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A new study released this month suggests women who drink dairy milk, even as little as one cup per day, may be at an elevated risk of developing breast cancer.

The study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology from researchers at Loma Linda University Health found that even relatively moderate amounts of dairy milk consumption is associated with an increase of breast cancer risk of up to 80 percent, depending on the amount consumed.

Consuming as little as to cup of dairy milk per day was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer of 30 percent,Gary E. Fraser, author of the paper, said.

By drinking up to one cup per day, the associated risk went up to 50 percent, and for those drinking two to three cups per day, the risk increased further to 70 percent to 80 percent.

Researchers observed the dietary intake of 53,000 women for nearly eight years, all of whom were initially cancer free.

By the end of the study, there were 1,057 women diagnosed with breast cancer, or about 2 percent of the total women who participated in the study. No clear associations were found between soy products and breast cancer, independent of dairy.

Fraser said the associations between breast cancer and dairy milk could be the result of the sex hormone content of dairy milk, as cows are lactating and about 75 percent of the dairy herd is pregnant.

Dairy milk does have some positive nutritional qualities, Fraser said, but these need to be balanced against other possible, less helpful effects. This work suggests the urgent need for further research.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates more than 42,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2020. Its the second leading cause of cancer death in women, behind lung cancer.

The nutrition study has some limitations, as this one was observational, making it difficult to confirm cause and effect. There could be other factors associated with milk consumption that are impacting breast cancer risk.

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Dairy milk could increase the risk of breast cancer - The Hill

KEY POINTS

Longevity may, at times, be subjected to chance, but scientific information also provides a wide-ranging guide by identifying in advance some warning signs. Markers linked to life-threatening and age-related complications like dementia, for instance, are largely being identified early on. Findings of the study that were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine have made a significant contribution to this field. According to the study, your sense of smell may provide clues in determining your lifespan.

The Sense of Smell

Researchers found that older adults suffering from a poor sense of smell may die sooner compared to those with better olfactory attributes.To examine the relationship between longevity and sense of smell, researchers gathered 2,289 adults with ages ranging from 71 to 82 years old. They were then asked to identify twelve common smells, with researchers ranking their capability to recognize the correct smell from 0 to 12.

To make sure that all participants begin on a level footing, researchers made sure none of the volunteers were frail. All of them were checked if they could climb ten steps easily and walk a quarter of a mile, as well as complete routine activities without any help.During the 13-year study, 1,211 of these participants died. sense of smell and longevity Photo: Public Domain Pictures - Pixabay

Upon checking their data, researchers found participants who have a weak sense of smell were 46% more likely to die by the tenth year of the study. Another 30% were at risk of dying by the end of the study compared to those who have a good sense of smell.

Poor Sense Of Smell

The link was hugely limited to volunteers who showed good to excellent health at the beginning of the study. This proved that a poor sense of smell might be a sensitive and an early sign of deteriorating health before it is recognized clinically.

This was the conclusion of Dr. Honglei Chen, the senior author of the study and a professor at Michigan State University in East Lansing.Highlighting the impact of having a poor sense of smell, Dr. Chen said those with olfactory problems were 62% more likely to die by the tenth year of the study. This is despite being in excellent or good health at the beginning of the study.

Researchers also found that those with a poor sense of smell are at higher risk of dying from cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, but not from respiratory conditions or cancer.Having a poor sense of smell may be an early indication of poor health in older age. As the results suggest, this goes beyond neurodegenerative ailments that often signal the start of mental or physical decline.

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This Smell-Related Trait May Hold The Key To Living Longer - International Business Times

Just like we learned as children, when crossing an intersection, always look both ways. But more importantly, always look left first. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), "A significant proportion of intersection crashes involve left turns."

Proactively turning left to make sure another driver isn't breaking the rules of the road can help prevent a collision. According to Attia, more automotive accidents occur in intersections (20%) compared to on freeways (18%), so it's safe to assume the designs of each roadway might be a contributing factor in car crashes.

In an intersection, drivers are often turning in front of oncoming traffic, as opposed to freeways, where everyone is headed in the same direction. Attia wrote in a blog post, "A driver is most likely going to be struck near the driver's side by another vehicle, otherwise known as a broadside or T-bone crash."

In the same post, Attia demonstrates a variety of potential intersection crashes. In each one, the driver with the right of way would be killed from direct impact on the left side, and the other driver is usually running a red light or a stop sign. But those scenarios refer to intersection crashes, not T-junction crashes.

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Want To Increase Your Longevity? Looking To The Left Might Help - mindbodygreen.com

A new government survey found that approximately 4 in 10 American adults are obese, with nearly 1 in 10 being severely obese.

The report was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and released Thursday.The data was collected during 2017-2018, recording the height and weight of participants to get an average American Body Mass Index (BMI). Approximately 5,000 U.S. adults were surveyed.

The BMI measurement calculates an individuals height to weight ratio to gauge the level of body fat. A BMI of 30 or higher falls within the obese range, and a BMI above 40 is considered severely obese, according to CDC definitions.

Results indicated that 42 percent of participants were obese, just slightly higher than the40 percent recorded in a 2015-2016 study.

Participants who were found to be severely overweight rose to more than9 percent, after recording 8 percent in the previoussurvey.

Obesity appeared more prevalent across certain racial groups, with black American adults reportinga 49.6 percent obesity rate, andHispanic and non-Hispanic adults following with ratesabove 40 percent. Asian participants reported the lowest adult obesity rate with 17.4 percent,the CDC found.

Obesity rates have steadily risen since 1999, according to historical data from the CDC, with a slight dip in 2011-2012. The recent report stated that the newest data may not be statistically significant, as the small increases do not deviate far from previous results.

Similar data shows the prevalence of obesity rising on average as well since 1999, with its occurrence in U.S. adults who are 20 or older rising significantly from 30 percent to 38 percent over a 15 year period.

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More than 4 in 10 Americans obese, study finds - The Hill

Research continues to drill down into the properties of different food items to evaluate their impact on peoples health over a specified period of time. Naturally, the foods that come out on top are the ones that protect you against a host of deadly conditions, such as heart disease and cancer. While evidence clearly shows that no single item will be a panacea, specific ingredients have been shown to provide myriad health benefits nonetheless, making them an essential component of any diet.

One such ingredient is paprika, a ground spice made from a mixture of dried peppers in the Capsicum anuum family, including hot chili peppers, cayenne peppers, poblano peppers, aleppo peppers, sweet peppers, and others.

Here are three reasons to include paprika in your diet

Evidence suggests paprika may benefit your cholesterol levels, a key protective measure against heart disease.

Cholesterol comes in two forms: LDL and HDL cholesterol, and the former is often branded the bad cholesterol because carrying too much of it clogs up your arteries, a mechanism that hikes your risk of having a heart attack.

HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, cancels out this harmful process by picking up the LDL cholesterol and transporting it to the liver where it is removed from the body.

READ MORE:How to live longer: How education or a lack of it could impact life expectancy

Studies investigating the carotenoid compounds found in paprika, such as beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, have revealed they play a role in fighting oxidative stress, which is thought to increase your risk of certain cancers.

Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals - unstable molecules which can lead to cell and tissue damage - and antioxidants, which are thought to protect against these unstable molecules.

Notably, in a study in nearly 2,000 women, those with the highest blood levels of beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and total carotenoids were 2535 percent less likely to develop breast cancer.

Whats more, capsaicin in paprika may inhibit cancer cell growth and survival by influencing the expression of several genes, says research.

Capsaicin, the active comment of paprika that gives it its spice, may help to manage diabetes, a chronic condition that is a precursor to heart disease.

How? Research suggests capsaicin may influence genes involved in blood sugar control and inhibit enzymes that break down sugar in your body. It may also improve insulin sensitivity, another key component of blood sugar control.

Improving blood sugar control is critical because unregulated blood sugar levels can lead to more serious complications, such as heart disease.

Bolstering the claims, in a four-week study in 42 pregnant women with diabetes, taking a daily 5-mg capsaicin supplement significantly decreased post-meal blood sugar levels, compared with a placebo.

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How to live longer: Three reasons why paprika spice may increase your life expectancy - Express

by Ben Remocker 26 Feb 03:09 PST

The 49er class invites expressions of interest to design and build 49er and/or 49erFX sails for the 2021-2024 quadrennial.

The 49er class welcomes world leading sail designers and manufacturers to bid on becoming our class sailmaker(s). The selected sailmaker(s) will have the opportunity to build sails for at least the four year period leading to the Paris Olympics, with the possibility to extend for further quadrennials.

The current 49er sails have been used since 2009 while the 49erFX sails have been used since 2012. The 49er class has had 3 different designs of sails over the years, while the 49erFX is coming off the original set of sails.

The class is seeking to improve consistency and longevity of the sails, to keep the costs of campaigning as manageable as possible.

Each of the two rigs, 49er and 49erFX, has been updated for 2021 already, with CST being the new mast maker for the classes. The new masts are of the same geometry and bend characteristics as the previous generation of masts. The existing class masts are expected to remain class legal for the foreseeable future.

We invite all interested parties to get the full technical requirements via email. Expressions of interest are due by March 28th, 2020.

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Call for bids - 49er and 49erFX Sails The class is seeking to improve consistency and longevity - Sail World

Nature has its way of keeping things in balance. When it comes to body weight, the key regulator is leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells. When fat storage increases, leptin informs the brain to lower appetiteand vice versa. Thats how the body balances its fat stores and food intake, keeping them within a fine range.

In some people, however, the system miscalculates. For the past 25 years, since leptin was first discovered by Rockefellers Jeffrey M. Friedman, scientists have wanted to understand exactly how changes in the hormones function may lead to obesity, an ever-worsening public health problem that now affects more than 650 million adults worldwide. Some have suggested that the disease is caused by problems in leptins faithful reporting of fat levels to the brain; others have argued that it is in fact due to the brains failure to respond to the hormone.

It turns out this internal calibrator can go kaput in different ways in different people.

In a study published in Nature Medicine earlier this year, Friedman, the Marilyn M. Simpson Professor, and his collaborators suggest that at least 10 percent of obese people may be genetically incapable of producing sufficient leptin at all. No matter how much fat is stored in the body, their leptin levels remain low.

These people have less leptin from an early age, making them a little bit hungrier than everyone else, says Olof Dallner, a research associate and the lead author of the study.

A typical leptin-deficient mouse weighs 1.94 times more than the average lab mouse.

The researchers traced the problem to a type of RNA that seems to regulate how much leptin is produced. When the team engineered mice without this specific RNA, and fed them a high-fat diet, the mice kept accumulating fat to the point of becoming obese, but their leptin levels nevertheless remained low. Another group of unaltered mice munching on the same unhealthy diet became a little chubby, toobut this group produced normal amounts of leptin, which appears to have kept them from becoming outright obese.

Theres compelling evidence that these findings might pertain to humans, too. When the team looked at the genetic profiles of more than 46,000 people, they found that alterations in the human version of the same RNA are linked with lower leptin levels. Some people, this work suggests, may have a subtype of obesity thats potentially treatable with leptin therapy. That was indeed the case with the low-leptin mice: When the animals received injections of leptin, they lost weight.

All of this is good news for people with leptin-curbing mutations. But most obese people gain weight not because of too little leptin but because their brain has stopped responding to it. For this group, there may be other avenues for therapyfor example, targeting the brain networks that control not just how much we eat, but also how much energy we burn.

In a recent study published in Cell, Friedmans team identified a group of neurons in the brain stem that do just that. In mice, turning the neurons off triggers the burning of fat to produce body heat, and also decreases hunger. It suggests that these multitalented cells could be powerful levers for managing body weightespecially if they could be targeted with drugs.

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When zombies take over the brain - The Rockefeller University Newswire

WACO, Texas (KWTX) Baylor Scott & White Health today opened a new Sports and Orthopedic Center Thursday on the campus of Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center in Waco.

The 106,000-square-foot, four-story Ted and Sue Getterman Baylor Scott & White Sports and Orthopedic center provides a full spectrum of sports medicine including rehab, surgery and recovery all under one roof.

The center was a dream of Dr. Jon Ellis and Dr. David Haynes who started as Southwest Sports medicine in 2005.

"It's a wonderful day right? All the contributions of so many people that have gone into making this a reality. This was a 15 year vision that we now stand in front of. It's an amazing feeling, very grateful," Haynes said.

Hundreds of employees of Baylor Scott & White and top business people and community leaders were on hand for the grand opening.

The center provides primary care and preventative medicine, 48 exam rooms, advanced diagnostic imaging, orthopedic surgery center and indoor and outdoor sports performance areas.

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Waco: Sports and Orthopedic Center opens - KWTX

ALTON - OSF HealthCare Saint Anthonys Health Center said today there have not been any coronavirus (COVID-19) cases investigated at their location in the Riverbend.

We are aware of a reporting about a suspected COVID-19 case in Belleville, Colleen Reynolds, media relations coordinator for OSF HealthCare based out of Peoria said. I can say to date, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthonys Health Center and related OSF medical clinics have not requested testing and have not put anyone under investigation in the Riverbend as a result of being seen by us.

Below is a story released that the flu is a much bigger threat in Illinois than COVID-19.

Flu Remains Larger Threat than COVID-19

NOTE: CDC reports flu-related deaths in the U.S. has reached 16,000 with six pediatric deaths in Illinois and two in Michigan. This story was updated 2/26/2020 to reflect updated number of pediatric deaths nationally, including in Illinois and Michigan.

Despite heightened alerts about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, local health leaders stress the seasonal flu remains far more concerning. The two Illinoisans diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered and returned to work. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flu activity remains high in the US and expected to continue for weeks. The agency emphasizes pediatric deaths, at 105, are the second highest since they were included in weekly reporting in 2004.

In Illinois and throughout the country, health facilities are mostly treating the unusual Influenza B-Victoria strain of flu virus. The last time this occurred was the the1992-1993 season. Terri McCrery, infection preventionist for OSF HealthCare says the numbers affected by the new coronavirus cant compare to the seasonal flu.

Youre talking a handful nationally here with the coronavirus and youre talking millions with the flu so we need to be watchful of the flu, she warned.

McCrery says this latest flu strain is affecting children most significantly. The overall cumulative hospitalization rate 47.4 per 100,000 population is similar to that seen in recent influenza seasons; however, "rates in children and young adults are higher than at this time in recent seasons," the CDC reports.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there have been increased hospitalizations but fewer deaths from the flu so far this season. Illinois is among the states where the risk remains widespread and high.

Even if you dont often get sick, McCrery says it only takes one exposure to influenza which is a long-lasting airborne virus. She says the flu can have a devastating impact, even on those considered young and with a healthy immune system.

A 16-year-old junior at Glenwood High School in the Ball-Chatham, Illinois school district died from complications of the flu. Joey Sandhaas, came down with pneumonia and fought for his life for more than a week.

Its not too late to get the flu shot. Dont think youre going to be one of the ones that it skips by and not get the flu because you could get it and it could be deadly, she advised.

OSF HealthCare has imposed visitor restrictions at its hospitals because of the elevated risk. The restrictions encourage people to voluntarily limit hospital visits, especially if feeling ill. Visitors 18 and over must wash or sanitize their hands and wear masks available at hospital and medical office entrances.

McCrery also encourages those who have flu-like symptoms to be seen early, especially if they have underlying health issues.

She urges everyone, Dont go out in public if you have the signs and symptoms the fever, the cough, runny nose. Stay home but then if youre home for a day or two, go be seen. Dont let it wait. The flu can turn into pneumonia, bronchitis and that would be required to be seen by the doctor so please be cautious.

Be seen early if you suspect the flu

Anti-viral drugs can be used to treat flu illness. The CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have flu infection or suspected flu infection and who are at high risk of serious flu complications, such as people with asthma, diabetes (including gestational diabetes), or heart disease.

If you suspect you have the flu, please call ahead to your health care provider including OSF Urgo or OSF PromptCare so staff can take proper precautions to assess you. OSF OnCall is also an online option where you can be connected virtually to be assessed.

Here are tips to know when to seek emergency care for flu-like symptoms.

Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care.

If, however, you have symptoms of flu and are in a high risk group, or are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider (doctor, physician assistant, etc.).

Certain people are at high risk of serious flu-related complications (including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions). This is true both for seasonal flu and novel flu virus infections. (For a full list of people at high risk of flu-related complications, see People at High Risk of Developing FluRelated Complications). If you are in a high risk group and develop flu symptoms, its best for you to contact your doctor early in your illness. Remind them about your high risk status for flu. CDC recommends that people at high risk for complications should get antiviral treatment as early as possible, because benefit is greatest if treatment is started within 2 days after illness onset.

No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill.

If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it.

What are the emergency warning signs of flu?

People experiencing these warning signs should obtain medical care right away.

These lists are not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptom that is severe or concerning.

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating the flu called antivirals. These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. See Treatment Antiviral Drugs for more information.

CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the need to use a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol. Until then, you should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

CDC also recommends that children and teenagers (anyone aged 18 years and younger) who have flu or are suspected to have flu should not be given Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or any salicylate containing products (e.g. Pepto Bismol); this can cause a rare, very serious complication called Reyes syndrome. More information about Reyes syndrome can be found hereexternal icon.

Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.

Here are some frequently asked questions about flu vaccines.

Even healthy people need a flu vaccine. Influenza (flu) is a contagious disease which can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia. Even healthy people can get sick enough to miss work or school for a significant amount of time or even be hospitalized. An annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Pregnant women, young children, older people, and people with certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease are at increased risk of serious flu-related complications, so getting a yearly flu vaccine is especially important for them. Is the flu vaccine safe? Yes. The flu vaccine is safe. Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines over the past 50 years, and there has been extensive research supporting the safety of seasonal flu vaccines.

Each year, CDC works closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other partners to ensure the highest safety standards for flu vaccines. The most common side effects of flu vaccines are mild. The flu vaccine cannot cause flu illness; however, it can cause mild side effects that may be mistaken for flu. Common side effects from the flu shot include soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot, headache, fever, muscle aches, and nausea.

These side effects are NOT the flu. If experienced at all, these effects are usually mild and last only 1-2 days. Even if I get sick, wont I recover quickly? Not necessarily. Influenza can be serious and anyone can become sick with flu and experience serious complications, including active and healthy kids, teens and adults. Even if you bounce back quickly, however, others around you might not be so lucky. You could spread your illness to someone who is more vulnerable to flu. Some people can be infected with the flu virus, but have no symptoms.

During this time, you can still spread the virus to others. Dont be the one spreading flu to those you care about. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Office of Health Communication Science Last Updated November 17, 2016 Page 2 of 2 Cant I wait and get vaccinated when/if flu hits my community? It is best to get vaccinated before flu begins to spread. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu, so the sooner you get vaccinated, the more likely it is that you will be protected once flu begins to circulate in your community. Flu vaccines cant give you the flu. Even if you got a flu vaccine, there are reasons why you might still get flu or a flu-like illness.

You may have been exposed to a non-flu virus. The flu vaccine can only prevent illnesses caused by flu viruses. It cannot protect against other viruses that may cause symptoms similar to flu, like the common cold.

You might have been exposed to flu after you got vaccinated, but before the vaccine took effect. It takes about two weeks after you receive the vaccine for your body to build protection against the flu.

You may have been exposed to an influenza virus that was very different from the viruses included in that years vaccine. The flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will cause the most disease during the upcoming season, but there can be other flu viruses circulating.

Unfortunately, however, some people who get a flu vaccine may still get sick. How well the flu vaccine works (or its ability to prevent flu) can range from season to season and also can vary depending on who is being vaccinated. However, if you do get sick, flu vaccination might make your illness milder than it would have been otherwise dont avoid getting a flu vaccine because you dont like shots.

The minor pain of a flu shot is nothing compared to the suffering that can be caused by the flu. A flu vaccine reduces your risk of illness, hospitalization, and can prevent you from spreading the virus to your loved ones. So, whatever little discomfort you feel from the minor side effects of the flu shot is worthwhile to avoid the flu. You need to get a flu vaccine every year.

There are two reasons for getting a flu vaccine every year: a) Flu viruses are constantly changing and so flu vaccines may be updated from one season to the next. You need the current seasons vaccine for the best protection. b) A persons immune protection from the vaccine declines over time. Annual vaccination is needed for the best protection.

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OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony's: No Reported Cases of Coronavirus Investigated Here, Flu Stats, Preventative Steps Given - RiverBender.com

Whats one thing about cardiology youre most passionate about?

Cardiovascular disease is the number-one cause of death for both men and women. I feel like its not talked about enough that its the number-one cause of death in women, specifically. Theres a big movement for breast cancer, etc., but more women actually die of heart disease or stroke.

What is something you wish your patients would speak up about more?

Often people who have chest discomfort say, Oh I just assumed it was this. I think its human nature to assume its something less serious than your heart. But its better to make sure its NOT your heart, and to not assume its heartburnwhich presents differently in everyone, particularly in women. Women who get chest pain may have atypical symptoms: it could be shoulder pain, jaw pain or shortness of breath or nausea. If theyre getting any of those symptoms with exertion, and only with exertion, its much more concerning for heart disease.

Tell us about the testing available to help prevent heart disease?

I am more into non-invasive testing, so I love being able to get answers for patients non-invasively if possible. I think for women in general, theres more research going into the risk factors that lead to heart disease. If we can help make them aware that their risk is higher, and start more preventative measures earlier in life (between their childbearing years and when cardiovascular disease usually presents), theres good potential to help.

Link:
Munson Shares Heart Disease Symptoms for Women to Watch - MyNorth.com

JaneCastorFL/Facebook

Health officials, politicians, business owners and apprehensive residents have a healthy fear about the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in the Tampa area.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is one of those concerned citizens, and she addressed her concerns alongside Hillsborough County Commissioner Chair Les Miller in downtown Tampa in a Thursday afternoon press conference.

Were here to address a global issue that has the potential to impact our entire communitythe coronavirus, or COVID-19, Miller said to start the conference. But let me make one thing clearthere are no reported cases in Hillsborough County, or in the state of Florida.

Throughout the press conference, Castorwith the help of Dr. Charles Lockwood, USFs Health Dean of the Morsani College of Medicinestressed that Bay area officials are continuously preparing for the unfortunate day that coronavirus might make its way into the Bay area.

Were here to ensure our residents that we are as prepared as possible to deal with this disease if and when it arrives in our community, Castor said.

Castor urged Tampa residents to obtain their information from reputable sources and to not fall victim to online rumors, like the paranoid South Floridians who bought all of the face masks in their area. Dr. Lockwood said face masks dont prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Tampa Bays aggressive preventative and prepared measures are similar to that of Floridas approach to coronavirus as a whole. Although some Floridians may worry about the heavy international tourism surrounding Disney World, Gov. Ron DeSantis squashed anxieties in a his own Thursday press conference, stating that the state of Florida is fully committed, and is doing everything we can to prepare and respond to coronavirus.

Earlier this month, US. Rep. Charlie Christ wrote a letter to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), stating that there should be more of an emphasis on transparency about how coronavirus is spread. But Florida health officials arent currently revealing information about monitoring possible cases since the virus has yet to be declared a public health crisis.

Perhaps the scariest thing about coronavirus is the fact that it is so contagious, and one can be infected without showing symptoms. Concerned citizens can meet that challenge with strong preventative measures, like simply washing their hands, and education about the virus. In the Thursday press conference Dr. Lockwood said that 80% of people with coronavirus are asymptomatic or only show mild symptoms.

RELATED:Wash your damn hands, Tampa Bay

It's probably also worth pointing out that a different virus, influenza (aka the flu), has already sickened at least 13 million Americans this winter and killed 6,600 people.

The first cases of the coronavirus were reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in late December 2019, and now there are 48 countries reporting infections, according to live updates from the New York Times.

According to the CDCP, various symptoms associated with coronavirus are fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Although there are no reported cases of coronavirus in Florida, Mayor Castor and the rest of Tampa Bay are making sure the Bay area is prepared if the unfortunate day ever comes. In the spirit of preparedness, Castor promises minute-by-minute updates on any further news surrounding coronavirus.

Miller added Floridians and Tampeos alike should not fear the coronavirus at this point because states health officials have not yet declared it acrisisbut that might change very soon.

Early on Thursday, the state of California reported the first instance of a community-transferred infection. All other reported cases in the U.S. have been obtained overseas.

But in the meantime, wash your damn hands and chill out.

Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter to get the most up-to-date news + views. Subscribe to our newsletter, too.

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Mayor Castor eases Tampa Bay's coronavirus worries by talking prevention and preparation in Thursday's press conference - Creative Loafing Tampa

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Dr. Jeff Harp of Highland Family Medicine discussed the Coronavirus, its spread, and what you need to know about it Thursday during News 8 at Sunrise.

Actually, theres not one coronavirus, theres a whole bunch of coronaviruses, explained Dr. Harp. They basically range from the common cold to very serious diseases like this SARS thing that just happened, MERS, and what were having right now. So, its a whole family of one type of virus.

The current strain, COVID-19, originated in China. When it comes to symptoms, Dr. Harp said theyre not dissimilar to the common cold. So look for cough, fever, and trouble breathing. But the trouble is with some of these viruses, like the one that were seeing here, it can go on to very serious diseases like pneumonia, kidney failure, and even death.

Dr. Harp said this strain of Coronavirus, COVID-19, has been identified in 32 countries. Were learning more about exactly how deadly it is at this point. So at one point, it seemed like a lot of people who were getting it were getting very seriously ill. Now, it looks like perhaps about 2% of the people who get the disease will eventually succumb to it, die from it, which is a lot less serious. For example, the Middle Eastern virus that was around a couple years ago, it was about a third of people that got it would die from it.

Fear of Coronavirus and its impact has been reflected across the global economy and in the actions of individual people. Some have taken to wearing masks as a preventative measure. Its serious if ones exposed to it, noted Dr. Harp. Its not as contagious as many viruses, but its also preventable through the same kind of way that you would prevent the common cold. So we recommend that people take precautions. Obviously, traveling to China right now is not really the thing to do. Dont go outside when youre sick. Dont hang around sick people. If youre sneezing or someones sneezing, you know, cover the sneeze. Throw out the stuff that you use to clean it up. And then just use common sense in terms of, you know, touching objects, cleaning surfaces, that sort of thing.

If you want to learn more about Coronavirus and the current strain, COVID-19, Dr. Harp said go online to cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Read the rest here:
Highland Family Medicine doctor helps us understand the threat of Coronavirus - RochesterFirst

(MENAFN - Somali Land Sun)

Somalilandsun : It is estimated that every year more than 300 young cheetahs are illegally snatched from Ethiopia, northern Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland.

Illegal wildlife trafficking is an ever-increasing problem for the conservation of species in the wild, and the trafficking of cheetahs is no exception. It is estimated that every year more than 300 young cheetahs are illegally snatched from Ethiopia, northern Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland, then smuggled out of Somaliland to be sent across the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Peninsula where they are bought and sold in illegal online sales to the wealthy.

Most of these cubs are pulled from their mothers prematurely and kept in poor conditions with inadequate food and water. Less than 25% of these captured cheetah survive to the buyers. And those that do survive are often in poor health, with fractured bones, infections and malnutrition.

Of those that are sold, the average lifespan is only 5 years of age, and most die due to causes related to stress and malnutrition. With less than 7,500 cheetahs surviving in the wild, compiled with the low reproductive rates of wild cheetahs, these numbers are unsustainable. Experts estimate that, than in less than 10 years, the cheetah could be extinct in Northern Africa.

The Cheetah Conservation Center (CCF) led by Dr. Laurie Marker, along with the Somaliland government's Ministry of Environment and Rural Development (MoERD), has been working since 2011 to set up a task force to help rescue confiscated cheetah cubs. Rescued cubs were initially sent out to sanctuaries in Ethiopia and Djibouti. After the laws changed in Somaliland, a cheetah sanctuary was started in the capital city of Hargeisa in 2017. Currently there are more than 45 cheetah cubs at the cheetah safe house, with more than 30 of those arriving in 2019.

Most of the confiscated cubs come into the safe house in critical condition, including severe dehydration, injuries and infectious diseases and require intensive care. Needless to say, in-country resources for cheetah care are very limited.

Because of the scarce in-country resources, CCF contacted Dr. Margarita Woc Colburn to help assist with the cheetahs. Dr. Woc Colburn assisted with the care of these confiscated cheetahs by acting as one of the veterinary consultants, utilizing her cheetah expertise.

Overall, Nashville Zoo has been supporting the Somaliland-CCF cheetah efforts through donations of medications and equipment, but last September, the Zoo sent Dr. Woc Colburn to Somaliland to assist with the health assessment of 30 cheetahs.

She worked in conjunction with Laurie Marker and a South African veterinary team led by Dr. Peter Cadwell. During her time there, the team fully examined the cheetahs at the safe house, as well as evaluated and developed preventative care protocols and assisted in the training of local veterinarians. Based on the findings of the exams, improved nutrition and preventative medicine protocols were set in place. Dr. Woc Colburn continues to be a core veterinary consultant for the project.

Future plans include the building of a cheetah conservation center outside of Hargeisa, where the cheetahs will have room to roam and breed, as well as creating a main education center to help educate the public about cheetahs and how to stop illegal wildlife trade. Nashville Zoo continues to support these efforts by ongoing donations of medications and medical equipment, as well as allowing Dr. Woc Colburn to provide veterinary expertise via telecommunication consults with Somaliland.

This press release was produced by the Nashville Zoo . The views expressed here are the author's own.

By. Press Release Desk, News Partner

MENAFN2702202001620000ID1099767727

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Working To Stop Illegal Wildlife Trade Of Cheetahs In Somaliland - MENAFN.COM

February 25, 2020

Today is the Canadian Federation of Medical Students National Day of Education and the Max Rady College of Medicines Global Health Portfolio is highlighting an initiative by students involved with the reproductive and sexual health component of their portfolio. The group is hoping to fill in the gaps in Manitobas current sexual education curriculum by training medical students to deliver workshops to high school students.

After the groups successful campaign last year for universal coverage of the abortion pill Mifegymiso in Manitoba, this year its focus is on preventative medicine, including the prevention of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and an overall emphasis on sexual health and well-being.

They have planned training sessions for interested medical students to gain the skills they need to effectively lead formal and engaging sexual health education workshops in the community. The group is working with the Womens Health Clinic and is receiving guidance from the Clinic in designing the program. They hope to collaborate with local high schools and begin delivering the workshops in the spring or fall of this year.

We caught up with Jacqueline Donner, a second-year medical student and a local officer of reproductive and sexual health with the Global Health portfolio to talk about this project.

How did this initiative come about?

I think many Manitobans feel theres a big gap in the sexual health component of our school system. A lot of our peers feel that they didnt really get a comprehensive education, and certainly not a sex positive one. We realized as future physicians, we will have the privilege and responsibility at times of playing the role of sexual health educator for people, so we wanted to be as well-equipped as possible.

Why do you think sexual education is important?

Sexual health is all-encompassing. It plays into many aspects of our life. Many people in our community feel excluded by the way sexual health is currently taught. Sexual health is not just for people who are cis and straight. Were being very careful about our terminology so everybody feels included. When you have a good knowledge of sexual health and are able to take some ownership of your own sexual health, its very liberating, and allows you to enter other parts of your life feeling autonomous and independent.

How will you train medical students to deliver this information?

Were working with the Womens Health Clinic to do a series of three workshops that will provide us with legitimate training to enter schools and educate young people. We had our first workshop this past Sunday.

The format that Womens Health Clinic uses, that we will emulate, is using interactive, group-based activities for students of all ages to break down those barriers to talking about sex and sexual health. It looks at the different components of sexual health from a more holistic approach. It doesnt just involve the biology of sex, but everything from body positivity to self-love to the role of media in our perception of ourselves and our sexuality.

What are some of the things you learned about in the workshop?

We did some exercises that broke down basic terminology. We also talked about body image, body positivity and the harms of dieting. They do a cool activity using skittles to help visualize the spread of STIs. The visualization of these issues translates well into a classroom environment, especially since we are trying to reach youth.

Do you hope that once established, these workshops will continue on an on-going basis?

We want to establish a long-standing relationship with Womens Health Clinic and also hope that it becomes something that can perpetuate on its own. Once we gain this training, we can continue to train our fellow students. I hope theres a snowball effect and more students can be involved in coming years.

CHANTAL SKRABA

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Med students aim to fill in sexual education gaps in high schools with new initiative - UM Today

All over New Zealand, prisoners are breaking out of their cells and the Department of Corrections is quite happy about it.

The freedom the prisoners are finding has nothing to do with the physical bars that contain them they are escaping their mental prisons, using the keys of meditation to open the door.

For more than three years, Ishaya monks of the Bright Path have been teaching ascension meditation techniques in prisons around the country. This follows a successful trial at Rimutaka Prison.

Savitri and Prasada Ishaya first approached Corrections in 2016 to volunteer as meditation teachers in prison, inspired byA Mindful Choice a documentary film made by two Kiwi colleagues about the positive power of ascension meditation including in one of Mexico's most notorious prisons.

Chris McKeen/Stuff

For more than three years, Savitri Ishaya and other monks have been teaching ascension meditation techniques in prisons around the country.

"I was so impressed and inspired by the fact that people who had suffered terribly traumatic lives and experiences were able to find peace even in a prison environment," Savitri says.

She showed the film to Corrections and they decided to trial meditation at the Drug Treatment Unit (DTU) at Rimutaka Prison.

Since then, the teachers have returned for many block courses and the teaching of ascension meditation has expanded to six prisons across the country. Last year, 46 courses were delivered in prisons teaching about 400 people, including some Corrections staff.

Chris McKeen/Stuff

The main benefit to inmates from ascension meditation is in the way they're able to stop themselves from falling back into old behaviour patterns.

Frith Dunlop, clinical manager at the Rimutaka DTU, says the men come to the high security unit through a dual mechanism first their case manager will recommend the DTU as part of their rehabilitation but the prisoners also have to agree to it, so there is an element of self-selection.

Then as part of their course they are offered the opportunity to take the ascension meditation course. Dunlop says around half the inmates in each intake put up their hands.

"There are always people in the group who are motivated and are willing to try anything. We do a lot of preparation before the coursewhat's involved, what to expect and, basically asking them: 'What have you got to lose?"'

Dunlop said the main benefit she's seen from ascension meditation is the way the inmates are able to stop themselves from falling back into old behaviour patterns they are less reactionary.

"When they start falling back into old thinking patterns, they've got a simple way to find a moment to pause to reset themselves and put themselves back on track we see that all the time, right in front of our eyes: you can see they are going down a certain path and they just stop. And then they have the time to rationalise what they are doing and get back on the right track."

Chris McKeen/Fairfax NZ

Savitri says her students are motivated because they are "hungry for peace".

And she's seen success where she least expected it, recalling one prisoner who grudgingly volunteered for the programme.

"One that I'm thinking of, I really didn't expect him to be interested, I didn't expect him to last the first day," she says.

"But after the first session he started to make noises that showed something was changing in him. And then he started to talk about how he suddenly realised that he was in charge of his thoughts. We encourage our guys to journal and he started journalling about how his reality has changed because he's been able to change the way he thinks.

"That was a huge revelation for him because he was at the start of a long sentence and was quite depressed about it he made it clear that he feels positive [now] about doing the rest of the sentence and that he can handle anything he can just practise his techniques at any time when things get hard or he gets frustrated or overwhelmed. And this is a person I didn't expect to last the first day."

Savitri says some of the changes she's witnessed in the prisoners have been profound.

"These guys are interested because they are hungry for peace they have got powerful motivation to drop their thoughts and they are very interested in learning how to drop emotions particularly anger.

"They know that when the red mist comes they often can't control what happens next. So, to have a tool that allows them to notice when they are starting to get triggered into traditional patterns of behaviour and to use the technique as a circuit breaker is great," she says.

"The guys who are ready to change areso good at putting this into practice that the change can happen rapidly because they really want it."

She says it's amazing to see the difference in the individuals and the group from the beginning to the end of the course.

One of the reasons a depressed or angry prisoner can make a sudden change within a few days is because the ascension meditation techniques are simple and easy to practise, says Savitri.

Chris McKeen/Stuff

Ascension meditation enables you to release stress through the day. "I call it preventative medicine if you're doing it every day, the stress levels don't overflow. You're much more resilient, calm and coming from a much more present place."

"It's a simple tool that allows us to let go of our thoughts and emotions there are lots of patterns of behaviour that come about through the way people relate to their thoughts, and when we are always focused on our thoughts and believing them, we don't realise how they often drive our actions."

Corrections lists the benefits of the meditation programmes as: managing anger, stress, tension and trauma; improved communication with others, including whnau and Corrections staff; motivation to participate in rehabilitation programmes to address offending, and education and offender employment activities.

There has been a lot of research on what is known as emotional contagion, the transfer of moods among people in a group. The basic premise is summed up in the old quote "misery loves company" one person's negative mood can influence others in a family, workplace or group. And the reverse is true a positive mood is equally catchy; it can increase co-operation and decrease conflict important in a prison setting.

It's something Dunlop has noticed within Rimutaka's DTU, with a ripple effect based on how many men in the unit have taken the course.

"The last time that Savitri and Prasadacame through was the most powerful I've seenwe noticed a real shift," Dunlop says.

"We noticed significant shifts in behaviour, compliance and morale. It changed the whole unit even when the whole unit didn't undertake the programme. But those who did brought peace back to the unit with them."

Dunlop speculates that because the unit always has some inmates who have been there for a while, they can positively affect newcomers by talking up meditation and continuing to practise it themselves.

"We've always got a few people left from the last intake that have done the ascension course. This is about the fourth or fifth time in the past two years that we've had them in so there's a number of people who have done it, so when we are trying to encourage newcomers to give it a shot, we've got men saying, 'This is really valuable."'

Those who have already learned are keen to resit the course and the new students come more willingly because their peers have recommended it, she says.

"We've got another course coming up in March and we will have even more people in the unit who have done it once or twice before, so we expect the next time around will be a more powerful effect."

This doesn't surprise Savitri her experience is that the prisoners who embrace the techniques are strong advocates for its power.

"The guys who get keen on it are very good at passing on their experience to others they all like to talk about it and how they are changing.

"It takes a while for them to trust us and then to be willing to open up and try the techniques and sometimes people aren't ready to do that but for those who are ready, once they've done the first couple of lessons they start to meditate in their cells and they get quite enthusiastic."

She likens regular practice of meditation to a pressure valve that can release stress, a huge benefit in a prison where anger and quick tempers can cause trouble.

"It enables you to release a lot of stress through the day so it's not building up. I call it preventative medicine if you're doing it every day, the stress levels don't overflow. You're much more resilient, calm and coming from a much more present place.

"A guy might have someone say something to him and in the past he would have flared up or even given him the bash but, after learning to meditate, they say things like. 'I just used my technique and I was able to let it go.' That might seem like a small thing, but it's huge to these guys. For them to be able to let that stuff go is just amazing."

The next step in the programme, besides spreading to other prisons beyond the current six, is to get some real measurement of what until nowhas been anecdotal success stories.

Dunlop says thereare national statistics available on what's calledRQthe rehabilitation quotient of all the DTUs around the country, but there are no site-specific stats held, so it's hard to pull out variables such as what difference meditation has had on prisoners once they are released.

But Dunlop is a believer and it seems Corrections can see the benefits too.

"I can't speak for Corrections but I can speak for the support they've shown the programme they believe in and want it to keep happening.

"I've sat in on a few of the courses with the men and it's something I practise several times daily and this is what people don't understand: it doesn't have to take time if you're busy.

"I sometimes do just a couple of minutes four times a day like when I'm shifting from one job to another it's like getting closure in my mind about what I've just been working on and freshen up for the next step.

"Definitely before I get out of the car and walk into the prison, I do a quick session and if something particularly stressful is going on, I use it as a strategy."

Another measure of success is that the rest of the world is starting to take notice of what is happening in some New Zealand prisons.

Since prisons in Mexico and New Zealand began offering ascension meditation, their counterparts in other countries are also getting involved. The Ishaya monks have started going into prisons in Norway and Spain and the first course is about to be taught in a facility near Perth, Australia.

"We want to wake people up to know that peace is possible," says Savitri.

FINDING YOUR PEACE: TESTIMONIALS FROM PRISON STUDENTS

"Like many other men in my situation, I wasn't granted the luxury of a healthy upbringing. [This] led me to develop many very negative unhelpful views about myself, others and the world. These views and beliefs are the bricks and mortar of my internal mental prison, far more secure and complex than any maximum security prison and until now I considered it escape-proof.

"I was blown back in my seat at the first class when [the teacher] said it's all too often that we think we are just bad or broken. And that's exactly what my beliefs tell me. That's what all the drug use and looking for love and acceptance outside myself has been all about. The downside to that antisocial lifestyle has been making poor choices and bad decisions in which people have been hurt. I can't undo that tragedy. However, with your knowledge and teachings of meditation I can start to break down the beliefs and views that created the thoughts... I can't thank you enough for the keys to my prison... Just know that there are others like me serving life sentences who need this."

Testimonial from a prison student

"I was burdened by raging thoughts, irregular sleep patterns and general anxiety. However by using the meditation techniques I have been able to really calm my mind. I have been experiencing deep, peaceful sleep and have noticed that my general anxiety has been reduced significantly."

Testimonial from a prison student

Mindfulness versus meditation

Mindfulness is a bit of a buzzword, butwhat's the difference between that andmeditation?

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Meditation in NZ prisons offering keys to freedom - Stuff.co.nz

Feb. 25, 2020

WASHINGTON Although the immediate side effects of antimalarial drugs are widely recognized, few studies were designed specifically to examine health problems that might occur or persist months or years after people stopped taking them. For this reason, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine finds there is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether there is an association between antimalarial use and neurologic and psychiatric outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and the development of symptoms that mimic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Further research is warranted because existing studies are limited in their design.

As of 2019, six drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prevention of malaria and are available by prescription: tafenoquine, atovaquone/proguanil (A/P), doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine, and chloroquine. The report examines the possible long-term health effects of these six drugs, with a particular focus on the neurologic and psychiatric effects of mefloquine, which was widely prescribed to U.S. troops until 2009; and tafenoquine, a newly approved drug. It contains 31 conclusions regarding the level of association between the antimalarial use and persistent or latent adverse events.

The committee that wrote the report defined persistent events as those that start while the drug is being taken and continue at least 28 days after the drug is stopped. Latent events are not apparent while the drug is being taken, but present any time at least 28 days after cessation.

The report also presents strategies for designing and conducting studies that would advance the understanding of possible persistent and latent events associated with antimalarial drugs.

The committee recognized that adverse events while taking some antimalarial drugs are quite common, but the pressing, well-justified question of whether health problems continue after use has simply not generated the rigorous research needed to answer it, said committee chair David Savitz, professor of epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health. The absence of evidence on long-term health effects of these drugs does not mean the link doesnt exist, only that there is a critical need for well-designed studies to answer important safety questions.

In 2018, there were 228 million cases of malaria worldwide, with 405,000 resulting in death. Malaria has affected nearly every U.S. military deployment since the Civil War, and it remains an ongoing threat to those involved in the current conflicts in the Middle East. In addition to U.S. service members and veterans, the report also examines the adverse events and health outcomes experienced by populations including Peace Corps volunteers, travelers, people living in malaria-endemic areas, and research volunteers. While travelers are encouraged to take an antimalarial drug as a preventative treatment, military personnel are required to do so under proper medical supervision.

Limitations of Existing Research Some of the currently available antimalarials have been in use since the 1940s, but after an extensive literature review, the committee found only 21 epidemiological studies that examined adverse events occurring at least 28 days after the final dose. The studies conducted to gain FDA approval are generally limited by small sample sizes and short follow-up periods, making it difficult to identify persistent or latent effects. In other studies, adherence rates may be inflated, as people are often reluctant to report when they modify a dose or stop taking a medication altogether.

Furthermore, because of the many other factors and stresses associated with deployed environments, like combat, it is challenging to attribute specific health effects to the use of an antimalarial drug. For a diagnosis of PTSD, the person should have directly experienced a traumatic event; the medication itself is not the traumatic event, as the diagnostic criteria explicitly state, the report says.

Conclusions on Association Between Antimalarial Use and Health Outcomes For each of the six approved drugs, the committee examined adverse events categorized by body system: neurologic, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, eye, cardiovascular, and other disorders.

There is a sufficient level of evidence of an association between tafenoquine and vortex keratopathy, a condition that involves asymptomatic deposits in the cornea, the committee found. While it was found to persist beyond 28 days, it was also found to resolve within 3 to 12 months and not result in clinical outcomes, such as loss of vision.

While the committee found little evidence for associations between the drugs and most outcome categories, it also found the evidence provides a basis for additional research into an association between the following antimalarial drugs and health outcomes:

Advancing Research on Antimalarials Given the billions of people at risk for malaria and the severity of the disease, there will be a continuing need for people to take antimalarials, the report emphasizes. The threat of drug-resistant parasites also necessitates research into new preventatives.

To establish causal links between taking antimalarial drugs and persistent or latent adverse health effects, the committee recognized the need for a series of randomized trials and multiple well-designed observational studies of varying types. Ideally, these studies would:

Researchers could also conduct studies using health care databases that cover a large number of individuals who used antimalarial drugs and reported their subsequent health experiences. Such data sources might include Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) health care databases, existing DOD and VA registries, Medicare, FDA Sentinel, commercially available claims databases, and national health care data from other countries. Adverse event registries, such as that used by FDA, would not be informative, since they do not provide comparative data, the committee concluded.

The study undertaken by the Committee to Review Long-Term Health Effects of Antimalarial Drugs was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The National Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln. For more information, visitnationalacademies.org.

Follow us:Twitter@theNASEMInstagram@thenasemFacebook@NationalAcademies Contact:Stephanie Miceli, Media Relations Officer Office of News and Public Information202-334-2138; e-mailnews@nas.edu

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Determining Whether There Is a Link Between Antimalarial Drugs and Persistent Health Effects Requires More Rigorous Studies - National Academies of...

Lead contamination in hunted meat has the potential to impact the health of millions of people in the U.S. who are connected to the hunting community, including low-income recipients of venison donations.

However, a lack of communication from public health agencies and health professionals leaves people who eat hunted meat without a trusted source of information about the health risks and advice for reducing exposure to lead.

An investigation of dozens of studies about lead in hunted meat, preventative information about lead, and questionnaires used to identify patients at high risk for lead exposure, along with hours of interviews with hunters who use lead ammunition, revealed a concerning disparity between what is known about risks of exposure to lead in hunted meat, and what is shared with the hunting community. Hunters reported either never hearing about this topic, or hearing about it from perceived anti-hunting sources, resulting in a deep mistrust about the topic of lead. In addition, healthcare providers and health departments are not including the dangers of lead in wild game in their preventative information or questionnaires to identify children and pregnant women at risk for lead exposure.

There is no safe level of lead in the blood. Levels above 5 micrograms/deciliter (g/dL) are considered elevated and have been associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and decreased IQ. However, developing brains exposed to even lower levels are at risk for attention-related behavioral problems, decreased cognitive performance, and increased incidence of problem behaviors.

Althoughneurotoxiceffects of lead may be the most widely-known, low levels of lead in the blood have been associated with a range of serious health effects, includingkidney diseaseand impacts to thecardiovascular system. The mechanisms behind the toxic effects of lead are not fully understood.

As lead ammunition use continues to be widespread among U.S. hunters, experts say it is crucial that health officials get a message out to hunting communities, including useful advice for hunters who will continue to use lead. Hunters want to know what the risks are and what options they have to keep their families safe.

This is also an issue of environmental reproductive justice for girls and women who, with each meal of contaminated meat, add to the burden of lead in their bones that can affect the outcomes of their future pregnancies.

Dr. Ned Ketyer, Washington County, Pennsylvania-based pediatrician, told EHN, Were learning more every day about the significant adverse health impacts of lead on human health, especially childrens health.

As we continue putting more lead into the environment, and continue to expose ourselves and our children to lead, at some point it makes sense to say, Wait a minute, what are we doing?'

Researchers found lead ammunition fired from high-powered rifles contaminated carcasses more than slower-moving lead slugs fired from shotguns. (Credit: mr.smashy/flickr)

While lead was banned from waterfowl ammunition in the U.S. in 1991, the majority of people who hunt other types of game use lead ammunition.

Upon impact, a lead bullet can fragment into tiny microparticles, too small to see with the naked eye or sense when eating. A deer processor in Pennsylvania who requested anonymity shared his first-hand experience. Seventy-five percent of the time when I find a bullet in the carcass, I only find the base. I know the lead is all in the meat somewhere, he told EHN.

Scientists have used X-rays to visualize andcountsometimes hundreds of minute lead particles in hunted meat, and have detected high concentrations of lead in hunted carcasses using chemical analysis. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationdoes not recognizea safe limit for the amount of lead in meat, the European Commissionsetmaximum levels at 0.1 parts per million (ppm).

Concentrations of lead more than 100 times this limit have beendetectedin the meat of lead-shot carcasses as far as six inches from the entry wound.

In 2009, biologists from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources x-rayed deer and sheep carcasses that were shot with lead ammunition to make any lead fragments visible. Theyfoundsome types of lead bullets fragmented more than others, and that fragmentation was more extensive when poorly-placed shots struck large bones.

They also found that lead ammunition fired from high-powered rifles contaminated carcasses more than slower-moving lead slugs fired from shotguns.

For most people, lead exposure occurs primarily through eating, drinking, or inhalation. While inhaling airborne lead from gun smoke produced by a firearm is arecognizedrisk factor for lead exposure, eating lead-contaminated meat is widely ignored, despite scientific evidence.

Multiple studies have found a direct link between game harvested with lead ammunition and spikes in blood lead.

Three studies about consumption of lead-hunted meat were published in 2018.

Hunted venison is typically part of the menu at the Tent, an annual event for hunters in the Allegheny National Forest since 1947. (Credit: Mike Bleech)

After an adults digestive system absorbs lead from a meal, the resulting concentration of lead in the blood typicallydecreasesby approximately 50 percent every month. But that doesnt mean all the lead has left the body. Instead, some lead moves from the blood to the skeleton, where it remains for decades.

As a result, blood-lead levels can be deceivingly low months after peak consumption of lead-hunted meat. For example, astudyin Greenland identified a clear seasonal variation in blood lead levels, with peaks during the months when consumption of hunted meat was highest, and decreases during months of lower consumption.

No study has been conducted in the U.S. to understand monthly patterns of blood-lead levels among people who eat lead-hunted meat. Yet the National Shooting Sports Foundationstates, A study from 2008 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on blood- lead levels of North Dakota hunters confirmed that consuming game harvested with traditional ammunition does not pose a human health risk.

However, the referencedstudycollected blood samples five months after the hunting season, and reported results for people who ate wild game in general it was not determined whether the meat was hunted with archery, non-lead ammunition, or lead ammunition. A significant difference of 0.30 g/dL was observed between the average concentration of lead in the blood of people who reported eating wild game compared to those who did not.

Children hunters. (Credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District)

There are some potential consequences of lead exposure unique to women and their fetuses. Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, lead that has been stored in the skeleton is released into the blood, exposing both mother and fetus. As a result, high levels of lead in mothers bones have beenidentifiedas a risk factor for impaired mental development in infants.

In addition to neurotoxic effects, potential consequences to the fetus or infant includelow birthweightandspontaneous abortion.

Onestudyof pregnant women found the odds of a spontaneous abortion nearly doubled for each 5 g/dL increase in blood lead. Lead is also amajor risk factorfor preeclampsia, a high-blood pressure condition that can have severe consequences for the mother and infant. Women who experience adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsiafaceincreased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases as they age.

Many pregnant and breastfeeding women arent receiving recommended screening for lead exposure, and even those who are screened may not be asked the right questions to detect all potential sources of exposure, Dr. Jennifer Braverman, assistant professor in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at University of Colorado, told EHN. Asking women about consumption of lead-hunted meat may identify women at risk of adverse outcomes who are currently being missed.

Doctors decide whether to test a pregnant womans blood based on answers to a questionnaire about exposure to lead. However, consumption of hunted meat is not included in any of the 12 risk factors for lead exposure recognized by theAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and is also absent from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC)Guidelinesfor the identification of lead exposure in pregnant and lactating women.

Even though some parts of a lead-hunted carcass may be free of lead and safe for pregnant women to eat, it is not possible to identify contaminated meat with the naked eye, and levels of contamination vary from carcass to carcass.

Dr. Braverman told EHN that since its not clear how to choose safe portions of lead-hunted meat, preventative information about lead-hunted meat could be provided along with other nutritional advice. We provide education about mercury. We talk about how to avoid listeria. I think its reasonable to add to that, dont eat lead-hunted meat.'

Braverman also emphasized that even if women avoid ingesting lead during pregnancy, the lead they accumulated before pregnancy can still pose risks.

Certainly it would be better to avoid lead exposure for your whole life.

Childhood prevention information related to hunted meat is absent from theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, theCDC,EPA, and guidance from state health departments such as thisbrochurefrom the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Although the New York Department of Health issued the followingstatement, people who eat game harvested with lead shot may be exposed to lead.

This is of greatest concern for young children because they are particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of lead, the topic is absent from the departments advice onChildhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services acknowledges concerns about lead exposure from eating hunted meat, andrecommendsuse of non-lead ammunition. However, the topic is absent from the departments lead prevention information, Feeding Your Child.

The most common policy in the U.S. is for children to have their blood-lead levels tested by the age of two, before they are likely to consume large amounts of hunted meat. But exposure to lead after the age of two matters. Blood-lead levels of 6-year-olds have been more stronglyassociatedwith impaired cognitive and behavioral development compared to blood-lead levels measured earlier in childhood. This highlights the importance of questionnaires for identifying older children at high risk of lead exposure, and the need for a question about consuming hunted meat.

Its something pediatricians should be asking. Do you eat venison or other locally hunted meat? it might be useful to add this question to the lead questionnaire we give to parents of infants and toddlers, Dr. Ketyer told EHN.

Venison meat. (Credit: Chris Davies/flickr)

These concerns extend to those who eat venison donated to food pantries.

Venison donation programs have provided millions of meals to food banks across the country. States with venison donation programs include those that also harvest themost deer: Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia. None of these five states require x-ray inspection of meat for lead contamination.

In 2008, astudyanalyzed nearly 200 packages of venison from food pantries in Wisconsin, but it is unknown how many packages contained meat that was hunted with firearms. Lead was detected in 15 percent of packages; the average level in lead-contaminated meat was 160 ppm. At this concentration of lead, the study predicted 81 percent of children who consumed just two meals of venison per month would experience blood-lead levels above 10 ug/dL.

In terms of other states, Minnesota requires x-rayinspectiondue to documented lead contamination of donated venison. However, North Dakota and Iowa currently accept venison donations to food banks without lead inspection, despite previous findings of lead contamination.

The Iowa Department of Public Health hasresponded, pointing out that no cases of concerning blood-lead levels in the states children have ever been attributed to lead in venison. However, this fails to recognize that most children tested in Iowas program are tested from ages 0-3. This also fails to take into consideration that blood-lead levels tested several months after the hunting season may be deceptively low.

Evidence of lead contamination in donated venison first came to light in 2008. North Dakota hunter and physician Dr. William Cornatzer saw an x-ray image of a lead-contaminated carcass during a board meeting of the Peregrine Fund, a conservation organization focused on birds of prey. Soon after, he led a project to x-ray packages of venison donated to the states food banks. The images revealed lead contamination in 60 percent of samples. I about fell out of my chair. he told EHN. He realized his children and pregnant wife had likely been exposed to lead from his own hunted venison.

I dont think humans should be eating lead-contaminated meat, and I dont think we should be donating it to people who cant afford alternatives, he said. Unfortunately, a lot of people took this as, Somebodys trying to take my bullets away, somebodys trying to take my guns away.'

The Peregrine Fund issued a statement in response to accusations directed at Dr. Cornatzer and characterizations of the organization as anti-hunting extremists: To build support for their own agenda, special interest groups have deliberately tried to smear the integrity of thoughtful, dedicated health and wildlife professionals and create fear of losing hunting and gun rights among their constituents. Smear and fear is a well-known technique for manipulating public opinion when facts are absent. Their action is disingenuous and not in the interests of wildlife or human health, including the health of their own constituents.

Across the state line, Lou Cornicelli, Wildlife Research Manager and author of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources specialreporton lead contamination of hunted meat, had a similar experience.

I got crazy accusations just because we described what might happen if you shoot a lead bullet, Cornicelli told EHN. It evoked a strong reaction from people, like The next thing youre going to do is take my guns away.'

At the time Cornicelli ran the states big game program and was responsible for regulation-setting, the annual harvest was roughly a quarter of a million deer per year. And yet he received accusations of being a secret agent for the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

People would ask, Are you an anti-hunter? No. Just because I dont want to eat lead doesnt mean Im against hunting, he said.

When asked for a comment regarding lead-contaminated meat, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) sent a link to theirfactsheeton lead-based ammunition, which claims the lead detected in North Dakotas donated meat was part of the Peregrine Funds agenda to ban lead ammunition. In reality, the stated mission of the Peregrine Fund is to preserve our wildlife conservation and hunting heritage through voluntary incentive-based outreach and education aimed at increasing the use of non-lead alternatives.

The NSSF also told EHN that their support for educating hunters extends to discussing options hunters have for limiting exposure such as burying entrails after field dressing and careful meat processing.

Group of deer hunters. (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife/flickr)

Natural resources officials may be appropriate messengers to discuss lead-contaminated meat, however, there are two problems. Elaboration on potential health effects is often avoided, viewed as the domain of health departments. Second, many hunters strongly disagree with their states deer management decisions, and view any information from the responsible department with deep suspicion.

Kevin, Perry, and brothers Robert and Gary have been hunting together with lead ammunition for decades, since they were 12. We met with them in November and they requested EHN use their first names only. They believe that advice about how to avoid the potential health effects of consuming lead-shot meat should be more accessible to the hunting community.

According to Kevin, lead exposure is not a topic of conversation among hunters.

Its not really brought up. People in the hunting community dont really know about it, he told EHN.

Robert believes this should change, and emphasized the need for information to be free of anti-hunting or anti-ammunition agendas.

I think its important not just for hunters to understand it, but for people who are ingesting the meat from hunters, whether its their families or people eating whats been donated, that they understand there are potential consequences, he told EHN. But it has to be clear theres no hidden agenda It needs to be pure, science-driven, here are the facts, were not legislating anything, just saying heres what the issues are.'

Gary sees opportunities for communication by healthcare providers. He told EHN, I was in the doctors office today, my heart doctor. You go in, just like when you go to the diagnostic center, and they have those pamphlets Are you a lady of childbearing years? Are you a pre-diabetic?' He suggested that information about lead-hunted meat be presented similarly, Why cant that information be funneled through the health industry into pamphlets?

For Perry, the issue centers on information parents should receive before their child is old enough to start eating lead-shot meat. I would say one of the biggest possibilities is a pediatrician. The biggest. Because youre feeding that baby deer meat once it gets older, he told EHN. Somebodys going to come in there with their baby, and the pediatrician will check it all over, and then say Oh here, this is what I want you to read. The doctors have to get it out there.

Dr. Ketyer emphasized that its not just about what is being communicated, but the way it is communicated.

How we communicate is the key. This is not about challenging the hunting lifestyle we need to consider what would be most useful for families that hunt, he said. People should have an opportunity to understand the risks to themselves and their children. I didnt know is not acceptable to a pediatrician.

While switching to alternative ammunition is the most effective way to eliminate lead contamination of hunted meat, Cornicelli said he understands why many hunters choose to continue using lead ammunition. There are real reasons why people dont switch the commercial availability of copper is lower, and the price is higher, he said. A large shift to copper is going to be predicated on manufacturers ramping up production, driving costs down, and making availability more broad.

As a result, Minnesotas DNR provided hunters with examples of ways to reduce lead exposure, even if they continue to use lead ammunition. These include selecting shotguns instead of high-powered rifles, and avoiding acidic cooking ingredients, since acids can dissolve even more of the lead into the food.

Additional advice for hunters who use lead ammunition is to avoid shooting the deer in regions of the body with heavy bones, such as shoulders and hips, where the resulting impact scatters more lead into the meat. The anonymous deer processor in Pennsylvania told EHN he cautions his customers, Pick your shots. If youre not comfortable shooting at a running deer, dont do it. Wait for a better shot. And its not just to have meat thats not contaminated with lead. Its also better for the animal you dont want the animal to suffer.

Dr. Braverman pointed out the need to include hunters in the process of identifying strategies to reduce lead exposure,

We need more research about what effective interventions are for people eating a lot of hunted meat, she said. Its important to ask, culturally, what works for people in their life? What do they think about this?

Gary summed up the challenge of communicating about lead exposure from hunted meat, Its easy to say, Well, its not going to happen to me. That lead, it didnt bother my dad or my grandfather, or my aunt, or my uncle, so its not going to happen to me.'

His brother Robert added, But we dont know that it didnt affect them. Now the science could exist to say, you know Grandpa had this, and this, and lead could have contributed.

Sam Totoni is a graduate student in Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

James Fabisiak is an Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Director of the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

Martha Ann Terry is a faculty member in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences at Pitts Graduate School of Public Health.

This article originally appeared in Environmental Heath News. It was republished under a Creative Commons license.

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Lead in hunted meat: Who's telling hunters and their families? - UPMC

As disease-wary stock markets tumble, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has continued to see global death tolls rise rapidly spreading from its Wuhan roots to gain a foothold in countries as diverse as Italy and Iran.

But virus outbreaks are nothing new: in just the past 10 years, the world has been plagued with the H1N1 pandemic of 2009 and a resurgence of the Ebola virus from 2014 to 2016 and it seems like such epidemics will continue for years to come.

Which begs the question, can scientists predict if, and when, we will see another new virus strike within the next several years?

But despite advancements in virus detection technology, according to Prof. Roy Gulick, medicine, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Weill Cornell, it is often difficult to predict when and how often such outbreaks will occur.

These difficulties are compounded by the fact that viruses cannot be singularly categorized instead, representing a wide range of illnesses, which vary considerably in both symptoms and manner of transmission.

However, the medical community is increasingly equipped with more advanced technology that can more quickly discover new viruses, though challenges still loom.

Were much better at discovering, tracking, and characterizing new viruses, Gulick said. Given that we have much better tools today to analyze these [viruses], were going to continue to discover more viruses and microorganisms and that will help us do genetic analyses and develop vaccines and medications.

For instance, a new virus, Yaravirus brasiliensis, which was discovered at the end of January in Brazil, is a testament to the gap in knowledge in the world of viruses.

Over 90 percent of the virus genome has never been seen in other organisms, and bears no resemblance to any genome cataloged in over 8,500 publicly available metagenomes, genetic samples recovered from the environment.

In fact, the virus is so foriegn it actually represents an entirely new group of viruses based on current classification protocols, the Yaravirus would not even be considered a virus.

The novel virus does not cause human disease, but its exact effects still remain unknown.

For a virus to cause diseases in humans, it has to be able to recognize a cell and target that cell, Gulick said. Different viruses target different cells in the body the cold and flu virus tend to target cells of the upper airways, nose, mouth, and the throat.

Another reason that makes viruses so difficult to track and contain is the vast variety in the way they are transmitted.

For instance, some viruses, like the common cold, spread through nasal or oral secretions that are passed from one individual to another through contact, while others, like measles, can spread through mere proximity, moving through coughs or sneezes near others.

In a type of illness Gulick called zoonosis, humans can contract viruses not only from other humans, but animals as well, such as in the case of SARS.

The occurrence and severity of outbreaks, Gulick explained, depends on which of these modes of transmission a virus uses to spread. This, in turn, affects what preventative measures are recommended by healthcare professionals to halt a virus contagion.

Typically, around cold and flu season, we remind people to wash [their] hands frequently, Gulick said. If someone is admitted to the hospital for measles, we put a mask over them and anybody entering their rooms so that measles is not transmitted through the air from one person to another.

While the nature of the next viral outbreak is uncertain, significant medical advancements, such as vaccines, have improved the treatment of viruses and the state of public health as a whole, according to Gulick.

Were much better, particularly in the last five years, about being able to develop vaccines in a rapid way, Gulick said.

Vaccines are not available for all viral ailments, but advancements in antivirals have significantly improved treatments for viral infections within the past few decades, Gulick said. Gulick explained that antivirals are commonly used for influenza and Hepatitis C.

Overall, the trend of new virus outbreaks doesnt seem to be slowing down any time soon, but preventive measures are crucial for avoiding infection.

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Evolving Viruses: What Does the Future Hold? - Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun

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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Research report explores the Market for the forecast period, 2018-2026 - Keep Reading

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Smart Street Lighting Market 2020: Industry Share, Size, Emerging Technologies, Future Trends, Competitive Analysis and Segments Poised for Strong...