StemCell Therapy

-- The two-part multicenter study of 259 enrolled subjects showed >60 percent of patients achieved low disease activity (LDA) at week 12 with open-label therapy, an effect that was maintained in a proportion of patients with 12 additional weeks of treatment in the double-blind phase --

STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, April 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Mallinckrodt plc(NYSE: MNK), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced the publication of findings from its randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 4 study to assess the safety and efficacy of Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection, or RCI) in patients with persistently active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite treatment with stable background disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and low-dose glucocorticoids. Results of the study were recently published online in Rheumatology and Therapy, an open access peer-review journal. Preliminary findings from the study were presented at the European Congress of Rheumatology 2019 (EULAR) held in June.

Acthar Gel is a naturally sourced complex mixture of adrenocorticotropic hormone analogs and other pituitary peptides. Acthar Gel is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in RA, including juvenile RA (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy).1Please see Important Safety Information for Acthar Gel below.

The study, titled "Repository Corticotropin Injection for Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Despite Aggressive Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Withdrawal Trial," enrolled 259 adult patients (18 years of age) with RA who were treated at 60 centers in four countries between Nov. 7, 2016, and Feb. 13, 2019. Results of the study showed that Acthar Gel demonstrated the potential for effectiveness in achieving low disease activity (LDA) as assessed by DAS28-ESR2 in patients with active RA despite current treatment with low-dose glucocorticoids and one or two DMARDs.

"The results of this study suggest that there could be a reasonable risk-benefit for the short-term use of RCI over six months in appropriate patients with persistently active RA despite concurrent use of DMARDs and low-dose glucocorticoids. Many patients achieved LDA by three months with the response persisting for an additional three months in a majority of patients whether discontinuing or continuing RCI. The adverse event profile was similar in patients who continued and discontinued RCI,i" said Dr. Roy Fleischmann, Co-Medical Director of the Metroplex Clinical Research Center and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and the study's lead author.

"Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease that can damage bone and joints and greatly impact daily functioning for patients. The goal of treatment is remission or low disease activity, but for a subset of underserved patients with debilitating RA who don't achieve remission or LDA with standard therapy, additional options are greatly needed," said Tunde Otulana, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Mallinckrodt. "We are encouraged by the results of this study that demonstrate Acthar Gel can be considered for appropriate patients in this persistently active population, and we're grateful to the patients, their families and clinicians who participated in the study."

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Key Findings3:

Open-label Period

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blinded, Withdrawal Period

Methods3:

Study Limitations3:

The study was funded by Mallinckrodt.

About Rheumatoid ArthritisRA is an autoimmune disease. It is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling of the jointsall symptoms and signs caused by inflammation.4 An estimated 1.5 million U.S. adults are living with RA.5 Treatment is aimed at stopping inflammation to put the disease in remission and relieve symptoms.6 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to ease symptoms whereas glucocorticoids, and non-biologic and biologic DMARDs are used to slow down the disease activity.6

INDICATIONS

Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is indicated for:

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications

Warnings and Precautions

Adverse Reactions

Other adverse events reported are included in the full Prescribing Information.

Please see fullPrescribing Informationfor additional Important Safety Information.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODTMallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit http://www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis release includes forward-looking statements concerning Acthar Gel including its potential impact on patients and anticipated benefits associated with its use. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACTSFor Trade Media InquiriesCaren BegunGreen Room Communications201-396-8551caren@greenroompr.com

For Financial/Dailies Media InquiriesRon BartlettH+K StrategiesSenior Vice PresidentM: +1 813 545 2399ron.bartlett@hkstrategies.com

Investor RelationsDaniel J. Speciale, CPAVice President, Investor Relations and IRO314-654-3638daniel.speciale@mnk.com

Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and theMallinckrodt Pharmaceuticalslogo are trademarks of aMallinckrodtcompany. Other brands are trademarks of aMallinckrodtcompany or their respective owners.2020Mallinckrodt.US-2000523 04/20

References

i AEs reported in 1.5% of patients in part 1 or in either group in part 2.ii ACR20=American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement; ACR50=American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement; ACR70=American College of Rheumatology 70% improvement

1 Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) [prescribing information]. Mallinckrodt ARD LLC.2Disease Activity Score 28-joint count Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate.3Fleischmann R, Furst DE, Connolly-Strong E, Liu J, Zhu J, Brasington R. Rheumatol Ther (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40744-020-00199-3.4Mayo Clinic website. Rheumatoid Arthritis. Overview. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648. Accessed April 1, 2020.5Arthritis Foundation. What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php. Accessed April 1, 2020.6Arthritis Foundation. Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/treatment.php. Accessed April 1, 2020.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has left many in Canadas workforce worried about their health and finances. Those worries are even greater for workers living with an underlying and invisible chronic health condition.

In the planning of health and safety responses to COVID-19 and the ultimate reopening of workplaces, employers should be aware of the unique needs of this potentially vulnerable group of workers.

Data show that some of the most commonly reported chronic health conditions experienced by Canadas working population have no visible signs or symptoms and may go unnoticed by employers.

According to the 2019 Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey on workplace benefit plans, 54 per cent of workers reported having such a condition, with high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes among the top five. In the same survey, employers estimated that only 29 per cent of their staff had a chronic condition, pointing to a gap in awareness within workplaces.

Our growing understanding of COVID-19 illustrates that the virus poses a particular threat to workers with underlying health conditions.

A review of 46,000 people with COVID-19 in Chinafound that the odds of having severe symptoms were two or more times higher for people with an underlying health condition. Although the data are limited, a recent analysis conducted by theCenters for Disease Control and Preventionalso shows that 38 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the United States had an underlying health condition including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and immmunocompromised conditions.

Going to work, therefore, could mean being exposed to a virus that disproportionately targets those with underlying health conditions. Of course, staying at home would be the best solution for workers with chronic health conditions. But even after the provinces ordered the closure of businesses, people in alarge cross-section of essential servicesfound themselves having to continue to show up for work.

These include people who work in health care, grocery stores, drug stores, warehouses, gas stations, fast-food chains and other restaurants, hotels, long-term care homes, among many others.

Despite the provinces encouraging workers who feel unwell to stay home and the availability of emergency relief for compensation, workers with chronic health conditions may not want to sacrifice a paycheque during a period of economic uncertainty. They may decide to accept the risk of going to work.

This is a predicament that many community groups are highlighting. AsSin Bevan, chief science officer at the Arthritis Society, puts it:

Some people in these essential roles may be fearful for their employment if their condition makes them unable to work and fearful to let their employer know about their health concerns for fear of losing their jobs. Many immunosuppressed people with rheumatic conditions are afraid to go to work, but afraid to tell their employer why.

Commendably, some employers are offering hero pay to compensate for the added risk that workers face. Yet the extra wages could also have the unintended effect of encouraging people with chronic health conditions who face income insecurity to go to work.

Growing research conducted by the Toronto-basedInstitute for Work & Healthhighlights the challenges that workers with chronic health conditions face when asking for accommodations that will allow them to continue working productively while maintaining their health. This is especially the case for those living withinvisible health conditions that may fluctuate in severity,young workers, those new to their jobs and other vulnerable groups.

In the current health and economic crisis brought about by COVID-19, the inability of these individuals to ask for protective accommodation poses a potentially serious risk to the health and safety, and the long-term employment, of people with chronic health conditions in the workforce.

These are trying times, and from many accounts, employers are doing their best to keep essential services running while safeguarding the health and safety of workers. As they continue to navigate the way forward and develop back-to-work plans, employers should acknowledge that they may have workers with a chronic health condition who could be reluctant to ask for support.

Employers should also be encouraged to open up the lines of communication with all workers so that those with underlying conditions feel supported in bringing forward their concerns. While workers are not obligated to talk about their health, more than ever, supportive workplace environments are needed to encourage people to communicate what assistance they need to stay healthy while working productively.

Laurie Proulx, vice-president of theCanadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, sums it up well. She sees the COVID-19 pandemic as:

an opportunity for employers to build credibility with their employees by listening and finding ways for workers with underlying health conditions to still make important contributions and not put themselves and their families at risk.

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Coronavirus: The risks to essential workers with hidden health conditions - The Journal Pioneer

Global Hydroxychloroquine Drugs Market: Overview

Used to treat and manage a number of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and the autoimmune disease called lupus, hydroxychloroquine is seen as a wonder drug by patients suffering from these painful health issues. The antimalarial is now seeing an increase in demand from certain countries as they direct efforts towards treating COVID-19, the pandemic which is being seen as a human and humanitarian crisis. Clinical trials are underway and results of these will ascertain demand for the drug for prevention and cure of the deadly viral infection.

As per Transparency Market Research, an increased number of people suffering from arthritis and lupus will lead to growth in the hydroxychloroquine drugs market from 2019 to 2027. And, due to massive use in clinical studies being carried out in a number of research and development (R&D) facilities universities and pharmaceutical companies - a significant demand is arising for the drug. This is paving way for opportunities in the future.

Global Hydroxychloroquine Drugs Market: Notable Development

The much critical and powerful hydroxychloroquine drugs are gaining increased attention in the current times owing to results from a French Study that states these are effective in treatingCoronavirus infection, plaguing the planet. However, peer review and others from the medical community take the study with a pinch of salt. Some of the notable developments in the recent time are stated below:

2020: The President of the United States of America is endorsing use of these drugs as preventive measures. And, a number of clinical studies have already begun to test efficacy. By March 18, Boulware had already started working in this direction. Additionally, the country demanded the drug from India, which is a major manufacturer and cleared export of 3.6 million tablets at the behest of President Donald Trump.

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Some of the prominent players operating in the global hydroxychloroquine drugs market are the following:

Innovation and Research and Development are areas that are highly focused on by a number of notable players in order to drive the market forward.

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Global Hydroxychloroquine Drugs Market: Key trends and driver

Hydroxychloroquine drugs market is seeing elevated demand in its landscape owing to a number of factors. A major booster as of now is now is its association with the COVID 19 treatment and prevention approvals for the same are yet to arrive from the FDA.

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Global Hydroxychloroquine Drugs Market: Regional Analysis

North American region will be a prominent regional market over the forecast period owing to factors such as a sizeable population of Lupus patients. Besides, United States is contributing immensely to the growth in the market by way of government endorsements; a large number of clinical trials are underway.

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.

About Us

Transparency Market Research is a next-generation market intelligence provider, offering fact-based solutions to business leaders, consultants, and strategy professionals.

Our reports are single-point solutions for businesses to grow, evolve, and mature. Our real-time data collection methods along with ability to track more than one million high growth niche products are aligned with your aims. The detailed and proprietary statistical models used by our analysts offer insights for making right decision in the shortest span of time. For organizations that require specific but comprehensive information we offer customized solutions through ad hoc reports. These requests are delivered with the perfect combination of right sense of fact-oriented problem solving methodologies and leveraging existing data repositories.

TMR believes that unison of solutions for clients-specific problems with right methodology of research is the key to help enterprises reach right decision.

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Hydroxychloroquine Drugs Market: Surged in Demand of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 - BioSpace

Futuristic Reports, The growth and development of Global Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market Report 2020 by Players, Regions, Type, and Application, forecast to 2026 provides industry analysis and forecast from 2020-2026. Global Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market analysis delivers important insights and provides a competitive and useful advantage to the pursuers. Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics processes, economic growth is analyzed as well. The data chart is also backed up by using statistical tools.

Simultaneously, we classify different Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics markets based on their definitions. Downstream consumers and upstream materials scrutiny are also carried out. Each segment includes an in-depth explanation of the factors that are useful to drive and restrain it.

Key Players Mentioned in the study are Applied Research & Photonics, Bruker, Menlo Systems, Innovative Photonic Solutions, LongWave Photonics, Bridge12 Technologies, Del Mar Photonics, Digital Barriers, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Jena-Optronik, Advantest, Novatrans, Becker Photonik

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Key Issues Addressed by Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market: It is very significant to have Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics segmentation analysis to figure out the essential factors of growth and development of the market in a particular sector. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics report offers well summarized and reliable information about every segment of growth, development, production, demand, types, application of the specific product which will be useful for players to focus and highlight on.

Businesses Segmentation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market:

On the basis on the applications, this report focuses on the status and Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, and growth rate for each application, including-

HealthcareScientific ResearchManufacturingMilitary or DefenseSecurity or Public SafetyOther

On the basis of types/products, this Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics report displays the revenue (Million USD), product price, market share, and growth rate of each type, split into-

Imaging DevicesSpectroscopesCommunications DevicesComputing DevicesOther

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NOTE : Our team is studying Covid-19 impact analysis on various industry verticals and Country Level impact for a better analysis of markets and industries. The 2020 latest edition of this report is entitled to provide additional commentary on latest scenario, economic slowdown and COVID-19 impact on overall industry. Further it will also provide qualitative information about when industry could come back on track and what possible measures industry players are taking to deal with current situation.

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You just drop an Email to:[emailprotected] us if you are looking for any Economical analysis to shift towards the New Normal on any Country or Industry Verticals.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market Regional Analysis Includes:

Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada.) South America (Brazil etc.) The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt.)

Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Insights that Study is going to provide:

Gain perceptive study of this current Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics sector and also possess a comprehension of the industry; Describe the Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics advancements, key issues, and methods to moderate the advancement threats; Competitors In this chapter, leading players are studied with respect to their company profile, product portfolio, capacity, price, cost, and revenue. A separate chapter on Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics market structure to gain insights on Leaders confrontational towards market [Merger and Acquisition / Recent Investment and Key Developments] Patent Analysis** Number of patents filed in recent years.

Table of Content:

Global Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market Size, Status and Forecast 20261. Market Introduction and Market Overview2. Industry Chain Analysis3. Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market, by Type4. Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market, by Application5. Production, Value ($) by Regions6. Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2016-2020)7. Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions (Sales Point)8. Competitive Landscape9. Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application10. Channel Analysis11. New Project Feasibility Analysis12. Market Forecast 2020-202613. Conclusion

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics Market Major Trends, Analysis and Outlook to 2026 | Applied Research & Photonics, Bruker, Menlo Systems - Cole...

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., April 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kannalife, Inc. (Kannalife or the Company) (KLFE), a biopharmaceutical medchem company specializing in the research and development of potent novel monotherapeutics, announced today that the Companys Chairman & CEO, Dean Petkanas, was featured in an OTCQB podcast discussing the cannabinoid therapeutics industry and its role in eradicating the current opioid epidemic.

In the podcast episode, Mr. Petkanas explained how the Companys patented leading drug candidate, KLS-13019, may reduce the use of opioids in the treatment of neuropathic pain. While opioids are considered the standard of care to treat neuropathic pain in the U.S., he spoke of the Companys promising research efforts and the recently published preclinical results showing that KLS-13019 may be a viable non-addictive, non-opioid option to prevent and reverse neuropathic pain. Additional research results have shown that KLS-13019 showed little to no inhibition to six known human opioid targets, whereas cannabidiol (CBD) did show marked and significant inhibition to the same opioid targets.

During the podcast, Mr. Petkanas also discussed Kannalifes original focus on oxidative stress-related diseases like overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and how the Company pivoted to chronic pain through a Phase 1 research grant from the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH-NIDA) to study KLS-13019 as a potential treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).

Were grateful for the opportunity to participate in OTC Markets podcast series and to have the ability to share our science and company with the public on the OTCQB, Mr. Petkanas said.

The Company recently completed the STTR phase 1 study funded by the grant from NIDA. The study was performed in an animal model to evaluate the potential use of KLS-13019 as a potent, non-opioid alternative monotherapeutic in the prevention and reversal of CIPN.

About KLS-13019KLS-13019 is Kannalifes leading patented, investigational, novel, monotherapeutic product for the potential treatment of a range of neurodegenerative and neuropathic pain disorders, beginning with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). KLS-13019 has not been reviewed or approved for patient use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other healthcare authority in the world. Its safety and efficacy have not been confirmed by FDA-approved research.

About Kannalife, Inc.Kannalife, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical medchem company focused on the development of proprietary and patented novel, monotherapeutic molecules for patients suffering from unmet medical needs of neurodegenerative disorders - including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a chronic neuropathy caused by toxic chemotherapeutic agents; hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a neurotoxic brain-liver disorder caused by excessive concentrations of ammonia and ethanol in the brain; mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), a disorder associated with single and repetitive impact injuries; and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease associated with highly repetitive impact injuries in professional and amateur sports.

The Company's KLS Family of proprietary molecules focuses on treating oxidative stress-related diseases such as HE, chronic pain from neuropathies like CIPN, and neurodegenerative diseases like CTE. Kannalife conducts its research and development efforts at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County in Doylestown, PA.

For more information about Kannalife, Inc., visit http://www.kannalife.com and visit the Companys Twitter page at @Kannalife.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for approximately 10,000 over-the-counter securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, OTCM connects a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. OTCM enables investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empowers companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how OTCM creates better informed and more efficient markets, visit http://www.otcmarkets.com.

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OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and SEC regulated ATS.

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Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This press release contains statements about expected future events, the Companys business plan, plan of operations, the viability of the Companys drug candidates, and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements, by definition, involve risks and uncertainties. The Company does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act.

CONTACT:

Public Relations:Andrew Hard, Chief Executive Officer of CMW MediaP: 888-829-0070E: andrew.hard@cmwmedia.com

Investor Relations: Scott Gordon, Managing Director of CORE IRP: 516-222-2560E: scottg@coreir.comwww.coreir.com

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Kannalife, Inc. CEO Featured in OTCQB Podcast Discussing KLS-13019 and Its Potential Role as a Non-Opioid Treatment for Neuropathic Pain - Yahoo...

A new research study has been presented by Industrygrowthinsights.com offering a comprehensive analysis on the Global Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market where user can benefit from the complete market research report with all the required useful information about this market. This is a latest report, covering the current COVID-19 impact on the market. The pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected every aspect of life globally. This has brought along several changes in market conditions. The rapidly changing market scenario and initial and future assessment of the impact is covered in the report. The report discusses all major market aspects with expert opinion on current market status along with historic data. This market report is a detailed study on the growth, investment opportunities, market statistics, growing competition analysis, major key players, industry facts, important figures, sales, prices, revenues, gross margins, market shares, business strategies, top regions, demand, and developments.

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Major Players Covered in this Report are: Achelios Therapeutics IncCelgene CorpCommence Bio IncGrunenthal GmbHImmune Pharmaceuticals IncKPI Therapeutics IncMedifron DBT Co LtdMitsubishi Tanabe Pharma CorpNovaremed LtdReata Pharmaceuticals IncRelief Therapeutics Holding AGViroMed Co Ltd

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The report offers an in-depth assessment of the growth and other aspects of the market in key countries including the US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, the UK, Russia, Italy, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. The competitive landscape chapter of the global market report provides key information about market players such as company overview, total revenue (financials), market potential, global presence, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment sales and revenue generated, market share, prices, production sites and facilities, products offered, and strategies adopted. This study provides Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment sales, revenue, and market share for each player covered in this report for a period between 2016 and 2020.

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Table of Contents1. Executive Summary2. Assumptions and Acronyms Used3. Research Methodology4. Market Overview5. Global Market Analysis and Forecast, by Types6. Global Market Analysis and Forecast, by Applications7. Global Market Analysis and Forecast, by Regions8. North America Market Analysis and Forecast9. Latin America Market Analysis and Forecast10. Europe Market Analysis and Forecast11. Asia Pacific Market Analysis and Forecast12. Middle East & Africa Market Analysis and Forecast13. Competition Landscape

About Industrygrowthinsights:INDUSTRYGROWTHINSIGHTS has set its benchmark in the market research industry by providing syndicated and customized research report to the clients. The database of the company is updated on a daily basis to prompt the clients with the latest trends and in-depth analysis of the industry. Our pool of database contains various industry verticals that include: IT & Telecom, Food Beverage, Automotive, Healthcare, Chemicals and Energy, Consumer foods, Food and beverages, and many more. Each and every report goes through the proper research methodology, validated from the professionals and analysts to ensure the eminent quality reports.

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Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Analysis With Key Players, Applications, Trends And Forecasts To 2026 - Surfacing Magazine

Global Medical Foods Market: Overview

One of the key factors boosting the growth of the global medical foods market is the rising awareness among the people regarding medical foods. The rising focus of the regulatory bodies on the manufacturing and labelling of medical foods will also be a key factor fuelling the growth of the medical foods market. In addition to this, the high focus by manufacturers on developing disease-specific formulas effective patients nutrition or diet care are also anticipated to result in the growth of the global medical foods market.

The report also enlists various factors which are anticipated to pose a challenge for the growth of the market. The current trends in the market and those that are anticipated to shape the future of the market have been discussed in detail in the report.

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By product, the medical food market is segmented into powder, pill, and others. Of these the powder segment has held a key share in the market as many medical food products are manufactured in powdered form and consumed in a semi solid or liquid form. By application, the global medical foods market is segmented into depression, diabetic neuropathy, ADHD, Alzheimers disease, and nutritional deficiency. Of these, diabetic neuropathy has been accounting for key shares within the market. The risk of neuropathy is boosted with age, diet changes, and unhealthy lifestyle.

In the years to come, it is anticipated that the nutritional deficiencies segment will develop a strong CAGR, as patients being treated for ADHD, autoimmune diseases, and cancer are likely to have high nutritional requirements, which is subsequently anticipated to boost the demand for medical foods.

Global Medical Foods Market: Snapshot

The global medical foods market has become increasingly important in the healthcare sector in recent years due to the rising awareness about its importance in complementing the treatment. Medical food comprises diets designed specifically to overcome the nutritional deficiencies caused by some diseases or to fulfill the specific dietary needs in the management of some diseases. The global medical foods market is likely to receive steady support from the healthcare sector in the coming years due to the rising prevalence of diseases such as Alzheimers among the elderly and ADHD among children, as these diseases are among the prime diseases that necessitate specific diet plans.

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Global Medical Foods Market: Key Trends

The rising geriatric population is a major driver for the global medical foods market. Old people are more likely to develop nutritional disorders as well as to fall prey to other diseases that affect their ability to absorb nutrients from their diet. Nutrition deficiency disorders are also more common among the geriatric demographic than in other patient classes, leading to the geriatric population becoming a key consumer segment for the global medical foods market.

The increasing prevalence of diabetes across the world is another key driver for the global medical foods market. Diabetic neuropathy is the leading application of the global medical foods market and is likely to retain dominance in the coming years. Diabetic neuropathy is becoming common among diabetic patients due to their often unhealthy lifestyles, with close to three-quarters of all diabetes likely to also suffer from some form of neuropathy. This is a key driver for the global medical food market, as the rising prevalence of diabetes in emerging regions has, in conjunction with the rising investment in the healthcare sector, created a conducive environment for growth of the market.

The rising prevalence of ADHD among children is also likely to remain a key driver for the global medical foods market. The growing prevalence of the disease has led to intensive research into its causation and treatment. The role of nutrition in the management of psychological problems such as ADHD has thus come under the scanner. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions among the geriatric population is also likely to remain a key driver for the global medical foods market in the coming years.

Global Medical Foods Market: Market Potential

The global medical foods market is likely to witness a steady shift towards pills and away from powders. While powders can be easily mixed with various types of food, many patients dont enjoy their taste. This has led to pills becoming a preferred mode of delivery for many, and are thus likely to rise in demand in the global medical foods market in the coming years.

Apart from leading diseases such as diabetic neuropathy and Alzheimers, other diseases such as phenylketonuria (PKU) are also likely to come under the ambit of the medical food market in the coming years. In April 2017, PKU Sphere, a new medical food for patients of PKU was launched. PKU Sphere is claimed to contain a balanced mix of amino acids and glycomacropeptide, a protein essential for patients of PKU, who cant digest phenylalanine and have to fulfill their protein requirements in alternate ways.

Global Medical Foods Market: Geographical Dynamics

North America is likely to remain the leading regional contributor to the global medical foods market in the coming years due to the ready availability of advanced healthcare technology and a solid database regarding the dietary needs of patients suffering from various diseases. The rising prevalence of diabetes in North America, due primarily to the unhealthy lifestyle practiced by citizens in developed countries such as the U.S., is also likely to be crucial for the medical foods market in North America in the coming years.

Global Medical Foods Market: Competitive Dynamics

The leading players in the global medical foods market include Abbott, Fresenius Kabi AG, Targeted Medical Pharma Inc., Danone, and Primus Pharmaceuticals Inc. The steady support to development of sophisticated disease-specific formulas is likely to benefit the medical foods market in the coming years.

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Medical Foods Market to Witness Exponential Growth by 2025 - Science In Me

Your immune system is probably more prepared to fight COVID-19 than you think. But how does it fight a virus that our body has never even seen before? Adam Berry/Adam Berry/Getty Images hide caption

Your immune system is probably more prepared to fight COVID-19 than you think. But how does it fight a virus that our body has never even seen before?

We hear a lot about how the novel coronavirus affects the world around usthe economy, our health care system, the education of our children. But how exactly does it affect the world inside us? How do our bodies fight this virus?

Americans aren't exactly the greatest at helping out our immune systems, even in the best of times.

We sleep too little, or we change our sleep patterns day-to-day. We don't eat enough or we eat too much junk food. And right now, most of us are stuck inside, making it that much harder to exercise and stick to a routine.

Given these less-than-stellar conditions, how do our immune systems fight a virus that our body has never even seen before?

Matt Richtel helped us get to the bottom of this question. He's a Pulitzer-prize-winning reporter with the New York Times who covers business, technology and health. He's also the author of "An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System."

Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online.

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The Battle Within: Coronavirus And The Immune System - NPR

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Scientists only became aware of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, late last year. Most of our immune systems, meanwhile, have still never heard of it. For now, the millions of people who have been infected with the novel coronavirus have to rely on their bodiesrather than a vaccine or targeted medicationto fight off the virus.

The good news: Evolution designed the immune system to do just that. The bad news: Its response isnt always predictable. The immune system is complex in its own right, and it varies tremendously from person to person. This makes it hard to know how and when to intervene when its overwhelmed.

In order to slow the spread of Covid-19, it will be crucial to understand exactly how the immune system tackles the disease.

Scientists have the basics of the immune system down pat. With any new viral infection, the body first deploys T cells, called CD4 and CD8, which find and kill infected cells. After about a week, the adaptive immune system kicks in, using B cells to make antibodies that can flag sick cells for annihilation even faster. Those antibodies stick around after an infection is over in case of a future invasion.

That general framework can help us understand a common feature of Covid-19. A lot of people with Covid-19 have gotten sick in two waves: First, they felt tired and fatigued, but then they seem to bounce back. Basically, your T-cells kick in so people start feeling better, says Juanita Mora, an immunologist practicing in Chicago and a volunteer medical spokesperson with the American Lung Association.

That brief recovery can provide a false sense of security. T-cells may be able to keep the virus at bay for a while, but if the infection persists, the body will need to make moreeven if the specific antibodies are ready for action. When this happens, the immune system will unleash its version of a body slam: a cytokine storm, named for the chemical signals that kick-start a fever to kill off the virus. But all that heat and inflammation can be tough on vital organs, too, which can lead to especially severe reactions in people with underlying health conditions.

For all we know about this immune response, theres a lot that we still dont. We dont know how well T cells can do their jobs (age tends to make them sloppier), or when theyll deplete during an infection. We also dont know when exactly B cells will get SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies ready to go, what level of antibodies might provoke a severe immune reaction, and how long theyll stick around in a meaningful way to fight future infections.

Knowing those details will be critical for designing the right tools to help us manage the spread and the death toll of Covid-19: tests, treatments, and vaccines. Below, we get into the immune system science guiding their design so farand what other knowledge is needed to perfect each part of the anti-coronavirus arsenal.

One of the first ways scientists can begin to understand the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is through serology testing, blood tests that look for the telltale antibodies produced by B cells.

The tests work like this: A diluted blood sample passes over a surface studded with molecules that mimic antigens, the parts of the virus our immune system can identify. If there are antibodies in the blood, theyll bind to the antigens and cause the test to reveal a color.

Designing a test like this involves a balance between sensitivitythe ability to detect any antibodies whatsoeverand specificity, the ability to detect antibodies to this virus alone. An early Chinese-made test distributed in the US, for example, had 87.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity, meaning it wouldnt show any false positives but would miss 12.7% of cases. The first test to receive official FDA authorization, produced by Cellex, has a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 95.6%.

Regardless of accuracy, these tests are not ideal for diagnosing current infections; it can take at least a week after symptoms arise for antibodies to become detectable. But they can identify past infections, which will be key to knowing when we can relax social restrictions.

Serology surveys will be very important in understanding the extent of population immunity, and the extent to which immunity wanes over time, said Yonathan Grad, an immunologist at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health. And what will happen with incidence in the coming years. The CDC and others are beginning such surveys.

But its not yet clear how long immunity to SARS-CoV-2 will last, or whether it will be the same for everyone. Studies of the coronaviruses behind SARS and MERS showed that antibodies remained in the blood for a couple years, though their power to neutralize pathogens deteriorated over time.

Data from China on SARS-CoV-2 has already shown a wide range of antibody responses. In a group of 175 patients, 70% produced a high concentration (known as a titer) of antibodies. The rest managed to fight off the infection with a minimal titer, suggesting they beat the virus with their T cell response or other parts of the immune system. Which is finebut those people may not have long-lasting immunity.

Because the concentration of antibodies detectable by a test may not be the same that can confer lasting immunity, so-called immunity passports could be difficult to implement. And even if we designed a test that reflected true immunity, its results still might not be accurate enoughthanks to a fluke of epidemiological statistics.

Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University, explained it this way: Imagine a group of 100 people, 10 of whom are infected. You have a test that, similar to most of the serology tests being marketed today, is 90% effective in correctly identifying both positive and negative cases. That means youll get: 9 correct positives and 81 correct negatives, plus 9 false positives and 1 false negative. Of your 18 total positives, only 9 actually have the virus (and youve given the all-clear to one person who is actually infected). So a positive result is only accurate half the time. But try the math again when 40 people are infected, and the accuracy jumps to 89%.

In other words, frustratingly, more people need to catch the virus before we can have a better sense of how widespread immunity really is.

Antibodies can also be used to develop treatments for those who get sick. Last month, a hospital in Houston became the first in the United States to treat a seriously ill Covid-19 patient with plasma therapy, which delivers antibody-packed plasma from recovered patients to those still sick. Trials are now gaining steam at a handful of other hospitals in the US. As of last week, Mount Sinai Hospital in New York had accepted 125 plasma donations and administered 37 transfusions to critically ill patients.

Its still too soon to say for sure how effective those treatments have been, says Michael Joyner, a Mayo Clinic physiologist who is leading the effort. But one key benefit of plasma therapy is that you dont need to know details about the bodys immune response in order for it to work: You just trust the body to do its job, only for someone else.

But plasma donations are hard to come by at the volume needed right now. So a number of pharmaceutical companies are working to develop drugs that would replicate certain antibodies at a huge scale and pack them into shots.

The first step in that process is to study the antibodies in plasma donated from recovered patients. Some antibodies, known as binding antibodies, attach to the virus only in order to flag it for destruction. Others, known as neutralizing antibodies, attach in a way that physically prevents the virus from entering human cells and replicating.

Drugmakers usually want to focus on neutralizing antibodies. Based on their fit to the unique protein structure of the virus, some neutralizing antibodies will perform their role better than others. Some companies are choosing to hone in on one specific neutralizing antibody they think works best; others are mixing a cocktail, which may also help prevent the treatment from becoming obsolete if the virus mutates.

We also dont know which combination and concentration of antibodies could trigger the very cytokine storm and massive inflammation that patients want to avoid. That kind of reaction was documented last year in a study of lab monkeys that were given antibody drugs after being infected with the older SARS. Many of the drug companies developing antibody treatments are aiming to begin trials over the next several weeks, in the hope that a safe, effective option could be available by the fall.

Ideally, well eventually be able prevent Covid-19 infections with the help of a vaccine. Vaccines preemptively prompt the body to create specific antibodies against pathogens. When an infection occurs, the vaccine will have already eliminated the lag between the innate immune system response and the adaptive one, which targets one infection and one infection only.

As of April 8, there are over 100 Covid-19 vaccines in development, using a variety of tactics to prompt the immune system into action. Vaccines show the immune system a biological mugshot of the pathogen: Some use proteins and peptides, others use bits of genetic material encapsulated in other viruses, and others use weakened or immobile bits of the pathogenic virus itself.

Most of these targets are inspired by vaccines against similar pathogens that have worked safely in the pastor at least been heavily researched. Vaccine candidates that use benign viruses to transport bits of SARS-CoV-2s spike protein into the body were mobilized when scientists were developing an Ebola and MERS vaccine. Nanoparticles that were made to deliver lab-made antigens to target the spike proteins for SARS are being resurrected by the drug companies that abandoned them when the crisis was no longer imminent.

In theory, both of these strategies should prompt B cells to make antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and keep them in the body long enough to prevent infections from sickening us.

But ultimately scientists dont know the details of how B cells mount immunity to the new virus. Some of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates have begun phase I trials, which look out for any dangerous side effects, but others are still in the pipeline or going through animal safety tests.

The resulting race likely wont have a single winner, but rather a handful. Its possible that out of the 50 or 80 candidates, there could be three or four that could be effective, says Mark Poznansky, an immunologist and director of the vaccine and immunotherapy center at Mass General Hospital. This is the best case scenario: More kinds of vaccines mean that more people can receive them, safely.

But testing, treatments, and vaccine development will all need to stay abreast of continual updates in our understanding of the virus.

Were after a moving target, said Poznansky. Fundamentally viruses have been infecting humans for millions of years, so its unlikely this represents a new type of battle. But because theres a lack of immunity in most of the population of humans, its like a vast, horrendous experiment on our immune systems.

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Covid-19 immunity insights will help scientists fight the virus - Quartz

Healthy immune systems can help ward off infections, health experts say.

As the coronavirus spreads across the United States, people may think about giving their bodies an extra boost.

Building a strong immune system can start at the dinner table, health experts say.

Thats because a healthy gut is key in the fight against infections, according to Orlando Health.

Adults should eat about five daily servings of produce, each one being roughly the size of a piece of fruit, the hospital system wrote on its website.

Doctors recommend eating spinach, mushrooms, strawberries and other foods packed with nutrients, such as vitamins A, C and D, according to CNBC.

Getting enough sleep is another step toward a bolstered immune system, according to AARP.

Your immune system is like your computer it needs moments of rest so it doesnt become overheated, Dr. Mark Moyad of the University of Michigan Medical Center told the organization. Sleep reboots the system.

Adults should sleep at least seven hours each night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the CDC recommends people who are stressed take breaks from news about the virus, make healthy choices and talk to others they trust.

Another immune system boost can come from exercising, according to AARP. Health experts recommend working out in 30-minute sessions for five days a week.

Though gyms have closed to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, stay-at-home orders have allowed people to stay fit in outdoor spaces.

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Practical ways to give your immune system a boost - Boston Herald

This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2-also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that ... [+] causes COVID-19-isolated from a patient in the U.S. Virus particles are shown emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. The spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like. (Photo by: IMAGE POINT FR - LPN/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

When we get sick we trust our immune system to protect us, but what happens when that system goes awry and ends up killing patients? COVID-19 is shedding new light on how viruses can kick some patients immune system into overdrive to deadly effect in what is known as a cytokine storm syndrome.

In short, our immune system by and large is incredibly effective at working around the clock to keep a myriad of infections and diseases at bay while simultaneously being able to identify between outside invaders and our own cells and effectively prioritise what to attack and what to protect. However, occasionally, either due to genetic factors or rampant viral infections like COVID-19, our immune system can become overzealous and go rogue - attacking and killing everything in sight, including healthy cells in the body. When that happens it is referred to as a cytokine storm and it may be killing around half of severe COVID-19 patients.

Cytokines are inflammatory immunologic proteins that are there to fight off infections and ward off cancers, says Randy Cron, M.D., Ph.D, at theUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, But when they are out of control, they can make you very ill.

It is important to note that many things have to happen before a potential COVID-19 related cytokine storm is triggered, which is why the majority of COVID-19 patients will never have to deal with the syndrome. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), This first preliminary description of outcomes among patients with COVID-19 in the United States indicates that fatality was highest in persons aged:

Which means that odds are if you contract COVID-19 you will be able to ride it out at home. You can thank the immune system for that because it does not just have one means for defending you against disease, but many many tools in its tool belt to keep you alive.

Dr. Randy Cron, of the University of Alabama, is a leading researcher of cytokine storm syndrome. He explains The data out of China, as well as elsewhere, suggests that about 80% of patients can ride COVID-19 out at home because they are either asymptomatic or feel like their having something like a horrible case of the flu. Continuing, However, about 20% require hospitalization and of those 20% that are being hospitalized, it's entirely unknown what percentage have a cytokine storm so it makes it hard to gauge the mortality of COVID-19 related cytokine storms.

Dr. Cron goes on to explain that the typical mortality rates in adults who develop the syndrome ranges from 50% to 80%. Until further research is done to track COVID-19 related cytokine storm indicating symptoms along with positive cytokine indicating tests we will not yet know just how prevalent cytokine storms are in COVID-19 patients.

Our immune systems are far from simple and have a number of safe guards to keep invaders out. This can be broken down into our innate immune system and our active immune system, which is contributes to our adaptive immune response, as well as our passive immune system, which is "borrowed" from another source and lasts for a short time (for example, antibodies in a mother's breast milk give a baby temporary immunity to diseases the mother has been exposed to).

Put (very) simply, the innate immune system response relies on the use of physical barriers like our skin and mucous membranes, coupled with our first responder defenders like phagocytes, antimicrobial proteins, and attack cells. The innate immune system response is why, for example, we get a stuffy nose and sneeze when we have a cold, or why a scrapped knee gets red, hot and inflamed, as well as sometimes filled with pus. By and large, this first defense is effective and may be why many people who contract COVID-19 are asymptomatic.

However, when the innate immune system isnt enough it calls on our second line of defense; the active immune system. This is typically when the inflammatory response gets kicked into higher gear and you develop a fever, which triggers a number of your bodys chemical alarms that call the active immune system to action and increases the metabolic rates in cells, thus allowing them to heal faster, as well as making it easier for a variety of immune response cells and proteins to do their jobs faster and more effectively. This is also when people start feeling body aches associated with COVID-19 and other viral infections.

The active immune response is both complex and elegant and (again put very simply) not only identifies and fights off viruses like COVID-19, it also remembers these viruses so it can quickly and effectively combat and neutralize them in the future, thus creating immunity. This is why vaccines are one of the more amazing developments of modern medicine. So if all goes well (or relatively well), then our immune system will protect us and we will live to tell the tale, but what happens when things start going awry?

Viruses like COVID-19 have a devious trick up their sleeve when it comes to making us sick; in a sense, they use human cells to shelter and reproduce. When COVID-19 is searching the body for a cellular host to attach to it is fairly exposed and it is easier for our active immune response to target and kill them. COVID-19 wants to do three things when it enters our body; find protection, reproduce and spread. Our cells offer the perfect environment for COVID-19 to do all three. So COVID-19, which targets the respiratory system, attaches and infiltrates our respiratory cells where it can more effectively hide from our immune system early on and reproduce. The infected cell will then spit out more of the COVID-19 virus that will repeat the process. This is where the battle royale of our immune response kicks off with our cellular immune response.

Yet again put very simply, our body has a special cell called the T-Cell, which has a variety of forms that it exists in to combat infection. When T-Cells are activated they release cytokines (yes, that cytokine), which trigger additional T-Cells to be made, which then release even more cytokines. One type of T-cells that are created are called cytotoxic T-cells. Cytotoxic T-cells are the cells that are able to roam the body and mercy kill infected cells who are chemically calling out to be killed and ideally to stop the increased production of viruses like COVID-19.

When your body responds the way it is supposed to, the cytotoxic T-cells will only target infected cells to be killed and move along. Additionally, the immune response also has a chemical indicator that ideally tells overzealous immune response cells to stand down once the threat has been neutralized. It is when we are in the throes of a cytokine storm that those systems start to get overwhelmed and malfunction. In essence, our bodys immune response gets so amped up that it stops differentiating between infected and healthy cells and attacks everything in its path. For obvious reasons, this is very bad for patients because not only is the COVID-19 virus killing the cells in our bodies, now our immune system is too.

Dr. Randy Cron and his colleagues began recognizing instances of cytokine storm syndrome in the early Chinese reports of COVID-19. The way we are seeing cytokine storms manifest in COVID-19 patients are that we are typically seeing a fever and some degree of respiratory distress. He says, However, we are also seeing patients who look like they're in septic shock and become hypotensive as they get sicker. He explains that many COVID-19 patients also have bleeding or clotting abnormalities as well saying, COVID-19 seems to have a really high propensity to lead to clots either in deep veins or in the brain or in the lungs, for example.

Cat Scan. Pneumocystosis In Right Lung. Pneumocystis Carinii Interstitial Pneumonia. (Photo By ... [+] BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

However, most notably, COVID-19 patients are most often dying of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which indicates that COVID-19 related cytokine storms, like the virus, are focused in the lower lung. This leads to the instances of acute pneumonia and the need for intubation and ventilator use. It also means that patients are dying of cytokine storms faster in instances of COVID-19 than other infections.Most cytokine storm related deaths happen as a result of multi-organ failure, which is why it has such a high mortality rate. Says Dr. Cron, However, with COVID-19 we are seeing people die from pulmonary complications typically before the multi-organ failure can set in. It may just be that patients are getting so sick with their lungs that they're already deathly ill before the rest of the syndrome develops. No one really knows.

Our understanding of cytokine storms is relatively young within the medical field and most of the literature around the syndrome did not take off until the 1990s. There are a lot of people who, both in the lay community and the medical community (particularly if they were trained a longer time ago), that are unfamiliar with cytokine storm syndrome. says Dr. Cron, This syndrome occurs unfortunately every day in ICUs, both in pediatrics and adults across the planet, as a result of a whole variety of conditions that go under-diagnosed and therefore under-treated. However, COVID-19 is changing that.

Luckily, the tests to diagnose cytokine storms are often cheap and readily available in hospitals. Dr. Cron explains that when patients are in throes of a cytokine storm, You will notice an elevation in the serum ferritin, a protein in the blood. Usually the value is less than 200 nanograms per ML and for COVID-19 related cytokine storms, it tends to run between 500 to the low thousands. The test to measure serum ferritin is cheap, readily available in most hospitals, and has a fast turn-around time. If a patients serum ferritin results are elevated, then it is a good early indicator that further testing is needed.

A complete blood count or CBC is a really common standard test. says Dr. Cron, And COVID-19 patients, for whatever reason, seem to be very lymphopenic, meaning their lymphocyte count tends to be less than a thousand per microliter. Continuing that, We don't know if it's more of a cytokine storm feature or just the virus itself, but it certainly suggests that you're not going to do well.

Cytokine storms also can be indicated by liver enzyme abnormalities. The liver gets very unhappy with the cytokine storms and as a result liver enzymes will go up, says Dr Cron, We see also an increase in a protein called D dimers and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels also tend to go up as well. So luckily, despite the relative youth of the field, there are relatively straightforward indicators to diagnose and therefore treat cytokine storms.

There are also a few effective treatments for cytokine storms despite the fact that we still do not know exactly which treatments will ultimately be developed and recommended across the board for COVID-19 related cytokine storms. There's always kind of this push pull between doing no harm and trying therapies that haven't been tried for this disease because it's new to mankind. says Dr. Cron, It's hard to watch people dying in front of you so if you can intervene in some way to help stop that, then that's what doctors are going to do and why some of our colleagues are trying to treat COVID-19 related cytokine storms with just any approach that seems reasonable based on how theyve treated other cytokines storms in the past.

A chemist displays hydroxychloroquine tablets in Kolkata,India on April 10,2020. Amidst concerns ... [+] over domestic shortage, India has lifted the ban on some drug exports including hydroxychloroquine. (Photo by Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Among other therapies, a few that have recently gotten attention (controversially or otherwise) are hydroxychloroquine and a drug called Actemra. While hydroxychloroquine has been touted by President Trump repeatedly, hospitals have reported mixed results. As Forbes contributor, Anita Bartholomew explains, One of the mostdramatic press reports of apparent successcame from a skilled nursing facility for veterans in Lebanon, Oregon. A doctor treated eight elderly veterans with a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin (an antibiotic thats been used in tandem with the anti-malarial, and in a French study, showed better results than hydroxychloroquine alone). One died, but the others recovered, including a 103-year old who was seriously declining prior to getting the medication, and survived to celebrate his 104thbirthday on April 1, 2020.

Actemra is a drug that was designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but was also approved in 2017 to treat cytokine storms in cancer patients. Actemra was recently successfully used to save a Seattle emergency room doctor who was near death after he contracted COVID-19.

Additionally, There are both broadly immunosuppressive approaches, such as high-dose corticosteroids, and more novel targeted approaches that go after inflammatory cytokine proteins, Dr. Cron said in a Q&A, While we are attempting to develop vaccines for COVID-19 and are trialing novel or re-purposed anti-viral therapies for COVID-19, let us also not forget to treat the patient with all we have to offer to help save lives. We need to address the immediate needs for the significant numbers of patients becoming critically ill in the current pandemic.

While cytokine storms are admittedly terrifying, there is still some hope for COVID-19 patients who develop the syndrome. Now that physicians are more aware of the syndrome and how to identify and treat it we are on track to develop more effective therapies and fail safes that can save more and more patients as the COVID-19 pandemic develops and (eventually) subsides.

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What Is The Cytokine Storm And Why Is It So Deadly For COVID-19 Patients? - Forbes

PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stress is a part of life for many of us especially now more than ever. Whether we are having trouble adjusting to working from home, caring for a sick relative or home-schooling children, it seems everyone is experiencing some form of stress during this global health crisis. However, science tells us that extreme amounts of stress and sleeplessness can suppress our immune system and make us more vulnerable to illnesses.

Its well established, scientifically, that chronic stress and sleeplessness can significantly blunt the immune system. Right now, Americans are experiencing extraordinary stress at a time when compromised immunity can be devastating, said Dr. Richard Cartledge, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and inventor of Xen by Neuvana. One of the most remarkable ways known to combat your bodys stress response is through electronic vagus nerve stimulation. We created Xen by Neuvana to make this previously inaccessible technology available to everyone.

People are feeling the effects of stress more than ever

Chronic stress, worry, and lack of sleep negatively impact our immune system, throwing it off balance and increasing the risk for development or worsening of diseases. In these challenging times, people are experiencing new stressors from job security to taking care of children out of school and adjusting to working from home. In a recent survey by Neuvana, more than half (51%) of Americans said working from home adds to their feelings of stress.

Isolation can take its toll, as well. Social interaction may indirectly strengthen immunity, as friends typically help with encouragement of healthy behaviors and help buffer the stress of negative events. Studies have shown that individuals who are socially isolated are approximately 2-2.5 times more likely to have clinically high levels of C-reactive protein, which measures inflammation as a sign of stress in the body, as opposed to those who are socially well integrated.

The chronic stress we are experiencing these days can have many short- and long-term effects suppressing immunity, decreasing the number of immune cells and increasing the number of immunosuppressive cells. In the short and medium term, it can create social anxiety, sensitivity to pain, disrupted sleep, chronic pain, depressed mood and social withdrawal. And in the long term, individuals under chronic stress are more likely to experience susceptibility to infection, inflammatory diseases, accelerated aging and early mortality. Cortisol, the bodys primary stress hormone, is produced in abnormally high amounts during chronic stress, which can depress the immune system.

Managing stress and getting enough sleep can help us to fight off illness, to lower the risk of diseases and may even help enhance our response to vaccinations. One way to help boost your immune system, right now, at home, is through vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

What is Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)?

Your brain and body are designed to self soothe during or after stressful moments. Your parasympathetic nervous system kicks in to balance the stress response and promote relaxation by slowing your heart rate and breathing and the vagus nerve plays a key role in coordinating this response. While stimulation of the vagus nerve has become a more common topic in recent years, humans have practiced forms of vagus nerve stimulation for centuries through meditation, yoga, mindfulness and deep breathing exercises. When toned or strengthened just like a muscle, the functions of the vagus nerve can be amplified bringing on feelings of calm, boosted mood and better sleep.

Neuvana brings the benefits of VNS home

Neuvana a team of physicians, expert engineers and wellness practitioners has found a way to bring the calming effects of VNS through Xen a new wellness device that safely and gently tones the vagus nerve for better sleep and reduced stress and anxiety.

Xen by Neuvana works by sending a gentle, calming electrical signal via patented earbuds to the part of the vagus nerve located in the ear. This promotes relaxation during any activity - even while social distancing - like working from home, after a yoga session, reading a book to the kids before bed, or listening to music. Regular use delivers maximum benefits, often with just two 15-20-minute sessions a day.

In light of Aprils Stress Awareness Month and this global health crisis, the team at Neuvana want to make VNS more accessible and are offering the Xen Box Set for $329, a $70 discount off MSRP through May 15, 2020. Additionally, for every unit sold, Neuvana will donate $20 to Feeding Americas COVID-19 Response Fund. For more promotional information, and other stress relieving and wellness tips, please visit http://www.neuvanalife.com.

Xen by Neuvana is available for order today with an optional monthly premium app fee of $3.99. All users will receive a 60-day free trial of the premium app, which includes additional waveforms and signals. Neuvana offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if not fully satisfied.

Media members interested in more information or executive interviews may contact Neuvana@maxborgesagency.com. Press kit can be found here. Detailed feature and tech spec list can be found here.

This product is for healthy users interested in potentially improving their general wellness. Individual results may vary. Neuvana offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if not fully satisfied.

About Neuvana LLC.

Neuvana is a South Florida-based brand at the intersection of wellness and technology, continually striving to improve peoples lives through accessible Neuroscience. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Richard Cartledge, an avid inventor and Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, the company is made up of physicians, intellectual property experts, engineers, experienced business professionals and a world-class scientific advisory board with a shared goal: a platform to make the wellness benefits of neuroscience safe, easy and accessible to everyone.

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Lack of Sleep and Chronic Stress Hurt the Immune System: Here's How Vagus Nerve Stimulation Can Help During a Global Pandemic - Business Wire

Most of us actually already know how we can strengthen our immune system, by simply eating foods that are high in nutrients, getting regular movement and exercise, getting enough vitamins, and so on. We are living in a very toxic world and we need to protect ourselves and eliminate any disease by taking better care of ourselves. Sometimes it takes an extreme situation like we have right now to make us more aware of our health.

Viruses and bacteria are two types of potentially disease-causing (pathogenic) particles. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria and can be transmitted in a variety of ways. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that usually cause mild illnesses, such as the common cold. However, certain types can infect the lower airway, causing serious illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis. Most people will get infected with a coronavirus at some point in their lives and the majority of these infections are harmless.

There are countless things that can weaken our immune systems and prevent our bodies from fighting off viruses. For example, being sedentary, consuming a lot of added sugar (such as in baked goods or sodas), being overweight, having type 2 diabetes or an existing disease such as heart or lung and respiratory conditions, autoimmune disorders, and issues related to gut health and nutrient deficiencies, especially protein, zinc, vitamin A and and vitamin D. All these high risks can weaken our immune system, as well as countless others including smoking, stress, and insomnia. In other words, a lot of people can suffer from a weakened immune system.

So how can we strengthen it?

Lets start first with exercise. Even without going to the gym, just being active during the day will help you boost your immune system. If youre able to get outside then, for example, simply going for a walk, maybe a 15 minute walk twice a day or a 30 minute brisk walk can have a very positive effect. If the current situation is preventing you from going outside then even in your home you can get some good exercise. You really dont need equipment, your own body weight is more than enough. You can also be creative and instead of weights and gym equipment you can use things like water bottles, bags of cat foods, a chair, a cushion etc. Start looking at your home as if it was a fitness center and you will be surprised what you can do!

The second major factor is our added sugar intake. I have talked a lot about this in my previous articles as sugar is one of the most important factors that can affect our immune system by damaging the gut. And in addition, of course, overconsumption of added sugar, over long periods of time, is associated with being overweight or obese which are risk factors for a wide range of health problems. But even if you are not overweight, excessive sugar consumption has been linked to chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver disease. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate (monosaccharide) and also comes in many different forms including glucose (which occurs naturally in fruits and plant juices), fructose (which occurs naturally in fruits, some root vegetables, cane sugar and honey), and galactose (which combines with glucose to form lactose). For example, eating a whole apple versus drinking apple juice will have two very different effects on the body (yes, eating the whole apple is definitely better!).

Other major factors include insomnia and stress, which are both equally important and really can not be separated from each other. When you are in high stress you will be restless and can often not sleep well either. On the other hand, if you have insomnia then eventually you will have stress by increasing cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. When we stress the body we suppress the immune system because the body thinks that its the time to be alert, and not the time to repair and heal ourselves. When we are not getting enough rest or sleep, we can not repair our body to help keep it in balance or homeostasis.

What about nutrient deficiencies? Proteins are the building blocks that help our bodies repair. Protein deficiencies tend to be hidden for so many people, you may be thinking that you are getting enough protein but bioavailability (such as over-cooked plant based protein) or any digestion problems can impair the absorption. Finding yourself feeling tired often, or losing your hair, can be a sign of protein deficiency.

Zinc deficiencies are common, and zinc is necessary to build our bodys defenses, so a deficiency can increase the risk of infectious diseases. Also, zinc is necessary for the production of the hormone thymulin, which is important for the maintenance of various immune functions. Eggs, meat, shellfish and seeds are excellent sources of zinc.

Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin or hormone, has well documented benefits, such as improving our bodys defenses, enhancing vitamin A, improving gut microbiota, reducing systemic inflammation, improving mood and sleep, improving muscle strength and reducing respiratory infection. So make sure that you are getting enough sunlight, and in addition you may need vitamin D supplementation. Beef liver, fatty fish, egg yolks and cheese, and of course sunshine, are good sources of vitamin D.

Vitamin A is crucial for maintaining vision and promoting growth and development, and is also known as an anti-inflammatory vitamin because it plays an important role in enhancing immune function. You can find it in foods such as beef liver, salmon, sweet potatoes and carrots.

And selenium is another important nutrient that we should not forget. It is a potent nutritional antioxidant and strongly influences inflammation and immune responses. Brazil nuts, sardines, tuna and shrimp are high in selenium.

The bottom line is that we can not control what is coming from outside, although we still can have an enormous control of our health by taking care of our body and our mind. Dont forget, taking action and preventing yourself from getting a disease or illness is so much better than waiting until you have something before you take action. We should all act now and change our lifestyle for better health.

Resources:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.medicinenet.com/viral_infections_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/rna-viruses

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16877062

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4763971/

http://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/10-immune-system-busters-boosters#1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1379072/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

https://www.apa.org/research/action/immune

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6162863/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759054/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3723386/

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/

Ayda Ersoy, Nutritionist (Dip.C.N., Dip.S.N.), Master Trainer (CPT ACE, NCSF, CanfitPro), Registered Yoga Teacher, Founder, Health Angel Nutrition, Fitness and Wellness, Founder, SMS (Stability, Mobility Strength) Intuitive Training System.

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What could weaken your immune system, and how to strengthen it - Thegardenisland.com

As the daughter of an air force officer and a nurse, I am fascinated by defence systems. There is none more impressive than the human immune system, equipped as it is with a rich arsenal to defend against different types of pathogen. Viruses have evolved to trick, bypass and evade these defences. Our immune systems have, in turn, learned to recognise and deter these virus stealth tactics. In Covid-19, the enemy is a tiny piece of genetic material wearing a lipid coat and a protein crown.

So how is our immune system able to defend against viral infections, and how does this apply to Covid-19? The virus that causes Covid-19 is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-Cov-2), and was first detected in humans around five months ago. It is a coronavirus. Corona, in Latin, means crown. The virus is adorned with an outer layer of protein covered in spikes, like a crown. These spikes help the virus attach itself to target cells. The research community is fast learning about immunity to Covid-19, and we are also applying our knowledge of similar respiratory viruses to predict what to expect in this infection.

Importantly, Covid-19 cannot gain entry to our homes or bodies by itself we have to let it in

Think of a virus as a robot; it cannot reproduce so it needs a factory of materials proteins, lipids and nucleotides to build copies of itself. The coat allows the virus to attach itself to the target cells membrane. The virus then fuses with the cell and releases a shopping list of instructions on how to build and assemble new viruses. This shopping list, the virus genome, is written in nucleotides (RNA). The first job of a virus that enters our bodies is to invade target cells so that it can comfortably remove its coat and deploy its RNA.

Once inside, the virus commandeers the cell and borrows cellular machinery to build more viruses before immune cells detect the intruders and raise the alarm. Antibody proteins that are able to stick to the virus-spike proteins, and prevent attachment to the target cells, are called neutralising antibodies: generating them is often the goal of protective vaccination.

Our infected cells make the ultimate sacrifice and invite their own destruction by displaying distress signals for T-cells, which swiftly detect and kill them. T-cells are cytotoxic powerful serial killers that can recognise peptide fragments of virus displayed on the infected cell surface. When they do, they release a payload of toxic enzymes that kill the infected cell in a kiss of death. This strategic martyrdom is organised by the immune system to deprive the virus of its replication factories and can lead to the reduction of viral load in the patient. It takes several days for antiviral T-cells to expand and antibodies to be generated. Heres the silver lining: memory cells ensure that if we encounter the same virus again, we can react immediately with pre-existing defences. Sars-Cov-2 is new to humanity so we have no protective immunological memory. Vaccines prepared using harmless parts of the virus can help us build protective memory.

The viruss enemy superpower is spreading. The virus achieves this through shedding from infected patients. Sars-Cov-2 is expert at hopping from person to person, and in some people, it achieves a stealthy existence with mild or no symptoms. Once many copies of the virus are made, it needs to jump to another host. It hitches a ride on droplets that can be coughed or sneezed to a distance of up to two metres. Droplets can survive on surfaces for several hours enabling pick-up by a new host, or they can be directly inhaled if another person is in close proximity. Studies are emerging into animal hosts so far the virus has been detected in a few ferrets, cats, tigers and dogs. No animal deaths have yet been reported, and we dont know if animals can transmit back to humans.

The age differential in fatalities for Covid-19 suggests, with some exceptions, that a healthy immune system is usually able to control infection. Meanwhile, an ageing or weakened immune system may struggle to deploy a protective arsenal. Importantly, Sars-Cov-2 cannot gain entry to our homes or bodies by itself we have to let it in. This is why official advice has centred around cleaning our hands and avoiding touching our faces.

We know that a healthy immune system is usually able to eliminate infection in a couple of weeks. However, we have no understanding of the components of our immune arsenal that contribute to this feat: some vaccines work by creating potent neutralising antibodies; other vaccines generate powerful memory T-cells. Antiviral antibodies emerge as early as three to four days after virus detection, but are they protective against future reinfection? We believe that antibodies to other coronaviruses (Sars, Mers) last from one to three years. Because this is a new virus, we dont yet know the answer to this question. Public Health England is recruiting 16,000 to 20,000 volunteers to monitor antibodies once a month for six to 12 months to confirm whether we can generate long-lasting antibody responses to Sars-Cov-2. Determining the quality of these antibodies will be important to understanding long-term protection.

What is our most potent immune weapon against Covid-19? Cytotoxic T-cells may play an important role. Immunologists and virologists are working together to discover the correlates of protection, to design vaccines that offer long-term defences against Covid-19. Years of investment in research means that we can use existing approaches to respond to this new threat, and early mobilisation of research funders, philanthropists and academics are diverting resources to bolster these efforts on an unprecedented scale. Experience has taught us that vaccines are able to eradicate infections from this planet (for instance, smallpox), and medicines against viruses that dont embed their genetic material to our own (for example, hepatitis C) can also achieve this.

Our secret weapon is research. Scientists are working hard on understanding Covid-19, and collaboration is key to this effort. But until a vaccine or treatment is available, we ought to work hard to protect ourselves and our families: isolate and prevent transmission by using physical distancing, face masks and sensible hygiene. If we all do our part, this little virus holding the world to ransom wont stand a chance.

Zania Stamataki is a senior lecturer and researcher in viral immunology at the University of Birmingham

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Here's how your body gains immunity to coronavirus - The Guardian

As the Covid-19 death toll rises, scientists are racing to understand the human body's response to the disease.

While some coronavirus antibody tests have been approved for use in the U.S., several key questions remain: What happens to the immune system after a person recovers from the virus? Could they be reinfected, and are they still a risk to others?

The Trump administration and some European countries have proposed allowing nonessential employees to return to work if they can prove they're no longer capable of spreading the virus.

This would be done by testing for coronavirus antibodies, the proteins created by the immune system in response to the presence of a virus. U.S. officials said last week that coronavirus antibody tests would soon hit the national market.

As of April 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized three coronavirus antibody tests. But some scientists argue that not enough is presently known about how novel coronavirus antibodies work, in order to correctly determine whether someone is immune.

"It's very likely that there are a large number of people out there that have been infected have been asymptomatic and did not know they were infected," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during an April 10 appearance on CNN's New Day. Fauci is also a member of the federal coronavirus task force.

"If their antibody test is positive, one can formulate kind of strategies about whether or not they would be at risk or vulnerable to getting reinfected, this will be important for healthcare workers for first line fighters those kinds of people," he said. But those tests need to be validated, he added.

Fauci also stated that the prospect of people receiving immunity permits "is something that's being discussed" and that such a policy "might actually have some merit under certain circumstances."

But before the feasibility of such a policy can be weighed, the research must first catch up, said Dr. Helen Chu with the University of Washington's epidemiology department.

"We do think that having immunity to the virus may be protective," Chu told KUOW's The Record. "We don't know what an antibody test, at this point, means though. People who are currently infected and then recover from the virus we don't actually know what the immune signature of recovery is."

Chu said it's not clear which particular antibodies could protect a person against Covid-19.

Researchers also have yet to discover how high those antibody levels would need to be to provide immunity, or how long they would last, she said. Moreover, having antibodies for the novel coronavirus wouldn't necessarily mean a person isn't still infectious to others.

"The idea of being able to have a test to say that you're protected and you can go back and work we're not quite there yet," she said.

While there's still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the immune system's response to Covid-19, Chu said seasonal flu epidemics could offer a window of insight.

"Once you get infected [with influenza] and you develop a protective response, that doesn't last for very long," she said. "And by the next year, you're going to be reinfected again or you're going to get another vaccine and that'll protect you for a certain amount of time but then you become susceptible again. And we don't know how coronavirus behaves."

The University of Washington's Clinical Immunology Laboratory has set out to help answer some of the looming questions about coronavirus antibodies.

"Basically, we're looking for antibodies that bind to the coronavirus proteins," said Dr. Susan Fink, assistant director of the University of Washington's Clinical Immunology Laboratory.

Thus far, the tests conducted by Fink's team have yielded varying outcomes.

"We've looked at a number of different assays, basically to look for performance characteristics are they sensitive, are they specific? And one of the things that we found is that [with] the different sort of ways that you can measure antibodies, we get very different results," she said.

Samples collected prior to the pandemic have provided some insight, albeit inconclusive, Fink said. Her team is still trying to figure out the best method for measuring coronavirus antibodies.

"We see reactivity and the way we're interpreting that is we think that those are probably false positives," Fink said, adding that her team attributes this to the presence of antibodies for other coronavirus strains not the one at the center of our current pandemic.

The Clinical Immunology Laboratory is also probing the potential for herd immunity against Covid-19: The concept of vaccinating a high percentage of people in a community to prevent them from contracting or transmitting an infectious disease, thus suppressing it.

"If we can develop an assay that we know is pretty specific for the novel coronavirus, as opposed to other coronaviruses that people have been infected with, then we can start to ask the questions about, 'Well how many people have actually developed these antibodies?'"

However, Fink said a lot more research is needed before drawing any conclusions about who might be immune to the virus.

Bill Radke contributed to this report.

Read more:
Coronavirus immunity permits for Washingtonians? 'We're not quite there yet' - KUOW News and Information

As living with the coronavirus becomes the new normal for communities all over the world, artists like Yayoi Kusama and Mo Willems have stepped forward to offer ways to self-soothe or stay entertained while practicing social distancing. Now, David Hockney, one of the most famous and successful living painters in the world, has added his voice to the conversation via a letter he sent to the Daily Mail. Controversially, Hockney is of the opinion that smoking cigarettes could provide people with a defense against the coronavirus, a stance that he backs up by citing data from the outbreak in China that points to fewer smokers being admitted to the hospitalfor COVID-19 treatment.

Smokers have developed an immune system to this virus, Hockney wrote. With all these figures coming out, its beginning to look like that to me. Im serious. Additionally, the artist weighed in on his own mortality. Ive smoked for more than 60 years, but I think Im quite healthy, Hockney added. How much longer do I have? Im going to die of either a smoking-related illness or a non-smoking-related illness, Hockney wrote. While this particular flavor of contemplative nihilism is certainly entertaining coming from one of the most celebrated artists in the world, Hockneys theory that smokers are less likely to get the coronavirus is problematic at best and dangerous at worst.

SEE ALSO: Marina Abramovis Dangerous Work Has Given Her an Interesting Perspective on Coronavirus

The World Health Organization writes that smokers are in fact more likely to be vulnerable to COVID-19, due to the fact that potentially contaminated fingers and cigarettes are coming into frequent contact with a persons open mouth when they smoke. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity, which would greatly increase risk of serious illness, WHO continues. Additionally, although its clear that more research is warranted, recent studies are beginning to trickle out which indicate that smoking is likely associated with the negative progression and adverse outcomes of COVID-19.

Its possible Hockney swiped his theory from rumors that nicotine has the ability to downregulate the enzyme that binds COVID-19 to humans, which has been getting a decent amount of circulation on Twitter. Its a theory that has little to no scientific basis, particularly in the face of the mounting evidence that smoking increases the risk of COVID-19 symptoms growing more severe. Right now, its important to practice common sense and remember that cigarettes have been proven to be really, really bad for you. Until the world knows enough about coronavirus in order to develop a vaccine, its probably best to assume that smoking wont save you.

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David Hockney Says Smokers Have Developed an Immune System Against Coronavirus - Observer

Boosting immunity is a hot topic in the fall as cold and flu season approaches; however, this is a conversation we should have all year long. It is especially popular in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

What does boosting immunity mean? Our bodies have a sophisticated immune system guarding us against disease. Our lifestyle choices impact our ability to strengthen or weaken our immune systems. Behaviors such as tobacco and excessive alcohol use weaken our defense system while consuming a healthy diet and getting our bodies moving works to strengthen it.

While boosting our bodys immune response is not a guarantee against infection, it is one more tool in our toolbox to decrease risk. Therefore, there are many lifestyle choices we can make to help boost immunity:

1. Manage stress: There are a variety of ways to do this, and each person manages their stress differently. Many of us turn to food to help manage stress. Instead, you could consider journaling, meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, qi gong or making a gratitude list. Other ideas include calling a friend, trying something new, being outside in nature, doing something you enjoy, or expressing yourself creatively with music or art.

2. Avoid tobacco and alcohol: Tobacco and alcohol contribute to chronic inflammation and the increase of toxins in your body. These toxins decrease your bodys ability to make white blood cells and fight off other invaders, like viruses and bacteria. If you need more support to quit, UW Health is here to help: Smoking 1-800-784-8669; AODA (608) 282-8270

3. Stay hydrated: Drinking water helps your body naturally eliminate toxins and keeps the system flowing smoothly. The goal of drinking at least 64 ounces or eight cups of water each day may sound daunting, but there are many options to help you reach this, like flavored water, fruit infused water, sparkling water, unsweetened tea, or herbal tea. Whatever you choose, make it calorie-free and sugar-free.

4. Get sleep: When it comes to sleep quality is more important than quantity (ideally 7-9 hours each night),. To improve your quality of sleep, consider: avoiding technology or screens at least 90 minutes before going to bed; consider reading, journaling, or listening to soft music before bed. Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet, and avoiding turning on the TV while lying in bed.

5. Move your body: Regular exercise helps to fight inflammation and strengthen your immune system. Find ways to incorporate physical activity into your day, such as taking extra steps while doing household chores. As little as 20 minutes of movement can be effective, with a goal of moving your body each and every day. If youre active at least 150 minutes per week, youre doing great keep up the good work!

6. Choose anti-inflammatory foods: Many are stocking up on canned or boxed foods, but theyre missing a key opportunity to strengthen their immune system with nutrient-dense, antioxidant rich foods. Instead, continue purchasing whole foods, such as a colorful rainbow of fruits and veggies (frozen and canned count), whole grains, nuts, beans and lentils, and shelf-stable lean proteins like frozen or canned chicken and fish.

7. Stay connected: Its in our human nature to connect and interact with others, which makes social-distancing challenging, frustrating, and at times depressing. Even a brief, virtual connection with others can boost our positive emotions, which have been shown to improve our immunity. During this time, stay in touch with friends and family, even if it has to be through FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, texting, or the age-old phone call.

For more resources:

http://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

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Lifestyle tips to boost immunity - Daily Union

Those quarantine snacks sure look like tempting. But try to eat them in moderation, says Dr. Hans-Rudolf Berthoud, who studies neurobiology and nutrition at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Pandemic or not, Berthoud reminds us: The nutritional value of natural foods is so much better than the nutritional value of snack foods. The more processed the food is, the less nutritionally rich.

There isnt one single answer for why we want to constantly snack, according to Berthoud. But for some, he says, the urge to snack could be tied to genetic obesity.

Berthoud does think the stay-at-home order has a silver lining: Families can now cook together more often.

When cooking, youll want to incorporate carbohydrates and proteins into your diet. But you dont need to eat meat every day, Berthoud says. Eating a portion of meat two to three times per week is enough. Instead try to opt for protein from beans, vegetables or fish, which is filled with unsaturated fats that can improve heart health and your overall immune system.

He also says some of that family time should include healthy activities pre-dinner, such as going for walks for an hour or two per day to achieve at least 10,000 steps per day. And when you leave the house for essential services, take the stairs and park farther away from store entrances.

Exercise also means you dont have to spend as much time constantly watching your caloriesjust dont take it too far.

When doing exercise, you can eat a little more [afterward], but for some people this is not productive because theyll just pig out and eat a lota whole lot, Berthoud says.

Drink lots of water (and skip the sugary sodas!), and get at least eight hours of sleep per night to boost your immune system.

These, he says, are small behavioral steps to change your habits for the better. Those habits might also help the quarantine snacks last a little longer, too.

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How to stay healthy and boost your immune system during the pandemic, according to a Pennington researcher - 225 Baton Rouge

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Editorial: The economy needs an immune system - TribLIVE

COVID-19 does not impact us all the same. In fact, a growing body of evidence finds that the virus seems to hit men harder than women.

Early in the epidemic, researchers' best guess was that the difference could be chalked up to higher rates of smoking among men, which may have made them more vulnerable to this respiratory illness.

But now, as new data reveals dramatically stark sex disparities, researchers have proposed new theories tied to biological differences and cultural norms that could help explain why men appear to be more vulnerable to this disease.

Researchers first learned of sex differences early on in the COVID-19 epidemic when data out of Wuhan, China, found that men accounted for the majority of cases and up to 75% of deaths.

Next was Italy, the nation with the highest total deaths in the world, where the man-to-woman ratio for death is 80% to 20%.

Here in the United States, an analysis of 1.5 million tests found that men were more likely to be COVID-19 positive when they were tested, according to coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah L. Birx. Women have actually been tested more often than men.

And according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study covering 14 states and nearly 10% of the U.S. population, more than half of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations happened in men. In New York state, the epicenter in the U.S. with the highest number of cases and deaths, men make up nearly 60% of the deaths. None of the aforementioned studies, however, drilled down into COVID-19 rates for gender minorities, including people who identify as transgender or do not identify as either gender.

Looking back to viral epidemics of the past, these differences are not unique to the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 appears to follow the trend of previous infections with SARS and MERS [in that] men are affected more often than women," said Veena Taneja, an associate professor of immunology at The Mayo Clinic.

As researchers try to understand why men are more affected than women, smoking initially seemed like the obvious culprit. With more than 1.1 billion smokers in the world, far more men smoke than women. Often portrayed as habits that evoke wealth, power and sexual success, smoking is instead linked to lung disease, heart disease, cancer and death.

China is the largest producer and consumer of tobacco in the world, and more than half of adult men there are current smokers. Men are more likely to be cigarette smokers in the majority of countries including China, the U.S., Italy and others.

But as data accumulated, experts realized that smoking couldn't stand alone as the reason. For example, in countries like Spain, the rate of smoking among men and women is approximately the same, yet men still represent the majority of cases and deaths.

Now, researchers are looking beyond smoking to other lifestyle factors, such as diet and alcohol consumption. And they're exploring other possible causes -- from the cellular level to social and cultural norms -- to help understand why men are falling victim to this disease.

Men are consistently more likely to drink and almost twice as likely to binge drink as women. Alcohol has a longstanding association with adverse immune-related health factors like susceptibility to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), slower recovery from infection and much more.

A study from China looking at 21 different hospitals found that almost half of the patients who died of COVID-19-related pneumonia had high blood pressure and nearly 30% had diabetes.

Prior research has shown a powerful interaction between high blood pressure and the immune system, indicating that people with high blood pressure may be less well equipped to fight off infections.The same is true of uncontrolled diabetes, which can cause the immune system to fail in its ability to control infections, making people more susceptible.

Taneja of the Mayo Clinic has studied differences in the immune systems of men and women and found significant differences in other diseases. She said the differences can be due to a number of factors.

Occupational hazards that affect the immune system and lungs are more common in men, and then there are sex hormones which affect the immune system differently, she said.

Studies suggest that there are many differences between men and women in immune response due to sex hormones (androgen and estrogen), sex chromosomes (XX, XY), regulatory genes (genes that tell the body what decisions to make) and the ability to produce antibodies (proteins that tell the body about the virus).

Taneja explained that male hormones are known to suppress immune response.

However, due to estrogen, females generate higher immune response and make antibodies which can clear the infection. She said estrogen is also known to change the bacterial composition in our guts. Bacteria help us fight infections.

Sex chromosomes may also help with the immune response in women.

Women have XX chromosomes and men carry XY" [and] each X chromosome helps with the immune response by providing women [a] double dose," Taneja said.

Jay Bhatt, a practicing internist and chief clinical officer at Surgisphere, agrees, noting that having two copies of the X chromosome may be helping bolster the immune response to coronavirus."

Severity of COVID-19 is not the only factor impacted. Women may also have a higher chance of being immune down the road. A comparison of 331 patients in Wuhan showed that after recovering from more severe cases of COVID-19, women had higher levels of antibodies. This is important because research suggests higher antibody levels may be related to immunity.

Some researchers have proposed that these differences in the immune system were forged over thousands of years of evolutionary history.

During evolution, nature, to preserve mankind, and for progeny, has selected women to be stronger during childbearing age. Women are less susceptible to get infections and can fight them by generating a robust response, said Taneja.

Other researchers have suggested that society and culture may play a role, with gendered cultural norms guiding certain behaviors. In China, Hong Kong, Italy, South Korea, and many other countries, experts found that women may have been protected, in part, because they were more likely to stay home when schools closed.

Another cultural norm may be that men are expected to "tough it out" and wait to seek treatment and testing. White House coronavirus response coordinator Birx explored this theory in a briefing last week, referring to the fact that men are less often tested but more likely to test positive.

It gives you an idea about how men often dont present in the healthcare delivery system until they have greater symptomatology, Birx said. This is to all of our men out there, no matter what age group: If you have symptoms, you should be tested and make sure that you are tested.

Scientists, doctors and policy makers agree that we need a better understanding of the potential gender differences to effectively fight COVID-19, prevent further spread and to identify safe treatments and vaccines.

Delaram J. Taghipour, MD, MPH, MBA is a preventive medicine resident at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is a contributor to ABC News.

ABC News Dr. Jay Bhatt contributed to this work.

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Why coronavirus can make some severely ill and others hardly at all - ABC News