StemCell Therapy

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a large plant, but although grand and showy in its appearance, it is an invasive plant that you dont want to touch. Also in the same family,Apiaceae the carrot family, is wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), another invasive species to avoid. Both plants contain chemicals that can cause a toxic skin reaction when humans encounter the plants sap.

Furanocoumarins, when combined with sunlight, can cause phytophotodermatitis, a serious skin inflammation. The chemical prevents the skin from protecting itself against sunlight, which can lead to a severe sunburn. The reaction can be as mild as skin discoloration or as severe as large, painful blisters. The effects of giant hogweed can be much worse than that of wild parsnip, with some blisters similar to third-degree burns, permanent scarring, discoloration of the skin, increased sensitivity to sunlight that may last for years, and contact with the eyes could lead to blindness.

Giant hogweed was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s. as an ornamental. One of the first plantings was in gardens near Highland Park in Rochester. It escaped cultivation and has now become established in the Northeast and parts of Canada.

Characteristics:

White flowers clustered into an umbrella-shaped flower cluster, up to 2.5 feet across, blooms between June and July (note: plant generally produces a flowering stalk in 3 to 5 years but can take up to 8 years or more)

Between 7 to 14 feet tallwith huge leaves, incised and deeply lobed, up to 5 feet across

Stems are green with purple splotches and coarse white hairs, 2-4 inches in diameter

Seeds are dry, flattened, oval and approximately 3/8-inch-long and tan with brown lines

Except for its towering size, giant hogweed can easily be mistaken for other umbrel plants.

If you see Giant Hogweed, keep your distance, and take high-resolution photos of the entire plant, stem, leaves, flowers and/or seeds. Photos and detailed directions to the infestation can be emailed to DEC at ghogweed@dec.ny.gov or contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office for assistance with identification.

DEC crews visit each confirmed infestation site of giant hogweed and use an appropriate control method for the size of infestation and location. This service is free of charge to the landowner. Sites are visited each year until the plants are eradicated. For sites to be monitored and controlled, the landowner must give annual permission.

Wild Parsnip is native to southern and central Europe and was possibly brought to North America as a root crop by colonists as early as the 1600s. It has become established throughout the northern United States and southern Canada.

Characteristics:

Yellow flowers clustered into an umbrella-shaped flower cluster, 4-6 inches wide, blooms between May to mid-July (note: flowering usually occurs during the second year of growth)

Between 2 to 5 feet tall with yellowish-green leaves with 5 to 15 toothed and variably lobed leaflets

Stems are yellowish-green with vertical grooves

Seeds are flat, brown, and slightly winged

Both plants can be found growing on roadsides, fields, pastures, along trails, any place where the soil has been disturbed, and along streams and rivers.

If you see Wild Parsnip, manual removal of plants can be effective for new infestations and small areas. When removing plants, wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, pants, boots, and eye protection to prevent contact with the sap. Synthetic, water-resistant materials are recommended. Before the plant going to seed, cut the root 1-2 inches below the soil or pull by hand. If removing the plants after they have gone to seed, cut off the seed head and place it in a plastic bag. Leave the bags in the sunlight for one week to kill the seeds before disposal. Mowing only after it has flowered, but before it goes to seed, can kill the plant. When mowing, take precautions to prevent sap from contacting skin and eyes. Clean all protective clothing, gear, tools, and equipment thoroughly. Herbicides such as glyphosate or triclopyr can be applied as spot treatments; follow product labels carefully. Monitor the area long-term for seedlings emerging from the seed bank.

What to do if you come in contact with these plants?Immediately wash the area with soap and COLD water and keep the area away from sunlight for 48 hours. If a reaction occurs, see a physician.

The rest is here:
Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip: Do Not Touch! - Steuben Courier

Fifteen years have elapsed since the worst bout of bloodletting that Uzbekistan has seen in its post-independence history, but still the authorities, even under the rule of self-styled reformer President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, appear uninterested in pursuing a thorough and transparent investigation.

The uprising in the ancient Ferghana Valley bazaar city of Andijan which began on May 13, 2005, came on the heels of a wave of arrests of local businessmen tied to another one by their strong Islamic faith.

The thousands that took their positions on the citys Bobur Square were almost all unarmed citizens, although they also included some gunmen who had been sprung overnight from the local prison. After days of tension, then President Islam Karimovs government sent in heavily armed troops, who indiscriminately opened fire on the crowd.

There is no consensus on the exact number of fatalities as the authorities swiftly squelched any pleas to conduct an independent investigation. The official figure is 187 dead. Rights activists believe the real figure is many times greater.

Although the current political elite in Tashkent does not openly talk about this, the disastrous economic situation and political consequences brought on by the Andijan massacre and its aftermath in large part contributed to President Mirziyoyevs determination to break with the Karimov legacy and begin certain reforms, said Steve Swerdlow, a human rights lawyer and Central Asia expert.

There was a slight shift in the official tone earlier this year when Deputy Prosecutor General Svetlana Artykovagave an interviewto a local outlet,Qalampir.uz, in which she appeared to concede that excessive force was deployed. The remarks made by Artykova, who was the spokeswoman for the prosecutors office in May 2005, could only have been made with approval from above.

When asked if weapons were used by government forces against civilians, Artykova answered that there had been no clear coordination between troops and the national leadership and that this was why a certain number of citizens died during the rally.

Some officials found responsible for unlawful killing were convicted and some were already out of prison, Artykova claimed. This was the first time any Uzbek official has alleged that any officials were imprisoned for their involvement in the Andijan events.

The idea that government troops would have acted with such force upon their own initiative defies credibility, however.

Indeed, documentaries produced for state television since Mirziyoyev came to power have sought to whitewash the actions of senior security officials, including then Interior MinisterZokir Almatov.After the Andijan events, Almatov was included on a list of Uzbek officials sanctioned by the European Union and the United States. Under international pressure, Karimov finally caved and dismissed Almatov.

But Almatov has since beenrehabilitatedand beendraftedby Mirziyoyev to assist in reforming the police force.

In the wake of Andijan, the repression of devout Muslims, whose presence was especially pronounced in the Ferghana Valley, only escalated. Many rights activists were also hounded out of Uzbekistan. Numerous international organizations were forced to shutter.

Although there have been many improvements in those areas, Kamoliddin Rabimov, a political migr residing in France, believes the Mirziyoyev administration is unlikely to wish to revisit what happened in May 2005.

For the political elite, especially for the security forces, any such step would be considered a source of destabilization. And for the public, the issue of the Andijan tragedy has been, and remains to be, a very sensitive, painful matter, Rabimov said.

Ravshan Nazarov, a historian in Tashkent, told Eurasianet that there continues to be a split in perceptions about what actually happened in Andijan. Many hold the opinion that the uprising was the entirely the work of extremists and terrorists a view that has been eagerly promoted by state-funded action movies, at least one of which is shown as in-trip entertainment on trains running between Tashkent and Andijan. Another camp recalls the events as just another instance of cruel suppression of a peaceful demonstration.

It is this polarized set of perceptions that makes a proper study of the uprising so necessary, said Nazarov

A serious and thorough analysis of all available materials and documents on the events of 2005 remains to be done. It is necessary to talk directly with participants and witnesses of those events, he told Eurasianet.

Such a process would in any event only be in keeping with Uzbekistans pledges to bodies like theUN Human Rights Committee and Committee Against Torture to enable an impartial and international investigation.

There is more at stake than just fresh insight into a specific set of events.

Truth-telling and public discussion about the Andijan massacre are deeply important 15 years after the events, said Swerdlow. Andijan in many ways was the defining event of the Karimov era. It is necessary to comprehend and study it in an open format for national healing. Understanding the painful history of Andijan will ultimately help Uzbekistan make a transition to a more open and democratic society.

Excerpt from:
Uzbekistan: Andijan blindness slows transition to era of openness, experts say - Eurasianet

When the seas of life get rough, some readers look for escape, while others dive right in. So it is during the pandemic, when many book lovers are turning toward apocalyptic fiction.

A modern classic of the genre is Emily St. John Mandels Station Eleven, which tells the story of a nomadic group of entertainers in the years after a flu has destroyed civilization. I would not recommend reading Station Eleven in the middle of a pandemic, Mandel told the L.A. Times in an interview.

Yet many people are doing just that: The book is selling briskly just as Mandels new novel of financial disaster, The Glass Hotel, settles into the Los Angeles Times bestseller list. Mandel joins the L.A. Times Book Club on May 19 for a virtual discussion of these two eerily timely novels.

In advance of Mandels appearance, we asked her and a few other authors to help us put together an end-of-world reading list.

Mandel called the 1961 Hugo Award winner an interesting and somewhat haunting story. It was the first post-apocalyptic book I read, and reading it made me think for the first time about what a post-apocalyptic world might look like.

Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book, suggested the classic dystopian novel, which played a role in her nonfiction bestseller about the 1986 fire that closed the Los Angeles Central Library for seven years. Orlean also mentioned A Canticle for Leibowitz.

T.C Boyle, author of the upcoming Talk to Me, called Fiskadoro a poetic fever dream which takes place in the Florida Keys a generation after a nuclear war has destroyed most of civilization and rendered vast territories uninhabitable. The novel opens up the reader to what culture is, what it means to its constituency, and how it draws from the traditions of the past in order to create a rationale for the present.

Marlon James, winner of the 2020 L.A. Times Ray Bradbury Prize, described the Frankenstein authors later work as the original speculative novel. Funny enough, it was a plague I was like, Damn, girl. The original dystopian novel got it right! He also mentioned The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood.

The vivid, unusual, stirring characters make it a piquant and often enjoyable read despite the pointed bleakness of the setting, Malka Older, author of Infomocracy, said of Solomons debut science fiction novel. Its structurally and thematically daring and manages to include a little bit of hope while leveling a devastating critique at racism and fascism.

Lessings writing is so perfect and full of beautiful details that her apocalypse feels inextricably linked to the rest of her narrative, said Charlie Jane Anders, author of The City in the Middle of the Night. I feel like people dont read Lessing as much as they did maybe 20 years ago, and this makes me incredibly sad of all the 20th century lit authors, shes the one whose work is the most relevant and timeless in 2020. Anders also recommended Cats Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut, The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin and Jos Saramagos Blindness.

Wil Wheaton, actor and author of Just a Geek, suggested this three-book anthology edited by John Joseph Adams and Hugh Howey. The collection tells stories from three distinct periods in the apocalypse: The end is nigh, the end is now, and the end has come. While there are fantastic stand-alone stories in each volume, for a reader who wants to take the whole ride, there are some extremely rewarding tales. Standouts include Charlie Jane Anders, Scott Sigler and Seanan McGuire.

Aimee Liu, author of the new novel Glorious Boy, cited the Pulitzer Prize-winning tales unflinching humanity in the face of horror and uncertainty, all amplified by McCarthys refusal to name the precise cause, date, or nature of Earths collapse. Liu also mentioned The Book of Aron, by Jim Shepard.

Im a Shakespeare buff, and I thought it was terribly inventive, said Jess Walter, author of Beautiful Ruins and the upcoming Cold Millions. I admired her deft writing touch and the way she moved back and forth in time. Walter also mentioned Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood, and Cats Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut.

Alex Espinoza, author of Cruising, is another fan of Saramagos story of an epidemic of blindness that sweeps through an unidentified city. The novel focuses on a group of strangers who are among the first to get infected and are quarantined in a filthy, crowded asylum where they must band together in order to survive. A terrifying and timely story.

Wolk has been a senior correspondent for Reuters and NBC News, among other publications.If you go: Book ClubEmily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel, joins the L.A. Times Book Club in conversation with reporter Carolina A. Miranda.

When: 7 p.m. May 19

Where: Free virtual event livestreaming on the Los Angeles Times Facebook Page and YouTube.

More info: latimes.com/bookclub

View original post here:
Quarantine books: Your essential end-of-the-world reading list - Los Angeles Times

Seva Foundation will celebrate 1960s counter-culture icon Wavy Gravys 84th birthday with a Quarantine Concert featuring previously unreleased archival videos from past Seva benefit concerts spanning 2007 to 2019. Bob Weir, David Crosby & Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt & Ruthie Foster, Hot Tuna, Zero and many more musicians will be part of the online event.

Other acts that are part of Sevas Quarantine Concert include Ani DiFranco, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Chris Robinson, Dr. John & Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jackson Browne, Jason Mraz, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Poor Mans Whiskey, Roy Rogers & Carlos Reyes, Steve Kimock, Rising Appalacia and Steve Earle. The event will be able to be streamed between May 14 and 17. Follow this link for more information.

The Berkeley, California-based Seva Foundation is a global nonprofit eye care organization that transforms lives and strengthens communities by restoring sight and preventing blindness preventing and treating blindness and other visual impairments. The Grateful Dead performed at the first Seva benefit concert in 1979.

Read the original here:
Seva Foundation Celebrating Wavy Gravy's 84th Birthday With Archival Video Release - JamBase

Upstream: The quest to solve problemsbefore they happen, by DanHeath

Picnicking beside a river, you see a child floatingdown, in danger of drowning. You and your friend dive in and save her, only tosee another coming down, and another and another. Suddenly you see your friendclimb out the river and start running. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to sort out the person who isthrowing children in the river!"

Author Dan Heath uses the word upstream forefforts intended to prevent problems before they happen.

"So why do our efforts skew so heavily towardreaction rather than prevention?" he asks. Primarily, because the furtherupstream we go back, the more complex the solution. It is easier to call HR torecruit a new executive than it is to ensure that the organisation is a deeplysatisfying place to work.

The US will spend billions more recovering from thecoronavirus because they slashed funding for Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.And similar examples abound.

"My goal in this book is to convince you thatwe should shift more of our energies upstream," Heath explains.

There are three forces that push us downstream,impeding our ability to prevent problems.

The first is what Heath calls problem blindness,the response to problems that is similar to the way we treat the weather there is nothing we can do about it.

The second is that no one takes ownership of theproblem. Stanford researchers, in a paper exploring this sense of reluctance,wrote "what often prevents people from protesting is not a lack ofmotivation to protest, but rather their feeling that they lack the legitimacyto do so."

The third is tunnelling, where people react toproblems rather than prevent them. Tunnelling confines us to short-term,reactive thinking. In the tunnel, theres only forward. When people experiencescarcityof money or time or mental bandwidththe harm is not that the bigproblems crowd out the little ones. The harm is that the little ones crowd outthe big ones.

If upstream thinking is so obviously correct andunequivocally more effective in eliminating recurring problems, why is it sorare? Heath identifies seven significant barriers to upstream thinking andprovides solutions from lessons learned from real world successes.

Heaths three forces described above, and the sevenbarriers (of which I will describe some below) are the same whether you lead afor-profit-business, a public benefit organisation or a government department.

How will you unite all theright people who are needed to solve the problem?

In 1998, 42% of Icelandic 15- and 16-year-olds hadbeen drunk in the previous 30 days. Almost a quarter smoked cigarettes daily,and 17% had already tried cannabis. Among 22 European countries, Icelandic teenagershad the second-highest rate of accidents or injuries related to substance abuse.Todays Icelandic teenagers have grown up in a country where substance abuse islargely absent.

As in many upstream efforts, the success wasachieved by surrounding the problem, recruiting a multifaceted group ofpeople and organisations, united by a common aim "Drug-free Iceland".

The campaign team solicited help from anyone whowas willing to assist: researchers, policymakers, schools, police, parents,teenagers, singers/musicians, government agencies, private companies, churches,sports clubs, athletes, and media members.

Surrounding the problem with the right people and aligningtheir efforts toward preventing specific instances of that problem, was theirsolution.

Who would need to be involved in your organisation?

How will you change the system?

"Every system is perfectly designed to get theresults it gets."

Whether the results are good or bad, the systemthrough which the results are achieved is a complete success.

In 1967, 5 people died for every 100 million milesdriven. Fifty years later, fewer drunk drivers better roads, seat belts,airbags and better braking technologies, reduced that number to 1 death per 100million miles driven. The vastly improved system happened with no centralplanner. Thousands of people, safety experts, transportation engineers andMothers Against Drunk Driving, tweaked the system so that millions of people aresafer.

Identifying the systems that need to change is criticallyimportant.

How will you get early warning ofthe problem?

When everything is cause for alarm, nothing iscause for alarm.

The value of an early warning depends on whetherthe warning gives sufficient time to respond. A car tyre that gives a 30-secondadvance warning of a blowout, might save your life. A half-second warning isworthless.

LinkedIn discovered that the churn rate forcustomers of their flagship product for recruiters was roughly 30%. On further investigationthey found that customers who used the product in the first 30 days were fourtimes more likely to continue using LinkedIn. So, they started using all theresources they had been using to save customers, to onboard them properly sothey become users immediately.

How will you know youresucceeding?

What counts as success? If my laptop broke and youfix it, thats victory. With upstream efforts, success is not alwaysself-evident and is often misleading.

Consider a team that applauds itself for scoringmore runs. Is that because every team in the league is scoring more too,because bowling talent has declined? The team that doubled its run rate barelywon any more games, which doesnt align with their goal.

If the short measures runs starts becoming the goal,players under pressure may start cheating. Here, succeeding with the measuremakes a mockery of the goal. Care must be taken which factors really measuresuccess.

How will you avoid doing harm?

Systems are complicated. One need only consider theban of single use plastic bags that damage the waterways.

An estimated 100 billion bags that may not degradefor hundreds of years, are used annually just in the US. Paper bags andreusable bags are far better than plastic ones from the perspective of keepingwaterways clean, but they are worse in other ways.

A UK Environment Agency study calculated the "peruse" effects of different bags on climate change. You need to use a paperbag 3 times and a cotton reusable bag 131 times to be on par with plastic bagsoverall effect on the environment. Manufacturing paper bags and cotton reusablebags causes more air and water pollution than plastic, and they are much harderto recycle.

Is protecting waterways and marine life our goal,or making the whole environment better?

Systems cant be controlled, but they can bedesigned and redesigned. We need to rely on careful experimentation, guided byfeedback loops. We should think very carefully before proceeding where systemsare involved. Upstream work hinges on an attitude of care and humility.

Who will pay for what does nothappen?

A person will pay if they will reap the rewards andwhat comes out of the pocket goes back in. But what if many units in the organisationor country will benefit, unequally? Getting funding for many pockets is acoordination nightmare.

In the case of climate control, those who areresponsible for the problem (wealthy countries,) require a contribution in cashor kind from poor countries who benefit from the solution, but did little tocause the problem.

Not considering these questions will make upstreamsuccess ever harder. Considering them may go a long way to improve youroperations and I cannot think of any time when that consideration is morenecessary.

I consider this the most useful book I have read inyears. It reads easily and is rich with examples and nuances.

Readability Light--+-- Serious

Insights High +---- Low

Practical High -+--- Low

*Ian Mann of Gateways consultsinternationally on strategy and implementation, is the author of Strategy thatWorks and a public speaker. Views expressed are his own.

See the original post:
IAN MANN REVIEWS | Getting the jump on problems before they happen - Fin24

New Delhi | Jagran Lifestyle Desk: World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year to increase the awareness about this ilent killer and help people realise that Hypertension or high blood pressure is a preventable and controllable condition.

Increasing the awareness about the condition -- where the blood pressure is consistently more than 140/90mm/Hg -- is necessary given the lack of knowledge among the people about the 'silent killer' as the symptoms often go unnoticed during the early phase.

Dr P Venkata Krishnan, Internal Medicine, at Paras Hospital, Gurugram, as quoted by news agency ANI, explains that the condition can be considered as the cause of many NCDs -- heart attacks, kidney failure, stroke, and also damage to eyes.

"Its prevalence is widespread with different studies concluding anywhere between one third and 50 per cent of the population suffering from hypertension. While 90 per cent of the cases of high BP is idiopathic, in 5 per cent of the cases, it is caused by underlying conditions of heart, thyroid and kidney diseases or other illness," said Dr Krishnan.

The major concern surrounding the condition is that of not showing any visible symptoms, and hence difficult to detect it via regular health and BP check-up. In fact, the doctor says that in most people, it is diagnosed during a regular check-up.

"Treating hypertension requires a combination of dietary and lifestyle modifications as well as medicines under medical supervision. Taking proactive steps such as a decrease in the consumption of junk food, managing stress, and regular exercise are important not just in the management of hypertension but also its prevention," he concluded.

Highlighting another viewpoint around the condition, Dr Parul Katiyar, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, said that hypertension can also adversely affect fertility, especially in men.

"Various studies have suggested that hypertensive men tend to have low semen volume, sperm count and motility. Some of the antihypertensive medications have been linked to poor semen volume and quality and their side-effects also include retrograde ejaculation and erectile dysfunction," remarked Dr Katiyar.

The doctor also emphasised that hypertension can be managed by bringing certain changes in the lifestyle and also intake of the right medication can result in improvement in impaired semen and erectile dysfunction.

Talking about chronic hypertension during pregnancy, Dr Manisha Ranjan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Noida, said that the condition has been associated with a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature delivery, fetal growth restriction, fetal death, placental abruption, and cesarean delivery.

"Sometimes, the onset of high blood pressure during pregnancy may be a sign of preeclampsia, a condition in which high blood pressure occurs exclusively in pregnancy. Therefore, even if your chronic high blood pressure is under control before you are pregnant, you may later develop preeclampsia, as well," she added.

The doctor further recommended inducing labour before the patient's due date in order to prevent any pregnancy complications. In some cases, cesarean birth is also recommended.

"So, it becomes imperative that one should manage their high blood pressure during pregnancy by eating a healthy diet, reducing sodium intake, taking medications properly, and staying physically active," the gynaecologist explained.

Referring to the prevailing coronavirus crisis, Dr Manjeetha Nath Das, Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, said that the condition has emerged as serious comorbidity, especially for the elderly.

"Every third Indian grown up has this disease. Its high prevalence makes all these people vulnerable to coronavirus, which may affect them more severely than those who are not hypertensive and increase the chances of death," said Dr Das.

"Therefore, our aim should be to check the number of new people who get hypertensive and help the hypertensive to manage their condition better. The disease also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness significantly," the doctor said.

Dr Das further recommended proper screening of hypertension for anyone over the age of 35 years. "Besides, right from childhood, people should be encouraged to live a healthy and active lifestyle with less sugar and fat intake and minimum 30-minute of activity daily," Dr Das added.

(With ANI Inputs)

Posted By: Talib Khan

Here is the original post:
World Hypertension Day 2020: Know the remedies for defeating this silent killer - Jagran English

You can now do your bit for charity this Ramadan by creating a video on social networking platform TikTok.

The video-sharing service has joined the Reach Campaign, an Emirates Red Crescent-organised drive that targets neglected tropical diseases, as its latest media partner. TikTok has pledged to donate $2 (Dh7) for every video created on the app, up to a maximum of $100,000.

The Reach Campaign launched in January and uses the theme Give 2, Save 2 meaning that a Dh2 donation is enough to provide medicine and treatment to protect one person against both diseases for an entire year.

During Ramadan, however, the campaign set a goal of protecting one million people from river blindness over the course of the holy month.

TikTok users can contribute by creating videos using three special interactive "Reach Campaign stickers", or donating directly to the cause through links on the campaigns in-app landing page.

TikTok will also run in-app advertisements shedding light on river blindness, and has encouraged several high-profile public figures to take part in the challenge.

Social media influencers Max of Arabia, Khalid and Salama Al Ameri, Abas, and Mona Sheikh have so far created #ReachTheEnd videos.

More than 200 million people worldwide require treatment for river blindness, one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. It is caused by repeated bites by black flies that live near flowing water.

Like many neglected tropical diseases, river blindness disproportionately affects the worlds most vulnerable people, trapping their families in cycles of poverty. Most of the cases are found in 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

"We are excited to launch a new element to the campaign in collaboration with an innovative partner such as TikTok. Allowing the community to participate creatively while helping reach the end of river blindness has truly inspired users to join our campaign.

"We are honoured to see the inventive ways people continue to show their support from the comfort of their own homes," Nassar Abdul Raouf Al Mubarak, managing director of the Reach Campaign said.

In addition to TikTok videos, the month-long Reach Ramadan campaign follows a simple three-step challenge: the community is encouraged to donate by either texting GIVE to 2424, visiting the Reach the End website, or posting a selfie on social media making a "V for victory over river blindness" sign with their hands, and challenging friends and family to do the same by by tagging them.

Updated: May 12, 2020 05:15 PM

Originally posted here:
Reach Ramadan Challenge: how you can raise money for river blindness on TikTok - The National

Retinal diseases contributing heavily to the demand growth of intravitreal (IVT) injectables

Hereditary retinal diseases is the major cause of visual loss. Macular degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy is the important and prominent cause of blindness.

According to Genentech Retinal disease report, around 11 million US population are affected with age-related macular degeneration, 7.7 million people are affected with diabetic retinopathy and around 1.1 million population are affected with retinal vein occlusions.

Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/25906

Company Profiles

Anti-VEGF intravitreal (IVT) injectables medication is most likely use to treat retinal disorders. Increasing prescription of anti-VEGF anticipate the growth of the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market. Many manufacturers aims to develop drugs with anti-VEGF inhibitor, as a result leading to an increase in the demand for intravitreal (IVT) injectables.

North America to have substantial revenue growth in intravitreal (IVT) injectables Market

North America region shown to have high growth inintravitreal (IVT) injectables market. Low vision and blindness are prevailing in the region and high prescription of anti-VEGF intravitreal (IVT) injectables medication has increases the growth of intravitreal (IVT) injectables market. It is estimated that intravitreal (IVT) injectables create an incremental $ opportunity worth US$ 4,350 Mn between 2018 and 2028.

Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/25906

Lucentis marketed by Roche and Eylea marketed by Regeneron in the United States, are the commonly prescribed biologics use in intravitreal (IVT) injectables. Apart from this, Avastin and Macugen are also widely used in intravitreal (IVT) injectables market.

The North America region holds a significant share in intravitreal (IVT) injectables among all other regions, due to the increase in prescription of retinal biologics, high healthcare facilities and availability and usage of expensive drugs.

Access Full Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/25906

Intravitreal (IVT) Injectables Market: Segmental Analysis

The global intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been segmented on the basis of drug class, indication and distributional channel. On the basis of drug class, the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been segmented into anti-VEGF, corticosteroids, antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals. Based on indication, the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been segmented into diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, endophthalmitis, retinal vein occlusions and others.

In terms of revenue, the anti-VEGF segment is expected to have a major share in intravitreal (IVT) injectables during the forecast period as it prevents angiogenesis and also minimize the leakage of fluid that occurs due to retinal diseases.

On the basis of distributional channel, the intravitreal (IVT) injectables market has been categorized into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, drug stores, mail order pharmacies and others. The hospital pharmacies is expected to have high revenue growth in intravitreal (IVT) injectables, owing to the availability of biologics and increase in prescription of anti-VEGF drugs.

Report Highlights:

Explore Extensive Coverage of PMR`sLife Sciences & Transformational HealthLandscape

Opioids MarketOpioids Market Segmented By Morphine, Codeine, Fentanyl, Meperidine, Methadone Product in Analgesia, Cough Suppression, Diarrhea Suppression.For More Information

Non Infectious Macular Edema Treatment MarketNon-infectious Macular Edema Treatment Market Segmented By Anti-VEGF, Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressant, Biologics Drug with Non-infectious Uveitic Macular Edema, Diabetic Macular Edema, Retinal Vein Occlusion with Macular Edema Indication by Oral, Parenteral, Topical Route of Administration.For More Information

About us:

Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics andmarket research methodologyto help businesses achieve optimal performance.

To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.

Contact us:

Ashish KoltePersistence Market ResearchAddress 305 Broadway, 7th FloorNew York City,NY 10007 United StatesU.S. Ph. +1-646-568-7751USA-Canada Toll-free +1 800-961-0353Sales[emailprotected]Websitehttps://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

See the original post here:
Intravitreal IVT Injectable Market Worth Will Reach US$ 4350 Mn According To Forecast By 2028 - Cole of Duty

Yvette C. Terrie, BSPharm, RPh

The common ocular condition accounts for an expanding percentage of primary care medical visits.1 Although blepharitis does not typically result in blindness, left intreated, it has can cause corneal neovascularization and ulceration, keratopathy, and permanent alterations in eyelid morphology.2 The pathophysiology is thought to stem from a bacterial infection, dermatologic conditions such as rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, or a problem with the oil glands near the base of the eyelids.3 Common clinical presentation includes burning and/or itching of the eyelid margins and/or conjunctival irritation with lacrimation, photosensitivity, or the sensation of a foreign body.2,3

Blepharitis is classified into 2 types, according to the American Optometric Association.2 Anterior blepharitis affects the outside front of the eyelid, where the eyelashes are attached. The 2 most common causes of anterior blepharitis are bacteria (Staphylococcus) and scalp dandruff.2 Posterior blepharitis affects the inner eyelid and is caused by problems with the oil (meibomian) glands in this area. Two dermatologic disorders can cause this form of blepharitis: acne rosacea, which leads to erythema, and seborrheic dermatitis.2

Self-treatable ophthalmic disorders primarily affect the eyelids, but it is important that patients always seek medical guidance to determine if an infection is present and rule out a more complicated condition or disorder.4 Pharmacists can assess if self-treatment is appropriate, direct patients to seek further medical care when warranted, and provide information about blepharitis. They can also educate patients about eyelid hygiene, including related nonprescription products, and the numerous OTC artificial tear products that may provide symptomatic relief.

PRACTICING PROPER EYELID HYGIENE Even with successful treatment, blepharitis may recur. Treatment depends on the severity and type of blepharitis, and some cases require more complex regimens. Blepharitis rarely disappears completely.5,6 Proper eyelid hygiene is the foundation of treatment and is effective in most cases.3

For a bacterial infection that does not respond to eyelid hygiene, a prescription topical antibiotic ointment may be warranted.5 A severe case may call for an oral antibiotic and a short course of a steroid.3,5 Because most blepharitis cases are chronic, patients need to follow a good hygiene regimen to prevent recurrence. Recommended measures include:2,3,5

PATIENT EDUCATION RESOURCES American Academy of Ophthalmology: aao.org/eye-health/diseases/ what-is-blepharitisMayo Clinic: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/blepharitis/symptoms- causes/syc-20370141National Eye Institute: nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions- and-diseases/blepharitis

REFERENCES

Continued here:
Educate Patients About the Basics of Blepharitis - Pharmacy Times

Retinitis pigmentosa, is a condition where patients typically loses ability to see at night in young years, side vision in middle age, and focal vision in later in his/her life due to relentless loss of cone photoreceptor cells. Proportions of retinal capacity, for example, the electroretinogram, demonstrate that photoreceptor capacity is decreased normally quite before symptomic night visual impairment, visual-field scotomas, or diminished visual sharpness emerge. Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an acquired retinal condition that causes retinal depletion, is an uncommon illness. Its underlying manifestations are decreased night vision along with loss of fringe vision. It slowly causes visual impairment.

Get Exclusive PDF Sample Copy Of This Report:https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=91

There is no conclusive remedy for retinitis pigmentosa. Hence medical institutions and various research and development centers are researching to develop a full proof cure for this disease which is boosting the growth of global retinitis pigmentosa market.

Retinitis pigmentosa, in which patients usually lose night vision in teenage years, side vision in middle age, and central vision in later life because of steady loss of cone photoreceptor cells and rod. Measures of retinal function, such as the electroretinogram, indicate that photoreceptor function is reduced usually several years before visual-field scotomas, symptomic night blindness, or reduced visual acuity arise.

As of now, there are no specific treatments available for retinitis pigmentosa. Efficient treatments for retinitis pigmentosa are much awaited, particularly for genetically defined subsets of patients. Various studies suggest that this disease affects about 1 in 4,000 individuals worldwide. Without treatment, patients permanently lose central vision by the age of 60. For past many years, there have been several treatments reported, which did not completely cure the disease but were beneficial to some extent. For instance, in the past, patients used to consume a supplement of 15,000 I.U. of Vitamin A and possibly fish oilto address this conditions. In 2011, a method of treatment was patented, in which a medical dose of insulin, IGF-1, and chlorin e6 was used. Another treatment option which was proposed in November 2012 was a combined treatment regimen ofoily fish (DHA), vitamin A palmitate, and lutein. This treatment was reported to slow vision loss in people suffering from the disease. Rare forms may also be treated with vitamin supplements or diet modification.

Looking at the immense growth potential, several new players are likely to venture into the global retinitis pigmentosa market, thereby making it a highly competitive arena in the near future.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an inherited retinal condition causing retinal degeneration and visual field loss, is a rare disease. Its initial symptoms are reduced nightvisionand loss of peripheral vision. It gradually causes blindness. There is no definitive cure for retinitis pigmentosa. Therefore, the market for treating this genetic disorder is vastly untapped. The available therapies apply various approaches such as stem cell therapy and transcorneal electric stimulation therapy. However, such therapies have not been approved of unanimously on account of certain intrinsic limitations.

A range of services and devices are available to aid people with vision loss to conduct their day to day activities independently. Those include anything from a vision aid and an eye care professional to orientation and mobility specialists and certified low vision therapists, among others.

The global retinitis pigmentosa market has been treading a healthy growth path due to limited availability of therapeutics to cure this rare disease which has opened up a window of opportunity for new therapies and treatments. In fact, most people afflicted with the genetic disorder progress to the advanced stage of retinitis pigmentosa because of the dearth of proper cure. This has generated demand for retinal prosthesis devices for restoring the lost vision. Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., for example, offers FDA approved Argus II retinal prosthesis system meant for patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa. This device does the function of degenerated retinal cells and enhances the patients ability to see images and movement.

A new approach known as optogenetics, which involves applying gene therapy for restoring vision, is currently being researched upon by companies operating in the ophthalmology market. It helps to power cells, especially ganglion cells, to respond to light after the degeneration of rod cells and cone cells. Further, the orphan drug designation given by the FDA and European Commission to ReN003 by ReNeuron in the U.S. and Europe in 2013 is another positive development in the market. ReN003 is a retinalstem cell therapycandidate.

Buy This Report @https://www.tmrresearch.com/checkout?rep_id=91<ype=S

Based on geography, the global retinitis pigmentosa market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Among them, North America and Europe dominate the market powered by the developed markets of the U.S and U.K. where exhaustive research and development activities have been carried out in this direction. However, the Asia Pacific retinitis pigmentosa market is also poised for growth due to the large patient pool in the region, who need to be treated for retinitis pigmentosa. The Rest of the World also has a substantial number of people suffering from this rare genetic disorder.

Companies Mentioned in Report

To present an study the current competitive dynamics in the global retinitis pigmentosa market, the report has profiled some of the major players involved in the development and commercialization of products in the field such as ReNeuron Group plc, Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc., Ocugen, Inc., ReGenX Biosciences, LLC, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Orphagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Inc., and Okuvision GmbH.

To know more about the table of contents, you can click @https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=91

About TMR Research

TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to busi-ness entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experi-enced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.

Continue reading here:
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) Market Poised to Expand at a Robust Pace Over 2025 - Cole of Duty

Councils face an uphill struggle when their budget shortfalls are not covered and local expertise is not trusted by ministers, writes LGC editor Nick Golding.

There has been criticism lately in certain quarters of journalists and commentators for their raising of deficiencies in the national coronavirus response. Questioning and scrutiny are seen as tantamount to treachery, working against the war effort and undermining ministers who face the unenviable task of having to take unprecedented action with imperfect information. Of course, this criticism is misplaced. It is the most fundamental job of the journalist to expose inefficiency, hypocrisy, mistruths and failure and far from being a fair-weather luxury this role becomes even more important during a crisis when such failings have an immediate detrimental effect on wellbeing and even survival.

LGC has been asking searching questions of the government, mainly around two key themes. First, do councils have the funding to protect their communities and, second, is local expertise being used to its full potential and sufficiently supported in an increasingly centralised operation? The answer to both questions from our readership has been an overwhelming no.

Councils have been regularly undermined by the centre

On finance, the mood music was initially positive. When ministers were telling councils to do whatever is necessary to support their place, the implication was their work would be fully funded. It seems communities secretary Robert Jenrick has lost a financial battle with the Treasury and his promise has been diluted to covering the costs of specific tasks councils have been told to do. Any expenditure on top of this will be merely taken into consideration while councils projections of sector-wide multi-billion pound income losses are deemed highly speculative. And it would, we were told, create a moral hazard to bail out authorities that had made unwise commercial investments, upon the success of which they are reliant. Mr Jenrick made no mention of the fact councils have done this the vast majority of them acting responsibly to try to recoup the funding they have lost at the hands of Conservative ministers.

To ignore councils dire straits amounts to delusional, head-in-sand, ostrich leadership. While the exact size of each councils shortfall for the rest of 2020-21 is uncertain, one thing is clear: unless far more funding than the current 3.2bn arrives, councils will collapse and local services will be decimated. Does Mr Jenrick really want that? Councils are having to take decisions now about expenditure for the rest of the year and need a clear commitment that their budget shortfalls will be covered. Mr Jenrick diluted his promises, condemning local service users to misery just as Boris Johnson was pledging no return to austerity, a meaningless statement unless backed by resources.

On the second theme, councils have been regularly undermined by the centre (despite the belated move which went live today for directors of public health to lead on care home testing). Councils have been bypassed on contact tracing, coordination of volunteers and sharing of data for the shielding service. The social care workforce has often been near the back of the queue for personal protective equipment while deaths in care homes were not even included in NHS England daily statistics for most of the crisis to date. And why have we not seen James Jamieson or Mark Lloyd, respectively the chair and chief executive of the Local Government Association, behind a lectern at the Downing Street briefing? They havent been invited because councils are not seen as a sufficiently important partner by the centre.

All of this undermines the effort to reduce the spread and impact of coronavirus. While aspects of the central response have been impressive, government incompetence, wilful blindness and control freakery are hindering councils efforts. Perhaps the greatest challenge now is rebuilding shattered local economies an operation that can only be successful if undertaken by empowered, properly funded local leaders. Every central action needs to be scrutinised, questioned and debated to ensure it aids the local response to coronavirus because at present too many are thwarting it. As Britains Covid-19 death rate soars higher than the rest of Europe there is a moral imperative to ask why? and can we as a nation do better?.

Original post:
The centre's wilful blindness and control freakery hinders the Covid response - Local Government Chronicle

COLUMBIA, Md., May 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation Fighting Blindnesshas transformed all VisionWalk in-person events scheduled to take place through June 2020, into one nationwide virtual experience taking place on Saturday, June 6, 2020. This National Virtual VisionWalk Day is a new opportunity for communities to still come together, virtually, and celebrate the Foundation's accomplishments of funding research leading to treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases.

On June 6th, the Foundation is asking VisionWalk participants to take a walk around their block, on the treadmill, or step in spirit and show how they're celebrating using #VisionWalkStrong on social media.

"Our VisionWalks may look different this year, but our mission to find treatments and cures is unchanging," says Michele DiVincenzo, vice president, events. "We are so thankful for our VisionWalk community's continued support during these difficult times. Now more than ever, we need to stand strong together and make a difference in fighting blindness."

Throughout its 15-year history and through the generosity of more than 200,000 walkers, donors, and corporate sponsors, VisionWalk has raised more than $55 million. These funds have enabled the Foundation to continue advancing its important mission of moving vision-restoring treatments from the laboratory to the patients who need them. Vision science is making great strides today more than 38 potential treatments are in clinical trials but there is still more work to do.

Join the National Virtual VisionWalk on Saturday, June 6, 2020 by visiting, VisionWalk.org.Together, we step closer to fighting blindness.

For more information, contact Michele DiVincenzo at [emailprotected] or (847) 549-1523.

About the Foundation Fighting BlindnessEstablished in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $760 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

Media Contacts:

Michele DiVincenzo

Chris Adams

Vice President, Events

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

[emailprotected]

[emailprotected]

(847) 549-1523

(410) 423-0585

SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness

http://www.FightBlindness.org

See original here:
Foundation Fighting Blindness Announces National Virtual VisionWalk Day - PRNewswire

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), researchers have developed a quick test to identify which people with glaucoma are at risk of rapid progression to blindness.

A new test can detect glaucoma progression 18 months earlier than the current gold standard method, said the study published in the journal Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics.

Glaucoma, the leading global cause of irreversible blindness, affects over 60 million people, which is predicted to double by 2040 as the global population ages.

Loss of sight in glaucoma is caused by the death of cells in the retina, at the back of the eye.

Being able to diagnose glaucoma at an earlier stage, and predict its course of progression, could help people to maintain their sight, as treatment is most successful if provided at an early stage of the disease, said study first author Eduardo Normando from Imperial College London.

The test, called DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells), involves injecting into the bloodstream (via the arm) a fluorescent dye that attaches to retinal cells, and illuminates those that are in the process of apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death.

Also read: Earth Day 2020: Using artificial intelligence to save coral reefs

The damaged cells appear bright white when viewed in eye examinations -- the more damaged cells detected, the higher the DARC count.

One challenge with evaluating eye diseases is that specialists often disagree when viewing the same scans, so the researchers have incorporated an AI algorithm into their method.

In the Phase II clinical trial of DARC, the AI was used to assess 60 of the study participants -- 20 with glaucoma and 40 healthy control subjects.

Also read: Huawei onboards Indian firms AI-driven keyboard into AppGallery

The AI was initially trained by analysing the retinal scans (after injection of the dye) of the healthy control participants.

The AI was then tested on the glaucoma patients.

Those taking part in the AI study were followed up 18 months after the main trial period to see whether their eye health had deteriorated.

The researchers were able to accurately predict progressive glaucomatous damage 18 months before that seen with the current gold standard OCT retinal imaging technology, as every patient with a DARC count over a certain threshold was found to have progressive glaucoma at follow-up.

These results are very promising as they show DARC could be used as a biomarker when combined with the AI-aided algorithm, said lead researcher Francesca Cordeiro from University College London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology.

View post:
AI helps spot early signs of glaucoma progression to blindness - Hindustan Times

Express News Service

NEW DELHI:As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the world, people from all walks of life, including the differently abled, are profoundly impacted by the new normal. The Morning Standardspoke to RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, on the kind of impact the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have on the sight-impaired in India.

How did Sightsavers begin? What was the mission then, and has it changed since?

After being blinded in an accident at age 12, Sir John Wilson spent his life advocating for people with visual impairments. He began plans to establish a non-government organisation to address the prevention of blindness and provide rehabilitation of those whose sight couldnt be saved. And so, on January 5, 1950, the British Empire Society for the Blind, as Sightsavers was originally known, was born. Since 1966, in India, Sightsavers has been working to eliminate avoidable blindness and that the irreversibly blind people are supported adequately to lead lives of independence and dignity. Sightsavers focusses on collaborating with various state government departments to scale up operations for the three core areas of work: eye health, inclusive education and social inclusion.

How are the facilities for the sight-impaired in India, especially compared to other countries?

India is home to a third of the worlds blind population. The country has about 12 million individuals with visual impairment as against the global total of 39 million, according to a report published by the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB). Despite this, when it comes to accessibility of education, healthcare and employment, the visually impaired are cut off. Only 29.16 percent of the blind in India are part of the education system as per a survey conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The prevalence of blindness is higher among population having lower socio-economic status. Females are found to have a higher preponderance of blindness as compared to males, and the prevalence is significantly higher in rural areas.

What are some of the professions that you help the sight-impaired get into?

We work to change the attitudes of communities, schools and governments by ensuring they adopt socially inclusive policies towards people with disabilities so that they are treated with dignity and are not denied their rights to appropriate healthcare, education and income. We work to equip people with disabilities with the skills (daily living, vocational training), tools and assistance they need to earn a living and lead an independent life. Animal rearing, agriculture, small businesses, poultry farming, shops for daily needs and groceries, tailoring, teaching, and computer operators are a few of the jobs and roles that our beneficiaries undertake.

Has the ongoing pandemic brought up new hurdles for the sight-impaired?

On a global level, Sightsavers is focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities, who are being disproportionally affected, both in terms of potentially being more at risk and less able to access health services, and also in terms of impact on the support services they require. Activities include coordinating with partners, and if needed governments, to ensure responses to the global pandemic are inclusive of people with disabilities; taking extra precautions to safeguard staff and partners in a higher risk category of developing serious symptoms from COVID-19. We will be reviewing and updating these activities as the pandemic continues as appropriate.

How can the authorities help alleviate conditions for the sight-impaired in the pandemic?

People with disabilities may be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 because of barriers to implementing basic hygiene measures, such as handwashing. They may have difficulty in enacting social distancing because of additional support needs, barriers to accessing public health information.People with disabilities may also be disproportionately impacted by the outbreak because of serious disruptions to the services they rely on. Hence, they need additional considerations during these times.

See the original post here:
INTERVIEW | Sight-impaired in India are more affected by COVID-19 pandemic: RN Mohanty - The New Indian Express

Geetha Manjunath was working in AI R&D for multinational companies such as Xerox when she got the news that a close cousin had breast cancer. A few months later, her husbands cousin also received the same diagnosis. Both women were under 45 years of age, and this came as a shock to Geetha.

Working with technology and AI for several companies operating in space of healthcare, transport, and more, Geetha felt the need to startup in the healthcare space.

The startups patented product Thermalytix is a portable, non-invasive, radiation-free, and non-contact solution for early-stage detection of breast cancer. It works by measuring the temperature of the chest region, and generating a report. . It has over 30 installations at hospitals and diagnostic centres across 10 Indian cities.

In February last year, Niramai raised $6 million funding led by Japanese VC firm Dream Incubator, Beenext, and other investors.

Founders of Niramai - Nidhi Mathur and Geetha Manjunath

The team has been working on the idea since June 2014 and collaborating with hospitals since then to collect data and develop the initial AI model. The founders started full product development and AI fine-tuning in January 2017, and got the first reference commercial installation for the end-to-end solution by September that year.

The solution aims to enable automated screening of the population by detecting likely COVID-19 infected people. It does this by checking for fever and associated respiratory diseases using Thermalytix, which uses AL algorithms over thermal images.

The screening can be done by a health worker, reducing the pressure on clinical testing. The Fever Test solution can be deployed at the entrance of any facility, including apartments, offices, malls, hospitals, and more.

The solution was pilot-tested at a biotechnology company in March 2020.

When Niramai started out, Geetha had thought of methods other than mammography. A few researchers in the US had mentioned thermography, but the founders realised that healthcare institutions did not use thermography due to the prevailing accuracy issues.

On why they chose the thermography model, Geetha explains that there are limited methods of detecting breast cancer. The most common is mammography, which tries to find malignant lumps in the breast using density differences. Geetha says it uses X-rays, and the lumps are seen as white.

Geetha says one cannot go for a mammography more than once every two years as it can cause radiation problems. Also, women under the age of 40 have denser breasts; this means the entire breast appears white in a mammography for a woman under 40.

This eliminates over 50 percent women from getting a regular breast cancer test. Also, a mammography can be extremely painful and uncomfortable.

The Niramai team developed a novel technology to identify early-stage breast abnormalities in a privacy-aware, radiation-free way that is effective for women of all age groups.

Our technology works well on women of all age groups. We provide preventative breast health screening solutions in hospitals and diagnostic centres. Since our solution is portable, age-agnostic, and has zero radiation, we can also do the test outside hospital premises and help women in rural areas as well. These benefits very effectively address the concerns and limitations for greater adoption of screening for women across all segments. Early detection saves lives, Geetha says.

The solution automatically generates detailed quantitative reports with clinical parameters and estimates the likelihood of cancer. These scores help doctors make quick and more accurate decisions.

Our first technical solution was to identify the location of the tumour in a cancer patient. Then, we thought since the solution has no side effects and can detect very small lesions, why not use it for screening all women as a preventive measure. The initial research experiments were done in my previous organisation as a side project, Geetha recalls.

Before building a complete solution, the team needed to do clinical testing on real patients and showcase results that highlighted the benefit of the solution over existing methods. Once the AI model was in place, they needed to conceptualise and develop the complete product offering.

In January 2018, the team received its first request from an NGO to buy the solution. Niramai also partnered with Karnataka Cancer Society to evolve the usage for population screening.

Geetha says the team started generating screening camp-level reports, and improvised the solution to generate triaging reports automatically in real time.

Niramai now has two different products. The first is for population screening, and gives red/yellow/green signals.This helps a camp organiser decide whether the woman needs to be sent to hospital for a detailed check. The second, for diagnostic centres, offers detailed reports that help radiologists take informed decisions.

The first product required the team to review every image for quality. An expert radiologists review was used for each and every report for almost a year to ensure this.

Meanwhile, the team also began working on increasing the accuracy of the model for automated reporting.

The Niramai founders realised they needed more technological advancements when they put the solution in the hands of health workers.This was critical as they could make many mistakes while imaging, and it was important to adhere to protocols.

We developed novel image-quality check algorithms that now enable us to give instructions to the technician on correct image capture and help with real-time report generation, which we currently use for screening camps, Geetha says.

The team continues to do clinical trials on complicated cancer cases to make the algorithms smarter so they can identify all types of cancer while reducing false alarms.

The key challenge was convincing hospitals and doctors to try the new solution. The fact that it had no side-effects helped.

Early on, the team also partnered with a radiologist to give a certified report to the hospital so that concerns about medico-legal issues were resolved. This meant getting clearance from DCGI for the test.

The team chose available off-the-shelf hardware instead of developing a thermal sensor. This gave Niramai a good start as it did not have to wait for CE or FDA clearance.

When we saw low uptake in hospital walk-ins, we started an outreach business model for screening camps in corporate offices and rural areas. That gave a jump-start in screening numbers. Competing in contests and accelerator programmes enabled us to get some visibility, public attention, and allowed networking with key hospitals, says Geetha.

Creating awareness amongst people about preventative tests to ensure wellness, particularly encouraging women to take a cancer test, was also a challenge.

The team now aims to use its patented technology to help detect other diseases.

In April 2019, Niramai announced that it would leverage Thermalytix to detect the presence of parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, which causes Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and significant disability. The disease is common in remote African villages, and has affected nearly 17 million people.

Niramais non-invasive method is expected to help assess the efficacy of new drugs being developed to control river blindness by killing the adult worms, and accelerate elimination of the disease. The project has raised funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

(Edited by Teja Lele Desai)

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

View original post here:
[Product Roadmap] From breast cancer to river blindness, Niramai is using tech to simplify detection - YourStory

"Flair is what marks the difference between artistry and mere competence."- William T. Riker

There are many definitions of art.

To some, it is a painting hanging on a gallery wall. To others, it's a poem. Perhaps it's the film of a favorite director, or the story of a beloved author. Similarly, there are many definitions of artist. A painter. A writer. A musician. Each one explores their respective outlet for numerous reasons, and each hopes that, in the end, they'll have brought some semblance of enjoyment to those who experience it.

By subscribing to the Star Trek newsletter, which may include personalized offers from our advertising partners, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data collection and usage practices outlined in our Privacy Policy.

Now, while I by no means fancy myself an artist, I do see myself as a creative person. I enjoy writing and, in more recent years, I've taken to the field of photography. However, while most shutterbugs look to sunsets, landscapes and changing seasons for their inspiration, my subjects range from Starships to Vulcans and even the occasional Starfleet officer.

If you haven't guessed it by now, I'm a toy photographer one who puts a pretty big emphasis on the world of Star Trek. Since looking through the lens as it were, I've been privileged enough to work alongside the likes of Diamond Select Toys, McFarlane Toys, QMx and even CBS to bring Gene Roddenberry's wagon train to the stars to life in pictorial form.

Why do I do it, you ask? It's not for popularity or prominence. Nor is it for riches or recognition. Rather, I look to the many mysteries of the final frontier simply as a means to escape my pain.

---

I was born prematurely in the Fall of 1985. As such, the gnawing pain of cerebral palsy and the uncertainty of partial blindness have been my constant companions throughout the last 34 years. Mobility is very difficult, and I can oftentimes find myself racked with weeks worth of excruciating pain from something as simple as dancing around with my six year old daughter.

As one can imagine, I've spent a fair bit of time within the depths of despair as a result of this rather unique situation. In fact, feelings of worthlessness aren't afraid to beam down and spend time with me more often than I would like.

Where is Geordi La Forge when you need him, right? Yet, while this situation can be less than ideal, it is my time behind the lens that really allows me to cope.

Growing up, I developed an interest in pop culture. And Star Trek always held a special place in my heart. Not only did it feature a diverse crew of friends hurtling through space seeking out new life and new civilizations, but Starfleet was never above including disabled individuals on their galaxy spanning adventures.

Geordi. Nog. Pike. Picard. They all dealt with disability, pain, or trauma sometimes all three ranging from blindness to artificial parts. And yet, they all enjoyed inclusion and acceptance amongst their peers, which really struck a chord with me as I grew up. What a difference from the world I lived in! A world where you were made fun of in gym class for limping, where 'friends' stopped inviting you to parties because you just too sore to dance, or where you were beat up for wearing a leg brace. These were never problems faced by the crew of the Enterpriseand, it was a world I longed to be a part of.

As I mentioned, I eventually got into toy photography. And, it was the adventures of the Starship Enterprise that would inspire my work most of all.

At first, I was quite apprehensive to take up the hobby. After all, bad eyesight and shaky hands don't exactly bode well for someone looking to express themselves through photos. However, thanks to the unending love and support from a truly wonderful wife, I decided to push forward.

Sure, most of the initial images were terribly out of focus, and those that weren't ended up as little more than plain old glamor shots against a simple white background. But, I persevered. Eventually, my photos began to improve, and I began experimenting the more comfortable I became. Granted, I don't have a fancy camera. Nor do I have any portable lighting, or state of the art photo software. What I do have though is a three-year-old cellphone, a six-year-old tablet, and the love of a franchise that forever reminds me we can do anything we put our minds to with or without personal defects.

As I plan, prepare backdrops and sketch out ideas, I find myself distracted. Not from family, friends, or life. No, but distracted from the constant aches and pains that have plagued me these last 34 years. Yes, they are still there, but as I snapshot Kirk exploring a strange new world, they're just not as prevalent.

When I photograph, I don't think about the dull ache in my knee, or the sharp pains in my feet. Instead, those issues seem lightyears away as I instead focus on what new and exciting adventure I can send Picard, Kirk or Spock on next. At the same time, the feelings of worthlessness seem to disappear with the completion of each new project. Yes it's a hobby, but it's also an escape. A distraction that puts me right in the midst of one of the grandest adventures the galaxy has ever known.

No, I don't fancy myself an artist. Nor do I do this for popularity or prominence. Rather, I snap these pictures simply as a means to trek through the pain. That said, like any good artist, I do hope those who experience my work walk away with a semblance of joy. Because, after all, isn't that really what matters most?

Never be afraid to follow your passions. Most importantly, never allow disabilities to hold you back. Who knows? With a little inspiration, you too may soon find yourself taking to the stars!

If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page.

John DeQuadros is a writer and toy photographer based in Ontario, Canada. You can find a portfolio of his work on Instagram & Twitter right now @RipRocketPix

Read more from the original source:
Trekking Through the Pain - Star Trek

BY SCOTT FUQUACandidate for District AttorneyFirst Judicial District

I read Ms. Padgett-Macias letterwith some interest, and not just because I was its principal subject. It was interesting to me because it omits what I and many others consider to be the most important abilities a District Attorney must have the ability to manage and the ability to lead.

Ms. Padgett-Macias is wrong to assert that I have no criminal law experience. In my eight years at the Attorney Generals Office, I argued over 40 cases to the New Mexico Supreme Court, and several of those cases dealt with both substantive and procedural criminal law issues.

I have, though, never been a prosecutor. Until about a year and a half ago, neither had Ms. Carmack-Altwies, who spent her career as a criminal defense attorney. And learning that never having been a prosecutor disqualifies one for the office of District Attorney would come as big surprise to several District Attorneys all over the country, including Larry Krasner, elected to be Philadelphias District Attorney two years ago. Hes successfully enacted sweeping reforms in part precisely because he is not a career prosecutor and brings a fresh perspective to the job.

The example Ms. Padgett-Macias chooses to illustrate my alleged ignorance of criminal law is illuminating, though not at all for the reason she suggests. The comments with which she takes issue concerning the seizure of vehicles owned by repeat DWI offenders were made in an online forum hosted by the Santa Fe County Federation of Democratic Women. As Ms. Padgett-Macias acknowledges, the City of Santa Fe has, in fact, seized the vehicles of repeat DWI offenders. I never suggested that any such program exists in Los Alamos County (or Rio Arriba County).

Whats most puzzling about Ms. Padgett-Macias comments is her apparent disagreement with the assertion that a repeat DWI offender the number used for illustration purposes was seven offenses is struggling with alcoholism. I know, and knew at the time of my comments, that the State imposes a mandatory minimum sentence for repeat DWI offenses. But I also know that incarceration has utterly failed to address the problem. The empirical evidence is simply irrefutable if incarceration solved the problem, we wouldnt have repeat DWI offenders of this magnitude. Without treatment, nothing changes. The refusal to recognize as much amounts to willful blindness to the root cause of what Ms. Padgett-Macias correctly identifies as a scourge of this District. While Ms. Carmack-Altwies has seemed in our limited interactions to agree that repeat DWI offenders will continue to be repeat offenders without treatment, Ms. Padgett-Macias letter now leaves me unsure. If we want to keep a person with seven DWIs from getting an eighth, were fooling ourselves if we think putting him or her in jail will accomplish that goal. Decades of experience tell us that it wont, and it is too bad that Ms. Padgett-Macias and her chosen candidate dont see that. Treating repeat DWIs with the utmost seriousness and determination, to use Ms. Padgett-Macias phrase, requires making our best attempt to prevent additional DWIs by the offender. That, in turn, requires treatment. Without it, it doesnt matter how long the term of incarceration is.

But the bigger issue with Ms. Padgett-Macias letter is that it ignores entirely the most important experience the elected District Attorney must have the ability to lead and manage the office. Ms. Carmack-Altwies has spent the last approximately year and a half managing four attorneys in one division in the office. During that time, at least one attorney under her supervision was sanctioned for failing to disclose evidence to a defendant within the time required by law.

For four years I supervised approximately 18 attorneys and staff members in the Litigation Division of the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office. The division handled the Attorney Generals litigation across the entire state and achieved great results for the state and its citizens. I learned quickly that my job as a manager was to make sure that the attorneys and staff in my division knew what the litigation and policy priorities of the office were, to make sure that they had the resources they needed to do their jobs, and to then get out of the way and let them do those jobs. On this point, Ms. Carmack-Altwies seemingly disagrees, telling the audience in a candidate forum hosted by the Los Alamos chapter of the League of Women Voters that the role of the District Attorney is, essentially, to tell the other attorneys in the office how to do their jobs. That kind of micromanagement is singularly ineffective.

The office needs leadership, and specifically the kind I provided at the Attorney Generals Office. It is leadership I look forward to having the opportunity to provide at the First Judicial District Attorneys Office as well.

Like Loading...

Related

Read the rest here:
Ability To Lead And Manage Matters In District Attorneys Office - Los Alamos Reporter

UK-based investor Tej Kohli and his wifecreated a foundation to improve the health of citizens throughout the world.His philanthropic efforts are second to none, and his foundation isaggressively working to cure corneal blindness. They intend to meet their goalof finding a cure by 2035.

He is also very interested in artificial intelligence. Because of cutting edge technology like Siri and Alexa, Kohli is projecting the industry to be $150 trillion. He has invested heavily in artificial intelligence in the same way an average person might invest in the stock market. Kohli envisions artificial intelligence contributing to the cure of blindness, which will improve the health of poor countries across the world.

Kohli and hisfamily live in London, and his community outreach has been beneficial to thepeople of the United Kingdom. He has developed a career spanning many industries and positivelyinfluencing many people.

Tej Kohli hasmany passions, but his strongest interest is in finding a cure for cornealblindness. He has devoted much of the efforts of his non-profit foundationtowards this cause. But, he and his wife have also led their foundation toprovide amenities such as education to the under-privileged. His legacy andimpact on the world is far-reaching.

The Kohlis haveused their own personal money to fund their foundation, and to add to thesupport of finding a cure. Without their resources, scientists would not be asclose to finding a cure as they are.

The majority ofpeople with visual impairments and blindness are living in some of the poorestcountries in the world. Curing blindness will go a long way towards improvingthe overall health and well-being of impoverished regions. This is trulyKohlis passion. He wants to use artificial intelligence to create a cure, andhe wants to use a cure to improve the health of citizens worldwide.

No good leaderwould be complete without also working as a mentor for the next generation.Kohli has this passion for mentoring young entrepreneurs. His company, KohliVentures, leads his entrepreneur endeavors. The focus of these efforts are ontechnological companies in areas like artificial intelligence and robotics, andhe has already led several young entrepreneurs in their endeavors in thesearenas.

He is relying onhis investment in artificial intelligence to directly affect the other causeshe cares about in global health. By improving robotics and computerintelligence, that can directly correlate to improving global health andpossibly curing corneal blindness. All of Kohlis interests tie together withan overall goal of improving global matters.

By investing in artificial intelligence, Kohli hopes to curediseases, which will in turn improve the quality of life throughout the world.

Aworld traveler and true global citizen, Tej Kohli lives full-time with his wifeand two children in London. In his free time, when he can break away from hisphilanthropic efforts, he also enjoys giving back to the community in London.

BY Elliot Preece - May 6, 2020

Related Articles

See the original post:
Tej Kohli Works to Improve Health of Impoverished Countries - FinancialNews.co.uk

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Val Sheffield is pivoting his research focus to find a way to test patients without using high demand cotton swabs.

University of Iowa Molecular Genetics Chair in the Carver College of Medicine Val Sheffield has made research breakthroughs in linking gene research and was recently named to a prestigious American research institutes class of 2020.

But amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheffield is pivoting his work to research an alternate way to test patients for novel coronavirus to alleviate a nationwide shortage of the parts in a COVID-19 test.

Sheffield and his team submitted a document April 1 to the FDA requesting emergency-use authorization to utilize a patient-sample collection method for COVID-19 testing.

My laboratory decided early on that we have the capability to help with [COVID-19] testing, Sheffield said. Testing is really important, but its behind where it should be because there arent enough official, FDA-approved swabs to collect samples from patients For the last month weve been trying to get FDA approval for our testing method where patients snort through the nose and spit into a tube, and the saliva sample is tested for the virus.

When the method is approved by the FDA, Sheffield said researchers can use it to test anyone. The most common coronavirus tests involve inserting a long cotton swab into a patients nostril. Sheffield anticipates beginning testing soon, with a limited number of patients in a study that will be the final step in getting FDA approval.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds launched Test Iowa, a partnership between the state and private technology companies Domo, Qualtrics, and NomiHealth. But, the Test Iowa equipment was pending certification by the State Hygienic Lab to run tests as of Friday.

In Iowa, tests are being prioritized for those over the age of 60, with chronic health conditions, are in the hospital, or live in congregate living facilities such as a nursing home.

Iowa has tested more than 63,000 people and reported more than 10,000 cases as of Wednesday. Reynolds is using widespread testing as a signal that the state can begin the steps of reopening, seemingly going against the advice of University of Iowa researchers, who concluded that a second wave of COVID-19 cases could emerge without precautions in place.

In late April, amid his shifting work, Sheffield was elected to the 2020 class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Sheffield began as a faculty member at the UI 30 years ago and contributes to campus clinical work and research. He started as an assistant professor and has since branched out to administrative work, instruction, and research. He served as the UI Division Director of Medical Genetics for 22 years and stepped down in January to spend more time on research.

RELATED: National registrar association awards Sarah Harris with honorary membership after 30 years at UI

Sheffield has co-authored 330 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and said he has found supportive and outstanding collaborators who have been pivotal to his researchs success in his time at the UI.

My research focuses on hereditary blindness, he said. Ive worked on identifying genes that play a role in hereditary blindness. More recently, my team and I have been focusing on figuring out mechanisms by which mutations cause disease and developing treatments.

Sheffield said that his election has reinforced his obligation to serve and help others with his science. This will continue to fuel his desire to work hard and continue to further his research, Sheffield said.

David Ginsburg, James V. Neel Distinguished university professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He first met Sheffield at the Howard Hughes Medical Institution.

Ginsburg said Sheffields research has been crucial to developing human genetic maps. Only a few academic scientists are elected to the U.S. organization a year, and Ginsburg said Sheffields election was well deserved.

Val is a fantastic physician scientist, Ginsburg said. Hes done landmark work figuring out what gene is defective for a whole variety of different, rare genetic diseases. He was one of the real pioneers tracking down these genes. He identified where the corresponding disease gene is located in our chromosomes for about 35 diseases When I was in medical school, we only knew the responsible gene for one human disease Today, we know the gene for about 6,000 human diseases, and Val was one of the early leaders in this work.

Ginsburg said he has seen how much members of the organization can grow once theyre inducted. Sheffield will be able to continue expanding his horizons in academia when he is inducted next spring, he added.

A big part of what drives what we do in academic medicine is interaction with colleagues and the new ideas that you get when meeting, talking, and interacting with colleagues in diverse fields, he said. Thats one of the greatest things the American Academy has to offer. I know it will give Val an opportunity to expand his research and intellectual contributions to the academic enterprise.

According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences website, the 240-year-old American Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded by John Adams and John Hancock and aims to recognize scholars and leaders in various disciplines. Sheffield joins 11 other Hawkeyes already in the organization, including UI Cardiovascular Research Chair and Professor Francois Abboud.

Abboud said Sheffield, who he has known since 1990, is an internationally recognized leader in the field of human molecular genetics and genomics as well as someone he admires.

[Sheffield] is more than a great scientist, Abboud said. Ive always been impressed by his true commitment to his patients. What drives his scientific research is his extraordinary commitment to the patients. Science is his true passion. He is a brilliant scientist and an even more remarkable person.

Excerpt from:
University of Iowa molecular genetics researcher studying COVID-19 testing methods to alleviate test shortages - UI The Daily Iowan

Photos courtesy Newark Venture Partners

Matt Smith gives a presentation on Speak2 Software's possibilities for seniors in long-term care facilities.

The COVID-19 crisis in New Jersey has create a layer of difficulty for those trying to communicate with their loved ones in long-term care facilities.

Speak2, an app-based system created by Newark-based Speak2 Software, feels it has a solution.

CEO Matt Smith said his firms technology, which takes advantage of Amazon Alexa-like technology, will enable families to easily communicate with loved ones.

The software is used at wellness community Sycamore Living in East Hanover and soon to be installed at Reformed Church Home in Old Bridge and a Sycamore Living in the Princeton area.

Smith said the technology can be a benefit long after the pandemic is over. Among other reasons, Smith said Speak2 helps connect families that struggle with technology. Its voice-activated messaging system is designed especially for those who struggle with devices or interfaces, such as blindness or physical handicaps, he said.

And Speak2s integrated voice technology integrates with a seniors address book, allowing them to connect with friends or family through voice command calls or speak-to-text functions, without the difficulty of locating or using a phone. Smith said users can ask for help and signal emergency services by simply saying so out loud no swiping, reading or screens required.

Matt Smith, CEO of Speak2 Software.

Smith, a former health care technology consultant, said he saw the need.

I noticed the struggles that some older people have with devices when my parents were aging, he said. We looked for solutions, but there were only things such as wellness portals, which werent much of a solution.

When Amazon Dot and Echo came along a device designed at a reasonable price point for consumers it didnt take long for its users to become comfortable with the technology. Soon after that, people were enjoying smart-home features such as Google Home.

Speak2 enables seniors to receive and listen to messages through voice activation. It also enables seniors to contact support staff at their facilities or from their homes.

Smith said his product has had a nice unintended consequence: increased communication from grandchildren.

Children are not always ones who will pick up the phone and call their grandparents, he said. But being able to do this by downloading our app, they can press a microphone button on the app and send well wishes or good news from the app on their phone. For example, Hey Grandpa, we won our soccer game today. Kids are much more willing to engage with an app.

Seniors receive activation notices that messages have arrived and can play them. The system also is compatible with Amazon Screens, so family and friends can send video messages.

Smith said the platform also connects to the communitys management, allowing residents to state specific issues or requests and routing commands to the intended teams or people, such as management, maintenance, nursing, etc.

Even more, it alerts families of these very same requests, so they know exactly what is going on with their loved ones. This not only enables more efficient management of resources, but it enables predictive analytics to drive better planning and staff behaviors.

The Speak2 system connects to unit thermostats, lights and electronics, eliminating the need for remotes and minimizing the risk of injury due to a fall. Seniors can also use voice commands to access entertainment through audio books or TV control and can set reminders for medications or appointments. The system can also be used to monitor movements in and out of certain areas to help track medical issues, like mobility, nutrition or lavatory visits.

Speak2 announced in April that it will be offering its voice technology platform for free to seniors living at home and in assisted living communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

Smith is eager to install his system in Old Bridge and Princeton, but state restrictions prevent him from entering those centers during the pandemic.

He said his software is ideal to use in hospitals, and it is soon to be HIPAA compliant. Amazon is in the process of making its devices HIPAA-compliant and, once that occurs (it is expected to happen by years end), Speak2 Software is positioned to conform as well.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the U.S., Reformed Church Home and Sycamore Senior Living have signed on for the free offering, receiving donated Echo Dot devices from Amazon.

Today, more than 250 seniors have access to the tech, Smith said. Regency Pacific, a national brand of senior communities, and English Meadows, a Virginia-based company with eight communities, previously rolled out Speak2 to their residents.

This has been particularly helpful at a time when most senior communities are prohibiting visitors due to health concerns, Smith said. Loneliness and mental health already impact senior citizens at disproportionate levels, so engagement during this time is critical.

Related

Originally posted here:
Newark company feels Speak2 software can help families better communicate with those in long-term care facilities - ROI-NJ.com