StemCell Therapy

Shahin Salarvand,1 Simin Hemati,2 Payman Adibi,3 Fariba Taleghani,4 Mohammad Saleki5

1Hepatitis Research Center, Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran; 2Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 3Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 4Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 5Department of Sport Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Correspondence: Shahin SalarvandHepatitis Research Center, Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, IranTel +989161590560Fax +986633120140Email shsalarvand@lums.ac.ir

Introduction: Healthcare professionals should seek the necessary resources to improve the quality of care. Given the cultural, social, and economic differences, in every health care system, there are increasing needs for the adapted versions of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). This study aimed to introduce an innovative CPG adaptation approach for nurses working in a developing country.Methods: This study is comprised of three sections: a. An extensive systematic search of the literature, b. The adaptation process, c. Interviews, which were held with stakeholders, users and/or the target population. We applied all of the stages of guideline adaptation process according to Adaptation Resource Toolkit, with the integration of the findings of a systematic literature search and a qualitative content analysis in an adolopted new CPG.Results: In this study, we applied a mix of three methods namely adoption, adaptation and development (adolopment) of recommendations to save time, cost, and manpower efficiently. Moreover, we integrated the utilized qualitative research method and literature review with the adolopment approach to develop the recommendations.Conclusion: Given there is a paucity of nursing clinical practice guidelines (NCPGs) in the nursing management of cancer therapy-induced mucositis and to save time and costs, the findings emerging from the adoption, adaptation, and de novo guideline development by a panel of experts and qualitative content analysis (QCA) method were integrated to achieve a more comprehensive nursing practice guideline.

Keywords: guideline adaptation, developing country, nursing

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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An Innovative Approach to Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation in th | CMAR - Dove Medical Press

Doctors and scientists still have many unanswered questions about the new coronavirus and how it affects our bodies once we are exposed. Washing hands frequently and social distancing are recommended to stop the spread of the virus. But many are asking, is there anything we can do to bolster our immune systems defense to fight off the virus if we come in contact? Are there supplements that might help?

Again, when it comes to the new coronavirus, theres no data right now to answer definitely how one supplement might help the immune system fight off the virus or not. But what microbiologists who do study the immune system know about our bodys defense is that ramping up our immune system to be on high alert or globally boosting it to fight off every and any germ that might be out there is actually a flawed concept, explains Michael N. Starnbach, PhD, a professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Our immune system is designed to recognize things that are foreign in our body and clear those foreign things out of our body, but those cells and responses are finely tuned, says Dr. Starnbach. If the immune system were too active, it would attack our own tissues, which can happen in some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohns disease, he says.

Theres really only evidence that supplements improve immune function in populations that are truly malnourished, which is rarely the case in the United States, according to Starnbach. People can be more susceptible to diseases when they are severely malnourished, but it doesnt mean that replenishing higher-than-necessary amounts of vitamins and nutrients in someone is going to make their immune system work that much better," he says.

Evidence suggests some vitamins and supplements may reduce the likelihood of a respiratory virus or reduce the amount of time a person is sick with a virus, especially if a person is deficient in some way, according to Tod Cooperman, MD, the president and founder of Consumer.Lab.com, a provider of independent test results and information designed to help consumers and healthcare professionals identify the best-quality health and nutrition products. Again, we dont know whether the vitamins and supplements we have evidence for would yield the same effects against the novel coronavirus.

Right now, if youre concerned about catching the coronavirus or any other virus, taking a basic multivitamin every day is a safe way to ensure youre not deficient in any area, says Dr. Cooperman. Eating well, getting good sleep, and exercising will also help keep you as healthy as possible and keep your immune system strong, he says.

RELATED: Coronavirus Shopping List: What to Buy and Skip

Based on research on the effects of zinc against other viruses, theres some suggestion it may help lessen severity of symptoms, so if you start to experience symptoms of a virus, including the new coronavirus, Cooperman suggests sucking on zinc lozenges to coat your throat. But right now, theres no evidence to back that up.

Heres more about what is known about specific vitamins and supplements that may affect viral infections.

RELATED: Coronavirus and Prescription Medications: Should You Stock Up?

Again the available evidence suggests certain supplements may help when it comes to reducing infection or the duration of illness, says Yufang Lin, MD, an integrative medicine doctor at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. But little evidence suggests supplements actually help protect you against catching a pathogen in the first place. And there's no evidence that any supplement is a silver bullet thats going to globally boost your immune response to any and all threats.

RELATED: What You Need to Know About Living With a Compromised Immune System During the COVID-19 Outbreak

And remember, the novel coronavirus is an entirely new threat. There isnt any specific data yet on how particular vitamins or supplements may or may not thwart it, says Dr. Lin. (All the studies referenced below investigate how supplements work against other types of viruses.) We really dont know if they would provide support in fighting off COVID-19 [the disease spread by the novel coronavirus], she says.

Heres what we do know.

Elderberry Theres data that suggests elderberry (taken in teas, lozenges, gummies, or pills with the herb) can reduce flu virus production and help people recover from flu faster, Lin says. A study published in March 2019 in the Journal of Functional Foods found that compounds from elderberries can inhibit the viruss entry and replication in human cells and help strengthen a persons immune response to the virus. There is no really good data for the common cold and elderberry, Lin adds.

RELATED: Cold and Flu: Everything You Need to Know

Zinc does have some data suggesting it can provide support for your immune system and may help you fight off infection in common colds faster, Lin says. A meta-analysis published in the journal JRSM Open in May 2017 found evidence that zinc lozenges can shorten the common cold's duration by over 30 percent. The findings recommended that the lozenges not contain citric acid or salt citrate. [Its an approach] that you can think about taking within the first few days of infection, she adds.

Remember, zinc has not been tested specifically with the new coronavirus, but it has been tested with other viruses, he says. When it comes to other viruses, zinc lozenges work by inhibiting the viruses' activity in the throat, when the infection is just starting to spread, lessening those symptoms. So taking those lozenges soon after you begin experiencing symptoms may help, Cooperman explains. Its fairly safe for a week or two. You want to suck on the lozenges, but not chew, so your throat is continually coated with zinc, he says.

Make sure you follow the instructions on the package and that youre not taking more than the recommended dose, Cooperman adds.

Vitamin C is associated with some benefits for colds, Lin notes. (The common cold is a type of coronavirus.) A meta-analysis of 29 trials including 11,306 people looked at how taking at least 200 milligrams (mg) per day of vitamin C affected risk and management of colds. The study, published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found that vitamin C didnt reduce the incidence of colds in adults, but it did shorten the duration of colds, by 8 percent. A subgroup of studies in the Cochrane analysis looked at marathon runners, skiers and Army troops doing heavy exercise in very cold conditions and found that supplements of at least 200 mg of vitamin C every day appeared to cut the risk of getting a cold by 50 percent.

Lin recommends aiming to get the vitamin C you do need daily and focus on getting it from food sources, rather than supplements. I would encourage eating vitamin Crich vegetables to boost your levels of vitamin C, she says. The recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adults is 75 to 90 milligrams (mg) a day, according to the National Institutes of Health. One orange contains about 75 mg, a green pepper contains about 60 mg, and a half cup of Brussels sprouts has almost 50 mg.

Taking very large doses of vitamin C isnt recommended; once doses go above 400 mg, vitamin C is just excreted in the urine, according to the Harvard Health Letter.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a strong immune system, according to Cooperman. And low levels of vitamin D are associated with frequent colds and influenza, according to the National Institutes of Health. Because we get a lot of the vitamin D we need from sunshine, many people see their levels drop off during the winter months, says Cooperman. Its not necessary to have your levels checked to safely take vitamin D; Cooperman recommends 600 to 800 IU or 15 to 20 micrograms if you decide to take supplements.

A meta-analysis of prospective trials published in the journal BMJ in 2017 found that vitamin D reduced the odds of developing a respiratory infection by 42 percent in people who were vitamin D deficient. Note: Dosage matters. Taking a daily dose of D3 between 300 IU and 4,000 IU was more effective than taking a large monthly dose, according to the BMJ report.

In a randomized, double-blind placebo trial of 5,110 older adults who were vitamin D deficient (published in August 2019 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases), the data again showed that large doses may not be beneficial in preventing respiratory infection. Participants were given 200,000 IU at the start of the study followed by 100,000 IU monthly, with a mean follow-up of 1.6 years. Investigators found no reduction in the number of acute respiratory infections compared with placebo.

If youre not deficient, vitamin D wont really provide a lot of additional benefit, but if you are deficient, taking the supplement can strengthen immunity, says Cooperman.

Apple cider vinegar Though apple cider vinegar (ACV) does boast some other health benefits, there isnt evidence to show that ACV affects immune function or that taking it regularly improves your chances of fighting off viruses, Lin says.

Turmeric While there is some evidence turmeric may yield some health benefits, including helping manage high cholesterol, glucose control, and digestive issues, there isnt specific evidence that it can help fight off a virus, says Lin. There is, however, evidence suggesting one of the active compounds in turmeric (curcumin) does act on immune function in some way, though how those effects may or may not benefit health is still unclear, according to a review published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology.

As always, let your doctor know about all supplements you are taking or plan to take, as they can pose unintended health risks for certain groups or interact with other medications you're taking.

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Can Supplements Protect Me Against the New Coronavirus? - Everyday Health

In light of COVID-19, blood service providers around the country are asking for donations. But is this an area in which Lyme disease patients can help? The risk of whether tick-borne diseases infect American blood banks is hotly debated. While some studies and documented cases have traced transfusion-transmitted tick-borne infections back to donors, Lyme disease is not on the list of threats at this time. However, Lyme has secured itself as the most common and fastest-growing vector-borne illness in the United States, and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projecting above 300,000 new infections annually, the matter begs for more research. By comparison, each year there are six times more new cases of Lyme than HIV and AIDS, with Lyme disease receiving less than 1% of HIV funding.

Are climbing infection rates, unreliable diagnostic tests, insufficient treatments, and lax donor eligibility guidelines creating the perfect storm for unrecognized transfusion-transmitted Lyme disease? With continued nationwide blood shortages, the urgent need for donations remains high. While donor eligibility guidelines seem to be a straight line for acute, early-onset Lyme disease, that line blurs when we consider the intricacies of Lyme, especially of patients with Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), more colloquially known among the patient population as chronic Lyme disease.

What is the current standard of eligibility? If youve ever been diagnosed with Lyme disease, here is what you need to know about this ongoing discussion to best determine whether it is safe for you to donate blood.

1. Has your Lyme disease been resolved? The main requirement to determine if you are eligible to donate blood after testing positive for Lyme disease is that you have resolved or cured the infection. Individuals being treated for Lyme disease with an antibiotic should not donate blood. Individuals who have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease may be considered as potential blood donors, states the CDC.

Donor eligibility varies slightly amongst states and collection sites, but most sites carry similar guidelines. For example, the blood service provider Vitalant requires a 30-day wait after a Lyme diagnosis, completion of a standard 21-day antibiotic treatment, and being free of symptoms at the time of donation in order to be eligible to donate. On the other hand, the American Red Cross, which accounts for 45% of the transfused blood in the U.S., requires no wait time following standard Lyme treatment.

If Lyme were defined only as an early, localized illness, meaning it is diagnosed and treated within 1-4 weeks of exposure, it might easily be resolved by CDC-approved standard treatment. However, resolution can be difficult to achieve due to the timing of diagnosis and the current treatment standards set by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

There are three stages of Lyme disease:

Lyme disease specialist Dr. Tania Dempsey, founder of Armonk Integrative Medicine in New York, explains the differences among the three stages of illness:

Early localized Lyme disease is the stage when a bulls-eye rash can appear, or patients can develop flu-like symptoms. Some patients dont have any symptoms at this stage. If appropriate antibiotic treatment is started as soon as possible and treated for at least 28 days, although longer courses are sometimes necessary. Resolution of Lyme disease is definitely possible, says Dempsey.

Once early disseminated Lyme sets in, around one to four months, the symptoms can be more severe, indicating the infection has likely infiltrated the joints, nervous system, and other parts of the body. It is critical that the infection be treated no later than this point, as this increases the likelihood of the development of chronic Lyme disease. Prolonged, multi-drug antibiotic courses may be needed at this stage. she adds.

Once Lyme reaches the late disseminated stage, aggressive multi-antibiotic treatments are often called for by Lyme-literate doctors to reverse damage to the heart, joints, and other body systems, but sometimes damage is irreversible.

Persistent infection, despite antibiotic treatment, is real and has been shown repeatedly in the lab, says Dempsey. In fact, a 2018 study confirmed what is still being questioned today by mainstream doctors as a controversial theory. A slow-growing form of Borrelia burgdorferi resisted the standard single-antibiotic treatment in test tubes and within a murine model. Where administering one and two-antibiotic treatments failed to resolve resistant Borrelia, a three-antibiotic cocktail which includes daptomycin, doxycycline and ceftriaxone was administered to infected mice and proved to fully eradicate the bacteria. This widely opens the door to doubt as to whether the standard Lyme treatment is adequate in resolving infection, especially in later stages of illness where early diagnosis was missed.

2. Do you have active symptoms? With resolution of infection comes the assumption that symptoms of the illness are gone. When asked about chronic Lyme patients that display symptoms such as arthritis and ongoing fatigue after the standard 21-day treatment, American Red Cross only considers ineligibility if the symptoms include a fever or a rash. We dont have a set list of symptoms we look at. As long as you dont have a fever or feel unwell at the time of donation, lingering symptoms like joint pain or fatigue wouldnt cause you to be ineligible to donate, a Red Cross eligibility specialist told ProHealth.

When asked what would constitute active symptoms, Vitalant representatives also provided a nonspecific answer: If you feel generally good and dont have a fever, you would be eligible to donate, provided youve completed standard antibiotic therapy, and its been 30 days after your diagnosis.

Due to its similarity to syphilis, Lyme was quickly placed into the medical category of The Great Imitator as early as the 1980s when it was shown to mimic over 100 different diseases. Due to flawed diagnostic abilities and a symptom list extending much further beyond a fever and bulls-eye rash, an untold number of diagnoses are suspected to be missed or delayed. It is no surprise, then, that most of Dempseys patients come to her after years of chronic illness and lack of relief. While some know that Lyme disease is at the root of their symptoms, some dont. Whether the infection can be fully cleared at this stage is unclear. Dempsey says. Patients know their bodies well, and I rely on them to tell me if their symptoms persist or have resolved. However, it is important to note that patients without persistent symptoms could still have hidden Borrelia in their cells. They just may not be active or causing any issues.

We can see how two simple questions can snowball into a complex knot of uncertainty. When it comes to determining whether Lyme patients can transmit Borrelia through blood transfusions, the available science has only solidly concluded the following:

THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF TRANSFUSION-TRANSMITTED LYME IN HUMANS

This sounds comforting. Unfortunately, the absence of reports may be due to an absence of monitoring. Regulations and requirements to test blood donors for Lyme disease dont exist, even in high-risk, endemic states like New York. Whats more concerning is that even if testing was required, Lyme disease testing has been proven to show low sensitivity and low specificity. This means the testing available isnt adequate to provide consistently accurate results, which could confirm a donor is truly resolved of the pathogen that causes Lyme disease. A 2018 article in Frontiers of Microbiology points out, No serologic testing or molecular analyses are routinely done which would be needed in order to fully ensure that potential asymptomatic, Borrelia-infected donors are excluded from the donor pool.

LYME BACTERIA HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED TO MICE THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSIONA 2006 study demonstrated that Borrelia burgdorferi was transmitted from infected to naive mice by blood transfusion. Due to the obvious ethical reasons, a similar study has not been reproduced with humans. However, this study supports the notion that untreated Lyme disease may be transmittable through blood. The World Health Organization (WHO) states Lyme disease can survive blood storage temperatures, and that transfusion-transmission in humans is possible but has not been reported.

SIMILAR INFECTIONS LIKE SYPHILIS REQUIRE A ONE YEAR DEFERRAL Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, a spirochete not so dissimilar to the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia. The WHO writes in their guidelines on assessing donor suitability for blood donation, Endogenous bacteria that are transfusion-transmissible include Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Brucella melitensis and Yersinia enterocolitica, but blood donations are routinely screened only for T. pallidum. With syphilis requiring a 12-month post-treatment deferral, it seems plausible to at least consider Lyme disease as worthy of a longer deferral period following treatment and symptom resolution. Currently, the WHO recommends deferring Lyme patients only 28 days following treatment, or a full recovery whichever is longer.

Anyone with experience with Lyme knows the diagnosis is shrouded in a controversial haze of conflicting and missing information. This makes for a foggy understanding when it comes to not only accurately diagnosing, but also obtaining appropriate treatment to resolve the varying range of symptoms this tick-borne disease inflicts. Lyme grays a variety of life areas for patients that would otherwise be straightforward, including whether or not one is truly eligible to donate blood without putting recipients at risk for exposure to Lyme disease.

As a specialist in treating complex, chronic cases of Lyme, Dr. Dempsey tends to mostly see very ill patients who are often not well enough to consider the possibility of donating. However, when the topic does present itself, she offers her professional opinion:

Any patient who has suffered from PTLDS/chronic Lyme or co-infections, including Bartonella and Babesia, should not donate blood. It is clear from recent research that persistent infection is a real possibility, particularly in patients with continued symptoms. Unfortunately, donor recipients are not given any information about who their donor is or what their medical history is so there is no way for them to have any input about whether the blood has come from someone with chronic Lyme or other tick-borne infection.

Are you considering donating? Keep the following in mind:

Ultimately, if you have any doubt about whether or not youre in the clear, the best option would be not to donate until there are better diagnostic capabilities and ways to ensure the blood supply can be kept safe from Lyme disease.

Jenny Menzel is a Certified Health Coach and branding specialist for various alternative healthcare practices, and volunteers her design skills to the annual grassroots campaign, the Lyme Disease Challenge. Jenny was diagnosed with Lyme in 2010 after 8 years of undiagnosed chronic pain and fatigue, and continues to improve by employing multiple alternative therapies, including yurveda, Chinese Medicine and Bee Venom Therapy.

References:

Blood Donor Selection: Guidelines on Assessing Donor Suitability for Blood Donation. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012. 7, TTI and donor risk assessment. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK138223/

Feng, J., Li, T., Yuan, Y., Yee, R., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Biofilm/Persister/Stationary Phase Bacteria Cause More Severe Disease Than Log Phase Bacteria I Biofilm Borrelia burgdorferi Not Only Display More Tolerance to Lyme Antibiotics But Also Cause More Severe Pathology In a Mouse Arthritis Model: Implications for Understanding Persistence, PTLDS and Treatment Failure. doi: 10.1101/440461

Gabitzsch ES, Piesman J, Dolan MC, Sykes CM, Zeidner NS. Transfer of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. infection via blood transfusion in a murine model. J Parasitol. 2006;92(4):869870. doi: 10.1645/GE-833R.1

Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html

Pavia CS, Plummer MM. Transfusion-Associated Lyme Disease Although Unlikely, It Is Still a Concern Worth Considering. Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2070. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02070

Excerpt from:
Is it Safe to Donate Blood if You've Been Diagnosed with Lyme Disease? - ProHealth

Though now the leading man in the hit CBS series, Bull, many Michael Weatherly fans will always remember the actor for his career-catalyzing role as Agent Tony DiNozzo in NCIS. Boasting a successful TV career, the actor has grown quite a bit since his early Hollywood days in Foxs Dark Angel which starred one of Weatherlys famous loves, Jessica Alba.

Weatherly dated Alba who was then 18 after they met on the Fox show. While the actor proposed, the relationship didnt work out, and Weatherly went on to date and marry Amelia Heinle (American actress known for starring in the soap opera The Young and the Restless).

Amelie Heinle and Michael Weatherly were married from 1995 until 1997. Michael Weatherly is now married to Bojana Jankovic; the two wed in 2009. So, how did they meet? Who is Jankovic, and what does she do for a living? And, just how much older is Weatherly than the latest love of his life?

Bojana Jankovic is a writer and an assistant director known for TVWWW and Do Not Leave Me with Strangers. Jankovic has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Extra with Billy Bush.She is also an award-winning physician who is double board-certified in internal and integrative medicine. She founded the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center.

Jankovic and Weatherly reportedly met in a bar in Vancouver in 2007 (at least thats one of the most commonly reported stories). At the time, Weatherly was allegedly enjoying the single life, according to Heavy.com. The couple has explained that their relationship beginnings involved several continents and was quite complicated. In the end, it was clearly meant to be.

In 2009, the couple tied the knot, and they bought a home in Hollywood Hills in 2012. However, when they tied the knot, Jankovic was still quite young, as there is a sizable age difference between Weatherly and his now-wife.

Michael Weatherly was born in 1968, making him 51 years old. On the other hand, Jankovic was born on May 7 in 1983. Jankovic is 36 today, yet she was still in her 20s when she married Weatherly back in 2009.

Maybe, theres something to true to the old saying that women mature faster than men. There is a 15 year age gap between the happy couple; however, it seems to work, as they have been together for over a decade and now have children together.

As for Liam Weatherly and Olivia Weatherly, the former is Weatherly and Jankovics 6-year-old son who was born in 2013, and the latter is their 7-year-old daughter born in 2012. Michael Weatherly also has one son from his previous marriage to Heinle, August Manning Weatherly, who is 24 years old.

So, Michael Weatherly has three kids. His eldest happens to be closer in age to his current wife than he is; however, anything goes in Hollywood! Its hard enough to find love in Tinseltown, and accounting for age differences minimizes the pool of potential candidates to too great an extent.So, heres to wishing the couple many more years together.

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Inside the Large Age Gap Between Former 'NCIS' Star Michael Weatherly and Wife Bojana Jankovic - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Last week, Gwyneth Paltrows modern lifestyle brand Goop announced it was closing stores in the U.S. and U.K. to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus currently sweeping the globe. Meanwhile, Paltrows psychiatrist-pal Kelly Brogan, a high-profile Goop contributor, has racked up tens of thousands of views on social media spreading discredited pseudoscientific claims that the coronavirus might not even exist, and that symptoms attributed to the virus are likely being caused by widespread fear.

The claims were made in a widely shared video posted on Facebook, Instagram (which is owned by Facebook), and Vimeo last week by Brogan, a New York State-licensed psychiatrist, New York Times bestselling author, AIDS denialist, anti-vaxxer, and, according to Goop, a trusted expert and recent contributor to its site and live events.

Its just the latest stain on Paltrows already controversial brand, which in recent years has become synonymous with such questionable products as the Jade Egg, an egg-shaped gemstone that purportedly harness[es] the power of energy work, crystal healing, and a Kegel-like physical practice when inserted in the vagina.

In the video, which was originally shared with paid subscribers of Brogans health reclamation program, Vital Life Project, and has since been viewed over 75,000 times online, Brogan claimed that there is potentially no such thing as the coronavirus because its not possible to prove that any given pathogen has induced death, and that the rising death toll caused by the virus is likely being accelerated by the fear [of the virus] itself.

She also professed that she doesnt believe the widely accepted germ theory of disease, encouraged viewers to seek alternative theories, suggested that the news media is being controlled by an unnamed pro-vaccination group, and speculated that the U.S. government is planning to link our passports with our vaccination records and gain totalitarian governmental control not unlike the divide-and-conquer dehumanization agendas that preceded the Holocaust.

Facebook quickly removed the video after inquiries from The Daily Beast. These videos violate our policies and have been removed from both Facebook and Instagram, a spokesperson said.

Goop declined to comment, stating: We would suggest reaching out to Dr. Brogan directly as she didnt make those comments on goops platform. (Vimeowhich is owned by The Daily Beasts parent companyand Brogan did not return requests for comment.)

Brogan attributed her claims about the coronavirus to the pseudoscientific theories of the late Ryke Geerd Hamer, a ghoulish German doctor who in 1986 had his medical license permanently revoked in Germany after a number of patients in his care died. Hamers more recent victims include Susanne Rehklau, a 12-year-old girl who suffered a painful death after Hamer gave her the all-clear.

According to Hamers German New Medicine, all illness and disease, including pathogenic infections, are caused by psychological trauma, with specific traumatic experiences said to correlate with specific physical symptoms. For example, a child who is forced to live under the conservativeor inflexiblerule of an overbearing parent might develop rigid joints. To cure themselves, Hamer claimed, patients must disavow conventional Western medicine (which he claimed was a conspiracy orchestrated by the Jewish chemo mafia) and overcome their unresolved trauma using non-pharmacological, or natural, treatment methods, including talk therapy.

Medical authorities, including the German Cancer Society and the Swiss Cancer League, have widely denounced Hamer's theories as dangerous and lacking any scientific or empirical justification.

Experts who spoke to The Daily Beast agreed there is no scientific basis for Brogans analogous claims about the coronavirus.

David Colquhoun, a British pharmacologist and noted scourge of scientific quackery, called Brogans claims utter nonsense, and said he had never before heard such an explicit denial of germ theory.

Shes a very, very dangerous fantasist, Colquhoun said. I wonder whether she takes antibiotics if she gets a bacterial infection?

Shes a very, very dangerous fantasist. I wonder whether she takes antibiotics if she gets a bacterial infection?

Benjamin Radford, deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer, which publishes investigations debunking paranormal phenomena and fringe science, said Brogans video should be viewed in the context of other populist pseudoscientific claimssuch as miasma theory and the law of attractionand questioned whether she was a real doctor.

Theres always been this sort of populist appeal by people who reject science, and thats exactly whats going on here, Radford said. Unfortunately, outbreaks like this are exactly the wrong time to bring these things up because [...] they divert people from legitimate evidence-based treatments.

Brogans credentials were also called into question by Peter M. Heimlich, a medical fraud researcher and the son of Dr. Henry Heimlich (of the famous maneuver). [Disclosure: the younger Heimlich is a friend of the author.]

In a March 22 letter shared with The Daily Beast, Heimlich asked the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, which is a branch of the New York State Department of Health, to determine whether Brogan misrepresented her board certifications online.

The letter highlights potentially misleading claims on Brogans site that she is currently board-certified in the areas of psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine/consultation psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), and that according to ABPNs online database, she is no longer certified in either specialty.

A spokesperson for ABPN said they could not speak directly about Brogan, and that the certification status of its diplomates is clearly stated on its site.

Per Heimlichs letter, Brogan also claims board certification through the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM), but ABIHM stopped issuing certificates in 2014 and now operates under a different name. (ABIHMs former executive director did not return a request for comment.)

A note on Brogans site says she is not currently accepting applications for one-on-one consultations and only holds group healing weekends once yearly in her home state of Florida.

Despite the criticism, she continues to peddle her discredited theories, posting a second video to her social media channels on Friday in which she again appeared to deny the existence of the coronavirus and invited viewers to join her paid subscription program.

Read more:
The Gwyneth Paltrow-Approved Goop Doctor Pushing Wacky Coronavirus Conspiracies - The Daily Beast

First up: Any IV treatment also carries a small risk of bleeding and infection at the site where the needle is placed in the skin or getting too much fluid infused. IV infusions may be a common medical procedure, but they are still a medical procedure.

The second safety concern is where you are getting it, notes functional and integrative medicine practitioner Roxanna Namavar, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist and fellow in the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, who uses it at her own practice."No matter what IV therapy you are getting, you want to make sure your practitioner knows where the ingredient is sourced, and how it is compounded. They should also tailor your infusion treatments to you: It shouldn't feel like you're picking things off a menu. Your practitioner should look at your lab work, symptoms, and goals and create a protocol that is specific to your needs."

This concern comes to light most notably with the large amounts of IV bars that have popped up lately, most without much regulation. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently took action against an IV drip bar for making unsupported health claims about their ability to treat serious illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or congestive heart failure.

If done under the supervision of a responsible health care practitioner, however, Namavar says there are no significant safety concerns. She notes that some patients may be sensitive to IV NAD+ therapy, specifically, and experience discomfort such as warming of the chest and nausea. Wally Taylor, M.D., a functional medicine physician with Texas Integrative Medicine in Austin, Texas, notes similarly, "One of the things about NAD+ is that you can't infuse it too quickly without it being pretty uncomfortable." He says some of his patients, "say they feel like they're having symptoms of a heart attack, but when we look at their heart monitor, we don't see any evidence of that." He has found that breathing high-concentration oxygen during the infusion can reduce some of these side effects.

"Any time you're giving treatments intravenously, there could be problems of one sort or another," says Taylor. "So it's useful to have the direct oversight of a health care provider who has experience with NAD+." He says complications are more likely to arise in people with a chronic illness, but it's not impossible for healthy people to have a bad reaction.

Cost is another issue. A single IV NAD+ therapy ranges from several hundred dollars to $1,000 or more. You also have to factor in travel time to the clinic and the wait timeinfusions generally take two or more hours, and some people may need infusions several days in a row.

Originally posted here:
NAD IV Therapy: What Is This Trendy New Treatment & Is It Safe? - mindbodygreen.com

As society is forced into isolation, people are finding themselves craving connection more than ever. According to a study the online dating service OkCupid released on Mar. 10 of this year, 88 percent of users globally and 92 percent of U.S. users were continuing to date during the coronavirus outbreak. (At least at the time they were surveyed.) But while many Americans have found themselves with additional time on their hands, mitigation efforts enacted by several states and cities discourage doing a lot of the activities you might usually choose for a date. California, Ohio, Illinois, and Washington are among the states that have closed all bars and restaurants to slow the spread of COVID-19. In some areaslike New York City and Los Angelesmovie theaters, shopping centers, and other gathering places have also temporarily ceased operations. Even if you live in an area where those businesses remain open, experts still recommend social distancingi.e. staying home as much as possible and limiting contact with other people as much as you can.

Where does all of this leave those who are still looking to make a match? We asked doctors to tell us how to safely date during the pandemic. Before you open your favorite app, keep reading to find out what these experts have to say.

Most experts we talked with suggested not canceling romance altogether, but approaching it from a different angle. David B. Samadi, MD, urologic oncology expert and Director of Men's Health at St. Francis Hospital in New York, cautions against meeting up with a blind date or someone you don't know very well, "because you don't know the status of their health, and even if they say they're healthy, they could still have the virus and just not be symptomatic yet." But that doesn't mean that you still can't get to know someone outside of texting and sharing your profiles. Family and integrative medicine specialist Bindiya Gandhi, MD suggests that daters "talk on the phone" and "get a feel for the person, like we used to before dating apps." Once you feel more comfortable with them, you can decide whether to actually meet up. "Better to be 100 percent cautious," she adds.

If you decide you want to physically get together with your date, there's really only one safe way to do so. "People can self-isolate and then get together outside at a park and keep a big distance between [themselves]," says integrative gynecologist Felice Gersh, MD. (The broadly accepted safe distance for droplet-transmitted diseases like coronavirus is six feet, per Johns Hopkins.) However, Gersh stipulates, "If one of the two people is not practicing social distancing, then it is probably best to just talk through telecommunications." To sum up: you want to be sure that your date has been following the recommended precautions; otherwise your chances of being infected go up.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) official guidelines for protecting yourself from coronavirus include avoiding close contact and touching your/another person's face. Unfortunately, that means intimate experiences with new partners are off the table.

"I would hold off [kissing] unless you're married or in a committed relationship, because the virus can be passed through mucus membranes and saliva is pretty close," says Gandhi. Kissing may seem harmless, but Gersh warns, "It's not really safe. There are extremely high viral titers in saliva." These viral proteins allow the virus to be transferred quite easily from person to person through that kind of contact.

The reality is that many crises in historyfrom the 1965 blackoutto more recentnatural disastersresulted in a spike in birthrates. With so much time at home, "couples are having more sex," says women's urologist and sexual health expert Jennifer Berman, MS, MD. It's likely that social distancing will have the same effect, but, as COVID-19 is a new challenge, there's little research on how it impacts pregnancy. However, we know fevers can be harmful to embryo development, and a fever is a core symptom of this disease. "Data so far shows that the virus is not transmitted to the baby while in utero and breast milk also does not have the virus in it," Gersh says. "If the mom gets the virus and recovers, her antibodies may offer protection to her baby." (Either way, the mother should practice self-isolation.)

Another issue for expectant mothers is receiving adequate care. With hospitals and healthcare workers scrambling to manage coronavirus patients, now isn't the best time to intentionally conceive and put additional strain on the system.

With the pandemic still playing out, the future is still in flux. "This will not go on forever," Gersh says. "[But] some believe we may be dealing with the coronavirus for the next18 to 24 months." Bermansuggests keeping an eye on the loosening of other restrictions, such as school closures, as "a good litmus test for what is appropriate." We are in uncharted territory and advice may change based on what medical professionals learn about the virus, so check for recommendations from the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and your local government. If restaurants and bars are still closed in your area, you should not be heading out on a regular date.

What about partners who live together?

As people are asked to curtail their public lives, couples who live together will be in constant contact in their homes. "If one person has it, the other will get it," Berman says.

"With your intimate, exclusive partner you live with, it's okay to touch, as long as neither is having symptoms," Gersh advises. "However, if one or both of the partners fall into a high-risk group, you might reconsider all close physical contact. These are personal decisions the two of you must make together." She also notes that in couples where one or more individuals is in a job that puts them at a higher risk of contracting coronavirussuch as healthcare or law enforcementcontact should also be limited or suspended.

How did Jane Austen's characters maintain such fulfilling romantic lives without bar hopping or sleeping together? Berman advocates for the art of the letter to make a comeback. "One way you can remain intimate and connected is to write to another person from your heart," she says. If that practice feels too antiquated for you, you could always give your date a ring on the phone or talk through video chat.

Berman is concerned about the long-term effects of this necessary self-isolation. Being with other people "is necessary for health, wellness, sexuality, and longevity," she says. "We need to be able to connect with other people. It's hardwired in our DNA, so things like this that separate us are not consistent with the survival of our species." However, she predicts that humans will bounce back from this crisis and settle into normalcy againand yes, that includes lots of first dates, both good and bad.

"The pendulum has swung so far into fear and separation, but the pendulum will swing back it always does," Berman says. "The goal will be to swing back into balance and be able to feel comfortable being intimate with people [again]."

More:
Is It Safe to Date During the Coronavirus Pandemic? Experts Explain - Best Life

When you're under the weather, your body needs immune-supportive nutrients to fight off a cold or virus. While foods can't prevent, treat or magically cure your illness, what you eat can soothe your symptoms and potentially help you bounce back quicker.

Mushrooms are packed with vitamins and minerals that help your immune system function at its peak.

Credit: from_my_point_of_view/iStock/GettyImages

Here, nine foods that'll help and three that can hinder your recovery.

Especially when you're fighting an infection, you need to stay hydrated. Drinking fluids helps every system in your body function at its best, carries much-needed nutrients to your cells and aids in flushing bacteria, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Next to water, there's nothing better than a warm, comforting cup of tea. "Drinking tea can help restore hydration, which is important for recovery, as well as soothe digestion and a sore throat," Lisa Moskovitz, RDN, founder and CEO of The NY Nutrition Group, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

And, depending on what ails you, sipping specific kinds of teas may mitigate your symptoms. For example, peppermint tea, which contains menthol, can ease an upset stomach, while black tea, rich in flavonoids, combats inflammation and supports healthy immune function, according to Penn Medicine.

For an extra dose of immune-boosting power, squeeze some honey into your teacup. "Not only does it make tea taste a whole lot better, but it also contains natural antiviral and antibacterial properties that could help you fight off sickness a little faster," Moskovitz says.

Indeed, a review in the April-June 2017 issue of Pharmacognosy Research found that honey has antimicrobial as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

And honey can calm your cough, too. Case in point: A half teaspoon of honey before bedtime worked as well as a cough suppressant for children (over 1 year old), per research published in the December 2014 issue of Canadian Family Physician.

That said, adults may need to up their dose to get the same soothing, throat-coating effect. Just don't overdo it on the drizzle honey comes with a heap of sugar and calories.

The health benefits of garlic make it worth the bad breath.

Credit: Robert Daly/OJO Images/GettyImages

Not only does garlic enhance your food's flavor, it could also improve your immune system too. Yup, this pantry staple boasts natural antibacterial properties and can protect you from pathogens like bacteria that can cause infections, Moskovitz says.

If you're not a fan of raw garlic, there are alternatives: Research published in the June 2012 issue of Clinical Nutrition found that aged garlic extract may boost your immune cell function and, subsequently, reduce the severity of a cold.

When you're feeling foul, a few fungi might help you feel better. "Mushrooms, particularly shirataki mushrooms, have an array of important vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help your body function at its peak," Moskovitz says. "Additionally, research shows they can enhance the immune system for natural protection against different types of infections."

She's right. An April 2015 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that consuming shiitake mushrooms could improve immunity, as evidenced by an increase in the production of antibodies as well as cell proliferation and activation.

"Packed with immune-boosting vitamin C, citrus fruits can help your body defend itself against certain infections," Moskovitz says.

In fact, taking daily vitamin C supplements, which have an anti-histamine effect, can ease the severity of a cold and shorten its duration by about 8 percent, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

That said, "mega-doses of vitamin C won't cure any viruses or infections you are already suffering from," Moskovitz explains. In other words, if you're already under the weather, overindulging in oranges won't be much help. Better to consume vitamin C regularly as a preventive measure.

Try adding sliced fresh ginger to tea, soup or a stir-fry.

Credit: 4nadia/iStock/GettyImages

"Ginger has been linked to a stronger antibody response, meaning that it can help defend the body against potential viruses," Moskovitz says.

The pungent root can destroy common bacteria and pathogens, according to a June 2017 article in the International Journal of Molecular Science.

And if you're dealing with nausea and/or vomiting, a study published March 2016 in Integrative Medicine Insights found that ginger can be an effective and safe treatment, especially for individuals whose symptoms are related to pregnancy or chemotherapy.

Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and kombucha contain gut-healthy probiotics, which can help keep your immune system strong, Moskovitz says. But how? ICYMI, your gut plays a major role in your immune system, and probiotics which are rich in good bacteria strengthen your gut flora.

A 2011 review published in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology found that consuming probiotics could lower a healthy individual's risk of acquiring common cold infections and reduce the duration of a cold.

If you can stomach it, shellfish should be at the top of your shopping list when you're sick. That's because they're one of the best sources of zinc, an essential immune-boosting nutrient, Moskovitz says. Your body needs zinc to produce T-lymphocytes (the white blood cells that fight infection), according to the NIH.

Hard to find in natural food sources, the healthy mineral is abundant in shellfish like oysters, which boast more zinc per serving than any other food, per the NIH.

Rich in the antioxidant carnosine and its derivative anserine, chicken soup and chicken breast extracts could aid in "thinning out and clearing mucus in the nasal passages," says Pauline Jose, MD, a clinical instructor at UCLA and family medicine specialist at pH Labs, a national nonprofit health information organization.

What's more, "the protein in chicken helps provide the body with energy to recover" and "the fluids in the soup aid in the body's hydration, which can help in its recuperation from illness, including the flu," says Denise Pate, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan.

You may want to lay off the caffeine as well as common coffee fixings when you're not feeling well.

Credit: MariuszBlach/iStock/GettyImages

The following everyday foods may do you more harm than good when you're fighting off an infection.

"While they may help you keep sugar and calorie intake low, if you're feeling under the weather, you might want to steer clear of artificial sweeteners," Moskowitz says.

Why? "Artificial sweeteners can cause additional gastric distress and potentially contribute to pounding headaches," she explains.

A cold scoop of ice cream may sound like the perfect solution to soothe a sore throat, but milk-based foods might make your symptoms worse, especially if you're congested.

Though "studies show dairy doesn't necessarily increase mucus production, it can thicken it," Moskovitz says. So, "If you're already dealing with a stuffy nose or sinus pressure, it might help to switch to dairy-free alternatives for the time being."

"While you might be grasping at caffeine to get you through the day when you're sick, keep in mind that excessive amounts can cause potential upset stomach and mild dehydration," Moskovitz says.

Since staying hydrated is essential to recovery, consuming caffeine is a major no-no. That means giving up or limiting coffee, chocolate, soda and other caffeinated drinks during the duration of your cold.

Not to mention, "caffeine can also suppress appetite, and if you're sick, you don't want to miss out on key immune-boosting nutrients like C, zinc and antioxidants" that your body gets through healthy foods, Moskovitz says.

Read more stories to help you navigate the novel coronavirus pandemic:

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9 Foods to Eat When You're Sick and 3 to Avoid - LIVESTRONG.COM

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alector, Inc. (ALEC) today announced the addition of Paula Hammond, Ph.D., to the Companys Board of Directors. Dr. Hammond is the David H. Koch Chair Professor of Engineering and Department Head, Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a member of MITs Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and a founding member of the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology.

At Alector, we are building a leading biotechnology company, and as part of those efforts, we are partnering with top scientists, drug developers and business leaders to advise us and support our ambitious goal of curing neurodegeneration, said Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alector. Paula brings more than 25 years of scientific excellence to our Board. Her expertise in applying scientific innovation to advances in drug delivery will be an asset to our team as we continue to develop first-in-class medicines for these unmet medical needs. We are very pleased to welcome her to Alectors Board of Directors, and we look forward to leveraging her expertise as we advance our programs through clinical development.

Dr. Hammond is one of only 25 distinguished scientists elected to all three national academies, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Hammond is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has published over 300 papers and holds more than 20 patents based on her research at MIT. Dr. Hammond holds a Ph.D. and an S.B. in chemical engineering from MIT, and an M.S. in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her laboratory at MIT designs polymers and nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to address cancer, wound healing and regenerative medicine.

Alectors mission of discovering and developing treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases is not a small feat. After meeting Arnon, other members of the Alector team and the rest of the Board, I am confident in their commitment to change the life of these patients, said Dr. Hammond. I am looking forward to partnering with the Board and the management team as Alector advances its research and development programs.

Alector's current Board members include: Arnon Rosenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of Alector; Tillman Gerngross, Co-Founder of Alector and CEO of Adimab; Lou J. Lavigne Jr., former CFO of Genentech; Terry McGuire, Partner, Polaris Venture Partners, Richard Scheller, former EVP of Research at Genentech and former CSO of 23andMe; David Wehner, CFO of Facebook; and Kristine Yaffe, Professor, UCSF.

About AlectorAlector is a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Immuno-neurology targets immune dysfunction as a root cause of multiple pathologies that are drivers of degenerative brain disorders. Alector is developing a broad portfolio of programs designed to functionally repair genetic mutations that cause dysfunction of the brains immune system and enable the rejuvenated immune cells to counteract emerging brain pathologies. The Companys product candidates are supported by biomarkers and target genetically defined patient populations in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimers disease. Alector is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. For additional information, please visit http://www.alector.com.

ContactsMedia:1ABDan Budwick, 973-271-6085dan@1abmedia.comorInvestors:Alector, Inc.ir@alector.com

Read more from the original source:
Alector Announces the Appointment of Paula Hammond, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors - Yahoo Finance

There are few people in this world who inspire change like Michelle Obama. Whether shes dishing out relationship advice or weighing in on climate change (your move, Melania,) every time she opens her mouth, magic slips out. Case in point: her latest Insta post, which is all about how to show up for your community and yourself - amid the current COVID-19 crisis.

WATCH:5 reasons we love Michelle Obama...

These past few weeks have been scary and difficult for many of us, she writes. We just dont have a roadmap for what were currently experiencingthat in and of itself can bring up feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and fear. Not to mention the worry we feel about the health and safety of our parents, children, and loved ones and the financial security of so many families.

She continues: Whatever youre going through right now, I want you to know you arent alone.

RELATED:How To Manage Anxiety Around Coronavirus

Even through the logistics of social distancing (1.5m at all times, folks), Michelle stresses this new normal is something were all navigating together.

As for me, I know when Im feeling overwhelmed that picking up the phone and calling one of my girlfriends can work wonders, she says. I also know staying close to my community helps me to feel connected and strong. If youre not sure what that looks like these days, Ive offered a few suggestions to get you started. But this is by no means an exhaustive list!

Her parting words of wisdom? Dont forget: Its okay to take a breath.

Be gentle with yourself. Log off when you need to, take a break if you can, and let others know when youd like a little help.

Without further ado, here are FLOTUS top tips for supporting local in this time of need:

RELATED:Michelle Obama Just Shared The Most Profound Relationship Advice

More here:
Michelle Obama Has The BEST Advice For Coping With Coronavirus Anxiety - Women's Health

This info was accurate at press time, and were continuing to update ourcoronaviruscoverage as we learn more.

Humans crave social interaction but a coronavirus quarantine isnt exactly the best way to cater to thator is it? Experts note that during this time of social distancing and staying in, you dont have to let your relationships fizzle. There are many ways in which you can keep up connections with your friends and family. It just might require a little bit of creativity.

Its important to our health, well-being and stress levels that we dont confuse the necessary physical distancing with social isolation, explains Sally Anne Carroll, a life and career reinvention coach, Portland, Oregon. We all need each other and maintaining our social connections as much as we can is a must to functioning well through this crisis.

Here are 40 suggestions on how to keep the party goingsafelywhile doing your part to help contain the virus.

1. Stay in contact: Social distancing, says Heather Cosimin, an associate professor of psychology at the College of Arts & Sciences at Johnson & Wales University, doesnt mean you should cut yourself off. Continue to connect with friends and loved ones by text, email and phone, she adds.

Related:Love in the Time of Coronavirus6 Tips to Protect Your Marriage While Quarantined

2. Celebrate milestones with a virtual hangout: My friend, Matt Bordofsky, turned 42 today and approximately 29 friends (and their dogs) showed up via Zoom to celebrate with him, says Keren Poznansky, a publicist in Los Angeles. She noted that this celebration brought together friends from all across the globe the furthest person was from Lithuania. The party, says Poznansky, started at 8:30 p.m. We poured some drinks and toasted the birthday boy. We made each other laugh by putting up our favorite vintage photos of the man of the hour as backgrounds from the 80s, 90s, etc. We all sang happy birthday and he blew out the candles on his Commissioner Gordon Batman 89 cake, she shares. Matt made a speech, he thanked everyone for coming, we all cheered and it ended around 9 p.m.

3. Keep up with your workout buddy: Workout with friends, suggests Stephanie Newman, PhD, a psychologist, psychoanalyst and author of Barbarians at the PTA. If solitary exercise is a downer, set up a common time to practice yoga or cardio by videoconference, she says.

4. Share a toast with a virtual happy hour: To keep up with her network, Renee Paczkowski, an administrative assistant in Troy, Michigan, is meeting up with friends for scheduled virtual happy hours. Two of my friends and I used to regularly go to trivia or local breweries, but hadnt had the chance to lately because life got too busy. And, as all of us are working at home to some extent, and its not possible to go out, I suggested that we have a virtual happy hour over either FaceTime (we all have iPhones) or Hangout, she says. The first one is scheduled for Friday and for Packowski, the drink of choice will be whiskey.

Related: Here Are All the Distilleries Making Hand Sanitizer Instead of Booze

5. Be extra neighborly: Connect with neighbors by bringing lunch or dinner to the bottom of your driveway, your porch, deck or other safe distance location and waving to each other, recommends Carroll. She says that while many of our neighborhoods look like ghost towns, it can be comforting to know we are all here, making the best of a difficult situation and reducing the feeling of isolation.

6. Teach each other a new skill: Sarah Agajanian, an artist in Los Angeles, recently logged onto FaceTime to have her pal, Michele Hodeda, led her in a cooking class. She taught me how to make mushrooms and walnut tacos. Shes an amazing cook. And it was such a cool experience! she says, joking that while the chef prepared to teach, the student watched and jump roped in her parking garage. It really made time go by quickly an truthfully felt like a full blown hangout session, adds Agajanian.

7. Volunteer from afar: If youre looking for ways to give back while getting involved with others, Newman suggests starting challenges with friends. Identify those in need and raise money.Or start a movement: Drive traffic to a Facebook page or social sites set up to thank first responders of healthcare professionals, she says. Newman adds that this can be a great time to send a little love those who are on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus. Each person can take a photo or film a round of applause with a message of thanks and pass it on.Its clich but helping someone else makes us feel good, she explains.

Related:Deep BreathsHow to Stay Happy and Avoid Coronavirus Anxiety When Social Distancing

8. Take weekly meetups into the virtual world: My choir teacher Greg Delson leads a community choir where we meet every Tuesday and we had our first virtual choir session this week. We decided its still a nice way for our community to stay connected and do the thing we love mostsing! says Tanya Khani, aka the Soulful Publicist. She adds that shes also been popping in on her teachers virtual sing alongs/variety show for the past two nights and sang with him. It was soul nourishing, she reveals.

9. Swap some stories with an online community: To get through the solitude of the coronavirus lockdown, Jennifer Brody, author of The Continuum Trilogy, is turning to the support of her online authors group, BookPod. We have a newsletter and ongoing community. We may start some virtual workshops too during this time. Its become a real support, she says.

10. Meet up for an almost in-person meal: My mom, brother and I all got into separate cars and parked in a deserted lot by the beach to have a picnic! We were able to wave, see each other, and talk (kind of) face-to-face, says Southern California-based musician, Ariana Savalas. She jokes that during this time while she dined on chips and soda, the dogs were confused, but at least it was something!

11. Make some fun future plans with pals: You arent jetting off to Europe anytime soon but why not put together your dream trip with your favorite travel buddies. Planning travel or local outings that you want to do together when the crisis is over is a great way to tap into anticipation and positive emotion, says Carroll. Dream up which restaurants you will dine at and what you will eat, the essential landmarks to see, and all of the excursions that you want to embark upon while you are out of town. The trip will be waiting for you when the coronavirus pandemic dies down.

12. Engage your kids: Ive been organizing FaceTime play dates with my daughters friends, says Paula Hoss, founder and CEO of Cln & Dirty Natural Skincare. Each day, she says, her kids are treated to a surprise call with a friend or family member. They get three clues as to who it is and theyve loved guessing who is up next.

Related:20+ Best Food Delivery Apps to Get You Through the Coronavirus Pandemic

13. Honor your monthly book club: Youvefinallyread the book and this months group got canceled. Now what?Slip into your cozy slippers and host it online, says Ellen Wasyl, an executive life coach at Priv-Swiss Wellnessin Connecticut. She suggests using a platform like Zoom, Google Hangout or Skype to arrange the meetup. And this is a great way to discuss something other than the coronavirus.

14. Reacquaint yourself with good some old-fashioned letter writing: Giving and receiving, yes please! If you dont have the materials on hand or cant get out to the post office for stamps and mailing, there are online options, says Wasyl. Her personal favorites? Postableand Greetabl.

15. Rediscover your connections from the past. Call your long-lost cousins, friends, coworkers, colleagues, classmates who have been on the back burner of your life for a few years. Have reunions! Someone will be glad to hear from you, says Val Walker, author of 400 FRIENDS AND NO ONE TO CALL: Breaking Through Isolation and Building Community. This, she says, can mutually help alleviate anxiety and loneliness, as well as strike up some fun and heart-warming companionship. You can probably Skype or videoconference your visitbut at least call them, adds Walker.

16. Host a virtual game night:Line up a few friends or couples and break out a trivia game, Wasyl says. Make your own snacks, get your own drinks ready, divide up into teams and do your best to conquer.

Related: The 22 Best Online Games to Play With Friends

17. Get Crafty: Another idea, says Walker, is to make personalized gifts and thoughtful cards for loved ones and friends. Get crafty with paintings, decorated boxes, hand-beaded jewelry, pillows, knitted wear, quilts, kids puppets, clothing and fabric, decorated with fabric-markers, she suggests. Pinterest is full of fun craft ideas for families, kids, seniors. Take photos and send these too. Walker explains that crafting, hands-on projects and making art, doodling and coloring books are very healing and calming for anxiety.

18. Make a lunch date: Pick a day and time to virtually eat lunch together once a week, says Dr. Amanda Holdsworth, the director of PR and brand strategy for Reink Media Group in Royal Oak, Michigan, who has been doing this with her friends over Google Hangouts Meet for the past few Tuesdays. She also engages in virtual coffee sessions with colleagues. Recently, I was incredibly bummed out when my familys dream trip to Copenhagen was canceled. But, one of my colleagues suggested having our morning coffee together via Hangouts the next day, just like we would if we were in the office. It sure helped my mental and emotional state! she reveals.

19. Dance it out together: Melissa Drake, the author of TranscenDANCE: Lessons From Living, Loving, and Dancing and a life coach recently hosted her first virtual dance party to help others commune and dance.The Mid-Week Dance Day Quarantine Style was a great way for her network to come together to literally shake it off.

Related:30 Adult Coloring Books to Keep Your Hands Busy and Your Mind at Ease

20. Family time: Silvia M. Dutchevici, president and founder of Critical Therapy Center in New York City, says a coronavirus quarantine can be the perfect time to rally the family together for some cozy time together. Projects such as: arts and crafts, drawing, reading, or even watching a movie together and then discussing, it can feel less scary, she explains. Another great activity to do with your clan, per Dutchevici, is to think of ways that you can help either leaving some canned food for a neighbor, or volunteering to take a walk with a lonely friend or neighbor while keeping your distance. These acts of kindness, she says, will make us feel connected to one another, and ultimately less lonely.

21. Wrangle your network and share your favorite movies, music playlists, books, podcasts, and blogs: Then, Walker says to follow up by talking about the shared experience by phone Lots of folks love to talk about a mutually inspiring and favorite movie or book together. Or set up a Facebook chat group to talk about the things that are helping us all hold on during these times.

22. Connect with like-minded individuals to discuss interests and experiences: Try an app of forum that connects you with a community of those in your same shoes. Peanut, for instance, provides moms with a safe networking and open dialogue space. And if you are into plant-based eating, you can join a community like Vegan Recipes for Beginners.

Related: Best Free Livestreaming Workouts

23, Get the gang togethervirtually: Dont let the coronavirus keep your group from continuing to bond. Khani and her girlfriends have found a new way to connect by scheduling girl gang weekly video calls. Its a time of support and hearing each other out and sharing new insights on whats really happening with us emotionally and spiritually while we are on this new journey together, she says.

24. Keep your support groups going: If youve been counting on a weekly or monthly support group to get you through the hard times, youll likely need it more than ever in the midst of all of the coronavirus panic. Thus talk to group organizers to get meetings like AA, NA, Al-Anon, step studies, church groups, etc. set up virtual meetings. This, says Jessica Tate, the regional clinical director at Landmark Recovery, will help to limit the in-person interaction, while still receiving the benefits of social interaction.

25.Get outdoors: Hiking and walking is fine, as long as you keep a 6-foto distance from those around you. TheAllTrails app helps connect users to local trails, something that can help us all feel a little more normal right now, says Suzanne Bartlett-Hackenmiller an integrative medicine physician and OBGYN. Share new favorite hikes with outdoorsy friends and challenge them to try the same ones, while also providing recommendations for others that have been given their official stamp of approval.

Related:5 Things You Can Do to Help Your Kids (And You!) Adjust to Stay-At-Home Lifeand How to Talk to Them About Coronavirus

26. Plan the same activities with your friends: My friend, Briana, and her sons drew pictures of leprechauns for St. Patricks Day. Briana sent a photo to me and my friend, Marisa, of their family holding the finished creations. She also sent us the link to the YouTube video How to Draw a Leprechaun, says Ali Wenzke, the Chicago-based author of The Art of Happy Moving. Inspired by the activity, Wenzke reveals that she and her kids then took a turn at drawing leprechauns, which they were then inspired to share. We sent each other photos and it felt so good to be connected, she recalls.

27. Spend meaningful technology-free time with the people you live with: When was the last time you put your phone away and watched a movie with your significant other? Or turned your phone off and colored with your child? Use this time to disconnect from technology and spend face-to-face time with the people around you, says Chad Brandt, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Houston OCD Program.

28. Get thankful with your community: When the Corona Virus pandemic started, I saw how many people were scared and decided that I would start a 14 day gratitude challenge on Facebook because one of the biggest antidotes to fear is gratitude, says Jocelyn Kuhn, a certified transitional life coach and the author of Thriving Through Transitions. She notes that by the end of the first day, there were 150 people in the group. Now I get to interact with people everyday for 14 days who are either like-minded and were looking for something positive to be a part of, or who are in need of support and were looking for a place to find hope, she adds.

29.Dont forget about your coworkers: While many of us have been sent off to work from home, you may be feeling isolated and cut off from your normal water cooler talk. Thus, Krista Neher, CEO of Boot Camp Digital, suggests setting up a video meeting with your coworker. We take for granted how much our work life is a part of our social life. Seeing people makes a big difference so try for audio instead of video, she advises.

Related: 25 Best Learning Apps

30. Post about your local small businesses: Many businesses are taking a hit right now and social media is a powerful word-of-mouth tool. Thus, Mae Karwowski, founder & CEO of influencer marketing agency, Obviously, suggests using your social media accounts right now to make local recommendations to a friend or family. Post about a good delivery menu at a family-owned restaurant, encourage people to buy gift cards to your favorite small boutique, or post about your hairstylist so they still have a pipeline of referrals even while things are on hold. Ask your network for referrals as well. This will give everyone something to look forward to when things get back up and running again.

31. Take your dog for a walk: Going out to get some exercise and fresh air is not only good for you physically but it provides opportunities to interact with others (from a safe distance). As you stroll through your neighborhood, speak to your neighbors while remaining 6-feet away. Ask them how theyre doing. And if you see older folks who may have trouble getting out, make a special effort to find out how theyre doing, says Jeanne Hurlbert, PhD, president of Hulbert Consulting and chief data officer of Smart Counseling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

32. Connect with your overseas crew: is the best time to connect with friends or family overseas. Mike Hanski, a teacher and online tutor for high school students with Bid4Papers, explains that life gets busy and catching up with those outside of your time zone can be a challenge. But now that that youre both likely on house arrest, he suggests taking this chance to catch up and talk. Youll both be thankful to have had this opportunity, he explains.

33. Try something new: During the coronavirus pandemic, and our current state of encouraged and/or mandated quarantine, its a perfect time to try something new, says Jay Shifman, an addiction and mental health speaker, writer, consultant, and advocate in Daniel Island, South Carolina. I had to cancel an in person workshop I was leading, so I am moving it online and inviting another leader to join me, he says. A comedian friend and I are going to start a daily Trivia game on Instagram Live to entertain people and give people a chance to feel connected and intertwined with others while quarantined. Dont be afraid, says Shifman, to use this time to get creative because were all experimenting trying to find ways to continue our work and connect with others!

34. Make some 5-year plans: During this time of hunkering inside, Kathryn Ely, an associate licensed counselor, coach, and podcaster, suggests getting together with your partner and talking about the future. Create a one, five, and 10 year plan, she says, adding that hoping and dreaming for the future will keep you from getting too caught up in what is going on right now and will help you remember this too shall pass.

35. Go to the movies together: Select a film to stream and set up your own little watch party on social media. Invite friends and tweet comments about shows as you are watching them, suggests Dr. Richelle Whittaker, an educational psychologist, mental health therapistin Houston, Texas. Or just hop on the phone, Skype, or FaceTime with others as you are movies.Its connection through a different medium, she says.

36. Netflix and chill together: Theres a Google Chrome extension that allows you to watch Netflix with other people by using your own personal invite link, says Lindsay Musgrove, a certified peer specialist in Houston, Texas. To do this, she says, you need Google Chrome, and the Netflix Party extension through the Google Chrome store within the same browser. Install it, and you are able to watch Netflix with someone long distance, as well as having a dedicated personal chat room with them. It may seem like they are far away, but that doesnt mean you cant Netflix and Chill apart.

Related: All the TV Series and Movies You Need to Binge Watch on Netflix Before They Leave

37. Share your skills with the world virtually: Jessica Meyrowitz is helping others learn to knit, and relax, via her newly created virtual Yummy Mindful Knitting I provide group workshops via video conferencing, she says, noting that this allows participants to be socially distant and still be connected. I instruct participants each step of the way and they are able to socialize with the other video conference attendees, she says.

38. Make some time for play: Danielle Maack, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Delta Autumn Counseling, challenges those staying at home to engage their partner or family (or via video conferencing if quarantined alone) to get in touch with their artistic sides. Give yourself permission to try out that new recipe, make some playdough and create a priceless sculpture. Bring out that guitar you bought last year and swore you would play and actually play. Sing together! she says. Being actively creative, adds Maack, can help to slow down daily pressures, open a door to experimenting, offer opportunities to connect with others about new experiences, and provide you an excuse to play, even in difficult times.

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39. Start a garden with your family: Gardening is a great way to bond, and its also been shown to decrease anxiety, explains Viktor Sander, a counselor at. SocialPro, in Gothenburg, Sweden. He suggests getting your family together and asking everyone what they want to growit could be something edible, beautiful, or fun. Order the seeds online. This, he says, gives you all a common purpose, a sense of personal pride, and makes you a stronger family.

40. Share Coping Strategies with Social Network: Maggie Lee Baker, a small business owner of Magali Designs decided to host a weekly Zoom call with her Facebook network.This is a bit of a social experiment to see who of my Facebook network of 773 friends would reply to my post asking for a virtual Zoom call to discuss how we are all coping with the current reality, she says. Topics such as working from home, recipe swapping, keeping kids busy and not crawling up the walls, and how people are tackling care of their mental health are all on the table, Lee Baker says. What we wont be discussing are topics such as politics, Covid-19 symptoms, scary statistics or anything else that we can find in the news.I want to keep uplifting, constructive and personal, she explains. The first session is scheduled for Thursday and will, per Lee Baker, include people from all walks of her life from old co-workers, to childhood friends to family in California, North Carolina and Hawaii.I will end the call asking each person to commit to one small act of kindness in the coming week to report back on.

Next,7 things to do if you run out of toilet paper.

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40 Ways to Stay Social During the Coronavirus Quarantine How to Stay Connected When Social Distancing - Parade

The proportion of U.S. adults at high risk for blindness has grown over a 15-year period and so has the share who say they cannot afford eyeglasses, according to a new study.

Between 2002 and 2017, the number of people at high risk for vision loss seniors, people with diabetes and those with eye disorders rose from 65 million to 93 million, but 40% of adults said they hadnt been getting yearly eye exams, researchers report in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Nearly 1 in 10 also said they couldnt afford eyeglasses.

We have a large number of adults at high risk for vision loss and at high risk for not receiving recommended eye care, said study leader Sharon Saydah of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The solution is to really improve access, awareness and the affordability of eye care.

Saydah and colleagues looked at nationally representative surveys of 31,000 adults in 2002 and nearly 33,000 adults in 2017.

The proportion at increased risk for vision loss grew between the two surveys: adults over age 65 rose from about 51% to 53% of the total, and those with a diabetes diagnosis rose from about 21% to 25%.

People reporting vision problems or eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or eye injury grew from 9% in 2002 to almost 11% in 2017, the study found.

Among all adults, the proportion who said they couldnt afford eyeglasses rose from 8.3% in 2002 to 8.7% in 2017.

While not having corrective lenses wont lead to vision damage, it can lead to injury, Saydah said. Having poor vision and not being able to see properly can contribute to falls and can lead to other disabilities, she said.

A major factor leading to vision loss in seniors is high blood sugar, Saydah said. But if diabetes is managed properly and blood sugar levels are controlled, that can help reduce vision loss, she added.

While U.S. seniors are covered by Medicare, the original version of the federal health insurance program for those 65 and older doesnt cover regular eye exams unless the patient has diabetes or is at high risk for glaucoma.

In 2017, among adults at high risk of blindness, 57% reported visiting an eye care professional annually and 60% had received a dilated eye examination.

This study highlights critical gaps in eye care access and affordability in the United States, and indicates these gaps have persisted despite shifts in our health insurance landscape, Bonnielin Swenor, of the Wilmer Eye Institute and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, said in an email.

This study is not examining a question about improving eye conditions, but instead focuses on access and affordability of eyeglasses, said Swenor, who wasnt involved in the study.

Currently most medical insurance and Medicare do not cover the costs of eyeglasses, which this data support as an important gap for the American population.

Unless something changes, the problem is likely to get worse, said Dr. Syed Mahmood Ali Shah, an associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

While there was a slight increase over the past 15 years in the percentage of patients getting examined, the number of elderly with diabetes is expected to double by 2040, said Shah, who was not involved in the new research.

Shah suspects cost is the big reason for patients skipping eye exams. Even among those with some coverage, there can be a significant copay, he said, which not everyone can afford.

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Number of U.S. adults at risk for blindness on the rise - The Union Leader

Colour blindness may not remain a roadblock for driving anymore as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Monday drafted a notification for issuing license to people suffering from colour vision deficiency. "Being sensitive to the issues raised and considering the demand of such citizens, the Ministry has issued a draft notification GSR 176 E, dated 16 March 2020 for amendment to Form 1 and 1A of Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 for soliciting comments and suggestions," ministerial officials told ANI.

"The matter was sympathetically examined consulting the Medical experts. It had been reported that the citizens with certain degree of colour blindness can be provided with driving license and this is being done in many countries of the world," they added.

The issue was brought to the notice of the ministry that the colour blind are unable to own a license for driving.

The draft norms have been prepared after ophthalmologists from the All Indian institute of Medical sciences suggested its positive recommendations.

According to the new draft regulations, the question of distinguishing between pigmentary colours, red and green, 'Yes/No,' shall be omitted.

However, the certification of medical fitness regarding the applicant's colour vision have been mandated. The applicant needs to prove whether he/she have been found suffering from severe or total colour blindness.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

See the rest here:
Driving license might soon be issued to those with colour blindness - Livemint

When the plague came to London in 1665, Londoners lost their wits. They consulted astrologers, quacks, the Bible. They searched their bodies for signs, tokens of the disease: lumps, blisters, black spots. They begged for prophecies; they paid for predictions; they prayed; they yowled. They closed their eyes; they covered their ears. They wept in the street. They read alarming almanacs: Certain it is, books frighted them terribly. The government, keen to contain the panic, attempted to suppress the Printing of such Books as terrifyd the People, according to Daniel Defoe, in A Journal of the Plague Year, a history that he wrote in tandem with an advice manual called Due Preparations for the Plague, in 1722, a year when people feared that the disease might leap across the English Channel again, after having journeyed from the Middle East to Marseille and points north on a merchant ship. Defoe hoped that his books would be useful both to us and to posterity, though we should be spared from that portion of this bitter cup. That bitter cup has come out of its cupboard.

In 1665, the skittish fled to the country, and alike the wise, and those who tarried had reason for remorse: by the time they decided to leave, there was hardly a Horse to be bought or hired in the whole City, Defoe recounted, and, in the event, the gates had been shut, and all were trapped. Everyone behaved badly, though the rich behaved the worst: having failed to heed warnings to provision, they sent their poor servants out for supplies. This Necessity of going out of our Houses to buy Provisions, was in a great Measure the Ruin of the whole City, Defoe wrote. One in five Londoners died, notwithstanding the precautions taken by merchants. The butcher refused to hand the cook a cut of meat; she had to take it off the hook herself. And he wouldnt touch her money; she had to drop her coins into a bucket of vinegar. Bear that in mind when you run out of Purell.

Sorrow and sadness sat upon every Face, Defoe wrote. The governments stricture on the publication of terrifying books proved pointless, there being plenty of terror to be read on the streets. You could read the weekly bills of mortality, or count the bodies as they piled up in the lanes. You could read the orders published by the mayor: If any Person shall have visited any Man known to be infected of the Plague, or entered willingly into any known infected House, being not allowed: The House wherein he inhabiteth shall be shut up. And you could read the signs on the doors of those infected houses, guarded by watchmen, each door marked by a foot-long red cross, above which was to be printed, in letters big enough to be read at a distance, Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us.

Reading is an infection, a burrowing into the brain: books contaminate, metaphorically, and even microbiologically. In the eighteenth century, ships captains arriving at port pledged that they had disinfected their ships by swearing on Bibles that had been dipped in seawater. During tuberculosis scares, public libraries fumigated books by sealing them in steel vats filled with formaldehyde gas. These days, you can find out how to disinfect books on a librarians thread on Reddit. Your best bet appears to be either denatured-alcohol swipes or kitchen disinfectant in a mist-spray bottle, although if you stick books in a little oven and heat them to a hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit theres a bonus: you also kill bedbugs. (Doesnt harm the books!) Or, as has happened during the coronavirus closures, libraries can shut their doors, and bookstores, too.

But, of course, books are also a salve and a consolation. In the long centuries during which the plague ravaged Europe, the quarantined, if they were lucky enough to have books, read them. If not, and if they were well enough, they told stories. In Giovanni Boccaccios Decameron, from the fourteenth century, seven women and three men take turns telling stories for ten days while hiding from the Black Deaththat last Pestilentiall mortality universally hurtfull to all that beheld ita plague so infamous that Boccaccio begged his readers not to put down his book as too hideous to hold: I desire it may not be so dreadfull to you, to hinder your further proceeding in reading.

The literature of contagion is vile. A plague is like a lobotomy. It cuts away the higher realms, the loftiest capacities of humanity, and leaves only the animal. Farewell to the giant powers of man, Mary Shelley wrote in The Last Man, in 1826, after a disease has ravaged the world. Farewell to the arts,to eloquence. Every story of epidemic is a story of illiteracy, language made powerless, man made brute.

But, then, the existence of books, no matter how grim the tale, is itself a sign, evidence that humanity endures, in the very contagion of reading. Reading may be an infection, the mind of the writer seeping, unstoppable, into the mind of the reader. And yet it is alsoin its bidden intimacy, an intimacy in all other ways banned in times of plaguean antidote, proven, unfailing, and exquisite.

Stories about plagues run the gamut from Oedipus Rex to Angels in America. You are the plague, a blind man tells Oedipus. Its 1986 and theres a plague, friends younger than me are dead, and Im only thirty, a Tony Kushner character says. There are plagues here and plagues there, from Thebes to New York, horrible and ghastly, but never one plague everywhere, until Mary Shelley decided to write a follow-up to Frankenstein.

The Last Man, which is set in the twenty-first century, is the first major novel to imagine the extinction of the human race by way of a global pandemic. Shelley published it at the age of twenty-nine, after nearly everyone she loved had died, leaving her, as she put it, the last relic of a beloved race,my companions, extinct before me. The books narrator begins as a poor and uneducated English shepherd: primitive man, violent and lawless, even monstrous. Cultivated by a nobleman and awakened to learningAn earnest love of knowledge... caused me to pass days and nights in reading and studyhe is elevated by the Enlightenment and becomes a scholar, a defender of liberty, a republican, and a citizen of the world.

Then, in the year 2092, the plague arrives, ravaging first Constantinople. Year after year, the pestilence dies away every winter (a general and never-failing physician), and returns every spring, more virulent, more widespread. It reaches across mountains, it spreads over oceans. The sun rises, black: a sign of doom. Through Asia, from the banks of the Nile to the shores of the Caspian, from the Hellespont even to the sea of Oman, a sudden panic was driven, Shelley wrote. The men filled the mosques; the women, veiled, hastened to the tombs, and carried offerings to the dead, thus to preserve the living. The nature of the pestilence remains mysterious. It was called an epidemic. But the grand question was still unsettled of how this epidemic was generated and increased. Not understanding its operation and full of false confidence, legislators hesitate to act. England was still secure. France, Germany, Italy and Spain, were interposed, walls yet without a breach, between us and the plague. Then come reports of entire nations, destroyed and depopulated. The vast cities of America, the fertile plains of Hindostan, the crowded abodes of the Chinese, are menaced with utter ruin. The fearful turn to history too late, and find in its pages, even in the pages of the Decameron, the wrong lesson: We called to mind the plague of 1348, when it was calculated that a third of mankind had been destroyed. As yet western Europe was uninfected; would it always be so? It would not always be so. Inevitably, the plague comes, at last, to England, but by then the healthy have nowhere left to go, because, in the final terror of pandemic, there is no refuge on earth: All the world has the plague!

Go here to read the rest:
What Our Contagion Fables Are Really About - The New Yorker

The Be My Eyes app which connects the blind and low-vision community to sighted volunteers

In the age of coronavirus, it is more important than ever before to help the blind and low-vision community feel supported and safe. Be My Eyes is a free mobile app with one main goal: to make the world more accessible for blind and low-vision people. The app connects blind and low-vision individuals with sighted volunteers (over 3.7 million and counting) and companies from all over the world through a live video call.

Progressive and forward thinking brands like Microsoft, Google and Procter and Gamble have also started partnering with Be My Eyes to create dedicated customer experiences. According to the WHO, the estimatednumberofpeople visually impairedin theworldis 285 million: 39 millionblindand 246 million having low vision. They represent a hugely underserved market for brands wishing to reach new customers and build unique new experiences and content.

I caught up with Will Butler, VP of Community to find out more about his journey and how brands can work with this inspiring platform.

Afdhel Aziz: Will, welcome. Please tell us about your personal journey, and how it lead you to your work at Be My Eyes?

Will Butler: Ive been dealing with changing vision most of my life. I used only one eye all throughout high school, but mostly maintained as a regular "sighted" person. I drove a car, did all the normal things a sighted person would do. It wasn't until I was 19 that my "good eye" finally gave out on me that I had to really start confronting the idea. But it took me four more years to finally take the most important step: adopting a white cane.

I wrote about this in this Times piece, but the cane is so stigmatized, it is really hard for us as newly blind people to admit that we need the tools that are available. It's like accepting defeat. But once you adopt the tools, it's far beyond defeat: it's total empowerment.

That's what I'd like to think we're doing here with Be My Eyes: giving people a tool that can change their life. An app that allows you to randomly harness the power of someone else's eyes for on-demand assistance with no strings attached? That means not leaning on friends, loved ones, or colleagues to overcome your most common daily barriers. That's pretty powerful when utilized, and I think many of our users who use the app often would testify that it has changed their lives for the better.

Will Butler, VP of Community for Be My Eyes

Aziz: Thank you for sharing that Will. Is it true that Be My Eyes is the largest online blind community out there? How do we get more members of the blind or low vision community to join?

Butler: Yes there are very few communities that have a self-selecting blind/low vision membership like ours, and certainly none that serve users in almost 200 languages. With the power of crowdsourced volunteerism and translation, we were able to scale up our UI quickly in terms of translation to meet the needs of a global community, not just a U.S.-based or westernized community. We're very proud of that and it's particularly rewarding to see Be My Eyes utilized in parts of the world where there are little to no services it truly becomes a lifeline for blind people in rural and underdeveloped parts of the world.

Due to regulations around medical data and privacy considerations, many companies have no idea who their blind users are. That's why companies even big ones with their own video chat apps, like Microsoft and Google come to Be My Eyes for that portal into the blindness community. Be My Eyes is known around the world as the go-to hub for getting support as a blind person, and for that reason companies join our platform as support providers to meet customers and users where they already are.

At the end of the day, we grow as a community by word of mouth: the power of our message, both from the volunteers and other blind users, is what propels us forward as a community. Growing the blind community is a fascinating and difficult challenge which is one that I take most of the responsibility for at Be My Eyes. We have strong connections with blindness organizations around the world who provide direct services, making sure they know about us. We attend and speak at conferences. And we use the same digital marketing tools as anyone else!

Historically blind people have been very isolated having a very custodial relationship with their sighted friends and family and haven't been directly connected to traditional information channels. Today, it's different. Blind people have incredible accessible technology natively running on iOS and Android devices. So you can reach blind people directly, searching by interests, the same way you reach someone who likes cats or sports or golf. That's pretty cool, and a sign that blind people have come a long way in terms of participation in society.

Aziz: That is pretty cool. There is something heartwarming about the fact that you have so many sighted volunteers (4 million) - why do you think that is?

Butler: I don't care what anyone says: Helping other people is the most fundamental aspect of human nature. We all tend to our needs: food, water, sleep, etc. But helping others having an understanding of ourselves in relation to other beings is the thing that elevates us beyond animals. Be My Eyes gives people who are searching for meaning and let's be honest that's all of us an opportunity to get out of the "smartphone zombie" loop and connect with a real human in a powerful way.

There's the simple task at hand: a straightforward, solvable A to B interaction. Then there's the knowledge that you helped someone, the feeling of connection and meaning it provides. I've never seen such a dopamine rush come from any other app. That's why we're approaching 4 million volunteers, and it's why people so freely and openly take to social media to share their experiences. I couldn't think of a better bridge between humans for these strange virtual times we're now living in.

In Part 2 of this interview (click here), we explore how brands like Microsoft, Google and others are working with Be My Eyes to create unique customer experiences.

See the rest here:
The Power Of Purpose: How Brands Can Work With Be My Eyes To Help The Blind And Low-Vision Community (Part 1) - Forbes

Fortunately, the unusual insects, who live on every continent except Antarctica, are readily available as subjects.

"It's a very prevalent invasive species that can be found all throughout California, including right here on campus, Ramirez said. "All of our specimens we study were collected when they're out and about at night around the nearby creek, since they're nocturnal."

Colors are an important part of a stick insects camouflage defense. When these stick insects first hatch, theyre brown. As they mature and go through successive molts, they may change to an array of vibrant colors from light green to a much darker brown.

"Having adults in a variety of colors allows them to occupy and better survive in different parts of a plant, Ramirez said. "Having a darker stick insect may allow it to blend in more with the trunk of a tree or the darker stems of ivy and blackberry. On the other hand, lighter green stick insects have an advantage on greener surfaces such as the bottom of leaves or greener stems of plants."

These differences in color also affect how well they can escape predators. A darker stick insect can use another means of defense behavioral mimicry if it feels threatened. Once it tucks in its limbs, itll fall down to the ground and "look like a dead twig," Ramirez said.

One puzzle Ramirez is trying to solve is why theres such a colorful palette of Indian walking sticks. Theyre parthenogenic, which means the females dont need males to reproduce. They can actually clone themselves.

"So to see a wide variety of different colors in the stick insects is very interesting because if they're clones of the mother they should all be the same exact thing, but they're not," he said.

"That's something that's really interesting to explore and would definitely require more genetic analysis, which we haven't gotten to quite yet. But hopefully someday that'll be possible in the future," he added.

One reason could be due to genetic mutations.

"There are plenty of other species that undergo parthenogenesis such as aphids, species of bees, ants, wasps, flies, and others which all go through similar asexual cloning mechanisms and can have mutations," Ramirez said. "However, these insects contain very little or do not have any noticeable color variation compared to the Indian stick insects."

Ramirez said he hopes to use the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool to try and unlock the mysteries behind the Indian walking stick.

Hes also planning to apply to dental school after he graduates later this year, with the goal of using what hes learned studying walking sticks. His background in genetics and gene editing will help him in emerging fields of research, such as bioengineering human teeth using stem cells.

"This would be revolutionary for dentistry as patients who have lost their permanent teeth could have them replaced," Ramirez said.

View post:
Walking Sticks Stop, Drop and Clone to Survive - KQED

President Donald Trump is optimistic a vaccine for the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 may soon be forthcoming, but his White House Coronavirus response coordinator says the only thing we have right now is the amazing ingenuity and compassion of the American people.

WASHINGTON, D.C.America is at war against the novel Coronavirus COVID-19, President Donald Trump said March 18.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is at a level-one response nationwide, withconfirmed COVID-19 cases in all 50 states.

On Monday, March 16, Trump and the Centers for Disease Control announced 15 days to slow the spread by practicing social distancing, listening to state and local authorities, and staying home if sick, or if someone in a household has tested positive or is displaying symptoms.

All of our experts continue to believe that if every American will do their part and embrace and put into practice these principles that we can significantly limit the reach of the Coronavirus in the weeks and months ahead, Vice President Mike Pence said March 18.

The genetic sequence of the virus was first published in January, and human trials for vaccine have been reached just eight weeks later, the fastest development in history, Trump said.

But since we dont currently have a vaccine or a therapeutic to address this novel Coronavirus,the only thing we have right now is the amazing ingenuity and compassion of the American people, said Amb. Deborah Birx, the White Houses Coronavirus response coordinator.

Trump deployed the USNS Comforta U.S. Navy hospital ship with about 1,000 rooms and operating roomsto New York harbor, adjacent to New York City, to expand hospital capacity amid what some have warned could be a crushing wave of yet-to-be-diagnosed new cases. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier raised alarms that his states hospital capacity is not prepared to handle a surge of critically ill patients, and New Jersey and all states have mirror concerns.

Trump said the country is working to acquired more ventilators and medical supplies for front-line emergency personnel and hospitals.

Its all over the world, said Trump, of COVID-19. Itsincredible whats happened in such a short time.

Trump said, August, could be July, maybe longer than that, when asked to speculate on when society may return to normalcy.

Financial markets have plummeted given the circumstances, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping more than 10,000 points and wiping out all gains under the Trump presidency.

The White House is seeking $500 billion in direct payments to taxpayers and President Trump invoked a wartime law to press companies to make medical supplies, The New York Times reports.

Its a tough situation[Six weeks ago] we had the besteconomy weve ever had, Trump said, then you have to close it down to defeat this enemy.

If everyone makes this change, or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus. And were going to have a big celebration all together, Trump said.

For updates: cdc.gov/coronavirus; or http://www.nj.gov/health.

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'Slow The Spread': All Americans Summoned in COVID-19 Response Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press - Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

Global Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Market, by Technology (Whole Genome Sequencing, Whole Exome Sequencing, RNA Sequencing, Targeted Re-sequencing, and Others), by Application (Drug Discovery, Personalized Medicine and Genetic Screening, Disease Diagnosis, Agriculture and Animal Research, and Others), by End User (Hospital, Research Centers, Pharma and Biotech Firms, and Others) and by Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) is projected to exhibit a healthy CAGR over the forecast period (2019 2025)

Get Research Insights @Next Generation Sequencing Market Size 2019-2025

Reducing NGS capital cost associated with declining sequencing cost, developments in NGS platforms and developing scenario of reimbursement and regulatory for diagnostic tests based on NGS are projected to fuel the next-generation sequencing market growth. Industry of next-generation sequencing is a market that contains infinite companies present in the production of consumables & kits, instruments and advancement of software to foster the NGS market growth in the coming years.

In addition, the usage of the cloud computing in NGS for the management of data in evolving economies are projected to offer opportunities to the manufacturers of next generation sequencing in the coming future. Developments of technology in cloud computing and data integration, demand for clinical diagnostic and increase in demand for scientific research are the factors that are responsible for the growth of global next generation sequencing market.

In addition, growing acceptance of next generation sequencing technology in several end-users and increasing funds in the activities of research & development is boosting the growth of next-generation sequencing market. Moreover, developing applications of NGS in personalized medicine and food testing is anticipated to drive the next generation sequencing market growth in the coming years. Although, scarcity of the skilled professionals are hindering the next generation sequencing market growth.

Browse Complete Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Market Report @https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/next-generation-sequencing-market

Legal and ethical discussions are the part of medical research. Journals and funding agencies are submitting the genomic data from the research contributors to the databases are allowing the investigators for controlling the data. The samples and data are sent from databases without the approval of participant by pushing them at risk. Unidirectional flow of data are creating the sense of distrust and exploitation. As a result, ethical and legal issues are hampering the next generation sequencing market growth.

Development of next generation sequencing market is accredited to the significant reduction in the costs of sequencing. For instance, price of sequencing in 2006 was approximately $15 Billion, which ultimately reduced to $6000 Billion in 2014. Several key players like Illumina and Roche have announced the techniques of sequencing which have decreased the cost related to sequencing.

Growing attention of NGS is projected to fuel the usage of precision medicine in oncology on the basis of research setting to the clinical cancer is increasing the growth of global next generation sequencing industry. Market players are involved in studying the novel and existing tests to create the criteria for medical necessity for medical and clinical policies. Global next generation sequencing market trends are developed understanding of the genetic markers of resistance and virulence offered by next generation sequencing is estimated to boost the demand for the technology of diagnosing the infectious disease.

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Global next generation sequencing market are end-user, application, technology, product & service and region. On considering the end-user, market is divided into biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies, clinics & hospitals, academic institutes and research centers and more. On the basis of application, market is divided into animal & agricultural research, drug discovery, other diagnostic applications, reproductive health diagnostics, infectious disease diagnostics, cancer diagnostics, diagnostics and much more. Based on technology, market is divided into nanopore sequencing, single-molecule real time sequencing, ion semiconductor sequencing, sequencing by synthesis and more. By product & service, market is divided into bioinformatics, sequencing services, services for NGS platforms, NGS platforms, NGS consumables and pre-sequencing products and services. Bioinformatics further subdivided into NGS storage management & cloud computing solutions, NGS data analysis services and NGS data analysis workbenches & software whereas sequencing services are divided into De Novo and Whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, Custom Panels and Exome and Targeted Sequencing. NGS platforms are further sub-divided into Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Pacific Biosciences, ThermoFishcer Scientific, Illumina and others. Pre-sequencing products & services market is divided into quality control, target enrichment & library preparation, size selection, A-tailing, End Repair and DNA fragmentation.

Geographically, regions involved in the global next-generation sequencing (NGS) market analysis are Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. North America holds the largest global next generation sequencing market share followed by Europe. Asia Pacific is expected to rapidly grow in the coming years.

Key players involved in the next generation sequencing market are Agilent Technologies, New England Biolabs, Oxford Nanopore Technolgies Limited, Thermo Fischer Scientific and more.

Key Segments in the Global Next Generation Sequencing Market are-

By End-User, market is segmented into:

By Application, market is segmented into:

By Technology, market is segmented into:

By Product & Service, market is segmented into:

By Regions market is segmented into:

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Before the start of business,Just Securityprovides a curated summary ofup-to-the-minute developments at home and abroad. Heres todays news.

CORONAVIRUS

There were more than 341,000 global cases of thenovel coronavirus as of today and over 14,700 deaths worldwide, according todatafrom Johns Hopkins University. The number of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. has now gone past 35,000, with 417 deaths. CNN reporting.

President Trump announced yesterday that members of the National Guard will be activated to New York, California, and Washington state to help the states fight the coronavirus crisis. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover the costs for the deployment to the states, which so far have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Trump approved a disaster declaration for California later last night following previous declarations for New York and Washington state. Allan Smith reports for NBC News.

The presidents move came hours after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appealed to Trump to nationalize the effort to acquire masks and other critical protective supplies that are dwindling. I think the federal government should order factories to manufacture masks, gowns, ventilators, the essential medical equipment that is going to make the difference between life and death, Cuomo said during a news conference Sunday in Albany, New York. Its not hard to make a mask or PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) equipment or a gown, but you need companies to do it. Devan Cole and Chandelis Duster report for CNN.

The healthcare system is reaching a breaking point and frontline medical workers are running out of protective equipment, placing them at risk of getting infected. Dr. Melissa Bender and Co-Editor-in-Chief Ryan Goodman report on hospitals policies, including tensions with current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), at Just Security.

New York is now the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, accounting for almost half of the countrys confirmed infections and 5% of cases worldwide.In an effort to curb the crisis, Cuomo ordered New York City to crack down on people gathering in public. The governor also announced measures aimed at preparing for a wave of patients, including establishing temporary hospitals in three New York City suburbs and constructing a massive medical bivouac in the Jacob Javits Center on Manhattans West Side. The startling spike is partly the result of increased testing efforts: thousands of tests continued to be carried out, even as officials instructed hospitals to restrict coronavirus testing and save resources for treating patients. Jesse McKinley reports for the New York Times.

The Senate failed to pass a $1.6 trillion emergency coronavirus stimulus bill yesterday after pushback from Democrats who criticized the main elements of the package. Senate Democrats claimed that the measure favored big business over the rights of workers. The bill, which is intended to cushion the economic impact of the new coronavirus and needed 60 votes to advance, was blocked by a split Senate with a 47-47 vote. Marianne Levine and John Bresnahan report for POLITICO.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the House will introduce its own legislative package after congressional leaders failed to reach an agreement yesterday, adding that she was still hopeful for a bipartisan congressional deal on a coronavirus economic relief bill. Heather Caygle, Sarah Ferris and Marianne Levine report for POLITICO.

The Department of Justice (D.O.J.) has privately asked Congress for the authority to ask chief judges to hold people indefinitely without trial during emergencies part of a drive for new powers amid the pandemic. Documents reviewed by POLITICO lay out the departments requests to lawmakers on an array of topics, including the statute of limitations, asylum and the way court hearings are conducted. Betsy Woodruff Swan reports for POLITICO.

The intelligence community was warning of the global danger posed by the new coronavirus throughout January and February as the White House minimized the threat and was slow to roll out nationwide measures, according to U.S. officials familiar with spy agency reporting. The reports did not clarify when the virus might spread in the U.S. or recommend specific steps to mitigate it, but they did track the international spread of the coronavirus and warn that China was initially playing down the seriousness of the outbreak. Shane Harris, Greg Miller, Josh Dawsey and Ellen Nakashima report for the Washington Post.

A Defense Department contractor has died from coronavirus, the first military-related fatality from the illness. The Virginia-based contractor, who worked inside the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (D.S.C.A.), died on Saturday, the Pentagon said in a statement yesterday. Ellen Mitchell reports for the Hill.

Rand Paul (R-Ky.) hasbecome the first U.S. senatorto test positive for Covid-19. Natalie Andrews and Lindsay Wise report for the Wall Street Journal.

The D.O.J. announced yesterday that it was taking measures to close down a website falsely claiming to have access to vaccine kits supposedly made by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) to prevent coronavirus. In a press release, Justice Department officials accused the unidentified operators of coronavirusmedicalkit.com of engaging in a wire fraud scheme seeking to profit from the confusion and widespread fear surrounding COVID-19. John Bowden reports for the Hill.

Four U.S. senators are under scrutiny over allegations they used insider knowledge about the impending coronavirus crisis to sell shares before the virus-induced market meltdown. Republicans Richard Burr (N.C.) and Kelly Loeffler (Ga.) face calls to leave office after dumping millions of stocks last month. The BBC reporting.

A government watchdog is evaluating the Department of Health and Human Services (H.S.S.) response to the coronavirus outbreak and appraising nursing home preparedness after a number of elderly residents became poorly and died, a spokesperson for the H.H.S. inspector general said. Priscilla Alvarez reports for CNN.

Irans Supreme Leader has rejected Americas offer of aid to help the country with its battle against coronavirus. In a televised speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hinted at a conspiracy theory, also voiced by some Chinese officials, that America was responsible for the pandemic. I do not know how real this accusation is but when it exists, who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication? Khamenei said. Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more. Without offering any evidence, he also alleged that the virus is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians which they have obtained through different means. Al Jazeera reporting.

The U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq is pulling out some troops partly due to the coronavirus pandemic, the coalition confirmed Friday. The coalition is adjusting our positioning in Iraq for two reasons: long-planned adjustments to reflect success in the campaign against Daesh; and short-term moves to protect the force during the coronavirus pandemic, the coalition said in a statement, using a substitute name for the Islamic State group (ISIS). Looking ahead, we anticipate the coalition supporting the Iraqi Security Forces from fewer bases with fewer people, it added. Rebecca Kheel reports for the Hill.

Trump sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seeking to maintain good relations and offering help in the countrys fight against the coronavirus, Kims sister said yesterday, but she warned it was not enough to boost relations. A senior Trump administration official confirmed Trump sent a letter to the North Korean leader, saying that the move was consistent with his efforts to engage global leaders during the ongoing pandemic. Min Too Kim reports for the Washington Post.

Health officials in Syria have announced the first coronavirus infection in the country after weeks of rejecting opposition claims that the disease had already reached a nation with a wrecked healthcare system and thousands of Iranian-backed militias and Shiite pilgrims. The arrival of the global pandemic in Syria in addition to the Gaza Strip has sparked fears it could spread rapidly in some of the most vulnerable areas in the Middle East. Reuters reporting.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was self-quarantining after coming into contact with a doctor who has the virus. Her government also banned gatherings of more than two people, excluding families. Katrin Bennhold and Melissa Eddy report for the New York Times.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday accused China, Russia and Iran of spreading disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, in what is a supposed effort to plant fear and confusion. Speaking at the White House, Pompeo described the disinformation campaigns as being pretty diffused, saying that the government has observed individuals, as well as the three foreign foes, circulate false information online. There are coordinated efforts to disparage what America is doing and our activity to do all the things President Trump has set into motion, the secretary said during a press briefing on the coronavirus. Olivia Beavers reports for the Hill.

Members of Congress should be allowed to vote remotely during the coronavirus emergency, Justin Ling argues at Foreign Policy, citing a powerful letter from three elective representatives urging House leadership to change the rules.

A compelling case for action to be taken through the Defense Production Act is made out by former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and National Security Council (N.S.C.) Legal Adviser James E. Baker at Just Security.

A look at what the Act would allow for and why Trump is reluctant to wield his federal powers is provided by Amber Phillips at the Washington Post.

A map and analysis of all confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. is available at the New York Times.

U.S. and worldwide maps tracking the spread of the pandemic are available at theWashington Post.

A list of the measures taken by other countries to contain the spread of the new coronavirusis compiledby Al Jazeera.

Latest updates on the pandemicatThe GuardianandNBC News.

AFGHANISTAN

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Kabul today on an unannounced visit to help bridge a political impasse that has undermined a U.S. peace deal with the Taliban, struck at the end of February. Pompeo is expected to meet separately with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his chief political opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, who is attempting to set up a parallel government, before the two Afghan rivals are due to come together for a one-on-one meeting. AP reporting.

Afghan government officials met by videoconference yesterday with Taliban delegates to discuss a prisoner exchange that is a part of a broader push for peace, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said in a message sent Twitter, offering some prospect of a breakthrough on a matter that has paralyzed the two sides and threatened a budding peace process. The two sides deliberated for over two hours in a Skype meeting facilitated by the United States and Qatar, officials said. Reuters reporting.

IRAN

The White House apparently is divided over whether to escalate military action against Iran, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser Robert C. OBrien calling for a strong response to rocket attacks that had killed two American soldiers at a base north of Baghdad, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arguing that the Pentagon and intelligence agencies lacked clear evidence that the attacks, launched by the Shiite militia group Khataib Hezbollah, had been directed by the Islamic Republic. The New York Times reporting.

The Trump administration yesterday condemned France for releasing an Iranian man wanted for prosecution by the United States in an apparent prisoner swap with Iran. The State Department said it deeply regrets the unilateral French move to free Jalal Rohollahnejad, who was the subject of a U.S. extradition request on charges of breaching American sanctions on Iran. Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that France had failed to uphold its commitments under a joint extradition treaty and harmed the cause of justice. AP reporting.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday offered to step down next year as part of a proposed power-sharing accord with his chief rival meant to guide the country through the coronavirus crisis and end a year-long political standoff. Netanyahu made his proposal during a nationally televised interview, calling for the creation of a three-year emergency unity government with the rival Blue and White Party. Netanyahu told Channel 12 TV that he would stay as prime minister for the first 18 months, and allow opposition leader Benny Gantz to assume the post for a second year-and-a-half term in September 2021. He said each party would have an identical number of seats in the Cabinet. AP reporting.

Netanyahus political opponents yesterday asked Israels Supreme Court to block what they described as a power grab by the caretaker government under the pretense of tackling the coronavirus epidemic. The petitioners asked the court to force parliament to resume its full activities, despite restrictions imposed by Parliament Speaker Yuli Edelstein, a member of Netanyahus ruling Likud party, because of public health concerns, citing a threat to Israeli democracy. Isabel Kershner reports for the New York Times.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Lora Shiao, a career U.S. intelligence officer, has been tapped as the next acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center, the governments principal clearinghouse for intelligence on terrorist threats, Trump administration officials said. The New York Times reporting.

The United States carried out a successful test on an unarmed prototype of a hypersonic missile, a nuclear-capable weapon that could speed up the arms race between superpowers. The Pentagon on Friday said a test glide vehicle traveled at hypersonic speeds more than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5 to a designated impact point. AFP reporting.

North Korea on Saturday test-fired two presumed short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, South Koreas military said, as it continues to expand military capabilities following two months of relative silence. Al Jazeera reporting.

An excerpt from the untold story of Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his unchecked rise to power, written by the Beirut bureau chief for The New York Times, is available at The Times.

A look at what is driving the political resistance to repatriating the thousands of foreign fighters who fought on behalf of ISIS in Syria and what might be done to curb such resistance is provided by Dan E. Stigall at Just Security.

The rest is here:
The Early Edition: March 23, 2020 - Just Security

The dose makes the poison.

Thats a shortened version of a quote by Paracelsus (1493-1541), a doctor often referred to as a Father of toxicology the study of the nature, effects, and detection of poisons. His teachings are that every medicine is a poison, and every poison, a medicine: it all comes down to dose.

With traditional medicines, dose is decided by research on the effects of certain substances, both on the general population, and the individual to be treated.

But cannabis has put a strain on this notion. While the number of studies is increasing, there isnt enough research yet to fully understand its effects, even as patients successfully add cannabis to their treatment plans. But some are under the misconception that cannabis is safe and natural; unfortunately, cannabis can come with a downside.

For instance, you may have heard of an incident in 2018, a man accused of the murder and beheading of his father. Though he voluntarily pled guilty to the charge of murder, the plaintiff in the case added to the record his defense: cannabis-induced psychosis.

While this is a controversial opinion because it assumes a one-time induction of a psychotic state that spurred the event, rather than cannabis causing the onset of chronic issues, there is a need for concern around cannabis use, especially when it is not from a recognized source or when the dose isnt properly considered.

Psychosis and cannabis

Psychosis and cannabis have been linked for some time more than a century, in fact. Psychosis is described as a disturbance in brain functioning that results in the sufferer feeling unsure as to what is real, and what is not. It can cause thought disorders, hallucinations both visual and auditory and delusions. Schizophrenia is, in its simplest description, chronic psychosis.

Cannabis is considered connected to schizophrenia by Health Canada, and in their cannabis Resource Series, they point to several risk factors, like the age of the person upon first use is important, especially if they are under 16.

As well, they state cannabis consumption by those with a family history of psychosis mean they are 2.5 to 10 times more likely to develop schizophrenia than non-users with the same family history. Also an issue is the frequency of use, and incorrect dosing using too much of a high potency strain.

But while they are sure about some aspects, it is clear that there is much more research to be done. Even Health Canada is specific that while there is strong evidence that cannabis will increase your risk: The exact underlying mechanism is still largely unknown

In June of 2019, Ian Hamilton, a specialist in Health Sciences from the University of York (UK) and Mark Monaghan, specialist in Social Policy at the University of Birmingham (UK) wrote an paper summarizing what has been understood so far, and what holes are left within the research surrounding cannabis and Psychosis specifically Schizophrenia.

Current thinking

They described three hypotheses that are re-occurring in research. The first is direct, cannabis causes schizophrenia; that it would trigger the illness in someone who would not have developed it had they not been exposed to cannabis. The second is that individuals with a pre-disposition to schizophrenia use cannabis to mitigate its early symptoms, and that is why there is link.

A third suggests that one might have childhood trauma that could trigger schizophrenia in itself, then paired with the desire to medicate the effects of the trauma with intoxicants. They are not connected, but could be seen that way.

The issues with proving these hypotheses come in the measurement of data, done mostly through observation and subjective assessment.

Gaps in the current research include gender - as in many medical research studies, the sample groups are mostly male and that the studies focus on western-world usage, skewing the data based on cultural influences.

There's also the role of tobacco. Currently, tobacco is also appearing as an independent risk factor for psychosis, and cannabis and tobacco are often used in combination.

In 2016, an estimated 192 million people worldwide used cannabis, and thats before Canadian legalization; but that only brings cannabis to third in popularity, behind alcohol and tobacco. There is a need for cannabis and tobacco to be uncoupled for further study.

However, there is an ever-increasing number of conditions treated with cannabis, and because of this, there are many people looking for help without understanding the risk.

Cannabis as medicine

Sudbury physician Dr. Lionel Marks De Chabris has been prescribing cannabis to his patients since 2007, and though there are risks associated with cannabis as medicine, he notes that the risks of other medicines specifically pain medicines like opiates could be quite higher, while also less effective.

He has read the research available and says, in his belief, cannabis doesnt cause schizophrenia, but if you have a genetic risk for having schizophrenia i.e. you may well develop it at some point in your life and if you use cannabis, you can trigger that at an earlier age. Thats not trivial; Schizophrenia is a terrible, life-altering disease.

He is careful to screen his patients for any personal or family history of psychosis, mental illness, and schizophrenia, and will advise those patients to refrain from cannabis completely. For others, he explains how to safely consume it.

Understanding dose

Because most recreational consumers are looking for the high, many are looking to find the highest THC (the hallucinogenic compound, Tetrahydrocannabinol) possible, and then consuming extremely excessive amounts. Marks De Chabris points to this when it comes to issues of psychosis: its not the potency of the strain, it is the amount consumed that will hurt you.

He compares it to alcohol. You wouldnt consider beer to be better for you than wine because of its lower alcohol content, you would change the amount you consumed. Its like when you ask for a glass of whiskey, you dont ask for a pint. You ask for a single ounce.

But dosing becomes difficult when the drug supply is from disreputable sources. Ive spoken to patients who tried particularly some of the edibles that are currently illegally available that have huge amounts of THC in them, he said. Ive seen edibles online that 150mg of THC in one little gummy the starting dose for a nave user is 10. So, one gummy has fifteen doses.

Take one candy, and you could be in real trouble.

What you need to know

Thankfully, Marks de Chabris says most of them time the answer to over consumption discomfort and other unwanted side effects of cannabis is to simply go to sleep. He also notes: If youre feeling anxious, if youre feeling paranoid and you understand that the reason for that is youve taken too much THC, just that knowledge can help to offset some of the fear around that excessive dosing.

Of course, if you believe something much worse is happening, getting medical attention is your best chance, and one without risk now that cannabis is legal. If its really bad then going to an emergency department and getting some medication to help sedate you is reasonable, but that would be very rare.

But he also notes the steady rise is consumption, and the lack of corresponding rise in psychosis.

We know that the use of cannabis in the western world has gone up, I think the last study I saw was 700 per cent over the last 20 years, so thats a huge increase in the use of cannabis, he said.

Over that same period, the rate of schizophrenia has not changed in fact it may have gone down a little. So, if cannabis was causing Schizophrenia, where are all the patients with schizophrenia?

As for his safe consumption recommendations: Start low and go slow. Aim for low THC with at least some Cannabidiol (CBD) to mitigate any unwanted effects, and wait, as it takes a 30 minutes to feel the effects of smoking, and up to two hours for ingestion.

And while the research is ever-increasing, currently, safe consumption seems to come down to this: know your source, know yourself, buy informed and buy legally. After all, you wouldnt buy moonshine from your neighbours bathtub without at least thinking deeply about your life choices.

Jenny Lamothe is a freelance writer, proof-reader and editor in Greater Sudbury. Contact her through her website,JennyLamothe.com.

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Discover: What is the link between cannabis and psychosis? - Sudbury.com