza" the first confirmed cases appeared on March 4, 1918, at Fort Riley, Kansas. It finally subsided in the summer of 1919 after arriving in three waves. The second wave in the fall of 1918 was the most severe.

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In his book, Barry described the swiftness with which the virus struck its victims and the horrifying symptoms many experienced.

"Symptoms were terrifying," Barry wrote. "Blood poured from the noses, ears, eye sockets; some victims lay in agony; delirium took others away while living."

The Indianapolis Star reported on Nov. 24 that 3,266 Hoosiers died statewide from the flu in October, and 3,020 children became orphans. The illness struck the youngest and strongest adults the hardest.

"More than 53 percent of the 3,266 persons who died of influenza-pneumonia in Indiana during October were between the ages of 20 and 40 years," the Star reported.

Beck said his grandfather was a mortician in Indianapolis during the pandemic.

My dad remembered never seeing his father that whole fall because he was so busy burying people," Beck said. This thing was so lethal that people would basically come down with it one morning and be dead the next morning."

'But we gotta do it'

With cases rising, on Nov. 18, the Indianapolis Board of Health announced an order requiring face masks, along with the closure of all schools.

In that evening's edition of The Indianapolis News, Morgan said masks "should be made of cheese cloth, surgeon's gauze or other porous material." The News reported the board considered re-closing the city, but first wanted to attempt the mask order.

"The board said the order requiring the wearing of masks was adopted in the hope that thereby the necessity for a renewal of the general closing order would be avoided," the News reported. "It is up to the business men and the managers of business houses, theaters, poolrooms, barber shops and all other public places to see to it that persons without masks are barred. Places which violate this ruling will be closed."

Newspapers.com

In a Nov. 20 piece headlined, "All Dressed Up Like a Horse, With a Goshawful Nosebag--but We Gotta Do It," Indianapolis Star columnist Mary E. Bostwick described the scene in offices and streets as people acclimated themselves to wearing face masks.

"On the street, the masks were seen yesterday at intervals, although not frequently enough to keep the unmasked citizens from snickering at their brethren who were going around with their faces all under cover," Bostwick wrote. "But the mask wearers did not care. No one could tell who they were anyway."

While she found some humor and ridiculousness in the situation, in the end, Bostwick concluded the mask order was necessary.

"Whether we want to or not, we positively must not go anyplace indoors with our faces undressed," she wrote. "And if we get to chortling raucously at somebody so adorned, remember we look just as funny ourselves."

Newspapers.com

Still, same as today, there were those who fought against the mask order.

While the penalty for violating Marion County's order that is scheduled to go into effect Thursday is a fine of up to $1,000, the city treated "mask slackers" harshly in 1918. On Nov. 22, The Indianapolis Star reported three men were arrested in a hotel lobby after they refused to wear masks.

"They were released at the City Prison on their own recognizance," according to the Star.

As objections to wearing masks continued, Morgan spoke about the importance of following the order. In the Star on Nov. 24, he pleaded with citizens to wear masks in order to prevent the city from being shut down for a second time.

He emphasized the wearing of masks "is not a pet whim of any member of the health department" and that "the cooperation of the majority of people is absolutely necessary to make any preventative measure a success."

In full, Morgan said:

This was not for the purpose of causing an inconvenience to the public, as some conscientious objectors have stated, but to prevent infection from being transferred from one individual to another. The wearing of gauze masks is not a pet whim of any member of the health department. This method of preventing cross infection has been successfully used in a number of cities and has been used by surgeons for years to prevent droplet infection from reaching the field of operation. The mask has been adopted by military hospitals in both the general and infectious wards. Medical literature is full of data which proves conclusively the efficiency of this method.

When a community is confronted with a serious epidemic, the cooperation of the majority of the people is absolutely necessary to make any preventative measure a success. This is not a time for destructive criticism, petty jealousies or all-time 'knockers,' but an occasion for every individual to aid in the enforcement of the preventative measure to end that disease and death may be reduced to a minimum.

A turn for the better

At the beginning of the following week, however, Morgan was pleased with the results of the city's mask campaign. He urged caution, but with infection rates decreasing, on Nov. 25, the Board of Health rescinded the city's mask order. Schools remained closed until Dec. 2.

"This measure enabled the board to bridge over a very alarming influenza situation and to reduce the chances of cross-infection," Morgan said in The Indianapolis News on Nov. 25.

Morgan, who led the Indianapolis Board of Health for 33 years until his death in 1946, added that the wearing of masks allowed the city to continue business and retain at least a semblance of normalcy.

"It prevented a large number of persons from being deprived of employment, a situation that would have developed if a closing ban on all forms of business had been established," he said. "While the mask recommendation was met with some opposition, the spirit of cooperation in the beginning was all that could have been expected and enabled the board to cut short the present epidemic."

Newspapers.com

By the time flu pandemic passed, Indianapolis had a rate of 290 deaths per 100,000 people, one of the lowest among U.S. cities, according to the "Influenza Encyclopedia," produced by the University of Michigan Center for the History of Medicine and Michigan Publishing.

Bill Beck, of the Marion County Historical Society, said he and Dr. William McNiece, the Historical Society's president, estimate 950 people in Indianapolis died from the flu in October, November and December 1918.

I get the impression that both the state board of health and the county board of public health were very proactive," Beck said.

Being proactive will be a necessity in the days, weeks and months ahead in the current battle against COVID-19, which has killed at least 132,000 Americans, including more than 2,500 Hoosiers.

"This pandemic has not gone away," current Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said last week while announcing a face mask mandate. "And across the country, we are seeing examples of what can happen when a city lets its guard down."

If there is a singular lesson we can apply from Morgan's campaign against the influenza pandemic of 1918 to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, it is that the path toward defeating a virus leads only through cooperation and collective will.

This virus obeys the laws of physics. It obeys the laws of chemistry. It obeys the laws of biology," Beck said. "It couldn't care less about anything else. You have to just keep your focus on the virus. You don't focus on anything else, you focus on the virus.

The Indiana Medical History Museum will host a virtual presentation featuring Bill Beck and Dr. William McNiese titled "The 1918 Pandemic: Indianapolis Confronts the 1918 Spanish Influenza" at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12.

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In 1918, Indianapolis required masks during the fight against 'The Great Influenza' - WRTV Indianapolis

Arthritis is the most common form of peripheral joint arthritis and cause of disability in the UK. It affects mostly the knee, hip, hand, and feet joints. It is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterised by involvement of all joint structures including the synovial membrane, cartilage and bone. Those suffering with the condition experience joint pain, reduced participation in daily activities and poor quality of life. Fortunately, including more of these delicious fruits could help.

Tart cherries get their rich red colour and many of their powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits from the flavonoid anthocyanin, said the Arthritis Foundation.

The health site added: These properties make tart cherries a popular research subject, and some investigators compare the effects to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

One study found that drinking tart cherry juice two times per day for three weeks resulted in considerable reductions in vital inflammation markers, especially for participants who had the highest inflammation levels at the start of the study.

READ MORE:Arthritis pain - breakfast swap that could lower your risk of symptoms

Watermelons are high in the carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin, which helps to reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, according to studies which followed peoples dietary habits over time, said Arthritis Foundation.

Nutritionist Victoria Jarzabkowski added: The lycopene in watermelon makes it an anti-inflammatory fruit.

Lycopene is also known to help protect certain cancers and lower heart attack risk.

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Unlike most fruits, avocados are a good source of vitamin E, a micronutrient with anti-inflammatory effects said Arthritis Foundation.

The site added: Diets high in these compounds are linked to decreased risk of the joint damage seen in early osteoarthritis.

Studies also show eating avocados daily increases good HDL cholesterol and lowers bad LDL cholesterol.

When it comes to foods to avoid, processed foods are up there.

Foods including baked goods, pre-packaged meals and snacks.

These items contain trans-fat to help preserve them, and trans fats trigger systemic inflammation.

Its imperative to carefully read food labels as many contain hydrogenated oils which should be avoided.

There is no cure for arthritis, but there are many treatments that can help slow it down, said the NHS.

It added: Osteoarthritis treatments include lifestyle changes, medicines and surgery.

Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis aims to slow the conditions progress and minimise joint inflammation. This helps prevent joint damage.

Treatments include medication, physiotherapy and surgery.

See more here:
Arthritis: Three of the best fruits to incorporate into your diet to reduce symptoms - Express

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected erosions of the hand and feet were not predictive of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with arthralgia, according to study data published in the Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. Instead, MRI-detected subclinical inflammation was the strongest correlate of later disease progression in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia.

The study cohort comprised patients with recent-onset (<1 year) arthralgia in the small joints who received care at a rheumatology clinic in Leiden, the Netherlands. Patients were enrolled between April 2012 and October 2018. Individuals were excluded if clinical arthritis was detected at baseline or if another etiology for joint arthralgia was present. At baseline, patients underwent a physical examination, blood draw, and high-contrast MRI of the hands and feet. Erosions were scored using the Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring system. Follow-up visits were conducted at 4, 12, and 24 months. Patients who initiated treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs during follow-up were excluded from analyses.

The primary outcome was diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis, determined by the treating rheumatologist. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between MRI-detected lesions and later diagnosis of arthritis. Analyses were stratified by anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibody (ACPA) positivity and adjusted for patient age and subclinical inflammation levels.

The study cohort comprised 490 patients, of whom 83 developed inflammatory arthritis during follow-up. Median follow-up time to inflammatory disease diagnosis was 14 weeks (interquartile range, 3-23 weeks). Median follow-up duration in patients who did not progress to arthritis was 103 weeks (interquartile range, 51-113 weeks). Median total erosion score was greater in patients who progressed to arthritis compared with patients who did not.

The presence of MRI-detected erosions was not significantly associated with arthritis development in either the univariate model (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.86-2.28) or the model adjusted for age and subclinical inflammation (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.59-1.59). Analyses were then restricted to RA-specific erosions: grade 2 erosions, erosions of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joints (MTP5), and erosions in MTP1 in patients aged <40 years. None of these erosion types were predictive of later progression to inflammatory disease.

In analyses stratified by ACPA status, these trends persisted: MRI-detected erosions did not predict disease progression in either ACPA subset. The researchers instead found subclinical inflammation level to be the strongest predictor of later disease progression. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.73 for subclinical inflammation vs 0.54 for MRI erosion. When MRI-detected erosion was added to the model, the AUC remained at 0.73, suggesting that prognostic accuracy was not improved by erosion assessment.

Results from this longitudinal study indicated that MRI-detected erosions of the hands and feet are not predictive of later arthritis development in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia. This implies that evaluating MRI erosions of [patients with clinically suspect arthralgia] is superfluous if MRI-detected subclinical inflammation is assessed, the investigators wrote.

Reference

Wouters F, Matthijssen XME, Boeters DM, et al. Do magnetic resonance imaging-detected erosions predict progression to rheumatoid arthritis in patients presenting with clinically suspect arthralgia? A longitudinal study [published online June 2, 2020]. Scand J Rheumatol. doi:10.1080/03009742.2020.1737221

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MRI-Detected Erosions of the Small Joints Not Predictive of Later Rheumatoid Arthritis - Rheumatology Advisor

Eating dark, leafy vegetables along with fish and fruits similar to the Mediterranean diet is one of the best ways to eat to help reduce symptoms of arthritis.

Dr Lex Mauger, co-author of the study and Director for BSc Sports Science at the University of Kent, said: The Mediterranean diet has previously been associated with a number of health benefits, but the exciting finding with this study is that specific guidance on adhering to this type of diet can change eating behaviour and result in a number of beneficial physiological changes, relevant to osteoarthritis, in a relatively short period of time.

As osteoarthritis is a chronic disease, treatment is primarily about managing the symptoms, and this study shows that eating healthily may help form part of that treatment strategy.

Benefits from the intervention in this study were evident after only four months, so it is possible that an even greater benefit could be seen in people who make longer-term improvements to their normal diet.

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Arthritis: Eating more of this vegetable will help reduce pain felt in the joints - Express

Arthritis affects around 10 million people in the UK, according to the charity Versus Arthritis. Don't wait until symptoms become unbearable, notice these common signs to begin early treatment.

Charity Arthritis Foundation point out the four most common warning signs of the condition.

1. Pain

First, there will be a sensation of pain. This can come and go whether resting or moving or it may be persistent.

The pain can be found in one specific area of the body or it could occur in different parts.

2. Swelling

There are various types of arthritis (which will be noted later), but a certain type of arthritis can cause swelling.

The skin over the affected joint can become red and swollen, feeling warm to the touch.

Swelling can last for a couple of days, which requires medical attention. This is also true if swelling occurs more than three times in a month.

3. Stiffness

Stiffness tends to be apparent when waking up first thing in the morning especially if it lasts longer than an hour after rising.

READ MORE:Vitamin deficiency warning: New study suggest vitamin deficiencies impair brain function'

It also reveals itself after sitting at a desk for a long time, or you may feel stiff after taking a long car journey.

4. Difficulty moving a joint

If you're finding it difficult or painful to get up from a chair, it's likely you have arthritis.

Types of arthritis

There are lots of different types of arthritis far too many to delve into in one article.

The three most common types of arthritis are: osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Osteoarthritis

Versus Arthritis explained that osteoarthritis begins with the roughening of cartilage.

Cartilage is responsible for cushioning the ends of bones, however, once it begins to roughen, tiny bits of extra bones (osteophytes) can extend from bones in the joint.

Moreover, there can be an increase in the amount of thick fluid inside the joint.

And the joint capsule can stretch, resulting in the joint losing its shape.

Gout

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause painful swelling in the joints (spoken about earlier).

The most common joint affected is the big toe, but any joint suffering from gout can become red and hot.

The skin over the inflamed joint can look shiny and can peel. The condition is caused by too much urate (uric acid) in the body.

Although a small amount of urate is normal, excess urate can develop based on genetics, or what you eat or drink.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is another type of inflammatory arthritis, when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the body's joints.

The autoimmune disorder collects extra blood and fluid to the affected joint(s) which can cause a number of problems.

For example, it can make moving the joints difficult and painful, as the fluid can irritate nerve endings.

Moreover, the extra fluid can stretch the joint capsule, dislodging the joint from its original position.

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Arthritis symptoms: The four most common signs you have the health condition - Express

Serum iron and serum hepcidin levels are directly and indirectly associated with osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to study results published in Scientific Reports.1

Previous research has reported lower serum hepcidin and higher serum iron levels in patients with osteoporosis.2 In this study, investigators aimed to determine the correlation between serum hepcidin levels and degree of osteoporosis in patients with RA.

A total of 262 patients with RA were included in the study (77.5% women; mean age, 67.511.4 years), a majority of whom had low disease activity (82.4%) or were in remission (77.1%), according to disease activity score in 28 joints based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) and Clinical Disease Activity Index. Data on disease characteristics indicated a mean disease duration of 13.610.6 years, with mean disease activity scores of DAS28-CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 2.21.5 and 2.61.0, respectively. Measurements of mean serum hepcidin (14.319.7 ng/mL), fibroblast growth factor (FGF23; 59.332.9 pg/mL), and 25(OH)D levels (16.56.9 ng/mL) were also collected. Study participants were categorized into 4 groups based on these levels and associations with disease parameters were analyzed.

Higher hepcidin levels were related to increased inflammation, higher ferritin and iron levels, lower unsaturated iron binding capacity, and higher 25(OH)D levels. In addition, RA inflammation and 25(OH)D levels were significantly related to serum hepcidin levels. Higher serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with older age, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), higher ferritin and hepcidin levels, and higher Z score of femoral activity. Higher serum FGF23 levels were associated with older age, lower eGFR, higher body mass index, and 25(OH)D levels.

Overall, results indicated that serum iron levels were positively correlated to bone mineral density (BMD), and serum hepcidin and ferritin levels were positively related to 25(OH)D levels, which were positively associated with the femoral Z score. Serum hepcidin levels and iron metabolism were shown to both directly and indirectly affect osteoporosis in patients with RA.

Study limitations included the use of data from a single center and the absence of control participants. In addition, lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, and alcohol intake were not analyzed.

References

1. Sato H, Takai C, Kazama JJ, et al. Serum hepcidin level, iron metabolism and osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [published online June 18, 2020]. Sci Rep. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66945-3

2. Liu B, Liu C, Zhong W, Song M, Du S, Su J. Reduced hepcidin level features osteoporosis. Exp Ther Med. 2018;16:1963-1967.

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Serum Iron and Hepcidin Levels Associated With Osteoporosis in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis - Rheumatology Advisor