StemCell Therapy

Even though greens powders are made of nutrient-dense foods, that doesn't mean they're a good idea for everyone. Since greens powders contain vegetables in a condensed form, they're also high in specific vitamins, like vitamin K, that can interfere with blood-clotting medications. If you're on blood thinners or other medications or you have chronic health problems, always check in with your doctor before taking a new supplement, greens powders included.

Even if you don't fall into these categories, it's important to make sure you're getting your greens powders from a trusted source. When it comes to regulation, the supplement industry is a bit of a gray area. Make sure the supplement manufacturer can verify that the greens have been tested for contamination and passed with acceptable levels. It's best to buy from companies whose greens powders have been certified through a third-party testing laboratory, like NSF International. That way, you know you're getting exactly what's listed on the label and nothing else.

And make sure you're sticking to the recommended serving size. More isn't necessarily better since some vitamins can build up in the system and lead to toxicity. A scoop or two per day, along with a healthy, vegetable-rich diet, is all you need.

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Greens Powders Are The Secret To Getting More Veggies: Here's How To Pick One - mindbodygreen.com

SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / February 2, 2020 / The crux of Dalas mission is to address rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a holistic perspective. Traditionally, the US healthcare industry has sought to diagnose and prescribe as necessary. Consequently, it may be a source of global medical innovation but also is burdened with the highest costs globally that achieve mediocre to poor health outcomes.

We have grown to become a nation that is looking for quick fixes, bandaids, or a pill to solve a problem. This complements the healthcare system that addresses highly variable medical conditions with the conventional paradigm of biochemistry and medicine; we treat symptoms, not the underlying problem.

Americas health-care system focuses on curing acute problems but does far too little to support patients with chronic maladies Arthur Kleinman (WSJ article).

At Dala Wellness, founders have thoroughly researched current fixes for RA and developed their own solution via a modular program which includes a supplement, topical solution, and live community board so their members can receive support during their treatment. They are focused on the mind, body, and soul. Fahed Al Essa, founder of Dala Wellness, contributes to this conversation.

How Dala Wellness is challenging the status quo

While many self-focusing treatments leave a myriad of decisions up to the patient, Dala seeks to remove this burden and provide a gentle guide in his/her treatment. While empowering the patient is important, creating a vague, self-guided treatment can lead to decision paralysis and often results in unintended effects and/or no improvement. Dala Wellness is not this type of company. We plan to complement the patients medical journey, not replace it, Essa states.

For example, outside of pharmaceutical interventions, we employ numerous evidence-based complementary therapies that can improve a patients quality of life and ability to manage symptoms, from nutrition support and elimination diets for inflammation to mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy approaches that reframe pain and build resilience. This is in addition to our natural supplements.

Dala Wellness Pioneering an Industry

The short answer is: no, there are no comprehensive treatment programs like Dala that are currently in the market for RA. While the internet postulates the applications of herbal medicine to treat RA, there are no modules that combine natural medicine with mindfulness as specifically to the RA patient subset like Dala does. Dala provides a pathway for patients to combine various facets of integrative medicine to attack RA head-on.

US Expansion for Dala Wellness

The US, as a developed nation, has had notable rates of chronic condition prevalence. This has burdened the system with elevated healthcare costs, epidemics (e.g. opioid crisis in treating chronic pain), and inefficiencies in the healthcare chain. Dala is a pioneer in this realm, seeking to address life with chronic pain. As mentioned by founder Fahed Al Essa, Were supporting the health system in the US rather than adding cost to it. Were hoping to line up efficiencies in care for the patient, which then leads to cost-effectiveness within the system.

The Future of Dala Wellness

Ultimately, the future is providing access to care whatever that means. We want to make our platform affordable and accessible to any RA patient. Wherever that path leads! according to Essa.

The future is exciting. We are excited to help patients, and allow them to get back to doing the things they love doing.

Name: Tyce EscalanteCompany Name: Next Level BrandContact information: Tyce@nextlvlbrand.com

SOURCE: Next Level Brand

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/574757/In-an-Industry-Shaped-by-Decades-of-Decisions-Dala-Wellness-Seeks-to-Challenge-the-Status-Quo-A-Conversation-With-Founder-Fahed-Al-Essa

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In an Industry Shaped by Decades of Decisions, Dala Wellness Seeks to Challenge the Status Quo: A Conversation With Founder Fahed Al Essa - IT...

LOWELL, Mass. A business incubator working to improve the lives of patients with heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders is expanding its reach to the next generation of pioneering biotech and medical-device entrepreneurs.

Heart, lung and blood diseases account for 41 percent of deaths in the United States and lead to more than $400 billion in health-care expenses and lost income to patients and caregivers, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Innovations supported by CAPCaT are devices and technologies well on their way to going to market. Products already being developed at CAPCaT include a product to help critically ill infants sleep better, an online education program for patients to manage hypertension and a portable device that can evaluate how the users platelets are performing. The center also seeks to support technologies that promote holistic methods of managing diseases, including devices that measure stress levels or promote mindfulness.

CAPCaT is one of four centers across the country in the National Institutes of Health Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network, which was created in 2018 to help revolutionize patient care.

M2D2s support of medical-device startups in Massachusetts has contributed $42 million in direct economic impact with a total positive effect of $75 million, according to the UMass Donahue Institute. Expanding CAPCaT is expected to increase this impact.

CAPCaT is an exciting collaboration between clinicians at UMass Medical School and engineers at UMass Lowell that helps medical-device developers as they move their products toward commercialization, knowing these life-changing inventions will help so many patients and transform the industry, said Prof. Bryan Buchholz, co-director of CAPCaT and chairman of UMass Lowells Biomedical Engineering Department.

Successful applicants will receive seed funding and the support of M2D2s medical, business and legal experts as well as those in the private sector and from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Last year, we received 90 expressions of interest from entrepreneurs in 26 states and three countries. We were amazed by the quality of applications we received and cant wait to see what technologies are submitted this year, said Dr. David McManus, CAPCaTs co-director and professor of medicine at UMass Medical School.

About the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center

M2D2 operates laboratories, research and development and other workspace at UMass Lowell and UMass Medical School in Worcester for medical-device and biotech ventures. Since its inception in 2007, M2D2 has assisted more than 100 companies. Each year, the M2D2 $200K Challenge awards seed funding to the best new concepts from early-stage medical device, diagnostic and biotech companies around the globe.

About UMass Lowell

About UMass Medical School

The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), one of five campuses of the University system, comprises the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Graduate School of Nursing, a thriving research enterprise and an innovative public service initiative, Commonwealth Medicine. Its mission is to advance the health of the people of the commonwealth through pioneering education, research, public service and health care delivery with its clinical partner, UMass Memorial Health Care. In doing so, it has built a reputation as a world-class research institution and as a leader in primary care education. The Medical School attracts more than $257 million annually in research funding, placing it among the top 50 medical schools in the nation. In 2006, UMMSs Craig C. Mello, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and the Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with colleague Andrew Z. Fire, PhD, of Stanford University, for their discoveries related to RNA interference (RNAi). The 2013 opening of the Albert Sherman Center ushered in a new era of biomedical research and education on campus. Designed to maximize collaboration across fields, the Sherman Center is home to scientists pursuing novel research in emerging scientific fields with the goal of translating new discoveries into innovative therapies for human diseases.

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Startup Incubator Aims to Spur Life-Saving Innovations - UMass Lowell

Jens Ellingsen, 1 Gunnar Johansson, 2 Kjell Larsson, 3 Karin Lisspers, 2 Andrei Malinovschi, 4 Bjrn Stllberg, 2 Marcus Thuresson, 5 Christer Janson 1

1Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; 2Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; 3Integrative Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 4Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Physiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; 5Statisticon AB, Uppsala, Sweden

Correspondence: Jens EllingsenDepartment of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Akademiska Sjukhuset, Uppsala SE-751 85, SwedenTel +46 18 611 13 93Fax +46 18 611 02 28Email jens.ellingsen@medsci.uu.se

Background: Life expectancy is significantly shorter for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than the general population. Concurrent diseases are known to infer an increased mortality risk in those with COPD, but the effects of pharmacological treatments on survival are less established. This study aimed to examine any associations between commonly used drugs, comorbidities and mortality in Swedish real-world primary care COPD patients.Methods: Patients with physician-diagnosed COPD from a large primary care population were observed retrospectively, utilizing primary care records and mandatory Swedish national registers. The time to all-cause death was assessed in a stepwise multiple Cox proportional hazards regression model including demography, socioeconomic factors, exacerbations, comorbidities and medication.Results: During the observation period (1999 2009) 5776 (32.5%) of 17,745 included COPD patients died. Heart failure (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.74 2.04), stroke (HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.40 1.64) and myocardial infarction (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.24 1.58) were associated with an increased risk of death. Use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS; HR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66 0.94), beta-blockers (HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76 0.97) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77 0.98) was dose-dependently associated with a decreased risk of death, whereas use of long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA; HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14 1.55) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC; HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08 1.48) were dose-dependently associated with an increased risk of death in COPD patients.Conclusion: This large, retrospective, observational study of Swedish real-world primary care COPD patients indicates that coexisting heart failure, stroke and myocardial infarction were the strongest predictors of death, underscoring the importance of timely recognition and treatment of comorbidities. A decreased risk of death associated with the use of ICS, beta-blockers and ASA, and an increased risk associated with the use of LAMA and NAC, was also found.

Keywords: observational, LAMA, inhaled corticosteroids, beta-blockers, acetylsalicylic acid, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Impact of Comorbidities and Commonly Used Drugs on Mortality in COPD - | COPD - Dove Medical Press

RMA of Connecticut Acupuncturists Dr. Amy Matton, DACM, L.Ac. and Dr. Elaine Malin, DACM, L.Ac. receive Doctorate degrees from Pacific College of Health and Science.

NORWALK, Conn. (PRWEB) February 04, 2020

RMA of Connecticut, a leading fertility practice whose exceptional quality and care helps couples and individuals grow their family, has announced that Dr. Amy Matton, DACM, L.Ac. and Dr. Elaine Malin, DACM, L.Ac., have received Doctorate degrees in acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science. The doctoral degree focused on increasing clinical skills, patient-centered care, working integratively with Western medicine, and evidence-based practice. As the demand for patient-centered integrative care in the field of fertility increases, Dr. Matton and Dr. Malin will continue to provide patients with natural evidence-based care.

We want to congratulate and acknowledge Dr. Amy Matton and Dr. Elaine Malin for their achievements and dedication in the field of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, says Robin Mangieri, CEO of RMA of Connecticut. We combine the best science has to offer through our esteemed fertility doctors along with our expansive integrative fertility and wellness programs to provide our patients with the best care all under one roof.

Acupuncture can increase fertility by lowering stress and anxiety, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, and balancing the endocrine system. It can also increase a couples chances of conceiving by helping to keep the normal flow of energy unblocked. RMA of Connecticut was involved in a landmark study indicating pre and post embryo transfer laser acupuncture improves embryo implantation rates by up to 15%.

Dr. Amy Matton, DACM, L.Ac. has been providing traditional and laser acupuncture to women undergoing treatment for infertility at RMA of Connecticut for 15 years. She also serves as the Coordinator for the Integrated Fertility and Wellness Programs (IFW) at RMA of Connecticut. She is a graduate of Pacific College of Health and Science with a doctoral degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, a licensed acupuncturist and certified herbalist. Dr. Mattons areas of expertise include womens health and fertility issues, pain management, anxiety, stress, and adjunctive cancer care.

Dr. Elaine M. Malin, DACM, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and certified herbalist who has worked with RMA of Connecticut patients for seven years. A general practitioner with a broad range of experience, Dr. Malin has specialized training and experience in womens health issues including fertility and pregnancy, as well as in treating anxiety, stress, and their physical manifestations.

RMA of Connecticut is a leader in integrated fertility and wellness with an emphasis on the mind, body, and spirit, which boosts overall health, improves success rates, and enhances the patient experience. To learn more, visit RMACT.com.

About RMA of ConnecticutRMA of Connecticut is a leader in fertility care, specializing in a range of infertility treatments. Our assisted reproductive technologies (ART) include intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT). RMA of Connecticut is Fairfield Countys largest fertility clinic and egg donation center. Through RMA of Connecticuts Integrated Fertility and Wellness Center, we offer nutrition counseling, individual and couples psychological counseling, acupuncture and yoga, as well as financing and support services for our patients going through infertility treatment.

Our internationally recognized Gay Parents To Be program at RMA of Connecticut specializes in LGBTQ family building. For the last three years, RMA of Connecticut has been recognized as a Leader in Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign.

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RMA of Connecticut Announces Doctorate Achievements for Dr. Amy Matton and Dr. Elaine Malin in the Area of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - PR Web

Express News Service

KOCHI: While establishing Soukya Holistic Health Centre in Bengaluru, Dr Issac Mathai had a point to prove; a legitimate integration of medicines will fetch better treatment results. Recognising his methods of treatment, AYUSH Ministry selected it as a model for integrating various systems at government hospitals.Speaking at the International Conference on Integrative Oncology being held here, the doctor demanded the incorporation of alternative medicines at various oncology departments across the country.

Allopathic hospitals should incorporate alternative medicines into their cancer treatment. Though the integration of systems of medicines starts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), it is not being applied in cancer-specific treatment. Government hospitals with oncology departments should include research wings with experts from alternative medicines along with patient care, he said.

The integration will help patients cut down treatment expenses, he said. When developed countries struggle to cope with the huge expense of modern medicines, India cannot move forward with a single method of treatment. Integration of alternative medicines is the only solution for the issue. While allopathy can take care of surgeries and accidents, homoeopathy, ayurveda and naturopathy can be used for chronic diseases. Therapeutic yoga will be effective in every patient, he said. He also called for better coordination from the state government to integrate the medicine systems.

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Govt hosps should try alternatives - The New Indian Express

Personalized medicine has taken a big step forward with the launch of non-profit n-Lorem Foundation, which will create patient-tailored antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics for people with rare diseases at no cost to the patients. This comes at the same time as custom gene therapies for rare disease patients are being developed, including some combined with CRISPR. As a result, more peopleeven those with ultra-rare diseasescould finally have access to treatments.

The process of developing these treatments is still burdensome and expensive. Only a few patients will benefit at first. But this concept has only been a dream until now, with most of these patients being completely shut out of the typical drug development process. Whats more, the scientists and sponsors pioneering these approaches are hoping to create blueprints for the treatment of ultra-rare diseases in general.

One of the goals is to create a replicable protocol, said Simon Frost, the father of Annabel Frost, a child who suffers from the ultra-rare disease alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). We want to do it for our disease, and then take that process and give it to more patients across many more diseases. Frost, who is CEO of Tiber Capital Group, has been in discussions with multiple labs and investigating several approaches, including ASOs, gene editing, and gene therapy.

The blueprint for the ASO-based approach was a made-to-order treatment for a child with Battens disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. In 2018, Timothy Yu, a doctor at Boston Childrens Hospital, sequenced the genome in then six-year-old Mila to diagnose the condition. It turned out Mila had a retrotransposon which had inserted into her CLN7 gene. That aberration was blocking normal protein production by that gene.

Yus team then created a tailor-made ASO, which they called milasen, to mask the mutation in Milas genome, as detailed last year in the New England Journal of Medicine. It took about one year from sequencing to delivery of the therapy. Then, nine months after her treatment began, Milas doctors reported being hopeful about her prognosis, although they noted that she may already have experienced substantial effects from the disease. Hundreds of people, including parents and researchers, have since reached out to Yu to try and have this process replicated. Yus lab is reportedly developing several more personalized oligos, including ones for a rare form of epilepsy and ataxia-telangiectasia, which is a neurological disease.

Addressing the challenges

The demand for more custom ASOs is intense. But there are many issues standing in the way of such therapies.

ASOs are at the point where the investment in the technology has paid off commercially, said Art Krieg, an expert in oligonucleotide therapeutics as well as founder and chief scientific officer of Checkmate Pharmaceuticals. And now Tim Yu has shown the process for making customized ASOs. The questions is whether you can standardize that and could companies find it profitable to develop those therapies. Further, ASOs only block mutations and need to be given for life.

n-Lorem is funded with $1.5 million from Ionis (formerly Isis) Pharmaceuticals, another $1.5 million from Ioniss founder and former CEO Stanley Crooke and his wife Rosanne Crooke (a researcher at Ionis), $1 million from Biogen, and additional funds from other donors. Crooke started Ionis in 1989, as a pioneer in RNA-targeted therapeutics. Today, the company has three drugs on the market and more than 30 in development for a wide range of conditions. Biogen is partnered with Ionis on several of these.

Biogen declined to comment for this article, but sent this statement: Antisense oligonucleotides have been a game changer in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and we believe they could hold promise in tackling other diseases. So, we are pleased to help support the establishment of n-Lorem Foundation and their mission to provide advanced, experimental RNA-targeted medicines free of charge to patients with ultra-rare diseases.

I knew we could do this and I knew there was a need, said Crooke, who started working on n-Lorem two years ago. But he also realized it was going to be challenging. The patients need a full genomic workup, and you need an investigator who can submit the IND and oversee it, he said. One major development that convinced Crooke the concept was feasible was the 2014 establishment of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN), a research study funded by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. The UDN comprises clinical and research experts from across the U.S. who work to solve medical mysteries. As of 2019, 12 UDN clinical sites were open.

While UDN will be a key source of qualified patients, Crooke says n-Lorem will not be restricted to those. We announced the launch last week, and we already have six proposals for patients to treat. But patients need a confirmed genetic diagnosis and treating physicians. Then they must submit a proposal to treat to n-Lorems Access to Treatment Committee.

Another critical issue is the FDAs response. Crooke said he has already approached regulators and they are supportive. But n-of-1 trials like these raise special issues. In an editorial that accompanied the Yu teams report in NEJM, FDA regulators point out the many challenges to evaluating n-of-1 drugs what are the differences between treating one, ten, or thousands of patients? they asked.

But they also acknowledge that the field is moving ahead rapidly. Academic clinicianinvestigators now have the capacity to rapidly uncover specific mutations and pinpoint the putative mechanisms leading to certain rare disease phenotypes. Various ASOs or other compounds can be produced by third parties, and investigators can evaluate them using in vitro assays or animal models, the regulators wrote. FDA is holding a workshop in March on individualized therapies to try and advance thinking around this topic.

Ioniss long experience with ASOs should help in this regard. There are several generations, or classes, of ASOs that the company has developed over the last 30 years. Many years ago I began putting together integrative safety databases about the different classes of ASOs we have developed, Crooke says. Each class has generally similar properties, but they also have important differences such has ligands that work in different organs. Ionis has published on these databases and the properties they reveal, as well as providing the FDA access to the databases. That doesnt mean, however, that researchers will be able to predict all the effects of any ASO in any patient.

Finally, there is the question of cost, which is a particular boondoggle for rare diseases. We know this is feasible but we want to reduce the costs as far as we can, Crooke says. n-Lorem and Biogen are both already working on processes to further cut costs, But we will need to raise even more money to help more patients, he added. Patients shouldnt have to be on the internet raising funds for this.

While hes aware of the challenges, Crooke said hes feeling optimistic. Ive been overwhelmingly impressed with the commitment and advice weve gotten from physicians, experts on antisense and clinical trials,and others. He also hopes more modalities, besides ASOs will be able to work with n-Lorem and start similar endeavors. Im hopeful a gene therapy company can join us or do the same thing, he noted.

Gene therapy too

While there is nothing equal to n-Lorem yet, other researchers are already pursuing customized gene therapies, even for patients who have mutations that are very rare or that are not correctable with standardized gene therapy.

Monkol Lek, for example, is a geneticist at Yale who has been working on a gene therapy for a single patient with an ultra-rare mutation in a muscular dystrophy gene. There are more than 30 types of muscular dystrophy, and some are caused by mutations that affect different genes or varying sections within those genes. Lek himself has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (MD). When he was first diagnosed, he remembers hearing over and over again that there were no treatments for his condition.

That was enough to inspire Lek to leave a career in IT while in his 20s and obtain degrees in physiology, bioinformatics, and genetics. Soon after he arrived at Yale in 2018, Lek met Rich Horgan, founder of the non-profit Cure Rare Disease, and whose younger brother Terry has a type of MD. Lek analyzed Terrys genomic data, and found he is missing the dystrophin genes promoter region, which needs to be activated in order for that protein to be made. Terry is also missing part of exon 1, which is also necessary to generate the production of dystrophin.

While they originally considered using ASOs, Rich Horgan and Lek realized that wasnt feasible because rather than needing to turn off a gene, they needed to turn on a gene, or at least its promoter.

One twist in this particular case is that people have two alternative versions, or isoforms, of this promoter and exon 1one set in muscle cells and another in brain cells. With that in mind, Lek is using a modified version of CRISPR called no-cut CRISPR to introduce a transcription activator attached to the Cas9 enzyme to turn on the brain-specific set, and thus make up for the deficit in muscle. He uses an AAV and CRISPR activation construct as well as guide RNA to direct the CRISPR to the right spot in the DNA.

Lek has already tested his putative therapy on Terrys cells and successfully corrected the mutated gene in the lab. Next, the treatment will be tested in mice. However, Lek is also exploring the possibility of an n-of-1 clinical trial in which the therapy would only be tested in Terry or anyone with his specific mutation.

Rich Horgans Cure Rare Disease group is now leading new projects for two boys with different forms of Duchenne MD as well as a patient with the limb girdle form of the disease.

Frost, meanwhile, is still investigating the best options for treating his daughter Annabel. His family has spent $250,000 so far and he expects it will cost another $250,000 to $500,000 to reach proof of concept. Annabels mutation is in ATP1A3, a gene that is associated with at least 12 different rare diseases (See table). However, Annabels specific mutation is very rare. Were not sure yet how many of these other conditions would be treated by the same transgene, but it could be a large proportion, Frost said.

Krieg noted that we are not yet at the point where any for profit company will want to develop n-of-1 therapies. It doesnt cost that much to manufacture DNA, and its a fully automated process, he said. It has taken billions of dollars already to get the technology this far and develop applications for some more common diseases. But the overall cost of lifetime treatment is still prohibitive. Right now, I dont know why any company would want to do this, he added. But there will come a time when there are the right incentives and someone will try it.

For families such as Annabel Frosts, these developments are still encouraging, and give them hope that they can help shape the future of the new field of n-of-1 therapeutics. This also supports the idea that more children should undergo whole genome sequencing as soon after birth as possible. With many rare diseases, the damage is compounded the longer the child is untreated. Further, greater understanding of how the full range of possible mutations in any gene impact health, and how that can be treated, will press the field forward.

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Dawn of the Customized Cure - Clinical OMICs News

World Cancer Day: Processed food, junk food and aerated drinks can increase risk of cancer

World Cancer Day is observed on February 4. Every year, the Union for International Cancer Control organises Cancer Day to raise awareness about cancer, tips for prevention and how to ease suffering for cancer patients. The theme for World Cancer 2020 is "I am and I will". World Cancer Day 2020 theme acknowledges that everyone has the capacity to act in the face of cancer. Cancer is referred to uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body's normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells are unable to diet and they instead grow out of control, forming new and abnormal cells.

A poor lifestyle with lack of exercise, poor diet and sedentary lifestyle is one of the many reasons why more and more people are getting cancer, believes lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho. Following is a list of cancer-causing foods and drinks that you must avoid:

Research has found that the more alcohol you drink, the higher is your risk of developing cancer. Excessive alcohol intake puts you at risk of liver, breast, oesophageal and colorectal cancer. When the body metabolises alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde, which is a chemical compound that may damage DNA, leading to cancer. This World Cancer Day, pledge to limit your alcohol intake and try to get off it in full entirety. Note that no amount of alcohol (not even two drinks in a day) is healthy for your body.

Reduce your alcohol intake in order to prevent cancerPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Is Alcohol Consumption Linked To Heart Disease: Let's Find Out

Processed food is one of the unhealthiest foods you can include in your diet. Processed and packaged food are devoid of any nutrition. They contain high amounts of unhealthy carbs, leading to weight gain and obesity-which is a known risk factor for cancer. Processed meat like sausage, bacon, hot dogs, pepperoni and salami are even more harmful. They are made with chemical preservatives, salting and smoking to increase their shelf life. Studies have found that processed meat can increase risk of colorectal cancer. Celeb nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar says that you should avoid everything that comes in a packet, and this includes everything from soya and kale chips to tomato ketchup, condiments and dips, etc.

Switch to fresh fruits, vegetables, homemade spices and food instead of processed food to reduce your risk of cancer.

Sugary drinks like diet soda and aerated drinks are the ones that cause weight gain and provide you with zero nutrition. These drinks contain artificial sweeteners that have been found to increase risk of cancer. Instead of aerated drinks, have lemon water, coconut water, sugarcane juice or unsweetened fresh fruit juice to reduce your risk of developing cancer.

Avoid aerated drinks to reduce your risk of cancerPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Nmami Agarwal Decodes Health Risks Associated With Sugary Drinks: You Will Be Surprised To Know These

No matter how quick and convenient microwave popcorn are, they are doing more harm to your health than you can imagine. Microwave popcorn bag linings contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which can be carcinogenic. The better alternative is to get fresh corn and prepare popcorn at home. It might take a few extra minutes but can reduce your risk of developing cancer.

Smoking is a lifestyle habit and is cancerous, as you all know. The top most cause of lung cancer in the world is smoking. Apart from cancer, smoking can cause coughing, breathing problems, asthma and a lot of other ailments that can affect your day-to-day functioning and reduce your lifespan. Take professional help if you are unable to quit smoking. Start with reducing one cigarette at a time. There is no tomorrow for quitting smoking.

Hydrogenated oil are commonly used for preserving processed foods and increasing their shelf life. Hydrogenated oils have the capability to alter structure and flexibility of cell membranes throughout the body, increasing your risk of cancer. Avoid foods with trans fats and saturated fats in order to reduce your cancer risk.

Along with avoiding these foods and drinks, you also need to be physically active and exercise regularly. Regular exercise can reduce your risk of cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, obesity and weight gain. This World Cancer Day, make more and more people aware of these cancerous foods, drinks and lifestyle habits and do your part in making the world cancer-free.

Also read:World Cancer Day: Follow These Expert Guidelines To Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

(Rujuta Diwekar is a nutritionist based in Mumbai)

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

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World Cancer Day 2020: 6 Cancer-Causing Foods And Drinks That You Need To Quit Now - NDTV News

Your thoughts make up your feelings. So, the amount of time you spend on a thought, be it happy or unhappy, is going to affect your feeling and mood. Feeding unhappy thoughts can make you unhappy. Unhappiness causes discomfort, which in the long run leads to diseases.

Staying happy is important to stay stress-free and disease-free

Some of the most common diseases like obesity, diabetes, PCOD and thyroid are related to poor lifestyle. A poor lifestyle is a combination of poor eating habits, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking alcohol regularly and irresponsibly, chronic stress, anxiety and lack of sleep. According to lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho, one thing which is common in people with lifestyle is unhappiness. Unhappiness, he says, is the major cause of most lifestyle-related diseases. It is important to understand that happiness is something which you cannot seek from outside or from someone else and should come from within.

As part of a live session on Facebook, Luke says that unhappiness causes discomfort. Too much of discomfort ultimately leads to development of a disease. "Unhappiness comes from unhappy thoughts. Your thoughts are everything," says Luke.

Do not unnecessarily feed unhappy thoughts as they can make you feel stressed and uncomfortablePhoto Credit: iStock

The idea is to understand that even one happy unhappy or negative thought can make you feel uncomfortable and stressed, and ultimately affect your health negatively.

Also read:Can Stress And Anxiety Cause Hair Loss? Know Types And Ways To Hair Fall

Your thoughts make up your feelings. So, the amount of time you spend on a thought, be it happy or unhappy, is going to affect your feeling and mood.

"You are going to experience both happy and unhappy, jealous or angry, positive or negative thoughts. What matters is how much attention you pay to each of these thoughts," Luke explains.

Happiness exists independently of circumstances and conditions. As mentioned above, it comes from within and is not dependent on anything or anyone. So, a boss' feedback, an increment letter or a perfect life partner are not factors that are going to make you happy.

Happiness cannot have conditions. Conditioning it with a certain amount of money or any other kind of gain is going to make you miserable and prone to diseases.

Do not seek happiness from something or someone else. Happiness comes from withinPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:5 Worst Inflammation Causing Foods: Avoid Them To Prevent Diseases

Thus, it is important to decide that you need to be happy by thinking of the things that are going well for you at the moment. It is important for both your physical and mental health.

Pay less attention to unhappy thoughts. Stop feeding them as unhappy thoughts lead to unhappy feelings. Do not expect your happiness from someone else. It is your responsibility and once you decide it, there is nothing that can stop you from being happy, stress-free and disease-free.

Also read:5 Lifestyle Habits That Can Help You Live Longer, Be Disease-Free

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

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

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Want To Be Disease-Free? This One Lifestyle Change Is All You Need! - Doctor NDTV

Kansas State University researchers who helped develop a faster, more efficient way to detect Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in ground beef include Colin Stoy, technician; Lance Noll, senior scientist; Elizabeth Porter, lab manager; Jianfa Bai, professor of molecular research and development; Yin Wang, doctoral student in pathobiology; Junsheng Dong, visiting scholar; Nanyan Lu, bioinformatician; and Cong Zhu, pre-Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student; and Xuming Liu, research assistant professor.Photo courtesy K-State

MANHATTAN, Kan. Faculty members from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine have developed a faster, more efficient method of detecting Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, in ground beef, which often causes recalls of ground beef and vegetables.

The traditional gold standard STEC detection, which requires bacterial isolation and characterization, is not amenable to high-throughput settings and often requires a week to obtain a definitive result, said Jianfa Bai, section head of molecular research and development in the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

The new method developed by Bai and colleagues requires only a day to obtain confirmatory results using a Kansas State University-patented method with the partition-based multichannel digital polymerase chain reaction system.

We believe the new digital polymerase chain reaction detection method developed in this study will be widely used in food safety and inspection services for the rapid detection and confirmation of STEC and other foodborne pathogens, said Jamie Henningson, director of the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

When ingested through foods such as ground beef and vegetables, STEC can cause illnesses with symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea. Some illnesses caused by STEC may lead to kidney failure and can be life-threatening.

Some E. coli strains do not produce Shiga toxins and thus do not affect human health as much, said Xuming Liu, research assistant professor. Because cattle feces and ground beef can contain harmless or less pathogenic E. coli along with STEC, the most commonly used polymerase chain reaction cannot identify pathogenic E. coli strains in a complex sample matrix.

The new digital polymerase chain reaction test was developed for research and food safety inspections that require shorter turnaround and high throughput, without sacrificing detection accuracy.

While the current, commonly used testing method is considered to be the gold standard, it is tedious and requires many days to obtain results that adequately differentiate the bacteria, said Gary Anderson, director of the International Animal Health and Food Safety Institute at the K-State Olathe campus.

The study Single cell-based digital PCR detection and association of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli serogroups and major virulence genes, which describes the test design and results, was published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Funding for this study was provided by the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory with no extramural funding used. The digital polymerase chain reaction technology for co-detection and association of multiple genes is covered by U.S. Patent No. 10,233,505 assigned to the Kansas State University Research Foundation with the principal investigators Bai, Liu and Anderson.

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Veterinary medicine researchers develop new method to improve food safety - Fence Post

Friday, February 7, 2020

When Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine student JoeRichichi (pronounced rih-kee-kee) recently completed his fourth-year clinicalrotations at the Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital, he met the requirementsfor graduation, but at the same time, left something behind, intentionally. That something relates to his remarkable artistictalent, which helped put him through veterinary school.

As faculty, staff, and students who got to know him learned, Joe has a flair for illustrating wildlife. His work even has attracted notice from people involved in major animal television and movie productions, including a new IMAX movie. And now, one of Joes wildlife drawings is on display in a Small Animal Hospital exam room.

Joes association with Purdue Veterinary Medicine began in January 2019, when he came to West Lafayette to complete his clinical year. Ross Universitys School of Veterinary Medicine, located on St. Kitts in the West Indies, does not have hospital facilities for clinical training, so it partners with other AVMA-accredited veterinary colleges where its students are able to complete their fourth-year clinical rotations.

Joes pursuit of a veterinary degree represented a change from what he thought he would do ever since elementary school, when he was recognized for having an ability to draw. He took his first drawing class in high school in his hometown of Glens Falls, N.Y. His first self-portrait caught peoples attention and a later drawing of New York City, as viewed from the Empire State Building, was featured in publications, displayed in a museum, and recognized with numerous awards. Though he was offered scholarships to pursue further training, Joe opted to study at SUNY Adirondack, a State University of New York Community College in his hometown, where he earned his first associates degree in communication and media studies.

After working for a few years and not finding a way to do artwork as a career, Joe embarked on a different career path. While working at a pet store, he realized he had a passion for reptiles and promptly relocated to Florida, where he earned his second associates degree in animal sciences before enrolling in the University of Floridas bachelors degree program in animal science, which he completed in 2016.

As he pursued his dream of becoming a reptile veterinarian,Joe also began rescuing unwanted reptiles from Craigslist and reptile shows. Hemade it his mission to nurse them back to health and give them to good ownersthrough ReptiCon, an organization that hosts reptile and exotic animal expos. AsI was taking in all those reptiles, I started drawing them and putting thatartwork online, which turned into people requesting specific species,explained Joe. Eventually, I had more drawings of reptiles than I had liveanimals.

After being accepted into Ross Universitys DVM program, Joe was in for a pleasant surprise related to his art. He said he never anticipated the number of doors in the art world that would open for him once he started veterinary school. After seeing some of my drawings of sea turtles online, the Tennessee Aquarium contacted me to express their interest in having me illustrate promotional materials for an IMAX movie, Turtle Odyssey, Joe said. If you view the movie website at tutleodysseyfilm.com, and click on the education link, you can download the classroom poster that features Joes artwork and credits him as the artist. The 3D movie is playing this month at the IMAX Theatre at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.

In addition, one of Joes professors at the University of Florida wrote an equine history textbook and asked Joe to illustrate ancient equine species based on their skeletons for use in the book. Shortly after that experience, Joe was contacted by hosts of two different television shows for his drawing prints of various caiman crocodile species. Also, wildlife expert and TV personality Forrest Galante requested Joes help illustrating a once-forgotten species that Galante had rediscovered.

Its easy to see examples of Joes artwork by visiting his website, drawingsbyjoe.com. Or you can see one in person in Exam Room B in the Small Animal Hospital, where his drawing, Macaws of the World is hanging on the wall, courtesy of Dr. Sarah Malek, who had received the artwork as a gift and decided to share it on loan so others can enjoy it. As of a few months ago, Joes art also is being sold in some stores. So, not only is his artwork a form of creative expression, it also has generated income that helped finance his education.

Fittingly, Joe finished his year at Purdue in his favorite rotation, treating exotic pets in the hospitals Small Animal Primary Care service. Joe especially appreciated the opportunity to work with two fellow exotic animal enthusiasts, Drs. Steve Thompson and Lori Corriveau.

Thanks to his success in earning his DVM degree, Joe will have another means of earning income beginning in March when he starts his new job as an exotic animal veterinarian at City Creatures Animal Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. The full-service veterinary clinic offering companion and exotic pet care is just the kind of work setting that Joe, or Dr. Richichi as he will be called, had hoped to find. And he has seven pets to keep him company, including Blaze, an Argentine Tegu; Agent Romanov, an albino red tail boa; Vanna White, a leucistic Ball Python; two Axolotls (Mexican walking fish) named Mudkip and Wooper; and two cats named Chicken and Waffles.

Writer(s): Maya Sanaba, PVM Communications Intern, and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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Clinical Year Student from Ross University Shares Talent as a Wildlife Artist - Purdue Veterinary News

The process of finding the right veterinarian for your pet can be daunting.

This week, The New York Times detailed the case of a veterinarian in Oregon who had decades of complaints in two states from people who said animals were harmed in his care. Many of the cases had been investigated by state veterinary boards.

Yet some of his customers, including one who reported that his dog was handled so roughly last year that it had to be euthanized, said they never realized the veterinarian had been disciplined in the past.

Records on veterinarians can be difficult to track. In some states, they are tucked away on regulatory board websites. In others, the records have to be formally requested from the licensing body. Disciplinary actions are rare, and formal complaints that do not result in action against the veterinarian are typically inaccessible to the public.

What can pet owners do to make sure their pet is in safe hands? Here are some tips, compiled from interviews and industry guidelines:

Before needing the urgent services of a veterinarian, pet owners should spend time shopping around for a veterinarian that works for their family. That might begin with online research or tips from friends, but it should also include in-person visits to potential providers.

Jennifer Reba Edwards, the founder of the Colorado-based Animal Law Center, said she liked to see whether the veterinarian got on the ground with her pets and made efforts to gain the trust of the animal. If they are rushed or quickly pass her off to a veterinary technician, Ms. Edwards said, that is a red flag.

A tour of the facility can give a sense of its organization, cleanliness and overall treatment of animals. It does not hurt to ask questions: How long have they practiced? What specialties do they have? How does the facility monitor pets that have to stay overnight? What sorts of payment options do they have?

Dr. Grace A. Mengel, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, suggested asking whether the veterinarian practiced low-stress handling, which includes strategies to make veterinary visits more calm for animals.

There are limited resources available for consumers to assess whether a veterinarian has a troubled past. But each state has a licensing body that investigates and doles out discipline.

In some states, such as California and New York, regulators have websites that allow pet owners to search for veterinarians by name and review their disciplinary history. Some states, however, do not have these online records; in those cases, there is little access to a veterinarians history of past complaints unless consumers file a request.

Online reviews can be helpful, but consumers should also be skeptical of them. One option is to check the local courts for lawsuits involving a veterinarian or facility.

Dr. Mengel said pet owners might also want to check the American Animal Hospital Association to find facilities accredited by that organization.

When its time to bring pets in for treatment, it is best to come with questions ready. Writing them down in advance can be especially helpful when dealing with a stressful visit that could involve bad news or difficult decisions.

For a pet with a specific problem, an owner may want to ask whether the veterinarian has experience with that issue. If surgery is contemplated, ask how many times the veterinarian has done the procedure. It may be advisable to see a specialist. Dr. Mengel said one question to ask ahead of a procedure is how the facility monitors pets under anesthesia.

It is important to share details about the pet. Has it had trouble sleeping? Has gas been a problem? Those small details that might not otherwise surface at a checkup could help a vet better assess the animals health.

Do not hesitate to get a second opinion about a pets care, especially when it comes to major decisions.

Ms. Edwards said she recently went to a veterinarian about a heart issue with her dog and got the news that the dog might live for only a few weeks. But after checking with a veterinarian with more specialization in the issue, she learned the dog could live for a couple of years with proper care.

For those who switch veterinarians, either because of a move or by choice, it is important to get a pets full medical history so that a new vet will have the full picture of the animals treatment history.

And for pet owners who may not be able to afford high-cost veterinary services, there are nonprofit organizations around the country that offer financial assistance.

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Has Your Veterinarian Been Accused of Malpractice? It May Be Tough to Find Out - The New York Times

This animal, the heavily trafficked pangolin, may be the key in how the new coronavirus spread from animals to humans. USA TODAY

A Chinese university says scientistsidentified the heavily trafficked pangolin as a possible intermediary host of the new coronavirus.

The coronavirus from China is believed to have originated in bats and transferred to humans through some other animal, health officials say. The pangolin may be that key link, researchers at South China Agricultural University said Friday.

"This latest discovery will be of great significance for the prevention and control of the origin of the new coronavirus,"South China Agricultural University saidin a translated statement.

The research team tested more than 1,000 samples from wildanimals and found a 99% match between the genome sequences of virusesfound in pangolins and those in human patients, the AFP reported, citing Chinese state media.

Start the day smarter: Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox

Coronavirus, explained: Everything you need to know about coronavirus, the deadly illness alarming the world

James Wood, a veterinary medicine professor at the University of Cambridge, told the French news agency that more data is needed and showing similarity between the genome sequences alone is "not sufficient."

"You can only draw more definitive conclusions if you compare prevalence (of the coronavirus) between different species based on representative samples, which these almost certainly are not," Dirk Pfeiffer, professor of veterinary medicine at Hong Kongs City University, told Reuters.

Li Wenliang, a Chinese doctor who was reprimanded for warning fellow doctors about the initial coronavirus outbreak, has died of the illness. USA TODAY

Pangolins, the world's only scaly mammal, havelong been valued for their meat, viewed as a delicacy in some Asian countries, and scales, used for traditional medicine, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Recent conservation efforts have worked to protect the eight pangolin species found in Asia and Africaand threatened by illegal international trade. More than 100,000 pangolins are poached every year, according toWildAid, a nonprofit that works on illegal animal trade.

Inside quarantined coronavirus cruise: 61 cases onboard; room service, TV and spotty WiFi

News of thepossible pangolin link to the coronavirus outbreak comes as the World Health Organization cautioned Fridayagainst too much optimism after a decline in new cases over recent days.

"The numbers could go up again but the last two days were showing a declining trend," said WHO's director-generalTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

China reported 31,161 cases in mainland China in its update Friday. The rise of 3,143 was the lowest daily increase since at least Tuesday.

According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University as of Friday, 34,887 people have been infected and 724 killed from the outbreak that first appeared late last year. The mortality rate of the virus is 2.1 percent. That compares to a death rate of 9.6 percent for the SARS virus that spread in 2002 and 2003.

The outbreak may have emerged from a market selling seafood and meat in Wuhan. Researcherstheorizethat someone bought contaminated meat at the market, ate it, got sick and infected others, creating a ripple effect around the world.

However, research in the British medical journal The Lancet suggests the outbreak started earlier than December and casts doubt on the market connection.

While the majority of cases and deaths have been in China, the virus has spread across continents, prompting the WHO to declare a"public health emergency of international concern."

In the United States, 12 people have been infected, per Johns Hopkins. Federal health officials confirmed last week the first U.S. case ofperson-to-person spread of the virus.

President Donald Trump tweeted Friday he "had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China" on the country's response to the coronavirus.

"He will be successful, especially as the weather starts to warm & the virus hopefully becomes weaker, and then gone," Trump tweeted.

China's state media said President Xi Jinping urged the U.S. to respond reasonably" to the virus outbreak in a phone call with President Donald Trump.

"A peoples war against the virus has been launched," Xi was quoted as saying by broadcaster CCTV, using timeworn communist terminology, according to the Associated Press. "We hope the U.S. side can assess the epidemic in a calm manner and adopt and adjust its response measures in a reasonable way."

Beijing has complained that the U.S. was flying its citizens out of Wuhan but not providing any assistance to China.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement Friday that the U.S. isprepared to spend up to $100 million to assist China and other countries to contain and combat the virus. Pompeo said his department had facilitated the transportation of nearly 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to China this week.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar speaks during a press briefing on the coronavirus, in the briefing room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, in Washington.(Photo: Evan Vucci)

The U.S. government hasevacuated about 800 Americans from China on five chartered flights,Steve Biegun, Deputy Secretary of State, said at a Friday press conference of the President's Task Force on Coronavirus.

One flight left on Jan. 28, followed by two flights on Feb. 5 and two on Feb. 6, Biegun said.

As of Friday, officials at 11 U.S. airports had screenedmore than 17,000 passengers for coronavirus and were expected to screen about 4,000 on Friday, according to CDC director Robert Redfield.

The screening process involves more than 1,000 daily flights across400 carriers originating at 200 airports worldwide, according to Joel Szabat, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs. More than 2,000 Americans are in or recently left China, he said.

Of the thousands of confirmed coronavirus cases, 14 locations had reported 69 patients who had not traveled to China, Redfield said.Two of those cases were in the U.S., where two people had passed the virus onto their spouses.

Health and Human Services Sec. Alex Azar said the Chinese government had not accepted the U.S.'s Jan. 6 offer to send scientists to China to assist with containment and learn more about the nature of the virus.

"At this point, it's a decision for the Chinese," Azar said."We have made the request now for almost a month."

Azar said he remained "optimistic" that the Chinese would accept American scientists.

Wuhan Central Hospital confirmed early Friday thatLi Wenliang, 34, an ophthalmologist at the epicenter of the virus outbreak, died from the virus aftercontractingit from a patient.

Li had become a national hero for alerting fellow doctors Dec. 30 in an online post about the emergence of a SARS-like illness, warning them to wear protective clothing to avoid infection.

Li, along with seven others in Wuhan, were later arrested by local security police on charges of spreading rumors and forced to sign a document disavowing his statements and agreeing to quit speaking out.

Li's deathhas triggered a national backlash over freedom of speech and censorship that has overwhelmed official online attempts to contain or remove the expressions of anger.

Death of doctor who warned about virus: Backlash errupts over China's censorship

Coronavirus has spread from Wuhan, China, to countries across the world. But how do you know you have it? Here are some signs to watch out for. USA TODAY

Americans trapped on Princess Cruise ship

The number of diagnosed cases of coronavirus on a Princess Cruises ship quarantined off the coast of Yokohoma, Japan, has tripled to 61, according to areport from the cruise line late Thursday.

The Japanese Ministry of Health notified Princess Cruises that an additional 41 people screened aboard the Diamond Princess have tested positive for coronavirus. Eight of those patients that have tested positive are Americans, according to the cruise line. On Wednesday, Princess Cruises confirmed 20 diagnosed cases of coronavirus on the ship, which was already under a 14-day quarantine.

Guests testing positive are expected to be taken to local hospitals immediately.

Princess cruise: Americanstest positive for coronavirus; Guam bars ship

Two Chicago coronavirus patients the first U.S. case of person-to-person spread were discharged from the hospital Friday and placed in home isolation, according to health officials.

The patients were being treated at AMITA Health St. Alexius Medical Center Hoffman Estates and were at home under the guidance of the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health, according to AMITA Health spokesperson Olga Solares.

"With it being an uncomfortable situation, the care and the services weve received have been great. Everyones been very kind and very respectful. This has been the best health care experience weve ever had, but were definitely looking forward to getting home and getting life back to normal," the patients said in a statement.

The cases sparked panic in Hoffman Estates, a Chicago suburb where protective face masks had been sold out for over a week.

Contributing: Adrianna Rodriguez, Jayme Deerwester, Morgan Hines and Doug Stanglin; The Associated Press

Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller and Grace Hauckon Twitter @RyanW_Millerand @grace_hauck.

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Pangolins may have spread coronavirus to humans: What to know about the Wuhan virus - USA TODAY

For Immediate Release: February 07, 2020 Statement From:

Statement Author

Leadership Role

Commissioner of Food and Drugs - Food and Drug Administration

Genome editing is a groundbreaking technology used to introduce intentional genomic alterations in animals and has the potential to improve human and animal health, animal well-being and to enhance food production and quality. It is paramount, however, that as we move forward, we maintain standards of safety and effectiveness.

This is a tremendously exciting field. Because were committed to fostering advances in this space, we take a risk-based approach to oversight. We want to ensure that the intentional genomic alterations in animals are safe for the animal, safe for people eating food products from the animal and that the alteration does what its intended to do. Thats why we encourage sponsors to participate in our Veterinary Innovation Program, which facilitates advancements in the development of innovative animal products by providing greater clarity in the regulatory process, encouraging development and research and supporting an efficient and predictable pathway to approval.

We are taking steps to help ensure confidence in products of biotechnology and will soon be undertaking a public education campaign to help consumers learn about the safety and benefits of agricultural biotechnology products. We are committed to partnering with Americas farmers, innovators, biotechnology companies and research universities who are at the forefront of this remarkable moment of scientific advance.

The FDA is leveraging our scientific and technical expertise and regulatory experience to oversee intentional genomic alterations in animals developed using novel techniques, such as genome editing, through a timely and efficient process. The agency is a trusted global regulator and we are committed to overseeing this space in a manner that fosters innovation, promotes consumer confidence and protects the public health.

The following statement is attributed to Steven M. Solomon, DVM, MPH, director of the FDAs Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Today, the journal Nature Biotechnology published the FDA-authored analysis Template plasmid integration in germline genome-edited cattle, which describes how a bioinformatics method developed by FDA scientists was able to detect previously unreported, unintended alterations in genome-edited bulls. The analysis emphasizes the FDAs expertise and critical role in risk-based evaluation of intentional genomic alterations.

Our analysis demonstrated that genome editing in animals can have unintended consequences, and in this case, it caused foreign DNA to be integrated into the animals genomes. While the existence of an unintended alteration does not necessarily mean that the genome edit is unsafe to animals or consumers, it does show that both scientists and regulators need to be alert to the potential for such unintended alterations to take place.

A companion piece, Genome editing in animals: Why FDA regulation matters, also published today explains the value of the agencys oversight of intentional genomic alterations in animals to protect animal and human health, even when the intended modification seeks to replicate a naturally occurring mutation. The commentary further describes the FDAs intent to support innovative scientific approaches, while balancing the agencys role to protect public health through a risk-based approach.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nations food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

###

02/07/2020

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FDA Expertise Advancing the Understanding of Intentional Genomic Alterations in Animals - FDA.gov

PARSIPPANY, N.J. & WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) today announced the acquisition of Ethos Diagnostic Science, a veterinary reference lab business dedicated to serving leading specialty animal hospitals, the greater veterinary community and researchers with accurate, reliable results. Having entered the veterinary reference laboratory space through the acquisitions of both Phoenix Lab and ZNLabs in 2019, Zoetis continues to grow its diagnostics presence to offer comprehensive and enhanced value to veterinarians in the U.S. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Ethos Diagnostic Science is a business unit of Ethos Veterinary Health and has laboratory locations in Boston, Denver and San Diego. Its clinical team has decades of combined experience in veterinary and laboratory medicine and is proud of the strong client relationships built through comprehensive review of accurate, reliable results for the best possible patient outcomes. Ethos Diagnostic Science performs testing for all veterinary species in hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, microbiology, parasitology, endocrinology, serology, cytology and histology. It aims to provide the highest quality results in rapid turnaround times, while advancing the field of veterinary diagnostic medicine.

Acquisition Adds to Zoetis Growing Presence in Reference Labs

We are thrilled to add the Ethos Diagnostic Science labs to our expanding diagnostics presence in the U.S., and we look forward to working with their dedicated, trusted, board-certified pathologists and laboratory technicians, said Lisa Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Diagnostics for Zoetis. With the addition of Ethos labs in San Diego, Denver and Boston, we continue to build a more holistic diagnostics portfolio at Zoetis, and together we can provide veterinarians with even more valuable service and accurate insights that inform the care they provide to animals.

Were very proud of Ethos Diagnostic Science and our lab teams who have demonstrated our core value of innovation and provided invaluable service to our clinical teams, pet families at Ethos Veterinary Health and veterinary teams of our lab customers, said Brian Cassell, DVM, Chief Strategy Officer, Ethos Veterinary Health. We look forward to a continued strong relationship with Zoetis as they add our labs to all that they can offer the veterinary community.

Reference Labs Complement Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Reference laboratories and point-of-care diagnostic testing are highly synergistic, offering veterinarians a single source for a full spectrum of tests, as well as access to the expertise of board-certified specialists and pathologists to support test results. In 2018, through the acquisition of Abaxis, Inc., and its world-class portfolio of VetScan diagnostic instruments and rapid tests, Zoetis became a leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of veterinary point-of-care diagnostic instruments and consumables.

The global veterinary diagnostics category, which includes reference laboratory and point-of-care diagnostics, is estimated to exceed $4 billion1, with compound annual growth of approximately 10% over the past three years1. Zoetis expects the diagnostics category to continue to grow faster than the animal health industry, with growth in the high single digits; this growth is driven by pet owners increasing interest in pet wellness trends along with rising medicalization rates, increasing standards of veterinary care, and the convenience of in-clinic testing1.

About Zoetis

Zoetis is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 65 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines, vaccines and diagnostic products, which are complemented by biodevices, genetic tests and a range of services. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2018, the company generated annual revenue of $5.8 billion with approximately 10,000 employees. For more information, visit http://www.zoetis.com.

About Ethos Diagnostic Science

Ethos Diagnostic Science, part of Ethos Veterinary Health, is a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory founded in 2015 as the former STAT Veterinary Lab. With lab locations in Boston, Denver and San Diego, Ethos Diagnostic Science performs testing for all veterinary species in hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, microbiology, parasitology, endocrinology, serology, cytology and histology, and aims to provide the highest quality results and rapid turnaround times, while advancing the field of veterinary diagnostic medicine. For more information, visit http://www.ethosdiagnostics.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the current views of Zoetis with respect to business plans or prospects, future operating or financial performance, future guidance, future operating models, expectations regarding products, expectations regarding the performance of acquired companies and our ability to integrate new businesses, expectations regarding the financial impact of acquisitions, future use of cash and dividend payments, and other future events.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if management's underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Zoetis expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, including in the sections thereof captioned Forward-Looking Statements and Factors That May Affect Future Results and Item 1A. Risk Factors, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our Current Reports on Form 8-K. These filings and subsequent filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov, http://www.zoetis.com, or on request from Zoetis.

1 Based on internal estimates and publicly available information.

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Zoetis Acquires Ethos Diagnostic Science, a Veterinary Reference Lab Business, to Further Expand its Comprehensive Diagnostics Capabilities - Business...

Veterinary CRO Market by Service Type (Clinical Trials, Toxicology, Market Authorization & Regulatory Support and Others), Application (Dogs, Cats, and Others), End User (Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Neurology and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019 - 2026

New York, Feb. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Veterinary CRO Market by Service Type, Application, End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019 - 2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05844034/?utm_source=GNW

The global veterinary CRO market was valued at $485.5 million in 2018, and is expected to reach $894.7 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 7.9% from 2019 to 2026. Contract research organizations (CROs) are companies that aid in conducting research for a sponsor company. Moreover, veterinary CROs are companies, which are specialized in in-vivo studies that involve companion animals. Sponsor companies seek provision from veterinary CROs to support research and development programs for biopharmaceutical industries. Furthermore, different types of services are provided by veterinary CROs such as clinical trials, toxicology, and market authorization & regulatory support. These services are utilized by veterinary medicine manufacturers to test the safety and efficacy of veterinary drugs, which are used in different indications such as oncology, neurology, and infectious diseases. The factors that boost the growth of the veterinary CRO market include surge in ownership of companion animals and rise in animal health expenditure. Furthermore, other factors such as increase in prevalence of various diseases among companion animal acts as a major factor that contributes toward the growth of the market. However, lack of standardization in veterinary CROs is a factor that restrains the growth of the market. Conversely, surge in awareness related to animal healthcare across the globe is expected to provide lucrative opportunities in the market during the forecast period. The veterinary CRO market is segmented into service type, animal type, indication, and region. On the basis of service type, the market is divided into clinical trials, toxicology, market authorization & regulatory support, and others. By animal type, the market is classified into dogs, cats, and others. Depending on indication, it is categorized into oncology, infectious disease, neurology, and others. Region wise, it is analyzed across North America (U.S, Canada, and Mexico) and Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and rest of LAMEA).

KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS This report entails a detailed quantitative analysis along with the current global veterinary CRO market trends from 2019 to 2026 to identify the prevailing opportunities along with the strategic assessment. The market size and estimations are based on a comprehensive analysis of key developments in the industry. A qualitative analysis based on innovative service types facilitates strategic business planning. The development strategies adopted by the key market players are enlisted to understand the competitive scenario of the market

Key Market Segments By Service Type o Clinical Trials o Toxicology o Market Authorization & Regulatory Support o Others By Animal Type o Dogs o Cats o Others By Indication o Oncology o Infectious Disease o Neurology o Others By Region o North America o U.S. o Canada o Mexico o Europe o Germany o France o UK o Italy o Spain o Rest of Europe o Asia-Pacific o Japan o China o Australia o Rest of Asia-Pacific o LAMEA o Brazil o Saudi Arabia o South Africa o Rest Of LAMEA

List of key players profiled in the report: Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Clinvet KLIFOVET AG Lhlein & Wolf Vet Research Oncovet Clinical Research ONDAX Scientific Triveritas Veterinary Research Management (VRM) Ltd VetPharm, Inc. VETSPIN SRL

LIST OF OTHER PLAYERS IN THE VALUE CHAIN (These players are not profiled in the report. The same will be included on request) AlcheraBio LikardaRead the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05844034/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The global veterinary CRO market was valued at $485.5 million in 2018, and is expected to reach $894.7 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 7.9%...

Shirley Russell knew a lot about her dog, Cricket. She knew that the shaggy-haired Pumi loved to catch a ball before it bounced, that she loved being a therapy dog, and that shed give her human friends a gentle tap on the arm if she wanted more petting.

So whenemergency vets recommended hospitalizing the 12-year-old dog to give her, maybe, a few extra weeks in her six-year battle against cancer, Russell knew what needed to be done:

I just looked at them and said, Im taking her home, she said. We sat in the chair until about midnight, then I put her in the bed and laid there holding her until 4:30 in the morning.

Cricket died the next day with the help of in-home euthanasia.

She was tired, Russell said. She had gone through a lot.

But she wasnt alone. For the past six years, Cricket has had the help of veterinary oncologist Alice Villalobos, a Torrance-based veterinarian who specializes in palliative and end-of-life hospice care for dogs and cats.

For Cricket, palliative care meant treating the cancerthe dog underwent four surgeries and four chemotherapy sessions for her recurrent tumorsand getting a slew of supplements and medications to keep the champion agility dog active and comfortable.

Hospice care meant preparing Russell for the days when nature would take its inevitable courseand guiding her about how to recognize her dog was ready to cross the rainbow bridge.

In human medicine, physicians dont generally refer to hospice until patients are about three days before death, said Villalobos, who in January received the Shomer Ethics Award from the Society of Veterinary Medical Ethics for her contributions to both cancer and palliative care for pets.

When we use the word hospice, we want to make sure people know that we are going to support the pet and provide comfort care whenever they get the diagnosis of a life-limiting disease, said the Hermosa Beach resident.

While palliative care is a growing niche in the world of pet care, it isnt all that different for dogs and cats than it is for humans. The goal is to make patients comfortable so they can live out their days in peace, even in spite of incurable conditions. The only difference for pets is the added option of euthanasia when suffering becomes intolerable.

Many times people say, Let nature take its course, said Villalobos, who has been called the"Mother of Veterinary Hospice by the SVME. And then Im contacted to help with that end-of-life decision. People want to know, When is the right time to put my pet down?

To aid in this decision-making, Villalobos developed a Quality of Life Scale to help people determine if their pet has acceptable life quality to continue with pet hospice. Her guidelines have been shared and used by veterinarians and pet-owners worldwide.

In the old days some doctors would just recommend euthanasia right away, Villalobos said. People would take a limping dog into the vet and they would come home without a dog. [Doctors] would choose to do euthanasia upon diagnosis.

Veterinarians, she said, would often give patients two options when presented with a seriously sick pet: Euthanize the pet or opt for surgery, the latter of which is expensive and may not necessarily extend the animals life significantly.

Im trying to give people a third optionand that is hospice, Villalobos said. Hospice embraces the whole beginning right up to the end. It allows people time to grieve and gives me time to counsel the family members.

For Ari Dane of Playa del Rey, Villalobos helped his 17-year-old chihuahua, Roxy, stay comfortable despite a trio of grim diagnoses including a chest tumor, heart problems and kidney disease.

(Roxy) keeps bouncing back and shes still here, said Dane, who sees Villalobos about every six weeks. She will perk up around mealtime, but most of the time she sleeps. Its fading time.

Under Villalobos direction, Dane adds more than 15 different medicines and supplements to Roxys food every day, all of which are meant to treat the tiny dog's myriad health issues. Its a tedious, expensive process, but one that Dane wouldnt give up.

Its a sad thing to watch her decline, but thats the price of admission, he said. Roxy has been a part of the family for 17 and a half years. I wouldnt want her to be treated any differently.

Pets As family

In a society where people consider pets part of the familyand where half of all dogs that reach the age of 10 will be diagnosed with cancer, according to the American Veterinary Medical Associationit only makes sense that palliative care would become a part of the deal.

As of 2020, there were more than 800 members in the International Association for Animal Hospice & Palliative Care (IAAHPC), an organization dedicated to developing guidelines for comfort-oriented care to pets as they approach the end of life. The organization was founded in 2009.

Veterinarians have been offering some measure of comfort care for animals as long as they have been caring for them, but the shift has come with families embracing pets as members of the family, said IAAHPC President Tyler Carmack, a Virginia-based veterinarian. They now wish their pets to have the same level of compassionate care at end of life as our human family members.

Carmack said many providers and pet-owners shy away from discussing hospice and palliative care until their pets are already very sick. She hopes this will change as people become more aware of their options.

As we open the communication about caring for pets as they enter their end-of-life stage, we allow more and more families to make the best possible decision for their pet and their family, Carmack said.

Costs of care

Of course, caring for sick and dying pets isnt cheap.

According to the Veterinary Cancer Society, cancer care costs for dogs ranges between $150 and $600 per dose of chemotherapy and between $1,000 and $6,000 for radiation. Pet insurance can help pay some of these costs, but many companies have a cap on annual or per-illness expenses.

On top of that, in-home euthanasia, the option most palliative care specialists prefer, costs about $250.

For many pet-owners, its a price that must be paid.

You get them as a pup and you know that youre probably going to outlive them, Russell said. Its part of the package.

For more information about Dr. Alice Villalobos and to get information on palliative care for pets, visit http://www.pawspice.com. Villalobos operates out of Harbor Animal Hospital. She plans to move her services to Redwood Animal Hospital in Redondo Beach in the coming months.

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This South Bay veterinarian is leading the pack to provide hospice care for cats and dogs who are terminally ill - Beach Reporter

Horses are really good at getting hurt. Liz Arbittier, VMD, CVA, once treated a horse with a metal pitchfork-tineskewered hoof. Barn staff left the fork in the wheelbarrow, which was blocking the stall, while momentarily stepping away. Upon returning, the worker found the horse standing on the fork, which had pierced the bottom of the foot and come out the back of the heel/pastern.

Amazingly, after surgery and a long recovery, he was absolutely fine, said Arbittier, whos an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center School of Veterinary Medicine, in Kennett Square.

Sharp metal prongs arent the only things that can injure a horse. Samantha Parkinson, DVM, CVMMP, the equine field service resident at Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, has seen several horses impale themselves on wooden handles of pitchforks.

Horses are uncannily efficient at finding things with which to hurt themselves, she said.

Often, its the most common barn fixtures that cause injury. Here are five that veterinarians encourage clients think twice about before using.

It helps to always have the snaps pointing toward the wall and making sure the screw-eye doesnt have any gaps/metal edges, Arbittier said. Investing in safety snaps or hangers is a good idea.

Its okay to feed hay on the groundthats the natural way horses eat, he said.

That poses a hazard for the horses mouth, lips, and gums, said Lindsay Goodale, DVM, an equine practitioner and a lecturer at Cornell University. The best option is to avoid sharp metal, but if its in your barn check it regularly for damage.

If theyre designed to fold down after use, return them to that position, Ahlschwede says.

Its not possible for everyone to change their latches, but they can make sure that horse owners, staff, and others bringing horses in and out always push the latches all the way in to avoid injuries, Goodale said.

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5 Common Things You Won't Find in Horse Vet's Barn - TheHorse.com

The University of Georgias research and development expenditures reached a record high of $477.5 million over fiscal year 2019, according to a UGA Today news release.

Research and development expenditures increased by 5.4% over the last year and by 34% over the past five years, according to the release.

As UGA grows its research enterprise, we are expanding our positive impact on the world while strengthening the economy of our home state, said President Jere Morehead in the release. Gains in agricultural productivity; improvements to health care; the creation of new, marketable products these are just a few of the many benefits stemming from UGAs research and development that are driving our increased economic impact on Georgia, which is now estimated at $6.5 billion per year.

Multiple UGA professors have received research grants over the past year, according to the release. Ted Ross, a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, received an award of up to $130 million from the National Institutes of Health in September 2019 to develop a universal flu vaccine. Ross initially received $8 million from the NIH, but the award could increase up to $130 million. If all contract options are exercised, the seven-year project would be the largest award ever received by UGA, according to a September 2019 UGA Today news release.

Jessie Kissinger, a genetics professor, won two awards totaling $16.2 million to develop health informatics databases, according to the release. David Okech, an associate professor in the School of Social Work, has been awarded nearly $20 million from the U.S. Department of State since 2018 to combat human trafficking.

UGA is currently ranked at number 57 in the National Science Foundations survey of overall research and development expenditures across U.S. universities, according to the release. The ranking is based on UGAs fiscal year 2018 research and development expenditures, totaling $453.2 million. UGA currently ranks first for the number of new products brought to market among U.S. universities.

The release said new initiatives at the university, including the Innovation District and the construction of the $65 million I-STEM building, are expected to expand UGAs reach in research.

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UGA's research and development expenditures total $477.5 million - Red and Black

For Bonnie Ascher-Nette, DVM, there is no such thing as too much time spent with horses. An equine veterinarian who specializes in sports medicine, she devotes her days to treating the animals she loves and dedicates any time left over to training and showing her amateur-owner hunter, Denver HTF.

As a young girl, Ascher-Nette dreamed of attending veterinary school and always intended to work with horses, but upon arrival at Michigan State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, she learned that balancing riding and work would be an ongoing challenge.

I think anyone whos been through vet school will tell you its one of the hardest things youve ever done in your life, said Ascher-Nette, 31, Ridgefield, Connecticut. But at the end, when you graduate, its the most gratifying thing youve ever done in your life.

A lot of people who go into vet school wanting to be equine vets end up [in] small animal, she continued. They dont end up becoming equine vets on the way out, and I think part of it is because the lifestyle of an equine vet is hard.

People advised her that if she wanted time to enjoy her own horse, she should rethink her career choice, but Ascher-Nette was determined.

I stayed with the equine track, as did a number of my friends, and it all ended up working out in the end, she said.

Ascher-Nette now works for Rabanal Equine, where she cares for New York and Connecticut-based high performance hunters, jumpers and dressage horses. While she has flexibility in scheduling her appointments, shes on call around the clock and drops everything for an emergency.

It can become hard when you are accessible to your clients 24/7, said Ascher-Nette. Its good because youve built a relationship and youve built a trust base; they trust you when you say, This is what I want to do for your horse, but at the same time, being that accessible puts a strain on your personal life, your hobbies and relationshipskind of everything.

When not working, Ascher-Nette is bringing along Denver, whom she bought as a 4-year-old in 2016.

Bred by Hilltop Farm (Maryland), Denver was doing the baby green hunters whenAscher-Nettes longtime trainer, Patty Miller, spotted the Hanoverian gelding (Donarweiss GGFRaj Mahal LTF, Royal Prince) and encouragedAscher-Nette to buy him.

The pair hit it off immediately, winning the Pennsylvania-bred young hunter under saddle at Devon (Pennsylvania) in their first horse show outing. By 2017 they were winning tricolors in the adult amateurs.

Ascher-Nette also moved to Connecticut in 2017, and she started training with Kristen Abbatiello-Neff of Sea Horse Stables LLC in Newtown, Connecticut.

The next year, Ascher-Nette set her sights on qualifying for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals, held in September in Saugerties, New York, during the HITS On-The-Hudson circuit. She hoped Denver would come away with mileage and experience, and toAscher-Nettes delight, he won the championship in the SmartPak Adult Hunter division.

Last year she moved up to contest the 33 amateur-owner division, winning multiple tricolors and challenging their skills in national derbies as well.

Hes been above and beyond what we all hoped that he could be, said Ascher-Nette. When you accomplish something together, whether its in the show ring or its just one of those light bulb lessons, its not only your horse thats learned something, youve learned something along with them. Its your relationship thats grown.

She relishes every accomplishment with Denver, and not just in the show ring. It will be at home, those moments in our lesson when well both just get it, itll remind me of three years ago, where we were and where were both at now, she said. For me, I feel like thats the most gratifying thing about bringing a young horse along, is knowing that youve been involved in every step of the process.

2019 was a big year in Ascher-Nettes personal life as well: She married Eric Ascher-Nette in June.

To fit everything in, Bonnie schedules out her personal endeavors far in advance, traveling to support her husband at his marathons or going on mini-vacations. Sometimes she finds a way to mix work and pleasure, spending the past two winter seasons in Wellington, Florida, where she treated clients and competed Denver at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

This year, we got some clients that have a lot of show horses that are staying up here for the winter, said Bonnie. My boss [Amy Rabanal] and I also talked about work-life balance, and as much as I loved going to Florida for the season, it was a long time to be away from my husband.

That was really tough for both of us, added Bonnie. Were really close; we talk every day, multiple times a day. So, being gone for almost four months out of the year with not a lot of opportunity to see each other was tough. My boss and I had talked about ways to make my work-life balance better.

Bonnie acknowledges high performance equine medicine is not a low-stress job.

The higher the levels you go in sport horse medicine, the more pressure there is on everybody, not just on the vet, said Bonnie. Theres pressure on the rider, theres pressure on the trainer, pressure on the owner. Each part of veterinary medicine has its own pressure-filled situation, but I think in sport horse medicine, especially working at levels where youre working on horses that are going to Wellington or going to World Cup Finals or things like that, theres added pressure from all sides.

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The Chronicle of the Horse - The Chronicle of the Horse