StemCell Therapy

Familialhypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most clinically relevant monogenicdisorders contributing to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovasculardisease (ASCVD). The prevalence of FH was estimated to be 1 in 200 to 1 in 250 individualsin studies in which genetic testing was conducted on large community populationsamples.1 However, the disease often remains undetected and thusuntreated, with only 10% of individuals with FH receiving adequate diagnosisand treatment.2

Notingthe recent accumulation of studies on FH, the authors of a Nature ReviewsCardiology article sought tosummarize the key elements of a model of care for the condition that canbe adapted as new evidence emerges.1 Selected points are highlightedbelow.

Screening and detection. A combination of selective, opportunistic (eg, genetic screening of blood donors), systematic, and universal screening approaches is recommended to improve the detection of FH. Universal screening of children and childparent (reverse) cascade testing is potentially a highly effective method for detecting patients with FH at a young age, before they develop ASCVD32 [and] might be particularly relevant to communities with gene founder effects, noted the review authors. All children with FH should ideally be detected from the age of 5 years or earlier if homozygous FH (hoFH) is suspected.

Diagnosis. In the United States, elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and a family history of FH are the main phenotypic criteria for FH diagnosis in children. Patients with hoFH, heterozygous FH (heFH), and polygenic hypercholesterolemia may also present with overlapping LDL-C levels, posing a challenge for the development of a standardized diagnostic tool for FH.

Genetic testing. Aninternational expert panel recently endorsed genetic testing in the care ofpatients with FH as it would [allow] a definitive diagnosis, improve[e] riskstratification, address the increasing need for more potent therapies, improve[e]adherence to treatments, and increase[e] the precision and cost- effectivenessof cascade testing.1,3 However, genetic testing remains underuseddue to issues such as cost, low access to genetic counseling, and lack ofclinician knowledge in this area.

Clinical risk assessment.Cumulative lifetime exposure to elevated LDL-C is the key factor driving ASCVDrisk in asymptomatic patients with FH, further underscoring the need for timelydiagnosis and risk stratification. In addition to phenotypic and geneticfactors, imaging of subclinical atherosclerosis, might be the most usefulclinical tool for assessing risk in FH.1 For example, imaging ofcoronary artery calcium can be used to predict coronary events in asymptomaticmiddle-aged patients with FH taking statins, and computed tomography coronaryangiography can be used to assess plaque burden and to intensify therapy.

Care of adults.Emerging evidence continues to support aggressive cholesterol-lowering therapyand lifestyle management in patients with FH from as young as 8 years tomaximally mitigate the cumulative cholesterol burden of risk. The review authorsemphasize the importance of patient-centered care and shared decision making,although health literacy is a challenge that may need to be addressed with somepatients.

Whilethere is insufficient evidence to develop strictly defined LDL-C treatmenttargets, current evidence-based recommendations stipulate that in adultpatients with FH, statin therapy and diet should initially be targeted toachieve a 50% reduction in LDL-cholesterol level and an LDL-cholesterol level<1.8 mmol/l (70 mg/dl) or <2.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl) for primaryprevention, and <1.4 mmol/l (55 mg/dl) or <1.8 mmol/l (70 mg/dl) forsecondary prevention or for patients at very high risk.1

The addition of ezetimibe is indicated in patients who do not achieve the recommended LDL-C levels with statins alone. The use of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor as a third-line therapy is recommended in those patients or in patients who are intolerant to statins. The addition of a PCSK9 inhibitor in patients with heFH can further reduce LDL-C levels by approximately 60% and lead to recommended treatment targets in more than 80% of patients. However, these agents should not be used during pregnancy, as they cross the placenta and their impact on fetal development has not yet been determined.

Care of children. Extensive evidence supports the treatment of FH starting in childhood, as [m]odest and sustained reductions in LDL- cholesterol levels from early life can have a major effect on reducing mortality associated with ASCVD. Initial therapy is based on lifestyle management in early childhood, with the addition of statins by age 10 years in children with HeFH and upon diagnosis in children with hoFH. Ongoing research is investigating the efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors in children with heFH or hoFH.4,5

Radical therapies and novel approaches. Lipoprotein apheresis may be required insevere cases of FH, including in pregnant women, and liver transplantationremains the only curative therapy for patients with severe hoFH.

In ongoing studies, an array of novel treatment approaches are being examined, including functional LDL receptor gene transfer therapy in patients with hoFH and targeted RNA-based therapies to lower elevated lipoporotein(a) levels.6-8

Reviewauthors also emphasized the importance of clinical registries, patient supportgroups and networks, and the need for structured research programs that areunderpinned by actionable dissemination and implementation strategies,research skills and training among service providers, and sustainable fundingmodels. They stated that a major challenge is translating new evidence intohealth policy and routine care. Systems approaches for supporting healthorganizations and providers in addressing these gaps in care and serviceprovision are essential.

We spoke with Seth Shay Martin, MD, MHS, associate professor ofmedicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore,Maryland, and director of the Advanced Lipid Disorders Program of the Ciccarone Center atJohns Hopkins.

Cardiology Advisor: What are examplesof the latest advances in knowledge or practice pertaining to FH?

Dr Martin: A big advance inpractice has been the introduction of PCSK9 inhibitors. When added to statinsand ezetimibe, this class of medications can lower LDL-C by 60% sometimes the reduction can be lower, but inmy experience the effect is commonly approximately 60%. This leads to patientscoming back to clinic really satisfied.

Cardiology Advisor: What is the optimalapproach for the treatment of these patients, and what are some of the toptreatment challenges?

Dr Martin: The optimal approach is to follow the 2018 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology multi-society guidelines, which recommend a combination approach of lifestyle modification with first-line maximal statin therapy, followed by the addition of ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors. The LDL-C threshold at which additional therapy should be considered is70 mg/dL in high-riskpatients with ASCVD and FH. In patients with isolated FH (termed severe hypercholesterolemia by the guidelines,based on LDL-C levels 190 mg/dL), the LDL-C threshold is 100 mg/dL.

Cardiology Advisor: What are otherrelevant treatment implications for clinicians who treat these patients?

Dr Martin: One of the joys intaking care of a patient with FH is taking care of a family. It is a geneticdisorder with a 50% chance of being passed from parent to child. It is key toperform cascade testing to identify other members of the family; family visitsto the clinic can be beneficial for all.

Cardiology Advisor: What are remaining needs in thisarea?

Dr Martin: There is a great need for increasing awareness and diagnosis rates for FH. This is what our center is working to do as partners of the FH Foundation and as a CASCADE FH Registry site.

References

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Reviewing Evidence on the Screening, Diagnosis, and Care of Familial Hypercholesterolemia - The Cardiology Advisor

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Flagship Pioneering, a life sciences innovation enterprise, announced the launch of Repertoire Immune Medicines, a clinical-stage biotechnology company tapping the curative powers of our immune system to prevent, treat and cure cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases.

Repertoire Immune Medicines was formed by combining two Flagship companies the innovative and proprietary immune decoding platforms of Cogen Immune Medicines and the immuno-oncology platforms of Torque Therapeutics to create a fully integrated Immune Medicines company. At the helm is Chief Executive Officer John Cox, who most recently led the spin-off of Bioverativ (BIIV) from Biogen (BIIB), and its growth and successful acquisition by Sanofi (SNY).

During the last 4 years, these two Flagship Pioneering originated companies each advanced novel and complementary platforms protected by over 30 patent families. Through their combination, Repertoire Immune Medicines now has the unique capability to decipher human subject-derived antigen-T cell receptor (TCR) codes from healthy or diseased tissues in the context of the major MHC (HLA) types. These complexes dictate T cell activation or exhaustion, and their immunological codes can be used to design and clinically test a multitude of unprecedented therapeutic products based on precedented and specific mechanisms of T cell killing of antigen presenting tumor cells or infected cells.

Repertoire is pioneering a new class of therapies based on high throughput, high content interrogation of the intrinsic ability of T cells to prevent, or cure diseases, said Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Flagship Pioneering and Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Repertoire Immune Medicine. He continued, our products will be designed to leverage the highly evolved, potent and clinically-validated mechanism of the natural immune synapse to provide immune security to patients. With these ambitious goals in mind, we are pleased to have a proven leader, John Cox, as CEO to realize our shared vision to dramatically improve outcomes for those in need or at risk.

Repertoire has developed a suite of DECODE technologies that allows in-depth characterization of the immune synapse with unprecedented precision. The company leverages its functional response technologies to thoroughly understand the presentation of antigens in disease, de-orphan T cell receptors in the context of single-cell phenotypes, and curate vast amounts of data to enable deep-learning computational prediction models. By coupling single cell technologies with cellular and acellular antigen libraries, the company decodes CD4+ and CD8+ TCR-antigen specificity across selected T cell subsets from patients and from healthy individuals.

I am pleased to work with the Flagship Pioneering team to integrate these two pioneering companies into a fully formed immune medicines business, said John Cox, Chief Executive Officer of Repertoire Immune Medicines. Advancing rationally designed immune medicines into the clinic and eventually to commercialization offers tremendous potential for patients and long-term value for our shareholders.

Three DECODE discovery technologies are at the core of the companys immune synapse deciphering platform:

Decoding immune synapses relevant to a particular disease allows Repertoire to deploy the molecular codes to rationally design new immune medicines as disease-fighting TCRs and disease-associated antigens in its therapeutic products.

Repertoires DEPLOY technologies form a product-based platform that includes:

Repertoire is currently engaged in its first dose escalation safety trial with an autologous T cell product TRQ15-01, which leverages its proprietary PRIME platform to prepare the patients T cells and its proprietary TETHER platform to link an IL-15 nanogel immune modulator to the T cells.

The journey for Repertoire Immune Medicines commenced when Flagship Labs scientists contemplated how to rationally and efficiently direct the power of our T cells for therapeutics and cures. One origination group, led by David Berry, M.D., Ph.D., General Partner of Flagship Pioneering, focused on systematically unlocking antigen specific immune control. In parallel, another Flagship origination group, led by Doug Cole, M.D., General Partner of Flagship Pioneering, and based on the cytokine binding work from Prof. Darrell Irvines lab at MIT, focused on using autologous T cells to direct potent immune modulators to the tumor microenvironment.

To date, the combined companies raised over $220M to create and develop the DECODE discovery platform and DEPLOY product platform, and to initiate its first clinical trial of PRIME & TETHER T cells in cancer. Repertoires rapid advancement reflects its creative, dedicated and diverse team of over 120 professionals possessing expertise in immunology, experimental medicine, physics, computational science, material sciences, process engineering, bioengineering, protein design and applied mathematics.

ABOUT REPERTOIRE IMMUNE MEDICINESRepertoire Immune Medicines, a Flagship Pioneering company, is a clinical stage biotechnology company working to unleash the remarkable power of the human immune system to prevent, treat or cure cancer, autoimmune conditions and infectious diseases. The company is founded on the premise that the repertoire of TCR-antigen codes that drive health and disease represents one of the greatest opportunities for innovation in medical science. The company harnesses and deploys the intrinsic ability of T cells to prevent and cure disease. Repertoire scientists created and developed a suite of technologies for its DECODE discovery and DEPLOY product platforms that allow in-depth characterization of the immune synapse and the ability to rationally design, and clinically develop, multi-clonal immune medicines. The company is currently conducting experimental medicine clinical trials using autologous T cells primed against cancer antigens and tethered to IL-15. To learn more about Repertoire Immune Medicine, please visit our website: http://www.repertoire.com.

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERINGFlagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life sciences companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has applied a unique hypothesis-driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $30 billion in aggregate value. To date, Flagship is backed by more than $3.3 billion of aggregate capital commitments, of which over $1.7 billion has been deployed toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $10 billion of follow-on investments from other institutions. The current Flagship ecosystem comprises 37 transformative companies, including: Axcella Health (NADAQ: AXLA), Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI), Evelo Biosciences (NASDAQ: EVLO), Foghorn Therapeutics, Indigo Agriculture, Kaleido Biosciences (NASDAQ: KLDO), Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RUBY), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), and Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SYRS). To learn more about Flagship Pioneering, please visit our website: http://www.FlagshipPioneering.com.

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Flagship Pioneering Announces the Launch of Repertoire Immune Medicines with Industry Veteran John G. Cox as Chief Executive Officer - Business Wire

DetailsCategory: DNA RNA and CellsPublished on Friday, 13 March 2020 09:52Hits: 132

HAIFA, Israel I March 12, 2020 I HAIFA, Israel, March 12, 2020 - Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PSTI), a leading regenerative medicine company developing a platform of novel biological products, today announced it has signed a collaborative agreement with the BIH Center for Regenerative Therapy (BCRT) and the Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT) at Charite University of Medicine Berlin to expand its existing framework and research agreement and conduct a joint project evaluating the therapeutic effects of Pluristems patented PLX cell product candidates for potential treatment of the respiratory and inflammatory complications associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

PLX cells are allogeneic mesenchymal-like cells that have immunomodulatory properties that induce the immune systems natural regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages, and thus may prevent or reverse the dangerous overactivation of the immune system. Accordingly, PLX cells may potentially reduce the fatal symptoms of COVID-19 induced pneumonia and pneumonitis. Previous pre-clinical findings of PLX cells revealed significant therapeutic effects in animal studies of pulmonary hypertension, lung fibrosis, acute kidney injury and gastrointestinal injury which are potential complications of the severe COVID-19 infection. Clinical data using PLX cells demonstrated the strong immunomodulatory potency of PLX cells in patients post major surgery. Taken together, PLX cells potential capabilities with the safety profile observed from clinical trials involving hundreds of patients worldwide potentially position them as a therapy for mitigating the tissue-damaging effects of COVID-19.

The collaboration with Charit researchers will allow us to expedite our program to potentially enable the use of PLX cells to treat patients infected with COVID-19 that have respiratory and immunological complications. The fact that PLX is available off-the-shelf, combined with our ability to manufacture large scale quantities, is a key advantage in case a large number of patients may need respiratory support. The primary target is to prevent the deterioration of patients towards Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis. We intend to start the joint collaboration immediately, with an aim to bringing much needed treatment to a rapidly expanding global health threat, stated Yaky Yanay, Pluristem President and CEO.

Prof. Hans-Dieter Volk, Director of the BCRT at Charite University Medicine Berlin, commented, Through our long-term collaboration with Pluristem, we have a thorough understanding of PLX cells and their mechanism of action. Charites unique knowledge, which includes research and clinical expertise in the immunopathogenesis of viral infections and critically ill patients, provides us an accelerated framework in which we believe PLX cells can be explored as a potential therapy for patients infected with COVID-19.

About BIH Center for Regenerative TherapiesThe BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) is a cooperative translational research institution of the Charit University Hospital in Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH). The mission of the BCRT is to develop a translational platform for Regenerative Therapies from bench-to-bedside. The clinical platforms -- Immune, muskuloskleletal, and cardiovascular system -- are cross-linked by cross-field clinical fields (cachexia/sarcopenia, genetic diseases) and technology and translation support platforms. There are extended experiences in clinical trials with cell therapy, including phase 1-3 trials with PLX cells.

About Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT)The Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies is a spin-off of the BCRT focusing on translation of cell and gene therapies in the major research fields of regenerative medicine and cancer. It consists of four research fields (endogenous regeneration, tissue engineering, anti-cancer immunotherapy, and rare diseases) and three technology platforms (manufacturing, product characteristics and biomarker, and clinical development and regulatory affairs.

About Pluristem TherapeuticsPluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading regenerative medicine company developing novel placenta-based cell therapy product candidates. The Company has reported robust clinical trial data in multiple indications for its patented PLX cell product candidates and is currently conducting late stage clinical trials in several indications. PLX cell product candidates are believed to release a range of therapeutic proteins in response to inflammation, ischemia, muscle trauma, hematological disorders and radiation damage. The cells are grown using the Company's proprietary three-dimensional expansion technology and can be administered to patients off-the-shelf, without tissue matching. Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position; a Company-owned and operated GMP-certified manufacturing and research facility; strategic relationships with major research institutions; and a seasoned management team.

SOURCE: Pluristem Therapeutics

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Pluristem and Charit University of Medicine Berlin Join Forces Targeting Potential Treatment for Respiratory and Inflammatory Intratissue...

By Stephanie Chow | March 12, 2020

Three Faculty of Medicine researchers Drs. Zachary Laksman, Bruce Verchere and Tim Kieffer have collectively received more than $1.6M from the Stem Cell Network (SCN) to advance their work in stem cell and regenerative medicine research.

The SCN investment, which will advance research collaborations across the country, aims to translate stem cell-based therapies from bench to bedside for the benefit of all Canadians.

Dr. Zachary Laksman, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

UBC Collaborators: Dr. Glen Tibbits, Dr. Liam Brunham, Dr. Francis Lynn, Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani

Project: Pipeline Towards Stem Cell Driven Personalized Medicine for Atrial Fibrillation

Dr. Bruce Verchere, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

UBC Collaborators: Dr. Francis Lynn, Dr. Megan Levings, Tim Kieffer, Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos, Dr. Brad Hoffman

Project: Genetic Manipulation of hES-derived Insulin-producing Cells to Improve Graft Outcomes

Dr. Tim Kieffer, Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences

UBC Collaborators: Dr. James Piret, Dr. Megan Levings

Project: A Bioprinted Insulin-Producing Device for Diabetes

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Faculty members receive funding to advance stem cell research - UBC Faculty - UBC Faculty of Medicine

Newswise Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicines Institute of Human Virology (IHV), which is part of the Global Virus Network (GVN), predict that COVID-19 will follow a seasonal pattern similar to other respiratory viruses like seasonal flu. They base this on weather modeling data in countries where the virus has taken hold and spread within the community.

In a new paper published on the open-data site SSRN, the researchers found that all cities experiencing significant outbreaks of COVID-19 have very similar winter climates with an average temperature of 41 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit, an average humidity level of 47 to 79 percent with a narrow east-west distribution along the same 30-50 N latitude. This includes Wuhan, China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Northern Italy, Seattle, and Northern California. It could also spell increasing trouble for the Mid-Atlantic States and -- as temperatures rise -- New England.

Based on what we have documented so far, it appears that the virus has a harder time spreading between people in warmer, tropical climates, said study leader Mohammad Sajadi, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Insitute of Human Virology at the UMSOM and a member of GVN. That suggests once average temperatures rise above 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) and higher, the virus may be harder to transmit, but this is still a hypothesis that requires more data.

The team based its predictions on weather data from the previous few months as well as typical patterns from last year to hypothesize on community spread within the next few weeks. Using 2019 temperature data for March and April, risk of community spread could be predicted to occur in areas just north of the current areas at risk, said study co-author Augustin Vintzileos, PhD, Assistant Research Scientist in the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. He plans to do further modeling of current weather data to help provide more certainty to the predictions.

Researchers from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Shiraz, Iran, and Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran also participated in this study.

I think what is important is this is a testable hypotheses, said study co-author Anthony Amoroso, MD, UMSOM Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief of Infectious Diseases who is also Chief of Clinical Care Programs for IHV. And if it holds true, could be very helpful for health system preparation, surveillance and containment efforts.

In areas where the virus has already spread within the community, like Wuhan, Milan, and Tokyo, temperatures did not dip below the freezing mark, the researchers pointed out. They also based their predictions on a study of the novel coronavirus in the laboratory, which found that a temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity level of 20 to 80 percent is most conducive to the viruss survival.

Through this extensive research, it has been determined that weather modeling could potentially explain the spread of COVID-19, making it possible to predict the regions that are most likely to be at higher risk of significant community spread in the near future, said Robert C. Gallo Co-founder & Director, Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Co-Founder and Chairman of the International Scientific Leadership Board of the GVN. Dr. Gallo is also The Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine and Director, Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a GVN Center of Excellence. In addition to climate variables, there are multiple factors to be considered when dealing with a pandemic, such as human population densities, human factors, viral genetic evolution and pathogenesis. This work illustrates how collaborative research can contribute to understanding, mitigating and preventing infectious threats.

Dr. Gallo is a co-founder of the Global Virus Network, which is a consortium of leading virologists spanning 53 Centers of Excellence and nine Affiliates in 32 countries worldwide, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines and treatments to combat them. The Network has been meeting regularly to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic sharing their expertise in all viral areas and their research findings.

This study raises some provocative theories that, if correct, could be useful in helping to direct public health strategies, said UMSOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, who is also University Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. Perhaps we should be conducting heightened surveillance and expending more resources into areas that currently have the climate that is conducive to community virus spread.

###

About the Global Virus Network (GVN)

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense and first research response to emerging, exiting and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health, working in close coordination with established national and international institutions. It is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 53 Centers of Excellence and nine Affiliates in 32 countries worldwide, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit http://www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter @GlobalVirusNews

About the Institute of Human Virology

Formed in 1996 as a partnership between the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, the University System of Maryland and the University of Maryland Medical System, IHV is an institute of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is home to some of the most globally-recognized and world-renowned experts in all of virology. The IHV combines the disciplines of basic research, epidemiology and clinical research in a concerted effort to speed the discovery of diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide variety of chronic and deadly viral and immune disorders - most notably, HIV the virus that causes AIDS. For more information, http://www.ihv.org and follow us on Twitter @IHVmaryland.

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Now in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States.It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 45 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs; and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicineand the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished two-time winner of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1.2 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically based care for nearly 2 million patients each year. The School of Medicine has more than $540 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total population of nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, including 2,500 student trainees, residents, and fellows. The combined School of Medicine and Medical System (University of Maryland Medicine) has an annual budget of nearly $6 billion and an economic impact more than $15 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine faculty, which ranks as the 8thhighest among public medical schools in research productivity, is an innovator in translational medicine, with 600 active patents and 24 start-up companies. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visitmedschool.umaryland.edu

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Researchers Predict Potential Spread and Seasonality for COVID-19 Based on Climate Where Virus Appears to Thrive - Newswise

Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SRPT) was downgraded by investment analysts at BidaskClub from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report released on Friday, BidAskClub reports.

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on SRPT. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Sarepta Therapeutics from $181.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 20th. SVB Leerink restated a buy rating and set a $216.00 price objective on shares of Sarepta Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Nomura restated a buy rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of Sarepta Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Barclays reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $202.00 target price on shares of Sarepta Therapeutics in a report on Sunday, December 15th. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of Sarepta Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, twenty-three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. The company has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $193.95.

Shares of SRPT stock opened at $94.19 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 4.90, a current ratio of 5.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Sarepta Therapeutics has a twelve month low of $72.05 and a twelve month high of $158.80. The company has a market cap of $7.36 billion, a P/E ratio of -9.74 and a beta of 2.08. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $117.59 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.77.

In other news, Director Hans Lennart Rudolf Wigzell sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.89, for a total value of $584,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 18,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,196,596.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SRPT. Amundi Pioneer Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Sarepta Therapeutics by 32.8% in the first quarter. Amundi Pioneer Asset Management Inc. now owns 154,611 shares of the biotechnology companys stock valued at $18,428,000 after buying an additional 38,194 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Sarepta Therapeutics by 34.6% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,024 shares of the biotechnology companys stock valued at $303,000 after buying an additional 1,034 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in shares of Sarepta Therapeutics by 20.9% in the third quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 4,930 shares of the biotechnology companys stock valued at $371,000 after buying an additional 852 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Sarepta Therapeutics by 15.8% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 10,951 shares of the biotechnology companys stock valued at $824,000 after buying an additional 1,497 shares during the period. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Sarepta Therapeutics by 6.5% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 14,928 shares of the biotechnology companys stock valued at $1,124,000 after buying an additional 915 shares during the period. 93.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Sarepta Therapeutics

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc focuses on the discovery and development of RNA-based therapeutics, gene therapy, and other genetic medicine approaches for the treatment of rare diseases. The company offers EXONDYS 51, a disease-modifying therapy for duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Its products pipeline include Golodirsen, a product candidate that binds to exon 53 of dystrophin pre-mRNA, which results in exclusion or skipping of exon during mRNA processing in patients with genetic mutations; and Casimersen, a product candidate that uses phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) chemistry and exon-skipping technology to skip exon 45 of the DMD gene.

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Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SRPT) Cut to Sell at BidaskClub - Redmond Register

DUBLIN, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cell Therapy - Technologies, Markets and Companies" report from Jain PharmaBiotech has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The cell-based markets was analyzed for 2018, and projected to 2028. The markets are analyzed according to therapeutic categories, technologies and geographical areas. The largest expansion will be in diseases of the central nervous system, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Skin and soft tissue repair as well as diabetes mellitus will be other major markets.

The number of companies involved in cell therapy has increased remarkably during the past few years. More than 500 companies have been identified to be involved in cell therapy and 309 of these are profiled in part II of the report along with tabulation of 302 alliances. Of these companies, 170 are involved in stem cells.

Profiles of 72 academic institutions in the US involved in cell therapy are also included in part II along with their commercial collaborations. The text is supplemented with 67 Tables and 25 Figures. The bibliography contains 1,200 selected references, which are cited in the text.

This report contains information on the following:

The report describes and evaluates cell therapy technologies and methods, which have already started to play an important role in the practice of medicine. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is replacing the old fashioned bone marrow transplants. Role of cells in drug discovery is also described. Cell therapy is bound to become a part of medical practice.

Stem cells are discussed in detail in one chapter. Some light is thrown on the current controversy of embryonic sources of stem cells and comparison with adult sources. Other sources of stem cells such as the placenta, cord blood and fat removed by liposuction are also discussed. Stem cells can also be genetically modified prior to transplantation.

Cell therapy technologies overlap with those of gene therapy, cancer vaccines, drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Pharmaceutical applications of stem cells including those in drug discovery are also described. Various types of cells used, methods of preparation and culture, encapsulation and genetic engineering of cells are discussed. Sources of cells, both human and animal (xenotransplantation) are discussed. Methods of delivery of cell therapy range from injections to surgical implantation using special devices.

Cell therapy has applications in a large number of disorders. The most important are diseases of the nervous system and cancer which are the topics for separate chapters. Other applications include cardiac disorders (myocardial infarction and heart failure), diabetes mellitus, diseases of bones and joints, genetic disorders, and wounds of the skin and soft tissues.

Regulatory and ethical issues involving cell therapy are important and are discussed. Current political debate on the use of stem cells from embryonic sources (hESCs) is also presented. Safety is an essential consideration of any new therapy and regulations for cell therapy are those for biological preparations.

Key Topics Covered

Part I: Technologies, Ethics & RegulationsExecutive Summary 1. Introduction to Cell Therapy2. Cell Therapy Technologies3. Stem Cells4. Clinical Applications of Cell Therapy5. Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Disorders6. Cell Therapy for Cancer7. Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders8. Ethical, Legal and Political Aspects of Cell therapy9. Safety and Regulatory Aspects of Cell Therapy

Part II: Markets, Companies & Academic Institutions10. Markets and Future Prospects for Cell Therapy11. Companies Involved in Cell Therapy12. Academic Institutions13. References

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Astronauts are growing the beginnings of new organs on board the International Space Station.

The experiment is an attempt to grow human tissue by sending adult human stem cells into space, and allowing them to grow in space.

Eventually, it is hoped, the stem cells will develop into bone, cartilage and other organs. If that is successful, the discoveries could be used to try and grow organs for transplant, the scientists involved say.

The experiment uses weightlessness as a tool, according to Cara Thiel, one of the two researchers from the University of Zurich. The lack of gravity on board the ISS will be used to encourage the stem cells to grow into tissue in three dimensions, rather than the single-layer structures that form on Earth.

It is being conducted by the astronauts on board the ISS using a mobile mini-laboratory that was sent on a SpaceX rocket last week. The experiment will last for a month, during which scientists will watch to see how the stem cells grow.

If it is successful, they hope to switch from a small laboratory to bigger production. From there, they could use the process to generate tissue for transplants by taking cells from patients, or generating organ-like material, either ensuring that it works for a specific patients or reducing the number of animals used in experiments.

On Earth, tissue grows in monolayer cultures: generating flat, 2D tissue. But investigations both in space and Earth suggest that in microgravity, cells exhibit spatially unrestricted growth and assemble into complex 3D aggregates, said Oliver Ullrich, who is also leading the research.

Previous research has involved simulated ad real experiments, mostly using tumour cells, and placing real human stem cells into microgravity simulators. But for the next stage of the research there is no alternative to the ISS, he says, as 3D tissue formation of this kind requires several days or even weeks in microgravity.

After the month-long experiment, the scientists will get the samples back and expect to see successful formation of organoids smaller, more simple versions of organs inside the test tubes.

Scientists are still not sure why the conditions of the ISS lead to the assembly of complex 3D tissue structures. Scientists are still continuing to research how the gravitational force and the molecular machinery in the cell interact to create new and different kinds of tissue on Earth and in space.

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Made-in-space organs could soon be reality - ETHealthworld.com

Preventive medicine is a medical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which focuses on the health of individuals and communities. The goal of preventive medicine is to promote health and well-being and prevent disease, disability and death.

Preventive medicine specialists are licensed medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO) who possess expertise in a broad range of health care skills, including biostatistics, epidemiology, planning and evaluation of health services, management of health care organizations, research, and the practice of prevention in clinical settings. They apply their knowledge and skills in medicine, social, economic, and behavioral sciences to improve the health and quality of life of individuals, families, communities and populations through disease prevention and health promotion.

Preventive medicine has three sub-specialty areas:public health and general preventive medicine, occupational medicine, and aerospace medicine.

Public health and general preventive medicine focuses on promoting health and preventing disease in individuals and communities. Practitioners combine skills and experience in clinical care and public health to support health systems transformation and build a healthcare system that is based on the prevention of disease, injury and death. Practitioners work for corporations, in primary care, public health departments, government agencies, and other settings to impact healthcare delivery and health outcomes at the individual, practice, community and population levels.

Occupational medicine focuses on the physical and mental health of workers by seeking to improve the physical, structural and social conditions of the workplace. Practitioners work with small business and large corporations to design employee health plans, improve workplace safety in hazardous environments, and promote health and quality of life in the workforce.

Aerospace medicine focuses on the health, safety and performance of crewmembers and passengers of air and space vehicles, working closely with support personnel who assist in their operation. Practitioners often live and work in remote locations and extreme environments under conditions of physical and psychological stress. Practitioners strive to promote health in settings with many unique hazards not found in other work environments.

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What is Preventive Medicine | ACPM | ACPM

As a young girl , Dr. Cory Jane SerVaas developed a passion for preventative care and using information to keep people healthy.

That passion drove her to become an Indianapolisdoctor, journalist, inventor andadvocate who dedicated her life to empowering people through common-sense medical advice.

Shewas first inspired by the writings of Benjamin Franklin on the subject in the pages of The Pennsylvania Gazette,and forever changed when one of her cousins died at age 4 from a disease that could have been prevented with simple folic acid.

With an education that began in a single-room schoolhouse outside of Pella, Iowa in the 1920s and ended with her a medical degree fromIndiana University Medical School in the 1960s, SerVaas was always thinking of new ways to keep the public informed, and in good health.

She died in Indianapolis on Friday. She was 95.

"American women have lost one of their great champions from the 20th century. She embodied a greatness of spirit and a genuinely unique personality," longtime SerVaas family friend Frank Duncan told IndyStar.

Corey SerVaas with her son, Eric, in 1951.(Photo: STAR/JOSEPH E. CRAVEN)

SerVaas may be known best for herdecades as a leading force at The Saturday Evening Post, an iconic American magazine founded in 1821 and headquartered in Indianapolis. She served as editor from 1975 to 2008, and took over as publisher in 1982.

But long before that, she made her impact as an inventor, according to IndyStar archives. In 1947, while living in New York City, she came up with the idea of the "Cory Jane Curvet," which was an apron gathered onto a plastic hoop that fit around the waist.

In 1948, in need of a patent attorney to protect her creation, she was introduced to Beurt SerVaas. The couple would marry two years later and settled in Beurt SerVaas' hometown of Indianapolis where they had five children.

Beurt SerVaas, who died in 2014 at age 94, was a prominent Indianapolis figure. He was a keyarchitect of Uni-Gov and served on theCity-County Council for 40 years. He spent 27 years as president of the council, and the room where the council currently meets is named in his honor.

Cory and Beurt Servaas after he was reelected to the Indianapolis City Council Nov 6, 1991.(Photo: Joe Young/The News)

Cory SerVaas graduated from University of Iowa with a degree in journalism and postgraduate work at Columbia University. While at Columbia, she earned money as a seamstress in New York City's Garment District and eventually landed a job as the editor of Lionel Train Magazine.

She earned her medical degreein 1969. The next year, Beurt and Cory SerVaas acquired theCurtis Publishing Company,owner of The Saturday Evening Post.

The couple revived the former weekly and biweekly magazine in 1971 as a quarterly publication.Under her direction, the publication became a nonprofit entity focused on health, medicine and volunteering.

But not satisfied with just putting out a magazine, she turned the Post into an organization that brought high-level medical information to the general public.

Throughout the 1980s, the Saturday Evening Post traveled the nation with buses where they performed breast cancer, prostate cancer and AIDS screenings. The Post also established a weekly health television program often featured big names like Arnold Palmer, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bob Dole discussing preventative care and general good health.

The Post itself featured detailed information from the nation'sleading medical professionals. As leader of the Children's Better Health Institute, Cory SerVaas applieda similar model to her stable for children's publications like U.S. Kids, Jack and Jill and Humpty Dumpty Magazine.

In 1987, Cory SerVaas her work earned her a spot onthe President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic, a commission formed by President Ronald Reagan.

In a documentary produced by the Saturday Evening Postthat aired in 2003, Cory SerVaas saidher dream of becoming a medical missionarywasderailed by World War II.

In that same documentary, Beurt SerVaas said his wife ended up not only achieving her dream, but redefining it.

Cory Jane fights with a pen, and she takes on all comers," Beurt SerVaas said."She has become a medical missionary like she wanted to become. But a modern medical missionary."

Dr. Cory SerVaas speaks at the dedication of the SerVaas Cabin at Crooked Creek Elementary School in Washington Township.(Photo: Joe Vitti/IndyStar)

Over the years Cory SerVaas' literary work has earned her theKappa Tau Alpha Award for Outstanding Service, the National Federation of Press Woman of Achievement Award and entry tothe University of Iowa School of Journalism Hall of Fame.

She was a medical columnist for several publications, an author of three books andhosteda weekly healthcare and preventative medicine program on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

"She truly had a broad set of the proverbial shoulders for of those who follow her to stand upon," Duncan said. "We all are taller on them and are challenged in our efforts to do great things to follow her example. She embodied the true American spirit and lived the American dream."

Cory SerVaas is survived by her five children, 19 grandchildrenand 12 great grandchildren.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.

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Former Saturday Evening Post publisher and editor Dr. Cory SerVaas dies in Indianapolis - IndyStar

In the United States, the percentage of people having difficulty covering out-of-pocket healthcare costs has dropped in recent years. But a significant portion of the population still struggles to cover medical bills. According to the results of the National Health Interview Survey, sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the proportion of Americans in families having trouble with medical bills dropped to 14.2 percent in 2018, down from 19.7 percent in 2011. Specifically, the share went down by 4.5 percentage points between 2011 and 2015, and then by one point from 2015 to 2018. This indicates that the decrease in the number of families with difficulties paying medical bills has slowed considerably. Still, its not all good news as many of us know from watching the flurry of stories related to healthcare coverage and related legislation.

So how many Americans are currently struggling? A 2019 study from the Journal of General Internal Medicine, based on data from the 20152017 National Health Interview Survey, found that 137 million Americans reported experiencing financial hardship due to medical costs. Regular dental visits twice a year are crucial for patients of all ages, yet many Americans find they cant afford this kind of preventative care or even treatment of existing medical conditions.

According to TD Ameritrade, medical debt is the number one reason why people of all ages think about dipping into their retirement accounts. But often, those accounts dont even contain enough funds to cover medical debt. Bankruptcies in the United States increased in 2016, from 24,797 companies in the first quarter to 25,227 in the second quarter. However, business owners arent the only bankruptcy filers. A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that 66.5 percent of personal bankruptcy filings stem from debt due to healthcare costs.

While 50 percent of all workers in the U.S. report having back pain every year, not everyone is equally affected by the cost of healthcare. The aforementioned CDC survey found that African American and Hispanic respondents were more likely than respondents of other races and ethnicities to report difficulties with healthcare bills. Moreover, high costs for one member of a family may impact the entire family. People who are struggling with medical debt may have difficulty paying for other necessities for themselves and their loved ones, including housing, clothing, and food. This can lead to taking money out of retirement accounts and to filing for bankruptcy.

In an attempt to avoid drastic measures like bankruptcy, more people in the United States are using crowdfunding to raise money online for healthcare expenses. Crowdfunding can bring in financial support from family, friends, or even total strangers, thanks to the wonders of the internet. According to a survey conducted by the University of Chicagos National Opinion Research Center, eight million Americans have sought help via crowdfunding on behalf of themselves or a loved one to pay for everything from routine visits to the treatment of rare conditions. In addition, over 12 million Americans report using crowdfunding to assist someone who is not a close family member with healthcare costs. Although crowdfunding campaigns dont always raise as much as is needed, experts believe the trend is an expression of the publics frustration with the ever-expanding costs of medical treatment. That frustration seems to be fueling peoples willingness to help others with medical bills.

As if Americans current struggles to meet healthcare costs werent enough, the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, may add significantly to peoples medical bills. According to Business Insider, two Americans were recently billed over $3,000 each for coronavirus treatment, despite the fact that tests showed theyre not infected with COVID-19. Only the CDC is able to test for COVID-19 or to authorize other labs to carry out the test and they dont bill for testing. If someone receives treatment for coronavirus from the emergency room or an urgent care facility, they wont be billed for COVID-19 testing, either. But patients must still pay for tests for influenza or other viruses, as well as for the visit to the facility.

Costs due to coronavirus can be considerable, whether the patient has insurance or not. Despite the expansion of coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 27 million Americans still lack health insurance meaning they will foot the entire bill if they need to be tested or treated for COVID-19. Even those with insurance will have to contend with higher-than-expected bills from a hospital in their network, providing the doctor treating them is outside their insurance network. This is referred to as surprise billing, which affects many patients who visit the emergency room or who receive services in pathology (a department that is likely to be involved in coronavirus treatment). Problems also arise when a hospital in a patients insurance network is full, sending them to another hospital outside their network. In that case, the ACAs out-of-pocket limits for in-network treatment dont apply.

Coronavirus could even lead to more bankruptcies if it causes patients to acquire more medical debt. Unless a patient can arrange for a payment plan with a physician or hospital, bankruptcy may be the best option if they carry a lot of debt and are low income. Even for those receiving regular paychecks from steady employment, a large and unexpected healthcare bill can cause a financial crisis. And patients who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will need to be concerned with lost income if they are quarantined or are slow to recover.

The ACA has brought health insurance coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans, yet millions more remain uninsured. Whats more, many of those with coverage still struggle with medical debts. While its encouraging that the percentage of families having difficulty with healthcare bills has decreased, the problem remains significant. With people turning to crowdfunding and raiding their retirement savings in order to avoid bankruptcy, and with many others using bankruptcy as their last option, its clear that medical costs in the United States are currently out of control.

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Fewer Americans Struggle to Cover Medical Costs, But Many Still Face Burdens - The National Memo

Dublin, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Public Health Partnering 2014-2020: Deal trends, players and financials" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Public Health Partnering 2014 to 2020 provides the full collection of Public Health disease deals signed between the world's pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies since 2014.

Most of the deals included within the report occur when a licensee obtains a right or an option right to license a licensor's product or technology. More often these days these deals tend to be multi-component including both a collaborative R&D and a commercialization of outcomes element.

The report takes readers through the comprehensive Public Health disease deal trends, key players and top deal values allowing the understanding of how, why and under what terms companies are currently entering Public Health deals.

The report presents financial deal terms values for Public Health deals, where available listing by overall headline values, upfront payments, milestones and royalties enabling readers to analyse and benchmark the value of current deals.

The initial chapters of this report provide an orientation of Public Health dealmaking trends.

In addition, a comprehensive appendix is provided with each report of all Public Health partnering deals signed and announced since 2014. The appendices are organized by company A-Z, stage of development at signing, deal type (collaborative R&D, co-promotion, licensing etc) and technology type. Each deal title links via Weblink to an online version of the deal record and where available, the contract document, providing easy access to each contract document on demand.

The report also includes numerous tables and figures that illustrate the trends and activities in Public Health partnering and dealmaking since 2014.

In conclusion, this report provides everything a prospective dealmaker needs to know about partnering in the research, development and commercialization of Public Health technologies and products.

Report Scope

The report is intended to provide the reader with an in-depth understanding and access to Public Health trends and structure of deals entered into by leading companies worldwide.

Global Public Health Partnering 2014 to 2020 includes:

The report includes deals for the following indications: Addiction, Smoking, Drugs, Alcohol, Health education, Obesity, Preventative medicine, plus other public health indications.

Available deals and contracts are listed by:

Each deal title links via Weblink to an online version of the deal record and where available, the contract document, providing easy access to each contract document on demand.

The report provides comprehensive access to available deals and contract documents for over 250 public health deals.

Analyzing actual contract agreements allows assessment of the following:

Companies Mentioned

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Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.comLaura Wood, Senior Press Managerpress@researchandmarkets.comFor E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Public Health Partnering Deals, 2014-2020: Full Collection of Deals Signed Between the World's Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies Since 2014 -...

A proactive maintenance program can help owners and operators prevent breakdowns and costly unplanned downtime. For fleets looking to identify potential mechanical failure before it becomes too serious or expensive to repair, used oil analysis is a vital tool.

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Lubricants are the lifeblood of an engine. Used oil analysis is akin to preventative medicinea tool to monitor and identify any potential concerns or issues with the overall health of engine operation. Used oil analysis is a simple three-stage process which involves taking a representative sample of the oil, sending it to a qualified used oil analysis laboratory and then interpreting and, vitally, acting upon the recommendations of the results.

By incorporating used oil analysis into a proactive maintenance program, technical service advisors can evaluate results and trends on an ongoing basis, establishing over time when and where end-users likely costs are going to occur. Identifying trends provides the basis for a better-informed maintenance schedule. For example, regular used oil analysis offers the potential to safely extend oil drain intervals, which provides fleet owners with another opportunity to reduce maintenance costs and keep their vehicles on the road for longer between scheduled maintenance.

Extending drain intervals should always be undertaken in conjunction with an oil analysis program.

Lubricant experts and technical service advisors can share their detailed knowledge and experience of used oil analysis report interpretation; however, its useful for fleet managers to also be able to understand what the results could mean for their fleet. Fleet managers know their equipment and what they need from it, and can foresee when it will be under more pressure and needs to be operating at maximum capacity. By understanding how to analyze the reports, trends and anomalies in results can be identified quickly and maintenance schedules updated as required, in line with commercial demands.

There are several common anomalies to look out for when reading the results of a used oil analysis report. If a report highlighted that coolant or glycol is present in the engine oil, it could be the result of a failing EGR cooler seal, which would require immediate attention from a mechanic and potentially an oil change. The presence of silicon, potassium or sodium could be one of the first signs that this is taking place, so these are important properties to keep an eye on.

Increases in iron and aluminum can be indicators of a failing camshaft, coolant leak attacking the liners, or the engine requiring mechanical adjustment. By spotting the signs early, its much easier and significantly more cost-effective to undertake small maintenance tasks before the issues become too expensive and serious to repair.

One of the most important anomalies to look for is the presence of unburnt fuel combined with an increase in common wear metals (iron, aluminum, lead and copper) as these are signs that the protection of vital engine components may be compromised. In this situation, expert lubricant advice and mechanical expertise should be sought to help resolve the issues.

By incorporating used oil analysis into a proactive maintenance schedule, fleet managers can predict engine wear throughout service life and respond to issues before they become too serious or expensive to repair. Not only can this help manage fleet maintenance, but it can also prevent breakdowns and unplanned downtime. In short, proactive maintenance might be a given for most equipment owners but combining it with simple-to-adapt tools such as used oil analysis can save fleet managers time and money.

This article was contributed by Darryl Purificati, OEM technical liaison for Petro-Canada Lubricants.

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How used oil analysis can help make the most of your proactive maintenance program - Fleet Equipment Magazine

Eau Claire (WQOW) - According to a recent statewide study, obesity rates across Wisconsin and in Eau Claire are on the rise.

That's despite recent city and state efforts to promote healthy eating and active living.

In 2014, the Wisconsin Partnership Program launched its $10 millon, five-year Obesity Prevention Initiative, so why are obesity rates still rising?

"It is cheap entertainment for families to put their children in front of the TV instead of getting them outside and getting active and having that daily physical activity," Janessa VandenBerge, a community health educator with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department, said.

According to the Wisconsin Health Atlas, Eau Claire obesity rates sit at 14% to 22% among children ages five to 17. And for adults, the numbers are even higher. Nearly half of Eau Claire adults are obese: In 2018, the average rates, categorized by zip code, range from 40% to 53%.

Despite local efforts to promote healthy habits, like the Eau Claire Healthy Communities Coalition, and various statewide efforts like Healthy Wisconsin, obesity rates aren't slowing down.

In 2011, nearly 28% of Wisconsin adults were obese. In 2018, 32% were.

Health officials said a lack of commitment can be a big factor.

"It becomes a lifestyle change," Dietitian Heather Krieger said. "You need to foresee yourself doing something forever and not just for a quick fix or that quick weight loss. Knowing that there are resources and you can utilize that is probably the first key."

According to the CDC, obesity can lead to an increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even some types of cancer.

"When you're going into your mid-30s, 40s, 50s, a lot of that extra pounds can actually cause things to happen and complications that further will just keep adding," Krieger said.

Krieger added that fad diets aren't the way to go, either, and that they can actually harm your health more in the long run.

Officials said being proactive is what will help our community reverse the upward trend of obesity.

"Healthy eating and being physically active are preventative medicine. We pay the farmer now or the doctor later," VandenBerge said.

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Obesity rates on the rise in Eau Claire, statewide - WQOW TV News 18

Necessity is the mother of invention, and coronavirus has made us all a little craftier when it comes to keeping safe. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to infect hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, most of us are willing to do whatever we have to so that we dont become a statistic. Among the most repeated preventative actions are to wash your hands and stop touching your face. When it comes to the latter, one man has proposed a unique way to keep your filthy paws off your mug: with a shame cone. Traditionally used on pets to keep them from tearing out stitches post-surgery, the shame cone could also prove to be an effective way to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Mike Palmer, the owner of Premier Pet Supply in Beverly Hills, Michigan, recently posted a picture to his companys Facebook page of himself in a shame cone. The cone extends from the neck to the under-eye area, ensuring that not only will your be unable to paw at your own face, but also any droplets from your nose and mouth will be contained by the protective device. While you might get some odd stares if you wear a shame cone out in public, you might get a chuckle or two as well which is just the medicine we need right now in the midst of this terrifying pandemic. Sometimes, in many very serious moments, I think we have to find something to laugh about or something to show that we can still have a sense of humor through it all without overdoing it as far as worry, Palmer told USA Today after the pic went viral. We couldnt agree more.

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Shame Cone is the Latest Coronavirus Prevention Product (For You, Not the Dog) - Mandatory

(Photo: Getty Images)

Local schools are taking preventative measures against the COVID-19 virus, encouraging good personal hygiene habits and looking to the county health department for future guidance.

Concerns about the novel coronavirus come at the same time as peak flu season, so school staff already have these habits in mind, according toSuzie Skadan, director of health services for Visalia Unified School District.

Skadan said the district has sent out information nearly every week in the past couple months, updating families on best practices.

"It's a good idea you won't get colds or the fluif you follow this, not just coronavirus," Skadan said.

The risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low in Tulare County, according to public health officials. The one Tulare County resident tested for COVID-19 did not have the virus.

"Itis critical that people do not allow fear to drive their actions," said Shawn Elkin,infection prevention manager at Kaweah Delta Medical Center. "Yes, be honest and be vigilant, but don't freak out."

VUSD has shared these guidelines with families:

Skadan said custodial staff is also cleaning classrooms and schools nightly to prevent the spread of germs.

Face masks should only be worn by those who are sick, and not the "worried well," Elkin said.

Skadan agreed, saying that some parents had called the district to see if their child should wear a mask but that masks were "to protect students who are ill" and not to be used as a "faceguard for all students."

School sitesare leaning away from naming the novel coronavirus in their preventative efforts.

"We continue to push wash your hands, cover your mouth, all those kinds of things we do with the normal flu," said Loretta Bryant, principal at Annie R. Mitchell Elementary School."We don't specify anything to do with the coronavirus."

"We don't really bring it up," Bryant added. "We are here to engage in learning, not in panic."

Skadan said district staff has discussed how to proceed if the virus spreads to Tulare County.

"We have plans in place, should something happen, that we'd be able to move accordingly," Skadan said."We follow the direction of the health department."

Visalia Unified School District is sharing this poster from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Reach reporter Kyra Haasby emailat khaas@visaliatimesdelta.com or find her onTwitter@kc_haas.

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Here's how local schools are talking with families about the novel coronavirus - Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

Asylum seekers at Mexico - USA border crossing (Photo: Al-Jazeera)

The U.S. government hasadvisedAmericans to wash their hands obsessively, avoid close contact with others and stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novelcoronavirus, which has infected more than1,000 peoplein the country. Butthousands of migrants seeking asylum in the United States cant follow these instructions since the Trump administration has forced them to wait for their court dates in overcrowded and unsanitary camps and shelters near the border.

Without the governments help, volunteer doctors in Mexican border towns told HuffPost they are scrambling to take preventative measures to stave off a coronavirus outbreak. But if the disease enters these congested environments, it could spread like wildfire and lead to deaths, said Helen Perry, the executive director of the nonprofit Global Response Management who has been coordinating medical efforts in Matamoros.

The potential for a devastating outbreak in those circumstances is really great, saidDr. Ranit Mishori, a professor of family medicine at Georgetown University, adding that these migrants face a perfect storm of factors. Theyre marginalized, they have no access to care and theyre so vulnerable. People can absolutely die.

Since January 2019, the Trump administration has turned back almost 60,000 asylum-seekers under a program known as Remain in Mexico. On Wednesday, the Supreme Courtoverrodea lower courts decision to block the program, which hasforcedtens of thousands of people to live for months in dangerous Mexican border towns where crime is rife and medical resources are scarce.

The shelters and tent camps in border cities such as Matamoros, Tijuana and Ciudad Jurez are playgrounds for viral illnesses like COVID-19. In Matamoros, roughly2,000 peoplelive in tents packed together along the Rio Grande. They are constantly in groups, eating together and waiting to use portable showers and toilets. Their only access to water is from big containers brought in by volunteers.

You cant just tell someone, Hey, just dont come out of your tent for a couple days, Perry said. The thought that theres going to be any kind of quarantine is pretty limited.

Theyre marginalized, they have no access to care and theyre so vulnerable. People can absolutely die.Dr. Ranit Mishori, professor of family medicine at Georgetown University

There are currently onlysevenknown cases of the coronavirus in Mexico, and the biggest threat of infection comes from American volunteers, physicians told HuffPost.

But as more doctors and nurses cancel their trips across the border to aid the asylum-seekers, immigrants are being cut off from their only access to health care. Dr. Hannah Janeway, who helps run the Refugee Health Alliance, said so many volunteers have canceled trips to Tijuana that there are three weeks between March and April when the Refugee Health Alliance wont have enough U.S. doctors and nurses to staff the medical clinic.

Click here to read full article by Angelina Chapin, reporter for the HuffPost

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A coronavirus outbreak along the US-Mexico border could be devastating (Opinion) - The Yucatan Times

As the infection rate from the coronavirus climbs, it's natural to want to comfort relatives who are most vulnerable to the virus, such as older people in nursing homes.

But in a bid to control the spread, industry leaders announced on Tuesday that all care homes should limit visits.

Already, there have been 18 coronavirus-related deaths at a long-term care facility in Washington called Life Care Center, and 70 of the 180 staff members at the facility are sick, according to the New York Times.

Since the older people at Life Care Center and similar facilities often have underlying health conditions, they're more susceptible to developing severe cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, especially since they live in close quarters with other susceptible people.

Although it can be disheartening to have little or no physical access to an older loved one in a nursing home, there are ways to feel close and provide support from a distance.

You can still create emotional closeness and comfort by checking in on your elderly relatives through a phone call or video call.

Dr. Sean Morrison, the chair for the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, said it's also important to have faith and trust in the staff of care facilities because they're trained to offer much-needed support when families aren't available.

"A lot of that comfort is provided on a regular basis when we're not facing a COVID-19 challenge," Morrison told Insider. "So I think to reassure families of people in long-term care and nursing homes that compassion is there and their loved ones will be well cared for," is important.

Morrison also said families should urge their relatives in nursing homes to form bonds with the staff if they haven't already because that can offer them companionship during times when visitations aren't allowed.

You could also send your relative a thoughtful care package with their favorite snacks, entertaining books, or a sweet message.

Crystal Cox/Business Insider

In the event that you can visit your loved one, you should only do so under specific circumstances.

If you've recently traveled to any of the countries on the CDC's travel restrictions list, for example, you should stay home. Since the coronavirus is spreading in the US now too, Morrison said anyone who has respiratory infection symptoms like a cough or sore throat should also abstain from visiting, because those symptoms, while linked to many illnesses, are also symptoms of COVID-19.

If you're healthy and haven't traveled to the countries in question, you're set to visit. Before you go to the facility to see your relative, Morrison said to wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water.

Once at the facility, be sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after touching any door knobs. If using an elevator, Morrison suggested pressing the elevator buttons with your elbow.

"Once you are with your loved one, people should avoid hand-to-hand contact, hugs, and kisses," Morrison said. "What we know so far is that it is not an airborne virus. It's transmitted through respiratory secretions either by directly breathing in droplets from someone who has coughed and sneezed within 6 feet of you, or through touching a surface on which droplets recently fell and then self-infecting yourself from your hands."

Whether you get to set foot in the nursing home or not, one way to make sure your loved one is safe is to ask the nursing home's staff about the current cleaning protocols, either in person or over the phone.

Morrison said these facilities should have daily temperature and symptom checks for both residents and staff and have a system in place where staff who feel ill stay home from work.

He also said the facility should keep their staff assigned to specific teams rather than moving them around. That way, they're not moving across different units or buildings within the facility, which could contribute to germ spread, Morrison said.

You should also ask about group dining and events in the facility.

"Social distancing is challenging [in nursing homes] because what you also are worried about is the sense of isolation, particularly for people who have cognitive impairment or dementia within a nursing home," Morrison said. "But limiting group activities to small numbers, and group dining should be quite small rather than large group dining," to keep residents protected.

Lastly, facilities should have signs that ask anyone with respiratory illness symptoms to stay outside and the front desk should ask visitors about their recent travels.

If you're worried by any of the cleaning protocols or practices, Morrison said you should contact the local state health department to file a complaint.

Although it may feel like the best option to remove your relative from their nursing facility, Morrison said these places are often best equipped to care for people with unique or severe conditions.

"In an ideal world, somebody with functional impairment, cognitive impairment, or a serious medical illness is probably safer at home with unlimited caregivers and limited exposure to other people with serious," Morrison said.

"That being said, most people who are in nursing homes in this country are there because they or their families don't have the resources to provide that type of care at home. And so they are really [in the nursing home] because there is no other institution, no other place that can meet their needed level of care."

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What to do if you have a relative in a nursing home during the coronavirus outbreak - Insider - INSIDER

As coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, here is everything you need to know about the deadly virus.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named after their appearance, a crown, said Dr. Mark Rupp, an infectious disease expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

How dangerous is coronavirus?

Most coronaviruses cause mild symptomsthat patients easily recover from.

What is COVID-19 and how is it different from other coronaviruses?

COVID-19 is not the same as other coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold. Some cause illness in people, and others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people, which is suspected to have occurred for the virus that causes COVID-19.

MERS and SARS are two other examples of coronaviruses that originated from animals and then spread to people.

What are the symptoms?

Many symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza overlap, here's how to spot the differences.

When did the outbreak start?

The World Health Organization's China office says it began receiving reports in late December of a mysterious virus behind a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in eastern China with a population of roughly 11 million people.

How is coronavirus transmitted?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common in camels, cattle, catsand bats. Person-to-person transmissions are thought to occur when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

How often are people hospitalized for it?

The risk of contracting coronavirus remains low for most Americans, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said.

How can you protect against getting it?

You can protect yourself from coronaviruses by following basic wellness practices.

How do I sanitize surfaces?

Keeping your home and surfaces clean using the correct disinfectants is crucial in preventing its spread.

How long can it survive on surfaces?

The novel coronavirus may be able to live on surfaces, namely metal, glass or plastic,for up to nine days if it resembles some of its other human coronavirus-causing cousins, that is.

Are you washing your hands correctly?

There are a few general rules to follow when it comes to washing your hands thoroughly, including for how long you should keep them under runningwater.

How do I make my own hand sanitizer?

If soap and water arent available, hand sanitizer is the next best option namely if it contains at least 60 percent alcohol, the CDCsays.

Do face masks help?

Surgical masks will not prevent your acquiring diseases, said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, and the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Who is most at risk?

Young people, senior citizensand those with immune deficiencies could have an acute reaction if exposed to the virus.

Does it affect pregnant women?

The health agency said that while risk to the American public remains low at this time, pregnant women should continue to engage in usual preventative actions to avoid infection, such as washing hands often and avoiding contact with people who are sick.

How do you care for a relative who has it?

Even if the patient does test positive, it can be considered safe to continue supporting them with some extra precautions.

How do you test for it?

Before being tested for thedeadly virus, patients must first answer a series of questions.

How do you treat it?

Fox News received an in-depth look at the new disease fromDr. Debra Chew, a former epidemic intelligence officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and an assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Is there a cure?

Health agencies recommend patients receive supportive care to relieve coronavirus symptoms.

What happens after you recover from it?

A negative test doesn't always mean the patient is free of the virus

Can you get it through packages?

Surgeon GeneralJerome Adams said, There is no evidence right now that the coronavirus can be spread through mail.

How do you travel during the outbreak?

As the coronavirus risk grows globally, being smart about planning travel will help you stay safe.

Tips on how to talk to your kids about coronavirus

Its important to remember that children take cues from the adults that surround them, so how you address the virus at home may reflect in their behavior.

How does coronavirus compare to other outbreaks?

SARS and MERS came from animals, and this newest virus almost certainly did, too.

Is coronavirus Disease X?

The novel coronavirus has led one expert to say that it fits the criteria for Disease X,a designated placeholder on theWorld Health Organizations (WHO)list of illnesses that have potential to reach international epidemic levels.

Is coronavirus here to stay?

Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of theCDC, said the virus is probably with us beyond this season, beyond this year.

Coronavirus: What to know about the mysterious illness

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named after their appearance, a crown, said Dr. Mark Rupp, an infectious disease expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

There are many types and a few are known to infect humans. Some cause colds and respiratory illnesses, while others have evolved into illnesses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) andMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

SARS began in China and infected some 8,000 people during a 2002-2003 outbreak. Approximately 770 people died after it spread to other cities and countries.

"This is the third kind of novel coronavirus that we're having experience with that can cause lower respiratory tract disease," Rupp said Tuesday.

In some rare cases, the virus can be transmitted from animals to humans but are typically transferred during contact between humans, according to the CDC.

How dangerous is coronavirus?

The coronavirus, or what is now known as COVID-19, began at an animal and seafood market in the city of Wuhan and has since spread to several other countries, including the United States. The illness is now said to be transferable between humans.

As news of the virus spread and death tolls began to spike, many have begun to questionhow dangerousthe new outbreak is. Coronaviruses, which get their name from their crown-like appearance, come in many types that cause illnesses in people and animals.

Most coronaviruses cause mild symptoms, such as the common cold that patients easily recover from. Other strains of the virus -- such asSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) andMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) -- can cause pneumonia and possibledeath.

SARS killed 770 of8,000 people infected in 2002-2003. MERS killed about three or four out of every 10 people infected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

In an effort to curb the spread of the disease (human coronaviruses are passed through coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, touching objects with the virus on it and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands, according to the CDC), the city of Wuhan shut down all air and train traffic. On Jan. 30, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency just days after WHO officials announced they would hold off doing so.

"The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it," WHO Director-GeneralTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saidat the time.

Meanwhile, CDC officialsmonitoring the outbreak maintain that the risk to the American public is low, despite the 15 confirmed cases of the virus that have occurred in the U.S. in recent weeks.

Recently, the CDC and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) expanded passenger screenings to include 20 U.S. airports, which take in "90 percent of all passengers from China," Vice PresidentPence said.

In recent weeks, Sen. Tom Cottonraised concerns about a Chinese cover-up of the virus as it spreads to various countries.In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Cottonurged Azar to vet information from China, given its history of cover-ups during the SARS outbreak. At the time, China didn't announce the disease to the public until five months after it began.

"If you have reason to believe that U.S. officials are being provided with false or misleading information about the disease from Chinese government officials, I ask you to notify Congress immediately," Cotton wrote.

How coronavirus differs from flu: Symptoms to watch for

Officials are urging anyone who develops possible symptoms of the novel coronavirus to contact health care providers to inquire about next steps and possible testing, but with millions infected by the influenza virus in the U.S., many are wondering how to tell the difference between the two.

There is so much overlap in symptoms between flu and COVID-19 but a couple of hallmark differences do exist, Dr. Caesar Djavaherian, co-founder of Carbon Health, told Fox News. Influenza tends to cause much more body pain and the COVID-19 virus tends to feel much more like the common cold with fever, cough, runny nose and diarrhea. However, in a small portion of the population with either COVID-19 or influenza, symptoms progress to kidney failure and respiratory failure.

By the end of February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that at least 32 million cases of the flu were reported in the U.S., resulting in 310,000 hospitalizations and 18,000 deaths. For the coronavirus, by March 3 the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. had reached 100, including several presumptive positive cases and 24 in repatriated Americans. At least nine COVID-19 patients have died.

But several health officials, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have cautioned that healthy Americans who contract COVID-19 may not even know that they have it, and will heal without any treatment. Others say their experience will be similar to that of a common cold, but for those with underlying health conditions, the virus can be severe.

The differences arise in the very small portion of the population who are at risk because of their lung or heart conditions whose lungs can fill with fluid or go into kidney failure and unfortunately, eventually die, with COVID-19, Djavaherian said.

One of the most imperative ways to stop the spread, experts say, is to avoid contact with a sick person, and to practice your own good hygiene. Part of that includes staying home when youre sick and thoroughly washing hands.

If you are sick, monitor your symptoms daily, and when your common cold turns into a deep unrelenting cough and then shortness of breath, those are the signs that we worry about and the signs that require patients to get medical attention right away, Djavaherian said. They may be from pneumonia but in a very, very small group of patients, maybe a COVID-19 infection that has gone into the lungs.

Djavaherian said its imperative to call your health care provider ahead of time to share your symptoms and concerns so that they can prepare the appropriate tests and protect others from potential exposure.

I also recommend using telemedicine, where you can see a doctor via phone or video, to get your questions answered from the comfort and safety of your own home without putting others or yourself at risk, he said.

How did the coronavirus outbreak start?

The World Health Organization's China office says it began receiving reports in late December of a mysterious virus behind a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in eastern China with a population of roughly 11 million people.

Researchers suspect the virus originated at a seafood market in Wuhan, where wild animals, including birds, rabbits, bats, and snakes are traded.

It was initially believed the virus came from snakes. But a research paper by a team of virologists at the Wuhan Institute for Virology suggests that the coronavirus more likely came from bats, which was also the source of the SARS outbreak.

Bats are known to carry multiple viruses without getting sick, according to the New York Times, which said they have caused human diseases in Africa, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Australia, and are thought to be the reservoir for Ebola.

Authorities shut down the market on January 1. But by then, the virus had spread beyond the market and was being transmitted between people.

On January 12, Chinese health officials shared a genetic sequence of the virus with other countries to better diagnose the strain in patients.

A committee of the WHO on Thursday declared the outbreak a global emergency. The U.N. health agency defines an international emergency as an extraordinary event that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.

Such a declaration usually brings greater money and resources but also compels governments to restrict travel and trade to affected countries. The announcement also imposes stricter requirements for disease reporting on countries.

How is coronavirus transmitted?

This virus has spread at unprecedented scale and speed, with cases passing between people in multiple countries across the world, said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of Britains Welcome Trust. It is also a start reminder of how vulnerable we are to epidemics of infectious diseases known and unknown.

The United States and South Korea confirmed its first cases of person-to-person spread of the virus.

Scientists say transmission of the virus is most likely between people with close contact, like families. But there have been reported instances of people who may have had less exposure to the virus in Japan and Germany.

The coronavirus has now infected more people in China than were sickened there during the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS. Virologists believe it originated at a seafood market in the eastern Chinese town of Wuhan when someone or a group of people came into contact with wild animals being traded there.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common in camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Person-to-person transmissions are thought to occur when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

Other ways the virus may spread from an infected person to others is through touching or shaking hands, or if a person touchesa surface with the virus on it, then touches theirmouth, nose, or eyes before washing their hands, the CDC says.

But despite the WHOs declaration of emergency, the immediate heal risk to the general American public still remains relatively low.

Surgeon general say risk of coronavirus remains low, most people will not need hospitalization

The risk of contracting coronavirus remains low for most Americans, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams reassured.

See original here:
Coronavirus: What you need to know - Fox News

Throughout the past decade, various topics related to stem cells have made headlines across all platforms. From being hailed as the most innovative method for eradicating specific diseases, to being protested by various groups and organizations, the use of stem cells has gained national attention repeatedly. With promising initial scientific findings, and avid researchers aiming to solidify the presence of stem cell usage in the realm of science on a normalized basis, increasing numbers of startups, biotech giants, and independent companies are forging ahead with stem cell-related projects. As global connectivity, technological advancements, and the marriage between medicine and technology continues to evolve swiftly, Jason Hope sees stem cells will undoubtedly remaining in the spotlight.

Over 20 years ago, scientists successfully extracted the first human embryonic stem cells, and effectively grew these cells in a lab setting. The remarkable feat of being able to successfully grow the parent cells, which essentially allow for the growth of new cells in the body, was a hopeful moment for the medical sector involved in creating effective regenerative treatments for conditions like heart disease, Alzheimers, stroke, and Parkinsons Disease. Using basic reasoning, the successful regeneration of parent cells could provide the regeneration of undesired cells, leading to anti-aging results, or effective care for many age-related conditions that deteriorate the body over time.

Though this initial breakthrough was promising, the scientific community has not yet made significant strides in bringing stem cell therapy to market in a way that is well-researched, backed by medical associations, and commonly accepted by the scientific community. In fact, the only readily utilized stem cell treatments are related to successfully growing blood cells from matching donors for patients with various blood disorders. According to entrepreneur, philanthropist, and expert in the realm of anti-aging and longevity, Jason Hope, these initial utilization of stem cells are commendable, but require a lot more research in order to maximize the potential widespread benefits of stem cells in medicine.

Hope, who has devoted much of his philanthropic endeavors within the medical industry via groups like the SENS Organization, recognizes that most stem cell implementations are rightfully considered experimental until appropriate research, testing, and development can occur. As an expert in the realm of anti-aging, and the championing of increasing health throughout a lifetime, Jason Hope recognizes the potential distrust that can be formulated by the general public as a result of eager companies making lofty claims or promoting potentially faulty treatments not yet fully vetted by the medical community. Thus, while he remains avidly enthralled by the potential maximization of stem cell therapies, hope supports the long-term research needed to safely, successfully, and effectively generate breakthrough stem cell treatments.

Providing continued backing for the extensive research completed at the SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) Organization, Hopes contributions aid in the research aiming to create preventative treatments for degenerative diseases and utilizing breakthrough science to increase the overall long-term quality of life for individuals. Instead of focusing on the treatment of symptoms and the disease throughout the progression of the condition, the scientists at SENS work to examine ways to successfully prevent the disease from happening. Through this boundary-pushing work, a lot of their research focuses on stem cell intervention. According to Hope, stem cell treatments for Parkinsons Disease are now in the second stage of clinical trials at SENS. While the process of undergoing such extensive trials may appear slow, it is crucial to maintaining overall public support via successful treatment launches and promising in terms of the long-term possibilities linked to stem cell treatments.

In addition to the research being conducted by SENS, preliminary medical studies are being conducted with a myriad of uses for stem cells. Experimental stem cell transplants of retinal cells were recently utilized in a small research study of macular generation, providing initially promising results for the handful of patients who have received artificially generated retinal cells. Elsewhere, scientists have begun to explore ways to minimize potential rejection of stem cells in organs like the liver, through maximizing the most conducive environment for stem cells to thrive. While these slow-moving vehicles of change are less prominent than startups promising the proverbial Fountain of Youth via experimental stem cell treatments, these medically sound research studies are forming the backbone of stem cell treatment for the future.

As with all scientific and medical innovations, Hope also recognizes the potential risks, hurdles, and roadblocks within the growing field of stem cell research, and integration into medicine. From supply chain concerns to potential long-term side effects, and the risk of overly eager startups making too-lofty claims, Hope understands that the road to the everyday utilization of stem cells remains lengthy and potentially bumpy. However, the proverbial juice may very well be worth the squeeze in this example. As stem cells harvest the potential power to overturn the degenerative effects of some of the most prominent diseases, allow individuals to maintain active health for elongated periods of time, and increase the quality of life for countless individuals, expanding upon the initial promising research is potentially a pivotal point for the medical community and humankind. Though the road to successful scientific integration of stem cells is long, the potential healthcare benefits are limitless, and according to industry experts like Jason Hope, worth investing in, exploring, and championing.

About Jason Hope

An avid entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Jason Hope is a futurist involved in the championing of technological advancement, community involvement, and innovative medical interventions. Deeply passionate about the anti-aging, longevity, and human advancement niche of biomedicine, Hope remains actively involved in various scientific organizations.

After receiving a degree in Finance from ASU, and a subsequent MBA from ASUs W.P. Carey School of Business, Hope developed a successful mobile communications company. Professionally, he currently focuses on investing in startups and developing grant programs for small businesses.

Follow Jason Hope:

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Medium

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What Jason Hope Says About New Longevity Research - HealthTechZone