StemCell Therapy

Too much stress can keep you up at night. A pressing deadline, watching the news, anxietysometimes you can find yourself tossing and turning, even though you are so tired from stress. Many research studies have linked stress to sleep issues, and insomnia. And now scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have pinpointed the neural circuit responsible for sleepless nights due to stress. Their findings also revealed that the same circuit induced changes in the immune system.

The mouse study, Hypothalamic circuitry underlying stress-induced insomnia and peripheral immunosuppression, is published in the journal Science Advances. The studys corresponding authors are Luis de Lecea, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and Shi-Bin Li, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in de Leceas lab.

The neural substrates of insomnia/hyperarousal induced by stress remain unknown. Here, we show that restraint stress leads to hyperarousal associated with strong activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus and hypocretin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, noted the researchers.

This sort of stress-induced insomnia is well known among anybody thats tried to get to sleep with a looming deadline or something the next day, explained Jeremy Borniger, PhD, a co-author of the study who was a former postdoc in de Leceas lab and is now an assistant professor at CSHL. And in the clinical world, its been known for a long time that chronically stressed patients typically do worse on a variety of different treatments and across a variety of different diseases.

The scientists discovered a connection between neurons sensitive to stress in the brain that motivated cortisols release and nearby neurons that promote insomnia. The researchers found that signals from the hormone-releasing brain cells have a strong effect on the insomnia-inducing neurons.

The researchers interfered with the connection, which enabled mice to sleep peacefully even after being exposed to a stressful situation. It seems like its a pretty sensitive switch, in that even very weak stimulation of the circuit can drive insomnia, Borniger added.

To their surprise, they also discovered the immune system went under extensive changes to cell distribution by the connection. The amount of immune cells in the blood, as well as signaling pathways inside, were disrupted. The researchers were able to mimic the changes simply by stimulating the same neurons that link stress to insomnia.

Single-cell mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) revealed extensive changes to immune cell distribution and functional responses in peripheral blood during hyperarousal upon optogenetic stimulation of CRHPVN neurons simulating stress-induced insomnia, observed the authors.

Looking towards the future, Borniger is interested in discovering how distinct circuits in the brain can be manipulated that are associated with systemic inflammation such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. if we can understand and manipulate the immune system using the natural circuitry in the body rather than using a drug that hits certain targets within the system, I think that would be much more effective in the long run, because it just co-opts the natural circuits in the body, Borniger concluded.

Their work highlights a new potential target for the treatment of insomnia and stress-induced changes in systemic physiology.

Original post:
The Neural Circuit That Fuses Stress, Insomnia, and the Immune System - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Coronavirus prevention: Vitamin C, vitamin D and other key nutrients to keep your immune system healthy  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: As the threat of the novel coronavirus infection continues to spread worldwide, having an optimally functioning immune system is more important than ever. In fact, some experts advise that taking supplements containing vitamin C and vitamin D may help boost immunity to fight COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. The good news is, following a healthful, balanced diet consisting of a variety of foods loaded with nutrients and antioxidants can help strengthen your immunity.

The food you eat can have an impact on your thoughts, action, behaviour, mood, temper and well-being. Similarly, it also impacts immensely on the immune system. The immune system acts as a first line of defense towards the invasion by micro-organisms and foreign bodies. Eating a well-balanced diet loaded with essential macro and micronutrients is very important to build strong immunity. But, did you know the role diet plays in keeping your immune system healthy?

The role of nutritional support for immune function can be traced back to 1800 BC when studies proved that malnourishment leads to poor immune outcome. For instance, proteins, as we know are considered to be the building blocks of life. They also make up hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, immune cells and antibodies. Similarly, the carbohydrates serve as a quick fuel and lipids acts as a reserved energy. Also, micronutrients like vitamins, minerals and water are equally important. Focusing on nutrition, regular physical activity, stress management and getting enough sleep or rest can contribute to a stronger immune system.

Additionally, dietary interventionhas promisingly proven that it can improve gut health, which influences the balance of your immune system. Studies using animal models with gut inflammation have shown significant improvement in terms of reducing the gut inflammation using probiotics or certain fermented foods. Good hut health can help improve your immunity. The community of microbes that lives in the GI tract is collectively called as gut microbiota. Any harm done to this community will have a direct impact on health posing a serious risk of developing chronic illness.

Some micronutrients and dietary components like vitamins C, D, amino acids and certain minerals such as zinc, selenium play a specific role in maintaining an effective immune system, said Divya R, senior executive nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Jayanagar, Bangalore. Here are some key nutrients that can help boost your immunity and protect you from infections, including COVID-19:

Protein: Plays a vital role in bodys healing, repair and recovery mechanism. Also, antibodies and immune cells rely on proteins. Eating a variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meat, poultry, eggs, beans and peas, soy products and unsalted nuts and seeds, milk and dairy products will help in maintaining optimal health.

Vitamins: A vitamin is a substance that makes you ill if you dont eat it. Among them vitamins A, B, C, D and E are considered to be playing a major role in boosting immunity. They act as effective antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and promote healthy gut microbiota. They also stimulate antibody formation and supports cellular function.

Sources of vitamins

Minerals: Zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium, copper etc, are very important for optimal immune system function. Sources include Whole grains, dal and pulses, seeds, millets, green leafy vegetables, poultry, eggs, fishes etc.

Probiotics: Probiotics are specific strains of live bacteria present in certain foods. They can help boost the immune system and inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria. Some probiotics have been shown to promote the production of natural antibodies in the body. Sources include fermented milk, yogurt, kefir and other fermented food products.

Prebiotics: Prebiotics stimulates the immune system by directly or indirectly increasing the population of probiotics in the gut. Sources are banana, barley, flax seeds, apple, garlic etc.

Water: Staying well hydrated is very important to ward off infections and also to eliminate toxins and harmful bacteria that may cause infections. Plain water is the best fluid. Other forms of fluids can be coconut water, lime water, buttermilk, soups, infused water, etc.

Always rely on these medicinal value of herbs and spices from your kitchen garden as a cure-all remedy. Herbs like tulsi, methi, ashwagandha, aloe vera, and spices like pepper, cloves, turmeric etc, are all antifungal, antibacterial agents loaded with antibiotic and antioxidant properties.

Supplementing regularly with these essential food constituents will help in lowering the risk of being infected as they help in boosting up the immunity against a wide range of disease-causing microbes.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

See more here:
Coronavirus prevention: Vitamin C, vitamin D and other key nutrients to keep your immune system healthy - Times Now

By Paul Gill and Menno van Zelm, Monash University

The Oxford vaccine trial at the centre of safety concerns this week highlights the idea that peoples immune systems respond to vaccines differently.

We dont yet know whether reports of immune complications in one or two trial participants have been linked to the COVID-19 vaccine itself, or if they were given the placebo vaccine.

But it does highlight the importance of phase 3 clinical trials in many thousands of people, across continents. These not only tell us whether a vaccine is safe, but also whether it works for people of different ages or with particular health issues.

So what are some of the immune factors that determine whether any of the 180 or so COVID-19 vaccine candidates being developed around the world actually work?

An effective vaccine should generate long-lasting protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

This can be by generating antibodies to neutralise the virus and likely also by helping the immune system memorise and quickly respond to infection.

How vaccines work with your immune system to protect against disease.

We know, from developing vaccines against other viruses, that peoples immune response to a vaccine can vary. Theres every reason to believe this will also be the case for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Many COVID-19 vaccine candidates contain parts of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to stimulate protective immunity. However, there are many different ways of delivering these proteins to the body, and some may be more effective than others at stimulating your immune system.

For example, the Oxford vaccine combines the spike protein with another virus to mimic the actions of SARS-CoV-2.

Meanwhile, the candidate developed by the University of Queensland contains the spike protein packaged with another compound (an adjuvant) to stimulate the immune system.

Some people will likely need a follow-up booster shot to ensure longer-lasting immunity.

We may also see some vaccines delivered as a nasal spray. This may elicit a more effective immune response to COVID-19 in the upper respiratory tract, including the nostrils, mouth and throat.

Previous infections may prime our immune system to respond differently to vaccination.

For instance, the SARS-CoV-2 virus belongs to a large family of human coronaviruses, four of which are responsible for common colds.

Being exposed to these cold-causing coronaviruses, and developing immune memory cells against them, may mean a stronger or quicker response to a COVID-19 vaccine.

Some people have poor protective immune responses to COVID-19 vaccine candidates. These people may have existing immunity to the adenovirus used in some vaccines to deliver the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

In other words, their body mounts an immune response to the wrong part of the vaccine (the delivery mechanism) and not so much to the characteristic part of the virus (the spike protein).

Our genes play a large part in regulating our immune system.

Researchers have already seen sex differences, which are partly governed by genes, in the immune response to the flu vaccine. They have also seen sex differences in the immune response to COVID-19.

So larger clinical trials should help us understand whether men and women respond differently to a COVID-19 vaccine.

People with inherited immune deficiencies may also be unable to generate protective immunity in response to vaccination.

The composition of our immune system changes throughout the course of our lives, and this affects our ability to mount a protective immune response.

Infants and childrens immune systems are still developing. So their immune response may be different to adults.

Some COVID-19 vaccines may be more effective for children, or recommended for them, as we see already with the flu vaccine.

As we get older, changes in our immune system mean we cannot efficiently maintain long-lasting protective immunity; we are less able to make new antibodies in response to infection.

We already know older people are less likely to mount a protective immune response with the flu vaccine.

So we need the data from large trials to verify whether COVID-19 vaccines work in children and elderly people.

Diet, exercise, stress and whether we smoke influence our immune response to vaccination. So we can look after our immune system with a healthy lifestyle where possible.

There is also an emerging hypothesis that our gut microbes may influence our immune response to vaccination. But more research is needed to confirm this could occur during COVID-19 vaccination.

Paul Gill, Post-doctoral Researcher (Gastroenterology and Immunology), Monash University and Menno van Zelm, Associate Professor, Immunology, Monash University

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

See the original post:
The immune response to COVID-19 vaccines - Cosmos

A global push is on to develop a vaccine to slow the spread of COVID-19, and experts hope several will be ready in 2021. Yet even with one, the coronavirus is likely to remain with us for years, demanding long efforts to find a cure for those who still fall sick.

In humanity's millennia-long struggle against viruses, prevention with vaccines has been far more successful than treatment with drugs. In fact, modern medicine has come up with a true cure for only one viral infection. For many serious infections, the best approaches are a cocktail of drugs that throw speed bumps in front of the infection.

It's a lackluster medical armory, belied by the seeming simplicity of our viral foes.

"They can't live by themselves, they aren't independent, they can't process food, take in oxygen, reproduce themselves without the master support system of being the parasite inside a living cell," said Paula Cannon, a professor at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine.

So why do viruses give humans so much trouble? Outside of the body, a vigorous hand-washing is enough to kill many. Inside, the immune system's long memory is enough to make short work of most.

It's when we run into a new virus that the problems start.

The coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is the latest in a procession of new infectious diseases that have surprised the world in recent years. The best hope against it is a vaccine, which can stop infections before they take hold.

A vaccine is, essentially, a shortcut to immunity. But if we don't have immunity and get sick, things get more complicated. Because viruses can't survive on their own, they hijack our cells to multiply. That parasitic dependence makes them hard to treat with most traditional drugs. A virus is so interwoven with its host that it's difficult to hurt one without hurting the other. SARS-CoV-2 infects the airways and lungs the very things we need to breathe.

That leaves an unappealing choice, according to Cannon. "I can kill the virus, but I would have to kill you to do it."

Some vaccines, such as for measles, have created enough herd immunity that the virus can no longer take hold and spread in the population. In the best case, as with smallpox, the shots have driven the disease out of the human host population and into extinction.

Treating an active infection is another matter. There's a pharmaceutical cure for only one virus: hepatitis C. Because of the "kill the virus, kill the host" problem, the best bet is often to slow the virus down enough that the body's own defenses can do their job.

"When we can't kill a virus, the best thing we can do is stop them from replicating," said Raed Dweik, chair of the Cleveland Clinic's Respiratory Institute. "All we can do is shorten the period of infection, not cure. Even when the infection is over, the patient is more recovered than cured."

Remdesivir, the only drug in wide use that targets SARS-CoV-2 itself, works by messing with the virus's ability to replicate. It causes errors when the virus tries to copy itself. It was also a product of luck: The drug was originally developed as a treatment for Ebola, but it wasn't terribly effective and the waning outbreak in Africa made it difficult for its manufacturer, Gilead Sciences Inc., to study.

Clinical trials have shown that remdesivir can help hospitalized COVID-19 patients recover more quickly. But it's not a cure, and it's unlikely there will be one anytime soon.

"It will take years to have potent and specific drugs that can stop coronavirus in its tracks," Cannon said. "The vast majority of drug candidates fail."

In the future, patients will likely get a cocktail of therapies that attack the virus and others that help keep them stable. Currently, remdesivir is part of a cocoon of care that includes the only other cleared therapy, the steroid dexamethasone, as well as standard fare like fluids, plus aggressive approaches when needed, including putting patients on ventilators. Other medicines are layered on top: blood thinners and experimental approaches to calm a potentially overactive immune system.

As new approaches reach the market, they'll be added to the mix. But for most people, any viral treatment will have to outperform an already formidable and existing approach: the human immune system.

Continued here:
When will there be a COVID-19 cure? Your body is still the best virus-killer - Crain's Cleveland Business

The severity of Covid-19 is generally mediated by the human body's immune response. Everyone's immunity is different which is why reactions to the virus are so varied and there are various genetic, environmental and chronic disease factors that can influence this response.

One such factor is obesity. Those who have a BMI of more than 40 are 2.6 times more likely to die from a coronavirus infection.

A new study published byEndocrine Society investigates how this condition exacerbates inflammation in the body, which, in turn, puts strain on the immune system.

Early studies of the virus took place in China, and there was no focus on obesity because it is so rare in that country. But that changed when the virus hit the US, a country with one of the highest rates of obesity in the world.

South Africa also has a high rate of obesity, making it important to understand the interaction between Covid-19 and obesity.

READ | Don't wait to lose weight: Shedding obesity in youth extends life

How does obesity affect the immune system?

Metabolic inflammation, or meta-inflammation, is a chronic type of inflammation caused by obesity due to increased tissue and circulating myeloid cells. These cells develop an immunosuppressive environment and have been linked to the promotion of tumour growth.

This meta-inflammation might be part of the reason why obese patients are so susceptible to severe Covid-19.

"While obesity and diabetes may complicate the delivery of supportive care in critical illness, regardless of the underlying disease, lessons learned from the interaction of obesity with other systemic inflammatory syndromes suggest that obesity modifies biologic factors related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the Covid-19 syndrome," explain the researchers.

They add that obesity also has the potential to do long-term reprogramming of the immune system through this chronic inflammation.

This isn't restricted to Covid-19; the syndrome can also make a patient more prone to other diseases like bird flu and bacterial infections. With global obesity rates expected to rise in the future, understanding endocrine, metabolic, and inflammatory shifts caused by obesity would be vital for future pathological treatments.

READ MORE | Scientists warn that lockdowns could increase levels of obesity around the world

Cytokine storms and macrophages

In severe cases of Covid-19, the coronavirus infection induces a cytokine storm that floods the immune system. It also does this by shifting monocyte populations in the body a type of white blood cell that can influence adaptive immunity and helps drive the infection throughout the body.

With meta-inflammation, cytokine levels are always at higher levels than normal, including chemokines. Throw Covid-19 into the mix, and you're left with a much more virulent attack on the body.

Another element increased by obesity and Covid-19 are macrophages.

"Macrophages from obese animals and humans have been described as metabolically active, M1 polarised, and pro-inflammatory with both regulatory and detrimental activity. These macrophages produce cytokines, chemokines, reactive oxygen species, and factors regulating fibrosis and metabolism."

A high fat diet morphs obesity myeloid cells into metabolically active macrophages, which in turn, has an impact on organs and hematopoiesis, the process through which the body produces blood cells.

Enhancinghematopoiesis, in turn, impairs the immune response to, for example, a viral infection. The increased cytokine production can also cause tissue damage when the storm is triggered.

READ | Canada moves away from weight to classify obesity

Respiratory system

Obese people also tend to have high blood sugar, called hyperglycemia, which can concentrate glucose in the lungs and the rest of the respiratory system. This helps colonisation and replication of bacteria, and also damages the intestinal barrier that protects us against infection.

"On top of the direct effects that obesity may have on macrophage function in infection, diaphragm excursion is also inhibited due to obesity, which restricts ventilation and can inhibit the clearance of pulmonary pathogens."

This also prevents the body from effectively identifying and killing off any bad bacteria, maintaining the infection for longer. For similar reasons, an obese person is then just as susceptible to a viral infection.

"Along with possible impairments in pathogen clearance, obese hosts are more likely to experience the breakdown of respiratory epithelium during a pulmonary infection, which leads to increased fluid in the airway space.

"This allows the pathogen to have the opportunity to more easily spread throughout the body and leaves the host with reduced lung function."

READ MORE |Obesity ups odds for severe Covid-19, but age matters

Other factors

ACE2 receptors one of the main entry points into cells for the coronavirus are also more prevalent in the fat cells of obese and diabetic patients. This might become a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 replication that increases Covid-19 severity.

The gut is also another factor to consider, as studies have proven the influence that its microbiota have on health and the immune system. Covid-19 tends to make changes in the gut that encourage more inflammation, but more in-depth research is needed.

It's important to note, however, that not all obese people suffer from meta-inflammation or necessarily develop other chronic conditions, like heart disease or diabetes. But if you're male, you're far more likely than obese pre-menopausal women to develop these conditions, which also helps explain men's susceptibility to severe Covid-19.

Vaccine efficacy

Being obese might also impact the effectiveness of a potential coronavirus vaccine.

Flu shots tend to not work as well for them, probably due to impaired T-cell function.

According to the researchers, this makes it vital that obese individuals are included in the vaccine trials to ensure efficacy in this high-risk group.

READ | Why can Covid-19 be so dangerous where patients are obese?

Image credit: Pixabay

See the original post:
The immune system's response to Covid-19 may be altered by obesity - Health24

Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part letter.

So, we know that many people are getting near sleepless nights, not eating well and not exercising at all during the pandemic. Long-term stress and poor sleep can both result in dysregulation of the immune system in such a way that the production of good immune cells is suppressed and the amount of bad immune cells are upregulated. A cascade of events can create the setting of low-grade inflammation throughout the body and result in a decrease in the proper functioning of immunoprotective cells. This makes a person not only more susceptible to various infections, it also increases the risk of cancers, and chronic cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and heart diseases). We label a patient in this state as being immunocompromised or immunosuppressed. Maintaining an adequate amount of sleep is truly fundamental to keeping our immune system in a balanced equilibrium. The National Sleep Foundation has published recommendations for adequate sleep duration for all ages in order to maintain well-being. School-age children (6-13 years) need 9-11 hours, teenagers (14-17 years) need 8-10 hours, adults (18-64 years) need 7-9 hours, and adults over 65 need 7-8 hours.

Sleep experts also recommend that we stick to a regular sleep schedule, go to bed and get up at roughly the same time every day. We should not go to bed hungry or stuffed. Avoid consuming nicotine and caffeine due to their stimulating effects, especially in the evening. Even though alcohol makes us sleepy, it disrupts sleep later in the night and is to be avoided after dinner hours. We need to create a restful environment best is a cool, dark, quiet place. Avoid prolonged use of light-emitting screens before bedtime. We all benefit if our eyes and brains rest for 30 minutes before sleep with no TV, computer or cellphones. Regular daytime physical activity promotes better sleep.

Eating a well-balanced diet can modulate and improve our immune responses. There is science that indicate that some foods boost the immune system more than others. These include citrus foods (grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, lemons, calamansi, limes), red bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, ginger, spinach, yogurt, almonds, sunflower seeds, turmeric, green tea, papaya, kiwi, shellfish, oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel) and poultry (chicken and turkey). They contain vitamins C, A, B6, E and D, minerals (like zinc and selenium), iron, folic acid and probiotics. My overall advice is that variety is the key to proper nutrition. Eating right will help build a strong immune system.

There is an abundance of science supporting a compelling link between physical activity and the bodys defense system. Regular physical exercise has an overall anti-inflammatory influence through multiple pathways. Epidemiologic studies consistently show decreased levels of inflammatory biomarkers in adults with higher levels of physical activity. Physical exercise also helps us control our weight, reduce our risk of heart attack, help our body manage blood sugar and insulin levels, improve our mental health and mood, help keep our thinking, learning, and judgement skills sharp as we age, strengthen our bones and muscles, reduce our risk of some cancers and falls, improve our sleep and increase our chance of living longer

The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data revealed that 94% of people who died with COVID-19 had other chronic health issues, which probably increased their risk of contracting the virus. I recommend that everyone, especially people with underlying chronic medical conditions, better their health and immune status to help fight an infection successfully.

It remains an enigma to many health experts as to why many people (at least 80%) infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or just have mild symptoms, while others succumb from the same infection. This conundrum can probably be answered by how our immune system defends us with a positive impact or hurts us with negative contributions to the bodys ability to fight this novel and perplexing virus. With the COVID-19 pandemic, its particularly important to understand that we need to supplement the 3 W's of protection: wear a mask, watch your distance, wash your hands. We need more than protection. Prevention needs to become widely adopted in our community.

Dr. Ramel Carlos is a board-certified neurologist practicing in Guam for 18 years and a specialist in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology. He is also a pediatrician, a diplomate of the American Board of Disability Analysts and the editor-in-chief of The Guam Medical Association Journal.

Originally posted here:
A doctor's Rx: How to boost our immune system during the pandemic, Part 2 - The Guam Daily Post

Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, or even shortness of breath. According to estimates by the rzteverband Deutscher Allergologen (DA, German Medical Allergy Association), around 20 to 30 million people in Germany suffer from allergies such as hay fever, a drug allergy, or a food allergy. And this trend is on the rise. Thes types of allergic reactions are usually due to the release of histamine, proteases, or cytokines from cells of the innate immune system.

These so-called mast cells are activated by IgE antibodies. These make up the components of a specific immune response. If these antibodies are sensitive to certain allergens, they in turn activate the mast cells with each new contact. These then release histamines, proteases, or various cytokines. That person subsequently develops typical allergic symptoms. Up until now, however, the evolutionary background of this well-rehearsed system has remained unclear. Or why this system has survived throughout the course of evolution.

In a joint study by the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (AW), the Medical University of Vienna, and the Stanford University School of Medicine, researchers have come one step closer to finding the answer to this question. They have discovered that IgE antibodies, together with mast cells, are able to increase the bodys resistance to bacterial infections

The assumption has been around for a long time that the interaction of IgE with mast cells is not just negative for the body where allergies are concerned. Previous studies had already shown that mast cells play a role in the innate immune response to the venom of certain snakes and the honeybee. Building on these studies, scientists have now examined the importance of the interaction of mast cells and IgE antibodies in the defense against toxic organisms. Especially when dealing with pathogenic bacteria. They have published the results of the study in the scientific journal Immunity.

Because of its enormous clinical relevance and its broad range of toxins, the researchers chose the antibiotic-resistant bacterium Staphylococcus aureus as the pathogen model. This is considered one of the most feared hospital germs. As part of their research, they infected genetically modified mice with the pathogen. They also studied in vitro mast cell models in order to decode the functions of selected components of the IgE effector mechanisms.

It was found that the mice that had experienced mild skin infections with S. aureus developed specific IgE antibodies against bacterial components. This immune response made the mice more resistant to severe secondary lung or skin and tissue infections. Genetically-modified mice lacking the IgE effector mechanism, or mast cells, did not build up the resistance that is needed to fight severe secondary infections.

The authors write that these findings would suggest that the interaction of the IgE effector mechanism with mast cells, (which is often only recognized today within allergic contexts), might not only be pathological but also beneficial. The defense against toxin-producing pathogenic bacteria could therefore be an important biological function of the allergy module. Moreover, this function seen from an evolutionary perspective might be the reason why this immunological interaction has persisted throughout the course of human evolution. And this happens, despite the fact that it can even cause life-threatening reactions in those cases where there is a particular sensitivity towards other foreign substances.

Publication:

IgE Effector Mechanisms, in Concert with Mast Cells, Contribute to Acquired Host Defense against Staphylococcus aureus. Authors: Philipp Starkl, Martin L. Watzenboeck, Lauren M. Popov, Sophie Zahalka, Anastasiya Hladik, Karin Lakovits, Mariem Radhouani, Arvand Haschemi, Thomas Marichal, Laurent L. Reber, Nicolas Gaudenzio, Riccardo Sibilano, Lukas Stulik, Frdric Fontaine, Andr C. Mueller, Manuel R. Amieva, Stephen J. Galli, Sylvia Knapp, Immunity, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.08.002

Title picture: Not only allergies but also positive health benefits can result when antibodies and cells work together. CeMM/AW

Read this article:
Allergic reactions as protection against bacterial infections - Innovation Origins

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced from Monday the number of people allowed to gather will be slashed from 30 down to six in a new clampdownto lower infection rates. Under the current rules, no more than 30 people can meet inside with up to one other household, but the new rules stipulate that six people from different households will be allowed to congregate. Yesterday, 3,497 new cases were announced and researchers at Imperial College London have said infection rates are doubling roughly every 7.7 days in England, with the reproduction rate as high as 1.7.

But scientists have also been studying the effects of diet, exercise, psychological stress and other factors on the immune response to COVID-19, next months issue of BBC Science Focus Magazine reveals.

Public Health England recently released a report on how being obese or excessively overweight increases the risk of illness and death from COVID-19 and theres some evidence of a link between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity.

But having high blood pressure, heart disease, or smoking, can reportedly increase the likelihood that youll be hospitalised from COVID-19.

Theimmune systemis a complex network of cells and proteins that defends the body against infection, and a healthy one can be key to defeating invading pathogens.

Dr Madhvi Menon, a research fellow at Manchester Universitys Institution of Immunology and infection, told BBC Science Focus: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep and minimal stress has been shown to keep our immune systems strong and healthy.

But very little is currently known about ways to avoid the severest form of COVID-19.

A healthy immune system will not necessarily keep the virus out of our bodies, but it could be vital against the fight.

According to health experts, 80 percent of the bodys immune system is in the gut.

The Mediterranean diet, with its emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, nuts, and olive oil has been tipped by experts.

READ MORE:Coronavirus: Chilling psychological impact of mask-wearing laid bare

The diet provides large amounts of vitamins, including vitamins A, B2, B6 and B12, C, D, and E.

It also provides zinc, iron, selenium, and other plant-derived minerals and antioxidants.

Recent studies suggest that older adults on a Mediterranean-style diet who also took a vitamin D supplement had higher levels of T cells whichplay a central role in the immune response.

But it is also important to be sceptical of products that claim to magically boost the immune system or fight off the virus.

During the Spanish flu in 1918 which killed up to 50 million people a number of bizarre methods were tipped to improve the bodys defence from the virus.

DONT MISSUK to launch own satellite with Space Commandto combat Russia threat [REVEALED]Coronavirus: Psychological impact of mask-wearing [EXPOSED]Boris Johnson's plan to slash your energy bill by 750 [REVEALED]

And the recent outbreak has been no different.

Social media has been filled with bizarre claims from eating garlic to drinking silver to help protect against COVID-

US President Donald Trump has also fuelled controversy by promoting the drug hydroxychloroquine, claiming he was taking it daily.

The drugwas granted emergency use authorisation by the FDA in March after Trump backed it as a game-changer in the pandemic.

Shortly after, the President said: What do you have to lose? Take it.

In April, the FDA issued a warning about the risk of cardiac arrhythmias in some patients, reiterating that it should only be used in selected cases where there is a serious medical need.

The best way to prevent getting the virus in the first place is to adhere to the guidance on social distancing, wearing masks and hand-washing.

The Government website explains: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of a new continuous cough, high temperature or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell.

Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, before you eat or handle food, or when you get to work or arrive home.

Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze.

If you do not have a tissue, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand.

Dispose of tissues into a disposable rubbish bag and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser.

It also explains the importance of wearing a face mask, unless you are exempt and social distancing.

It adds: You must wear a face-covering by law in some public places unless you have a face-covering exemption because of your age, health or another condition.

Social distancing, hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes, remain the most important measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.

You can subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine here.

Go here to see the original:
Coronavirus: How to boost immune system and 'lower risk of virus' as cases soar in UK - Express

The leading infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends taking your vitamins now that school has started and flu season is nearing.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, gavean Instagram Live interview with the actress Jennifer Garner on Thursday in which he specifically suggested taking vitamin D and C supplements and said he took them himself.

"If you're deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection.I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself, taking vitamin D supplements," he said. "The other vitamin that people take is vitamin C because it's a good antioxidant, so if people want to take a gram or so of vitamin C, that would be fine."

There's a large body of research supporting Fauci's recommendations. Studies suggest vitamin D and C are your best bet for supplementing immune health. However, many of the other products sold for this purpose are useless or worse.

Extensive evidence has linked vitamin D deficiency to greater risk of infection, particularly from respiratory diseases like COVID-19.

That's led many researchers to investigate the use of vitamin D supplements to help prevent or lessen the effects of the coronavirus. While the findings are somewhat contentious, since researchers don't fully understand if vitamin D supplements can cause better health outcomes, studies have consistently linked vitamin D deficiency to greater risk of severe infection.

And many people are deficient in vitamin D, especially while sheltering indoors during the pandemic or in darker winter months, since our bodies naturally produce the nutrient in response to sunlight.

People with darker skin may be particularly susceptible, since melanin can slow the process of producing vitamin D. As a result, there's evidence certain people could benefit from supplementing it.

Similarly, vitamin C is awell-documented antioxidant, and getting enough of it is crucial for a healthy immune system. It hasn't been shown to prevent disease, but there's some evidence it may make it easier for people to recover from illnesses such as the common cold.

However, neither of these supplements is a cure-all, and too much of either can have serious side effects.

Fauci still recommends masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene as the best practices for keeping yourself and others safe.

Aside from vitamin D and C, there's little evidence that pills, powders, plants, or potions can make a significant difference in warding off illness.

Garner asked if concerned parents could help boost children's immune systems by giving them more spinach, elderberry, or other supplements.

"The answer, to the dismay of many, is no," Fauci said.

Despite this, many products claim to boost your immune system. These are at best a waste of money and at worst can have harmful side effects.

Colloidal silver, for instance, is commonly touted to cure or prevent disease, but there's no evidence it works, and it can interfere with common medications, cause kidney damage, and even permanently turn your skin blue-gray.

Chlorine dioxide, advertised as "miracle mineral solution," is even more dangerous. Chemically speaking, the product is industrial bleach, and drinking it can cause liver failure, extremely low blood pressure, and other toxic effects.

More innocuously, many herbal remedies or vitamins are expensive, and there's no evidence they provide benefits to otherwise-healthy people.

As such, Fauci recommends ditching any other immune-boosting products, and science is on his side.

"Forget about them," he said. "Any of the other concoctions and herbs I would not do."

Read more:

Fauci: We won't be able to sit in theaters until a year after an effective coronavirus vaccine is created

Is it safe to go to the gym or an exercise class? Here's the research we have on fitness centers and the coronavirus.

Wearing a mask doesn't reduce your oxygen levels, and 6 other mask myths you should stop believing now

Visit link:
Fauci says he takes vitamin D and C supplements, which boost immunity - Insider - INSIDER

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), the world's largest private funder of food allergy research, has awarded a three-year, $15 million grant to the Food Allergy Science Initiative(FASI) at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to support a three-year project "Untangling Neuroimmune Communications in Food Allergy." This grant was made possible by the support of FARE board member Christine Olsen and her husband Robert Small, with funds matched by FARE.

The interdisciplinary research team, led by world renowned immunologist, Ruslan Medzhitov, includes scientists from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Yale School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Mount Sinai, and Rockefeller University.

Food allergies occur when the body's immune system mistakenly identifies a food protein as a threat and triggers a response. When the immune system then attacks the food, the resulting allergic reaction can cause mild, localized symptoms, or it can affect multiple organ systems in the potentially life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Once considered rare, food allergy has become increasingly common in recent decades and now affects one in 10, or 32 million, Americans, resulting in an emergency room visit once every three minutes in the U.S.

"Thirty-two million Americans currently live with potentially life-threatening food allergies, affecting up to 85 million families across the country every day, and while this number continues to climb, there is so much more we do not yet understand about the complexities of this disease," explains Bruce Roberts, Chief Research, Science and Innovation Officer of FARE. "This innovative project between FARE and FASIwill advance the field of food allergy research in exciting new directions that may reveal new potential targets for treatments."

Currently, diagnosing and treating food allergy is a major challenge: allergic reactions are the primary means of diagnosis, and treatment is limited to avoiding known allergy-causing foods and epinephrine injections, which are only administered once an allergic reaction has been triggered. Understanding the basic mechanisms that drive the allergic response to food is necessary for developing new treatments.

Using a suite of innovative molecular tools developed over the last decade, the project is structured around three primary goals:

"The interplay of the brain, the gut and the immune system is largely uncharted territory for researchers," Ruslan Medzhitov, director of FASI, principal investigator on the grant and the Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at the Yale School of Medicine as well as an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "As we map these connections, we expect to find hidden details that no one has anticipated and leads for diagnostics and therapeutics that will ultimatelymake life safer and simpler for children and adults with food allergies."

FARE's grant to the Broad Institute will enable researchers to identify and explore how the brain, digestive system, and nervous system together examine foodin the gut and determine whether or notto trigger an allergic reaction. Understanding this crucial decision-pointis key to developing treatments someday that can stop an allergic reaction before it even happens.

This work will also address other important questions, including why some individuals can develop allergy-related antibodies to foods without having reaction symptoms and why symptoms vary so widely among allergic individuals, and even from one reaction to the next.

"We will likely uncover a potential treasure trove of clinically relevant insights," said Ramnik Xavier, one of the scientific leaders of FASI. "Once we know where the key players are positioned in healthy gut tissue, we can identify, understand and ultimately manage their organizational changes in food allergy." Xavier is a core institute member of the Broad Institute, director of the immunology program at Broadand member of the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"We now strongly believe that understanding this interplay between the nervous and immune systems will lead us to the true culprits of food allergy and develop the diagnostics and treatments that will save lives," said Vijay Kuchroo, institute member of the Broad, the Samuel L. Wasserstrom Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and senior scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Kuchroo is also on the FASI scientific leadership team.

FASI supports foundational research that aims to transform the field of food allergy science and lead to new therapies and cures. We currently have a national network of scientists at leading labs working collaboratively on this mission. FASI convenes researchers from a variety of disciplines, broadening beyond traditional allergy researchers to include other fields such as gastroenterology, neuroscience, engineering and immunology. Bringing together such a diverse team of specialists, many of whom have been instrumental in pioneering new technologies like single-cell sequencing, will help researchers find innovative solutions that overcome the fundamental hurdles of food allergy research.

About FAREFARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the world's leading food allergy advocacy organization and the largest private funder of food allergy research. Our mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments. FARE is transforming the future of food allergy through innovative initiatives that will lead to increased awareness, new and improved treatments and prevention strategies, effective policies and legislation and novel approaches to managing the disease. For more information, please visit http://www.foodallergy.org. To join FARE's transformative five-year fundraising and awareness campaign, Contains: Courage, supporting families living with food allergies and educating ALL communities about the disease, visit http://www.foodallergy.org/containscourage.

SOURCE Food Allergy Research & Education

https://www.foodallergy.org

Follow this link:
FARE To Grant $15m To The Broad Institute Of MIT And Harvard To Decipher Brain-Gut Connections In Food Allergy - PRNewswire

Few know about James Baldwin's years spent in Turkey. "I can't breathe, I have to look from the outside," he once remarked when asked why in 1961 he began visiting Istanbul on and off for a decade. Turkey offered him a space to escape from the racism and homophobia he experienced in the United States, but also to reflect more deeply on who he was.

He once reminisced about eating lunch with Turkish filmmaker Sedat Pakay and Greek actress Irene Pappas, who commented to Pakay, "Look at those eyes, 400 years of oppression in them."

The Ottoman enslavement of Greeks and Armenians and Mustafa Kemal Atatrk's genocide and expulsion of them in the early 20th century are vastly distinct phenomena from the transatlantic slave trade and Jim Crow laws in the U.S. But both of our countries have constructed myths to conceal these ugly realities that they are founded upon.

"It is, of course, in the very nature of a myth that those who are its victims and, at the same time, its perpetrators, should, by virtue of these two facts, be rendered unable to examine the myth, or even to suspect, much less recognize, that it is a myth which controls and blasts their lives."

Baldwin continues to say in his 1964 essay "Nothing Personal" that this "blindness," this willful forgetfulness of one's history and the injustices committed, is a cause of "spiritual disaster," not only for the oppressed, but even more so for the oppressor.

When I heard the news about Hagia Sophia being converted from a museum to a mosque, I instantly thought back to Baldwin's words. Turkey's insistence on denying the 400 years of enslavement, the millions of lives killed, and suppression of the Orthodox Christian community is a denial of Turkey's identity.

Turkey's culture is a rich tapestry weaving together the threads of the Seljuks and Ottomans, the Greeks, Armenians, and Turks, Christians and Muslims, people of all different shades and skin tones, leaders who have committed heinous atrocities and who have led the country to new heights. To deny any of the complexities and nuances of this history is to blind oneself to the reality of what it means to be Turkish.

I remember my first time visiting Hagia Sophia. I was with my grandfather, who was born in Istanbul to Greek and Armenian parents. This was his first time back in 35 years. He presented his native city to me with pride, tinged with a hint of anguish. He complained to me after our first night there of nightmares of being attacked for being an "infidel."

And yet, Istanbul remains his city. His mixture of Greek, Armenian and Turkish blood, his Orthodox Christian faith, has left its indelible mark on the city, and will continue to do so ... even if the majority of Armenians and Greeks were murdered, and the remainder left along with him in the '50s, and the Christians that make up less than 1% of Istanbul's population including the ecumenical patriarch continue to face restrictions.

The virtue of leaving Hagia Sophia as a museum is that it allows people to feel that complex mix of emotions pride and sadness, appreciation and shame that the space evokes. The Byzantine mosaics and Islamic calligraphy speak to the value of both religions and the ethnic groups that adhered to each, as well as the injustices that have been perpetrated throughout the centuries not only Muslim against Christian, but also Christian against Muslim and Christian against Christian (our tour guided pointed to a red mark on the wall, claiming that it was the bloody handprint of a Catholic in the Fourth Crusade).

The systemic denial of the Armenian Genocide and expulsion of Christians continues to be a point of contention to this day. I recounted the story of my great grandmother's escape from Izmir to the island of Chios during the expulsion of 1922 to a new Turkish friend I met in college, hoping that sharing this with her could be an opportunity for healing and reconciliation. "There was no genocide," she proclaimed, irritated with my presumption. "It's all propaganda from the American government."

"So then why did my great grandmother see Turkish soldiers raping and mutilating women as she was running to the port?"

"It's not the Turkish government's fault that some soldiers decided to do those things on their own."

I felt pity. Such blindness can hardly be liberating. Thus my concern for those who would be praying the following afternoon in the newly minted mosque. Can one freely commune with God Allah while being in denial of reality? Can Muslims and Christians love and dialogue with each other, seek the Mystery of the Divine together, while shielding our faces from the truth?

That Friday at 4 p.m. EST, I attended the Akathist service at my family's Greek Orthodox parish, joined spiritually by other Orthodox, Catholic, and hopefully Muslim communities, to beg God for the gifts of repentance and reconciliation, and of the honesty and courage to embrace reality, to embrace history, in all of its grace and ugliness.

During the service, I thought about Baldwin's words in "Nothing Personal." I thought about the blindness of the slave traders to their own humanity, their own need for love and intimacy, which drove them to dehumanize other human beings, and in the process, dehumanize themselves. It was their insecure attachment to wealth, power and complacency that drove them to perpetuate this lie, this false divide between brothers and sisters, by any means necessary. Baldwin recognizes, however, that this blindness, this affinity for mendacity, is not only an American phenomenon. It's a temptation that humans throughout the world are subject to.

We live by lies. And not only, for example, about race whatever, by this time, in this country, or, indeed, in the world, this word may mean but about our very natures. The lie has penetrated to our most private moments, and the most secret chambers of our hearts. Nothing more sinister can happen, in any society, to any people. And when it happens, it means that the people are caught in a kind of vacuum between their present and their past the romanticized, that is, the maligned past, and the denied and dishonored present. It is a crisis of identity. And in such a crisis, at such a pressure, it becomes absolutely indispensable to discover, or invent the two words, here, are synonyms the stranger, the barbarian, who is responsible for our confusion and our pain. Once he is driven out destroyed then we can be at peace: those questions will be gone. Of course, those questions never go, but it has always seemed much easier to murder than to change. And this is really the choice with which we are confronted now.

The prayers of the Akathist service brought me back to the roots of this blindness which are as old as the fall. But it also placed me in front of a promise, a glint of hope, that is born from entrusting our fears, sins, and woundedness to the New Adam and Eve.

The news of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to convert the Kariye Museum (formerly the Holy Savior church) in Chora to a mosque brought me back to Baldwin's words. One who is determined to remain blind to reality, to perpetuate a division between us and them, must continuously strive to eliminate history. I continue to offer my prayer to the Divine Healer of wounds and to his Mother, ever more fervently, and united more deeply in solidarity with all of those whose stories face the threat of erasure from history.

[Stephen Adubato studied moral theology at Seton Hall University and currently teaches religion in New Jersey. He also blogs at Cracks in Postmodernity on the Patheos Catholic Channel.]

Read more here:
James Baldwin, blindness and Hagia Sophia - National Catholic Reporter

That institutional racism has tragically been a part of our national landscape during extended periods in our history is a sad, well-established fact. Yet obsessive reminders of that negative fact and blindness to the positive institutional and individual progress achieved over the years is wrong. It is, in fact, a constant disappointment and frustration to those who refuse to adopt such a negative, pessimistic view of our nation and its people.

A recent letter from Bill Livingston (Opinions of the Readers, Sept. 10, 2020) detailed the discriminatory conditions imposed on black veterans returning after WWII. All tragically true, but ancient history. In recounting those past injustices, the implication is that nothing has changed and that we must continue to atone for the crimes of those who went before us. Throughout my 30 years of Air Force service starting in 1955, I served with innumerable productive minority members, e.g. my first wing commander, one of my fellow U-2 pilots, et al. Good grief! The current USAF Chief of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, is African-American. Times have fundamentally changed.

In the same Opinions of the Readers column cited above, William Morton Jr. mentions he just learned about white supremacy from a recently-published book which causes him to gratuitously assert that he has a better understanding of how systemic racism works and how it is still present and firmly entrenched in many peoples lives.

Once again, our anger and disgust over the wrongs of the past should not lead us to make false, damaging assertions about the present. To do so, degrades national and societal unity on the one hand, and amounts to virtue signaling on the other.

Enough with the identity politics. Lets all march together as proud Americans!

Richard G. Woodhull Jr.

Brevard

The rest is here:
Fixating On The Past Corrupts The Future - The Transylvania Times

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Swiss drugmaker Novartis is pictured at the French company's headquarters in Rueil-Malmaison near Paris, France, April 22, 2020. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartiss Beovu matched Regenerons Eylea in vision clarity scores for a blindness-causing eye disease, the Swiss drugmaker said on Monday, after early safety stumbles for the medicine in another condition caused disappointing early sales.

In addition to proving non-inferior to Eylea in visual acuity in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients after a year of treatment, Novartis also underscored Beovus less-frequent dosing. More than half of those who got Beovu stayed on a once-every-three-months dosing schedule, it said in a statement, with Eylea patients dosed every two months.

Novartis said it will assess next steps in getting approval for Beovu in DME.

This data confirms our strong belief in Beovu as a potential therapy for DME patients, said Dirk Sauer, who leads Novartis Pharma Ophthalmologys drug development.

Beovu was approved in February for age-related macular degeneration, another blindness causing condition, but Novartis was forced just weeks later to launch an external safety review after the American Society of Retinal Specialists (ASRS) raised concerns about rare cases of sight-threatening retinal vasculitis or retinal vascular occlusion.

While Beovu remains on sale and Novartis has promoted its favourable risk-benefit profile, the European Medicines Agency on Monday followed U.S. regulators in updating its safety label to include a special warning urging patients that experience such inflammatory events to discontinue use.

Novartis, whose Chief Financial Officer Harry Kirsch in July said the sluggish Beovu launch was among factors that weighed on sales growth, is continuing to examine the cause of such adverse events, and how best to treat them when they arise.

Reporting by John Miller; editing by Thomas Seythal

See the original post:
Novartis aims to expand Beovu use after safety fears hurt launch - Reuters

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region, felicitating the country at the virtual Regional Committee Session of WHO South-East Asia Region. and said: Myanmars multi-pronged approach promoting access to good hygiene infrastructure and clean water, strengthening eye care system, and complete community buy-in have enabled the country to ensure that people of all ages can now look towards a trachoma-free future.

Myanmar joins Nepal in the WHO South-East Asia Region and 12 countries globally to achieve this feat. Though trachoma is preventable, blindness from trachoma is irreversible. Trachoma continues to be a public health problem in 44 countries and is responsible for the blindness of about 1.9 million people.

In 1964 the Ministry of Health and Sports in Myanmar had initiated a trachoma control project with support from WHO and UNICEF. The community-based interventions to eliminate trachoma consisted of surgical treatment, topical antibiotic treatment and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health education promoting behavior change to decrease transmission. The program further expanded to include accessible interventions in rural areas.

In 2005, trachoma was responsible for 4% of all cases of blindness in Myanmar. By 2018, the prevalence of trachoma was down to a mere 0.008% with trachoma no longer a public health problem.

In a virtual event, the Regional Director presented a citation for trachoma elimination to Myanmars Minister of Health and Sports, Dr Myint Htwe.

Sri Lanka was felicitated for eliminations of rubella and mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis. The Regional Director presented citations for the two achievements to the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Ms Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

Dr Khetrapal Singh said, Strong leadership and commitment of the Government, support from partners, and the dedication and commitment of the health care workers and communities in the country have contributed to these successes in Sri Lanka.

Like Myanmar defeated trachoma, the Maldives was felicitated for eliminating rubella. On the countrys success, the Regional Director said, this commendable achievement has been possible by the strong leadership and commitment of the Government, sustained collaboration with partners, and active support of health-care workers, volunteers and communities at all levels of health services. The citation was received by Ms Aishath Samiya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Maldives.

Home to one-fourth of the worlds population, the Region has eight flagship priority programmes eliminate measles and rubella by 2023; prevent and control non-communicable diseases through multisectoral policies and plans, with a focus on best buys; accelerate the reduction of maternal, neonatal and under-five mortality; continue progressing towards universal health coverage with a focus on human resources for health and essential medicines; further strengthen national capacity for preventing and combating antimicrobial resistance; scale-up capacity development in emergency risk management in countries; finish the task of eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and other diseases on the verge of elimination; accelerate efforts to end TB by 2030. The Region has been making remarkable progress around the flagships and beyond.

READ THE ITALIAN ARTICLE

Read the original post:
Myanmar won against trachoma: the WHO congratulates for this result - Emergency-Live

Entrance to the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, Calif.(Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)Disney might be the first U.S. company to thank entities involved in perpetrating the Uyghur genocide, but its not the first to willfully ignore the situation.

When Attorney General Bill Barr spoke at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in July, he criticized the entertainment industry for its alleged cooptation by the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese government censors dont need to say a word, because Hollywood is doing their work for them, he said.

Just two months later, a new controversy has proven him right. Disneys live-action remake of Mulan had already attracted criticism in recent months for its stars endorsement of the Hong Kong governments crackdown on pro-democracy protests. But Disneys latest PR nightmare is worse by an order of magnitude. In fact, its not about censorship: The films credits include thanks for a handful of CCP entities in the Xinjiang region, the site of Beijings ongoing genocide of the Uyghur people there.

Social-media users were the first to point out that Disney thanks the CCPs publicity department in Xinjiang, as well as agencies in the city of Turpan. Among these entities was the Turpan Municipality Public Security Bureau, which was added to a U.S. government blacklist last October for activities that are contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. (Filming took place before its addition to the list, though.) And the CCPs Xinjiang publicity department is responsible for diffusing propaganda that convinces outsiders the genocide taking place there is anything but that.

The Mulan production team, according to a profile in Architectural Digest, visited the region prior to filming. The films director also visited in September 2017, as the Washington Posts Isaac Stone Fish notes. But just months before that trip, Chen Quanguo, Beijings top official in Xinjiang, had already began the mass-detention campaign that has since swept up well over a million people. Chens efforts amount to a systematic attempt to stamp out Turkic minorities and the Islamic faith in Xinjiang using brutal gulags, mass surveillance everywhere else, and a forced-sterilization program to drive down Uyghur birthrates (efforts that constitute genocide). Disneys partner the Turpan Security Bureau is complicit in these atrocities.

Disney has apparently turned a blind eye to all of this. Even granting the company the most generous benefit of the doubt, if the crew was unaware of what was happening in 2017, its unfathomable that such ignorance could have persisted through the beginning of the films production in 2018. Those working on the film might even have seen the camps: On Twitter, Shawn Zhang notes that if the crew took highway G312 to Shanshan desert where the filmed, they could see at least 7 re-education camps.

Disney might be the first U.S. company to thank entities involved in perpetrating the Uyghur genocide, but its not the first to willfully ignore the situation. Who can forget the revelation that McKinsey held a massive corporate retreat just four miles from one of the concentration camps? Or that the NBA operated a training center in Xinjiang that, unsurprisingly, drew its own human-rights complaints? But the most lurid examples ignore the most widespread normalization of the abuses by multinational companies: Uyghur forced labor plays a massive role in the global textile industry, allegedly implicating numerous well-known brands, such as Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo.

In each of these cases, business leaders weighed the potential downsides of doing business with Xinjiang-based entities. Disneys decision to move forward with production shows how executives evaluated that potential tradeoff. That they are willing to accept some level of complicity in the Xinjiang genocide is not news. Just last fall, then-Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong is not something we should engage in a public manner because it might harm the company.

But this episode nonetheless offers a couple of lessons. The U.S. government has made significant progress toward curtailing companies involvement in tainted supply chains. In a supply-chain business advisory issued July 1, the Trump administration warned businesses of the coming crackdown, writing that entities with business with Xinjiang ties should be aware of reputational, economic, and, in certain instances, legal, risks associated with certain types of involvement.

The Trump administration also promulgated new sanctions against a Chinese paramilitary group that facilitates forced labor, and on Monday evening, the New York Times reported that the White House was considering new rules that would effectively ban the import of all cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang.

But the U.S. governments warnings about customs enforcement and export controls dont precisely implicate companies such as Disney. Its not as if the Trump administration would prevent the company from offering Mulan for streaming and download. For companies in certain industries, the odds of their products facing heavier regulation is particularly terrifying. But while the addition of several Turpan-based government entities to the Commerce Departments blacklist would prevent companies from cooperating with them in the future, Disney could still seek partners in Xinjiang untouched by the current sanctions. The risk to companies that act similarly is merely reputational right now.

The furor over Mulan is a reminder of the other industries that can be of use to the Chinese regime. No doubt the latest Disney film is a subtle propaganda coup, showing that American producers can shoot in Xinjiang as if no genocide were taking place. And its not just film. To this day, Twitter factchecks the U.S. president, but affixes no such label to official Chinese accounts that spread propaganda whitewashing the Uyghur genocide. Chinese officials on the platform are permitted to cast doubt on the research and reputations of those who have worked to reveal the CCPs Xinjiang crimes to the rest of the world. Beijings genocide-denial campaign has a global reach and that is, in no small part, thanks to American ingenuity.

Since Mulans release this past weekend, Disneys reputation has certainly taken a hit. Disney has revealed that its willing to debase itself in pursuit of the Chinese market. But is this revelation enough to change the calculus of American businesses willing to tune out whats happening in Xinjiang? Only if consumers make Disney pay.

See original here:
Disney Should Suffer for Willful Blindness to Chinese-Government Atrocities - National Review

While there is no cure for blindness and macular degeneration, scientists have accelerated the process to find a cure by visualizing the inner workings of the eye and its diseases at the cellular level.

In an effort led by UW Medicine, researchers successfully modified the standard process of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect minute changes in response to light in individual photoreceptors in the living eye.

The results were published Sept. 9 in Science Advances.

We have now accelerated the life cycle of vision restoration, said lead author Vimal Prabhu Pandiyan, a ophthalmology researcherat the University of Washington School of Medicine.

The study was fundedin partby the National Eye Institutes Audacious Goals Initiative, which embraces bold ideas in helping people to see better.

The OCT modifications outlined in the study will help researchers who want to test therapiessuch as stem cells or gene therapy to treat retinal disease. They now have the tools to zoom in on the retina to evaluate whether the therapy is working.

Corresponding author Ramkumar Sabesan, a UW assistant research professor of ophthalmology, said the only wayto objectively measure the eye currently is to look at a wide retinal area. Sabesan said researchers currently can attach electrodes on the cornea but it captures a large area with around 1 million cells. Now they are talking about nanometers, or one billionth of a meter a small fraction of the size of a cell, providing orders of magnitude improvement.

Since photoreceptors are the primary cells affected in retinal generation and the target cells of many treatments, noninvasive visualization of their physiology at high resolution is invaluable, the researchers wrote.

Cone photoreceptors are the building blocks of sight, capturinglight and funneling information to the other retinal neurons. They are a key ingredient in how we process images and patterns of light falling on the retina.

Optical coherence tomography has been around since the 1990s. In this study, researchers used OCT with adaptive optics, line-scanning and phase-resolved acquisition to deliver the concept of Thomas Youngs interference to the human eye. With the ability to zoom in on the retina at high speeds, they found that cone photoreceptors deform at the scale of nanometers when they first capture light and begin the process of seeing.

As Sabesan explained: You can imagine a picture that looks visually and structurally normal. But when we interrogate the inner working of the retina at a cellular scale, we may detect a dysfunction sooner than what other modalities can do. A doctor then can prescribe medication to intervene early or follow the time-course of its repair via gene therapy or stem cell therapy in the future.

We will now have a way to see if these therapies are acting in the way they should, Sabesan said.

The study also involved researchers at Stanford University, University of California,Berkeley, and University of California, Riverside.

The study was funded by NIH grants U01EY025501, EY027941, EY029710, EY025501, and P30EY001730; Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award; Foundation Fighting Blindness; Murdock Charitable Trust; Burroughs Welcome Fund Careers at the Scientific Interfaces; and Unrestricted grant from the Research to Prevent Blindness.

Here is the original post:
Seeing the eye like never before | Newsroom - UW Medicine Newsroom

A few doctors performing an eye procedure.

Portra/Getty

For the first time in the world, CRISPR, the powerful gene editing tool that can cut and paste DNA, has been used inside a human body. Scientists at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, have administered a CRISPR-based drug to treat a form of congenital blindness, according to two biotech companies that created the treatment.

This dose is truly a landmark event for science, medicine, and most of all for people suffering from eye disease, said Cynthia Collins, president and CEO of Editas Medicine, a Massachusetts-based gene editing company.

This state-of-the-art clinical trial aims to test an experimental treatment for the congenital condition known as Leber 10 congenital amaurosis. The disease is caused by a faulty gene that results in blindness from birth or during the first months of life. The evil affects one in every 40,000 children born. There is currently no approved treatment option.

The first patient in the clinical trial received a dose of the experimental drug called AGN-151587 through an injection into the eye. The idea is that the drug takes the CRISPR tool directly to the cells of the eye that are affected by the evil eye. CRISPR is able to find its way into those cells and correct the gene by editing the DNA to remove the mutation.

The editing done by CRISPR is permanent, which means that patients need a single dose of the drug.

The clinical trial is expected to involve 18 patients in total and will analyze the use of different doses of the drug, to refine how much is needed to reach the goal of reversal of blindness without causing side effects. There is little information about the first patient of this treatment; it is not known when the procedure took place.

CRISPR has also been at the center of the controversy regarding gene editing. In November 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui revealed that there was created the first human embryos edited with CRISPR and that resulted in the birth of twin girls. The scientific community was outraged by Hes work, which bypassed various ethical and regulatory approvals.

Scientists have been working to refine the ability of gene editing tools like CRISPR so that they can edit DNA accurately and effectively. In October of last year, a team of researchers from Harvard University presented a cutting-edge technology known as base editing the editing of bases.

Playing:Watch this:

The 5 geek movies we liked the most in 2019

5:38

The rest is here:
CRISPR is used for the first time within the human body - The Bulletin Time

Zomatos recent move to provide up to ten days of leave a year for its women and transgender employees while they are on their periods has created a stir. Even though the ten-day period leave does not even amount to one day a month, when periods generally occur for about four days every month, for all twelve months of the year, the move is still seen to be controversial in some quarters.

Barkha Dutts somewhat unexpected tweet on August 11, critical of Zomatos move was met with many strong disagreements and some equally strong agreements.

The views expressed in support of the move argued that some womens experiences with periods can be very painful, and the move accounts for variations in period pain experiences.

Further, some questioned the comparisons made between womens work behaviour (including leave from work behaviour) and their male counterparts. They asked why should womens work behaviour be judged according to that of male behaviour, especially when they are biologically different.

Also read: A Reminder: Periods Dont Stop During a Pandemic

Relatedly, some have implicitly or explicitly emphasised equity rather than equality. Another article has argued in support of the move, stating that women are socialised into negating and suppressing period pain, and Zomatos move is an opportunity for us to finally take womens bodies, and their (dis)comfort at the workplace, seriously.

While there is merit in all of these perspectives, I would like to add to the discussion the dimension of public infrastructure provisioning, particularly a dearth of public toilets.

Accessible and clean public toilets are few and far between in India, adding another aspect to the handling of periods. This is especially relevant to women in jobs where the workplace is on the road and doesnt quite exist as a singular specified space that comes with its amenities like that of a toilet.

While toilets have rapidly been constructed, under various government schemes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, even in Delhi, a majority of them remain unusable or dirty, according to the governments own assessment.

The dearth of clean, accessible and safe public toilets affects all women on their periods in jobs on the road, independent of the pain levels. Womens period leave, arising from such a dearth, is then akin to forced leave, and a result of the failure of public infrastructure provisioning, the cost of which women have disproportionately been bearing.

Also read: #PeriodTalk: High Time We Challenge the Secrecy Around Menstruation

The importance of clean and usable toilets, especially during periods, is obvious, and is also documented. A 2018 NDTV report stated that nearly 23 million girls drop out of school annually in India owing to inadequate menstrual hygiene facilities, like toilets.

One criticism of Zomatos move is that by providing for leave for women, women workers are being made less attractive to hire as compared to their male counterparts, and as such the move actually disadvantages women by impeding their employment.

However, this argument completely discounts the supply-side, where period pain and difficulty in handling periods in the absence of clean and accessible toilets can be factors that discourage women from entering such jobs.

The low and dropping female labour force participation rates in India underscore the need to retain women in the workforce.

With growing urbanisation, logistics services, such as food delivery, offer an important potential area of employment for women. Taking measures which strengthen the retention of women in (logistics) jobs, such as Zomato has, is important, not for the women alone, but also for the economy, and through its positive spillover effects, for those around them (such as better nutritional outcomes of their children; lower drop-out rates from schools of brothers; and marriage at a later age of younger sisters).

Also read: The Sexual Autonomy of Indias Muslim Women Is a Political Prisoner at Best

At the end, Barkha Dutt is exceptional, in several (admirable) ways, but do we want to create such conditions that women need to be exceptional to be able to do a job? I for one cannot but welcome Zomatos move enough, if for nothing else, then to prompt a discussion on periods and the many issues intersecting with it period pain, access and awareness about menstrual hygiene, menstrual taboos, dearth of related public infrastructure seldom openly in the mainstream in India.

Gender blindness is never the same as gender equality and this move prompts us to draw the distinction.

Garima Sahai is at the University of Cambridge where she wrote her doctoral dissertation on gender and labour in India. She has previously worked on gender and labour in India at the World Bank, and during her MPhil at the University of Oxford.

Read this article:
Period Leave: Gender Blindness Is Never the Same as Gender Equality - The Wire

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to Coherent Market Insights, the North America & Europe age-related macular degeneration therapeutics market is estimated to be valued at US$ 9,958.7 million in 2020 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period (2020-2027).

Key Trends and Analysis of the North America & Europe Age-related Macular Degeneration Therapeutics Market:

Key trends in the market are the increasing prevalence of age-related macular degeneration, the increasing number of approvals and launches of therapeutics for treatment of age-related macular degeneration, and strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and agreements by key players. These factors are expected to aid growth of the market.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2020, the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the U.S. is roughly 8590% dry age-related macular degeneration and 1015% wet age-related macular degeneration.

Moreover, the increasing number of approvals and launches of age-related macular degeneration therapeutics is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period. For instance, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Prior-Approval Supplement (PAS) for the EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection prefilled syringe.

Furthermore, adoption of strategic acquisitions by key players is expected to propel the market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in February 2020, Gemini Therapeutics and Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) entered a research collaboration to expand, explore, and discover new targets for treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/4171

Key Market Takeaways:

The North America & Europe age-related macular degeneration therapeutics market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period owing to launches of age-related macular degeneration therapeutics by market players. For instance, in October 2019, Bausch + Lomb, a subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies Inc., launched PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula mini gel eye vitamins for people with moderate to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the U.S.

Among regions, North America is expected to hold dominant position in the market during the forecast period owing to high presence of key players such as Novartis AG, and the increasing prevalence of age-related macular degeneration. According to FIGHTING BLINDNESS CANADA, August 2018, every year, around 1.4 million Canadians over age 50 experience vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Competitive Landscape:

Key players operating in the North America & Europe age-related macular degeneration therapeutics market are Novartis AG, Bayer AG, Bausch Health Companies Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pfizer, Inc., and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

Buy-Now this Research Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/4171

Market Segmentation:

Related Market Intelligence Report:

Verteporfin Market, by Indication (Macular Degeneration, Pathological Myopia, and Ocular Histoplasmosis), by Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Online Pharmacies), and by Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2020 2027

Read more: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/verteporfin-market-4154

Eye Health Supplements Market, By Ingredient Type (Lutein and Zeaxanthin, Antioxidants, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Coenzyme Q10, Flavonoids, Astaxanthin, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Other Ingredients), By Indication Type (Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Cataract, Dry Eye Syndrome, Other Indications), By Form (Tablet, Capsule, Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2020 2027

Read more: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/eye-health-supplements-market-3791

About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide.

Read the original post:
North America & Europe Age-related Macular Degeneration Therapeutics Market to Surpass US$ 15122.8 Million by 2027, Says Coherent Market Insights...

An inspirational blind six-year-old girl has been tackling the slopes this winter.

Your playlist will load after this ad

Tallulah doesnt need to see to shine. Source: Seven Sharp

Tallulah Mackay was born without sight.

When she was born we thought nothing, she had no reaction, but as she's gotten older, she's getting better at focussing and honing in on the minimal vision she has, mum Jess Mackay says.

This hasnt stopped the tenacious Tallulah, who this year has decided to take up skiing.

She's always been pretty rambunctious and crazy and fearless, Jess says.

The family shared plenty of images of the spirited southern six-year-old trying her hand at all sorts of activities despite her sight issues.

Check out Tallulah hitting the slopes on the South Islands Southern Alps with her family in the Seven Sharp report above.

View post:
Inspirational six-year-old skier undeterred by blindness, tackles Southern Alps - TVNZ