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You're 65 and older, considered "at-risk" for getting COVID-19, and you want to go back to work. But your employer is asking you to stay home. What do you do?

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. As the world takes steps to re-open, those who fall under the most "at-risk" category of contracting the coronavirus may be facing a dilemma.

Multiple ABC10 viewers have reached out, saying they're aged 65+ and that while they're healthy and willing to return to work in person, their employers are telling them to stay at home.

But not allowing employees who are 65 and older, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deem more at risk of COVID-19, could actually be considered age discrimination.

"[Governor Gavin Newsom] came out and said, 'Listen, if you're 65-plus you should really stay at home.' I get that. It makes perfect sense and it's something that we're trying to protect the most vulnerable," said Employment Lawyer Jennifer Shaw. "The problem is from an employment law perspective, if you tell a 65-plus employee that says, 'I'm ready to work. I'm healthy. I'm fine.' That they cannot come to work because they're too old... that's called age discrimination."

As businesses and workplaces begin to reopen, Shaw said employers are facing a "catch-22" by trying to avoid liability and ensure safety by standing by federal and state enforcement like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and their regulations ensuring employers are providing the safest possible work environment.

Yet, these employers are also trying to avoid liability from age discrimination and not allowing employees of certain ages to return to the workplace.

That's why she's encouraging employees who are experiencing age discrimination to push back by having open conversations with their employers as returning to work should be considered on a case by case basis, rather than just "check the box, you're 65+, you're not coming back."

"Sometimes the employer doesn't have the information they need so I think employees should push back," Shaw said. "If somebody is 65-plus and they want to go back to work, they should tell their employer, 'I'm fine. I'm healthy. I appreciate you looking out for me but I really want to go back to work.' Most employers hopefully are going to get that message."

But on the flip side, some employees who have compromised immune systems and also fall under the most "at-risk" category of coronavirus do not want to go back to work.

"You've got to listen to that as well as an employer," Shaw said.

That's the reality for Kyla Aquino Irving. She has had two kidney transplants, one from her mother and father, and has to take immunosuppressive medication.

This medicine protects her body from attacking her kidney as a "foreign object" but in order to do that dramatically decreases her immune system making her more susceptible to getting sick.

Contracting COVID-19 could keep her in the hospital for an incredibly long time, or could even be potentially deadly. That's why she has to take extra precautions in staying healthy and isn't comfortable returning to her workplace at United Way quite yet.

"In regards to returning to work, I dont really feel comfortable without making sure theres parameters in place, like policies in our office to wash your hands, keep social distance, wear a mask," said Irving.

Luckily, Irving said United Way is extremely understanding and gracious in keeping her safe. While she will continue to work from home, she knows others with compromised immune systems may not be able to do so.

That's why she urges them to visit the Job Accommodation Network.

"It has a great website that allows you to look up any condition, you can even put in compromised immune system and it'll show what the legal limits are for federal law and give you some guidance points for how you can tell your employer what different accommodations you could use or need to make work for you," said Irving.

While others also share the fear of returning to work, Shaw reiterates that you do need the approval of a physician to truly deem you unsafe from working in an office our work space outside the home.

Just saying Im afraid to go back to work is not enough," said Shaw. "But the employer cant make the person come back to work.

Shaw said options for employees not comfortable returning to a workplace are to file for unemployment. However, employees do not have a legal entitlement to remain off of work unless they are caring for someone who is ill related to COVID-19. This falls under new leave laws created by California during the pandemic, but leave laws aren't anything new.

"There are people who are pregnant who have a right to stay home. There are people who are taking care of a child who is ill that have a right to stay home," Shaw said. "So these new leave laws that we have had to sort of get used to because of COVID19, those layer on the other leave that other people already had and are entitled to. So the employer really has to have a brush when theyre looking at the right does this person have an entitlement to not come back to work?"

As for if you're taking care of someone with a compromised immune system, but are healthy yourself, Shaw said if a physician or healthcare provider to the individual with the compromised immune system would like the caregiver to self-isolate in order to not expose the individual with the compromised immune system, they may be entitled to time off related to COVID-19.

As for Shaw's overall message, it's one of ensuring health and safety during this time to both employees and employers.

"I really want people to think about what is best for their health. I also want employers to think about whats best for their employees," said Shaw. "Everyone is struggling, supporting the community and we do have to have a little grace we maybe have to go a little farther than we have in the past in order to try and help and accommodate and make it work."

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Do you fall into the 'at-risk' category of COVID-19? Here are your rights before returning to work - ABC10.com KXTV

Could weed boost your immunity? Its possible. Some science suggests THC and CBD positively impact immunity.

Some claim that cannabis calms a cytokine storm, for example, preventing your immune system from overreacting against itself. Some even believe that cannabis is more effective than traditional drugs, or that its an effective medication for various illnesses.

Theres a lot of information (and misinformation) about cannabinoids and immunity. Today, were exploring what science says about cannabis and your immune system. Extensive research has already been put into cannabis and nutritional supplements, but given the gravity of the COVID-19 coronavirus health threat there is a necessary need to cover marijuana's THC and hemp's CBD and the whole cannabis plant's medicinal and therapeutic effects towards the body immune system's immunity.

While this cannabis use-related immune system guide is organized differently than the best CBD oils, drinks, gummies, and skincare rankings, there is much to be said, sorted and shown as marijuana and hemp make their way back into consumers medicine cabinets as a natural remedy and reemerging alternative. It's time to review what science says about cannabinoids and our immune system's function and whether or not cannabis can be a real immunity booster that individuals turn to based on medical research and scientific literature.

You could write a textbook on how the immune system works. Well provide a short version.

First, your immune system recognizes a foreign invader in your body. Your immune system detects a flu virus in your bloodstream, for example, and realizes it needs to take action.

In response to the foreign invader, your immune system sends white blood cells to the area to engulf the target. These white blood cells (also known as leukocytes) are the key to your immune system. Good white blood cells help your body fight foreign invaders.

There are other factors for immune response, including proteins called cytokines and lymphocytes. These compounds target specific types of invaders. White blood cells called phagocytes, for example, target invading organisms, while neutrophils help fight bacteria. These and other compounds work together to help your body fight off foreign invaders.

During this immune response, your body creates antibodies. Lymphocytes respond to the foreign invader by creating antibodies.

Antibodies can recognize foreign invaders and target them, but they cant fully destroy them without help. Thats why they join with T cells also known as killer cells to remove invaders from the body.

Some believe that cannabis boosts immunity by supporting different aspects of your immune system. Cannabis may actually help your immune system by suppressing it, preventing your immune system from overreacting against your body.

Cannabis contains natural chemicals called cannabinoids. Two of the best known cannabinoids include THC and CBD. These and other chemicals could help your body fight invaders, supporting your immune system in different ways.

The chemicals in cannabis target your endocannabinoid system, which includes CB1 receptors (mostly found in the brain) and CB2 receptors (mostly found in your peripheral nervous system or immune cells).

Science suggests theres a relationship between the endocannabinoid system and the immune system. But does that mean cannabis supports immunity? The answer is complicated.

The endocannabinoid system consists of two types of receptors, including:

CB1 Receptors: Mostly located in the brain.

CB2 Receptors: Mostly located in the peripheral nervous system or immune cells.

Immune cells have approximately 10 to 100 times more gene expression of CB2 compared to CB1. When endocannabinoids activate these receptors, they may control various immune system functions including cell signaling cascades and homeostasis of your immune system.

Science shows that endocannabinoids have a particularly noticeable effect on the lymph nodes and the gut, which have strong concentrations of immune cells.

Immune cells can even create their own cannabinoids. Yes, your body produces its own endogenous cannabinoids.

Immune cells create endogenous cannabinoids like 2-AG, which regulates your immune system.

These cannabinoids work differently from exogenous cannabinoids like THC and CBD, which come from outside the body.

Science suggests THC and CBD have immunosuppressive effects. That means they inhibit cell signaling that normally leads to pro-inflammatory immune system responses, also known as active immune responses.

Suppressing the immune system may seem like a bad thing but not necessarily. In many cases, its in your bodys best interest to suppress its immune system.

Weve established that exogenous cannabinoids (like THC and CBD) seem to suppress the immune system, changing your bodys immune response. Thats not necessarily a bad thing.

Chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and psoriasis occur when the immune system is overactive. Your immune system is dysregulated, and your immune responses are heightened. This creates inflammation and pain.

If you have chronic inflammation, then it could be linked to an overactive or ineffective immune system. Your body recognizes the foreign invader, and your body knows it needs to kill that foreign invader, but the compounds your body is sending to that foreign invader are not working to remove it from your body.

Over time, this ineffective immune response leads to inflammation and pain. For many, this inflammation and pain doesnt go away. Its chronic.

Thats why some suggest that THC and CBD can help. They reduce your bodys immune response, preventing it from overreacting against invaders. THC and CBD could relieve pain and discomfort caused by immune dysfunction.

CBD is prized for its ability to reduce inflammation. Science agrees, and CBD has shown some evidence of reducing inflammation when applied topically.

Inflammation sounds like a bad word, but its simply your bodys immune response. Your body sends white blood cells and other compounds to a location on your body, and this produces inflammation.

Toxins can also increase body inflammation, and inflammation seems to be a biomarker of disease. Inflammation may increase your risk of disease or illness, and many common diseases seem linked to inflammation.

This 2016 study showed that CBD applied transdermally (through your skin) significantly reduced arthritis by reducing certain cells related to the inflammatory immune response.

Researchers concluded that topical CBD application has therapeutic potential for relief of arthritis pain-related behaviors and inflammation without evidence side-effects, praising CBD gel for reducing joint swelling, improving limb posture scores, and boosting other metrics of arthritis.

CBD is prized for its ability to reduce arthritis pain, but increasing research shows other compounds in cannabis may have similar effects. Some cannabinoids suppress cytokines, for example, which appear to play a crucial role in inflammation.

Cytokines are a class of small proteins that play a crucial role in your immune system. Your body secretes cytokines, then sends cytokines to the source of infection.

That all sounds good but cytokine activity isnt always good in a problematic immune system. If your immune system is dysfunctional, then cytokines can do more harm than good.

The Spanish Flu of 1919 was unique because it killed young, healthy people with strong immune systems. Researchers found that the influenza virus triggered a cytokine storm: it forces the immune system to overreact, sending too many cytokines to the source of the infection. These cells got confused and attacked everything including crucial body functions. People with the strongest immune systems died in hours because of this cytokine storm.

Theres some evidence that COVID-19 reacts in a similar way. Some COVID-19 fatalities are linked to an overreacting immune system.

Tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNF-) is one type of cytokine. Overexpression of TNF- is linked with diseases like IBD and Crohns Disease. Theres also some evidence that TNF- is linked with cancers, anxiety, and depression.

We already know CBD can help with pain and inflammation related to IBD. However, certain studies have also found that CBD can lower TNF- levels in mice. This suggests that CBD could manage your bodys cytokine response, although more research is necessary.

Interleukins are another common type of cytokine. Interleukins affect your bodys immune response. Research shows interleukins are impacted by endogenous cannabinoids (produced by your body) and exogenous cannabinoids (like CBD and THC taken orally).

Some research suggests that cannabis affects interleukins, changing the way these cytokines respond. Other research, however, shows mixed results.

This 2019 study found that CBD alone did not inhibit a specific type of interleukin (IL-8), although a full spectrum version of cannabis sativa did inhibit IL-8.

Based on these results, its possible theres an entourage effect, with other cannabinoids also impacting your bodys immune response. CBD may not work on its own, but CBD combined with the other hundreds of chemicals in the cannabis plant could play a role in immune response.

As reported by Hanna Webster at Ganjapreneur, cannabis seems to target other immune system proteins, including one called NF-B. This protein is involved in immune regulation. It lays dormant in unstimulated cells, then is activated by signals coming from outside the cell.

NF-B is in charge of cell proliferation, cell survival responses, and other immune system responses. When NF-B is activated, it causes an immune response. Inhibiting this pathway can decrease chronic inflammation from excessive cell signaling.

Studies have found that cannabis sativa extract and CBD alone could impact the immune system. This 2019 study, for example, found that both cannabis sativa extract and CBD alone inhibited the NF-B pathway, mostly through TNF-, which can activate the NF-B pathway. These compounds also affected genes associated with skin inflammation, which could make the compounds valuable for conditions like psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis.

That study also revealed another complication of the immune system: all elements of your immune system seem interconnected. When cannabis impacts one aspect of your immune system like one type of cytokine it can also indirectly impact many other parts of your immune response.

When cells die, its called apoptosis. THC has been linked to apoptosis in multiple cell types.

Cell death may sound bad but it can actually be a good thing. Apoptosis is a natural body function. It clears away damaged cells, forcing your body to make new ones. New, healthy cells may be more effective. Older, damaged cells may be more prone to disease.

Studies have shown that CBD causes apoptosis in a variety of cell types. Scientists believe this effect is linked with the activation of CB2 receptors. When CB2 receptors are blocked, it prevents natural apoptosis. By activating CB2 receptors, cannabis may facilitate your bodys natural cell death process.

THC has been used to treat tumor suppression in cancer patients, and some researchers believe this is linked to cell death. By facilitating your bodys natural cell death processes, THC could help your body fight cancer and other invaders.

Dont get too excited about these anti-cancer benefits: researchers have found that certain cells, including breast cancer cells, are not impacted by cannabinoid-induced apoptosis. More research needs to be done to understand this connection.

Could cannabis treat or prevent the COVID-19 coronavirus? Theres no evidence supporting that claim.

In fact, evidence suggests that cannabis has immuno-suppressive effects, which means it weakens the immune system. This can be helpful for certain conditions say, if you have an overactive immune system. For conditions like the cold or flu virus, however, a weakened immune system is not a good thing.

Cannabis may suppress your immune system, inhibiting certain cytokines. Cytokines are the proteins that help your immune system do its job. By inhibiting these cytokines, cannabis could make your body more susceptible to cold or flu symptoms.

Despite the lack of evidence, you can find plenty of anecdotal evidence online proclaiming that CBD has antiviral applications and that it can reduce the risk of coronavirus, among other benefits.

Some argue that suppressing the immune system prevents the infamous cytokine storm, for example, where your immune system overreacts to the virus. Theres some evidence that COVID-19 fatalities are linked to an overreacting immune system, although this effect was more prominent in the 1919 Spanish Flu than in the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Overall, theres no scientific evidence analyzing how cannabis reacts to COVID-19 or the coronavirus. However, theres some evidence showing that CBD could treat viral infections.

Theres some small evidence that CBD has antiviral benefits. Because of these small studies, some suggest using CBD to treat the COVID-19 coronavirus. Lets take a closer look at this connection.

Researchers recently published an in vitro study showing that CBD had a direct antiviral effect against the Hepatitis C virus. Researchers inserted CBD into a test tube with the Hep C virus, then found it killed the virus.

In another study, researchers found that CBD reduced neuro-inflammation (inflammation in the brain) in a virus-induced animal model of multiple sclerosis. However, researchers believed these effects werent technically antiviral: instead, they were linked to the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD.

You can also find anecdotal evidence online of people using CBD to treat viral infections, including herpes and shingles.

A group of British and Italian researchers acknowledged these anecdotal reports in this study, where they concluded that evidence was plausible on the basis of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of CBD. However, researchers did not suggest CBD had an intrinsic antiviral effect.

Researchers in Israel are studying whether CBD could treat graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a potentially fatal condition with a mortality rate over 80%.

GVHD occurs when your immune system rejects an organ or bone marrow transplant. Your immune system recognizes the transplant as a foreign invader, then attacks the transplant, triggering a deadly chain reaction in the body.

Results are encouraging so far: researchers have found that CBD could suppress the bodys immune response to GVHD, which could increase the chances of a successful organ or bone marrow transplant.

Both COVID-19 fatalities and GVHD are triggered by extreme immune overresponses. However, GVHD is not triggered by a virus. Its possible CBD could suppress the immune system to prevent GVHD but have no impact on COVID-19.

What does all of this research mean about your cannabis usage and immunity?

First, it appears cannabinoids are immuno-suppressive. They suppress the immune system. Natural cannabis chemicals like THC and CBD significantly reduced cytokine expression.

Because cannabis suppresses the immune system, it could support some conditions but not others.

Weakening the immune system could help control your bodys response to inflammation and pain, for example, which could be caused by an overactive immune system. In some conditions, your immune system does more harm than good. Its overreacting, and that mean its less effective.

Suppressing the immune system isnt always a good thing, however.

Cannabis could have negative effects on conditions like HIV, for example, or any other condition where the patient has a weakened immune system. Cannabis may also be problematic for conditions where cells are not affected by cannabinoid-induced apoptosis (like the breast cancer cells mentioned above).

Theres some evidence that cannabinoids reduce inflammation. We know that CBD seems to reduce inflammation when applied trans-dermally, for example.

Theres also evidence that cannabinoids have a transient effect on the immune system, which means they help treat acute or chronic inflammation without affecting the immune systems long-term ability to defend itself. In other words, it could give your immune system a boost when needed without impairing its ability to do its job.

Overall, ordinary cannabis usage should not weaken your immune system on its own. However, if you are already sick, its possible that excessive cannabis usage could make the condition worse. Suppressing your immune system can reduce your bodys ability to fight the flu or cold virus, for example.

As more research gets released, were learning more about how cannabis affects the immune system in both positive and negative ways.

Read more:
Cannabis and Immunity: What Science Says About Cannabinoids and Immune Systems - HealthMJ

Here is a round-up of articles from Indian news publications on how the country is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. From Indias first recession that is not driven by agri sectors, to missing-in-action Parliament, and why a study suggests blood cancer patients usually survive Covid read these and more in todays India dispatch.

Expert Speak

This will be Indias first recession driven by non-agri sectors: Indias economy is now set to lose 10 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), thanks to the after-effects of Covid-19. Eight states in India contribute to more than 50 per cent of its GDP. Within these eight states, almost 42 per cent of the state GDP is driven by areas that are now considered red zones. How is it going to play out, and what is Indias overall economic prospect looking? Read this interview with D K Joshi, chief economist of the rating agency CRISIL. Read more

Opinion

Indias Parliament is missing in action: In ordinary times, Parliament would have its next session in the second half of July. In todays extraordinary circumstances, Parliament should meet sooner, perhaps within a couple of weeks. India prides itself in being the worlds largest democracy as well as the information technology provider to the world. It is imperative that Parliament harnesses the countrys IT strengths to buttress our credentials as a performing democracy. Read more here

Long Reads

Covid-19, population, and pollution a road map for the future: The impact of this pandemic is likely to be multidimensional, creating a health crisis in the first instance with spillover effects including hunger crisis, deepening of poverty, recession, and disequilibrium in the supply chain. There are two other aspects that are important for the long run, and that this pandemic has brought to our attention: pollution and population (density). Read more here

Indias poor may have lost Rs 4 trillion in the coronavirus lockdown: To avoid a livelihood crisis of severe magnitude in India, programmes by central and state governments should try to rebuild workers lost incomes through assistance in the form of cash or kind as well as through public works programmes. There is scope for launching a massive public works programme across the country which will address the problem of stagnant demand as well as of supply-side constraints. Read more here

Managing Covid-19

From treatment to medical gear, patients paying more in Covid times: The central government and courts have stepped in to regulate some prices but not others. For example, the Supreme Court set a cap of Rs 4,500 on RT-PCR testing, the Delhi High Court mandated that antibody kits be sold to the Indian Council for Medical Research at Rs 400 and the government capped the prices of hand sanitisers and surgical masks.

But several vital items were left out of price regulation; these include N95 masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), face shields, goggles, the charges for being admitted into intensive care and the overall treatment charges. Read more here

In Mumbai, Covid-19 patients are dying as they wait for ambulances and hospital beds: In public hospitals, coronavirus patients have been asked to share beds, sleep on the floor, or share wards with corpses that have been left on beds for hours because families refuse to claim them. People calling the corporations Covid-19 helpline are often told there are no beds available. The situation is no better with ambulances the states 108 helpline runs barely 100 ambulances in the city, private ambulance services are expensive and insufficient, and patients are left high and dry when they need help the most. Read more here

Karnataka increases quarantine time to 3 weeks for Maharashtra returnees: The Karnataka government has tweaked quarantine requirements for people arriving from Maharashtra, raising the isolation time from a fortnight to three weeks, an official said on Wednesday. The 21-day quarantine regimen is for all asymptomatic people returning from Maharashtra, considering most of the Covid-19 cases reported in Karnataka are having domestic travel history to that state. Read more here

Factories open in Noida, but where are the workers? After the lockdown, the government has given permission to reopen factories and industries to boost Indias economy. But, where are the factory workers? Ironically, during the third phase of lockdown, several industries were allowed to open but at the same time, the government also started special Shramik trains that saw migrant workers leave en masse. Read more here

Understanding Covid-19

If otherwise fit, blood cancer patients usually survive Covid: People with blood cancer are expected to be at higher risk of Covid-19 infection due to a weakened immune system from the cancer and the treatment they receive. Clinical researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Barts Health NHS Trust have now studied the outcome of Covid-19 infection in patients with blood cancer. The study found that even if patients were actively having intensive treatment for blood cancer that weakened their immune system, they usually recovered from Covid-19 as long as they were otherwise fit and well. Read more here

The human bodys immune response to the novel coronavirus: Understanding the bodys response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is important to comprehend the underlying mechanisms of vaccines and antiviral drugs. Coronaviruses have not popped up all of a sudden. We have been living with various human and animal coronaviruses for decades. Nevertheless, this novel coronavirus is wreaking havoc owing to its rapid rate of transmission. Further investigation will unravel the complete behavioural patterns of this virus, allowing researchers to develop a potential vaccine soon. Read more here

More:
India coronavirus dispatch: The human bodys immune response to the virus - Business Standard

Maybe it's more home-cooked meals or more cleaning days in your household.

Our worlds were rocked by this pandemic. And by "worlds", I mean our collective world and our own individual worlds. It's been a rough few months and I pray that we are able to get past this quickly and get some normalcy back.

However, we may have picked up some new habits during this down time.

I'm a believer that you can establish both good and bad habits in a matter of 30 days if done with consistency. For most of the nation, our lockdown was double that time. So what habits have you formed or what kind of behavior changes have you seen since the shutdown in March?

A recent Harris Poll, done for the University of Phoenix, reveals that we are living our lives differently than we did before the pandemic hit.

One major, and obvious, change is our cleaning regimen. 70 percent of respondents say that they are scrubbing down the house more. And speaking of changes within the house, 61 percent of us are cooking at home more and 50 percent are stocking the kitchen and pantry for emergency situations.

We've also become a little more thoughtful. 29 percent of poll takers say they have stopped making impulsive decisions. I believe this is because when you act impulsively, there is usually money being spent. Since we're all pinching our pennies a little more, I'm thinking we're exercising more caution. For me, this means I'm visiting Target less often since I can't control myself in that store.

How have things changed in your household or for just you as an individual?

Excerpt from:
How Have Your Habits Changed In the Midst of This Pandemic? - k99.com

Washington, Jun 6 (PTI) Scientists have observed that a drug which is already approved to treat several blood cancers, is associated with reduced respiratory distress and a reduction in the overactive immune response in COVID-19 patients, an advance that may lead to a potential therapeutic for novel coronavirus infection.

According to the researchers, including those from the National Cancer Institute in the US, the cancer drug acalabrutinib blocked the protein Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) in COVID-19 patients, and provided clinical benefit to a small group of them.

The study, published in the journal Science Immunology, noted that the findings should not be considered clinical advice, and remain to be tested in a randomised, controlled clinical trial.

The BTK protein, according to the scientists, plays an important role in the immune system, including in macrophages which are immune cells that can cause inflammation by producing proteins known as cytokines.

These proteins, the researchers said, act as chemical messengers that help to stimulate and direct the immune response.

In some patients with severe COVID-19, the study said a large amount of cytokines are released in the body all at once, causing the immune system to damage the function of organs such as the lungs -- a process known as a "cytokine storm."

The current study involved 19 patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis that required hospitalisation, as well as with low blood-oxygen levels and evidence of inflammation.

According to the scientists, 11 of the 19 patients had been receiving supplemental oxygen for a median of two days, and eight others had been on ventilators for a median of 1.5 days.

The study noted that within one to three days after they began receiving the cancer drug, majority of patients in the supplemental oxygen group experienced a substantial drop in inflammation, and their breathing improved.

It said eight of the 11 patients were able to come off supplemental oxygen, and were discharged from the hospital.

Although the benefit of acalabrutinib was reported to be less dramatic in patients on ventilators, the scientists said four of the eight patients were able to come off the ventilator, two of whom were eventually discharged.

According to the scientists, the ventilator patient group was extremely clinically diverse and included patients who had been on a ventilator for prolonged periods of time and had major organ dysfunction.

Two of the patients in this group died, they said.

An analysis of blood samples from the patients revealed that the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a major cytokine associated with hyperinflammation in severe COVID-19, decreased after treatment with acalabrutinib.

The scientists said counts of lymphocytes, an immune cell type associated with worse outcome in COVID-19 patients, also rapidly improved in most patients.

When the researchers tested blood cells from patients with severe COVID-19, who were not in the study, and compared it with samples from healthy volunteers, they found that the patients with severe COVID-19 had higher activity of the BTK protein and greater production of IL-6.

Based on these findings, they suggested that acalabrutinib may have been effective since its target, BTK, is hyperactive in severe COVID-19 immune cells.

However, in a note of caution, the scientists also mentioned in the study that the most common adverse events associated with long-term acalabrutinib therapy included "low-grade headache, diarrhea, pyrexia and upper respiratory tract infections."

They said the safety profile of acalabrutinib in patients with severe COVID-19 needs to be confirmed in a prospective clinical trial.

"Further correlative studies will be needed to understand the basis for response or resistance to BTK inhibition in patients with such advanced disease," the scientists wrote in the study. PTI VISVIS

Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI

Excerpt from:
Drug used to treat cancer might help reduce COVID-19 severity in patients: Study - Outlook India

by: News Release & Posted By Staff | newsweb@everythinglubbock.com

Artist rendering of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.(Photo provided by Texas Tech University)

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) The following is a news release from Texas Tech University:

TheCancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas(CPRIT) has awarded a transformative grant to theTexas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillodesigned to bring to the schools growing faculty one of the worlds leading cellular and molecular biologists.

The $1.4 million grant will allow Klementina Fon Tacer, a postdoctoral researcher at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, since 2016, to join the veterinary school faculty. Supported by this award, Fon Tracer will investigate the novel mechanisms that protect mammalian germ cells against stress and how those mechanisms are co-opted in cancer, with the ultimate goal of advancing cancer treatment and fertility preservation of childhood cancer survivors.

The hope is Fon Tacers research will establish a strong foundation for a comparative oncology research center in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

What we do and why we do it is simple. We are here to benefit Texas and Texans, saidGuy Loneragan, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Fon Tacer is going to change lives for generations to come. When we first had the chance to meet her, it was clear. Her research is transformative and will impact countless Texans in the years ahead. I am so thankful to the CPRIT Oversight Committee for awarding Texas Tech this recruitment award to make it possible to bring Dr. Fon Tacer to Texas and to the School of Veterinary Medicine. Her work in comparative oncology will save lives.

The Recruitment of First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members Award, one of seven awarded by CPRIT this week and part of 13 academic research recruitment and product development awards totaling $56 million, is the first CPRIT grant awarded to the School of Veterinary Medicine, which is scheduled to open its doors to students for the first time in the fall of 2021.

Fon Tacer earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. She also holds a Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Ljubljana.

Fon Tacer is not new to Texas, having served as a postdoctoral researcher and Fulbright Fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas from 2006-2008. From there, she returned to the University of Ljubljana as a postdoctoral researcher and later as an adjunct assistant professor on the veterinary faculty at the University of Ljubljana until 2012.

Among her research interests at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital are melanoma antigen genes (MAGE), very common cancer immunotherapy targets and their role in cancer reproduction, metabolism and stress response.

We are very excited to have support from CPRIT for building the faculty of our new School of Veterinary Medicine, saidJoseph Heppert, vice president of theOffice of Research & Innovation. One-health research themes developed by faculty like Dr. Tacer will have enormous benefits for both human and animal health. TheTexas Tech University Systemhas strong potential for collaboration in one-health research across the Texas Tech andTexas Tech University Health Science Centercampuses, and we are extremely proud to be adding new faculty who will capitalize on these opportunities.

Thanks to the generosity of Amarillo and communities across Texas, and the commitment of legislators from around the state, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, established in 2018, is working to enroll its first class in the fall of 2021, pending approval by the AVMA Council on Education.

The School of Veterinary Medicine will recruit and select students with a passion to practice and succeed in rural and regional communities. Its curriculum is focused on the competencies and skills necessary for success in practices that support these communities. Texas Techs innovative and cost-efficient model partners with the wider community of veterinary practices across the state to provide clinical, real-world experiential learning.

In June 2019,Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the biennial state budget, which appropriated $17.35 million for the School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillothat will go toward operational needs in order to get the school up and running. The appropriation included language directing Texas Tech to move forward in establishing the school.

To date, CPRIT has awarded almost $2.5 billion in grants to Texas research institutions and organizations through its academic research, prevention and product development research programs. CPRIT has recruited 181 distinguished researchers, supported the establishment, expansion or relocation of 36 companies to Texas and generated more than $3 billion in additional public and private investment. CPRIT funding has advanced scientific and clinical knowledge and provided 5.7 million life-saving cancer prevention and early detection services, reaching Texans from all 254 counties. In November 2019, voters in Texas approved a constitutional amendment authorizing an additional $3 billion in bonds for cancer research and prevention.

(News release from Texas Tech University)

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TTU School of Veterinary Medicine receives $1.4 Million CPRIT recruitment grant - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine has completed a summary of seasonal influenza over the past two years.Dr Susan Detmer, an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says COVID-19 has presented an interesting scenario.

Speaking to Farmscape, she explains:

"With less movement of people, even between the provinces in Canada, we're actually seeing less disease and less transmission. There's still movements of pigs and we do see viruses move with the movement of pigs. We are seeing that happen, the viruses are on these farms so they're not going to just disappear.

"But we do expect to see less influenza in people so long as they're doing their social distancing, they're not interacting with large groups, they're not travelling on planes. All of that is going to hopefully benefit the pigs this fall.

"We'll see what happens but it is something that some of us are keeping an eye on because, this time of year it's southern hemisphere. Australia, South America, those areas where flu is transmitting still because it's their winter time, what comes back to us come next fall, we'll if that is any different.

"If there's less virus being transmitted in Australia because they're trying to stop the Coronavirus from transmitting as well, then we could actually have a better fall flu season because people are not interacting at the levels that they normally would."

Dr Detmer says all of those steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19, staying home when sick, self isolating, creating bubbles around families, wearing facemasks, are all going to help stop the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza.

Read more:
COVID-19 control efforts appear to be containing swine flu - The Pig Site

Editors note: The following letters are part of an ongoing conversation about diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine that started when dvm360 published this article late last year. For the beginning of the conversation, the original letters can be found here and here.

I would like to make one final comment and response about recent letters to the editor regarding the whitest profession in America. I believe Dr. McKenzies assertion that the makeup of our profession is predominantly white as a result of systemic racism is incorrect. (More on the whitest profession, April 2020). It is obvious from his website that Dr. McKenzie is a firm believer in evidence-based medicine. In this discussion, the evidence and statistics from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) do not support his assertion.

According to the AAVMC, the percentage of underrepresented minorities applying to veterinary colleges in 2016 was 21.6%, and the actualenrollment in those same programs was almost identical (21.1%). Im not a statistician, but this leads me to conclude, perhaps naively,that the makeup of the veterinary student population and of our profession as a whole mirrors the racial makeup of the applicant pool. (The same holds true for the percentage of women now enrolled in U.S. and Canadian veterinary programs. Most classes are 80% female, reflecting the 82% of female applicants in the 2016 AAVMC report.)

Despite many initiatives, including by my alma mater, Purdue University, the number of underrepresented minorities applying to veterinary colleges is still way below that of white applicants, and there is no evidence to support that the admissions to veterinary schools are or have been the result of intentional discrimination or systemic racism.

The good news is that the percentage of minorities graduating in 2016 was 15.8%substantially higher than the approximately 4.5% when I graduated from Purdue's DVM program in 1982, with most of the gains being made since the launch ofthe Diversity Matters initiative in 2005.

In 1969, one of my early mentors who allowed me to job shadow was an African-American graduate of Tuskegee University. He was instrumental in my decision to become a veterinarian.During my 38-year career, I have never known (nor can I imagine) a colleague who was unwilling to encourage or mentor elementary, high school or college students of any minority group that showed interest in our profession.

My concern is that using the terminology the whitest profession in America will in fact dissuade underrepresented minorities from seeking to join our profession by insinuating that the deck is stacked against them before they even attempt to shadow a veterinarian or pursue an education that will prepare them for admission to colleges of veterinary medicine. In this regard, I believe words matter.

Likewise, should I be expected to dissuade my white, privileged grandsons from seeking a career in veterinary medicine, as we must now and for the foreseeable future balance the racial makeup of the profession? Shouldsimilar programs developed to attract underrepresented minorities to veterinary medicine be made available to them?

I thank Dr. McKenzie for his feedback. I was very hesitant to get involved in discussions about race, but once again, Imust disagree about using the term whitest profession in America. I believe it does nothing to enhance the promotion of diversity in our profession.

Dr. Paul Clemente

Fort Wayne, Indiana

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

I appreciate Dr. Clementes willingness to engage in a discussion of such a contentious topic, and I acknowledge the difficulty in having substantive conversations about such a complex issue in the letters page of a magazine. However, I feel obliged to point out that his understanding of my comments, and of the role of racism in the demographic makeup of the veterinary profession, is incorrect.

That the proportion of veterinarians from underrepresented groups (at least those that are tracked) is similar to the proportion of applicants from those groups to veterinary colleges suggests that intentional discrimination in admissions is not the reason for the disproportionate predominance of white veterinarians. This is encouraging, both because such a direct manifestation of racism would reflect badly on the profession and because it would be a clear violation of federal law.

This does not demonstrate, however, that systematic racism is not at work or that the poor representation of specific groups is due to a natural or inherent lack of interest among those groups in joining the profession. The composition of the applicant pool reflects a much more insidious and widespread constellation of factors that impede potential applicants from underrepresented communities at a much earlier stage on the path to becoming veterinarians. This includes disparities in educational opportunities and resources as well as a paucity of mentors and role models in the profession to encourage children in minority communities to consider veterinary medicine as a career. This lack of representation in our profession, not the acknowledgment of it in the phrase whitest profession in America, is one of the barriers to greater diversity. Sadly, the deck is stacked against people of color, and solving the problem begins with clearly and honestly labeling it.

The suggestion that diversity and inclusion is a zero sum game in which white men must be discriminated against to make room for others is an outdated and disappointingly simplistic characterization of the problem and the available solutions. Dr. Clementes grandsons are indeed privileged that their ethnicity is not an obstacle to their career aspirations, as it still too often is for people of color. They should be encouraged to pursue their ambitions and, with a grandfather who is a veterinarian, they can likely see themselves as part of a profession that looks comfortable and familiar. The grandchildren of people of color should have the same opportunities and encouragement as Dr. Clemente provides his grandsons, and right now they frequently do not. Inclusion means making such encouragement and opportunities available to everyone, not discriminating against one group to favor another.

I would encourage Dr. Clemente, and everyone interested in inclusion and diversity in veterinary medicine, to read Navigating Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine, edited by Lisa M. Greenhill and colleagues. This excellent, evidence-based resource traces the roots of the problem and offers strategies for improvement.

Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMDThe SkeptVet

Read more:
Final words on the 'whitest profession' - dvm360

One of the most common COVID-19 tests involves a long swab pressed deep into the nasal cavities and while the test can be administered quickly, it has been described as unpleasant and uncomfortable.

Now researchers at The Ohio State University are working on a testing system that would require a simple exhaled breath. Perena Gouma is the primary investigator of a team developing a breathalyzer device that will sample breath for key biomarkers of the infection. She says it would serve as an alternative to current tests that are expensive, can take a long time to get results and require specialized personnel to do the sampling and to analyze the results.

Gouma, director of the Advanced Ceramics Research Laboratory and professor in the College of Engineering, is working with co-investigator Andrew Bowman, associate professor of veterinary preventive medicine. The project was awarded a nearly $200,000 National Science Foundation EAGER grant this month under a program supporting exploratory, early-stage research on untested, but potentially transformative, ideas or approaches.

Breath analysis is not really a technique that is used widely in the medical field yet, so it is considered early-stage work, Gouma said. [We] have a sensor device that detects nitric oxide and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in breath and can be used to tell you about the onset of an infectious disease.

In addition to nitric oxide, the device examines two other metabolites that could specifically indicate the presence of a COVID-19 infection even in asymptomatic patients. Exhaling once in the breathalyzer may help with earlier detection of the onset of the disease, as well as with monitoring of the severity of the infection, which could help reduce the risk for worsening of the symptoms and allow timely therapeutic intervention, she said.

The new project builds upon Goumas invention of a hand-held breathmonitor that may provide early detection of flu before symptoms appearprior to her arrival at Ohio State. The COVID-19 breathalyzer involves advances on nanomaterials for detecting specific breath gases at the concentrations of interest for making a diagnosis.

The breathalyzer gives results rapidly (15 seconds response time), it is extremely inexpensive, and it is easy to use so that there is no need for trained personnel to perform the test, Gouma said. The results can be viewed directly on the display or they can be transferred to the physician wirelessly.

We are working on making these hand-held monitors that will be widely distributed and theyre very inexpensive, she said. The technology evolved from the sensors used for monitoring gases in an automotive exhaust thats how we started on breath analysis 20 years ago.

Gouma said the NSF-funded project would not have been possible without the collaboration with the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Medicine and the Wexner Medical Center. She said these connections make Ohio State very appealing for interdisciplinary research between engineering and medicine (nanomedicine).

Thats one of the advantages of Ohio State. You dont find many institutions that have the No. 1 vet med school in the world and also a world-class medical school, she said. Its also serendipity because COVID-19 is a zoonosis, a disease that comes from animals, and the vet med school had years of experience studying coronaviruses and the flu in animals.

Furthermore, the Wexner Medical Center has been treating COVID-19 patients from the beginning of the pandemic, so it offers unique insights to this project.

Gouma said the collaboration is critical for engineers developing medical diagnostics for humans and animals who need to consult with colleagues who have expertise in medicine to ensure that the ideas have merit and to validate their claims through clinical trials.

If the device proves to be accurate, portable and effective, it could be used to screen travelers before they step on a flight or to test students and teachers before they head back into the classroom. It would also be used in the Medical Intensive Care Units and in every hospital and doctors office as a bedside test. Gouma said the breathalyzer technology may become the platform to help detect metabolic problems like cancer, Alzheimers disease or diabetes, by choosing the appropriate biomarker

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Ohio State researchers testing breathalyzer to detect COVID-19 - The Ohio State University News

Should people be wary when cats jump into their laps? Is it okay to pet someones dog passing by on the street? Are veterinarians in danger during checkups?

Since March, a team of Tufts researchers has tested hundreds of animals looking for clues on whether they can get the virus and pass it along to humans, or vice versa, in the Coronavirus Epidemiological Research and Surveillance (CoVERS) study.

We know this virus came out of the animal population, so theres some reason to believe this could affect other animals, said Dr. Jonathan Runstadler, professor of infectious diseases and global health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts. We know there are sporadic reports of transmission from humans to pets.

The risk of the virus spreading in the other direction, from animals to humans, is considered to be low, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website.

A German shepherd from New York became the first dog to test positive for the virus in the country, the US Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday. Several cats have tested positive since late April.

Out of the nearly 400 animals the Tufts team has sampled, none have tested positive.

Along with common domestic animals, the Tufts team has tested pigs, bats, horses, and exotic animals, according to Runstadler.

The lack of positive tests was expected, Runstadler said, but its no reason for the team to stop the research any time soon.

[The pandemic] is an active outbreak, and with viral outbreaks, things can change, he said.

To test animals, the team uses materials similar to those in a human test kit. The researchers assemble kits themselves, including swabs, media, and molecular reagents.

In the first phase of the study, animal owners who have volunteered get their animals tested at the lab or gather nasal and mouth swabs from their pets at home and submit them.

The best outcome would be that we dont see infections in animals, and that we see that trend continue over time, and that its not a risk, Runstadler said.

The second phase of the study focuses on pets owned by people who have the virus or are at higher risk of having the virus due to contact with someone who was infected. Researchers are looking for the rare circumstances in which a human may have transmitted the virus to an animal, or the even rarer circumstance in which the animal transmits the virus to a human, Runstadler said.

Researchers are particularly interested in these circumstances for future reference, Runstadler said.

When the next pandemic occurs, the Tufts researchers want scientists to have a solid understanding of animal transmission to be better prepared.

We expect that events like this epidemic will happen again, Runstadler said.

The research will end, he said, when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

Matt Berg can be reached at matthew.berg@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @mattberg33.

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Does Fido have coronavirus? Tufts researchers are testing hundreds of animals to find out - The Boston Globe

As people begin to go back to work and offices as well as venture out of the house more frequently, their pets might experience some separation anxiety after all this extra time at home. Experts offer advice on how to best prepare your pets for more time alone.

As the state reopens and more people return to their jobs, offices and some pre-coronavirus routines, local veterinarians expect their phone lines to get a bit busier.

And not just because pet owners feel more comfortable bringing in their furry friends for minor or preventative procedures.

Separation anxiety is an issue many pet owners will deal with the next few months as people begin to leave their homes more frequently and for longer periods, said Dr. Robert Knapp, of Knapp Veterinary Hospital in Clintonville.

There are a whole bunch of animals out there that will be learning a new normal, Knapp said.

From getting walked every few hours to snuggling on the couch during Netflix binges to showing off during Zoom meetings, pets received a huge boost in quality time during the early stages of the pandemic. That will undoubtedly change, now, no matter what a familys new normal is.

While people who recently added a pet to their families stay-at-home orders produced an uptick in dog adoptions might have more difficulties, those who had pets before COVID-19 could still see problems, especially if those animals have a history of anxiety.

If your dog has historically been crated, youve got to get him back in the crate, Knapp said. He probably hasnt been in a crate for six or eight weeks.

Knapp and other animal experts said there are a number of things pet owners, whether new or seasoned, can do to ease their pets transition.

To help, Dr. M. Leanne Lilly and her office at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, where she works as an instructor and practitioner in behavioral medicine, created a flier when the pandemic first hit Ohio titled Mitigating separation-related behaviors when youre home now, but wont always be.

Roughly half of all dogs experience separation-related behaviors, Lilly said. Some are predisposed to it because of breed or have an increased risk if they came from a shelter.

Behaviors, such as a dog always following its owner to the bathroom or whining when alone in a room, might signal that the pet will experience separation anxiety. But its always best to prepare for the possibility during a transition like this, Lilly said.

The first step is to start leaving the house around a typical time for short periods get the dog used to hearing the garage door open or keys jingle. Then pay close attention to how the dog acts.

Spending time separated from your dog is really important for you and your dog so they can learn that being home alone is normal, Lilly said. If you leave really delicious food out for them and they wont eat it until you come home, then you know theyre in distress. Or if they have excessive panting or whining when you leave or come home.

Most dogs exhibit excited behavior when their owners return, but the intensity (knocking over furniture) and duration (cant calm down for 35 minutes) can be concerning.

They were really worried you werent ever coming home, Lilly said.

More obvious signs of anxiety include urination, defecation, piles of drool or destruction.

However, Knapp said to not hesitate to reach out to veterinarians at the earliest signs before your favorite shoes get chewed up.

Knapp recommends going through morning routines several weeks in advance. Instead of leaving, though, sit on the couch.

All the things that wind a dog up to say, Oh youre leaving me, and then you do things like sit down and give them a treat and they think, Oh, theyre not leaving me, Knapp said.

Walking the dog predeparture can release any pent-up energy, but ensure theres enough time for the pooch to calm down before leaving.

Now is the best time to reach out to veterinarians for advice on whether medications, supplements or calming pheromones might be necessary, Knapp said. They can make other individualized recommendations, too, such as playing classical music.

This is on our radar, Knapp said. All veterinarians are aware that as we go back to work, getting pets acclimated is something were going to have to help with.

New dog owner Carol Schwiebert knows there will be an adjustment period as she and her husband, Adam, both head back to work in the next month, leaving their 1-year-old Labrador mix, Austin, at home. The Hilliard couple adopted him in March.

Its such a big shock as hes used to being around us 24/7, Schwiebert said.

She feels better knowing she can watch Austin on the pet camera they were gifted (cameras can be a beneficial in diagnosis and treatment, experts said) and will be able to spot any early signs of distress. Theyre ready to put him in a crate hes trained if necessary.

Plus, she plans to walk Austin on lunch breaks.

We probably should avoid doing communal lunches (at work), she said, citing coronavirus concerns. A quick bite and walk outside the office seems like a good idea.

Other experts think the workplace could actually continue to evolve to the benefit of pets.

Steven Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute in Washington, D.C., said he believes more people will have the flexibility to work from home and more businesses might welcome pets as the workplace continues to morph.

Weve had this wonderful experience with our pets being with us, why not take them to work with you? Feldman said. Weve seen a real trend toward a pet-friendly workplace and I think well continue to see a trend to more work-life balance where we work and that will be a lasting effect of the pandemic.

award@dispatch.com

@AllisonAWard

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Animal experts offer tips to ward off pet stress as owners head back to work - The Columbus Dispatch

People whove encountered swimmer Raena Eldridge, the 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year, say she is thoughtful, compassionate, goal-driven and interested in making a positive impact in the world.

From the first time she arrived at Texas A&M University after graduating from Rockwall High School in 2015, Eldridge wanted to exceed expectations. Whether it was engaging in community service beyond what was asked of her or picking demanding courses and adding a second major, she never backed down.

The daughter of Eric and Wendy Eldridge was an eight-time state medalist for Rockwall High School in swimming and was the 2012 state champion in the 50-meter freestyle. She was also a National Merit Scholar and graduated seventh in her class.

It helped that I was very interested in the subjects, and when youre interested in something its so much easier to do, says Eldridge, 23. Also, A&M athletics brings resources to us. They have study halls, computer lab study rooms and tutors available all the resources you need to succeed.

My teammates were also pursuing pretty intense majors, like engineering or other STEM majors, and when youre surrounded by a team thats pursuing excellence in everything that they do, its pretty easy to hop on board and do the same. My teammates were my best study buddies.

Chris Barttelbort, assistant athletic director, academic services, says Eldridge made it clear early on that she wanted to pursue graduate school after earning her bachelors degree. Barttelbort also serves as Eldridges scholastic supervisor. Having spent five years at Texas A&M because of a torn ACL her freshman year, Eldridge had the time to focus on what science-related field that would be, ultimately deciding on veterinary school.

With only 33 veterinary schools in the country, admissions are highly competitive, but Eldridge received five acceptances and will be attending North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (ranked fourth in the nation).

She recognized that she was going to need other things beside grades and test scores on her resume to differentiate herself from other candidates, Barttelbort says. We have a lot of community service you can do through the athletic department, but she also brought things outside of that.

Eldridge started her own non-profit organization, SPLASH, Inc., which gives free swimming lessons to low income kids, and she also participates in a faith-based organization, Save Our Streets Ministry, where she mentors elementary schoolgirls. Shes taken on leadership roles within the athletic department, including being a team captain for the swim team the last two years.

In the pool, Eldridge hit her stride these past two years, qualifying for the NCAA championships in individual events for the first time this year. She received multiple Southeastern Conference and all-America honors.

She received Texas A&Ms Bill Erwin Scholar Athlete of the Year Award in 2019, given for the highest level of academics and athletics balanced by any female athlete on campus.

Shes very driven, very determined and very loyal, says Tanica Jamison, associate head coach of swimming and diving. Shes always been someone that her teammates could count on.

If there was anything the head coach or I challenged her with, she always welcomed those challenges and was open to our suggestions on how to improve, she adds. Shes someone that will listen, someone whos confident in who she is, someone whos willing to help others.

Humble, Eldridge thanks the coaching staff for seeing her potential, when she was concerned whether she could measure up to Texas A&Ms fast times. I improved every year because of [head coach] Steve Bultmans training and his ability to see in me more than I was able to see in myself, she says.

Her results in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships earned her a spot in the Olympic trials, but with the Olympics postponed to 2021, she has announced her retirement from swimming.

Growing up participating in club swimming, Eldridge saw the sport as individualistic. The universitys swim program emphasized teamwork and that gave her not only best friends, but a sense of unity. Representing her university also pushed Eldridge to excel.

To know that everything I do is going to represent the school as a whole, gave me purpose, drive and the sense of doing something bigger than just me and my own accomplishments, she says. If I was doing everything for myself to improve my chances for [vet school] it would have been a lot less meaningful. Having this team, having the training and the competitions, it gave me the meaning that I needed. Through that, Ive learned so much that prepares me for vet school: discipline, work ethic, leadership, compassion. It taught me things I needed that I dont think I would have gotten elsewhere.

The Arthur Ashe Jr. award is named for the tennis champion, who was known for his love of tennis and commitment to education. He died in 1993.

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RHS graduate named Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year - Rockwall County Herald Banner

To the UC Davis Community:

Our Community Moment of Silence three days ago was just the beginning. Renetta Garrison Tull asked us to take a stand against racism. Kayton Carter implored us to go beyond the moment. I encouraged us to work together to effect change. And we are.

Renetta Garrison Tull is our vice chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which organized Tuesday afternoons moment of silence for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Californias own Stephon Clark, Floridas Tony McDade and many others. Kayton Carter is the executive director of Student Affairs Retention Initiatives and the director of the Center for African Diaspora Student Success.

We livestreamed the program (see the video recording at the top of this page) and kept it small, by necessity, with just three people speaking from Mrak Hall: Vice Chancellor Tull, Director Carter and me. As Vice Chancellor Tull noted: We are not hiding the fact that were African Americans standing here, coming in during a pandemic the people around us all have masks but we needed to say something.

We are not the only ones speaking out about the killing of black men and women, including George Floyd, who died May 25 while in the custody of Minneapolis police. Over the last two weeks, we have seen statements of outrage from all corners of the university, including heartfelt messages from deans, coaches and the police chief.

See ally letters and links here.

Vice Chancellor Tull recounted a conversation with her mother and brother and other family members over Zoom last Friday. We talked about the times when weve been stopped by police for no reason, she said. I remember this happening as a child, sitting in the car with my father, so this is not new.

Director Carter offered a list of incidents dating back almost 100 years to the Black Wall Street Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a black shoemaker was accused of assaulting a woman, and it led to the deaths of some 300 people and the destruction of an entire black community. (A state commission in 2001 concluded the shoemaker had most likely tripped and accidentally stepped on the womans foot.)

Director Carter also noted the deaths of Abner Louima and Amadou Diallo, while Vice Chancellor Tull added the names of Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin. Too many to name, she said. We are in the midst of a pandemic, where more than 100,000 people have died of COVID-19, and even in the midst of that, we must take some time to acknowledge the reality of racism and unjust deaths of black lives, which is centuries old.

I read parts of the statement I put out last week, with some additions. I work in the ivory tower of academia, but I live in the real world. Im constantly reminded of that fact: driving while black, shopping while black, cooking out while black, exercising while black. It is exhausting. And Im tired.

George Floyd could have been any African American man, including me. At a traffic stop, no one knows I am a chancellor. No one knows I have a Ph.D.

I am a lifelong educator, a black man whose parents endured segregation personally. Ive spent much of my career working to increase diversity on college campuses and in the workforce. I think a lot about how America has not made as much progress as we often claim. Recent events have only reaffirmed the need to build an inclusive society that recognizes and respects people of all backgrounds and experiences.

But inclusion like social justice doesnt come easily. It requires collective effort. It requires each one of us working to make a difference, whether thats through getting involved in your community, peaceful protesting or doing what you can to change procedures that reflect bias. And dont forget to vote.

As Director Carter said, we must go beyond the moment. He challenged the UC Davis community: In the spaces where there are no African diaspora people, if you experience and witness racism, take a stand.

Vice Chancellor Tull agreed: This doesnt stop here. Just because we had this moment this afternoon and weve taken time to affirm black lives, to address and call out injustice, we have to keep going and we have to make sure that we do more.

The School of Law wasted no time holding a forum the day after the Community Moment of Silence, drawing almost 170 people for an online discussion of next steps. Among them, as announced by Dean Kevin Johnson: a King Hall speakers series on racial justice. This is an issue we should address day in and day out, not just [when something happens], he said.

In closing Tuesdays program of remembrance, Vice Chancellor Tull said: It may take us to stand up, to be an upstander, to actually intervene, and well have workshops for that. In the meanwhile, we also know that we have to take time to heal. And, so, we thank you, and again we ask you to remember, to think, to read, to listen, reflect, learn, plan and act, recognizing that black lives do indeed matter and that we are all going to go forward together.

See Resources for Racial Trauma, compiled by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This page will be updated with programs and other events, as well as new resources and other information.

On top of the pandemic, the killing of George Floyd and the ensuing national protests have only added to students stress and anxiety as the quarter comes to an end. In response, the Academic Senate this week authorized faculty to offer students the alternative of receiving spring quarter grades based on work completed by the last day of instruction (June 4), provided that instructors also administer their scheduled final exams to the students who want the tests. Many students rely on finals to improve their course grades.

As we informed students in a letter yesterday, it is the instructors decision whether they want to make their final optional. If the instructor determines that a final is required, we encouraged them to consider accommodations on a case-by-case basis and let students know how to make such requests, because some students may not feel empowered to initiate these conversations. We also asked faculty to consider approving requests for incompletes, giving students additional time to complete coursework or to achieve research or project milestones.

This change in final exam policy expanded the senates earlier actions to provide flexibilities for students around choosing the grading options Passed/Not Passed (for undergraduates) and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (for graduate students). The senate also extended the deadline for students to select the course grading mode to the last day of instruction. Although this deadline has now passed, students can later petition the Grade Change Committee to modify their grading mode for a course retroactively (for example, change a passing letter grade to a P after the term is over). Although we cannot guarantee that the committee will approve all petitions, we fully anticipate that they will take the present circumstances into account when evaluating future requests.

Academic Senate and university leaders this week also communicated with faculty about their role in serving students as part of a community: We must recognize that while we have pledged to be their teachers, we, as professors, cannot forget that we are also together in journey of lifelong learning that calls for embracing these profound moments of disruption and discomfort as opportunities for individual and collective growth.

Get ready for Tuesdays launch of Campus Ready, the Finance, Operations and Administration website to help ensure UC Davis is campus ready for you as we gradually resume administrative and office work in step with the gradual return of research and students over the coming months.

Weve already posted our guidelines for this process. They include a requirement for every work site (e.g., building, department, program, school) to establish a written COVID-19 prevention plan addressing such key prevention practices as staying home if you are sick and encouraging others to do the same, physical (social) distancing, use of face coverings (Yolo Countys face-covering order is still in effect), frequent practicing of hand hygiene (i.e., hand-washing, sanitizer use); regular cleaning and disinfection of workspace and personal items; and minimizing the use of shared or communal property or equipment.

The website coming next week will provide a toolbox (including templates) to help create and implement the work site plans. The site is intended to serve as a dynamic guide for what you can expect as campus operations evolve, and what will be expected of you.

In my Thursday Thoughts video, Ive got a message for students about their finals next week, and some advice for our graduates.

Today, in my Friday Thoughts, let me congratulate the Class of 2020. To our baccalaureate degree recipients, I will be addressing you in your remote ceremony a week from today. To our advanced-degree recipients, most of you I have already addressed in remote celebrations that began in mid-May, and we have two more to go: for the School of Education and the Graduate School of Management.

I know all of you expected to be walking across the commencement stage, and I want you to know how desperately we wanted to make that happen. But nothing can take away your achievement and the extra credit you all deserve for persevering in the face of a pandemic and, more recently, the tragic killing in Minneapolis that has a nation once again outraged over the senseless death of another person of color.

Yet here you are, graduates in STEM and agriculture, the social sciences and the arts and humanities, the law and business administration, and medicine and veterinary medicine going out into the world at a time when your knowledge and skills and ideas and creativity are needed more than ever.

Our world is under siege by a virus, our nation under siege by racism. We have incredible faith in our newest Aggie graduates to take on these tremendous challenges and help build and innovate a healthier, safer and more equitable future for everyone.

Sincerely,

Gary S. MayChancellor

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Checking In With Chancellor May: Beyond the Moment - UC Davis

TRI-CITIES, WA - As students continue learning from home and using technology, increased screen time can have a negative impact on eyesight.

Madeline Carter talked with Dr. Elizabeth Heaston Thompson from the Heaston Thompson Vision Clinic to find out what parents can do to protect kids from vision problems related to online learning.

Dr. Liz says there are several things parents can do right now to protect their kids. She recommends:

Skipping lines of text when reading or re-reading lines

Headaches

Poor reading comprehension

Rubbing eyes

Short attention span with reading

Covering one eye when looking at something up close or in the distance

If local optometrists are not currently open for regular vision screenings, Dr. Liz suggests scheduling eye exams for the near future.

Read the original post:
Protecting kids from vision problems related to online learning - NBC Right Now

Specsavers has announced it is now taking appointments for customers who have experienced changes to their vision since their last eye test.

From 1 June, customers have been able to book in-store appointments, welcome news as research revealed a third of people in the UK have noticed a deterioration in their eyesight during lockdown.

Customers booking an appointment online will be contacted by their local store by phone to discuss their sight concerns, and to make sure that coming in to store is the best option.

The chain is currently unable to see customers who have not experienced changes to their vision.

The announcement of Specsavers taking appointments applies to England only; for the rest of the UK, appointments are for urgent and essential care only.

Here's everything you need to know:

Will social distancing be in place?

While lockdown measures may be easing slowly, it's still incredibly important that social distancing is adhered to.

As such, Specsavers is introducing a number of changes to the way it works in an effort to make sure its always as safe as possible for colleagues and customers.

The number of people in store will be limited, with one member of a household permitted inside at a time - unless they're with a child or vulnerable adult.

You'll also be asked to keep at least two metres from other customers.

Store teams will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for their protection as well as yours.

Youll be welcome to try on as many glasses as youd like, but when you're finished you'll be asked to give them back to staff so they can be cleaned thoroughly.

Test rooms will also be thoroughly disinfected following consultations, as well as all testing equipment used during the eye test, ready for the next appointment.

Specsavers is also avoiding the use of cash, and any new pairs of glasses you buy can be delivered to your home, eliminating the need to come back to the store.

What if I can't make it to a store?

If you're unable to make it to a store, there are still ways in which Specsavers can help.

The chain's new RemoteCare service allows you to speak to an expert by video or over the phone about any sight or hearing questions you have.

Its free to use and you dont need to be a Specsavers customer to use it.

Contact lens top-ups, hearing aid batteries and even new specs can also be bought online.

Specsavers say: "If youve got an appointment booked, but youre not feeling well or you have any COVID-19 symptoms, wed ask that you dont come in until youre feeling better.

"Well make sure to arrange for a later date."

Originally posted here:
Essential eye tests open up in England to deal with lockdown sight deterioration - here's how to book - Lancashire Post

One of the main causes of the condition is atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty deposits known as plaques build up on the interior of the artery walls. These plaques can rupture and send debris into the bloodstream, which can potentially cause a full or partial blockage in another vessel.

It makes sense, then, that the risk factors for atherosclerosis and for retinal vessel occlusion overlap. These include obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Age is also a risk factor, with the majority of retinal vessel occlusions occurring in people who are 65 years of age and older. People living with a blood clotting disorder and those with glaucoma, which is chronically high pressure within the eye, are also at increased risk.

The same lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of atherosclerosis will also reduce the risk of retinal vessel occlusion, as well as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. A very important step is for smokers to quit. We know how difficult this is, so please ask your health care provider for help with crafting and sticking to a plan.

Limit alcohol consumption and get regular exercise. Eat a diet that is high in fresh vegetables, leafy greens, fruits and lean meats and low in added salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. You dont have to go for a halo here. We suggest our patients aim for 80% healthful eating. For those with health issues such as diabetes or hypertension, we tighten it up to 90% healthful eating.

More here:
ASK THE DOCTORS: Retinal artery occlusion related to atherosclerosis - Journal Times

The government has been urged to renew its guidance for supermarkets and address the pressing medical needs of people with eye conditions, as those living with sight loss warn they are being denied access to vital treatments and ignored as social distancing measures are implemented.

In a survey conducted by charity Fight for Sight, some four in 10 people said they feared their sight would further deteriorate during the pandemic, with some saying they had not been able to access regular injections and necessary surgeries to preserve their vision.

Meanwhile, 73 per cent of respondents to the poll of 325 adults with eye conditions said they had experienced reduced access to treatments during the outbreak. Two in five said they found it difficult to follow social distancing rules during the lockdown, with more than half saying they had seen their access to food and goods diminished during measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Angharad Paget-Jones, 27, who is registered blind and uses a guide dog, said she had been shouted at by members of the public after finding herself too close to them while out shopping while large supermarkets have not been able to make staff available to help her find the things she needs.

Meanwhile her guide dog, Tudor, is more likely to be confused than aided by yellow warning tape used to mark 2m distances which outside the context of the virus are often used to identify steps and trip hazards.

She told the Independent: Im told there are arrows and spacing on the floor, but as someone who cant see the ground and as somebody who cannot see the floor thats not very much good and my dog isnt trained [for this] ... hes not trained to know what they are. Its like the queueing outside supermarkets hes trained to find the door hes not trained to find the end of the queue.

She added that government messaging throughout the pandemic has frequently forgotten the needs of disabled people. They arent even putting audio descriptions on their feeds, theyre not putting out large print for us, they didnt even have sign language on the broadcasts so theyve forgotten disabled people and thats not good enough especially as everyone is one slip away from being disabled.

Meanwhile Elaine Young, 68, from South Lanarkshire in Scotland has had her local hospital cancel an appointment to treat her age-related macular degeneration and fears her eyesight may suffer as a consequence.

Im worried that by not having my injection, my eyesight is getting worse, she said. Ive noticed that there are more wavy lines in my vision.

Its frustrating because I have no idea when my next appointment will be or even when theyll start up the clinic again.

No hype, just the advice and analysis you need

The concern from disabled people comes a month after a cross-party letter signed by 97 MPs and peers urged the government to re-evaluate its current strategy to ensure social distancing does not lead to exclusion for those with disabilities.

Chief Executive of Fight for Sight, Sherine Krause said: The government must develop a plan that addresses the immediate need of people with eye conditions, so they dont become blind because of lockdown and social distancing measures.

Additionally, were calling on the government to urgently update its advice to retailers on social distancing measures to ensure the needs of people with poor vision are not excluded. In the longer term, we must continue to fund research for new, more efficient treatments and cures for the leading causes of blindness and sight loss, to help ease the pressure on our NHS.

Follow this link:
Theyve forgotten disabled people: Government urged to protect those with sight loss during outbreak - The Independent

It is feared that children spend too much time in front of the screen Image Credit: Supplied. For illustrative purpose only

Dubai: Over-exposure to screen time in recent weeks has resulted in a significant rise in complaints of eye issues such as redness and tired eyes, especially among children and young adults, claim eye specialists.

As per the World Economic Forum, globally around 1.2 billion children are out of classrooms, raising concerns over constant exposure to devices and their impact on eye health. Across the UAE, nearly 1.1 million students have been studying from home since March 2020.

According to Dr Mohit Jain, Specialist Ophthalmologist at RAK Hospital, students may be suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome and there is a need to minimise damage to the eyes.

Dr Jain said: Using digital devices has become unavoidable. However, when we focus on a screen, the muscles in the eyes contract. If the muscles stay contracted for too long, they get tired and lead to strain and may affect eyesight, especially in the growing age. This excessive use of devices not only puts a strain on the eyes but is also a risk factor for eye weakness and myopia. In other words, students staring at screens for prolonged periods may end up wearing glasses, and if they are wearing glasses already, the power may increase rapidly, warned Dr Jain.

More severe consequences of prolonged screen-time can be blurred vision, neck pain, irritated eyes, dizziness, double vision and difficulty in refocusing eyes.

Blink more often

Discussing tips on ways to moderate the excessive use of devices, Dr Jain advised that parents as a first step need to restrict the use of devices when it comes to entertainment and amusement. More importantly, children need to follow the 20-20-20 rule to give their eyes a much-needed break from watching the screen that is, after every 20 minutes of screen time; they should look away and stare at a distance of approximately 20 feet for 20 seconds before looking back at the device. This helps to relax the eye muscles, he said.

Dr Jain said the visual impact of screen learning prompt children to stare at screens for longer periods. Children tend to blink far less than they would usually do causing the eyes to dry out. Blinking keeps the eyes moist and clean. Therefore, parents should encourage their children to blink at regular intervals, even if it requires constant repeated reminders. A simple tip to do that is to stick a reminder note to the device itself, added Dr Jain. He also advised parents to ensure that children and young adults should keep their devices at a safe distance of 18 to 26 inches to avoid over-contracting the eye muscles.

Tips for eye protection

Make sure there is ample natural light in yur childs room when he or she is in a digital class.

Students need to follow the 20-20-20 rule ie take a break from the computer every 20 minutes and stay at a distance of 20 feet for 20 seconds to relax the eye muscle

Ask your child to blink more often when working on the computer

If there is redness, rashness , take care to provide medical attention

Go for eye check-ups regularly and get your childs vision assessed regularly so that he does not strain the eyes when he needs to correct his vision or when he needs an updraged number

Continued here:
Over-exposure to screen time leading to eye complaints among kids in the UAE - Gulf News

If you ever suddenly lose sight in one or both eyes, seek help immediately.

Q: A friend of our family suddenly lost the vision in his left eye because of something called retinal artery occlusion. What is that? How do you protect against it?

A: To answer your question, we should begin with a bit of anatomy. The retina is a layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. Its job is to receive the incoming rays of light that pass through the lens and translate them into signals. These signals, or impulses, then travel along the optic nerve to the brain, which interprets them as the images we see. As with all tissues within the body, the retina needs a steady supply of blood to function properly. In the case of the retina, this comes primarily from an artery and a vein. If either of these vessels, or any of their smaller branches, become blocked, which is known as an occlusion, the retina sustains damage.

When a blockage occurs in the vein that serves the retina, the blood can't drain away. Instead, it backs up and raises pressure within the eye, which can cause serious damage that affects sight. When the blockage occurs in the artery, as with your family friend, the retina is starved of oxygen and nutrients. Unless blood flow is restored quickly, the blockage will cause the cells of the retina to die. The result is a loss of vision. Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse the damage that arises as a result of retinal vessel occlusion.

One of the main causes of the condition is atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty deposits known as plaques build up on the interior of the artery walls. These plaques can rupture and send debris into the bloodstream, which can potentially cause a full or partial blockage in another vessel. It makes sense, then, that the risk factors for atherosclerosis and for retinal vessel occlusion overlap. These include obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Age is also a risk factor, with the majority of retinal vessel occlusions occurring in people who are 65 and older. People living with a blood clotting disorder and those with glaucoma, which is chronically high pressure within the eye, are also at increased risk.

The same lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of atherosclerosis will also reduce the risk of retinal vessel occlusion, as well as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. A very important step is for smokers to quit. We know how difficult this is, so please ask your health care provider for help with crafting and sticking to a plan. Limit alcohol consumption and get regular exercise. Eat a diet that is high in fresh vegetables, leafy greens, fruits and lean meats and low in added salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. You don't have to go for a halo here. We suggest our patients aim for 80% healthful eating. For those with health issues such as diabetes or hypertension, we tighten it up to 90% healthful eating.

Retinal vessel occlusion is a medical emergency. If you ever suddenly lose sight in one or both eyes, seek help immediately.

Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

See the original post:
Retinal artery blockage can lead to lost vision: Ask the Doctors - GoErie.com

DEAR DOCTOR: A friend of our family suddenly lost the vision in his left eye because of something called retinal artery occlusion. What is that? How do you protect against it?

DEAR READER: To answer your question, we should begin with a bit of anatomy. The retina is a layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. Its job is to receive the incoming rays of light that pass through the lens and translate them into signals. These signals, or impulses, then travel along the optic nerve to the brain, which interprets them as the images we see. As with all tissues within the body, the retina needs a steady supply of blood to function properly. In the case of the retina, this comes primarily from an artery and a vein. If either of these vessels, or any of their smaller branches, become blocked, which is known as an occlusion, the retina sustains damage.

When a blockage occurs in the vein that serves the retina, the blood cant drain away. Instead, it backs up and raises pressure within the eye, which can cause serious damage that affects sight. When the blockage occurs in the artery, as with your family friend, the retina is starved of oxygen and nutrients. Unless blood flow is restored quickly, the blockage will cause the cells of the retina to die. The result is a loss of vision. Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse the damage that arises as a result of retinal vessel occlusion.

One of the main causes of the condition is atherosclerosis, a disease in which fatty deposits known as plaques build up on the interior of the artery walls. These plaques can rupture and send debris into the bloodstream, which can potentially cause a full or partial blockage in another vessel. It makes sense, then, that the risk factors for atherosclerosis and for retinal vessel occlusion overlap. These include obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Age is also a risk factor, with the majority of retinal vessel occlusions occurring in people who are 65 years of age and older. People living with a blood clotting disorder and those with glaucoma, which is chronically high pressure within the eye, are also at increased risk.

The same lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of atherosclerosis will also reduce the risk of retinal vessel occlusion, as well as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. A very important step is for smokers to quit. We know how difficult this is, so please ask your health care provider for help with crafting and sticking to a plan. Limit alcohol consumption and get regular exercise. Eat a diet that is high in fresh vegetables, leafy greens, fruits and lean meats and low in added salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. You dont have to go for a halo here. We suggest our patients aim for 80% healthful eating. For those with health issues such as diabetes or hypertension, we tighten it up to 90% healthful eating.

Retinal vessel occlusion is a medical emergency. If you ever suddenly lose sight in one or both eyes, seek help immediately.

Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

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See more here:
Eye problem related to atherosclerosis | Community | times-news.com - Cumberland Times-News