StemCell Therapy

Progressive Genetics is suspending its manual milk recording service from 12:00pm tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, due to the ongoing developments with Covid-19.

Taking measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the agricultural services firm sent out a text to customers of its manual milk recording service earlier today, Monday, March 16, to inform them of the development.

The manual milk recording will be suspended for a two-week period and is expected to resume on Monday, March 30, according to the company.

Speaking to AgriLand about the decision, Progressive Genetics milk recording manager Stephen Connolly explained: We have to be responsible.

We want to protect our staff, our contractors and our farmers. Thats whats most important.

The manager assured that Electronic do it yourself (EDIY) milk recording will continue over the two-week period, adding:

We have a protocol in place to minimise contact with the farmer and if a farmer is under pressure with a [somatic] cell count issue or anything like that we will get EDIY staff to drop bottles out so that the farmer can do samples themselves, if there is a spike in cell count.

Commenting on the suspension, Connolly said: It is unfortunate and regrettable, but you need a bit of common sense. We do need to put best practice in place and then hopefully after the next two weeks we can get back manual milk recording.

We all have to play our part. Its trying to minimise everything as much as possible. We all need to do our bit, whether it be Progressive Genetics or farmers or the public, just to minimise the risk.

The manager reiterated that EDIY services remain in place, adding that strict protocols are being adhered to regarding minimising contact and disinfecting equipment between farms.

If a farmer has a problem, we will get bottles out to them for milk recording and cell count; we wont leave anyone in the lurch.

Were available to be contacted in the office or our supervisors are available to be contacted if farmers have any issues or anything like that well be on call.

Its just unfortunate. Its a challenge but we have to put common sense and peoples safety before anything else, Connolly concluded.

RELATED STORIES

See original here:
Progressive Genetics to suspend manual milk recording due to Covid-19 - Agriland

With the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on everyones mind these days, scientists are working to understand its characteristics. Tung Phan from the University of Pittburgh, for example, found many mutations in the genome of the virus, underlining its genetic diversity and the rapid evolution this pathogen is capable of.

This begs bigger questions, thoughlike what makes viruses so adaptable, and are they really alive?

First, their total number is staggering. It is estimated that there are 10 viruses for every bacterium on Earth. Curtis Suttle from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver compared the number of viruses in the oceans alone to the number of stars in the Universe, which is estimated to be 1023. Viruses outnumber stars by a factor of 10 million. If you lined them all up, that line would be 10 million light years long! To put it on a more conceivable scale, its been estimated that each day, more than 700 million viruses, mainly of marine origin, are deposited from Earths atmosphere onto every square meter of our planets surface.

The diversity of viruses is just as impressive. Some use DNA to pass on genetic information, some use RNA, and some use both during their life cycle. The information carrier can be single-stranded, double-stranded, or double-stranded with some regions being single-stranded. Viruses are like a natural lab seemingly playing around with genetic permutations and combinations. While most viruses are so small that they can only be observed directly with an electron microscope, others, like the giant Mimiviruses, reach the size of bacteria. When I worked in my lab with viruses that kill bacteriacalled bacteriophageswe did not count the actual viruses, but the number of bacteria they killed.

Viruses also have benefits. Most of the genetic information on Earth probably resides within them, and viruses are important for transferring genes between different species, increasing genetic diversity and ultimately enhancing evolution and the adaptation of various organisms to new environmental challenges. When life was first arising on Earth, they may have been critical to the evolution of the first cells. I imagine some kind of early Darwinian pond in which viruses and the first cells swapped genes with each other, nearly unimpeded, to come up with critical new adaptations, enhancing the survival of both under challenging early-Earth conditions.

So, are viruses alive?

It depends where we draw the border between non-life and life, which is likely a continuum toward increasing complexity. Does life require cells? Personally, I think thats a bithow should I say it?cell-centric rather than Earth-centric. In my view, viruses have to be counted as alive. We should recognize them as a fourth domain of life and not dismiss them, if only because they do in fact reproduce outside their own bodies. The parasitic bacteria that cause chlamydia are considered to be living. One hypothesis for the origin of viruses says that they, or at least some of them, could have evolved from bacteria that lost any genes not needed for parasitism. If so, could we say they evolved from living back to non-living?

Another thing I find intriguing: The more common RNA viruseslike the coronavirus behind the current pandemichave typically smaller genome sizes than DNA viruses, apparently because of a higher error-rate when replicating. Too many errors have the effect that natural selection disfavors them. It also limits the maximum size of these viruses.

This seems to support the hypothesis that life originated with an RNA world, and that for very primitive life RNA worked perfectly fine to pass on genetic information. As organisms grew in size, they required larger genomes and needed to transfer more information. At that point DNA outcompeted RNA as a type of informational code. But RNA survives as an essential part of terrestrial biology, as were seeing with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Like this article?SIGN UP for our newsletter

Original post:
There Are More Viruses on Earth Than There Are Stars in the Universe - Air & Space Magazine

A graphic representation of kinesin-2 transporting mRNA-protein complexes along the self-assembling highways of a neuron. mNRA localization signals read by the transport complex are indicated with capital Gs. Credit: S Maurer

It is the first time scientists have revealed how the brain shuttles genetic code within its cells.

Research published today (March 13, 2020) in Science Advances sheds new light on the molecular machinery that enables the shape, growth, and movement of neurons. It is the first time scientists have revealed how the brain shuttles genetic code within its cells, a process believed to be crucial for the formation and storage of long-term memories.

Brain cells, also known as neurons, are complex, specialized cells with long branches. To grow, neurons build proteins at specific locations of a branch so that they can form new protrusions, control the direction they move in and establish connections with other neurons. This process is especially important during brain development, helping different types of neurons find their place in the wider brain tissue. The genetic blueprint to build thousands of different types of useful proteins continuously travel around the cells branches in the form of mRNA, which is genetic information copied from DNA.

In this clip, packages of one to four yellow fluorescence-labeled mRNAs with an intact localization signal travel on microtubules assembled in a micro-chambers which is mounted onto a microscope. Blue mRNAs have mutated localization signal which are not recognized by the transport machinery. Credit: S Maurer and S Baumman

How neurons, the longest type of animal cell, get the correct genetic blueprints to the right place at the right time is an unanswered question. It was thought that they are transported by kinesins, elongated proteins with two feet that walk one foot over another to a target destination, but there was no direct evidence to prove this. Every living cell has a network of self-assembling highways to transport large molecular materials from one side to the other. Different vehicles busily move thousands of different cargoes around, with kinesins being the most common type.

Now scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona have found that a type of kinesin called KIF3A/B can transport mRNAs, using another protein called adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) as an adaptor that binds both the kinesin and the mRNA-cargo. The proteins transport at least two types of mRNA which code for tubulin and actin, two types of proteins that neurons use to build their cellular skeleton. This is essential to shape the cell so that it can form new connections with other neurons.

The findings are of interest because mRNAs play a key role in the storage and formation of memories. Previous studies show that mRNAs coding for the protein beta-actin continuously travel along synapses, the junction between two neurons. When synapses repeatedly receive a signal, the mRNA is used to make beta-actin proteins, which are important for reinforcing synapses and strengthening the attachment between two neurons. Repeatedly stimulating a synapse continuously reinforces the junction, which is thought to be how memories form.

mRNAs travel across relatively vast distances. Here they make their way across a network of microtubule roads 40 micrometers long. A typical neuron is ten times this length. Automated tracking of transported RNAs (lower panel) reveals the transport velocity and number of mRNAs transported in the same package. Credit: S Maurer and S Baumann

Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramon y Cajal first proposed that our brains store memories by strengthening neuronal synapses, changing shape so that brain cells would firmly grasp one another and conduct signals more efficiently, says Sebastian Maurer, researcher at the Centre for Genomic Regulation and lead author of the study. More than a century later we are describing one essential mechanism likely underlying his theories, showing just how ahead of his time he was.

The researchers synthetically recreated cellular self-assembling highways using pure components in a test tube,?revealing the function of individual building blocks and how they work together to transport mRNAs. Purified proteins suspected to be important for neuronal mRNA transport were labeled with different fluorescent dyes and studied with a highly sensitive microscope that can detect the rapid movement of single molecules.?

The researchers found that mRNAs and their adaptor APC switch on the kinesins ignition, activating the protein. Transported mRNAs were found to have a special localization signal that control the efficiency by which different mRNAs are loaded onto the kinesin. Even slight alterations to this signal affected the mRNAs journey to its target destination, showing the sophisticated mechanisms brain cells develop to control the logistics of thousands of different messages. When not carrying cargo, the kinesins shifted to energy saving mode to save fuel until their next job.

Finding the exact vehicle needed to transport mRNA is like looking for a needle in a haystack, which is why most people thought what it was impossible saysSebastian Mauer. But we did it, which would not have been possible without the CRG or the Spanish governments public funding for risky projects.

We will continue to investigate the transport systems that make up a neurons complex logistical network. Understanding the molecular machinery underlying the development of brain cells will be key to combating global challenges like dementia and neurogenerative diseases.

Reference: 13 March 2020, Science Advances.

See the original post here:
How the Brain Shuttles Genetic Code Within Its Cells to Grow and Create Memories - SciTechDaily

Could public health in India be better served by genome testing tailored specifically to the Indian population? The answer could be yes.

Diagnostic techniques have been built and developed for the developed markets so obviously, the cost structure is accordingly, argued Nikhil Jakatdar, chief executive officer (CEO) of GenePath Diagnostics in an interview with the Economic Times. The relevance of this test has been designed for the Caucasian population and so to bring it to India the challenge involves around how you make it relevant to the Indian genome.

This raises an important question. Given the genetic diversity of India, how can genetic testing kits tailored for the use on European genomes be fully optimised for testing within India? Keeping this in mind, to what extent would genetic testing kits built specifically with India in mind benefit Indias medical system?

The first study resulting from the GenomeAsia 100K project has revealed that Asia has at least ten distinct genetic ancestral lines, compared to the single genetic lineage found in northern Europe. Indias population is diverse, with many different ancestral lines in different regions. As such, genetics vary significantly across the country, meaning a single Indian genetic test would be an improvement on current testing methods, but would likely need a more tailored approach.

India represents almost twenty percent of the worlds population and is anticipated by some to become the worlds most populous nation in the coming decade. Despite this only 0.2 percent of fully mapped genomes in global databanks are of Indian origin.

However, despite Indias minuscule representation within global gene databases, numerous genes have been discovered among the Indian population that predispose individuals to certain diseases. A previous example of this was the finding that the Indian population has a high prevalence of a number of genes that are implicated as risk factors for diabetes. Some of these genes were found to be unique to the Indian subcontinent, indicating a unique risk factor to the Indian population. Knowledge of such genetic traits can allow for the healthcare system to adapt and focus on prevention in a way that is more effective among at-risk populations.

Tailoring genome testing to Indias population can allow for the tests to make note of these unique risk factors, granting far better accuracy when assessing an individuals chances of developing a condition in the future.

As Jakatdar notes in the interview, a lot of tests have been built from ground up through pure R&D [research and development] by us here [in India] so that is the huge milestone when you can actually create tests for Indian market built in India by companies in India. Many of these tests were designed for the US market, however, given the capacity for both research and production of new genetic testing products are already in the domestic market. The development of tests specifically for India is not a far-flung eventuality, but a very real possibility in the coming years.

Like Loading...

Related

Read more from the original source:
India-specific genome tests: The future of healthcare - Hyderus Cyf

At age 42, Amy Klein had already suffered three miscarriages and gone through several rounds of IVF. She wasnt done trying to have a baby. But she worried that her age likely meant that her eggs had chromosomal abnormalities that kept her from getting pregnant.

So starting in 2012, the health reporter opted for a controversial addition to the fertility toolkit: She went through four rounds of additional egg retrieval, and had those embryos frozen and genetically analyzed for abnormalities.

The basic in vitro fertilization (IVF) process kick-starts embryo formation by fertilizing an egg, or many, with sperm in a petri dish. Kleins plan was to add an optional and costly method called preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), to look for the most viable embryos in the bunch. Once the embryo reaches a stage called a blastocyst, technicians take a handful of cellssix or seven, aboutto test them for genetic abnormalities that could result in disease or miscarriage.

Read more:
The potential pitfalls of an IVF add-on - Quartz

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced that its Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) reported to the European Union and European Commission during the December 2019 Joint Sectoral Committee meeting of CVMs decision to include veterinary pharmaceuticals as part of the FDA/EU mutual recognition agreement (MRA) for pharmaceutical good manufacturing practice inspections.

The EU has also agreed in principle to include veterinary pharmaceuticals as part of the MRA, FDA said.

An MRA is an agreement between two or more countries to recognize a specific process or procedure of the other country, and this is the first step toward strengthening the use of each others animal drug inspection expertise and resources, FDA explained. The overall goal of the MRA is to produce greater efficiencies for both regulatory systems and provide a more practical means for both FDA and the relevant agencies in EU member states to oversee the large number of facilities that manufacture animal drugs in these locations.

FDA explained that by utilizing each others inspection reports and related information, an MRA can ultimately enable FDA and the EU to avoid duplication of some animal drug inspections and enable regulators to devote more resources to other areas where there may be greater risk.

Over the past year-and-a-half, CVM has made significant contributions toward the progress of the MRA framework to include veterinary medicines, the announcement said. This has included sharing information with the EU about CVMs oversight of animal drug manufacturing in the U.S., observing multiple audits and conducting initial evaluations of regulatory frameworks of EU member states and hosting EU-participated audits of two U.S. veterinary firms in June 2019.

To fully utilize all available informational resources, CVM is also considering FDAs experience and relevant data gathered during prior EU member state assessments of human pharmaceuticals, the agency said.

Going forward, CVM will continue to participate in the audits of the remaining EU member countries and will begin the assessment process for all of the member states that have been audited so far. Once FDA has completed an assessment of an EU member state and determined that its authority is capable, the MRA may be implemented for veterinary medicines with that authority, FDA said.

Likewise, once the EU has completed the assessment of and determined FDA capable for veterinary products, the MRA may be implemented for the U.S. as well.

For more information, see the MRA.

Original post:
Veterinary medicines to be included in FDA/EU agreement - Feedstuffs

The COVID-19 pandemic marks the third novel coronavirus outbreak of the 21st century.

Unlike the viruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome, which were associated with outbreaks limited in scope, SARS-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19burned across the globe in just over two months since the first case was reported last December in Wuhan, China.

Most countries, including the United States, were soon scrambling to manage the public health crisis.

On March 11, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. At the time, the WHO stated that more than 118,000 humancases of coronavirus disease had been reported in 114 countries, along with nearly 4,300 human deaths.

We are deeply concerned by both the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said.

We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that have been found in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, swine, chickens, turkeys, humans, and bats. Several bat coronaviruses have been shown to be zoonotic pathogens, and the human illnesses they cause range in severity from a mild cold to severe pneumonia, with the potential to be fatal.

Its important to recognize that there are a number of coronaviruses that have infected people for decades. These viruses often represent 10 to 20% of all the common colds in people, said Dr. Christopher W. Olsen, professor emeritus of public health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and School of Medicine and Public Health.

For unknown reasons, neither SARS nor MERS were as highly infectious and adapted to human-to-human transmission as the COVID-19 virus.

Linda Saif, PhD, professor and coronavirus researcher, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Olsen spent much of his career studying zoonotic infections and was a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the SARS epidemic. Coronaviruses in general arent becoming more lethal to humans, Dr. Olsen explained. Rather, the viruses that cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 are each novel coronaviruses that humans have no immunity against and are fully susceptible to.

While the SARS and MERS viruses are more lethal than the COVID-19 virus, neither are as infectious as this latest novel coronavirus, according to Linda Saif, PhD, a professor and coronavirus researcher at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The case fatality rates for SARS and MERS have been 10% and 34%, respectively, Dr. Saif explained. The estimated fatality rate for COVID-19 ranges from less than 1% to as high as 3.4%. For unknown reasons, neither SARS nor MERS were as highly infectious and adapted to human-to-human transmission as the COVID-19 virus, she said.

As RNA viruses, with their ability to recombine and acquire mutations, coronaviruses are more likely to evolve and gain the ability for interspecies transmission, similar to influenza viruses, Dr. Saif continued. This is partly why we are seeing coronaviruses more frequently causing these pandemics.

A likely explanation for the origin of the COVID-19 virus is that it is a recombinant coronavirus generated in nature from a bat coronavirus and another coronavirus in an intermediate animal host, Dr. Saif explained. Initially, pangolins were thought to be that host, but viral sequencing indicated that likely isnt the case, she said.

Bats are as diverse as the viruses they carry.

With more than 1,300 bat species found throughout the world, bats are the second-largest order of mammals after rodents.

Researchers have studied bat behavior, feeding habits, migratory patterns, and echolocation. Yet few early studies looked at bats as hosts of viruses beyond the rabies virus.

That changed with the 2003 SARS epidemic, which was ultimately linked to bats. Since then, more than 120 viruses have been identified in various bat species, including several novel coronaviruses, as well as the Ebola, Hendra, and Nipah viruses.

Today, bats are increasingly considered one of the most important animal reservoirs for emerging infectious viruses.

The ways a bat might have directly infected a human with COVID-19 include a human eating the bat, in soup, for example, or coming into contact with bat feces or secretions at the exotic animal markets common in China, Dr. Saif said. Likewise, bat feces are sometimes sold in stores for use in Chinese traditional medicine, she said, adding that fruit or other foods contaminated with bat feces or urine might be a foodborne route of transmission to humans.

Veterinary epidemiologist Dr. Donald Noah isnt surprised that a novel zoonotic virus is responsible for the current pandemic.

Even when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, we're not going to be able to wash our hands of this, literally or figuratively.

Dr. Donald Noah, veterinary epidemologist and former deputy assistant secretary for biodefense against weapons of mass destruction with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Something like this was going to happen, and it will happen again, said Dr. Noah, an associate professor of public health and epidemiology at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Prior to his academic career, Dr. Noah held senior leadership positions with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he served as deputy assistant secretary for biodefense against weapons of mass destruction. As acting deputy assistant secretary of defense, Dr. Noah was part of the government response to the 2009-10 pandemic of swine flu, or H1N1 influenza, that killed some 12,000 Americans.

Even when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, were not going to be able to wash our hands of this, literally or figuratively, Dr. Noah said. The ongoing expansion of human populations into wildlife habitats, he explained, means more frequent human-animal interactions that make exposure to a new zoonotic disease more likely.

Dr. Noah is hesitant to use the phrase silver lining about an ongoing pandemic, but he hopes Congress will be compelled to be proactive about preventing these public health crises before they begin by enacting 'one health' legislation.

Zoonotic pathogens dont perceive species differences. They dont perceive geographic boundaries, he said. The problem is disease surveillance and response systems have been traditionally siloed between the human, veterinary, and environmental communities.

Federal agencies have no choice but to merge their efforts against these pathogens. The alternative is to continue to accept unchecked disease emergence.

Theres not a lot we can do about disease emergence, Dr. Noah concluded, but what we can do is be better prepared to respond quicker, more effectively, and in a more collaborative way that minimizes the loss of life and economic hardships.

Dr. Saif said veterinarians should be involved in all aspects of zoonotic infections, in concert with a one-health approach.

Veterinarians need to be part of identifying the animal reservoirs and the intermediate hosts for these diseases, she said. This may focus on wildlife medicine, such as understanding the habitats and diversity of bat species as reservoirs for coronaviruses and multiple other viruses.

Additionally, studies of bat physiology and immunity are critical to understand how bats can harbor so many viruses without disease, according to Dr. Saif.

A similar emphasis is needed for avian species that transmit avian influenza and for swine as influenza hosts, she explained. The question of what factors influence interspecies transmission remains unknown.

Also, more veterinarians should be working with other researchers to develop the most appropriate animal models for these diseases since we cannot test antivirals or vaccines without an animal model that reproduces the human disease and responses.

Regarding whether a pet can be infected with COVID-19 virus by a sick owner, Dr. Saif noted that researchers will want to investigate that. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated that there is no evidence that pets become sick and that there is also no evidence to suggest that pet dogs or cats can be a source of infection with SARS-CoV-2, including spreading COVID-19 to people. The AVMA has developed a series of FAQs that includes this topic.

Veterinarians should be at the forefront of this research to investigate if a new disease can cause a reverse zoonosis and transmit from humans to pets and livestock, she said

See the rest here:
Can veterinarians prevent the next pandemic? | American Veterinary Medical Association - American Veterinary Medical Association

Two members of the AVMA House of Delegates were elected in February to the Associations Board of Directors. Georgia delegate Seyedmehdi Mobini and Washington state delegate Sandy Willis ran uncontested races to replace the directors of districts IV and XI when their terms end this summer.

Dr. Mobini of Macon, Georgia, will replace Dr. Jos Arce as the board representative for Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico, whereas Dr. Willis of Mukilteo, Washington, will succeed Dr. Rena Carlson as the representative for Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

The board directorselect officially begin their six-year-term on the Board this August during the AVMA Convention in San Diego.

Dr. Mobini is a professor of veterinary science at Fort Valley State University in the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology. He is a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists.

After receiving his veterinary degree in 1977 from Pahlavi University School of Veterinary Medicine in Iran, Dr. Mobini completed a mixed animal externship in Ireland and a residency in bovine surgery and medicine at Auburn University. Later, he worked on a dairy farm and served on the faculty at Pahlavi and Tuskegee universities. Additionally, he has served as a relief veterinarian in small animal emergency clinics and several mixed animal practices in Alabama as well as a small ruminant extension veterinarian for the state of Georgia.

Dr. Mobini has dedicated time throughout his professional career to organized veterinary medicine, including as a member of the Georgia VMA board of directors and the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners. He has represented the Georgia VMA in the AVMA House of Delegates since 2015, first as an alternate delegate, then as a delegate.

Dr. Mobini was the AASRP representative to the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee from 2001-04 and a member of the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee from 2011-17. He currently serves on the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.

As a proud veterinarian for 42 years, with a diverse education and practical knowledge of the veterinary profession in the United States and other parts of the world, I have been engaged in organized veterinary medicine for many years and have a passion for the veterinary profession and the AVMA, Dr. Mobini said in his candidate statement. I am confident that I possess the tools and experience to successfully work with our District IV team to fulfill the responsibility of this position.

Dr. Willis is a small animal internist for Phoenix Lab, a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Mukilteo, Washington, that was recently acquired by Zoetis Inc. She received her veterinary degree in 1984 from the University of California-Davis and later became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

In addition to Phoenix Lab, Dr. Willis has worked for Antech Diagnostics and Hills Pet Nutrition and as medical director for Seattle Humane.

Along with her role as Washington state delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates, Dr. Willis chairs the House Advisory Committee. As HAC chair, she serves on the Strategy Management Committee and Budget and Financial Review Committee and as a voting member of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation board of directors.

Dr. Willis has been a site visitor for the AVMA Council on Education since 2013. She served on the AVMA Governance Performance Review Committee, chaired both the task force and working group on volunteer engagement, and organized the Communications Section of the AVMA Convention from 2008-14. She is a past president of the Washington State VMA and is active in the Puget Sound VMA.

My leadership style is collaborative. I feel it is important that people are heard on an issue, Dr. Willis said in her candidate statement. Moving forward, however, a leader needs to mold varied opinions toward a definitive decision and direction. By putting myself in positions over the last five years that require me to think on my feet, listen, and choose a direction, I have fine-tuned my leadership skills. I have learned how to communicate effectively and, most importantly, listen.

Link:
Mobini, Willis elected to AVMA Board | American Veterinary Medical Association - American Veterinary Medical Association

Janet Sanford speaks about her experience as the second woman admitted to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

The California Aggie spoke to Janet Sanford about her experience for womens history month. Our HERstory series will continue throughout the month of March.

In a class of 45 students, Janet Sanford was the second of two women to be admitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. The school opened its doors to women in the 1950s, and Sanford graduated in 1957. Her admittance paved the way for future women to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Since the 50s, women have even surpassed the number of men in the industry, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. At UC Davis, the veterinary school class of 2023 is overwhelmingly made up of women.

We did something right since its 80% women now, Sanford said.

Horse girl at heart

Growing up in South Wales, Sanford discovered her love of animals at a young age.

I started wanting to be a veterinarian when I was six, Sanford said. Then I met my first pony and got into horses.

Her work with horses inspired her to pursue study in veterinary medicine when she finally settled in California with her family.

I had started out wanting to take care of horses, Sanford said. One of the good things when I got [to Davis], because I was horse-crazy, was a very nice man in the horse barn. I had a horse given to me to take care of.

Despite being initially inspired by her love of horses, Sanfords ultimate career path involved smaller animals. She recalled a time she cared for a dog who had been bitten by a snake.

I married my husband who liked small animals, and I have loved small animals ever since, Sanford said.

Today, Sanford still loves looking after animals, both big and small.

My passion for horses has gone on to this day, Sanford said. I have just lost my saddle horse, but Im 87 years old [so] that was probably a good thing.

Differences in Davis

In addition to the increase in womens attendance, UC Davis today is different in other ways, according to Sanford.

To see the changes, its incredible, Sanford said. The size of the campus, now its amazing and has so many good programs.

When Sanford attended Davis, the campus was significantly smaller and more rural; she even lived in a farmhouse for part of her time at school.

There was only North and South Hall when I was there, Sanford said.

Fighting stereotypes

As a young woman, when sharing her future goals with others, Sanford often received negative feedback.

My local vet who took care of my animals said, Oh thats ridiculous, they dont take women, Sanford said. I said, Well its time they did.

When applying, Sanford faced opposition from within the veterinary school.

The first dean, he had old-fashioned ideas, but I was pretty determined, Sanford said. I had some very nice mentors that convinced the board that I should be there.

As a minority in her class, Sanford often felt that she was not taken seriously.

One male came up to me and said Youre taking up a mans place, youre never going to practice, Sanford said. But I held my own and didnt back down.

The other students at Davis, however, were more accepting.

I have enjoyed every minute of school and I never felt resented, Sanford said. I tried to pull my weight and do the best I could.

Written by: Sophie Dewees features@theaggie.org

The rest is here:
The second woman at UC Davis Veterinary School shares her path to education - The Aggie

Since last weeks column on COVID-19, the American Veterinary Medical Association has updated its advice to veterinarians.

The AVMA is now recommending that pets living in a household with a COVID-19-infected individual should not be brought to a veterinary office without first contacting the state public health veterinarian or other public health official.

Veterinarians are being asked to contact these officials for advice before accepting appointments from pets that have been exposed to COVID-19 positive individuals.

The AVMA frequently asked questions document includes the following advice for households with COVID-19 infections and pets that may require veterinary care:

If you are sick with COVID-19 you need to be careful to avoid transmitting it to other people. Applying some commonsense measures can help prevent that from happening.

Stay at home except to get medical care and call ahead before visiting your doctor.

Minimize your contact with other people, including separating yourself from other members of your household who are not ill; using a different bathroom, if available; and wearing a facemask when you are around other people or pets and before you enter a healthcare providers office

Out of an abundance of caution, the AVMA recommends you take the same common-sense approach when interacting with your pets or other animals in your home, including service animals. You should tell your physician and public health official that you have a pet or other animal in your home

If you are sick with COVID-19 or another communicable disease, you should stay at home, minimizing contact with other people, until you are well. Accordingly, if this is a non-urgent appointment that needs to be scheduled for your pet or service animal (e.g., annual wellness examination, routine vaccination, elective surgery), you should wait to schedule that appointment until your physician and your public health official believe you no longer present a risk of transmitting your infection to other people you may encounter during such a visit, including owners of pets or other animals and veterinary clinic staff.

If you are sick with COVID-19, and you believe your pet or service animal is ill, please seek assistance from your veterinarian and public health official to determine how to best ensure your pet or service animal can be appropriately cared for while minimizing risks of transmitting COVID-19 to other people

Talk with the public health official working with the person who is ill with COVID-19. Your public health official can then consult with a public health veterinarian who, in turn, can provide assistance to your veterinarian to ensure your pet or service animal is appropriately evaluated.

If the state public health veterinarian recommends that you take your pet or service animal to your veterinarian for an examination, please call your veterinarian in advance to let them know that you are bringing in a sick animal that has been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Advance notice will support the veterinary clinic/hospital in preparing for the proper admittance of that animal, including the preparation of an isolation area as needed. Do not take the animal to a veterinary clinic until you have consulted with the public health official and your veterinarian.

There is still no evidence that pets can transmit the virus to people or that they can become sick after exposure. However, this is an emerging disease and there is a lot that is still unknown.

The AVMA is posting frequent updates to its coronavirus information page at AVMA.org.

Please check there for the latest information related to COVID-19 and veterinary medicine.

The most up to date and reliable site for all COVID-19 information is coronavirus.gov. Please be careful believing other information sources.

Michael J. Watts, D.V.M., is a companion animal general practitioner and the owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care in Amissville.

See the article here:
ASK DR. WATTS: If you have COVID-19, don't bring your pet to the vet without health expert's OK - starexponent.com

I was wondering if you or anyone else may know, the email began. Of course the questions that followed were about the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Are dogs and cats susceptible? Could the pet food she usually buys, which is manufactured in Italy, transport the disease? It occurred to me, she wrote, that if someone at the dry food plant went to work, and didnt know that they were infected with the virus, and they sneezed or coughed, perhaps the food could infect the pets who eat it? An interesting question. Later that evening, when I arrived at a social gathering, COVID-19 continued to be the topic of conversation. Rumors flying. Wasnt there a case in Chilmark? (No, just healthy people self-quarantining after travel to Italy.) Wasnt there an infected dog in Hong Kong? Well, sort of but dont freak out, at least not any more than you already have.

Lets talk about COVID-19 and pets. First well define our terms. The organism in question is a brand-new variant of coronavirus, technically called SARS-CoV-2. For simplicity we will just call it coronavirus today, remembering that there are many other variants of coronavirus in the world unrelated to the current situation. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is COVID-19 (short for coronavirus disease 2019).

The pet food question breaks down into two parts. The first part is whether coronavirus could be physically transported via bags of pet food from a factory in Italy to a home in West Tisbury. The bigger question is whether (and how long) coronavirus can survive on objects. Think of all the packages containing all the products made in China, or Italy, or the State of Washington, being shipped around the world every day. Preliminary studies suggest the virus may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days, depending on conditions such as type of surface, and environmental temperature or humidity. According to the World Health Organization, The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low, and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, traveled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature, is also low.

The second part of the question is whether Pandy, the puppy, can be infected and/or transmit the virus to his owner. Here is the evidence to date at the time this column went to press. A single dog in China was placed in quarantine after its owner was confirmed sick with COVID-19. According to Hong Kongs Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the dog was repeatedly tested over five days. Three of these tests showed a weak positive, indicating a low level of infection with the virus. The dog has shown no signs of illness.

Initially the specialists stated, The implications of a weak positive test result are unclear, and its unknown if the presence of the virus is due to infection, environmental contamination, cross-reactivity, or even potential issues with the test itself. Later statements from experts from the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong, and the World Organization for Animal Health unanimously agreed that these results suggest that the dog has a low level of infection, and it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission. In other words, the owner infected the dog, not the other way round. And the dog did not get sick.

So could that dog then pass the virus on to another person? The current thinking is that dogs are not likely to be important epidemiologically in the spread of COVID-19. There is no evidence at this time of pet-to-person transmission. If dogs had been an important source of transmission to humans, there would almost certainly already be significant evidence of this in mainland China. Sadly, in some parts of the world, people are actually abandoning or euthanizing their pets despite these facts.

Of course, Pandy the puppy could theoretically carry virus on his fur, just like any object can, be it a doorknob or a bannister. This could occur only from direct contact with an infected human, such as a sick person petting Pandy with a contaminated hand. Thus, current recommendations are that if you are sick, avoid contact with your pets. No petting and snuggling. No doggie kisses. No face licks. No sharing food. If you can, let someone else who isnt sick take care of the pets. If you have to interact with Pandy while ill, use the same precautions against passing on the virus as you would with humans, such as wearing masks and washing hands.

There is also misinformation being spread about veterinary vaccines. The canine coronavirus vaccine and the bovine coronavirus vaccine are for completely different variants than SARS-CoV-19, and are species-specific. Neither vaccine will protect any animal dog, cow, or human against COVID-19, no matter what you read on Facebook. Neither are these vaccines safe to use in people.

I was wondering if you or anyone else may know, my client wrote. We are all wondering that these days. This is still an emerging disease, with rapidly evolving information. As far as veterinary advice, I advise that you simply follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. If you are sick, minimize contact with your pets as well as with people. In the unlikely case your pet develops an unexplained illness after contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19, keep your pet and yourself at home. Contact your local public health official and your veterinarian. Talk to them before actually bringing your pet into a veterinary clinic, so they can advise you as to how to handle the situation based on the most current knowledge. Include your pets in any emergency preparedness planning, including having a two-week supply of their food and essential medications on hand. Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other. Take care of your pets. And wash your hands.

Here is the original post:
Visiting Vet: COVID-19 and our pets - Martha's Vineyard Times

In a sobering indicator of how quickly the COVID-19 coronavirus is spreading in Wisconsin, the number of confirmed cases in the state jumped to 19 on Friday, up from just a single case less than a week ago.

The new cases extended the outbreak to Racine, Milwaukee and Sheboygan counties, state health officials said Friday.

Five people have been diagnosed with the disease in Dane County, including one who has since recovered and tested negative, according to the state Department of Health Services. Six cases have been confirmed in Fond du Lac County, three in Sheboygan County, two in Milwaukee County and one each in Racine, Pierce and Waukesha counties.

Details about two of the Dane County cases were revealed Friday through other sources.

In one, UW-Madison said a School of Veterinary Medicine employee tested positive for the virus after having recently traveled internationally. The person was on campus at some point before going into isolation, UW-Madison Police spokesman Marc Lovicott said.

Citing patient privacy, Lovicott declined to say if the employee had contact with the public at UW Veterinary Hospital or with veterinary medicine students but said all people in close contact with the employee are being contacted by Public Health Madison and Dane County.

Non-essential employees in the veterinary medicine building were told to go home Friday and self-monitor for symptoms.

View original post here:
Number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases in Wisconsin has reached 19 - Madison.com

The news is flooded with information about coronavirus and how to prevent further transmission. By now, weve all heard about the 20-second handwashing rule singing Happy Birthday twice while washing your hands does the trick and dont forget to wash between the fingers and the backs of the hands.

But the information about pets is unclear. The consensus is that dogs (and cats) cannot get COVID-19; the dog who tested positive in China was probably around a person who was shedding large quantities of the virus, according to the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois. (The dog later tested negative.)

Related: Can Dogs Get the Coronavirus?

Scientists and veterinarians have stated that pets cannot get sick with COVID-19 and infect humans; no animal of any kind in the United States has been reported as carrying the disease.

However, dogs may carry germs on their fur from humans, so its advised to wash your hands after petting your dog (or any dog), especially if other people have stopped to touch your pup.

Despite the need to socially isolate or even self-quarantine, we still need to take care of our dogs.

Here are some tips to best take care of everyone in your household.

While youre stocking up on TP and Ramen noodles, dont forget your dogs food and medicine. If you can, buy enough food for at least two weeks (or more). Get the highest quality food you can afford to keep your dogs immune system in tip-top shape. If you cook your dogs food, make a large batch and freeze in portions.

Fill or refill any prescription drugs your dog needs, as well as stocking up any supplements, vitamins, as well as any heartworm and/or flea and tick preventative. For small-dog people (or people with large bathtubs), replenish dog shampoo, as keeping the fur clean will help keep everyone healthy.

Related: When Disaster Strikes, Here Is What Should Be On Your Dog Emergency Checklist

Make sure your emergency plan is in place in case you get sick. If youre hospitalized or stranded during traveling, you need to be able to reliably contact a dog sitter. If you are sick and self-quarantining at home, your dog will still need to be walked. Find someone who you can trust with your dogs life, and ask them about their last-minute availability. Write up a list of essential information, and store it in an accessible place.

Nows a good time to get veterinarian records of your dogs vaccination history and make sure they have wearable identification, such as an ID tag or identification collars. You will need these records for services like boarding, daycare and dog walking services. Identification will be critical in the event that your dog slips her collar. If you havent already microchipped your dog, do so on the next vet visit.

People who are sick with COVID-19 can contaminate their dog by sneezing or coughing and if someone else touches that dog, the virus can be transmitted. So, if you come down with the virus, you must quarantine yourself and your dogs. However, the CDC recommends that you restrict contact with your dogs. This includes petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If this is impossible, wear a face mask and wash your hands thoroughly before and after contact.

Related: Here Are the Most Common Travel Injuries Your Dog May Encounter in the Car and How Much Theyll Cost You

More here:
How to Protect Your Dog During the Coronavirus Pandemic - This Dog's Life

The meeting started with the yowling feedback echoes of open microphones dialed into a teleconference line.

Can I have folks mute their phones or their computers or both? Greg Stasinos, the emergency preparedness official with the state Health Department who was moderating the meeting, asked the epidemic-response experts on the line.

This is one of the difficulties of coordinating the Governors Expert Emergency Epidemic Response Committee at a time when a disease so infectious is sweeping the state that it makes meeting in person a liability. The 20 members of the committee, which advises Gov. Jared Polis about how best to respond to an epidemic, on Monday held their first formal meeting since COVID-19 hit the state.

The latest from the coronavirus outbreak in Colorado:

>> FULL COVERAGE

They called in from wherever they happened to be hunkered down. Dogs sometimes barked in the background when members spoke. Cellphone ringtones occasionally interrupted.

But the logistics of the meeting were also the least of the challenges facing the committee, which is made up of experts in health care, public health, veterinary medicine, public safety, emergency management, communications and other fields. Though the committee normally meets every three months and has offered help on public health crises in the past, it has been more than a century since the United States has seen an epidemic this serious.

What were embarking on here, one member said during the meeting, is evidence-informed guesswork.

But in they plunged.

First came an update on the new coronavirus spread in Colorado 160 confirmed cases at the time of the meeting. We do expect the numbers to go up significantly from here as time goes on, state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy told the group. Then came discussion about how far the state should go to stop it.

The committee was formed in 2000, to advise the governor on the public health response to acts of bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, and epidemics caused by novel and highly fatal infectious agents, according to its authorizing statute. It offered guidance during the H1N1 flu epidemic in 2009, the Ebola scare and, most recently, the states Hepatitis A outbreak. It participates in trainings and helps make changes to the states pandemic response plan.

But its never faced a situation like COVID-19, where the state is exercising public health powers it hasnt used since the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.

The first option discussed at Mondays meeting was also the least controversial: closing bars and restaurants statewide to in-person dining, as well as closing casinos, gyms and theaters. About an hour after the committee meeting ended Monday afternoon with agreement to recommend the action, Polis announced an order to do just that.

But then the conversation wandered into more difficult areas.

There was discussion about the need to draw up a list of essential and non-essential businesses a prelude to a possible order requiring all businesses deemed non-essential in the state to close. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, banks and health care providers made the cut as essential. But how do you classify a hardware store? Or should you not even draw up a list but instead make rules to limit crowding in any business?

As we outline what is essential, it does begin to get really quite complicated, said Dr. John Douglas, the executive director of the Tri-County Health Department.

Polis, who listened in on most of the call, asked the committee to keep that discussion going. He did not rule out additional orders shutting down businesses to stop the spread of the virus.

I think you need to do more work on (it) and bring back in a few days when we figure out whats in and whats out, Polis said.

There was talk about the need for more medical supplies, especially the protective equipment that health care workers must wear when treating a COVID-19 patient.

There was an idea floated to require hospitals to cancel all elective surgeries which a representative from the Colorado Hospital Association said could be financially devastating to rural hospitals that are currently seeing little COVID-19 activity in their areas.

There was debate about how best to house the partners and roommates of medical workers who show symptoms of the disease and need to be isolated In hotels? Empty recreation centers? How do you keep the medical workforce from getting sidelined by the same thing thats affecting their patients?

The health care system is starting to get stressed right now, Dr. Daniel Pastula, a member of the state Board of Health, said. So I think we should take this absolutely very seriously, and anything we can do to slow this down thats reasonable I think we should consider.

By the end of the meeting, there was an understanding that they would need to meet again probably soon.

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, the executive director of the state Health Department, closed the meeting by thanking the committee members.

Hang in there, she said, and take care of yourselves.

This reporting is made possible by our members. You can directly support independent watchdog journalism in Colorado for as little as $5 a month. Start here: coloradosun.com/join

See the original post:
A special committee advises the governor on how to respond to an epidemic. They've never faced a test like this. - The Colorado Sun

The Incredible Dr. Pol has been running on National Geographic Wilds network now for sixteen seasons. Its almost exhausting watching Dr. Jan Pol do his rounds on farms, calfing cows or castrating bulls or horses.

Hes tireless, with everyone on staff scrambling to keep up with him.

Born in the Netherlands, Dr. Pol attended Utrecht University Veterinary College in the 1970s and studied hard to become an animal practitioner.

I was the youngest of six children on a dairy farm in the Netherlands during World War II, told NatGeo Wild in 2016. When I was 12 years old, the local veterinarian had me come along to my brothers farm to help with some small sows that were farrowing.

That was the beginning of my interest in veterinary practice and I subsequently worked toward pursuing a veterinary medicine degree.

In 1954, my youngest sister moved to Ontario, Canada, and I became an exchange student in Michigan during 1961 to 1962, which allowed my parents to visit my sister in Canada. When I began studies . . . , we were told that it would be impossible to practice in that country. As it turned out, of a dozen classmates, I am one of two that actually went into veterinary practice.

The father of three looked back on his impressive career in his book, Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow and sounds pretty amazed at how well its gone for him. He has an optimistic mindset thats informed how he approaches his practice.

I have spent my whole life being with animals, as a vet and as an owner. Until they start inventing new animals, I think I can say there isnt a type of animal I havent looked in the eyes and wondered how it was feeling.

My wife, Diane, and I once estimated that Ive handled more than a half-million patients, without one of them ever complaining about me!

Dr. Jan Pol is 77 years old and began his work as a vet almost forty years ago, starting his own practice in 1981. Before that, he had been working with another established vet for ten years.

When I opened my practice outside the small town of Weidman, Michigan which is about twelve miles from the larger and better known Mount Pleasant in 1981, it was about 80 percent large animals, farm animals, and about 20 percent pets. It was mostly family dairy farms when we started, with several pig farmers. . .

The vets practice has changed over the years to reflect the greater number of pets and small animals in the area.

Now my practice is about 60 percent small animals, he said. . . . That difference doesnt matter at all to me; I treat all animals with the same concern.

I love animals; believe me, I dont remember a day of my life that I havent loved animals. My whole family has always been comfortable with all kinds of animals.

Read more: The Incredible Dr. Pol: The Scariest Thing Thats Happened In Taping the Show

See the original post:
'The Incredible Dr. Pol': How Old is He and How Many Years Has He Been a Vet? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Motoo Kobayashi,1,2,* Yuki Okada,1,2,* Hiromichi Ueno,1 Takayuki Mizorogi,1 Kenji Ohara,1 Koh Kawasumi,1 Kohei Suruga,3 Kazunari Kadokura,3 Yasuyuki Ohnishi,2 Toshiro Arai1,2

1Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8601, Japan; 2One Health Co. Ltd, Tokyo 157-0066, Japan; 3Food Function R&D Division, International Operation Department, Kibun Foods Inc., Tokyo 206-0812, Japan

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Toshiro AraiLaboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8601, JapanTel +81 422 31 4151Fax +81 422 31 7841Email tarai@nvlu.ac.jp

Background: Obesity has become a serious public health problem all over the world, and prevalence of obesity has increased in cats. Obesity is characterized by continuous low-grade inflammation based on oxidative stress by excessively produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Supplementation with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds is very effective to relieve the obesity condition. A plant extract mixture containing Rhus verniciflua and some other herbs, Rv-PEM01-99, shows anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with Rv-PEM01-99 as an anti-inflammatory compound in healthy and obese cats.Materials and Methods: Ten healthy mix breed cats and four obesity disease cats were used. The healthy cats were randomly divided into control and test groups. Anti-inflammatory compound, Rv-PEM01-99, in which quercetin derivative is the main component, was supplemented to the healthy test group and the obesity disease cats at the dose of 100 120 mg/kg/day (2.5 3.0 mg/kg/day as quercetin) for 4 weeks. Metabolites, hormones and enzymes were measured before and after the compound supplementation.Results: The anti-inflammatory compound supplementation decreased serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations as inflammatory markers in both healthy and obesity disease cats. In obesity disease cats, plasma total cholesterol concentrations and AST and ALT activities decreased significantly after the compound supplementation.Conclusion: Quercetin derivative seems to have strong anti-inflammatory activities. In the healthy cats, anti-inflammatory compound supplementation decreased plasma NEFA and SAA concentrations. In the obesity disease cats, the compound supplementation may have alleviated obesity disease by relieving inflammation and improvement of lipid metabolism in livers.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory compound, cat, obesity, quercetin, SAA

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

Read the rest here:
Effects of Supplementation with Anti-Inflammatory Compound Extracted f | VMRR - Dove Medical Press

OBIHIRO, HOKKAIDO Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, NTT Docomo Inc. and others plan to develop a system to monitor dairy cows using fifth-generation, or 5G, wireless networks, aiming for commercialization in 2022.

The system will use vast amounts of photographic data to detect early signs of illness and estrus in dairy cows. The aim is to ease the heavy burdens on dairy farmers blamed in part for the difficulties they face finding successors.

Also on the development team is Tsuchiya Manufacturing Co., a dairy farming equipment maker based in Sapporo.

The system will feed photographic data from cameras in cattle sheds to artificial intelligence for learning and analysis, informing farmers promptly via smartphone if there are signs of illness or estrus in cows.

The developers aim to create a sophisticated low-cost system by using 5G services, which will be available this spring, to process vast amounts of photographic data that cant be handled by current 4G technology.

A demonstration test, underway at the university in Obihiro, will study whether the behavior of cows, such as how often they eat feed, can be captured in detail.

If cows are not milked every day they can suffer inflammation of the udder, which can lead to death. Farmers are kept busy keeping a constant eye on cattle sheds, paying attention to the condition of cows and trying not to miss opportunities for artificial insemination.

Current management systems with each cow wearing a sensor need large investments in software and other items, preventing them from being widely adopted.

Katsuya Kida, a professor at the university, said that if farmers can readily adopt the 5G-based system, their burdens can be eased.

It will also help lower the hurdles for starting dairy farming, he said.

Continue reading here:
Docomo and Hokkaido university plan 5G-based system to monitor cows - The Japan Times

University of Minnesota researchers are looking at cardiac conditions in racehorses to point toward a solution for both horses and humans.

Researchers are examining the effects of irregular heartbeats in racehorses, which are more frequently affected than average horses. Many racehorses die suddenly on the racetrack for unexpected reasons that may be due to irregular heartbeats, known broadly as arrhythmias. Researchers said they can examine which arrhythmias cause disease and which ones are specific to horses or humans.

The prevalence in horses is not common, but in racehorses with poor performances, its about 2%, said Sian Durward-Akhurst, lead author of the study and a University graduate student. Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of irregular heartbeat in horses.

The researchers examined the genes of 534 horses and found greater variations of disease in them, she said. Researchers are analyzing the disease-causing variants identified in both horses and humans.

Its something thats really interesting because why is it causing disease in humans, but not in horses? Durward-Akhurst said.

They will test these variants in more horses this summer and aim to produce a research paper by next year. Earlier this month, the researchers presented their recent findings at the Santa Anita racetrack in Los Angeles, California.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common abnormal heart rhythm in humans, in cattle, in dogs. Its actually an interesting disease because of its impact on multiple species, including us, said Molly McCue, the principal investigator of the research and the associate dean of research in the Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine.

The irregular heartbeats of atrial fibrillation are sometimes referred to as a quivering heart due to how they affect the heartbeats pace. According to a veterinarian from the Paulick Report, the irregular heartbeat sounds like shoes in a dryer.

Racehorses are bred to have higher functioning cardiovascular systems than other horses, McCue said. Because of this, racehorses are expected to have a higher capacity for exercise.

They have this really frequent occurrence of arrhythmia, she said. The issue now is to figure out why. Then researchers can determine if arrhythmias are contributing to why racehorses are dying on the race track and if they can prevent it.

James Mickelson, a University professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, has studied the genetics of diseases in various animals for more than 20 years.

The condition of atrial fibrillation and heart arrhythmias is very likely responsible for sudden death of horses on race tracks, just like similar conditions in people, in human athletes, are responsible for sudden fatal deaths as well, he said.

If researchers can find a new mutation in horse genetics, they can use that to see if the same gene is responsible for any of the human cases, Mickelson said.

Lynn Hovda, chief commission veterinarian for the Minnesota Racing Commission, said horses dont have heart attacks like humans do because of their different cardiovascular systems.

[Horses] have cardiac rhythm disturbances, most often atrial fibrillation, that may result in sudden death. I say may as we dont really know yet, she said.

Original post:
Researchers study irregular horse heartbeats, hoping to find a cure - Minnesota Daily

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 11-20% of veterans are diagnosed with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in a given year. More and more veterans seek treatment for PTSD in order to learn how to address their symptoms, improve positive thinking, learn ways to cope when symptoms arise and treat problems related to trauma such as depression and anxiety or misuse of alcohol or drugs.

We are fortunate to be living in a time when America "supports the troops" and encourages the identification and treatment of invisible wounds. In addition to increased efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat PTSD, there are many veteran non-profit organizations who step in to help.

The treatments and opportunities are far-reaching and varied, including offering psychotherapy or meditation classes.

And then there are non-profit organizations that have learned that a little adrenaline can go a long way. Here are six of them:

Based in Colorado, Motorcycle Relief Project invites veterans on guided motorcycle adventure trips to decompress and learn some tools for managing stress. The organization creates a positive environment for veterans to connect with each other find some relief from everyday stresses by touring "some of the most scenic paved roads in the country as well as some amazing jeep trails and forest rides."

These five-day trips are structured and led by professional staff and other veterans in order to allow participants to begin to re-frame their trauma with new narrative recovery through serving others:

"We know that you might not always be able to accept it when someone thanks you for your service, or that you don't always feel worthy of someone's gratitude or admiration just because you wore the uniform. We get that. But we also recognize that serving in the military or as a first responder is hard work. In difficult circumstances. With high demands and intense pressure. And for many of you, serving came at a great personal cost. So no matter how you may feel about your motives for serving or what you did or didn't do while you were over there, the fact remains that you served. And that alone is enough for us to want to serve you back."

Go to the Motorcycle Relief Project website to check out their program and apply.

Force Blue unites the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of marine conservation for the betterment of both. By providing "mission therapy" for former combat divers, Force Blue retrains and retools veterans before "deploying" them on missions of conservation and restoration.

In the keenly unique organization founded by Marine Recon vet Rudy Reyes, Force Blue teams work alongside marine scientists to complete tasks such as surveying the health and disease of sea turtles and plant 100 yards of coral to help restore Florida's Coral Reef.

To be considered for Force Blue, or to help sponsor a veteran, check out their website.

Operation Jump 22 was founded in 2017 by a team of Marines and a licensed skydiver to create an exciting event for veterans and help combat veteran suicide. Operation Jump 22 helped raise funds for Merging Vets and Players, an organization that matches up combat veterans and former professional athletes to help both transition to civilian life by connecting with their community.

On Nov. 2, 2019, Operation Jump 22 invited participants to help raise funds and then jump 13,000 feet out of an airplane. The event Go Jump Oceanside brought together veterans, first responders and the community to bring awareness to the alarming veteran suicide rates and get a massive burst of adrenaline.

That positive surge of adrenaline, mixed with community support, can help reprogram the fight-or-flight response centers in the brain that are activated and imprinted during stressful situations like combat or sexual assault.

A recent study found that PTSD scores dropped 87 percent after just six weeks of therapeutic horsemanship sessions. Conducted by Rebecca Johnson, a professor in the University Of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine and the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing in the Sinclair School of Nursing, the study introduced veterans suffering from PTSD to basic horsemanship skills.

The veterans, working under strict ethical guidelines for the welfare of the horses, learned to groom and interact with horses before riding and caring for them.

War Horses for Veterans brings combat veterans together for multi-day all-expenses-paid programs that introduce the basics of horsemanship, including grooming and riding. Veterans can return as often as they want as long as they bring another veteran with them.

You may recognize the name from America's Got Talent, where the contemporary movement company combined physics-defying acrobatics with mind-blowing sets, much like cirque-du-soleil.

In 2016, the company created The Veterans Project to give vets the Diavolo experience, from choreography to training to performing. The mission of The Veterans Project is to utilize Diavolo's unique style of movement as a tool to help restore veterans' physical and mental strengths through workshops and public performances all around the country.

From Los Angeles to Florida to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Diavolo offers its experience free of charge to veterans, helping them challenge their boundaries and tap into their own creative healing.

"I was diagnosed with PTSD when I returned from Iraq, and there was a moment early on in rehearsal with DIAVOLO when I realized it was the first time I have truly felt at peace since returning from war, and I've been back a decade." Chris Loverro, United States Army

Warrior Surf enhances the physical and mental well-being of veterans and their families through surf therapy. By combining surfing and yoga with wellness and community, Warrior Surf channels the healing energy of the ocean to help break the cycle of trauma and help the body work through residual feelings of comfort and distress.

Surf therapy helps improve emotional regulation and frustration management while creating non-battlefield bonds and community connection. They hold several 12-week programs and 5-day travel camps throughout the year. In addition to surfing, vets who participate in the program work on wellness with individual coaching sessions as well as yoga to increase mobility and improve mindfulness.

Veterans interested in participating can register on the Warrior Surf Foundation website.

Outward Bound for Veterans offers wilderness expeditions that purposefully scaffold wartime experiences (carrying heavy packs, sore shoulders, rubbery legs, sleeping out, strange noises, sweat, dirt, frustration and anger) in order to help veterans return home after wartime service.

By offering challenges that are physically and emotionally demanding without the life-threatening experience of combat Outward Bound gives veterans the opportunity to re-experience those conditions in a different context, which helps them transition back to civilian life. As a result, veterans successfully draw on the benefit of connecting with each other within the healing environment of nature.

Interested veterans can search for expeditions, which include everything from backpacking to whitewater rafting to rock climbing right here.

From Your Site Articles

Related Articles Around the Web

View original post here:
7 thrilling non-profits that help veterans treat PTSD - We Are The Mighty

Friday, March 13, 2020 5:48 p.m. EDT by Thomson Reuters

By Linda Carroll

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

Between 2002 and 2017, the number of people at high risk for vision loss - seniors, people with diabetes and those with eye disorders - rose from 65 million to 93 million, but 40% of adults said they hadn't been getting yearly eye exams, researchers report in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Nearly 1 in 10 also said they couldn't afford eyeglasses.

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

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

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

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

Among all adults, the proportion who said they couldn't afford eyeglasses rose from 8.3% in 2002 to 8.7% in 2017.

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

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

While U.S. seniors are covered by Medicare, the original version of the federal health insurance program for those 65 and older doesn't cover regular eye exams unless the patient has diabetes or is at high risk for glaucoma.

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

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

"This study is not examining a question about improving eye conditions, but instead focuses on access and affordability of eyeglasses," said Swenor, who wasn't involved in the study. "Currently most medical insurance and Medicare do not cover the costs of eyeglasses, which this data support as an important gap for the American population."

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

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

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

SOURCE: https://bit.ly/33o0OFm JAMA Ophthalmology, online March 12, 2020.

Visit link:
Number of U.S. adults at risk for blindness on the rise - WHTC News