StemCell Therapy

Ever since the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, was first reported in China's Wuhan city, the virus has spread to more than 196 countries and territories around the world with393,284 confirmed cases and17,161 deaths so far. In India, the maximum number of cases has been reported in the state of Maharashtra.The number of coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 519, with 10 deaths.

It is the need of the hour to find a solution for coronavirus.

Clinical trials in China are already testing the efficacy of stem cell therapies for COVID-19. Arecent clinical trialwith seven COVID-19 patients showed that a stem cell product improved patient outcome. According to research published in the peer-reviewed journalAging and Disease,mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy could be effective in treating COVID-19.

Coronaviruses (CoV) belong to a large family of viruses leading to respiratory illnesses, such as common coldto more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute RespiratorySyndrome (SARS-CoV).

Earlier this year, a new strain of coronavirus was discovered, which was not previously identified in humanbeings, also known as the novel coronavirus (nCov). The symptoms of the infection are respiratory issues, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathingdifficulties. More severe cases of COVID-19 can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and kidneyfailure.

In recent years, scientific research hasshown that MSCs have properties that maymake them very useful to repair damaged tissues in the patients respiratory system and promotefaster healing and recovery.Umbilical cord tissueis particularly rich inthese cells, which is why many parents arechoosing to store them at birth.

MSCs can reduce the overproduction of immune cells caused by a reaction to the virus and reduce excessive levels of inflammatory substances, thus regulating the immune system.

Currently, many vaccines or drugs are being tested to deal with coronavirus. There is widespread fear and phobia among the population. Why not use your own defence system rather than searching for drugs to tackle the virus?

MSCs are multi-potent cells that have been widely used for tissue regeneration and immunomodulation, and can be a potential solution. The infusion of autologous and allogenic MSCs has been proven safe and effective in tissue repair and disease modulation. MSCs have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties; therefore, they have the potential to control inflammatory conditions, possibly viral diseases, and may reduce mortality.

Another interesting therapeutic avenue is immunotherapy. Natural killer (NK) cells, a component of our innate immune system, play an important role in tackling malignancies as well as virally infected cells. These cells serve to contain viral infections while the adaptive immune response is generating antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells that can clear the infection. Thus, NK cell therapy can be safe and effective in the management of COVID-19.

We need to ensure control of person-to-person transmission of the infection. Therefore, stringent isolation/quarantine measures are important until complete recovery of an infected individual.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)

Read the original post:
Can cell-based therapy be helpful in tackling coronavirus? - YourStory

SOUTH CHINA SEA - Members of Navy Forward-Deployed Preventive Medicine Units (FDPMU) and Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) embarked several 7th Fleet ships March 14 to help combat the risk of and provide laboratory batch testing for COVID-19 aboard the ships.

Teams are embarked on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and have the ability to batch test Sailors onboard who present with influenza-like illness symptoms, instead of only sending samples to be tested ashore.

This capability provides early-warning surveillance for the medical teams to be able to identify if a COVID-19 case is onboard a ship, but does not individually diagnose Sailors. If a batch were to test positive for COVID-19, the medical teams would take additional measures, such as isolating the Sailors whose samples were in the batch, and depending on the Sailors symptoms, potentially medically evacuating them off the ship to a shore facility for testing.

To date, no cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed aboard any U.S. 7th Fleet Navy vessel.

The team here in 7th Fleet has taken COVID-19 seriously from the beginning and has many public health measures already in place, said Capt. Christine Sears, U.S. 7th Fleet surgeon. The FDPMU and NMRC augmentation teams provide additional depth in our ability to combat this virus.

Teams embarked the ships to provide at-sea testing and to ensure the U.S. 7th Fleet operating forces are ready to combat a possible outbreak while maintaining mission readiness. The teams provide additional capabilities in addition to the U.S. 7th Fleets isolation procedures.

The teams are comprised of a variety of specialized Navy Medicine personnel to ensure force health protection of the fleet, and may include: a microbiologist, medical laboratory technician, preventive medicine officer, preventive medicine technician.

As a medical service corps microbiology officer, this embark gives us the chance to demonstrate some of our skillsets to the fleet, and what we bring to the fight, said Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Pavlicek, Blue Ridge COVID-19 testing team lead. This capability allows us, the Navy, to protect mission readiness and protection of our Sailors.

To ensuring force health protection of the fleet, other medical specialties or logistical components can be scaled up or down to meet mission specific requirements in the mitigation, health surveillance, and casualty prevention.

This is the most advanced laboratory capability that Navy Medicine has placed forward deployed, said Lt. Cmdr. Danett Bishop, leader and microbiologist for the preventative medicine team aboard America. We can make force health decisions in real time, enhancing the health of the crew while minimizing any potential outbreak of COVID-19.

The FDPMU teams aboard the USS America and the USS Blue Ridge are from Navy Environmental Preventative Medicine Unit 6 based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and work to facilitate and educate using preventive medicine practices and provide additional laboratory capabilities. The team embarked with USS Theodore Roosevelt is assigned to the Naval Medical Research Center based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Currently, the teams are only authorized to perform surveillance testing and not individual testing. This means that the results cannot be linked to a particular patient for diagnostics, but would enable the team to detect COVID-19s presence on the ship based off of the results.

Since we are performing surveillance testing, the results of COVID-19 present, or not present can help inform the force health protection posture and provide valuable insight for the senior medical officer and outbreak response team, said Pavlicek.

The teams are equipped with two testing capabilities, including the BioFire Film Array and the Step One RT-PCR System. The BioFire Film Array will test for a dozen different respiratory diseases, while the Step One RT-PCR System allow for complex COVID-19 tests at sea, if necessary.

As the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet operates roughly 50-70 ships and submarines and 140 aircraft with approximately 20,000 Sailors.

See more here:
Navy preventive medicine teams embark ships in 7th Fleet - navy.mil

PADUCAH Each day, more information comes out about COVID-19. It's hard to know what's fact and what's fiction.

Dr. J. Kyle Turnbo has been visiting the Local 6 studio to answer your questions about the virus. Turnbo is triple board certified in family, occupational and preventative medicine.

He was back in the studio on Monday to help us better understand the novel coronavirus. During Local 6 at Five, he joined Local 6 evening anchor Todd Faulkner.

Turnbo explained the difference between isolation and quarantine.

Isolation

Isolation is for sick people who have the disease. Patients are put in isolation to keep them away from healthy people.

It helps prevent the direct spread spread of the virus. The goal for people in isolation is to keep them from having any contact with other people that they could spread the disease to. They only come out of isolation when they are no longer contagious. Dr. Turnbo says for COVID-19, that time period is typically 14 days.

Quarantine

Quarantine is for people who are well but were potentially exposed, because they were in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the virus. Those who self-quarantine are not confirmed to have the disease or have no symptoms. In quarantine, people keep themselves away from others as a precaution.

If you are quarantined at home, Turnbo says you should stay home, separate yourself from others in your household, call ahead before you show up to your doctor's office to tell your medical provider about your concerns and follow their advice, cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands thoroughly, avoid sharing germs and monitor your symptoms.

For our other Q&A sessions with the doctor, check out the links below.

See the article here:
Dr. Turnbo explains the difference between isolation and quarantine - WPSD Local 6

(CNN) What are the telling signs that you may have the novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19?

The main list of acute symptoms at this time is actually quite short and can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Were emphasizing fever plus a notable lower respiratory tract symptom cough or trouble breathing, said infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Being able to identify those symptoms and act upon them when necessary is critical. Heres what you need to know.

Fever is a key symptom, experts say. Dont fixate on a number, but know its really not a fever until your temperature reaches at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) for children and adults.

There are many misconceptions about fever. Average daily temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), but we all actually go up and down quite a bit during the day as much as half of a degree or a degree, said Dr. John Williams, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh.

So 99.0 degrees or 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit is not a fever, he stressed.

When you check for fever, dont rely on a temperature taken in the morning. Instead take your temp in the late afternoon and early evening.

Our temperature is not the same during the day. If you take it at eight oclock in the morning, it may be normal, Schaffner explained.

One of the most common presentations of fever is that your temperature goes up in the late afternoon and early evening its a common way that viruses produce fever.

Coughing is another key symptom, but its not just any cough, said Schaffner. It should be a dry cough that you feel in your chest.

Its not a tickle in your throat. Youre not just clearing your throat. Its not just irritated. Youre not putting anything out, youre not coughing anything up, Schaffner said.

The cough is bothersome, its coming from your breastbone or sternum. and you can tell that your bronchial tubes are inflamed or irritated, he added.

Shortness of breath can be a third and very serious manifestation of Covid-19, and it can occur on its own, without a cough. If your chest becomes tight or you begin to feel as if you cannot breathe deeply enough to get a good breath, thats a sign to act, experts say.

If theres any shortness of breath immediately call your health care provider, a local urgent care or the emergency department, said American Medical Association president Dr. Patrice Harris.

If the shortness of breath is severe enough, you should call 911, Harris added.

In addition to difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, the CDC lists emergency warning signs for Covid-19 as a persistent pain or pressure in the chest, bluish lips or face which indicates a lack of oxygen and any sudden mental confusion or lethargy and inability to rouse.

Get medical attention immediately, the CDC says.

This trifecta of symptoms fever, cough and shortness of breath are not the only signs of sickness that have been seen in cases of Covid-19.

Many other symptoms can resemble the flu, including headaches, digestive issues, body aches and fatigue, which can be severe. Still other symptoms can resemble a cold or allergies, such as a runny nose, sore throat and sneezing.

Most likely, experts say, you simply have a cold or the flu after all they can cause fever and cough too. One possible sign that you might have Covid-19 is if your symptoms, especially shortness of breath, dont improve after a week or so but actually worsen.

At this moment, the current guidance and this may change is that if you have symptoms that are similar to the cold and the flu and these are mild symptoms to moderate symptoms, stay at home and try to manage them with rest, hydration and the use of Tylenol, Harris said.

That advice does not apply if you are over age 60, since immune systems weaken as we age, or if you are pregnant anyone with concerns about coronavirus should call their healthcare provider, according to the CDC.

Its unclear whether pregnant women have a greater chance of getting severely ill from coronavirus, but the CDC has said that women experience changes in their bodies during pregnancy that may increase their risk of some infections.

In general, Covid-19 infections are riskier if you have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, chronic lung disease or asthma, heart failure or heart disease, sickle cell anemia, cancer (or are undergoing chemotherapy), kidney disease with dialysis, a body mass index (BMI) over 40 (extremely obese) or an autoimmune disorder.

Older patients and individuals who have underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their physician early in the course of even mild illness, the CDC advises.

To be clear, you are at higher risk even if you are young if you have underlying health issues.

People under 60 with underlying illnesses, with diabetes, heart disease, immunocompromised or have any kind of lung disease previously, those people are more vulnerable despite their younger age, Schaffner said.

A history of travel to an area where the novel coronavirus is widespread (and those parts of the world, including the US, are going up each day) is obviously another key factor in deciding if your symptoms may be Covid-19 or not.

If you have no symptoms, please do not ask for testing or add to backlog of calls at testing centers, clinics, hospitals and the like, experts say.

We do not test people with no symptoms because its a resource issue, Schaffner said about the assessment center at Vanderbilt.

However, we are emphasizing that people who have this small cluster of important symptoms fever and anything related to the lower respiratory tract such as cough and difficulty breathing reach out to be evaluated.

If you do have those three signs, where should you go?

If you have insurance and youre looking for a provider or someone to call or connect with, theres always a number on the back of your insurance card; or if you go online, there is information for patients, Harris said.

If you dont have insurance, you can start with the state health department or the local community health centers, those are officially known as federally qualified health centers, Harris advised, adding that some states have a 1-800 hotline number to call.

If there is a testing and assessment center near you, you can go there directly, Schaffer said. Its always good to notify them that youre coming. Otherwise, you need to call your healthcare provider and they will direct you what to do.

The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

Follow this link:
LIST: Here Are The Symptoms Of Coronavirus And When To Seek Help - CBS Baltimore

Tired of washing your hands for 20 seconds each time? Fingers starting to prune or feel like sandpaper?

The world is counting on you to help stop the spread of Covid-19, the deadly new disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Take heart that while you're scrubbing, you're also killing off a host of other nasty bacteria and potentially lethal viruses that have plagued humans for centuries -- including influenza and a number of different coronaviruses.

"There are four coronaviruses that circulate in humans regularly, almost every year," said virologist Dr. John Williams, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

"And they mainly cause colds; in fact, they cause about a third of common colds. They don't kill people," he added.

Coronaviruses aren't the only nasty parasites that succumb to a vigorous application of soap and water. Influenza -- which kills millions around the world each year -- and the human metapneumovirus, which causes a respiratory infection that can lead to pneumonia, also break down and die.

How did such a simple thing as soap and warm water -- and alcohol-based sanitizers -- obtain such power over these parasites?

The answer lies in their "skin" and your scrubbing technique.

What soap and warm water do

Under the microscope, coronaviruses appear to be covered with pointy spires, giving them the appearance of having a crown or "corona" -- hence the name. Beneath the crown is the outer layer of the virus, which is made up of lipids, or what you and I would call fat.

Now imagine that coronavirus is your butter dish, covered with buttery fat.

"You try to wash your butter dish with water alone, but that butter is not coming off the dish," Williams explained. "You need some soap to dissolve grease. So soap or alcohol are very, very effective against dissolving that greasy liquid coating of the virus."

What does getting rid of that outer layer do to the germ?

"It physically inactivates the virus, so it can't bind to and enter human cells anymore," Wllliams said.

Just how soap accomplishes this feat is rather strange and fascinating science.

It's all about how soap molecules are formed -- each looks much like a tiny sperm, with a head and tail. The head bonds with water but the tail rejects it, preferring oil and fat.

Frantically trying to escape water, the tail of the soap is drawn to the fatty outer layer of the virus and begins to pry it open, much like we might use a crowbar to separate two pieces of wood.

Once the virus or bacteria splits open, it spills its guts into the soapy water and dies.

Water and scrubbing with your hands are important to this process because the combination creates more soap bubbles, which disrupt the chemical bonds that allow bacteria, viruses and other germs to stick to surfaces.

You want to scrub, build up bubbles and scrub some more, getting into every crack and crevice of your hands and fingers, including your fingernails, for 20 seconds, which is about as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice. (But if you're tired of that ditty, there are songs from every decade you can sing instead.)

Now, when you rinse your hands, all the germs that have been hurt, trapped or killed by soap molecules are washed away.

"All those bubbles and foam ... literally pick germs up and wash them down the drain," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.

You often hear that the water you wash with should be warm, but why? After all, even hot water does not kill bacteria or viruses until you get to a temperature that would scald the skin.

"Cold water will work, but you have to make sure you work really vigorously to get a lather and get everything soapy and bubbly," said chemist Bill Wuest, an associate professor at Emory University who studies disinfectants.

To do that, you might need to sing "Happy Birthday" three times instead of two.

"Warm water with soap gets a much better lather, more bubbles," Wuest said. "It's an indication that the soap is ... trying to encapsulate the dirt and the bacteria and the viruses in them."

What alcohol-based sanitizers do

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be as effective as soap if they are used properly, Schaffner explained.

"They need to have at least 60% alcohol in them," Schaffner said. "It's the alcohol that's the virus killer."

Just putting a little dollop in the palm of your hand and wiping quickly isn't good enough, Schaffner said.

"You've got to use enough and get it all over the surfaces," he said. "Rub it all over your hands, between your fingers and on the back of your hands."

"That's because alcohol is a different chemical property," Wuest said. "It helps break up the germ membranes, but you need to make sure it gets into direct contact with the bacteria or virus."

But there are situations in which soap and water are best, Williams said, because of the ability of soap and water to trap and wash microorganisms away.

"Alcohol is pretty effective at killing germs, but it doesn't wash away stuff," he said. "So you know, if somebody's just sneezed into their hand, and their hand is covered with mucus, they would have to use a lot more alcohol to inactivate that bacteria or virus.

"So if somebody's hands are visibly or grossly contaminated, soap and water are better," Williams said.

That's especially important because there are nasty germs and bacteria out there that don't have soft, fatty bellies that soap bubbles can attack -- such as hepatitis A virus, poliovirus, meningitis and pneumonia.

So the next time you wash your hands for the umpteenth time, take pride in all those soapy bubbles you're creating -- and enjoy the pleasure of imagining those microscopic, dead creatures circle the drain.

Link:
Why soap, sanitizer and warm water work against Covid-19 and other viruses - The Albany Herald

What a year last week was! Life still resembles itself, but only vaguely. I vowed not to touch the V-I-R-U-S keys in preparing this weeks column. Obviously, my fingers and my brain are not in sync or maybe they are: here I am writing about the developments of a mindboggling week.

Complicating matters, during those jumbly, confusing days when symptoms of the coronavirus were incessantly enumerated on TV, in the print press, and on social media, I was fogged and clogged by a full-blown cold. Through a cloud of wadded-up tissues and cough drop wrappers, I washed my hands and wiped down surfaces, while alternating between the uncertain certainty of COVID-19 and the back-to-sanity realization that I was simply suffering the Shirley-version of the common cold.

Longer than I should have, I allowed myself to be almost mentally incapacitated by the all-coronavirus-all-day coverage of the cable news outlets and the wildly-varying overreactions and underreactions I found on Facebook. I felt dismay at the panic to which too many of us succumbed and anger at the selfishness of some. Even as I worried about our elderly population in the high-risk category, I had to repeatedly remind myself I am an elderly person in the high-risk category!

Then I happened upon a news briefing by Governor DeWine. He and Dr. Amy Acton, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, presented the latest and most essential information I had heard anywhere in a calm but compelling manner. At that point, I took control of my media exposure, determining to listen to their daily 2 PM briefing as my major source of information along with one evening newscast for perspective.

I feel fortunate that our governor has surrounded himself with a team of medical professionals with whom he digs for facts. As reported in the UDC, Mike DeWine has been ahead of other elected officials across the nation, basing his approach to COVID-19 on the successful, life-saving approach of St. Louis during the deadly Spanish influenza of 1918.

My feelings of good fortune continue each time I listen to Dr. Acton speak. Armed with degrees in preventative medicine and public health, this mother of six has moved beyond the debacle testing has become in attempting to flatten the curve, in preparation for the surge yet to come: when hospital facilities and their limited supplies of personal protective equipment may very well be overwhelmed. Dr. Acton explains well, makes crucial points, talks down to no one, is clearheaded and forthright. By the way, two previous holders of her position were a lawyer and a marketing director.

Based on events of this past week, I agree with Governor DeWines assessment of his fellow Ohioans: We are resilient. We will rally. We will make it. When the governor closed the schools, administrations jumped into action to formulate delivery systems of breakfasts and lunches to their students. Unencumbered by state red tape, teaching staffs designed online lessons for their own students. All manner of websites popped up with virtual safaris and drawing lessons. When the governor closed dine-in restaurants, Facebook filled with carry-out and delivery instructions from local eateries. Some stores have established elderly-only shopping hours.

And we have so many heroes to support: as always, we thank the first-responders, but also the truck drivers and farmers as well as every healthcare professional willing to risk serving under the most difficult of conditions, many of which are yet to occur.

Sometimes the little things become even more important. There was a Facebook photo of a son visiting his father at the nursing home, each on either side of a window chatting on their cell phones. Another picture showed a little boy playing tic-tac-toe with his elderly neighbor on two sides of a glass door with grease pencils on a board outlined by painters tape. Snowbird friends of mine returning from Florida noted electronic billboards in every state recommending limited travel to stop the spread of COVID-19. Only in Ohio did they see the additional message of: We are all in this together.

I checked in with Ingrid in Germany, where toilet paper is also in short supply. She will not, for the foreseeable future, babysit for her granddaughters. Our conversation reminded me of my reason for promoting international exchange: people in all countries are much more similar than different. Residents of most nations have experienced/are experiencing/will experience COVID-19. Perhaps through sharing fears, concerns, and solutions with our global neighbors, we can all move a little closer to sharing in other areas of life on our planet.

At home, my Great-Depression-survivor father often criticized our pickiness about food: You are too well fed. His phrase eventually stretched to cover a general lack of appreciation for all that we have. For many, these extraordinary times are thus far an exercise in inconvenience although true sacrifice and shortage may be just down the road a piece. I recalled my fathers assessment, when a former student suggested the merely inconvenienced remember people whose lives are at stake, those with childcare flexibility remember people with no options, those of us settling in for quarantine remember people who have no home.

I think, however, that for the next weeks and months or however long this new normal continues for that amount of time I will hold on to the oft-repeated words of my mother: This, too, shall pass.

Shirley Scott, a 1966 graduate of Graham High School, is a native of Champaign County. After receiving degrees in English and German from Otterbein College, she returned to GHS in 1970 where she taught until retiring in 2010. From 1976-2001 she coordinated the German Exchange Program with the Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium in Springe.

Go here to see the original:
Facing it all together - Urbana Daily Citizen

The chatter about a promising drug to fight Covid-19 started, as chatter often does (but science does not), on Twitter. A blockchain investor named James Todaro tweeted that an 85-year-old malaria drug called chloroquine was a potential treatment and preventative against the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Todaro linked to a Google doc hed cowritten, explaining the idea.

Plus: How can I avoid catching it? Is Covid-19 more deadly than the flu? Our in-house Know-It-Alls answer your questions.

Though nearly a dozen drugs to treat coronavirus are in clinical trials in China, just oneremdesivir, an antiviral that was in trials against Ebola and the coronavirus MERSis in full-on trials in the US. Nothing has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. So a promising drug would be greatand even better, chloroquine isnt new. Its use dates back to World War II, and its derived from the bark of the chinchona tree, like quinine, a centuries-old antimalarial. That means the drug is now generic and is relatively cheap. Physicians understand it well, and theyre allowed to prescribe it for anything they want, not just malaria.

Todaros tweet got thousands of likes. The engineer/tech world picked up the idea. The widely-read blog Stratechery linked to Todaros Google document; Ben Thompson, the blogs editor, wrote that he was wholly unqualified to comment but that the anecdotal evidence favored the idea. Echoing the document, Thompson wrote that the paper was written in consultation with Stanford Medical School, the University of Alabama at Birmingham medical school, and National Academy of Sciences researchersnone of which is exactly true. (More on that in a bit.) One of Todaros coauthors, a lawyer named Gregory Rigano, went on Fox News to talk about the concept. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted about it, citing an explanatory YouTube video from a physician whos been doing a series of coronavirus explainers. To be fair, Musk wasnt all-in on the idea absent more data, though he wrote that hed received a life-saving dose of chloroquine for malaria.

Its the definition of big if true. Part of the story of Covid-19, of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is that it is novel. Humans dont have any immunity to it. Theres no vaccine, no drug approved to treat it. But if a drug did existif a cheap, easy drug can stave off the worst, ventilator-requiring, sometimes-fatal complications of coronavirus infection, or maybe prevent that infection in the first place, what are we all socially isolating for, like suckers?

That ifas the saying goesis doing a lot of work. The Covid-19 pandemic is causing, reasonably, a worldwide freak-out as scientists and policymakers race to find solutions, not always competently or efficiently. Its the kind of thing that rankles the engineer-disruptor mindset. Surely this must be an easily solved problem thats primarily the fault of bureaucracy, regulation, and people who dont understand science. And maybe the first two things are true. The third thing, though, is where the risks hide. Silicon Valley lionizes people who rush toward solutions and ignore problems; science is designed to find solutions by identifying those problems. The two approaches are often incompatible.

What happened here, specifically, is that Rigano sought Todaro out. Todaros tweet identified Rigano as being affiliated with Johns Hopkins; Riganos LinkedIn profile says hes on leave from a masters degree program there in bioinformatics, and has been an advisor to a program at Stanford called SPARK, which does translational drug discoveryfinding new uses and applications for approved drugs. I have a very unique background at the crossroads of law and science, Rigano tells me. I have been working with large pharmaceutical companies, universities, biotechs, and nonprofits in the development of drugs and medical products. He says those contacts told him about the use of chloroquine against Covid-19 in China and South Korea, so he started reading up on it.

(Johns Hopkins did not return a request for comment; a spokesperson for Stanford Medical School emails: Stanford Medicine, including SPARK, wasnt involved in the creation of the Google document, and weve requested that the author remove all references to us. In addition, Gregory Rigano is not an advisor with Stanford School of Medicine and no one at Stanford was involved in the study.)

It turns out that people have been pitching chloroquine as an antiviral for years. In the early 1990s researchers proposed it as an adjunct to early protease inhibitor drugs to help treat HIV/AIDS. A team led by Stuart Nichol, the head of the Special Pathogens Unit at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published a paper in 2005 saying that the drug was effective against primate cells infected with SARS, the first big respiratory coronavirus to affect humans. Thats an in vitro test, not live animalsjust cells.

See the rest here:
Chloroquine May Fight Covid-19and Silicon Valleys Into It - WIRED

Israel's inability to handle a pandemic crisis was known prior to the global outbreak of the coronavirus, according to information published Monday by the State Comptroller.The report focused on the possibility of an influenza pandemic but showed that Israel was not ready to fight any pandemic, including the novel coronavirus, while highlighting the countrys lack of strategic planning. Before the outbreak of the current pandemic, hospital occupancy rates in Israel were already the highest in the developed world, while its mortality rates from infectious diseases, which doubled in the past two decades alone, are not only higher than in every other developed country, they are 73% higher than the second-ranked country, said Prof. Dan Ben-David, president and founder of the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research and a faculty member at Tel Aviv Universitys Department of Public Policy. The healthcare system has been under-budgeted for many years, medical staff and all other resources were overloaded even before the pandemic, added Dr. Yotam Rosner, head of Information, Research and Development for Physicians for Human Rights. So, we are not fully prepared to handle the coronavirus.In general, the state comptroller report highlighted the lack of intensive care beds, medical staff and equipment, which would enable effective treatment in the case of a pandemic, and bolster capabilities to manage other major outbreaks. It also showed that hospitals are overcrowded year-round.The prime minister was quick to respond that the report is irrelevant to the current coronavirus outbreak, as there has been no such event in the last century and no country in the world could have predicted or prepared for the spread of the virus, while claiming that under his tenure the health system in Israel has been significantly improved. But Rosner said that the report sheds a bright light on Israels unreadiness for this epidemic. He said that some people have referred to the novel coronavirus as a black swan, though the coronavirus is not one. Rosner said that these types of epidemics occur in cycles around three times each century and health professionals know that. The report acknowledged that the system is overloaded, which we have said many, many times and means that there are no reserves whatsoever in hospital beds or ventilation machines and which means that effectively when we do have address this pandemic, everything else has to be stopped and delayed because now you need to direct all your medical staff toward this pandemic.Israel quickly postponed all voluntary medical procedures and cancelled any non-essential surgeries or other health visits. Moreover, Rosner explained that public healthcare does not center only around hospitals and clinics but also preventative medicine, public awareness and health literacy, all of which the report indicated were challenges. For example, the report indicated that during the recent global measles outbreak in 2018-2019, Israel had the seventh highest morbidity rate worldwide. Some 60% of 4,300 infected individuals were children aged up to nine years old. Three Israeli citizens died during the outbreak.Moreover, following a growing trend of anti-vaccine sentiment, the Health Ministry estimates that a total of 1.1%-1.7% of the population is not vaccinated against measles today, compared to 0.6% in 2011. During the recent measles outbreak, among infected patients aged between two and 19 years old, at least 49% were children of vaccine refusers. Half of all those infected were residents of Jerusalem, of which 80% were from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.Rosner said that communication between all minorities and subcultures and the Health Ministry is lacking and therefore all the populations that are in the periphery of society were even less prepared and the government is struggling to obtain their adherence. The level of health literacy is low, which means they are not following the guidelines, even ones that are crucial for them to follow, Rosner said. Their level of accessibility to the Health Ministry and their ability to prepare for quarantine is very low.For example, quarantine requires that people have a separate room for anyone infected or potentially infected, which does not exist for many communities and it is unclear what alternatives exist for them.Many in the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and Arab communities have ignored government directives to remain at home and police have been used multiple times to break up large gatherings by members of these communities. Rosner said that there is no strategic planning in healthcare and he compared it to the Defense Ministry, which recently released a five-year strategic plan that consists of its vision and goals. One of the reasons for that is that the budget is so small for the HMOs that they are already so overloaded and all of their financial resources are for the here and now and not for what is needed in five or 10 of 15 years, which could be a pandemic, he said.According to Rosner, every year the HMOs have to appeal to the Finance Ministry for additional funding just to pay for their day-to-day operations.Investing in a 10- or 15-year plan or innovation or infrastructure? It is almost difficult to imagine, he said. Health Ministry Direct-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov promised to study the comptroller report and learn from it. In the meantime, as Ben-David explained, We shut the country down to deal with something that we neglected for decades.

Read the original:
Israels inability to handle coronavirus known before pandemic arrived - The Jerusalem Post

On Monday, outraged Egyptians took to social media to decry those poisoning stray cats and dogs on the streets as well as owners who are abandoning their pets over fears of coronavirus transmission, but, putting the inhumanity and cruelty of these practices aside, does this claim hold?

Well, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), since the beginning of the outbreak, there has been only two instances in Hong Kong, where a dog was infected; however, further investigation showed that there is no evidence that a dog or a cat can transmit COVID-19.

When a 17-year-old Pomeranian in Hong Kong tested weakly positive, the internet exploded in fear. The dog was promptly quarantined, where it showed no symptoms of the infection. Another dog living in the same house was examined over a period of time, and it consistently tested negative, suggesting perhaps that COVID-19 is not transmittable from a canine host. Three days after the dog tested negative and was released from isolation, it died.

Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer for theNorth American Veterinary Community, believes that the exact cause of death can not be determined because there was no autopsy. She made note of the dogs old age and its multiple underlying health conditions.

Another dog in Hong Kong, a German Shepherd this time, tested positive for the COVID-19; however, it is worth mentioning that a mixed-breed dog at the same house tested negative, and that both dogs showed no symptoms of the illness.

Experts all over the world are reassuring the public that humans cannot get the virus from pets; according to a CNN interview with Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, the current data on our hands shows that the coronavirus is not spreading among pets or farm animals.

A recent study tested thousands of cats and dogs for the coronavirus and found no positive results. Therefore, scientists are assuming that the possibility of dogs and cats contracting the illness is extremely low.

Another healthcare concern raises the question of whether a pets fur could be contaminated by the virus, if, for instance, an infected person sneezed on it. Well, since there is a lot we do not know about this virus, experts are recommending that owners should not get in contact with other peoples pets and keep their own household companions away from other pets and owners. A rule of thumb is to apply the rules of social distancing to pets as well.

But should we stop petting our own dogs altogether? Dr. John Williams, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, told CNN that it is uncalled for.

Embrace your pets, Williams advised. Pets play a vital psycho-psychological role for their owners, specially now when everybodys feeling so isolated and alone.

In Egypt, a rumor that stray animals transmit COVID-19 has pushed some owners to abandon their pets and the uninformed to poison strays. Heartwarming images and videos of house cats lost on the streets and dogs looking for their owners were more than enough to spark outrage all over social media.

Sherine Hamdy, Tv Presenter of the show ON SET on ON TV, appeared on an IGTV video scolding owners abandoning their pets and informing the public that based on the current data, we do not have any reason to believe that pets transmit COVID-19. Her video shows how heartbreaking it is to think of all these helpless animals either dying or getting stranded because of a baseless rumor.

To all pet owners out there, choosing to have a pet is a sacred responsibility. Once you allow an animal into your house, you are their shelter, abandoning them on the streets is a death sentence; household animals do not have the skill set to survive on their own after spending a lifetime well fed and cared for.

As for the uninformed poisoning the streets, well, there are animal welfare laws, but unfortunately, these are, in most cases, not applied. It is a responsibility on the rest of us to raise awareness and spread the truth about these lovely animals; either way, if enough of us are voice are outrage, maybe the message will get across.

WE SAID THIS: Speaking of animals, here is a list of shelters in case you know about any pets in need!

Follow this link:
To Those Abandoning Their Pets During the Pandemic, Cats and Dogs DO NOT Transmit the Virus - SCOOP EMPIRE

COVID-19, better known as coronavirus, has trampled its way across Asia, swept through Europe and, to much Americans dismay, touched down in the USA.

As of March 16, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported cases in 49 states with a total of 3,487 infected persons and 68 deaths.

With cases popping up across the country and social media spreading some of the pandemics darkest rumors and conspiracies, its no surprise citizens are stocking up on hand sanitizer and hoarding face masks and toilet paper. But are these measures enough to ward off a community outbreak and stop future transmissions?

To answer this question, its important to first understand who among the population is at risk.

According to the CDC, early information out of China shows that some people are at higher risk for serious illness than others. Those people are older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease. Studies show young, healthy persons may not be as susceptible to COVID-19; an unsettling twist for scientists considering asymptomatic persons may be unknowingly spreading the disease within their communities.

Everyone thinks that theyre going to die if they catch it (COVID-19) but thats just not true, said Dr. Robert Finberg, chair of the Department of Medicine at UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass Medical School in Worcester. Healthy young people are not at high risk. Its the elderly, specifically those over 80, and those with severe immune dysfunctions, who are dying. Its our responsibility as a community to protect them.

People are becoming overly consumed about self-preservation when, in reality, the data shows illness will be mild for the majority who get sick, Finberg said.

UMass Memorials biggest concern is there will not be enough resources should everyone flock to the hospital when they develop symptoms.

We simply dont have enough beds, said Finberg about UMass Memorial Medical Group. We are recommending that people who are not in high-risk groups (young people) not come to the hospital if they think they have the virus.

This may seem like a contradictory statement, coming from a healthcare facility, but its one that is being echoed across the country. According to the CDC, people who are mildly ill should be isolated at home for the duration of their illness and only seek medical attention should symptoms worsen.

So, what should young, non-immunocompromised people do to ward off sickness and prepare for an outbreak?

Wash your hands! Gosh, we are taught this in kindergarten! says Angela Wilson, clinical microbiology instructor at Old Dominion University in Virginia.

Wash your hands and keep them away from your mouth, nose, eyes, and portals of entry. Stay away from those who are infected and dont touch contaminated surfaces, Wilson said.

As face masks continue to fly off the shelf, a global shortage is predicted to only get worse. This is a serious problem for medical personnel who rely on masks to prevent viral spread. However, contrary to popular thought, masks are not recommended as a preventative measure, and the CDC does not advise healthy people to wear them.

If youre healthy, it doesnt really make sense, said Finberg. If you get the virus on your hands and then adjust the mask therefore touching your face you are effectively bypassing the mask and rendering it useless. If youre not washing your hands, the face mask wont help you.

If youre sick, a mask could help contain the spread, but its not something that we are recommending healthy people go out and buy, said Finberg.

Besides handwashing, another way to protect yourself from contracting COVID-19 is to be cognizant of what youre touching.

CDC suggests whenever possible to avoid high-touch surfaces in public places and to practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces within your home. Surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, handles, faucets, sinks and cell phones.

To ensure youre cleaning with the right products, the Center for Biocide Chemistries has produced a list of COVID-19 Fighting Products. This list, which can be found on the CDCs website as well as on the American Chemistry Councils website, includes brands such as Purell, Clorox, Lysol, and Simple Green regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This is a voluntary listing of products that are EPA regulated, said Komal Jain, executive director of the Center for Biocide Chemistries. The EPA sets forth criteria that says these companies must provide data proving that the product destroys a virus that is harder to kill than COVID-19.

According to the American Chemistry Council, viruses can be generally categorized into three groups, according to the structure. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill. All of the fighting products on the COVID-19 Fighting Products list have been proven strong enough to neutralize the virus.

Despite preventative action, the pandemic of COVID-19 has reached our borders and, collectively, health professionals are all saying the same thing communal outbreaks are inevitable.

The number countries are on the CDCs Avoid Non-essential Travel list has risen to about 30, including China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Most recently, the U.S. Department of State advised U.S. travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, avoid cruise ship travel.

Considering the risk of a localized outbreak, the CDC recommends all persons take the below immediate preparedness steps:

Its important to stay calm, said Wilson. The word outbreak tends to breed panic. This is an old virus, but its spreading in a new way. People need to keep things in perspective, keeping in mind that those who are not faring well would also not fare well against the flu virus, but no one is talking about that.

The disease is currently thought to spread via respiratory droplets, warranting precautions against COVID-19 should mimic that of seasonal flu prevention. Consistent handwashing, habitual disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces, and, within reason, avoidance of public gatherings, is the best way to protect yourself from getting sick.

This is not the apocalypse, said Finberg. But it is an unfortunate pandemic that we are going to suffer through. We are asking that people focus on protecting their older relatives, especially those who are infirm. Focus on sanitation, that is whats vital.

Read more here:
Protect and prepare: As coronavirus spreads, health officials urge people to be smart and think about how their actions impact others - Worcester...

Chelsea Jones view as she went in her car to get checked for COVID-19 at a Sutter Health drive-up testing site in South Berkeley. Photo: Chelsea Jones

When Berkeley resident Chelsea Jones developed shortness of breath and a tightness in her chest, she was immediately worried that she had contracted COVID-19. She called her healthcare provider but was met with roadblocks. After filling out a questionnaire, she was told she didnt need to be tested for the novel coronavirus. When she tried to sign up for a video appointment, there were none available.

Things started to look up when Jones received a message through Sutter Healths online portal instructing her to call the COVID-19 triage line. Despite not having traveled overseas, not having any preexisting conditions, and being 32, Jones (for whom we are using a pseudonym to protect her privacy) was told to visit a Sutter Health drive-up testing site in South Berkeley and was given an appointment time. There, a doctor evaluated her through the drivers window, taking her temperature, examining her throat and listening to her heart and lungs.

The doctor said that all my vitals were normal and that my lungs sounded clear, and that this, plus my lack of fever, means he doesnt think I have COVID-19, Jones* said in an email. Given this, he said that he doesnt think it made sense to test me at this time, especially because even if I did have COVID-19, they wouldnt do anything different.

With or without a diagnosis, the doctor told her, the treatment would be the same: stay home.

Jones breathed a sigh of relief and went back to self-isolating in her home.

Joness experience is typical. Most people who want to get tested for COVID-19 cannot, even if they are experiencing symptoms. Due to a shortage of kits around the country, testing is reserved for high-priority patients.

Tweets and emails about the frustration at not being able to get a test abound.

One UC Berkeley student wrote to Berkeleyside and described crowded conditions at University Health Services at the Tang Center on Bancroft Way, where very few tests are being given. He expressed frustration at a lack of information about test availability and not being able to take his university insurance to other healthcare providers to find a test.

Students must start treatment at the Tang Center, but it does not feel safe and the hours have been slashed after the shelter-in-place order, the student wrote.

As of Monday, Berkeley had 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including at least one spread by community contact, but it is likely that the actual number of cases is much higher.

Per CDC guidelines, hospitals are limiting testing to high-priority groups, such as those exhibiting severe symptoms, with preexisting conditions, and those who have been directly exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Healthcare professionals and the elderly are also likely to be more eligible for testing.

The most powerful tool to fight COVID-19 is non-pharmaceutical interventions like social distancing. Matthai Chakko, city of Berkeley spokesman

City officials emphasize that social distancing not testing is the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

We have to understand that testing is not a medicine, said Matthai Chakko, a spokesman for the city of Berkeley, which has its own health department. Chakko warned against socializing in seemingly benign ways, such as playing volleyball with friends or having a picnic. The most powerful tool to fight COVID-19 is non-pharmaceutical interventions like social distancing.

Chakko also warned against overburdening the healthcare system, especially as infections skyrocket in the United States and throughout the world.

What we are concerned about is a surge and overwhelming of our healthcare system, said Chakko. People who have mild illnesses should generally handle them on their own.

That being said, if you are experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms, there are several places where you can go to get tested in Berkeley, often for a fee. The first step is to call your regular healthcare provider, who will evaluate you to determine if you qualify for testing. You might also choose to use this self-triage tool to determine whether it would be prudent to take the next steps. (Scroll down for a list of testing providers.)

There are a few places you cant go to get tested. If you are experiencing symptoms, do not immediately go to Urgent Care, to the emergency room or other public health locations in Berkeley. Do not call the city of Berkeley Department of Public Health expecting a diagnosis.

A week after first reporting her symptoms, Jones is feeling a bit better. Though the tightness in her chest hasnt gone away, she felt well enough to spend Sunday working in her garden, planting broccoli, carrots and chard. She feels much less anxious about her personal situation but is concerned about whats to come, encouraging community members to take preventative measures like social distancing seriously.

Carbon Health is a healthcare provider that offers testing to any California resident for a $167 flat fee you do not have to be a member. To find out if you are eligible for testing, complete the companys Coronavirus Assessment Tool. Eligible patients will then virtually consult with a healthcare professional. If deemed eligible, patients can come to the organizations Berkeley office on Telegraph Avenue. Even this organization is experiencing shortages in test-kits, though, and needs to triage accordingly. A sign on the door of its Berkeley office explains to patients that the clinic has a very limited supply available each day.

LifeLong Medical Care provides health and social services, including to underserved communities such as low-income, elderly or disabled people. LifeLong offers three curbside COVID-19 testing locations in Berkeley and Oakland for LifeLong members who have been pre-screened by staff and deemed eligible. The services are offered at no cost to members, but Lifelong emphasizes that patients should call the center first to limit exposure for its staff.

Kaiser Permanente Kaiser members are advised that if that if they are feeling sick they should contact their regular doctor through Kaisers online platform or complete an e-visit, answering a COVID-19 questionnaire. If you might be eligible for testing, your doctor will refer you to Kaisers drive-up testing services at a site in the East Bay (the locations and hours of operation are not public). You must be a Kaiser member to be tested. If you are tested, you will receive results in four to seven days. You will not be charged for screening or testing if you are a Kaiser member.

Sutter Health installed drive-up testing services this week in Berkeley and Oakland, but the exact locations are not public. If Sutter is your regular healthcare provider, contact your doctor to receive the triage assessment hotline. Your doctor will refer you if you are eligible for testing. Sutter promises to waive testing co-pays in advance of the test but may charge patients afterwards.

John Muir Health provides testing services to members who have been recommended by a John Muir doctor. Once screened, patients will receive an appointment day and time at an urgent care site in Berkeley or one of the providers three other sites.

OneMedical has offices in Berkeley and Oakland that provide COVID-19 testing to members who meet their eligibility requirements. Patients screened through its online service will be assigned a location and time to collect the sample before sending it to a lab.

Tang Medical Center at UC Berkeley reports a very limited testing capacity for students, and even more limited capacity for the public. As a result, the center is prioritizing testing where the result could influence decisions about clinical care or isolation housing. In other words, testing will be considered only if the advice would be anything other than to self-isolate. Stringent testing requirements could leave students who are on the universitys health insurance plan with limited access to testing. However, the Tang Center is currently working on developing its testing capacity. Tang also advises students to get prescreened by calling the Nurse Advice Line at 510-643-7197 before coming in.

Berkeleyside relies on reader support so we can remain free to read for everyone in Berkeley. Donate to help us continue to provide you with reliable, independent reporting.

SUPPORT BERKELEYSIDE

Read more here:
You probably can't get tested for COVID-19 in Berkeley. But here's how it works - Berkeleyside

While stem cell treatment is not a technique to eradicate or fix coronavirus completely, there is proof to help the idea that infected patients, under the treatment, might be more receptive to survive the disease.

That's because, stem cells oppose viral infection due to the presence of specific qualities known as interferon gamma invigorated qualities (ISGs). These are present in stem cells before their separation process happens. Thus, stem cells can be expected to survive even if they are transferred into a patient with confirmed infection of coronavirus, as per Vipul Jain, CEO, Advancells, a research firm focusing on therapeutic applications of regenerative medicine.

Mr Jain said, Even medical science has determined how influenza virus A/H5N1, with a history of causing intense lung injury, was destroyed by human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in a mouse. Going back to basics has only expanded the chances of positive outcome.''

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are those stem cells which can separate into an assortment of cell types. There are several other properties of MSCs which make them suitable for clinical trials, such as they have ability to reduce inflammation thus regulating the immune system back to healthy and an extraordinary capacity to find the damaged tissues in human body. They can even speed up the recovery of those damaged tissues.

For instance, to achieve desired outcome, specialists have used enormous quantities of MSCs with one patient in Baoshan (Yunnan) who got 3 implantations of 50 million umbilical blood cord derived MSCs, while every Beijing patients got 1 mixture of 1 million cells for every kilogram of weight.

According to Advancells observations, MSCs can be acquired from fat, which implies that everybody can use his/her cells, abolishing any contamination or fatalities. In any case, extending them to the amount required for implantation, takes 2 to 3 weeks which is why it is valuable to cryo-conserve (process of preserving cells prone to damage) an individual reservoir of MSCs, that would permit to get to an early and progressively beneficial treatment.

It may be noted that, some 14 trials have been conducted using stem cells to treat coronavirus patients in China. They recommended stem cells may be the option to fix the extreme organ damage brought about by the virus.

MSCs can lessen the overproduction of immunity cells caused as a response to the virus and lower down the levels of inflammatory substances. Thus, bringing the weak framework and the whole body back to its ordinary state,'' Mr. Jain said.

What can be securely said at this stage following this spearheading study, as per Advancells, is that MSCs demonstrate extraordinary potential to turn into an important part of eradicating something so huge coronavirus itself.

Commenting on India scenario, he further said, Sadly, India is slow in terms of awareness, also it is tough to convince ICMR with innovative ideas. China had used it and all patients who have gone for stem cell therapy were recovered. Israel just announced they would start a stem cell pilot for treating coronavirus.

You have reached your limit for free articles this month.

Register to The Hindu for free and get unlimited access for 30 days.

Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.

Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.

A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.

Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.

A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.

We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.

Not convinced? Know why you should pay for news.

*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print. Our plans enhance your reading experience.

Visit link:
Stem cells may give a respite to COVID-19 infected - The Hindu

NEW YORK, March 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Autologous Cell Therapy Market 2020-2024The analyst has been monitoring the global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024 and it is poised to grow by USD 1.97 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 22% during the forecast period. Our reports on global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024 provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04941084/?utm_source=PRN

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by increasing demand for effective drugs for cardiac and degenerative disorders. In addition, limitations in traditional organ transplantations fueling demand for stem cell therapies is anticipated to boost the growth of the global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024 as well.

Market SegmentationThe global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024 is segmented as below:Therapy: Autologous Stem Cell Therapy

Autologus Cellular Immunotherapies

Application: Oncology

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Dermatology

Geographic Segmentation: North America

APAC

Europe

South America

MEA

Key Trends for global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024 growthThis study identifies limitations in traditional organ transplantations fueling demand for stem cell therapies as the prime reasons driving the global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024 growth during the next few years.

Prominent vendors in global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global autologous cell therapy market 2020-2024, including some of the vendors such as Bayer AG, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., FUJIFILM Holdings Corp., Holostem Terapie Avanzate Srl, Osiris Therapeutics Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. and Vericel Corp. .The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04941084/?utm_source=PRN

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

__________________________Contact Clare: clare@reportlinker.comUS: (339)-368-6001Intl: +1 339-368-6001

View original post here:
The Global Autologous Cell Therapy Market is expected to grow by USD 1.97 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 22% during the forecast period...

Hair loss has long been a chief complaint among women, especially as they age. It affects some 30 million women in the United States alone, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and will significantly impact more than 50 percent of women during their lifetime. The most common cause is female-pattern hair loss (FPHL), also known as androgenetic alopecia. It's a chronic and progressive condition that has a genetic component, but it's also caused by factors related to the actions of hormonesovarian cysts, use of high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause, explains Ken L. Williams Jr., D.O., hair restoration specialist, surgeon, founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, California.

Other medical conditions are also to blame for hair loss in women, including thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, anemia, and chronic illnessand the use of certain medications, many of which treat these conditions, can also lead to hair loss in women. "Certain types of autoimmune disorders result in a slightly different and often less dramatic hair loss problem known as alopecia areata, an inflammatory condition that causes hair to come out in clumps or patches," says Dr. Williams Jr.

Luckily, we've come a long way in terms of treating hair loss. After all, 100 years ago, remedies involved things like snake oil and bat and chicken dung. "In more recent years, clinically tested topical and oral products, such as Minoxidil and Propecia, have become available, as well as procedures like PRP (platelet rich plasma therapy), and hair transplants," shares Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and brand president for Philip Kingsley. She finds a holistic, personalized, multi-pronged approach to be the most effective way to treat any form of hair loss. "Since there is no 'one size fits all,' you want to optimize all possible factors that can affect the hair growth cycle, such as general health, nutrition, and stress levels, as well as the condition of your hair and scalp," she says.

At Philip Kingsley, she treats clients with their Trichotherapy Regime ($215, saksfifthavenue.com), which is specifically formulated for women with fine hair and reduced volume. "It tackles hair loss from all possible angles via the scalp with intensive daily Scalp Drops($89, neimanmarcus.com),a daily Stimulating Scalp Tonic ($28, net-a-porter.com), a thickening protein spray, and targeted masks to optimize the scalp environment," Kinglsey explains. "It also contains carefully formulated nutritional supplements to help give hair support from within."

Related: The Best Shampoos to Support Thinning Hair and Fight Female Hair Loss

Over-the-counter solutions won't work for every person suffering from hair loss, but there are a number of medical interventions that can stimulate hair growthanti-androgen medication, for example, is recommended for clients experiencing prolonged hair loss. "These medications help prevent further hair loss and encourage some hair regrowth from dormant hair follicles," says Dr. Williams Jr. There is also stem cell therapy, which has expanded greatly over the last few years in treating medical disease. "As opposed to embryonic cells, the initial stigma of using stem cells has decreased since the discovery of using bone marrow, fat cells, umbilical cord cells, and even skin cells to extract stem cells," he explains.

Surgery is also an option, and there are currently two primary surgical techniques or methods used in performing hair transplantation: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). "With the FUT technique, a section of scalp is excised with a scalpel, the scalp is brought together with sutures or staples and the hair follicles or hair grafts are inserted into tiny slits placed by the surgeon in the balding recipient area," Dr. Williams Jr. says. "The follicles with a single hair are placed in the front rows to define and create a natural hairline and the more dense, natural occurring follicular units are placed by hand in areas where hair density is needed the most."

FUE, a minimally invasive technique that is being hailed as the most significant improvement in hair surgery, uses a minimal depth scoring punch device to loosen the follicle from the surrounding tissues. "With the FUE procedure, a 0.9 or 1.0 millimeter punch minimal depth scoring excision is used in the skin around the upper part of the follicular unit (hair follicles)," he continues. "The hair follicle is then extracted directly from the scalp and manually placed into tiny slits in the balding area similar to the strip method."

There are still several hair restoration solutions left to be discoveredand experts believe most of us will see the concept of hair cloning come to fruition in their lifetime. "Hair cloning would in effect, disassemble a few hair follicles, multiply these cells in the laboratory and then reintroduce them into the scalp to both rejuvenate miniaturizing hair follicles and induce brand new hairs," Dr. Williams Jr. says. "Other groups have tried this but it has been found that when human follicle cells are cultured, they rapidly lose their functionality."

View original post here:
The Forefront of Treating Hair Loss in Women - Yahoo Lifestyle

VANCOUVER, Washington, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTC.QB: CYDY), (CytoDyn or the Company), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab (PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, announced today that the third and fourth coronavirus patients were treated with the Companys investigational new drug, leronlimab. The treatment of the third patient occurred on Friday and the fourth coronavirus patient was treated on Saturday. These patients are under the care of the same leading medical center in the New York City area that treated the first and second patients.

The treatment with leronlimab is being administered under an emergency IND recently granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The treatment with leronlimab is intended to serve as a therapy for patients who experience respiratory complications as a result of contracting SARS-CoV-2 causing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Bruce Patterson, M.D., CEO of IncellDx, a diagnostic partner and advisor to CytoDyn, said, IncellDx has developed specific companion diagnostic tests to determine the efficacy and dosing of leronlimab in these severe cases of COVID-19. We believe that leronlimab acts by enhancing the immune response while mitigating the cytokine storm that leads to morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of CytoDyn said, We are encouraged that the onsite medical team is reporting no safety issues and our team continues to be responsive and supportive in any way we can.

About Coronavirus Disease 2019SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. The origin of SARS-CoV-2 causing the COVID-19 disease is uncertain and it is unclear how easily the virus spreads. COVID-19 is thought to be transmitted person to person through respiratory droplets, commonly resulting from coughing, sneezing and close personal contact. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals. For confirmed COVID-19 infections, symptoms have included fever, cough and shortness of breath. It is believed that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure, and that symptoms in patients have ranged from non-existent to severe and fatal. At this time, there are very limited treatment options for COVID-19.

About Leronlimab (PRO 140) The FDA has granted a Fast Track designation to CytoDyn for two potential indications of leronlimab for deadly diseases. The first as a combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients, and the second is for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Leronlimab is an investigational humanized IgG4 mAb that blocks CCR5, a cellular receptor that is important in HIV infection, tumor metastases, and other diseases including NASH. Leronlimab has successfully completed nine clinical trials in over 800 people, including meeting its primary endpoints in a pivotal Phase 3 trial (leronlimab in combination with standard antiretroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients).

In the setting of HIV/AIDS, leronlimab is a viral-entry inhibitor; it masks CCR5, thus protecting healthy T cells from viral infection by blocking the predominant HIV (R5) subtype from entering those cells. Leronlimab has been the subject of nine clinical trials, each of which demonstrated that leronlimab can significantly reduce or control HIV viral load in humans. The leronlimab antibody appears to be a powerful antiviral agent leading to potentially fewer side effects and less frequent dosing requirements compared with daily drug therapies currently in use.

In the setting of cancer, research has shown that CCR5 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Increased CCR5 expression is an indicator of disease status in several cancers. Published studies have shown that blocking CCR5 can reduce tumor metastases in laboratory and animal models of aggressive breast and prostate cancer. Leronlimab reduced human breast cancer metastasis by more than 98% in a murine xenograft model. CytoDyn is, therefore, conducting a Phase 1b/2 human clinical trial in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and was granted Fast Track designation in May 2019. Additional research is being conducted with leronlimab in the setting of cancer and NASH with plans to conduct additional clinical studies when appropriate.

The CCR5 receptor appears to play a central role in modulating immune cell trafficking to sites of inflammation and may be important in the development of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and other inflammatory conditions. Clinical studies by others further support the concept that blocking CCR5 using a chemical inhibitor can reduce the clinical impact of acute GvHD without significantly affecting the engraftment of transplanted bone marrow stem cells. CytoDyn is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical study with leronlimab to further support the concept that the CCR5 receptor on engrafted cells is critical for the development of acute GvHD and that blocking this receptor from recognizing certain immune signaling molecules is a viable approach to mitigating acute GvHD. The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to leronlimab for the prevention of GvHD.

About CytoDyn CytoDyn is a biotechnology company developing innovative treatments for multiple therapeutic indications based on leronlimab, a novel humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the CCR5 receptor. CCR5 appears to play a key role in the ability of HIV to enter and infect healthy T-cells. The CCR5 receptor also appears to be implicated in tumor metastasis and in immune-mediated illnesses, such as GvHD and NASH. CytoDyn has successfully completed a Phase 3 pivotal trial with leronlimab in combination with standard antiretroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients. CytoDyn plans to seek FDA approval for leronlimab in combination therapy and plans to complete the filing of a Biologics License Application (BLA) in the first quarter of 2020 for that indication. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 3 investigative trial with leronlimab as a once-weekly monotherapy for HIV-infected patients and plans to initiate a registration-directed study of leronlimab monotherapy indication, which if successful, could support a label extension. Clinical results to date from multiple trials have shown that leronlimab can significantly reduce viral burden in people infected with HIV with no reported drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs). Moreover, results from a Phase 2b clinical trial demonstrated that leronlimab monotherapy can prevent viral escape in HIV-infected patients, with some patients on leronlimab monotherapy remaining virally suppressed for more than five years. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 2 trial to evaluate leronlimab for the prevention of GvHD and a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial with leronlimab in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. More information is at http://www.cytodyn.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as believes, hopes, intends, estimates, expects, projects, plans, anticipates and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Companys forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and actual results could vary materially from those contained in or expressed by such statements due to risks and uncertainties including: (i) the sufficiency of the Companys cash position, (ii) the Companys ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations, (iii) the Companys ability to meet its debt obligations, if any, (iv) the Companys ability to enter into partnership or licensing arrangements with third parties, (v) the Companys ability to identify patients to enroll in its clinical trials in a timely fashion, (vi) the Companys ability to achieve approval of a marketable product, (vii) the design, implementation and conduct of the Companys clinical trials, (viii) the results of the Companys clinical trials, including the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, (ix) the market for, and marketability of, any product that is approved, (x) the existence or development of vaccines, drugs, or other treatments that are viewed by medical professionals or patients as superior to the Companys products, (xi) regulatory initiatives, compliance with governmental regulations and the regulatory approval process, (xii) general economic and business conditions, (xiii) changes in foreign, political, and social conditions, and (xiv) various other matters, many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Company urges investors to consider specifically the various risk factors identified in its most recent Form 10-K, and any risk factors or cautionary statements included in any subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release.

CYTODYN CONTACTSInvestors: Dave Gentry, CEO RedChip Companies Office: 1.800.RED.CHIP (733.2447) Cell: 407.491.4498 dave@redchip.com

Go here to read the rest:
Two Additional Coronavirus Patients Treated at Leading New York Hospital with CytoDyn's Leronlimab, Bringing the Total to Four Patients - Associated...

Posted March 21, 2020

Although we may have the gift of physical sight, we are all born blind blind to our pride, our sinfulness, and above all, to our true dignity as beloved children of God.

Andrew Lane, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania shares how Christs miraculous healing of a man born blind invites us to let ourselves be healed by Gods love, that we in turn might help to heal others and the wounded world in which we live.

If youre accessing this podcast on a mobile device and do not wish to download the SoundCloud app, simplyclick on the Listen in browser option. You can also find us onStitcher,Google Play, andiTunes.

Please join in the church's vital mission of communications by offering a gift in whatever amount that you can -- a single gift of $40, $50, $100, or more, or a monthly donation. Your gift will strengthen the fabric of our entire Catholic community.

Make your donation by check:CatholicPhilly.com222 N. 17th StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19103

Or by credit card here:

Read the original:
Letting the Lord heal our blindness - CatholicPhilly.com

Louisiana Techs Institute on Blindness has received grant approval for Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) and Structured Discovery rehabilitation training, a development that brings more depth and opportunity to the Institutes education programs that are specialized for teaching individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Louisiana Tech University is the only university in Louisiana to offer graduate certifications and master programs in Teaching Blind Students (TBS), Orientation and Mobility (O&M), and Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind Counseling and Guidance. These graduate certifications and master programs train individuals to become teachers who help give independence to the blind community. The innovative and effective SDCT and Structured Discovery rehabilitation training programs will offer more opportunities to improve mobility and daily living skills for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Dr. Edward Bell, Director of the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB),expressed that he has seen great success from previous years and through the renewed grant he anticipates exponential growth.

Over the past five years, Louisiana Tech has benefited from this grant and has trained 35 individuals who have gone on to be employed across the country in professional careers, Bell said. With this new grant, we are excited to train as many as 40 new and eager students who are ready to change the world by bringing independence to blind kids and adults nationwide.

The PDRIB, housed in Techs College of Education, prepares highly qualified professionals to educate and rehabilitate individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The PDRIB also conducts thorough research that broadens perspectives, deepens the overall understanding of blindness, and seeks the best methods to increase independence for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

However, there is a nationwide shortage of educators for the blind and visually impaired community.With a 90% illiteracy rate and a 75% unemployment rate nationwide within the blind community, there is a dire need to increase the number of educators trained in teaching students with visual impairments.Job opportunities have grown exponentially for teaching blind or visually impaired students; currently there are four times the number of teaching jobs available than there are the number of qualified educators and instructors to fill those positions.

Through their job assistance placement services and new program offerings, Bell and his team seek to do their part to fill this hiring need and empower educators to change lives within the visually impaired community.

All tuition and fees are covered for the Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) and Structured Discovery rehabilitation training programs. Scholarships are available on a competitive basis for those who pursue these programs. Students who receive scholarship funding must work in the field of rehabilitation for two years for each year of their scholarship support.

To become an educator for the blind and visually impaired community, contact Bell at ebell@latech.edu. For more details on how to make a difference in the national shortage of teachers for the blind and visually impaired, visit pdrib.com.

Read more from the original source:
Institute on Blindness gets grant extension for improved mobility and rehabilitation programs - News at Louisiana Tech

In his 1995 novel, Blindness, author Jose Saramago tells a story about a world in which nearly everyone is stricken with blindness.

The epidemic brings out the worst, and sometimes the best, of humanity. Panic overtakes reason. Self preservation replaces care for others. Order is eclipsed by chaos.

The pandemic weve come to know as COVID-19 is bringing out our best and our worst. Some folks have been fighting over toilet paper. Others are hoarding garages full of hand sanitizer. And a few are even vilifying sick people who unknowingly exposed others to the virus.

There are also stories of care and compassion: neighbors reaching out to neighbors. Employers caring for workers. Teachers serving their students.

Were all authors and characters in this non-fiction thriller, so we get to decide whether or not it will be a story of blindness.

In Saramagos book, one person keeps her sight in the midst of the epidemic: a woman who feigns blindness in order to accompany her husband into a makeshift, and horrific, quarantine. As the story unfolds, she uses her sight to lead a small band of blind followers through the apocalyptic scenes of a lawless city.

Imagine being a person who could see in an epidemic that steals sight. How would you use your vision? Would you aim to preserve your life or serve others? Is it possible to do both?

How you answer those questions will depend a lot on where you look for answers.

This virus, and other large-scale disasters, are physical problems that require physical solutions like hand sanitizer, social distancing and self quarantine.

But our world is more than just physical. Its both physical and spiritual. We are more than just living hosts for opportunistic viruses. Were living souls. And even though were naturally susceptible to self preservation, we also have a strong desire to help others, especially when life is at stake. Its a tension between physical and spiritual reality, and were not the first to feel it.

Martin Luther lived through a plague more brutal than the one in Blindness and more sinister than COVID-19. When the bubonic plague swept through Europe in the 16th century, Luther penned a letter he titled, Whether One May Flee From a Deadly Plague. His answer brings vivid clarity to how we see our physical and spiritual world. I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.

He trusted God and took medicine. He practiced social distancing before it was a term. But he also practiced incarnational proximity, by serving the sick when they needed him. He and his wife even welcomed patients into their home. Not everyone is called to that response, but acknowledging the tension will draw our eyes to the one who turns blindness into sight.

Jesus doesnt distance himself from our viruses or our fears. He takes them on. His incarnation brought Him into close proximity with the sick, the lame and the lepers. His teaching opens our eyes to the reality of trusting God and serving others. That seems more useful than fighting over toilet paper.

Were writing history here. Lets make sure it isnt a story of blindness.

Gregg Madsen is the Lead Pastor of Steadfast Gretna. Reach him at gmadsen@steadfastgretna.org.

Read more from the original source:
Don't let COVID-19 be a story of blindness - Omaha World-Herald

Priest and Martyr (1903-1940)

His life

+ Marian was born in Poznan, Poland. He entered the army at age 17, fighting in the Polish-Bolshevik War.

+ After leaving military service, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1928. After serving as associate pastor in Leszno, Poland, he became prefect of the seminary in Kozmin and Wolsztyn.

In 1933, Marian was assigned to serve the Polish community in Gdansk. The city, whose population were largely German, were sympathetic to the rise of the Nazis and the Polish minority was often subject to harassment and, at times, physical violence.

+ On September 1, 1939, the day the Nazis invaded Poland, Father Marian and other priests were arrested, beaten, and sent to various concentration camps.

+ Blessed Marian Grecki was shot to death in a field outside the Stutthof concentration camp on Good Friday, March 22, 1940. He was beatified with other martyrs in 1999.

Spiritual bonus

On this day we also honor Saint Lea of Rome. A wealthy widow, she supported a community of consecrated virgins under the direction of Saint Marcella, and she later served as the leader of the community. Following her dead in 384, Saint Jerome praised her for her dedication to prayer and her simple way of life.

Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Marian to overcome the torments of his passion, grant that we, who celebrate the day of his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.

Excerpt from:
Saint of the Day: Blessed Marian Grecki - Sunday, March 22 - Aleteia EN

There has been a swift backlash against the "Hoarding Brothers," two brothers from Tennessee who bought nearly 18,000 bottles of hand sanitizer in an effort to profit off fears relating to the coronavirus.

After publicly whining that Amazon and Facebook Marketplace prevented them from selling their stock, the brothers Matt and Noah Colvin have been harshly shamed on social media, and the Tennessee attorney general accused them of "price gouging" during a national emergency before confiscating and redistributing their stash.

And yet, dramatic photos of empty shelves in grocery and retail stores, and signs shaming people for how much toilet paper they've bought, indicate that the Hoarding Brothers may only be an exaggerated version of general American behavior.

Hoarding is so commonplace that President Donald Trump has addressed the issue. "You don't need to buy so much," counseled the president. "Take it easy. Relax."

Such pleas reveal how in times of national emergency, few domestic actors have been the object of more scorn than hoarders and black-market traders, and this has been by government design.

During World War II, when rationing of essential supplies took effect, wartime propaganda inserted morality into the marketplace to ensure the effectiveness of the program. It worked. Hoarders took center stage as the dastardly villains.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed the Office of War Information to explain rationing to the public in a "positive, thought-provoking but nonthreatening manner." Indeed, the OWI's educational campaigns often appealed to citizenship and patriotism in its efforts to explain why hoarding or trading on the black market contributed to inflation, caused shortages and undermined the war effort.

But the OWI also used guilt and shaming techniques against the selfish hoarder and greedy black-market trader.

Films such as the Department of Agriculture's "It's Up to You," portrayed a shopper being browbeaten by her conscience after soliciting a "dishonest butcher" for a black-market steak. Some of these scenarios took place with images of Adolf Hitler, the ultimate beneficiary of ration violations, lurking in the background.

Hollywood studios followed suit. "Letter from Bataan," a "victory short" produced by Paramount Pictures, dramatized the results of hoarding through a letter from a soldier named Johnny to his family. The film begins with Johnny's neighbor bragging that the authorities "didn't catch me" when she managed to amass 28 pounds of canned goods and 200 pounds of sugar.

But the elderly woman slinks off in shame after Johnny describes the death of his buddy, who perished when Johnny's night blindness, a result of "a lack of fresh vegetables," prevented him from accurately shooting down Japanese planes.

In the feature "Since You Went Away," Agnes Moorehead played an acerbic socialite who hoarded sugar and wasted goods as she antagonized the film's resilient protagonist, the lovely Claudette Colbert.

Even Popeye the Sailor got in the action in an animated short titled "Ration fer the Duration." In a dream sequence reminiscent of Jack and the Beanstalk, Popeye fought the giant who not only held captive the golden goose but was also stockpiling sugar, rubber tires, silk stockings, cola, gasoline and empty toothpaste tubes.

Such propaganda did not always work. When the government announced new rations, consumers often invaded the stores and caused new shortages. Black market trading persisted.

Between 1941 and 1947, the OPA issued 259,966 citations, and the agency estimated that in 1943 alone consumers bought $1 billion worth of goods illegally.

But the social pressure remained and appeals to morality proved effective at unifying the country, keeping inflation in check and mitigating shortages during a national emergency.

Complying with rationing, resisting hoarding and avoiding the black market complemented many other activities undertaken by Americans during World War II, including planting victory gardens, participating in salvage campaigns and volunteering their services.

This volunteerism gave Americans pride in knowing that individual actions contributed to the public good, and show that even while the temptation to hoard persists during our current crisis, social and political pressure play an important role in keeping such impulses in check.

Emilie Raymond is an associate professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Original post:
Raymond: US has long history of dealing with the villainous hoarder - Lexington Dispatch