StemCell Therapy

FINDINGS

In a UCLA-led phase I clinical trial, a new plant-based drug called APG-157 showed signs of helping patients fight oral and oropharyngeal cancers. These cancers are located in the head and the neck.

APG-157 is made up of multiple compounds produced by plants, including curcumin. UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found that treatment with this botanical drug resulted in high concentrations of curcumin and its byproducts circulating in the blood and absorbed by tumor tissues within three hours after being taken orally.

APG-157 reduced the concentration of cytokines proteins involved in inflammation in the saliva when administered to cancer patients. The therapy also reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroides species, a group of gram-negative bacteria. Gram negative refers to a group of dangerous bacteria that have an outer layer which hides them from the immune system. The relative abundance of gram-negative bacteria compared to the presence of other types of bacteria is correlated with oral cancer.

APG-157 also resulted in the expression of genes that are associated with attracting immune system T cells to the tumor area. This therapy could have a beneficial effect when used in combination with immunotherapy drugs that help immune system T cells recognize and kill tumors.

The treatment did not have any adverse effects on the studys participants.

Cancers of the head and neck account for 4% of all cancers. About 650,000 new cases are reported each year around the world. People with advanced head and neck cancers have a low survival rate and current treatment options such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy can have adverse effects. Therefore, more effective and less toxic therapies are needed to help improve the quality of life and outcome for those with these cancers.

APG-157 is a botanical drug developed under the FDAs Botanical Drug Guidance, which includes requirements for production of plant-based therapies that are marketed as prescription medications. The drug is made up of botanical compounds including curcumin from the Curcuma longa plant, which is commonly referred to as turmeric and is a member of the ginger family.

Curcumin is one of the medicinally active or therapeutic molecules that has been tested as a possible treatment to help fight multiple cancers because it is an antioxidant that reduces swelling and inflammation. However, there is poor absorption into the bloodstream when curcumin is taken orally. In this study, UCLA researchers found that when APG-157 is taken through oral mucosal absorption, patients have high levels of curcumin circulating in their blood and absorbed by cancer tissues.

UCLA researchers conducted the study of APG-157 comparing 12 people who had oral and oropharyngeal cancer with a control group of 13 people who did not have cancer. The reason both the people with cancer and without cancer were part of the study was to show that the drug was not toxic to either people with cancer or those without cancer.

The medication was given each hour for three hours and was delivered as a lozenge that slowly dissolved in the mouth. Blood and saliva samples were collected beforehand each of the three hours the medication was administered and 24 hours after the last dosage. The medication was given to 12 people (some who had cancer and some who did not) and a placebo was given to 13 people. Blood and electrocardiogram tests did not show increased toxicity in the people who took the active medication in comparison with the people who took the placebo, regardless of whether they had cancer or not.

For the cancer patients who took the medication, there was a decrease in Bacteroides and an increase in T cells in the tumor tissue as compared to cancer patients who took the placebo. Neither the subjects nor the investigators knew whether the drug or a placebo was given when reviewing the blood and saliva test results of the blinded study.

APG-157 is a botanical drug that has low toxicity. It works effectively to reduce inflammation that contributes to the growth of cancer cells. It also attracts T cells to the tumor micro-environment. When used in combination with immunotherapy drugs, APG-157 might have the ability to make the immune system more effective in attacking head and neck cancers. With potential to inhibit the growth of Bacteroides species, APG-157 could also improve cancer therapy through oral microbial changes.

Dr. Marilene Wang from UCLA was the corresponding author. Other UCLA authors include: Saroj Basak, Alexander Yoon, Marco Morselli, Chan Jeong, Anela Tosevska, Tien Dong, Hassan Nasser, Venu Lagishetty, Rong Guo, Dipti Sajed, Kym Faull, Jonathan Jacobs, Matteo Pellegrini, Daniel Sanghoon Shin and Eri Srivatsan. Authors from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Maryland and Aveta Biomics also participated in the study.

The research is published in CANCER, a journal published by the American Cancer Society.

Funding for the study was provided by Aveta Biomics.

Authors Parag Mehta, Sharmila Mudgal and Luis Avila are employed by Aveta Biomics. They had no role in the recruitment of people for this study or the collection and analyses of the samples. They, as with all the authors, did not have any information on the subjects, therapy or placebo given until completion of the study.

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Botanical drug is shown to help patients with head and neck cancers - UCLA Newsroom

If you watch the news you have likely heard of the Coronavirus outbreak. The 12th US case of coronavirus reported in Wisconsin today.The 2019-nCoV outbreak has led to nearly 25,000 illnesses and 500 deaths in mainland China, as well as more than 200 illnesses and two deaths outside of mainland China.

What is the Coronavirus?

Symptoms of the new coronavirus include fever, cough and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC.It's estimated that symptoms may appear as soon as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure, the CDC said. The NEJM study published on Jan. 29 estimated that, on average, people show symptoms about five days after they are infected.

How can you protect yourself and others?

In general, the CDC recommends the following to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with people who are sick; stay home when you are sick and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Strengthen your immune system. There are several ways to boost your own immunity in order to protect your health.

Nourish Your Body. It is important to be consciously aware of what you are putting in your body daily. Incorporating certain foods to your daily diet can boost the overall immune system for your body. A balanced diet is the most important factor to build a strong immune system. Also, eat lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, which will give your body nutrients and fulfill your immune system needs.We all should make sure to keep our diet in check and in doing so this can prepare the bodyto have a higher immunity to fight off any outside threats.Consult your doctor to learn what is best for your personal blood and specific body type.

Stay Active. It is always good to keep your blood flowing and exercise daily. Taking time to go for a walk, or jump rope, or even stretch can not only boost your overall body health but also provide mental clarity and reduce stress levels.

Stay Hydrated. Drinking natural spring water or organic herbal teas have several health benefits. The best time is in the morning when you wake up or in the evening before bed. Do your own studying for this topic as you all already know discoveries are made daily and it's important to stay informed.

Essential oils including sage for cough or sore throat, also helps with other respiratory issues. Oregano oil has a high amount of vitamin and nutrients thus to strengthen the immune system, mint has antioxidants that can aid in the process of boosting an immunity to prepare the body for fighting off any outside threats to the overall health of the body.

Life is a giftand everyday we have an opportunity to grow healthier andhappier. Remember to pray, stay humble, repent and be grateful for every breath of fresh air. Lets all take moment to pray away any other forms of a virus that could cause harm to humanity, power of prayer.

Blessings of Peace for Prosperity of Spirituality.

_____________

All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider.

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Coronavirus has reached the US Now what? | Health & Wellness - CL Charlotte

As the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-2019) has become an alarming global pandemic, with two cases now being reported in the Philippines, taking precautions towards ones health and wellbeing has become essential. Besides not being able to report to work, the risky possibility of infecting others is also there.

Apart from having frequently clean hands through regular washing, plus avoiding close contact with anyone who has fever and cough, one effective way to avoid falling ill is by boosting your immune system. And while a cure for 2019-nCoV is still being developed; thankfully, there exists a natural, scientifically-proven method of immune system strengtheningthe intake of coconut oil!

According to a paper entitled The Potential of Coconut Oil as an Effective and Safe Antiviral Agent Against the Novel Coronavirus (nCov-2019) authored by Fabian M. Dayrit, Ph.D, of the Ateneo de Manila University, and Mary T. Newport, M.D., of Springhill Nematology of Florida, USA, they have confirmed what has been known for many years: that Lauric acid (C12), a medium-chain fatty acid which makes up about 50% of coconut oil, and its derivative, monolaurin, a metabolite that is naturally produced by the bodys own enzymes upon ingestion of coconut oil and is also available in pure form as a supplement, possesses significant antiviral activity.

Specifically, Sodium lauryl sulfate, a common surfactant that is made from lauric acid, has been shown to have potent antiviral properties. Coconut oil and its derivatives have been shown to be safe and effective antiviral compounds in both humans and animals, both eminent authors state. They therefore suggest that Coconut Oil be considered as a general prophylactic against viral and microbial infection.

On a consumer level, what then are the best sources of C12 Lauric Acid? Theres coconut cooking oil which has 45% Lauric Acid; Coconut milk which has 15-25%; Desiccated Coconut and whole coconuts which have 16%; and Virgin Coconut Oil or VCO which has 45% Lauric Acid + Polyphenol antioxidants.

Of course, it is worth stressing that not all VCOs are created equal. The VCO you take has to be USDA certifiedorganic, non-GMO, unbleached and unrefined, and should not be deodorized. For this, theres only ProSource products!

Founded in 1995, ProSource International now readily serves customers in North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe, providing an extensive range of the highest quality organic and conventional coconut products, all Halal and Kosher certified, and manufactured under GMP and HACCP systems.

Among the healthful products you can enjoy include ProSource Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, NUCO Coconut Crunch, a grain-free cereal, and NUCO Coconut Wraps that come in original, cinnamon, turmeric and moringa flavors!

For more information, visitprosourcecoconut.comor their Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/ProSourceVCO/.

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Give your immune system a boost with ProSource Virgin Coconut Oil and Nuco coconut-based products - Business Mirror

From inside FirstHealths Clara McLean House blares James Browns I Feel Good.

Who feels good in here? asks a bubbly Rachel Shell, MT-BC, of her troupe of men and women, all with Parkinsons disease. As the song progresses, Shell leads them to march their feet, swing their arms to the beat and sing along, if they choose.

Next on the playlist is New York, New York by Frank Sinatra with instructions for participants to kick up their legs while seated. I see some Rockette wannabes in here, Shell cajoles.

A dance party? Perhaps, but this party has specific purposes.

People with Parkinsons disease often experience muscle freezing and have a difficult time initiating movement, says Shell. As humans, we are naturally rhythmic beings and the rhythmic beat of music helps patients with Parkinsons move more naturally and easily. Shell is a certified music therapist and owner of Birdsong Music Therapy who was hired by FirstHealth of the Carolinas to complement patients overall health care plans.

The use of music as a healing influence began as early as 500 B.C. but the idea took hold as a profession when community musicians played at the bedsides of World War I and World War II veterans who suffered from physical and emotional trauma. The patients improvement was so notable that doctors requested their hospitals hire musicians.

As demand among health care providers grew, so did empirical evidence proving that music therapy can help alleviate numerous physical and emotional issues, including pain, impaired speech and mobility, depression, short-term memory loss and much more.

Now board-certified music therapists are recognized health care professionals who use music activities, both instrumental and vocal, to facilitate changes that are not musical in nature.

Music therapy can be wonderful for patients who are experiencing pain and symptoms that are difficult to control through traditional medical interventions, reports Shell, a Moore County native and Pinecrest High School graduate who earned a bachelors degree in music therapy from Queens University in Charlotte. Because music therapy is a non-invasive and non-threatening medium, unique outcomes are possible for individuals of all ages.

Music therapy got its official start at FirstHealth in 2017 as an outgrowth of the health care systems Parkinsons Support Group of the Sandhills.

We learned that music can be beneficial for individuals with Parkinsons, so we asked Rachel to start a monthly program here, said Laura Kuzma, MSW, former Foundation for FirstHealth Volunteer and Care NET coordinator and current Oncology Support Services and Patient Navigation supervisor. When Rachel started the programs, FirstHealth didnt have much experience in music therapy. But when we saw her in action, we realized just how powerful music can be and how it positively affects patients and their caregivers.

Kuzma noted that patients who came in with difficulty speaking, moving and remembering left with significant improvementso much so that many were talking, singing and dancing. They also enjoyed a meaningful social outlet.

Now in addition to a monthly music therapy session for patients with Parkinsons, Shell conducts Claras Choir for individuals with Parkinsons, dementia and aphasia, a language impairment that affects patients ability to produce or comprehend speech.

We have so much fun, said Shell. It looks like were just singing, but were really connecting with each other and working through some speech and cognitive challenges. Plus, with all the good neurochemicals were producing, were also fighting the blues and promoting a healthy immune system. There are so many benefits of singing with others.

Rachel is gifted in making music meaningful for our patients, their caregivers and our staff, said Kathryn McEntire, Foundation of FirstHealth program coordinator at Claras House. After seeing how music impacted patients with Parkinsons, Kuzma and McEntire asked Shell to assist in other areas of the health care system. Now Shell assists patients, families and the nursing staff at FirstHealth Hospice and provides stress management services for nurses during National Nurses Week.

Most recently Shell started singing weekly at the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center in Pinehurst, where cancer survivor Nancy Scaggs receives monthly treatments to support her immune system.

I always enjoy my time at the Cancer Center because everyone is so sweet, said the Pinehurst resident. But one day I just wasnt feeling tip-top. My nurse-friends asked if I wanted a nice lady to come sing. Normally I would have agreed but I declined. Then I heard someone playing Country Roads on the guitar and knew I had to meet her. The native West Virginian and Shell crooned numerous songs together, mainly Scaggs requests for Motown hits. We had the best time, said Scaggs. I just love her.

Shell noted that music is a great people connector. Once at the outpatient cancer center I was playing an Elvis tune, and that got patients, family members and staff throughout the floor talking about their favorite Elvis hits. She said the lively conversation continued long after she left. They might not have started talking if it werent for Elvis, Shell quipped.

Music therapy at FirstHealth is funded by the Foundation of FirstHealth, the health care systems division that envisions and guides philanthropy programs and activities. Health care budgets are tight and its difficult to determine whats essential, said Foundation President Kathy Stockham. Thats the leverage the Foundation offers. We can fund small pilot projects to see what works, and music therapy certainly does.

What Rachel offers today is just the start of how FirstHealth would like to incorporate music therapy as an everyday modality of care, said Stockham, noting a particular goal of offering music therapy throughout the new, four-story comprehensive cancer center to be built on Page Road in Pinehurst. Thanks to financial gifts from the community, the Foundation can help make that happen. This is a community effort.

Music therapy allows us to help not just patients, but their families and our own staff. Its a natural extension of FirstHealths mission to care for people, said McEntire. We just need five more Rachels.

For information about the Parkinsons Support Group of the Sandhills, Claras Choir or music therapy offered at FirstHealth of the Carolinas, go to https://www.firsthealth.org/clara-mclean-house/programs-services-patient-support-groups-advocacy, email Kathryn McEntire at KMcEntire@firsthealth.org or call (910) 715-4230.

Courtesy feature photo: Rachel Shell, MT-BC, certified music therapist and Nancy Scaggs, a patient at the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center.

Contributed

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'Dance Parties' at Clara's House serve as welcome therapy for Parkinson's patients - Sandhill Sentinel

Strengthening the immunity is a very important thing. In order to be in top shape, healthy, strong, cheerful, energetic and maximally productive, we must take care of our mind and body. For our organism to work as a perfect mechanism, we must keep an eye on its parts and take care of every beat. For the perfect pulse, a resistant and healthy organism, it is necessary to provide the body with strong immunity.

The function of the immune system is to protect the body from all factors that could impair our health. With a severely damaged immune system, no one can survive despite the treatment with the most effective antibiotics. On this occasion, research scientist and structural biologist Douglas Rosenthal shares some helpful ways to strengthen your immune system and fight off disease.

Doug Rosenthal conducts research studies of the molecules that form cells and pathogens. He focuses on how pathogens infect and cause disease by producing virulence factors that target host cell molecules.

Immune system function. Why is it so important?

The immune system is activated every time a foreign body or organism is found in the human body. These are usually microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) as well as pollution particles or toxins, and we call these factors antigens. There are millions of antigens that can even have slight differences between them, which are recognized by the immune system and triggered by a response called the immune response. It is a very important task of this system to remember foreign matter and distinguish it from those belonging to the human body.

Immunity is the ability of an organism to defend itself by its mechanisms against viruses, infections, bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. As biologist Douglas Rosenthal says, there are several types of immunity, naturally acquired, artificially acquired, active and passive.

Naturally acquired immunity is one that the baby inherits from the mother, that is, antibodies that, during pregnancy, the mother transmits via the placenta to the fetus or via milk to the infant.

Artificially acquired immunity is an artificially enhanced organism to fight disease, that is, to inject antibodies that are introduced into the body, for example through vaccination.

Active immunity is created and renewed throughout life. For example, when a virus invades the body, the body creates cells that remember the body's defense response to that virus, and the next time the same virus attacks the body, the body already knows how to defend itself (healing diseases).

Passive immunity is an antibody transfer but it is not long lasting. Artificially made immunity is resorted to when there is a high risk that, for example, a particular virus will invade an organism, and there is not enough time for the organism to generate antibodies for defense itself.

How to strengthen your immunity in the best way

Above all, one should pay attention to lifestyle. Enough sleep - at least eight hours, regular physical but well-chosen activity, preferably three times a week, staying in nature, relaxing with loved ones, eliminating stress, enough water intake, recommended dose at least 8 glasses a day.

Listening to and taking care of your body is certainly a real weapon against the wicked enemies that lurk every moment of weakness to attack our bodies.

Being in harmony with immunity

According to researcher Douglas Rosenthal, the individual part must always be connected to the whole, if the whole is not right, its parts will suffer. To cure the disease is primarily to enable the body as a whole, or ideally, to function in accordance with its environment. In order to get the best recipes and guidelines, instructions and recommendations, it is necessary to monitor your body's signals and consult with a professional for further steps.

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Douglas Rosenthal on Strengthening the Immune System - Patch.com

By Eleni Sakellis January 24, 2020

Spinach salad. Photo: By cyclonebill, via Wikimedia Commons

Foods that boost your immune system can help keep you healthy all year long, even in the midst of cold and flu season. Simple, nutrient-rich foods, full of anti-oxidants that fight free radicals support immune health. The gut is also a major part of the bodys immune system and keeping the gut healthy contributes to our overall health and well-being. A balanced diet and moderate exercise are not only good for you, they help you feel better as well, even if the long, dark winter is getting you down. Try the following recipes to help keep your immune system in top condition. For those who unfortunately do come down with cold or flu symptoms, consult your physician.

Healthy Smoothie

1 cup fresh baby spinach3/4 cup frozen green grapes1/2 cup brewed green tea, cooled1 medium ripe kiwi, peeled and chopped1 sprig fresh mint leaves1/2 medium apple, cored and chopped

Add the spinach, grapes, green tea, kiwi, mint, and chopped apple to the bowl of a blender. Blend until smooth, adding water if needed for the desired consistency.

Spinach and Feta Salad with Walnuts

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped1 lemon1/4 cup Greek extra virgin olive oil1 package fresh, pre-washed baby spinach1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced1/2 cup crumbled fetaGreek sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Toast the walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat, stirring for about two minutes until their fragrance is released, careful not to burn them. Transfer to a plate to cool slightly. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the juice of half the lemon and the olive oil. Add the spinach, apple slices, walnuts, salt and pepper to taste and toss to coat with lemon and olive oil. Add additional lemon juice to taste, if preferred. Serve immediately.

Healthy Fruit Salad

Apples, choppedOranges, peeled and sectionedKiwis, peeled and dicedPineapple, choppedGrapesPomegranate seeds2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint, optionalGreek yogurt, optional

Place the cut fruits in a large bowl and mix carefully to combine. Add the grapes, cutting in half if they happen to be very large, stir and garnish the top with pomegranate seeds and fresh mint, if using. For adults only, add half or a whole bottle of white wine or champagne for special occasions, and stir. Let the fruit salad marinade for half an hour or refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Stir before serving in individual bowls, spooning some of the liquid over the top. Any leftover juices and wine make for a refreshing drink. For more Greek flavor, serve with Greek yogurt for extra protein. If preferred, top with your favorite flavor of ice cream and enjoy as a sundae.A diversity of fruits in your fruit salad adds complexity and interest, not to mention vital phytonutrients to your diet. Use about a cup of fruit per person to determine the amount of fruit you will need for your salad. The fruits listed in the recipe are suggestions, so choose your favorites and enjoy.

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Food to Boost Your Immune System and Fight the Flu - The National Herald

KUALA LUMPUR: As international scientists and medical experts strive to find a cure and vaccine for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov), there is also a need for Malaysians to play their part by strengthening their immune system.

Boosting the immune system would help the body fight viruses and bacterial attacks, said Malaysian Medical Association president Dr N. Ganabaskaran.

He said Malaysians should practise good eating habits and choose food that strengthened the immune system.

He said a strong immune system could reduce the risks of viral and bacteria infections.

The immune system can help the body fight infections caused by viruses and speed up the recovery process after an infection.

The immune system is the bodys defence against infectious organisms and other invaders.

The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body.

However, Dr Ganabaskaran, said everyones immune system was different due to factors such as age, eating habits and lifestyle.

Thus, it is important to make sure that our immune system is strong and fit to fight.

One of the most important vitamins that boosts the immune system is Vitamin C.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr N. Ganabaskaran. - NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH

A lack of Vitamin C can make you more prone to getting sick.

Then we have Vitamin B6, which is vital in supporting biochemical reactions in the immune system, and thirdly, Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that aids the body to fight off infections.

He stressed the importance of getting enough vitamins for a stronger immune system.

He said a healthy diet and adequate consumption of vitamins were essential for a strong immune system.

Consuming food that boost the immune system was encouraged in light of the influenza and 2019 n-CoV outbreak, he said.

He said food that boost the immune system included green vegetables, dairy products, kiwi fruit, lemons and oranges, as well as nuts like almonds and cashew, which were high in vitamins and antioxidants.

Even cooked poultry and shellfish are important immune boosters due to the protein and zinc they provide. It is also advisable to avoid consuming half-cooked or raw food for a while.

Shellfish that are high in zinc include crab, clams, lobster and mussels. However, observe the daily recommended amount (11mg for men and 8mg for women). Too much zinc can inhibit the immune system. Deficiencies in Vitamin D may lead to poor bone growth, cardiovascular problems and a weak immune system.

Choose supplements that contain D3 (cholecalciferol), since its good for raising your blood levels of Vitamin D.

Nutritionist Dr Sareena Hanim Hamzah said a balanced diet comprising carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, as well drinking enough water, were essential to boosting the immune system.

Fruits and vegetables of various colours are important for the body to replenish and strengthen ones immunity. Fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin C, E and antioxidants that can enhance the immune system to fight against infections and pathogens.

She said citrus fruits and berries were among the best for strengthening the immune system. For vegetables, she recommended bell peppers, broccoli and spinach.

However, consumption must be in moderation.

Generally, people without any underlying health issues will not be affected by slightly higher intake, but for people who may have pre-existing health conditions or have had medical procedures done, for example to the heart, its best to consult a nutritionist for a customised regime.

Sareena said besides fruits and vegetables with high Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, seeds were also essential for boosting the immune system.

For instance, she said, sunflower seeds had phosphorous, magnesium and Vitamin B6.

Vitamin E is important for regulating and maintaining immune system function. Other foods with high Vitamin E include avocados, dark leafy greens and nuts.

Based on scientific research from around the world, garlic, ginger, dark chocolate and green tea are also good for the body, she said, adding that Vitamin D and probiotics from yogurt improved the immune system.

Vitamins B6 from poultry and foods with Vitamin D were recommended, she said.

Sareena urged people to practise good eating habits and stay away from processed food.

Same thing applies to high-sugar food and drinks as they may act just the opposite and accumulate unnecessary fats or lead to other medical problems.

To stay fit and have a strong immune system, people should complement a good diet with frequent or regular exercise for the best results.

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'Make sure immune system is strong and fit to fight' - New Straits Times

Jounce Therapeutics (NASDAQ:JNCE) is a biotech that should be on your radar in the coming weeks. That's because it is set to present new data from the ICONIC trial for its vopratelimab drug to treat patients with advanced solid tumors. This presentation will pretty much show why an RNA signature was selected to become a predictive biomarker for the potential of improved clinical outcomes in cancer patients. With such data on hand, there is an ability to initiate the phase 2 SELECT study in 2020 to use vopratelimab in combination with its other PD-1 inhibitor product known as JTX-4014. Besides this mid-stage SELECT study, there is another trial ongoing known as EMERGE. Both of these studies provide shots on goal for the monoclonal antibody of vopratelimab. A few catalysts in 2020 could help boost the value of the stock.

Why I believe that Jounce Therapeutics is a good speculative biotech is because of its approach to using a predictive RNA signature biomarker to potentially help increase clinical response rates in patients with certain types of cancer. I am taking the stance that future immunotherapy products are leaning more towards biomarker targeted drugs. That's why Jounce intends to initiate a phase 2 study with vopratelimab in mid-2020 known as SELECT. The basis of this study is that a predictive RNA signature biomarker will help choose only those patients who are to likely respond to treatment. I'm not bullish on this speculative biotech only because of the predictive biomarker approach being deployed in this study. It is also because along with the use of vopratelimab, Jounce intends to add into the mix its mid-stage ready PD-1 inhibitor asset known as JTX-4014. The data to be presented at the ASCO-SITC 2020 conference, taking place between February 6th through the 8th, will display the biomarker RNA signature of ICOS hi CD4 T-cells to be described below. Specifically, from the ICONIC study. What's the rational reason for deploying such a study? That's because in a prior phase 1 study, known as ICONIC, it was shown that patients were able to show a benefit against multiple measures when using vopratelimab alone or in combination with another PD-1 inhibitor known as Opdivo (nivolumab). Such positive measures observed were:

The main mechanism of action for vopratelimab (monoclonal antibody) is that it binds to T-cells and activates "Inducible T-cell Co-Stimulator", thus the name ICOS. ICOS is a protein that is found on the surface of certain T-cells. What's important to note, which is shown above, is that ICOS only activates what is known as ICOS hi CD4 T-cells. These ICOS hi CD4 T-cells are the predictive biomarker to be deployed for the SELECT study. This brings up another point in that vopratelimab only engages CD4 T-cells and not CD8 T-cells. Why is that important? That's because CD4 T-cells are known to elicit a more robust response, while CD8 T-cells are not as keen. One other fact is that CD4 T-cells are known as helper cells, and they stimulate other immune cells in the body. They offer an adaptive immune response in both helping suppress and/or regulate immune responses. The initiation of the phase 2 SELECT study will be an important milestone for Jounce, which I believe will be a catalyst for the stock. The presentation of biomarker data at the ASCO-SITC 2020 conference will act as another catalyst. The mid-stage SELECT study will be initiated in mid-2020. From there, interim results from this study won't be released until 2021.

There is another shot on goal with the use of vopratelimab. This is a phase 2 study known as EMERGENCE, which had already been initiated in June of 2019. What's different about the EMERGENCE study is that it doesn't include a biomarker like the phase 2 SELECT study noted above. In other words, this is more of a broad approach to treating patients with cancer. Having said that, it doesn't get away from the main mechanism of action of vopratelimab, which is inducing ICOS hi CD4 T-cells to kill cancer cells. This phase 2 EMERGENCE study is going to be using the combination of vopratelimab + Yervoy (ipilimumab). Wait a second, why the need for Yervoy to be incorporated into this study? That's because Yervoy is an anti-CTLA4 inhibitor. It attaches to cancer cells and inhibits the CTLA4 response, which in essence helps boost the immune response against target cancer cells. There is another item that Yervoy does which is crucial and lines up with the mechanism of action of vopratelimab. It also induces ICOS hi T-cells like vopratelimab. Thus, the two products together each have a goal in this study:

So Yervoy acts like the launcher of inducing ICOS hi, and then vopratelimab is responsible for increasing such activity and then letting it sustain for a longer period of time. I believe such a mechanism has the chance to exhibit a more sustained durable response for cancer patients. This phase 2 study is being tested in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and urothelial cancer. It is expected that efficacy and biomarker data from the EMERGE study will be revealed by the 2nd half of 2020.

According to the 10-Q SEC Filing, Jounce Therapeutics had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $185.1 million as of September 30, 2019. The company believes that it will have a gross cash burn between $80 million and $95 million for 2020. The company believes it has enough cash on hand to fund its operations into the second half of 2021. In my opinion, this is just an estimate. I think that once it initiates the phase 2 SELECT study, along with possibly advancing other early-stage studies, it is possible that the gross cash burn rate could increase. Another possible scenario is that it may choose to raise cash after positive data is released. When a company's stock trades higher on the back of positive clinical data, biotechs tend to take advantage with an immediate cash raise.

While some good preliminary data came from the phase 1 ICONIC study using vopratelimab in solid tumors was achieved, it is important to note that it is still in early-stage studies. There is no guarantee that the biomarker data to be presented at the ASCO-SITC 2020 conference is going to be highly positive. If that's the case, then it could be a non-event type of a catalyst. The other phase 2 studies noted above, EMERGE and SELECT still have a way to go before data is released for either of those. As for the EMERGE study, clinical data is not expected until the second half of 2020. The SELECT study has yet to be initiated and is not expected to begin until mid-2020. This means that in the short-term, it's quite possible that the stock could trade lower until such data is revealed.

Jounce Therapeutics is looking to take a differentiated approach with the use of its monoclonal antibody vopratelimab. As I laid out above, both phase 2 studies shown above will have one thing in common. That is the mechanism of action of vopratelimab in being able to induce ICOS hi T-cell responses to improved multiple measures in patients with cancer. One approach is to use Yervoy in combination with vopratelimab to accomplish this task. The other approach in the SELECT study is the use of a biomarker (ICOS hi T-cell population to benefit from treatment) and the addition of Jounce's very own PD-1 inhibitor JTX-4014. I believe that Jounce Therapeutics has a good shot to increase clinical outcomes for several cancer patient populations. Thus, I view it as a good speculative buy.

This article is published by Terry Chrisomalis, who runs the Biotech Analysis Central pharmaceutical service on Seeking Alpha Marketplace. If you like what you read here and would like to subscribe to, I'm currently offering a two-week free trial period for subscribers to take advantage of. My service offers a deep-dive analysis of many pharmaceutical companies. The Biotech Analysis Central SA marketplace is $49 per month, but for those who sign up for the yearly plan will be able to take advantage of a 33.50% discount price of $399 per year.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Originally posted here:
Jounce Should Be On Your Radar With Differentiated Approach To Activating Immune System - Seeking Alpha

Q: What is immunotherapy, and what kinds of cancer can it treat?

A: Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that activates a patients immune system to identify and destroy diseases such as cancer.

Immunotherapy is the future of cancer care, said Dr. Theodoros Teknos, president and scientific director of the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and deputy director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This type of treatment is being used to fight a number of cancers of the blood and solid organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries and uterus. It has been shown most effective in lymphomas, leukemias, melanoma and lung cancer, Teknos said.

The Cleveland Clinic annually treats a few dozen patients with immunotherapy vaccines, the health system said.

Some patients who undergo immunotherapy treatments see their cancerous tumors disappear, said Dr. Dale Shepard, medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinics Taussig Cancer Center.

A 2019 clinical trial suggested that immunotherapy could give some men with advanced prostate cancer who have exhausted all other treatment options two years or more of life.

UH and the Cleveland Clinic are using these therapies to treat cancer and conducting clinical trials of new immunotherapies. MetroHealth System is holding clinical trials of a new form of immunotherapy for women with recurrent cervical cancer.

UH is the only Midwest site taking part in a new clinical trial investigating the use of immunotherapy on glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. The trial uses a modified polio virus to target tumor cells and kill them directly, and create an anti-tumor immune response to kill additional tumors.

This is the hottest area of research, Teknos said.

A patients age has no bearing on how well immunotherapy will work, Shepard said. He gave the example of former President Jimmy Carter, who at age 95 is being treated with immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy holds great promise, but it has limitations. The treatments can be used for only some types of cancer, and can come with severe side effects. Costs also can spiral north of $100,000.

Here are some often-used types of immunotherapy:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Cancer cells secrete a protein that turns off the immune system. Checkpoint drugs allow the bodys immune system to identify cancer cells and fight them, Teknos said.

Checkpoint inhibitors take the tumors Invisibility Cloak off, UHs Teknos said, using a Harry Potter reference.

Checkpoint inhibitors currently on the market include the brands Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) and Opdivo (Nivolumab).

Checkpoint inhibitors hold the potential for very, very good and long-lasting responses, Shepard said. Chemotherapy typically will not do that.

CAR-T cell therapy

Bodies fight infection using a type of immune cell called T cells. CAR-T-cell therapy works by removing T-cells from a patients blood and modifying them in a laboratory to chimeric antigen receptors (CAR). These altered T-cells are returned to the patients body, where they recognize and destroy cancer cells.

They go out and seek tumors, Shepard said.

Cancer vaccines

Some types of anti-cancer vaccines target specific proteins found on cancer tumors. This type of anti-cancer vaccine has to be specially tailored for a specific patient.

FDA-approved vaccines include Provenge (sipuleucel-T), which is infused through an IV, for prostate cancer, the Clinic said. Another anti-cancer vaccine is talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) for melanoma; it is injected into the tumor.

Other anti-cancer vaccines utilize viruses that grow inside tumors and cause the cancerous cells to break apart. This allows the bodys immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

There are serious risks

Immunotherapy isnt always successful. Some patients see their tumors shrink, but others see no response, or their tumor increases in size, Shepard said.

We dont know how to tell whos who, Shepard said.

Theres evidence that in some cases, ramped-up immune systems created by these therapies attack healthy organs, according to a 2016 New York Times article.

Studies suggest that severe reactions occur nearly 20% of the time with certain drugs, and in more than half of patients when some drugs are used in combination.

Patient deaths led Seattle-based Juno Theraputics to permanently shut down its clinical trial of an immunotherapy to treat acute lymphoblasic leukemia in adults, according to a 2017 Seattle Times article. Five patients in the trials died, but the fifth death could not be tied to the trial. Juno Theraputics did not respond to requests for comment.

Expensive care

Because immunotherapy treatments are time-consuming to make, and sometimes must be personalized for individual patients, they often cost more than $100,000 per patient.

When the therapies are used in combination, costs can double or triple, according to the online publication Vox. For example, CAR-T is $350,000 to $500,000 per treatment, Teknos said.

Private health insurance companies sometimes wont cover immunotherapy costs, even if a physician recommends the treatment, according to Vox. Copays are so high that they put the treatment out of reach for most people, the article said.

Medicare doesnt cover the costs of Keytruda or Optivo, according to GoodRx.

When immunotherapy is given to a hospital inpatient, it is included under the diagnosis-related group payment system used to determine hospital payments, a Medicare spokesman said. Local Medicare administrators determine Medicare coverage for outpatient immunotherapy treatments.

Further reading

More detail about Medicare coverage of immunotherapy

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)

This professional society for the advancement of immunotherapy offers a 40-page booklet free to download.

Cancer.Net

Additional information on immunotherapy in each cancer-specific section.

GoodRx lists patient assistance programs for Opdivo.

ResearchMatch

This is an NIH-funded free registry for people trying to find research studies to join.

Recent Health Matters columns by Julie Washington:

Hospitals say leave meds at home; readers say otherwise

Where to get help paying your medical bill

Tips for a smooth transition to a skilled nursing facility

Local celebrities share their healthy 2020 resolutions: Health Matters

Creating healthy habits for 2020: Health Matters

Shingles vaccine and virus: What you need to know: Health Matters

In her column, patient advocacy writer Julie Washington will answer readers questions about navigating health-care systems. (She will not address individual treatments.) Your comments may be published in a future story or column. Send questions and comments for publication including your name, city and daytime phone number to jwashington@plaind.com. You can also find Julie on Twitter @JulieEWash.

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Immunotherapy called the future of cancer care, but not without risks, costs: Health Matters - cleveland.com

Work has begun at multiple organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, to develop a vaccine for this new strain of coronavirus, known among scientists as 2019-nCoV.

Scientists are just getting started working, but their vaccine development strategy will benefit both from work that has been done on closely related viruses, such as SARS and MERS, as well as advances that have been made in vaccine technologies, such as nucleic acid vaccines, which are DNA- and RNA-based vaccines that produce the vaccine antigen in your own body.

No, but work was ongoing for other closely related coronaviruses that have caused severe disease in humans, namely MERS and SARS.

Scientists had not been concerned about this particular strain, as we did not know that it existed and could cause disease in humans until it started causing this outbreak.

Work on vaccines for severe coronaviruses has historically begun once the viruses start infecting humans.

Given that this is the third major outbreak of a new coronavirus that we have had in the past two decades and also given the severity of disease caused by these viruses, we should consider investing in the development of a vaccine that would be broadly protective against these viruses.

This work involves designing the vaccine constructs for example, producing the right target antigens, viral proteins that are targeted by the immune system, followed by testing in animal models to show that they are protective and safe.

Once safety and efficacy are established, vaccines can advance into clinical trials in humans. If the vaccines induce the expected immune response and protection and are found safe, they can be mass produced for vaccination of the population.

Currently, we lack virus isolates or samples of the virus to test the vaccines against. We also lack antibodies to make sure the vaccine is in good shape. We need the virus in order to test if the immune response induced by the vaccine works.

Also, we need to establish what animals to test the vaccine on. That potentially could include mice and nonhuman primates.

Vaccine development will likely take months.

We expect that these types of outbreaks will occur for the foreseeable future in irregular intervals.

To try to prevent large outbreaks and pandemics, we need to improve surveillance in both humans and animals worldwide as well as invest in risk assessment, allowing scientists to evaluate the potential threat to human health from the virus, for detected viruses.

We believe that global action is needed to invest in novel vaccine approaches that can be employed quickly whenever a new virus like the current coronavirus and also viruses similar to Zika, Ebola or influenza emerges.

Currently, responses to emerging pathogens are mostly reactive, meaning they start after the outbreak happens. We need a more proactive approach supported by continuous funding.

Aubree Gordon, Professor of Public Health, University of Michigan and Florian Krammer, Professor of Vaccinology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Link:
Will There Be a Vaccine For The New Wuhan Coronavirus? If So, When? - ScienceAlert

Inducing immune bee genes

Honey bees are prone to parasitism by the Varroa mite, which is a vector for several bee pathogens. However, honey bees are also host to the symbiotic gut bacterium Snodgrasella alvi. Leonard et al. engineered S. alvi to produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)a stimulus for insect RNA interference defense responsesfrom a plasmid containing two inverted promoters tagged with a fluorescent label (see the Perspective by Paxton). This dsRNA module can be targeted to interfere with specific bee genes as well as crucial viral and mite genes. The authors found that gene expression could be blocked for at least 15 days as the symbionts established in the bees' guts and continuously expressed the dsRNA constructs. S. alvi with specifically targeted plasmids not only suppressed infection with deformed wing virus but also effectively reduced Varroa mite survival.

Science, this issue p. 573; see also p. 504

Honey bees are essential pollinators threatened by colony losses linked to the spread of parasites and pathogens. Here, we report a new approach for manipulating bee gene expression and protecting bee health. We engineered a symbiotic bee gut bacterium, Snodgrassella alvi, to induce eukaryotic RNA interference (RNAi) immune responses. We show that engineered S. alvi can stably recolonize bees and produce double-stranded RNA to activate RNAi and repress host gene expression, thereby altering bee physiology, behavior, and growth. We used this approach to improve bee survival after a viral challenge, and we show that engineered S. alvi can kill parasitic Varroa mites by triggering the mite RNAi response. This symbiont-mediated RNAi approach is a tool for studying bee functional genomics and potentially for safeguarding bee health.

Originally posted here:
Engineered symbionts activate honey bee immunity and limit pathogens - Science Magazine

MANILA - A strong immune system and avoiding interaction with those infected with the new coronavirus are the best ways to block the illness, a public health expert said Tuesday.

The mysterious new strain, which can cause a pneumonia-like acute respiratory infection, has so far killed 106 people in China and infected some 4,000 across the world.

"The only thing that will help us fight off the disease is not interact with those who are sick," Dr. Susan Mercado told ANC's Headstart.

"Have a balanced diet, sleep the right number of hours, get good physical exercise. Its about staying healthy, eating fruits and vegetables, drinking a lot of water."

The new virus could be spreading through droplets, for instance when people sneeze or cough, or through direct contact with infected people or with objects they have touched, the World Health Organization said.

It remains unclear if the virus, known as 2019nCoV, is contagious before symptoms of fever or respiratory difficulties appear, it added.

"This virus is in human beings. What we need to do is limit the movement of those who are sick and avoid those who are sick. If they get well and they fight off the virus, the virus dies in them," Mercado said.

The Philippines has yet to confirm a case of the mysterious new strain of virus but it will be able to conduct tests for the virus "within the week," according to Mercado.

Manila earlier sent to Australia the specimen of a child in Cebu who came from Wuhan and tested positive for non-specific coronavirus. The child's specimen later yielded a negative result for the 2019nCoV.

Eleven foreigners in the Philippines are quarantined for possible infection from the Wuhan coronavirus, the health department said Monday.

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Water therapy, adequate sleep: Ways to boost immune system to avoid 2019nCoV - ABS-CBN News

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Knoze Jr Corp releases the study that led to the development of AllerPops, a prebiotic lollipop that gives people lasting allergy relief. The theory proposed in the article explains not only why we have allergies but also how the immune system starts to fight cancer after an infection, which leads to the rare natural cancer regressions. This understanding makes it possible to develop a novel immune therapy that is inexpensive and without dangerous side effects.

When cancer goes away on its own, it's so rare that people often say it's a miracle.

Peregrine Laziosi (12601345) is the patron saint of cancer patients. When he was in his sixties, he developed bone cancer and his only option was to have his leg amputated. The cancer swelled his bone so much that it broke through the skin and it became infected and gave a stinky smell. Miraculously, by the time of his scheduled operation, the doctor found his cancer completely disappeared. Saint Peregrine lived another 20 years before he died at age of eighty-five years old.1

A more recent miracle was used as evidence for the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) in 1975. In 1952, Anne Theresa, who was 4, was dying of leukemia. A relic, a cloth touched to Mother Seton's remains, was pinned to the child's gown. Anne almost immediately recovered, and her leukemia was completely healed. 2

The record also shows that just before her recovery, Anne Theresa had severe chickenpox with high fever and nutritionally, she could only tolerate sips ofCoca-Cola. 2

Is there a medical explanation for these miracles?

Cliff Han is the founder of Knoze Jr Corp, a startup firm located in Los Alamos, NM, and inventor of AllerPops. When he reviewed the cases of these cancer miracles, he wanted to find a medical explanation for these acts of God.

"In the two miracles, the people who experienced a natural cancer regression had a serious infection right before the miracle occurred," said Han. "Other than the fact that their immune systems were stimulated by the infections, we still do not know the mechanism leading to the cancer regression."

His study that led to the development of AllerPops, may shed some light on the matter.

AllerPops are prebiotic lollipops that give people lasting allergy relief by targeting the root cause of allergies, a lack of friendly bacteria in the oral cavity.

But what do allergies have to do with cancer?

Han's Theory of Negative Trigger (TNT), developed to explain why we have allergies, can also elucidate how an infection initiate the immune system to fight for cancer.

"If we know how these cancers went away miraculously, we can lead the way for these types of miracles to happen to more people more often," said Han.

TNT describes the relationship between our microbiota and immune systems. Briefly, our immune system is like a car with an accelerator to speed it up and brakes to slow it down. Pathogens acts as an accelerator, stimulating the immune system so it can protect us from infectious diseases. Probiotics (friendly bacteria) act as brakes, slowing it down when there is no infection. Like the car, our immune system is designed to be parked most of the time by the brakes our probiotics.

Our immune system operates in the gut (70%), airway (25%) and under our skin. Different probiotics live in these biological niches and send signals to pacify our immune system. These interactions are primarily local and limited by space and time. The peace agreement between probiotics and the immune system makes it possible for us to live peacefully in the environment.

Read the article that explains TNT here, https://allerpops.com/oral-probiotic-deficiency-may-cause-common-allergies/

How can you stimulate the immune system so it's ready to fight off cancer?

According to Han, a biologist worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for 22 years, two things must happen so that our immune system can be ready to go into battle with cancer.

Both conditions can be automatically fulfilled when a natural infection takes place. A high fever will remove the probiotics that live in the mouth and airway. Diarrhea will remove probiotics in the gut. Reduced appetites will also starve the probiotics in the gut. Pathogens and the damage they cause stimulate the immune system.

Story continues

For example, in the miracle of Anne Theresa described above, the chickenpox infection stimulated Anne's immune system. She had a high fever which inhibited the growth of probiotics in the airway. Drinking only Coca-Cola provided no fiber (food) to the gut probiotics. Without those probiotics, her immune system mobilized at a high level so it could fight the chickenpox virus and the leukemia cells without reservation.

Cancer miracles may happen more frequently if we do these things intentionally. Stimulating the immune system and removing brakes (the friendly bacteria) are both necessary to kick-start the immune system.

How to remove probiotics from your system

Probiotics need food to survive, and so you can slow down their growth by not giving them food. Han said, "I personally did a liquid-only fast (two cups cranberry juice, about 200 calories each day) for a week together with intensified oral hygiene."

How do you activate the immune system?

Recent studies of germ-free mice tested in a sterilized environment where there are no pathogens or probiotics3 indirectly show that removal of probiotics by itself will not activate the immune system.

Some cancer may stimulate the immune system, while most do not.

Therefore, in most cases, one will need vaccines or pathogens to stimulate the immune system. Currently, it is not known how strong the stimulation should be. Stimulation from common cold virus might be too weak. Can controlled chickenpox infection be applied? Only future study will tell.

A bio-firm is developing cancer treatment with Dengue virus stimulating an immune response.4 It is not certain if they included any procedure to remove the brakes.

Instead of using real pathogens/vaccines, controlled infusion of a proper combination of cytokines may be another way to stimulate the immune system.5

The stimulation of the immune system should be done the same time as removing the probiotics in both the airway and gut. Repetitive stimulation may be needed. This method can work alone or be used to improve the performance of modern immune therapy such as PD-1 blocker.

In addition to the explanation of the cancer miracle, the TNT theory suggests other beneficial health practices as well, such as how to prevent allergies, how to recover from a cold faster and why you should keep a fever.

Please check related blogs at allerpops.com/blogs/.

Contact:Cliff HanFounder of AllerPops and owner of Knoze Jr505-695-4236 233085@email4pr.comhttps://www.allerpops.com

References:

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mechanism-of-natural-cancer-regression-revealed-through-theory-behind-allerpops-300994081.html

SOURCE Knoze Jr Corp

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Mechanism of Natural Cancer Regression Revealed Through Theory Behind AllerPops - Yahoo Finance

The epicenter of Chinas coronavirus outbreak is widely thought to be a wet market in Wuhan. At such markets, seafood, chicken, and other conventional foodstuffs are on sale alongside live animals. You can buy more than just dogs and cats there. Local epicures also shop for more exotic fare like foxes, badgers, civets, and snakes.

The coronavirus is a pathogen that jumps from animals to humans. The wet market is the perfect environment for the disease to incubate, mutate, and eventually infect the unwary.

Think of Washington, D.C. as Americas political wet market.

Donald Trump is Patient Zero for Americas "kings disease," which is the metonymic translation of coronavirus.

Washington is a place where ordinary politics takes place. But sometimes exotic species are introduced into the nations capital. And thats when a new disease can incubate and mutate and spread throughout the system.

Donald Trump is Patient Zero for Americas kings disease, which is the metonymic translation of coronavirus. His delusions of grandeur were always dangerously infectious, but they only became lethal when he took up residence in the White House.

As Trump came into contact with the ordinary Republican members of Congress, the disease leaped into the American body politic. Virtually the entire Republican Party began to treat the president not as the head of state or the head of the party but as a kingand thus above politics and not subject to the same congressional constraints as previous presidents.

Political scientists are frankly incapable of explaining the current impeachment saga in Washington. It takes an epidemiologist to figure out how a set of politicians, with a wide range of intellectual capabilities from grandmaster to moron, can all deny over and over again the clear evidence in front of their eyes that the president committed impeachable offenses.

Sure, they are marching in lockstep with the party leadership. But it really seems as if theyre suffering from a more serious infection when so many of them have refused to accept the admission of more evidence even as they insist that the existing evidence is insufficient.

Trumpism is not, of course, restricted to the political wet market of Washington, D.C. Plenty of Americans scattered across the country are willing to kneel down before the putative king.

Its unclear how to address this larger outbreak or even if its possible. After all, despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, two-thirds of Trump supporters back in 2016 still believed Obama to be a Muslim. Theyve since added more Trump-inspired conspiracy theories to the list, such as Ukraines supposed involvement in hacking the 2016 presidential election. As with mad cow disease, there simply might not be a cure for this political dementia.

But the continuing outbreak of Trumpism goes beyond the headlines about Republican derangement syndrome in Washington or the fever dreams of the presidents so-called base. An equally concerning problem is how Trumpism has infected the entire American system. This is where the political coronavirus actually threatens lives.

Indeed, this systemic infection has put American democracy on life support.

But This Is Evil

Omar Ameen risked his life to bring his family to America. He didnt have a choice.

Born in Iraq, Ameen worried that he and his whole family would be killed by someone taking revenge for the crimes of his cousin, who belonged to al-Qaeda. He left for Turkey in 2012 and, after an exhaustive set of interviews with U.S. screeners, made it into the United States in 2014.

For four years, as Ben Taub relates in a fascinating story in The New Yorker, Ameen worked hard in America to provide for his family. In July 2018, however, U.S. authorities arrested him on the grounds that he had acted on behalf of the Islamic State by killing a police officer in Iraq. The Trump administration had determined that Ameen was a terrorist, one of those bad skittles that Donald Trump Jr. once tweeted about. A network of federal agencies worked overtime to compile an airtight case against Ameen.

The only problem was: Ameen was not in Iraq when the guard was killed. And he could prove it.

This proof, however, didnt seem to matter. The government pursued its case against Ameen regardless, arguing that any evidence gathered after Ameens arrest was only admissible in an Iraqi court, which meant that Ameen would have to be deported. In Iraq, meanwhile, a fair trial is unlikely. Suspected terrorists are routinely tortured into making confessions and then either executed or detained indefinitely.

Its bad enough when Donald Trump lies about, for instance, the big terrorist threat coming from refugees when, in fact, there are virtually no refugee terrorists (aside from several anti-Castro Cubans who arrived before 1980).

Its even worse when the entire federal government is restructured around this lie, when the federal agencies perpetuate this lie on a daily basis, and when innocent people like Omar Ameen get caught up in the web of these lies.

Ameens lawyer, Ben Galloway has been losing sleep over the case.

Its not the stress of going into the hearingits the trauma of coming out of it, the trauma of realizing what theyre doing. Its unconscionable. Seeing the level of infection, this willingness to go along, it makes me realize that we are not safe I hope we can recover from it. I hope we can regain institutional integrity in some of these agencies. None of them is perfectthey all have problematic historiesbut this is evil.

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Mark those words: level of infection. As I said, it takes an epidemiologist to understand the impact of Trumpism on American institutions.

At the Border

It used to be difficult but not impossible to seek asylum at the border. Now, thanks to the Trump administration, its simply impossible.

If the desperate manage to get an interview, which itself is a major challenge, they meet with asylum officers. The Trump administration, arguing that people from south of the border in particular are lying about their cases, has tightened the eligibility requirements by adopting what it calls the Migration Protection Protocols (MPP).

Tightened the eligibility requirementsthats actually a euphemism. The Trump administration has violated international law by refusing asylum to those who face a risk of harm if theyre sent back to the country they left. Some asylum officers, according to This American Life, protested the new rules. They didnt get anywhere.

As reporter Molly OToole explains:

So the standard today is upside down from what it used to be under credible fear. Instead of, lets err on the side of letting people in because we dont want anyone to be tortured or die, under MPP the standard is almost impossibly high, so almost nobody gets in.

In numerical terms, it works out to about one in a thousand (11 out of 10,000, according to Syracuse University). In human terms, it means that every day, U.S. asylum officers are sending people directly into harms way. The use of the phrase concentration camp to describe detention facilities begins to sound grimly appropriate.

Trumps Willing Executioners

Such is the banality of evil. The problem lies not just in the upper echelons of the Trump administration setting the rules. Its everyone down the chain of command who is executing those policies.

True, some people are quitting. Others are blowing the whistle, as weve seen in the cases of the courageous few who testified in the House impeachment hearings. But they are the exceptions. The system continues to function.

Its not just ICE or Homeland Security. A cadre of federal employees at the Department of the Interior is currently opening up public lands to drilling. The Pentagon is expediting millions of dollars of weapons sales to one of the most despicable regimes on the planet, Saudi Arabia. Officials at USAID are enforcing the global gag rule by cutting off funding to organizations that provide access to reproductive health and family planning.

All across the country, tens of thousands of people are implementing the Trump administrations egregious policies. Of course, not everyone working for the federal government is involved in such crimes. Thousands and thousands of civil servants are maintaining programs that the Trump administration has yet to alter or close down that offer essential services or direct critical resources to individuals and communities in need.

But in a post-Trump future, whenever that day comes, how will we deal with the myriad willing executionersto quote Daniel Goldhagens book on the complicity of ordinary Germans in the Holocaust? The contagion spreads far beyond Trump, his cabinet, the Republicans on the Hill, and a few familiar faces in the media.

Compromised Immune System

Trumpism is an acute outbreak of a chronic disease. Americas body politic has been seriously compromised for years.

In Democracy in Chains, Nancy McLean chronicles the efforts by economist James M. Buchanan, the Koch brothers, and a raft of conservative foundations to systematically reduce the influence of the majority of citizens in politics. They have done so through a variety of mechanisms: privatizing federal programs that hitherto had majority support, challenging the power of unions, empowering states at the expense of the federal center.

She asks:

Is what we are dealing with merely a social movement of the right whose radical ideas must eventually face public scrutiny and rise or fall on their merits? Or is this the story of something quite different, something never before seen in American history? Could it beand I use these words quite hesitantly and carefullya fifth-column assault on American democratic governance?

The forces that have engineered this hostile take-over of Washington, D.C. never imagined that Donald Trump would lead their movement. Neither did conservative evangelicals or the NRA. They all expected someone more sober-minded, more calculating, more consistently ideological. Still, a useful idiot is a useful idiot.

Trumpism is what happens when a compromised immune system meets an unusual pathogen. America might be lucky enough to remove the proximate cause of infection through a victory at the polls. The top tier of Trump appointees can then be removed from office.

Unless we address the underlying susceptibility of the body politic to diseases of this nature, however, such outbreaks will continue flaring up for years to come. America faces a political pandemic unlike any in the last 200-plus years. To eradicate this kings disease the last time around, didnt we have to fight a revolution?

Originally posted here:
Americas Coronavirus: Containing the Outbreak of Trumpism - Common Dreams

Cases of the flu spiked statewide in Connecticut, with more than 250 people hospitalized and three more deaths in the past week.

According to the Department of Health, the flu is currently widespread statewide, with a total of 1,036 influenza-related hospitalizations reported since the beginning of the flu season.

As of Saturday, Jan. 25, there has been a total of 23 deaths reported, all from residents over the age of 65. No pediatric deaths have been tied to the flu.

There were 4,684 positive influenza tests reported to the Department of Health, with the percentage of emergency department visits for influenza-like illness up 14.36 percent statewide, higher than at this time last year. Influenza-like illnesses were at 7.39 percent, up from 5.87 percent last week.

Nationally, there have been there has been no less than 9.7 million flu illnesses, 87,000 hospitalizations and 4,800 deaths from flu during the current flu season, and health officials said things are expected to get worse before they get better.

In 2018 and 2019, 3,506 people were hospitalized with influenza-associated illness in Connecticut and 88 people died.

According to health officials, "in Connecticut, the Department of Public Health uses multiple systems to monitor circulating influenza viruses. During the influenza season, weekly flu updates are posted from October of the current year, through May of the following year."

The CDC said that reported cases of the flu tend to increase in November before peaking between December and February. Flu season typically lasts through the middle of the spring.

The organization estimates that flu has resulted in between 9.2 million and 35.6 million illnesses each year in the United States and several deaths. Of those illnesses, an estimated 9 percent were hospitalized.

According to the CDC, the flu infects the respiratory tract. As the infection progresses, the bodys immune system responds to fight the virus.

"This results in inflammation that can trigger respiratory symptoms such as a cough and sore throat. The immune system response can also trigger fever and cause muscle or body aches.

"When infected persons cough, sneeze, or talk, they can spread influenza viruses in respiratory droplets to people who are nearby. People might also get flu by touching a contaminated surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

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Connecticut Sees Spike In Number Of Flu Cases - Daily Voice

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The novel coronavirusthat's sickening thousands globally -- andat least five people in the US-- is inspiring countries to close their borders and Americans tobuy up surgical masksquicker than major retailers can restock them.

There's another virus that has infected 15 million Americans across the country and killed more than 8,200 people this season alone. It's not a new pandemic -- it's influenza.

The 2019-2020 flu season is projected to beone of the worst in a decade, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. At least 140,000 people have been hospitalized with complications from the flu, and that number is predicted to climb as flu activity swirls.

The flu is a constant in Americans' lives. It's that familiarity that makes it more dangerous to underestimate, said Dr. Margot Savoy, chair of Family and Community Medicine at Temple University's Lewis Katz School of Medicine.

"Lumping all the viral illness we tend to catch in the winter sometimes makes us too comfortable thinking everything is 'just a bad cold,'" she said. "We underestimate how deadly influenza really is."

Even the low-end estimate of deaths each year is startling, Savoy said: The Centers for Disease Control predictsat least 12,000 people will die from the fluin the US every year. In the 2017-2018 flu season, as many as 61,000 people died, and 45 million were sickened.

In the 2019-2020 season so far, 15 million people in the US have gotten the flu and 8,200 people have died from it, including at least 54 children. Flu activity has been elevated for 11 weeks straight, the CDC reported, and will likely continue for the next several weeks.

Savoy, who also serves on the American Academy of Family Physician's board of directors, said the novelty of emerging infections can overshadow the flu. People are less panicked about the flu because healthcare providers "appear to have control" over the infection.

"We fear the unknown and we crave information about new and emerging infections," she said. "We can't quickly tell what is truly a threat and what isn't, so we begin to panic -- often when we don't need to."

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Dr. Nathan Chomilo, an adjunct assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Minnesota Medical School, said that the commonness of the flu often underplays its severity, but people should take it seriously.

"Severe cases of the flu are not mild illnesses," Chomilo said. "Getting the actual flu, you are miserable."

The flu becomes dangerous when secondary infections emerge, the result of an already weakened immune system. Bacterial and viral infections compound the flu's symptoms. People with chronic illnesses are also at a heightened risk for flu complications.

Those complications include pneumonia, inflammation in the heart and brain and organ failure -- which, in some cases, can be fatal.

Chomilo, an internist and pediatrician for Park Nicollet Health Services, said this flu season has been one of the worst his Minnesota practice has seen since the H1N1 virus outbreak in 2009. Some of his patients, healthy adults in their 30s, have been sent to the Intensive Care Unit, relying on ventilators, due to flu complications.

Influenza is tricky because the virus changes every year. Sometimes, the dominant strain in a flu season will be more virulent than in previous years, which can impact the number of people infected and the severity of their symptoms.

Most of these changes in the virus are small and insignificant, a process called antigenic drift. That year's flu vaccine is mostly effective in protecting patients in spite of these small changes, said Melissa Nolan, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina's School of Public Health.

Occasionally, the flu undergoes a rare antigenic shift, which results when a completely new strain of virus emerges that human bodies haven't experienced before, she said.

Savoy compares it to a block party: The body thinks it knows who -- or in this case, which virus -- will show up, and therefore, which virus it needs to keep out. But if a virus shows up in a completely new getup, it becomes difficult for the body's "bouncers" -- that's the immune system -- to know who to look for and keep out. The stealthy virus can infiltrate easily when the body doesn't recognize it.

This flu season, there's no sign of antigenic shift, the most extreme change. But it's happened before, most recently in 2009 with the H1N1 virus. It became a pandemic because people had no immunity against it, theCDC reported.

To avoid complications from the flu, Savoy, Chomilo and Nolan have the same recommendation: Get vaccinated.

It's not easy to tell how flu vaccination rates impact the number of people infected, but Savoy said it seems that the years she struggles to get her patients vaccinated are the years when more patients end up hospitalized with the flu, even if the total number of infections doesn't budge.

The CDC reported at least173 million flu vaccine doseshave been administered this flu season so far -- that's about 4 million more doses than the manufacturers who make the vaccines projected to provide this season.

Still, there are some who decide skipping the vaccine is worth the risk. A2017 studyfound that people decline the flu vaccine because they don't think it's effective or they're worried it's unsafe, even though CDCresearch showsthe vaccine effectively reduces the risk of flu in up to 60% of the population.

Chomilo said some of his most frustrating cases of the flu are in patients who can't be vaccinated because of preexisting conditions or their age (children under 6 months old can't be vaccinated).

There are two important reasons to get the flu vaccine, he said -- "Protecting yourself and being a good community member."

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Virus has claimed more than 8,000 lives this season, but its not a new pandemic - CBS 4 Indianapolis

Ever since the coronavirus was identified by Chinese officials in early January, news reports have alerted us to its escalation on an almost hourly basis. With over 4,000 cases in China, 106 of which have proved fatal, new outbreaks of the virus have since been confirmed in Australia, Canada, France and Germany. A respiratory infection similar to SARS, the nature of the coronavirus means it has the potential to spread far and wide, and quickly.

If the virus is actually as contagious as is being currently asserted, modern air travel and the purported time of incubation and asymptomatic status (about two weeks) really means it can spread anywhere on the planet, says cardiologist and vitamin C expert Dr Thomas E. Levy. As with nearly all other contagious viruses, spread is most commonly due to airborne virus in microdroplets from sneezing, coughing and the exhalation of infected individuals.

A sensible first step? A strong immune system is really the only significant protection for an individual, says Dr Levy. And a great deal of immune system strength comes from the vitamin C content in the immune cells. When the levels of vitamin C in the body are low, the immune system can never function at full capacity, he adds. (To boost your natural defences try a daily dose of oral supplementation, anywhere up to 2000mg.)

Understandably, the possibility of a pandemic is enough to cause serious panic. While avoiding exposure to anyone likely affected is an obvious precaution, there are practical ways you can protect yourself and allay your worries. Here are Vogues tips to help you keep calm and carry on.

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Washing your hands frequently isnt just good daily etiquette, its the first line of defence when it comes to warding off the spread of infection. For the most effective results apply warm water to your hands before lathering up with your chosen soap Floriss Luxury Hand Washes make the job more enjoyable. Scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds to kill any germs, making sure you reach every part including the backs of your hands and under your fingernails, then rinse well and dry. If the occasion means its impossible to get to running water, then a hand sanitiser will suffice; just ensure it contains at least 60 per cent alcohol, which is enough to get to work eliminating almost all classes of germ immediately. When it comes to mixing form and function, Byredos Rinse-Free Hand Wash, (25) does a sterling job: combining Scandi-chic packaging with breezy florals and soft musks, it makes pulling it out of your handbag every hour a pleasure, rather than a chore.

While you might be more familiar with the power of LED therapy when it comes to treating myriad skin ailments (everything from increasing collagen and bounce in the skin to fading acne scars), its also an effective tool in combatting feelings of stress and anxiety. Near-Infrared has a balancing effect on cortisol, which is commonly referred to as the stress hormone, while happy hormones like serotonin and dopamine are triggered by the lights, explains The Light Salon co-founder Laura Ferguson. Add to that the sensation of warmth that gently spreads over your skin for the duration of the treatment, and chances are youll re-emerge much more zen than you went in. Plus, of course, glowing, healthy skin is always a welcome bonus. For a quick but effective blast of bliss without even having to remove your make-up, book in for The Pick-Me-Up (35 for 15mins) at The Light Salon.

Read more: How To Survive A Hormone Crisis In Your Twenties

Meditation can play a key role in providing a sense of clarity and perspective during times of intense worry, something youll already know if youre one of the 40 million global users of the Headspace app. On a physical level, things like meditation, sound healing, reiki healing and breathwork kick in your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and relaxation, and tone down your fight or flight response, explains Yulia Kovaleva, Founder of Re:Mind Studio. To engage with this ancient relaxation technique, regardless of your experience or skill, Yulia suggests the simple step of connecting with your breath. Breathe in, collecting all the tension and tight feelings around your chest, and then exhale. Imagine it moving down through your body, down to your belly, into your pelvis and all the way down into your feet and leaving your body, releasing it into the ground. Best of all, the practice can be done anywhere and anytime, even (and perhaps aptly) on the Central line at 8am.

Not just a way to perk up your evening bath, aromatherapy has a proven impact on issues including depression and insomnia. As we breathe the essential oil, some constituents are absorbed through the nose via the olfactory bulb which communicates with the limbic system, says Annee de Mamiel, aromatherapist and skin practitioner. The limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels and hormone balance. Harness the potency by sprinkling a few drops of an inhalation blend inside a tissue; de Mamiels Altitude Oil (30) was created to help protect the immune system and contains linalool-rich lavender to relax the mind, and antiviral eucalyptus, pine and lemon myrtle to fight bacteria and viral pathogens.

Even if not directly affected by trauma, often the thought of perceived risk is enough to make us feel anxious. To set your mind at ease, enlist the help of an herbal tincture to soothe frayed nerves, re-establish a sense of equilibrium and sharpen brain function. Lauded in Ayurvedic medicine, studies have shown that ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is an adaptogenic herb (meaning it can help your body handle stress better) that can have a significant effect on fighting symptoms of anxiety by modulating cortisol. Try adding a teaspoon to your morning smoothie, or mixing with warm milk and honey before bed.

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5 Ways To Avoid Freaking Out About The Coronavirus - British Vogue

Mikhail V. Pletnikov has been named professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB.

The appointment was announced by Michael Cain, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School.

Dr. Pletnikov rapidly emerged as our top candidate possessing the administrative, scientific, leadership and visionary skills needed to move the department forward and further align the department with the Jacobs Schools strategic plans, Cain said in a statement.

Pletnikov, a native of Moscow, Russia, will relocate to Buffalo and join UB on July 1. He will be accompanied by his wife, Olga Pletnikova.

I feel honored to be appointed to this position, Pletnikov said. I am grateful to the members of the search committee, the faculty of the department and personally to Dr. Cain for placing their trust in me to lead the department. I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and students to support and promote education and biomedical research in the department and the school.

On a personal note, Olga and I are excited to move to Buffalo, he said. As for its weather, I am sure we will appreciate all four seasons there as, after all, we used to live in Moscow.

Pletnikov will succeed Perry Hogan, who has served as department chair since 2015.

Pletnikovs research focuses on understanding how neurons and non-neuronal cells (glial cells) interact with one another to support critical brain functions, including emotion and cognition. He also studies the mechanisms whereby the brain regulates functions of different organs in the body and itself is influenced by peripheral systems, particularly the immune system and the gut.

A growing number of studies suggest that abnormalities in these complex interactions lead to the development of disorders of the brain and peripheral organs, he said. Targeting cells, processes and pathways involved in the brain-periphery interplay is emerging as a new promising direction in treatment of complex brain disorders.

Pletnikovs research has been published in numerous journals. He lectures nationally and internationally, and serves on the editorial boards of leading scientific journals in his field, including Genes, Brains and Behavior; Biobehavioral Review; and Biological Psychiatry.

He received his doctorate in medicine from the I.M. Sechenov Moscow Medical Institute and his PhD in normal physiology from the PK Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology in Moscow. He completed his postdoctoral training in behavioral neuroscience and neurovirology at Johns Hopkins University .

In 2000, Pletnikov joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins as an assistant professor and is currently a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, neuroscience, and molecular and comparative pathology.

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Jacobs School names chair of Physiology and Biophysics - UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff - University at Buffalo Reporter

As the emerging Wuhan coronavirus outbreak dominates the daily news, you might be wondering just how the pathogen is working its way around the world. This virus travels from place to place by infecting one person at a time. Some sick people might not spread the virus much further, but it looks like some people infected with the novel coronavirus are what epidemiologists call super spreaders.

Elizabeth McGraw, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Pennsylvania State University, explains just what that means and why super spreaders can be crucial to a diseases transmission.

Researchers currently estimate that a person carrying the Wuhan coronaviruswill, on average, infect approximately 2.6 people.

Recent reports out of Wuhan also cite a case of a single patient who infected 14 health care workers. That qualifies him as a super spreader: someone who is responsible for infecting an especially large number of other people.

During an emerging outbreak, epidemiologists want to determine whether super spreaders are part of the picture. Their existence can accelerate the rate of new infections or substantially expand the geographic distribution of the disease.

In response to super spreaders, officials can recommend various ways to limit their impact and slow the spread of disease, depending on how the pathogen is transmitted. Pathogens transmitted via air droplets, contaminated surfaces, sexual contact, needles, food or drinking water will require different interventions. For example, the recommendation for face masks would be specific to airborne transmission, while hand-washing and surface sterilization are needed for germs that can live for a while on surfaces.

Whether someone is a super spreader or not will depend on some combination of the pathogen and the patients biology and their environment or behavior at the given time. And in a society with so much global connectivity, the ability to move pathogens rapidly across great distances, often before people are even aware they are sick, helps create environments ripe for super spreading.

Some infected individuals might shed more virus into the environment than others because of how their immune system works. Highly tolerant people do not feel sick and so may continue about their daily routines, inadvertently infecting more people. Alternatively, people with weaker immune systems that allow very high amounts of virus replication may be very good at transmitting even if they reduce their contacts with others. Individuals who have more symptoms for example, coughing or sneezing more can also be better at spreading the virus to new human hosts.

A persons behaviors, travel patterns and degree of contact with others can also contribute to super spreading. An infected shopkeeper might come in contact with a large number of people and goods each day. An international business traveler may crisscross the globe in a short period of time. A sick health care worker might come in contact with large numbers of people who are especially susceptible, given the presence of other underlying illnesses.

There are a number of historical examples of super spreaders. The most famous is Typhoid Mary, who in the early 20th century purportedly infected 51 people with typhoid through the food she prepared as a cook. Since Mary was an asymptomatic carrier of the bacteria, she didnt feel sick, and so was not motivated to use good hand-washing practices.

During the last two decades, super spreaders have started a number of measles outbreaks in the United States. Sick, unvaccinated individuals visited densely crowded places like schools, hospitals, airplanes and theme parks where they infected many others.

Super spreaders have also played a key role in the outbreaks of other coronaviruses, including SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). A traveler sick with SARS and staying in a Hong Kong hotel infected a number of overseas guests who then returned home and introduced the virus into four other countries.

For both SARS and MERS, super spreading commonly occurred in hospitals, with scores of people being infected at a time. In South Korea in 2015, one MERS patient infected over 80 other patients, medical personnel and visitors in a crowded emergency department over a three-day period. In this case, proximity to the original patient was the biggest risk factor for getting sick.

Yes. Some scientists estimate that in any given outbreak, 20% of the population is usually responsible for causing over 80% of all cases of the disease. Researchers have identified super spreaders in outbreaks of diseases from those caused by bacteria, such as tuberculosis, as well as those caused by viruses, including measles, MERS and Ebola.

The good news is that with the right control practices specific to how pathogens are transmitted hand-washing, masks, quarantine, vaccination and so on the transmission rate can be slowed and epidemics halted.

This article has been updated to correct a typo concerning the disease Typhoid Mary spread.

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What is a super spreader? An infectious disease expert explains - The Conversation US

By Robin Young andNicole ClarkSUN Columnist

Ever noticed how the onset of winter weather tends to increase the frequency of illness? While weather does play a role, it is not the direct cause. Rather, place blame on the true culprits causing your illness; for example rhinovirus (common cold) and influenza virus (flu).

The connection between winter and illnessThe connection lies in the fact that cold, dry weather is the preferred environment for pathogens to replicate and thrive. Consequently, your body is exposed to more germs during winter. Aside from heading south when temperatures drop, your next best bet is to prepare for battle. Fortunately, with the right support, your body is equipped with a highly efficient immune system.

Your immune system in a nutshellThis defense system is composed of many specialized cells, which are generally referred to as white blood cells. The first responsibility of immune cells is to recognize foreign pathogens in your body. Once recognized, the next step is to destroy them. Finally, your immune cells memorize the pathogen in order to destroy it quickly upon the next exposure. Coordinating this effort is a full-time job, requiring immune cells to function at the top of their game.

Support your hardworking immune systemSupport for your immune system includes everything from diet to physical activity to hygiene. Here are a few suggestions on what you can do and why it works.

Vitamin DEat or consume foods high in vitamin D, which helps your immune cells recognize unwanted bacteria.Considerable controversy exists among health professionals regarding the definition of vitamin D deficiency. Consult with your provider for information specific to you.Eat 3 ounces of fish one to three times a week. Fish such as salmon, herring, tuna and trout are good sources of dietary vitamin D.Incorporate mushrooms into your diet. Mushrooms are a great source of vitamin D and phytochemicals, both of which support your immune system.Try adding mushrooms to soups, sauces and casseroles. The water in these dishes extracts the phytochemicals found in mushrooms such as button, oyster and shiitake.Other good sources of vitamin D include fortified dairy milk, plant-based milk or juices.

Move your bodyShort bouts (15 minutes) of moderate-intensity exercise help boost immune function.Moderate intensity means you are breathing harder than normal, but can still talk.

Early to bed, later to riseDuring sleep, the body not only produces immune cells, but also enhances existing cells ability to quickly respond to disease-causing microorganisms known as pathogens.Aim for seven to nine hours when you are feeling well.

Feed gut microbes with fiberComplex carbohydrates such as those found in lentils, beans, barley and oats (to name a few) feed the bacteria in your gut.Gut microbes convert complex carbs to short-chain fatty acids that, once absorbed, help immune cells recognize and destroy pathogens.Plus, short-chain fatty acids strengthen the epithelial cells lining your intestine, thus improving your natural barrier to pathogens.

Wash your hands frequentlyThe best defense starts externally.Prevent the introduction of pathogens into your mouth or nose by washing hands often.

If all else failsIf all else fails, rest, recover, hydrate and stay warm.Contrary to human tendency, when you begin to feel ill, the quickest route to recovery means taking some down time, no matter how busy you are.

Upcoming eventsJanuary/February: Support your local 4-H Program by purchasing soup from a 4-H member.Feb. 11: The 36th annual Beef Symposium will be held at the Archuleta County Extension office. The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. Please call the Extension office at 264-5931 for more information and to register.Feb. 12: The Agricultural Financial Management Strategies workshop, hosted by the CSU Agriculture and Business Management Team, will cover topics such as risk management, business planning, enterprise budgeting, record keeping and more. Please go to http://www.2020fms.eventbrite.com to register or come into the office to pay. The cost is $15.

CPR and first aid classesCPR and first aid certification classes are offered monthly by the CSU Extension office on the second Monday and Wednesday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m. Anyone needing to receive or renew certification can register by calling the Extension office at 264-5931.We will also attempt to schedule classes on additional dates with five or more registrations. Cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. The type of first aid information provided will vary by the needs of the audience.

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Extension Viewpoints: Winter weather and illness prevention - Pagosa Springs Sun