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Black In Cardio is an international group of cardiovascular scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and subject areas. A team of eight strangers met on Twitter and volunteered time to make an idea a reality. #BlackInCardioWeek follows several other BlackinX weeks and was created to highlight black cardiovascular scientists and raise awareness around cardiovascular diseases by offering a space to the wider community. Issues such as access to information, representation of black communities in decision making, and destigmatization of research e during #BlackInCardioWeek has opened a space for collaboration and mentorship.

Here is a quick run through of the events and what #BlackInCardio means to the team.

Before the launch of the week, we set a 7 day workout challenge.

#BICWorkout Challenge. This was to encourage the conversation around cardiovascular health and get people to just start. Using the hashtag, people were encouraged to post their workout image after following a specially created programme by fitness coach Nelao, or any other form of physical activity.

#BlackInCardioRollCall: Announcing their presence as black scientists, researchers and working professionals,. participants shared their research and motivations within the cardiovascular field. It is no longer possibleto say we dont exist, and simply scrolling through the hashtag links people in the field with each other.

Recognising the urgency for representation in the cardiovascular field, and seeing the other black in X events, I sent out the tweet on the 13th August 2020. From there, a fantastic team was formed and #BlackinCardio began. My journey to being a scientist began through observing the detrimental effects of diabetes and how it caused a drastic change in the lifestyle of many. Seeing this, and recognizing its prevalence within my community, formed my drive to participate in scientific research. To be a scientist means to discover new knowledge through challenging, searching and answering the questions that need to be tackled. My research combines my two interests and focuses on diabetic cardiomyopathy and it is my personal motivation that is driving me through. Consistently engaging with those who suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, hearing the views of why they suffered from members within and outside my community, and witnessing how it was being treated, verified my pursuit as a scientist who understands the community.

The Career Panel was designed to provide insights on the experiences of Black scientists and clinicians in various cardiovascular fields and give an opportunity for people interested in careers within the field to get advice and inspiration.

During my undergraduate studies, I decided that a career in medicine was no longer for me and wanted to focus on a career in life science research. In my search for the perfect role, I knew I wanted to work within cardiovascular research, but I saw a lack of career guidance and started a blog in search for the perfect career. In my personal life, there has always been support to achieve what I wanted but that wasnt reflected in my professional circle. #BlackInCardio was especially important for me as a Masters student just stepping into the professional world. My main takeaway from the panels and working with the team has shown me, through representation, that my dreams arent so far out of reach.

The Q&A sessions were designed to create an open dialogue between researchers, clinicians, early career professionals and the general public. Specific sessions included discussions around the Whole Heart: Congenital Heart Diseases, The Vasculature , Nutrition (in French) and Cardiometabolic Syndromes.

I was born and raised in Bafang, a small town in West Cameroon in Africa. During my PhD, I unfortunately lost my father from stroke complications after six months of intensive care. My father was my first advocate; he was very proud of my achievements, and his ultimate dream was to cheer for me during my PhD graduation. Losing my father completely switched my perception of the world and the value of life. More importantly, it reshaped my research interests in studying cardiovascular diseases. I felt the need to contribute to the field and help advance research in cardiovascular disease in the Black communities. After my PhD, I joined Stanford University as a postdoctoral scholar to study genetic risk factors of vascular diseases, particularly in the Black population. My current research includes studying genetic risk factors for vascular diseases such as aortic aneurysm and coronary artery diseases in multiple ancestry groups, as well as cardiac hereditary amyloidosis (hATTR), a disease due to a pathogenic mutation in the Transthyretin (TTR) gene and particularly prevalent in Black populations. Most of my research is conducted on The Million Veteran Program, the largest multi-ethnic cohort to date with electronic health records and genetic information.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the world. With this harrowing fact, as a team we understand the importance of destigmatising narratives around the Black population in regards to cardiovascular health. For this reason two separate panels were created. The first focused on a discussion of the stigmatization of Black people in cardiovascular research and medicine, and its consequences. The second was a conversation around diet, physical activity, and medicine in Black communities.

I am originally from Likasi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My senior honors project was on the genetics of race and ancestry. Despite my love for biology, I wanted to do population research and understand health disparities. Thats how I ended up getting a PhD in Medical Sciences. The focus of my dissertation was on the epidemiology of acculturation and diabetes in African immigrants. A lot of cardiovascular conditions are preventable; that racial disparities in these diseases exist is a public health crisis. Thats why events like #BlackInCardioWeek are so important to me. My research made me realize that cardiovascular/cardiometabolic issues in African immigrant communities are part of a larger discourse on racial disparities in health. So for my current postdoctoral position at the University of Vermont, I am studying racial disparities in cardiovascular/cardiometabolic diseases (including COVID-19) in the REGARDS (The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke). The REGARDS is one of the largest and most diverse cohort studies in the U.S.

As the only person on the #BlackInCardio organizing team who isnt Black, my perspective may be different than the other co-organizers. I thought I knew a lot about systemic racism and how I could make a change and improve inclusivity and representation in science, but I thought I had to wait until I was in a position of power to do this. I thought the best thing I could do was to understand the issues facing Black people in science and not contribute to any racist narratives. #BlackInCardio and other BlackInX initiatives have taught me that being an ally is much more than not contributing to racist narratives. #BlackInCardio taught me that you dont need to wait to be tenured and appointed to a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity task force to make a change. By helping to organize #BlackInCardio, I could spend my time and energy on this global initiative to help lighten the load that my 7 other Black co-organizers had to bear. This burden should not always be placed on traditionally marginalized groups. As an ally, anything you can do to improve representation and inclusivity in STEM fields helps. It can be as simple as liking or retweeting a post on Twitter by a Black scientist, student, or trainee that shows that science is open, accepting, and supportive of Black people in this predominantly white space.

Destigmatising cardiovascular health: From diet to medicine. This event focused on how harmful narratives affect everyday life. Black people are often told that diets are inherently bad and are criticised for eating certain foods. This panel created a safe space with a diverse range of qualified professionals sharing their knowledge on the lessons learnt working within the fields of diet, nutrition and medicine.

My research focuses on how the biological mechanisms of obesity contribute to cardiovascular diseases. I am currently analyzing the cellularity and morphology of both visceral and pericardial adipose (fat) tissue after undergoing high fat fed conditions. I have a deep passion for cardiovascular research due to its prevalence within the Black community and also having experienced loss of family members and family friends due to cardiovascular disease and its associated complications. Events like #BlackinCardioWeek are very important as the current literature showsthat the Black community are at a much higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Its important to highlight the research being done to help and educate our community in this very important matter of cardiovascular health. I hope I can one day share my knowledge and experiences to inspire a new generation of scientists who tend to be excluded from scientific research and careers.

The future of cardiovascular research: On this panel, the issues of access, recruitment, and retention of black scientists and clinicians were discussed. Panelists shared their successes and shared struggles navigating the professional world. The discussion ranged from writing grant applications, networking, and most importantly navigating a space that has many obstacles for black people.

I have always had an interest in science, and wanted to be in a career that could help people (I actually wanted to be a heart surgeon). Many a time, I have been the only black person in a room and Id always wondered why there werent many black people in science. I know first-hand the power of representation and seeing people who look like you go through the process. During my Masters, seeing a postdoc who had just completed his doctorate inspired me to believe that I could do something like that too. I always share the story of catching up with someone after a few years who asked what I was doing now. His response to me saying I was a research scientist was Oh wow, I have never seen a black scientist before. I saw this as a problem for a while. I want people to be able to identify themselves as scientists no matter what their background is. I have been greatly encouraged after the inaugural #BlackInCardio Week and I believe this is the beginning of achieving long-overdue equity in science and medicine.

Black cardiologists in history: This was a series of blog posts done in conjunction with AHA Early Career Voice. Throughout the week, we highlighted the profiles of several Black cardiologists and cardiovascular scientists who made a substantial contribution to cardiovascular science such as Dr. Marie Maynard Daly, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, and Dr. Charles Rotimi.

Black Scientists have certainly set the benchmark within cardiovascular science and medicine, but their groundbreaking work has not been emphasised enough. Highlighting the work of Black pioneers in the field was not only a way to celebrate and recognize their accomplishments, but also to show young Black trainees and aspiring scientists that people like them have changed the world of cardiovascular medicine. They can see themselves in those role models and use them as an example for hard work and perseverance.

Finally, the week ended by spending the weekend showcasing the lives of #BlackInCardio students, professionals,and researchers outside the world of science. We had four weekend events: bread baking & wig making, make-up session and conversation, live podcast, and a live afrobeats dance class.

Highlighting the work of Black pioneers in the field was not only a way to celebrate and recognize their accomplishments, but also to show young Black trainees and aspiring scientists that people like them have changed the world of cardiovascular medicine.

I develop advanced cardiovascular tissue models for studying genetic disease. I believe that science should be accessible and that every child should have the opportunity to become a scientist. I also work on supporting marginalized groups of PhD students within the Academy. Outside of the lab I foster puppies and enjoy outdoor activities like running, hiking and gardening.

As a team the collective takeaway is that we are proud to have organised and executed a global event. It is important to note that this is just the beginning and we hope to follow through with more events outside the week, a larger team, and wider reach to include more of the African continent. Watch out for Black in Cardio, we are just getting started.

Read more here:
#BlackInCardioWeek: How it started, what happened, and what is to come - On Medicine - BMC Blogs Network

ANDOVER, Mass. The liquid that many hope could help end the Covid-19 pandemic is stored in a nondescript metal tank in a manufacturing complex owned by Pfizer, one of the worlds biggest drug companies. There is nothing remarkable about the container, which could fit in a walk-in closet, except that its contents could end up in the worlds first authorized Covid-19 vaccine.

Pfizer, a 171-year-old Fortune 500 powerhouse, has made a billion-dollar bet on that dream. So has a brash, young rival just 23 miles away in Cambridge, Mass. Moderna, a 10-year-old biotech company with billions in market valuation but no approved products, is racing forward with a vaccine of its own. Its new sprawling drug-making facility nearby is hiring workers at a fast clip in the hopes of making history and a lot of money.

In many ways, the companies and their leaders couldnt be more different. Pfizer, working with a little-known German biotech called BioNTech, has taken pains for much of the year to manage expectations. Moderna has made nearly as much news for its stream of upbeat press releases, executives stock sales, and spectacular rounds of funding as for its science.

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Each is well-aware of the other in the race to be first.

But what the companies share may be bigger than their differences: Both are banking on a genetic technology that has long held huge promise but has so far run into biological roadblocks. It is called synthetic messenger RNA, an ingenious variation on the natural substance that directs protein production in cells throughout the body. Its prospects have swung billions of dollars on the stock market, made and imperiled scientific careers, and fueled hopes that it could be a breakthrough that allows society to return to normalcy after months living in fear.

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Both companies have been frequently name-checked by President Trump. Pfizer reported strong, but preliminary, data on Monday, and Moderna is expected to follow suit soon with a glimpse of its data. Both firms hope these preliminary results will allow an emergency deployment of their vaccines millions of doses likely targeted to frontline medical workers and others most at risk of Covid-19.

There are about a dozen experimental vaccines in late-stage clinical trials globally, but the ones being tested by Pfizer and Moderna are the only two that rely on messenger RNA.

For decades, scientists have dreamed about the seemingly endless possibilities of custom-made messenger RNA, or mRNA.

Researchers understood its role as a recipe book for the bodys trillions of cells, but their efforts to expand the menu have come in fits and starts. The concept: By making precise tweaks to synthetic mRNA and injecting people with it, any cell in the body could be transformed into an on-demand drug factory.

But turning scientific promise into medical reality has been more difficult than many assumed. Although relatively easy and quick to produce compared to traditional vaccine-making, no mRNA vaccine or drug has ever won approval.

Even now, as Moderna and Pfizer test their vaccines on roughly 74,000 volunteers in pivotal vaccine studies, many experts question whether the technology is ready for prime time.

I worry about innovation at the expense of practicality, Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and an authority on vaccines, said recently. The U.S. governments Operation Warp Speed program, which has underwritten the development of Modernas vaccine and pledged to buy Pfizers vaccine if it works, is weighted toward technology platforms that have never made it to licensure before.

Whether mRNA vaccines succeed or not, their path from a gleam in a scientists eye to the brink of government approval has been a tale of personal perseverance, eureka moments in the lab, soaring expectations and an unprecedented flow of cash into the biotech industry.

It is a story that began three decades ago, with a little-known scientist who refused to quit.

Before messenger RNA was a multibillion-dollar idea, it was a scientific backwater. And for the Hungarian-born scientist behind a key mRNA discovery, it was a career dead-end.

Katalin Karik spent the 1990s collecting rejections. Her work, attempting to harness the power of mRNA to fight disease, was too far-fetched for government grants, corporate funding, and even support from her own colleagues.

It all made sense on paper. In the natural world, the body relies on millions of tiny proteins to keep itself alive and healthy, and it uses mRNA to tell cells which proteins to make. If you could design your own mRNA, you could, in theory, hijack that process and create any protein you might desire antibodies to vaccinate against infection, enzymes to reverse a rare disease, or growth agents to mend damaged heart tissue.

In 1990, researchers at the University of Wisconsin managed to make it work in mice. Karik wanted to go further.

The problem, she knew, was that synthetic RNA was notoriously vulnerable to the bodys natural defenses, meaning it would likely be destroyed before reaching its target cells. And, worse, the resulting biological havoc might stir up an immune response that could make the therapy a health risk for some patients.

It was a real obstacle, and still may be, but Karik was convinced it was one she could work around. Few shared her confidence.

Every night I was working: grant, grant, grant, Karik remembered, referring to her efforts to obtain funding. And it came back always no, no, no.

By 1995, after six years on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, Karik got demoted. She had been on the path to full professorship, but with no money coming in to support her work on mRNA, her bosses saw no point in pressing on.

She was back to the lower rungs of the scientific academy.

Usually, at that point, people just say goodbye and leave because its so horrible, Karik said.

Theres no opportune time for demotion, but 1995 had already been uncommonly difficult. Karik had recently endured a cancer scare, and her husband was stuck in Hungary sorting out a visa issue. Now the work to which shed devoted countless hours was slipping through her fingers.

I thought of going somewhere else, or doing something else, Karik said. I also thought maybe Im not good enough, not smart enough. I tried to imagine: Everything is here, and I just have to do better experiments.

In time, those better experiments came together. After a decade of trial and error, Karik and her longtime collaborator at Penn Drew Weissman, an immunologist with a medical degree and Ph.D. from Boston University discovered a remedy for mRNAs Achilles heel.

The stumbling block, as Kariks many grant rejections pointed out, was that injecting synthetic mRNA typically led to that vexing immune response; the body sensed a chemical intruder, and went to war. The solution, Karik and Weissman discovered, was the biological equivalent of swapping out a tire.

Every strand of mRNA is made up of four molecular building blocks called nucleosides. But in its altered, synthetic form, one of those building blocks, like a misaligned wheel on a car, was throwing everything off by signaling the immune system. So Karik and Weissman simply subbed it out for a slightly tweaked version, creating a hybrid mRNA that could sneak its way into cells without alerting the bodys defenses.

That was a key discovery, said Norbert Pardi, an assistant professor of medicine at Penn and frequent collaborator. Karik and Weissman figured out that if you incorporate modified nucleosides into mRNA, you can kill two birds with one stone.

That discovery, described in a series of scientific papers starting in 2005, largely flew under the radar at first, said Weissman, but it offered absolution to the mRNA researchers who had kept the faith during the technologys lean years. And it was the starter pistol for the vaccine sprint to come.

And even though the studies by Karik and Weissman went unnoticed by some, they caught the attention of two key scientists one in the United States, another abroad who would later help found Moderna and Pfizers future partner, BioNTech.

Derrick Rossi, a native of Toronto who rooted for the Maple Leafs and sported a soul patch, was a 39-year-old postdoctoral fellow in stem cell biology at Stanford University in 2005 when he read the first paper. Not only did he recognize it as groundbreaking, he now says Karik and Weissman deserve the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

If anyone asks me whom to vote for some day down the line, I would put them front and center, he said. That fundamental discovery is going to go into medicines that help the world.

But Rossi didnt have vaccines on his mind when he set out to build on their findings in 2007 as a new assistant professor at Harvard Medical School running his own lab.

He wondered whether modified messenger RNA might hold the key to obtaining something else researchers desperately wanted: a new source of embryonic stem cells.

In a feat of biological alchemy, embryonic stem cells can turn into any type of cell in the body. That gives them the potential to treat a dizzying array of conditions, from Parkinsons disease to spinal cord injuries.

But using those cells for research had created an ethical firestorm because they are harvested from discarded embryos.

Rossi thought he might be able to sidestep the controversy. He would use modified messenger molecules to reprogram adult cells so that they acted like embryonic stem cells.

He asked a postdoctoral fellow in his lab to explore the idea. In 2009, after more than a year of work, the postdoc waved Rossi over to a microscope. Rossi peered through the lens and saw something extraordinary: a plate full of the very cells he had hoped to create.

Rossi excitedly informed his colleague Timothy Springer, another professor at Harvard Medical School and a biotech entrepreneur. Recognizing the commercial potential, Springer contacted Robert Langer, the prolific inventor and biomedical engineering professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

On a May afternoon in 2010, Rossi and Springer visited Langer at his laboratory in Cambridge. What happened at the two-hour meeting and in the days that followed has become the stuff of legend and an ego-bruising squabble.

Langer is a towering figure in biotechnology and an expert on drug-delivery technology. At least 400 drug and medical device companies have licensed his patents. His office walls display many of his 250 major awards, including the Charles Stark Draper Prize, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for engineers.

As he listened to Rossi describe his use of modified mRNA, Langer recalled, he realized the young professor had discovered something far bigger than a novel way to create stem cells. Cloaking mRNA so it could slip into cells to produce proteins had a staggering number of applications, Langer thought, and might even save millions of lives.

I think you can do a lot better than that, Langer recalled telling Rossi, referring to stem cells. I think you could make new drugs, new vaccines everything.

Langer could barely contain his excitement when he got home to his wife.

This could be the most successful company in history, he remembered telling her, even though no company existed yet.

Three days later Rossi made another presentation, to the leaders of Flagship Ventures. Founded and run by Noubar Afeyan, a swaggering entrepreneur, the Cambridge venture capital firm has created dozens of biotech startups. Afeyan had the same enthusiastic reaction as Langer, saying in a 2015 article in Nature that Rossis innovation was intriguing instantaneously.

Within several months, Rossi, Langer, Afeyan, and another physician-researcher at Harvard formed the firm Moderna a new word combining modified and RNA.

Springer was the first investor to pledge money, Rossi said. In a 2012 Moderna news release, Afeyan said the firms promise rivals that of the earliest biotechnology companies over 30 years ago adding an entirely new drug category to the pharmaceutical arsenal.

But although Moderna has made each of the founders hundreds of millions of dollars even before the company had produced a single product Rossis account is marked by bitterness. In interviews with the Globe in October, he accused Langer and Afeyan of propagating a condescending myth that he didnt understand his discoverys full potential until they pointed it out to him.

Its total malarkey, said Rossi, who ended his affiliation with Moderna in 2014. Im embarrassed for them. Everybody in the know actually just shakes their heads.

Rossi said that the slide decks he used in his presentation to Flagship noted that his discovery could lead to new medicines. Thats the thing Noubar has used to turn Flagship into a big company, and he says it was totally his idea, Rossi said.

Afeyan, the chair of Moderna, recently credited Rossi with advancing the work of the Penn scientists. But, he said, that only spurred Afeyan and Langer to ask the question, Could you think of a code molecule that helps you make anything you want within the body?

Langer, for his part, told STAT and the Globe that Rossi made an important finding but had focused almost entirely on the stem cell thing.

Despite the squabbling that followed the birth of Moderna, other scientists also saw messenger RNA as potentially revolutionary.

In Mainz, Germany, situated on the left bank of the Rhine, another new company was being formed by a married team of researchers who would also see the vast potential for the technology, though vaccines for infectious diseases werent on top of their list then.

A native of Turkey, Ugur Sahin moved to Germany after his father got a job at a Ford factory in Cologne. His wife, zlem Treci had, as a child, followed her father, a surgeon, on his rounds at a Catholic hospital. She and Sahin are physicians who met in 1990 working at a hospital in Saarland.

The couple have long been interested in immunotherapy, which harnesses the immune system to fight cancer and has become one of the most exciting innovations in medicine in recent decades. In particular, they were tantalized by the possibility of creating personalized vaccines that teach the immune system to eliminate cancer cells.

Both see themselves as scientists first and foremost. But they are also formidable entrepreneurs. After they co-founded another biotech, the couple persuaded twin brothers who had invested in that firm, Thomas and Andreas Strungmann, to spin out a new company that would develop cancer vaccines that relied on mRNA.

That became BioNTech, another blended name, derived from Biopharmaceutical New Technologies. Its U.S. headquarters is in Cambridge. Sahin is the CEO, Treci the chief medical officer.

We are one of the leaders in messenger RNA, but we dont consider ourselves a messenger RNA company, said Sahin, also a professor at the Mainz University Medical Center. We consider ourselves an immunotherapy company.

Like Moderna, BioNTech licensed technology developed by the Pennsylvania scientist whose work was long ignored, Karik, and her collaborator, Weissman. In fact, in 2013, the company hired Karik as senior vice president to help oversee its mRNA work.

But in their early years, the two biotechs operated in very different ways.

In 2011, Moderna hired the CEO who would personify its brash approach to the business of biotech.

Stphane Bancel was a rising star in the life sciences, a chemical engineer with a Harvard MBA who was known as a businessman, not a scientist. At just 34, he became CEO of the French diagnostics firm BioMrieux in 2007 but was wooed away to Moderna four years later by Afeyan.

Moderna made a splash in 2012 with the announcement that it had raised $40 million from venture capitalists despite being years away from testing its science in humans. Four months later, the British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca agreed to pay Moderna a staggering $240 million for the rights to dozens of mRNA drugs that did not yet exist.

The biotech had no scientific publications to its name and hadnt shared a shred of data publicly. Yet it somehow convinced investors and multinational drug makers that its scientific findings and expertise were destined to change the world. Under Bancels leadership, Moderna would raise more than $1 billion in investments and partnership funds over the next five years.

Modernas promise and the more than $2 billion it raised before going public in 2018 hinged on creating a fleet of mRNA medicines that could be safely dosed over and over. But behind the scenes the companys scientists were running into a familiar problem. In animal studies, the ideal dose of their leading mRNA therapy was triggering dangerous immune reactions the kind for which Karik had improvised a major workaround under some conditions but a lower dose had proved too weak to show any benefits.

Moderna had to pivot. If repeated doses of mRNA were too toxic to test in human beings, the company would have to rely on something that takes only one or two injections to show an effect. Gradually, biotechs self-proclaimed disruptor became a vaccines company, putting its experimental drugs on the back burner and talking up the potential of a field long considered a loss-leader by the drug industry.

Meanwhile BioNTech has often acted like the anti-Moderna, garnering far less attention.

In part, that was by design, said Sahin. For the first five years, the firm operated in what Sahin called submarine mode, issuing no news releases, and focusing on scientific research, much of it originating in his university lab. Unlike Moderna, the firm has published its research from the start, including about 150 scientific papers in just the past eight years.

In 2013, the firm began disclosing its ambitions to transform the treatment of cancer and soon announced a series of eight partnerships with major drug makers. BioNTech has 13 compounds in clinical trials for a variety of illnesses but, like Moderna, has yet to get a product approved.

When BioNTech went public last October, it raised $150 million, and closed with a market value of $3.4 billion less than half of Modernas when it went public in 2018.

Despite his role as CEO, Sahin has largely maintained the air of an academic. He still uses his university email address and rides a 20-year-old mountain bicycle from his home to the office because he doesnt have a drivers license.

Then, late last year, the world changed.

Shortly before midnight, on Dec. 30, the International Society for Infectious Diseases, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, posted an alarming report online. A number of people in Wuhan, a city of more than 11 million people in central China, had been diagnosed with unexplained pneumonia.

Chinese researchers soon identified 41 hospitalized patients with the disease. Most had visited the Wuhan South China Seafood Market. Vendors sold live wild animals, from bamboo rats to ostriches, in crowded stalls. That raised concerns that the virus might have leaped from an animal, possibly a bat, to humans.

After isolating the virus from patients, Chinese scientists on Jan. 10 posted online its genetic sequence. Because companies that work with messenger RNA dont need the virus itself to create a vaccine, just a computer that tells scientists what chemicals to put together and in what order, researchers at Moderna, BioNTech, and other companies got to work.

A pandemic loomed. The companies focus on vaccines could not have been more fortuitous.

Moderna and BioNTech each designed a tiny snip of genetic code that could be deployed into cells to stimulate a coronavirus immune response. The two vaccines differ in their chemical structures, how the substances are made, and how they deliver mRNA into cells. Both vaccines require two shots a few weeks apart.

The biotechs were competing against dozens of other groups that employed varying vaccine-making approaches, including the traditional, more time-consuming method of using an inactivated virus to produce an immune response.

Moderna was especially well-positioned for this moment.

Forty-two days after the genetic code was released, Modernas CEO Bancel opened an email on Feb. 24 on his cellphone and smiled, as he recalled to the Globe. Up popped a photograph of a box placed inside a refrigerated truck at the Norwood plant and bound for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Md. The package held a few hundred vials, each containing the experimental vaccine.

Moderna was the first drug maker to deliver a potential vaccine for clinical trials. Soon, its vaccine became the first to undergo testing on humans, in a small early-stage trial. And on July 28, it became the first to start getting tested in a late-stage trial in a scene that reflected the firms receptiveness to press coverage.

The first volunteer to get a shot in Modernas late-stage trial was a television anchor at the CNN affiliate in Savannah, Ga., a move that raised eyebrows at rival vaccine makers.

Along with those achievements, Moderna has repeatedly stirred controversy.

On May 18, Moderna issued a press release trumpeting positive interim clinical data. The firm said its vaccine had generated neutralizing antibodies in the first eight volunteers in the early-phase study, a tiny sample.

But Moderna didnt provide any backup data, making it hard to assess how encouraging the results were. Nonetheless, Modernas share price rose 20% that day.

Some top Moderna executives also drew criticism for selling shares worth millions, including Bancel and the firms chief medical officer, Tal Zaks.

In addition, some critics have said the government has given Moderna a sweetheart deal by bankrolling the costs for developing the vaccine and pledging to buy at least 100 million doses, all for $2.48 billion.

That works out to roughly $25 a dose, which Moderna acknowledges includes a profit.

In contrast, the government has pledged more than $1 billion to Johnson & Johnson to manufacture and provide at least 100 million doses of its vaccine, which uses different technology than mRNA. But J&J, which collaborated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centers Center for Virology and Vaccine Research and is also in a late-stage trial, has promised not to profit off sales of the vaccine during the pandemic.

Over in Germany, Sahin, the head of BioNTech, said a Lancet article in January about the outbreak in Wuhan, an international hub, galvanized him.

We understood that this would become a pandemic, he said.

The next day, he met with his leadership team.

I told them that we have to deal with a pandemic which is coming to Germany, Sahin recalled.

He also realized he needed a strong partner to manufacture the vaccine and thought of Pfizer. The two companies had worked together before to try to develop mRNA influenza vaccines. In March, he called Pfizers top vaccine expert, Kathrin Jansen.

See the original post:
The story of mRNA: From a loose idea to a tool that may help curb Covid - STAT

HONOLULU (KHON2) From Halloween to Thanksgiving and Christmas, the foods we all enjoy can add up to becoming on of the most unhealthy times of the year. And with a global pandemic, health professionals say those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes need to pay close attention to their body and what they put in it.

[Hawaii news on the goLISTEN to KHON 2GO weekday mornings at 7:30 a.m.]

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. According to the American Diabetes Association about 12 percent of all Hawaii adults have diabetes. And many more arent even aware they have it.

This is definitely a time where things are up and down, said Dr. Alan Parsa, Director of the Diabetes Program at The Queens Medical Center West. We have the coronavirus keeping people indoors and you have all this food thats about to be coming up for the holiday. Its the best time to be taking care of yourself.

Dr. Parsa says having diabetes doesnt make you more susceptible to COVID-19, but if you catch it, your chances of a swift recovery drop quickly.

If someone is out there with very poorly controlled diabetes. Theyre not taking care of themselves or theyre drinking soda all day long and their sugars are running in the 200s or 300s on a regular basis. Those people just in general all right increased risk in general when it comes to having poor outcomes to any infection.

Another concern here in Hawaii is what we eat.

Thats the thing with the local diet, said Dr. Parsa. While our foods are really good, theyre not the best when it comes to diabetes and management care. The nutrition foods that youre eating, the drinks that youre drinking, make sure that everything is staying in that nice healthy level to prevent yourself from over indulging on the things that we typically would do.

Parsa adds that if you are going to indulge, balance your behavior. For every big meal or dessert, add an hour in the gym or another mile or two out on the road.

Read the rest here:
Dealing with diabetes, the holidays and a global pandemic? Heres what you need to know - KHON2

Do you want to feel better, increase your quality of life, or improve your experience with healthcare providers?

Spectrum Generations in partnership with Healthy Living for ME will be offering a free workshop to help individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, and their caregivers or family members. Living Well with Diabetes will be offered beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19 and running through Feb. 23. Workshops participants will meet weekly from 3 to 5 p.m. on Zoom, a video conferencing platform.

Topics such as testing your blood sugar, menu planning, stress management, increasing activity level, treating low blood sugar, caring for your feet, and healthy eating will be discussed.

Slow internet, no computer? No problem! We have officially launched our free tablet lending program just in time for this workshop.

This series is free and open to the public but registration is required. Please call (207) 620-1642 or email jpaquet@healthylivingforme.org for more information and to register. Technical support is available.

Healthy Living for ME is a statewide network of evidence-based programs that empower adults to address and better manage their health issues.

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Free diabetes and nutrition program to meet on Zoom - Boothbay Register

If you are living with type 2 diabetes, you certainly are not alone. One in 10 people in the US has diabetes, according to the CDC. However, despite considerable progress in diabetes treatment over the past 20 years, fewer than half of those with diabetes actually reach their target blood sugar goal.

In part, this may be because doctors can be slow to make changes to a patients treatment plan, even when a patients treatment goals are not being met. One reason for this may be the overwhelming number of medications currently available. And yet, waiting too long to adjust treatment for type 2 diabetes can have long-lasting negative effects on the body that may raise the risk of heart and kidney disease and other complications.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease where the bodys ability to use glucose or sugar as fuel is impaired. Our bodies produce a hormone called insulin which enables sugar from carbohydrates in food we eat to reach the cells and be used as energy. In type 2 diabetes, insulins ability to do its job is compromised, and over time the body actually produces less of it. This means less sugar in the cells for fuel, and more sugar in the blood where it cant be used. Having high levels of blood sugar over time can cause damage to vital organs like the heart, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.

Some risk factors that predispose people to developing type 2 diabetes, such as genetics and age, are not modifiable. Other risk factors, such as being overweight or having obesity, can be altered. This is why losing 5% to 10% of ones baseline weight by healthful eating and physical activity remains the backbone of type 2 diabetes management.

The blood sugar goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C of below 7%. (A1C is a measure of a persons average blood sugar over a period of about three months.) In many people, diet and exercise are not enough to reach this goal, and one or more medications may be needed. Metformin is a tried and tested medicine that has been used for many decades to treat type 2 diabetes, and is recommended by most experts as first-line therapy. It is affordable, safe, effective, and well tolerated by most people.

When metformin does not adequately control blood sugar, another medication must be added. It is at this point that doctors and patients must choose among the many drugs and drugs classes available to treat type 2 diabetes. In general, for people who are at low risk of heart disease or have no history of diabetic kidney disease, most diabetes medications that are added to metformin effectively reduce blood sugars and can lower A1C to under 7%.

So, how to choose a medication? Each person with diabetes has their own goals, needs, and preferences. Before choosing a medicine, it is important to ask some relevant questions: Is my blood sugar at goal? Is this medicine affordable? Do I have heart or kidney disease? What are the side effects? Is it a pill or injection, and how often is it taken?

Regardless of which treatment is selected, the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care recommends reassessment of diabetes control every three to six months, followed by modifications to treatment if needed.

Lately, newer treatment options for type 2 diabetes glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been heavily advertised. These newer drug classes lower blood sugar and also have cardiovascular and kidney benefits.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are drugs that lower blood sugar after eating by helping your bodys insulin work more efficiently. All drugs in this group except one are self-injected under the skin, either daily or weekly. Several of them, such as liraglutide (Victoza), semaglutide (Ozempic), and dulaglutide (Trulicity), have been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in people who are at high risk for it, or who have pre-existing heart disease. They also promote weight loss. Some people who take GLP-1 receptor agonists may have side effects such as nausea and vomiting, and in very rare cases pancreatitis.

SGLT2 inhibitors like empagliflozin (Jardiance), canagliflozin (Invokana), dapagliflozin (Farxiga), and ertugliflozin (Steglatro) are also a newer class of medications that work by blocking your kidneys from reabsorbing sugar back into your body. They also have cardiovascular benefits, especially in those who have heart failure, and have been shown to slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease. Other benefits include lowering blood pressure and promoting weight loss. Use of these medications may increase the risk of genital yeast infections, especially in women. A rare but serious consequence of SGLT2 inhibitors is diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency that can be avoided by stopping these medications in consultation with your doctor before major surgeries, or if you are ill or fasting.

While these diabetes medications certainly have more to offer than just improvements in blood sugar, they remain costly and inaccessible to many individuals. This is why it is essential to have an open and honest conversation with your doctor about what is most important to you and what aligns with your goals and preferences. Management of a complex disease like diabetes takes an entire team, with you being the key team member.

Link:
Type 2 diabetes: Which medication is best for me? - Harvard Health Blog - Harvard Health

Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, significantly reduced the risk for pancreatic cancer in patients with obesity and diabetes, according to study results presented at UEG Week Virtual 2020.

Obesity and diabetes are well-known risk factors for pancreatic cancer via chronic inflammation, excess hormones and growth factors released by body fat, said Dr. Aslam Syed, fellow of gastroenterology and hepatology at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lead author of the study, said in a press release. Previously, bariatric surgery has been shown to improve high blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, and our research shows that this surgery is a viable way in reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer in this growing, at-risk group.

In this study, data from 1,435,350 patients with obesity and diabetes were assessed over a 20-year period. Of these patients, 10,620 (73% women) underwent bariatric surgery, during which the digestive system is changed to help patients lose weight.

Patients who underwent bariatric surgery were less likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared with those who did not undergo the surgery (0.32% vs. 0.19%).

Clinicians should consider bariatric surgery in patients with metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity to help reduce the risk and burden of pancreatic cancer, said Syed.

In the press release, Syed elaborated on the importance of pancreatic cancer prevention, especially since survival has not improved in this area for decades. The average survival time at diagnosis is particularly bleak for this silent killer, at just 4.6 months, with patients losing 98% of their healthy life expectancy, said Syed. Only 3% of patients survive more than five years.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, dont forget tosubscribe to CUREs newsletters here.

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Weight Loss Surgery May Reduce Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Patients With Diabetes and Obesity - Curetoday.com

Compared with men and patients with HIV not receiving integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), women are more susceptible to INSTI-associated weight gain, according to a study results presented at IDWeek, held virtually from October 21 to 25, 2020.

An emerging issue associated with INSTI antiretrovirals is excessive weight gain. There is also a known association between excess weight and impaired glucose tolerance; however, the metabolic implications of INSTI-associated weight gain have not been established. Therefore, in the current study, researchers evaluated the prevalence of INSTI-associated weight gain among a diverse, urban population, and investigated potential risk factors and metabolic implications.

Of the 612 patients included in the study, 123 were initiated with INSTIs and 489 with alternative anchor regimens (non-INSTIs). Patients with a diabetes mellitus (DM) prescription before antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation were excluded. Researchers compared patients who were initiated with INSTIs with those with an alternative regimen who remained on their initial regimen for at least 18 months. In total, 237 patients (38.7%) were women, had an average age of 41.56 years, and an average body mass index (BMI) of 25.55 (range, 22.9-28.9); 339 patients (55.4%) were Black/African American.

The primary outcome of the study was percent weight change in the first 24 months of ART. The secondary outcome was incident DM diagnosis in the 19 months after ART using progression-free survival.

Results suggested that women were more susceptible to INSTI-associated weight gain. The INSTI vs non-INSTI cohort experienced a higher percent weight gain in the first 24 months post-ART initiation. Furthermore, women vs men in the INSTI cohort experienced a higher percent weight gain in the first 24 months (+9.57%; P =.002).

The adjusted multivariable analysis of 24-month weight gain due to INSTIs showed a weight gain of 1.68% (95% CI, -3.88% to 7.24%) in White men, 2.08% (-2.52% to 6.68%) in non-White men, 10.62% (2.83%-18.41%) in White women, and 11.02% (5.17-16.88) in non-White women.

Compared to non-INSTI regimens, the use of INSTIs was also associated with more incident DM diagnoses in the first 18 months of ART (hazard ratio, 3.27; P =.014).

Women having higher INSTI-associated weight gain suggests they may be more susceptible to adverse metabolic issues, the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Several study authors declared affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors disclosures.

Reference

Asundi A, Olson A, Jiang W, et al. Risk factors and metabolic implications of integrase inhibitor associated weight gain. Presented at: IDWeek 2020; October 21-25, 2020. Poster 946.

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Women Show Higher INSTI-Associated Weight Gain and Incident Diabetes Mellitus Than Men - Infectious Disease Advisor

Research suggests that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lets try to understand how these two conditions are related. Also Read - That stubborn acne could be a sign of PCOS: Know how they are related

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that is common among women of reproductive age. It is a condition in which the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, also called male sex hormones. The hormonal imbalance can interfere with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation) and cause irregular periods, acne, and excess hair growth on the face and body. Also Read - Ayurvedic treatment of PCOS: Herbs used to manage the symptoms

Women with PCOS are also often insulin resistant, a risk factor for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is when your body cant respond properly to the insulin it makes and cant use glucose from your blood for energy. Over time this results in elevated levels of glucose in the blood and increases risk for type 2 diabetes. Also Read - Beat PCOS with these easy lifestyle changes

Insulin resistance is believed to play a role in causing PCOS as well as exacerbating its symptoms.

The pancreas, a gland in the abdomen, produces insulin in response to increased blood levels of glucose that comes from the food you eat. Insulin allows the cells throughout the body to absorb glucose which serves as energy to them. When someone has insulin resistance, the cells do not respond to insulin as efficiently as it should be, leading to high glucose levels in the blood. Insulin resistance usually precedes type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance may also contribute to inflammation and other metabolic complications associated with PCOS. However, the relationship between these two conditions are not very clear yet. Moreover, not all women with insulin resistance develop PCOS.

Some experts opine that obesity-associated insulin resistance alters the function of the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that helps control the release of hormones from the pituitary gland. This leads to increased production of androgenic hormones, which contribute to PCOS.

As insulin is an appetite stimulant, an increase in appetite could be a symptom of insulin resistance. This may explain why women with PCOS experience frequent cravings for sweets. An increase in appetite may lead to weight gain, which in turn increases risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Insulin resistance may cause high blood sugar levels for a prolonged time after eating. This can lead to symptoms like decreased energy, increased thirst, and frequent urination. Over time, it can lead to type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.

Therefore, women with PCOS are recommended to regularly check for insulin resistance. Early detection can allow earlier initiation of treatment. Fasting Blood Glucose Test: Glucose Tolerance Test: Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1C are common tests used to screen for insulin resistance.

If you have PCOS, incorporating some healthy lifestyle habits including daily exercise and a well-balanced diet can help prevent developing diabetes. Cut down on fats and sugars, eat more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Being overweight is associated with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance also runs in families. But no matter what caused the insulin resistance, losing weight will help improve symptoms associated with it.

Published : November 11, 2020 7:26 pm

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PCOS and Diabetes: Whats the connection? - TheHealthSite

Photo by Milan Popovic on UnsplashHealth

It's been a quite a week and an extraordinary year. If you're feeling anxious, know you're not alone. We asked the experts to share practical tips for how to cope in these difficult times.

This year has put all of us through the emotional wringer. And if youre struggling to cope with it all, well, youre not alone.

A report released in October by the American Psychological Association revealed nearly one in five adults (19 percent) believe their mental health is worse than this time last year. Unfortunately, that percentage may only increase in the coming months as the pandemic continues to worsen in Colorado and across the country.

Were forecasting a rough mental health winter for a lot of people, says Justin Ross, clinical psychologist at the UCHealth Integrative Medicine Center in Central Park. The good news: There are simple steps we can take to make 2020 (and beyond) feel a bit more bearable. We asked Ross and two other local mental health experts how Coloradans can best cope.

If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255, or text TALK to 38255.

Feel your feelings. Then, track them. First things first: Give yourself permission to feel crappy right now. What were feeling is completely normal and 100 percent human, explains Ross. Were supposed to be anxious and upset and scared and sad when our lives are disrupted on such a high magnitude. Its also important to label what youre feeling, he adds, as doing so can lessen the intensity of your emotions and provide the space you need to actually deal with them. Saying something as simple as Im noticing Im feeling anxious is a good place to start.

From there, pay close attention to your daily thoughts and actionsa process Ross describes as tracking and for which there are appsto see if you can correlate behavioral habits with mood and thus make tweaks to your routine as needed. Its imperativeespecially as we enter a colder, darker season, that were paying really close attention to maintaining healthy thoughts and healthy daily behaviors, he says.

Accept what you cant control. A big reason for our collective anxiety right now is that many stressorsthe pandemic, the election, the recessionare out of our control. And while these circumstances are undoubtedly undesirable, saying things like This is so awful and I cant cope isnt going to help. In fact, that rhetoric will probably make you feel worse, says clinical psychologist Antonia Pieracci, PhD, co-founder of CBT Denver. Instead, try to accept the stressors that are out of your influence (like the fact that we dont know when the pandemic is going to end) and redirect your energy to things you can control (for example, goals you want to accomplish in the upcoming months). Doing so will help you feel empowered and like youve regained agency over your life.

Practice gratitude. Theres a lot of strong research that shows practicing gratitude can enhance your well-being, says Jenn Leiferman, PhD, director of the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center and a founder of the Population Mental Health and Wellbeing Program at the Colorado School of Public Health. This isnt about donning rose-colored glasses, but instead involves reflecting on whats going well in your world as a way to shift into a more positive mindset. Simple gratitude exercises, like listing three things youre grateful for everyday, can be really powerful, says Leiferman.

Find safe ways to connect. Social interaction is critical to our health. We need other people to function well, to survive, says Pieracci, referencing research that shows people who have active social lives live longer, are at less risk for dementia, and have better physical and mental health. Connectedness helps protect us during times of uncertainty, adds Leiferman, so its important to stay in regular touch with your community right now. If in-person get-togethers arent possible because of the pandemic, schedule weekly phone calls, commit to regular Zoom dates, or keep in touch the old-fashioned way by sending letters and photos in the mail. Even going for a walk and smiling at passersby can help, says Pieracci.

Try something new. Feeling despondent? Start a new hobby that engages your brain, suggests Pierraci. Doing something novel like learning a new language or practicing a new sport can help redirect your attention in a healthy way. It will also keep things feeling fresh and give you something to focus on in the months to come, adds Ross.

Meditate. Meditation, Ross explains, can help alleviate the physiological symptoms of anxiety, which include elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, and surges of adrenaline and cortisol. Meditation can also help reorient your thoughts, he adds. Dont know how to meditate? Learn with an app. Ross recommends Headspace, Calm, 10 Percent Happier, and Insight Timer (on which he is an instructor).

Limit doom scrolling. Its important to stay informed on whats going on in the world, but constantly consuming the news can increase feelings of hopelessness, says Pieracci. To strike a healthy balance, set both a time and a source limit for your social media consumption, suggests Ross. For example, commit to spending just five minutes every hour on social media and visit just two platforms during that time.

Get outside. Spending time in nature can be very therapeutic, and you dont need to drive anywhere to get your fix, says Leiferman. Go on a walk in your neighborhood, visit a local park, or simply sit in your backyard. While youre there, Leiferman suggests asking yourself: What are two things Im hearing right now? Two things Im seeing? Two things Im smelling?Turning your attention to your senses can help clear anxious thoughts and center your mind in the moment.

Exercise and practice basic self-care. Protect your well-being this winter by exercising, eating healthy, limiting alcohol consumption, and getting enough sleep, says Leiferman. Exercise, in particular, can have a powerful effectPieracci cites a 2019 study published in Depression and Anxiety that concluded exercising in any form for three hours a week may lower risk of depression. So if you find your mood dipping, sneak in some movement. It neednt be a full-blown workout; small bursts of activity, like jogging up and down your stairs a couple times, walking your dog an extra mile, or having a dance party in your kitchen, can make a difference.

Weve all been a little (or a lot) on edge this year. But if your mental health has tanked to the point where its interfering with relationships or your ability to perform your job or complete school work, seek professional help, advises Pieracci. You should also talk to someone if you feel like youre suffering so much internally that youre barely able to hold things together, she adds. Yet another sign you should connect with a pro is if your mental health has notably nosedived and you just cant seem to get back to normal, says Ross.

Not sure where to turn? Consider Energize Colorado, an organization that contracts with therapists (including Pieracci) to offer free and low-cost therapy sessions to people who would not otherwise be able to afford such services right now. Their website also contains links to mental health support groups, a directory of Colorado-based mental health professionals, educational resources, and more. The Happiness Trap is another online resource with free mental health videos and resources, says Pieracci. And the Colorado School of Public Healths Population Mental Health and Wellbeing website, recommended by Leiferman, contains educational content and links to community resources.

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The Mental Health Advice We All Need Right Now - 5280 | The Denver Magazine

The global nutrigenomics testing market is estimated to surpass $1,079.9 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.0% from 2020 to 2027.

The report aims to offer a clear picture of the current scenario and future growth of the global Nutrigenomics Testing market. The report provides scrupulous analysis of global market by thoroughly reviewing several factors of the market such as vital segments, regional market condition, market dynamics, investment suitability, and key players operating in the market. Besides, the report delivers sharp insights into present and forthcoming trends & developments in the global market.

The report articulates the key opportunities and factors propelling the global Nutrigenomics Testing market growth. Also, threats and limitations that have the possibility to hamper the market growth are outlined in the report. Further, Porters five forces analysis that explains the bargaining power of suppliers and consumers, competitive landscape, and development of substitutes in the market is also sketched in the report.

For More Detail Insights, Download Sample Copy of the Report at: https://www.researchdive.com/download-sample/526

The report reveals various statistics such as predicted market size and forecast by analyzing the major factors and by assessing each segment of the global Nutrigenomics Testing market. Regional market analysis of these segments is also provided in the report. The report segments the global market into four main regions including Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and LAMEA. Moreover, these regions are sub-divided to offer an exhaustive landscape of the Nutrigenomics Testing market across key countries in respective regions. Furthermore, the report divulges some of the latest advances, trends, and upcoming opportunities in every region.

Furthermore, the report profiles top players active in the global Nutrigenomics Testing market. A comprehensive summary of 10 foremost players operating in the global market is delivered in the report to comprehend their position and footmark in the industry. The report highlights various data points such as short summary of the company, companys financial status and proceeds, chief company executives, key business strategies executed by company, initiatives undertaken & advanced developments by the company to thrust their position and grasp a significant position in the market.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research report is formed by collating different statistics and information concerning the Nutrigenomics Testing market. Long hours of deliberations and interviews have been performed with a group of investors and stakeholders, including upstream and downstream members. Primary research is the main part of the research efforts; however, it is reasonably supported by all-encompassing secondary research. Numerous product type literatures, company annual reports, market publications, and other such relevant documents of the leading market players have been studied, for better & broader understanding of market penetration. Furthermore, medical journals, trustworthy industry newsletters, government websites, and trade associations publications have also been evaluated for extracting vital industry insights.

Connect with Our Analyst to Contextualize Our Insights for Your Business:https://www.researchdive.com/connect-to-analyst/526

KEY MARKET BENEFITS

KEY MARKET SEGMENTS

The global Nutrigenomics Testing market is segmented on the basis of the following:

Global Nutrigenomics Testing Market By Applications:

Global Nutrigenomics Testing Market By Regions:

Top Leading key players stated in Global Nutrigenomics Testing Market report are:

Holistic Heal, GeneLink, Cura Integrative Medicine, Nutrigenomix, GX Sciences, Interleukin Genetics, NutraGene, Metagenics, Pathway Genomics, Salugen, Genelex.

The report also summarizes other important aspects including financial performance, product portfolio, SWOT analysis, and recent strategic moves and developments of the leading players.

Contact Us:

Mr. Abhishek PaliwalResearch Dive30 Wall St. 8th Floor, New YorkNY 10005 (P)+ 91 (788) 802-9103 (India)+1 (917) 444-1262 (US) TollFree : +1 -888-961-4454Email:[emailprotected]LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/research-diveTwitter:https://twitter.com/ResearchDiveFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/Research-DiveBlog:https://www.researchdive.com/blogFollow us on:https://covid-19-market-insights.blogspot.com

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Development Trends: Nutrigenomics Testing Market by Top Key Players, Applications and Forecast to 2020-2027 - Zenit News

A burp is a common sign that you're, well, experiencing some gas. Chest pain, on the other hand, is a gas symptom that's way less discussed.

"Gas can cause more than just pain in the belly. Gas can be described as a stabbing pain or tightness in the chest, which mimics chest pain," Dr. Monisha Bhanote, MD, FCAP, an integrative medicine physician, said.

According to Dr. Bhanote, gas is created in the body two ways: by swallowing air and through the digestive process.

When one eats or drinks too quickly, they can swallow air, which may lead to gas accumulation in the stomach; so, eating slower could help, she explained.

As for digestion, Dr. Bhanote said that not all of the sugar, starch, and fiber one consumes is broken down in the small intestine. It passes onto the large intestine, where bacteria further breaks it down into carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and methane, which eventually leaves the body.

"Certain foods may also increase gas in individuals. This varies based not only on the food but on the bacterial colonization of the individual's gastrointestinal tract. Common culprits may include cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage [and] whole grains, as well as dairy products, soft drinks, beans, and some fruits."

Those experiencing chest pain should always consult a doctor about a diagnosis and treatment Dr. Bhanote stressed this if your gas is persistent and severe enough to affect your daily activities or cause changes in bowel movements, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or bloody stools. And if you're experiencing prolonged abdominal or chest pain that is out of the ordinary, Dr. Bhanote said to seek immediate care.

One topic worth discussing with your doctor is how to reduce gas by adjusting your eating habits. Dr. Bhanote suggested exploring possible food intolerances and eliminating unnecessary contributors to gas production, like carbonated beverages and sugar substitutes.

Slowing down when eating, avoiding drinking through a straw, and passing on chewing gum are easy ways to avoiding swallowing access air, she added.

And if you're unable to prevent gas from building up, there are some holistic approaches you can take (with a doctor's permission!) to feel better.

"Some herbal teas can aid in the digestive process and reduce gas. These may include any combination of ginger, peppermint, chamomile, or anise."

Additionaly, you can drink a glass of water with added apple cider vinegar before a meal to help prevent gas and bloating, Dr. Bhanote said. Getting active after a meal can also help by moving nutrients through your body more efficiently.

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Yes, Gas Can Cause Chest Pain Here's What You Need to Know - POPSUGAR

Trusted Business Insights answers what are the scenarios for growth and recovery and whether there will be any lasting structural impact from the unfolding crisis for the Complementary And Alternative Medicine market.

Trusted Business Insights presents an updated and Latest Study on Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market 2020-2029. The report contains market predictions related to market size, revenue, production, CAGR, Consumption, gross margin, price, and other substantial factors. While emphasizing the key driving and restraining forces for this market, the report also offers a complete study of the future trends and developments of the market.The report further elaborates on the micro and macroeconomic aspects including the socio-political landscape that is anticipated to shape the demand of the Complementary And Alternative Medicine market during the forecast period (2020-2029).It also examines the role of the leading market players involved in the industry including their corporate overview, financial summary, and SWOT analysis.

Get Sample Copy of this Report @ Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market 2020 and Forecast 2021-2027 Includes Business Impact Analysis of COVID-19

Report Overview: Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market

The global complementary and alternative medicine market size was projected at USD 58.1 billion in 2019, registering a CAGR of 18.8% over the forecast period 2021-2027. Yoga, meditation, magnetic intervention, acupuncture, and complementary wellness treatments are gaining immense popularity across developed countries. This can be attributed to wide acceptance of these alternative treatments among general population, further causing an upswing in the number of yoga studios, meditation centers, spas, and complementary wellness facilities.

Government initiatives play a pivotal role in boosting the adoption of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). In addition, increased funding, establishing government facilities dedicated to complementary therapies, and the expensive nature of conventional treatment options are some of the secondary factors encouraging companies to invest in the market for complementary and alternative medicine.

Regional government authorities and players are focusing on strengthening medical tourism associated with complementary and alternative medicine. Government authorities in India are heavily investing in the development and standardization of facilities pertaining to complementary medicine in recent years. For instance, Ministry of Ayush is set up by national authorities to govern research, development, education, and other facilities pertaining Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, and homeopathy.

Alternative medicine is expected to become more mainstream in the coming years, especially in developed countries. This can be attributed to a new acceptance displayed by physicians and doctors in U.S. toward alternative philosophies and treatments that were conventionally excluded from mainstream medicine.

Advent of integrative medicine has proven to be profitable for propelling the penetration of complementary and alternative treatment. Professionals state that integrative medicine has the potential to address an array of patients influences, including environmental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.

Robust investments in this direction began in 2016 and have continued since then. For instance, Andrew Krupp, a late philanthropist granted approximately USD 30 million to the Center for Integrative Medicine, California for a research program. This program was designed to analyze the potential benefits of exercise, diet, and natural therapeutics in the treatment of various chronic ailments, such as cancer and heart disease.

Intervention Insights: Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market

Gradual expansion of alternative interventions, such as energy healing, is expected to drive the complementary and alternative medicine market. For instance, The Healing Company headquartered in England exhibits a diverse portfolio of complementary therapies, including reflexology, reiki, and havening techniques. Havening is a breakthrough complementary therapeutic approach developed to treat patients suffering from trauma and mental stress.Furthermore, magnetic therapy is gaining significant traction among professionals operating in the field of traditional medicine. Still in its nascent stage, a few clinical trials have stated the potential benefits of magnetic field therapy in pain management, which is set to boost its penetration across medical settings.

For instance, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a research institution and cancer treatment center offer magnet therapy using different products, including Bioflex magnets, magnet therapy mattresses, and MagnaBloc.

Distribution Method Insights: Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market

The direct sales distribution segment is the largest contributor to the revenue generated by the global market for complementary and alternative medicine. This can be attributed to the fact that most frequently performed complementary and alternative therapies require direct interaction with the patient.

These therapies include naturopathy, energy healing, magnetic intervention, and acupuncture, associated with direct sales by practitioners to the patients. Also, soaring demand achieved by distance correspondence-based alternative medicine has contributed to the highest CAGR of this segment.

Majority of the practitioners operate at micro business level and are more inclined toward achieving the required therapeutic expertise as compared with their marketing skills. However, growing medicinal and economic significance of complementary and alternative medicine is expected to enhance the distribution methods targeted toward strengthening revenue generation.

Regional Insights: Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market

Europe is expected to account for the highest revenue throughout the forecast period followed by the Asia Pacific region. Wide acceptance of alternative treatment approaches and rising patient preference toward the same is boosting the regional market for complementary and alternative medicine.

Expanding research efforts with regard to CAM have been witnessed in U.K.; this is also supplemented by stringent regulations and laws imposed on the practitioners to ensure appropriate administration of complementary and alternative medicine therapies. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), U.K., recommends the use of manual therapy in pain management, acupressure to reduce morning sickness, and Alexander technique for the treatment of Parkinsons disease.

The fact that ancient medicine originated in the Asia Pacific countries, including China, Japan, and India, offers regional companies with a competitive edge in terms of CAM expertise and education. Popular complementary and alternative medicine therapies introduced by Chinese include Reiki, tai chi, and energy healing, whereas yoga, chakra healing, and Ayurveda have originated in India.Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Share Insights

Some of the major players include

The market for complementary and alternative medicine is largely fragmented owing to presence of numerous medium and large-sized players. Several strategic initiatives such as portfolio expansions and marketing programs have been adopted by market players to maintain their market presence.For instance, in July 2019, Columbia Nutritional developed a novel process with multi-phase onboarding aspect suitable for efficient launch of latest products online while meeting customers specifications. This strategy was targeted toward maintaining Minimum Order Quantity (MOQs) that would further enhance the quality of service offered.

On the other hand, in December 2018, Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute arranged an exposition for 12 days, wherein 1,200 students from approximately 53 countries were involved. This exposition helped promote the practice of yoga among the youth.This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. Trusted Business Insights has segmented the global complementary and alternative medicine market report based on intervention, distribution method, and region:

Intervention Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016 2027)

Distribution Method Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2016 2027)

Looking for more? Check out our repository for all available reports on Complementary And Alternative Medicine in related sectors.

Quick Read Table of Contents of this Report @ Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market 2020 and Forecast 2021-2027 Includes Business Impact Analysis of COVID-19

Trusted Business InsightsShelly ArnoldMedia & Marketing ExecutiveEmail Me For Any ClarificationsConnect on LinkedInClick to follow Trusted Business Insights LinkedIn for Market Data and Updates.US: +1 646 568 9797UK: +44 330 808 0580

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By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | November 9, 2020 10:00:56 amHere's why walking barefoot on earth is good for your health. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Have you ever thought why it feels good to walk in a lush green garden or when you are at a hill station or the beach? That is simply because you are in close proximity to nature and it is said that the closer you are with nature, the happier and healthier you become. And one such practise that helps you connect with nature is grounding or walking barefoot on the ground or clean grass. It is a therapeutic lifestyle change if you have access to a garden or clean soil, says Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach Integrative Medicine.

All living creatures on earth, besides adults, maintain their contact with the soil. Our modern lifestyle separates humans from such contact. We sleep on beds, walk with shoes, etc., and this lost contact with earth or nature, in general, is why most of us are unhappy and ungrounded. Today, there are scientific studies proving the disconnect between nature and humans as a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and unwellness, he tells indianexpress.com.

ALSO READ | Fasting is not starvation or a fad, it is a discipline: Luke Coutinho

However, grounding doesnt mean sleeping on the floor, it is about having a little exposure to earth and soil. Below, he shares some benefits of the practice.

It can make one feel refreshed and more in sync with nature

Grounding is one of the best ways to connect with mother earth and nature. Walking barefoot on earth can give pleasure and peace if done mindfully. This is not possible on cement or tiled surfaces.

It develops mindfulness and awareness

Walking barefoot on the ground helps us tune into our awareness and makes us alert.

Reduces blood pressure

Walking barefoot on the ground can help us feel relaxed, calm and safe almost instantly, thereby having a positive effect on blood pressure. In naturopathy, it is recommended to walk for 10-15 minutes barefoot to the normalise blood pressure.

Reduces inflammation and pain

Earth has a special electrical power which gives vital force to any person walking barefoot on it. Science says that walking barefoot helps us absorb negative ions from the earth, and due to the direct physical contact, it allows a vast supply of electrons from the surface of the earth, similar to what lighting up Himalayan pink salt lamps do.

Boosts immunity and gut health

Exposing yourself to the soil and ground can benefit as the powerful microbes found in soil help build immunity naturally. Microbes enter our body through our skin, from under our nails and feed the good bacteria in our gut microflora making us stronger and healthier, thereby boosting our immune system. We live in a world thats full of antimicrobial handwashes, soaps chemically-laden shampoos, which is not a bad thing, but it wipes us off necessary microbes that also exist on our skin. Grounding can help us absorb some of the good bacteria.

Its a great acupressure

Walking barefoot helps activate several acupressure points on our foot due to its uneven surface. This can have a positive impact on our entire body.

Can improve feet hygiene

Our skin surface houses thousands of bacteria and when the bad bacteria outweigh the good, it could lead to bad odour. Mud is known to pull out these toxins and bad odour. This is why people in rural areas clean their houses by applying a mix of earth and water on the floors and walls and even wash their hands with mud after answering natures call. Things which are rotten are covered with earth.

Much in the same way, walking barefoot can pull out toxins from the soles of our feet and increase the number of good bacteria on the skin surface, thereby boosting foot hygiene. This, again, isnt possible when we wear shoes all the time.

There is a common notion that walking barefoot can induce cold and cough. However, this is incorrect. Ancient sages and holy men traditionally walked barefoot and gave training to their disciples to do the same. Whether you catch a cold or not, is on your immunity, mentions Coutinho.

Hence, it is a good idea to adopt this practice especially if you have access to nature or do it once in a while whenever you get a chance.

Note: Please practice caution in case of diabetes, as any cut or injury due to walking barefoot on soil or grass can lead to further complications.

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Why walking barefoot on soil is good for you; a lifestyle coach explains - The Indian Express

Life as a new mom is hard as it is. Factor in a pandemic, spending months indoors, and having to wear a face mask to do basic things like head to doctor appointments and grocery store run, and it's completely understandable if your new mom friends are ready to pull their hair out. Now is the perfect time to show them just how solid of a support system they have in you with a gift to help ease their day-to-day challenges.

While they may not be dealing with the woes or homeschooling just yet, learning the ins-and-outs of caring for a new baby, all while trying to maintain some semblance of a self-care routine is a hell of a lot of work. Show them some love with these helpful items that'll make life as a new mom a lot more comfortable.

Between the pregnancy acne and chafing from nursing, dealing with pre- and post-baby skin can feel like it's on a wild roller coaster ride. Help your mom friends and family keep their skin soft, soothed, and chap-free with the help of Mutha Body Butter, a whipped blend of moisturizing shea, cocoa, and mango butters. Or for those areas that need a bit more love, Lano's Golden Dry Skin Salve is a multi-purpose balm that heals cracked, lips, hands, and heels.

And with its mousse-like texture and cocoa butter and jojoba oil-laced formula, the Allure Best of Beauty-winning Ever Lavish Ultra Rich Body Butter is an even more luxurious moisturizing gift to give.

The Conscious Coconut Home Bath Bundle comes with a jar of organic coconut oil and a dry brushing tool to exfoliate rough skin. New moms in your life who are already familiar with the fan-favorite Bio-Oil original formula will likely be into the brand's newest launch, the Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel. Thirty years after the launch of its first product, Bio-Oil introduced a gel-to-oil formula with glycerin and urea to help moisturize intensely dry skin. It's a perfect addition to any unpredictable, post-pregnancy skin-care routine.

The Burt's Bees Tips and Toes Kit Gift Set was made especially for dry extremities. The six-piece set has a hand cream, foot cream, multi-purpose salve, cuticle cream, lip balm, and travel-size hand cream all with skin-nourishers like sweet almond oil and vitamin E.

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23 New Mom Gifts Thatll Make The First Year Less Stressful - Allure

Two European leaders in biopharma and integrative software are working together to advance drug discovery

Synthace Ltd and Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on innovation and specialty care, have partnered to accelerate development of novel biotherapeutics targeting multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, endocrinology, pain management, regenerative medicine and rare diseases. Ipsen has automated design and construction of therapeutic candidates using Synthaces integrative software platform, Antha. The process aims to speed up biotherapeutic candidate entry into the screening pipeline and shorten development time for treatment of diseases via targeted secretion inhibition.

Ipsen has developed novel biotherapeutic molecules, called Targeted Secretion Inhibitors TSIs. (TSIs are a fusion of select parts of the botulinum neurotoxin with another protein domain) to redirect its mode of action, resulting in a unique targeted therapeutic. The design and construction of TSIs is both labor intensive and manually complex, typically taking 30 days to develop between 24-48 constructs which then go on to therapeutic screening.

The Ipsen R&D team required a solution to increase throughput and efficiency of its TSI generation and screening pipeline, while utilizing its Type IIs construct assembly method. They looked to fellow innovators Synthace, whose flexible and integrative software Antha has built-in workflows for automating processes such as Type II construct assembly, bacterial transformation, plating, data generation and analysis.

Synthaces Antha platform allowed the Ipsen team to plan, simulate, and test their assemblies in silico before executing the protocol. The partnership of Antha and Ipsen produced approximately 90 constructs five times faster than previous methods, substantially increasing the number of molecules entering the screening cascade. Antha was also able to increase efficiency by re-using core DNA building blocks for multiple construct assemblies, resulting in a 10-fold reduction in costs associated with DNA synthesis.

Dr Karen Bunting, Director of Protein Science at Ipsen said, The development of novel biotherapeutics like TSI is key to treating debilitating illnesses across multiple therapeutic areas. The first step in this is generating and screening high-quality molecules as therapeutic candidates. Using Antha, our team increased throughput at this crucial step, allowing us to design, construct, and screen novel TSI candidates rapidly and helping to advance our therapeutic solutions.

Drug discovery is a costly and laborious process where thousands of candidates are generated, screened and validated, but only a select few are chosen to move forward in the pipeline. Pharma companies are turning to automation and software to aid in the design, construction and screening of these compounds, reducing costs and increasing efficiency without compromising on quality.

To achieve this, biopharmaceutical companies like Ipsen are partnering with specialists in integrating the digital and physical aspects of R&D, providing an easy-to-use interface between scientists, design software, automated devices, and data handling downstream. This flexible, integrated approach to the discovery process has clear advantages in boosting efficiency at the earliest stages of drug development, with the ultimate goal of making more effective treatment options available to patients sooner.

Tim Fell, CEO of Synthace concluded, We are thrilled to see our Antha platform applied to develop new biotherapeutics. Antha has accelerated Ipsens TSI construction and screening programme while reducing costs and the time scientists spent in the lab. Automating processes like these allows scientists to focus on experimental design and data analysis rather than liquid handling, enabling them to create more beneficial therapeutics for patients.

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Synthace joins Ipsen to accelerate therapeutic development - SelectScience

Dana Laake and her special guest Dr. Liz Lipski will discuss the keys to optimal digestive wellness.

Dr. Liz Lipski holds a PhD in clinical nutrition and is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition (FACN). She has two board certifications in clinical nutrition (CNS and BCHN) and one in functional medicine (IFMCP), and is on the faculty for The Institute for Functional Medicine and the Metabolic Medicine Institute fellowship program. Dr. Lipski is on the board of the American Nutrition Association, and advisory boards for the International Association of Health Coaches and the Autism Hope Alliance. She is a professor and director of academic development for graduate programs in clinical nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health, and the owner of the Innovative Healing Academy.She has been a co-author in peer-reviewed papers and is the author of three books, Digestive Wellness, Digestive Wellness for Children and Leaky Gut Syndrome, and a video course, The Art of Digestive Wellness.

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The Keys to Optimal Digestive Wellness - Federal News Network

This year has exposed the vulnerabilities of traditional fee-for-service practices in ways we could never have foreseen, says Bauer. And 2020 has also underscored the resilience and rewards of the Specialdocs model of personalized medicine and inspired rising numbers of physicians to consider this beneficial alternative for themselves and their patients. At this pivotal point in American healthcare, we are privileged to share with Concierge Medicine Forum attendees our collective experience and first-person stories of transformation from our network of dedicated doctors.

Michael Tetreault, CMF organizer and editor of Concierge Medicine Today, says: The virtual format enables us to host a more diverse gathering of healthcare professionals than ever before, and offer 24/7 on-demand access to insights from the industrys most creative minds. Were thrilled to feature groups like Specialdocs, pioneers and continual innovators in the concierge medicine space.

Specialdocs will be featured at events including: (all ET)

Thursday, Nov. 12th Pre-conference workshop

Friday, Nov. 13th

After 2 pm

Saturday, Nov. 14th

Since 2002, concierge medicine transition and management experts Specialdocs Consultants have helped physicians nationwide transform their practices with a uniquely customized and sustainable concierge model.

Contact: Mindy Kolof, [emailprotected]

SOURCE Specialdocs Consultants

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Specialdocs Informs and Inspires at Concierge Medicine Industry's Signature Event Nov. 12th 14th - Virtual-Strategy Magazine

Whos the chica? my nosy neighbor asked when he saw Natasha Khallouf climb into her car and take off. I wanted to tell him to mind his own business. Instead, I said, Shes a doctor. No doubt about it, Dr. Khallouf stood out in my backyard. Her cannabis brand, Mindzright, also stands out in Sonoma County, as does her cannabis farm,Agricola Flower.

A Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DAOM), and an L.Ac, Khallouf runs a Sebastopol clinic, On Point Integrative, where she integrates acupuncture with herbs and helps educate patients about nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

I think of her not only as a doctor of Chinese medicine and a marijuana grower, but also as a curandera, which translates from Spanish to English as healer. Curanderos often provide the first line of defense against aches, pains, colds and the blues throughout Latin America and in parts of the U.S. In some ways, Western medicine is still catching up with curandero lore and folk remedies, including the use of cannabis.

Raised in a trilingual home in SoCalher mother was born in Nicaragua, her father in LebanonKhallouf cut her eye teeth on the streets of L.A. She began to use cannabis at an early age and was fortunate, she tells me, to encounter and explore many of the citys alternative communities, hear all kinds of musicincluding reggae and classic rockand rub shoulders with intellectuals.

Along the way to becoming a doctor, she learned cannabis has been cultivated for thousands of years. Indeed, it shows up prominently in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, the classic Chinese text on herbs, agriculture and acupuncture which was written nearly 2,000 years ago and is still used as a reference guide.

In 1996, when California voters approved Prop. 215, which ushered in the era of medical marijuana, Khallouf stepped into the breach to link cultivators, patients and health care providers, and offered helpful suggestions about the best strains for particular ailments, how much to use and how often and what methods were the most effective.

When the pandemic arrived this winter, followed by fires, heat and smoke, Khallouf refocused her practice and began to devote herself to the care of the undocumented and farm workers at risk.

As a single woman with two children, she says she can feel marginalized in Sonoma County, even among the cannabis crowd. She draws strength from her inner reserves and the communities she serves. Id go to her clinic and ask for acupuncture and herbs, both of which I have made use of for decades. One day my nosy neighbor might say, You rock, chica.

Jonah Raskin is the author of Dark Past, Dark Future: A Tioga Vignetta Murder Mystery.

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The Healer Is In | Rolling Papers - North Bay Bohemian

The promise of treatment or cure of many chronic illnesses has led to thousands of patients worldwide travelling internationally to receive Stem Cell Treatment. This is what has come to be known as stem cell tourism.

The medical facilities offer Stem Cell Treatment to treat conditions like Spinal Cord Injury, Alzheimers and Parkinsons by introducing stem cells into the patients bodies. The stem cells would then develop into new tissue or cells and repair damage caused by illness or injury.

Such clinics are mainly spread across Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. Patients from the West the United States, Western Europe and Australia travel to these facilities to receive treatment. The main reason for this travel is that the approval of drugs in the East is faster and more accommodative than in western countries.

One of the Bloomberg Businessweek publications told the story of an American man who travelled to China to receive treatment for paralysis caused by severe Spinal Cord Injury.

24-year-old Chuck Melton suffered a head injury and a severe spinal cord injury after a diving accident. He remained paralysed from the chest down for five years with no hope for a cure in the US. He then opted to travel to China to receive Stem Cell Treatment.

He was injected with stem cells into his spine and was showing significant improvement a week later. His doctors noted that the involuntary muscle spasms in his legs had stopped. He was also able to perspire for the first time since the injury. This allowed him to spend time outdoors without endangering his life.

Five years after the treatment, he may not be able to walk but his quality of life has improved greatly. Before the procedure, Melton has told the media that he hoped to walk again but would be satisfied with any improvement in his condition.

Many conventional researchers may fault the treatment options offered by Stem Cell Treatment facilities in the East for lack of orderly research but for the patient whose time is limited, it is their only hope. With success stories such as Meltons, stem cell researchers are willing and have come out to defend their work.

The researchers have unequivocally stated that conventional medicine is not the only way to treat patients. It was noted that even some crucial treatment procedures in modern medicine bypassed the customary approval route. One such procedure is heart transplantation, it was quickly co-opted by heart surgeons worldwide (before orderly research) after Dr. Christiaan Barnards first successful procedure.

H/T:Stem Cell Tourism

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Stem Cell Tourism: Providing Hope For Treatment Away From ...

Stem cell therapy has the potential to improve the quality of life for many patients with chronic diseases such as; diabetes, Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, rheumatoid arthritis and many other inflammatory diseases. Esthetic treatments like anti-aging options, weigh-loss, and hormone treatments are also showing great potential in the wellness/medical tourism field in Costa Rica.

McKinsey and Company, an influential global consulting company, reported that medical tourists from the United States and Canada, prefer Latin American countries including Costa Rica because of the short travel time, affordable costs, and the opportunity to enjoy a memorable vacation.

There are direct flights from many cities in the United States and Europe; it is only a 2.5-hour flight from Miami, Florida to San Jose, Costa Rica or a 3.5-hour flight from Houston, Texas. TheStem Cells Transplant Instituteis located close to the airport in Escazu, San Jose.

Treatment packages include a two-night stay at the beautifulIntercontinental Hotellocated just minutes from the clinic as well as shopping and restaurants. Another option for accommodations for patients to stay in would be theHotel Quality Real San Jos. From either location, you could enjoy the rich culture and heritage of San Jose by taking a VIP bus tour or, if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, venture out on your own to Avenida Central and visit the many museums, parks, shops and restaurants located along the avenue.

Traveling to Costa Rica for a stem cell treatment allows you the opportunity to explore a beautiful and diverse country. Approximately 2 million tourists come to explore the beauty of Costa Rica every year; they come to hike the rainforests, lounge on thebeachor relax in the hot springs. Costa Rica is also a bird watching paradise with more than 850 species, more species than the United States and Canada combined. However, if you are just looking to relax, the country also has some amazing spas located in the city or surrounded by the beauty and solitude of the rain forest. Many resorts specialize inyoga and wellness retreats, spas, and weight-loss programs. The Nicoya Peninsula around Tambor, Montezum and Mal Pais is largely undeveloped and a great place to go on some nature tours. For an ICT approved, excellent travel agency, for complete travel packages, contactCosta Rican Trails. Go to https://bancoinfo.co.cr for all bank locations and hours.

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Medical Tourism - Stem Cells Transplant Institute