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As part of National Nutrition Month, Wednesday is celebrated as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are the most valuable and credible source of scientific-based food and nutrition information. The academy is the worlds largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with more than 100,000 credentialed practitioners.

As the nations food and nutrition experts, RDNs are committed to improving the health of individuals, organizations and communities. They translate the science of nutrition into daily approaches for healthy eating.

RDNs have degrees in nutrition, dietetics, public health or a related field from accredited colleges and universities. In addition, the individual must complete a dietetic internship that is approved by the academy and pass a national examination.

Once they have obtained national credentials, they are required to stay up to date with the ever changing science of nutrition with continuing education. Many states have licensure for nutritionists. State licensure and national registration help to protect the public from misinformation and unsound nutrition advice offered by nonlicensed professionals.

An advantage of being an RDN is that you can move through different workplace settings throughout your career. In my 30-year career, I have worked in clinical, public health, senior living, higher education, private practice, media and research. I

n my current position as extension educator, I am able to incorporate several different experiences from teaching, providing food demonstrations, advising dietetic interns, working with media, working with schools, and participating in research projects. There are a variety of workplace settings for RDNs including hospitals, medical centers, schools, supermarkets, private businesses, fitness centers, food industry, universities and private practice.

The majority of registered dietitian nutritionists work in the treatment and prevention of disease. It varies from providing medical nutrition therapy as a member of the health care team in the medical setting to teaching, monitoring and advising the public on promoting healthy lifestyles in community and public health settings. You may also find them in schools providing education for teachers and students, creating and revising wellness policies and helping to create healthy menus.

Some RDNs also have degrees in exercise science or culinary arts, which complements their dietetic expertise. Organizations recognize the value of employing RDNs, such as professional sports teams employing a sports nutritionist and supermarkets employing dietitians to provide in-store nutrition counseling, lead store tours and answer customers dietary questions.

Integrative and functional medicine is an expanded approach to health, centering on a holistic approach to wellness. Many RDNs work with this integrative medicine model focusing on whole foods, recognizing the connection between the mind and body, and providing a personalized approach to nutrition, health and healing.

Regardless of the workplace, RDNs use their expertise to help individuals make positive lifestyle changes to improve their quality of life. If you are looking for a dietitian for personalized nutrition information, go to http://www.eatright.org/find-an-expert.

Lisa McCoy is a family and consumer-sciences educator with University of Maryland Extension in Washington County.

Read more:
What is a registered dietitian? - Herald-Mail Media

I got a good crew, but today I just feel off, Justin Bieber says as he films a music video in Episode 9 of his YouTube docuseries, Seasons.

He drops to the ground, rubbing his hands through his hair. He circles his cheeks and forehead with his palms, like hes washing his face without any water. Hes physically struggling to get out of his own head.

Its a feeling Im very familiar with. The Biebs and I both struggle with mental-health issues. His difficulties are on full display in Seasons, which follows the 25-year-old megastar through the making of his new album Changes and shows his often-rough road to recovery from drug addiction.

A key player in Biebers mental reset is Buzz Mingin, a local health coach and behavioral specialist with a celebrity following. He helps clients struggling with mental illness, brain injury and concentration issues, and remembers Bieber being in bad shape when they first met.

He really wasnt functioning, says Mingin, 51, in the docuseries. His cortisol levels the bodys so-called stress hormone were through the roof.

Mingin, who has a Ph.D. in psychology but is not a medical doctor, works with the Amen Clinics, a national chain that specializes in brain-focused integrative medicine. Full workups by Amen Clinics which can include talk therapy, oxygen chamber sessions and brain tests called SPECT imaging scans cost about $4,000 and are not covered by insurance.

Its practices have come under fire in the past: In 2012, the Washington Post expressed skepticism about the reliability of the SPECT imaging, Amens high cost of care and its expensive supplements. A representative from the clinic rebukes these claims in a statement to The Post: SPECT imaging, they say, is based on reliable science, supplements can be better than toxic psychiatric medications and getting healthy isnt expensive when you compare it to the cost of being sick.

At any rate, Mingins techniques seemed to be working for Bieber. So I went to see if he could help me calm down too.

In the Amen Clinics Midtown office, Mingin explains the method to his madness. In a thick Jersey accent, he tells me that he functions as a combination therapist, neurologist and wellness guru.

The first order of business is getting his patients on a strict schedule. We want [to create] a predictable environment to avoid extraneous stress, he tells The Post. That means sleeping, eating and exercising at the same time every day.

When stressors do crop up, he recommends havening, a relatively new psychosensory technique that has panicky patients stroke their arms, face or hands (patients choice) with their fingers until they feel calm. According to Mingin, fingertip stroking increases the production of feel-good chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine, to combat stress.

Thats what Bieber is doing during his music video freakout, when he runs his hands all over his head and face. When hes done, he gets back up and back to work.

Sitting across from Mingin, I tell him Im ready to try it.

First, Mingin asks me to focus on a stressor in my life. Thats easy: coronavirus. Its spreading fast. All I can think of is a totally apocalyptic, worst-case scenario.

We come up with a mantra: Im not elderly. I dont have an underlying health problem. I wash my hands. Im going to stay alive.

Mingin instructs me to use my fingertips and palms to slowly stroke my face, upper arms or hands while breathing slowly and counting the breaths: For 30 seconds, close the eyes, inhale through the nose for three seconds and exhale for five seconds.

You want it to feel kind and soft, he says. Were calibrating your thinking and the [brain] chemicals to work together.

I close my eyes and focus on the texture of my finger pads, trying to match my breath to the motion, like a low-exertion yoga class.

While I haven, Mingin chants our mantra. I focus on taking long breaths. After 30 seconds, I open my eyes.

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Im still scared of coronavirus. But my breathing is slower. My shoulders are lower. Im a little calmer.

With a daily stressor tackled, we turn to something heavier. Mingin asks me to think of a time I felt inescapable fear. My mind turns to a serious health scare that sent me to the ER.

Eyes closed, I bring myself back to that night where I was, how it felt, who I saw. Mingin had me take three quick, forceful inhales, like lifting weights, to bump up my heart rate and stress level. It works: Im in freakout mode.

Then, havening. As I stroke my palms and take deep breaths, Mingin prompts me to think of something joyful. My heart rate slows. I feel Zen. He tells me to open my eyes and, without moving my head, look to the right and then left 10 times. Doing so, Mingin says, helps to retrain my brain to associate terrible memories with a good feeling instead of a bad one.

Havening absolutely made me feel more chill. It forced me to check out and think happy thoughts and just be in the moment.

Am I ready to ditch my antidepressants? No. But if you see me or Justin rubbing our hands and taking a deep breath, know that we just need a minute to relax.

Read more from the original source:
Justin Bieber's wellness guru tried to cure my anxiety - New York Post

Uday Jani, MD will present an immune-boosting, spirit-lifting approach to dealing with coronavirus at free community presentations 4 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, at Lewes Public Library, and 5:30 to 7 p.m., Friday, March 13, at Milton Library.

Bombarded by alarming statistics and dire warnings on a daily basis, its challenging for people to know what to believe about the coronavirus. Get the facts at Janis presentations this week at Lewes and Milton libraries, where hell address the issues candidly, factually and most important, hopefully.

Theres a great deal of misinformation surrounding this right now, and when people have sniffles, they fear the worst, he says. But the fact is that if you have not traveled to an affected area or been in close contact with someone who has, theres very little chance youll get the coronavirus.

Additionally, there are a number of proactive steps people can take to lessen their personal risk of becoming ill, according to Jani, a leading local internist and integrative medicine specialist.

Boosting your immune system helps you resist not just the coronavirus, but the flu and other respiratory infections prevalent at this time of year, he says. Basic measures, including eating healthy, sleeping well, managing stress, and using certain herbs and supplements, are enormously beneficial to maintaining overall health.

Denise Demback, local practitioner and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, will join Jani to present an update on Chinese herbs and supplements being used to effectively enhance the immune system and help fight COVID-19. These include astragalus, elderberry, vitamin D3, mushrooms and garlic.

Natural ways to build up your immunity provide an alternative approach to prevention, says Jani. There is no vaccine yet available for COVID-19, so the best way to prevent illness is to try and stay healthy, as well as take everyday practical actions to stop the spread of germs.

CDCs recommendations include:

Get a flu shot if you havent already done so. Wash hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Jani will also cover the most frequently asked questions and concerns hes hearing from patient and members of the community - travel safety, what to do if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, how to assess personal risk, where to find accurate updates on community spread, and why a positive mental attitude is essential to prevention.

If youre continually worried and stressed about catching the virus, that in itself can negatively impact your immune system, he explains. But if you do everything you can to stay healthy, trust that your body will have the power to help fight the virus. Right now, that may be the best prescription anyone can write.

Dr. Uday Jani is in private practice at Shore View Personal Care in Milton, where he blends the best of traditional, integrative and functional medicine. A board-certified Internist, Dr. Jani believes in treating the whole person - not just the disease - utilizing an evidence-based integrative approach. He completed an Integrative Medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona and training at the Institute for Functional Medicine. For more information, call 302-684-0990 or go to http://www.udayjanimd.com.

Continue reading here:
Keep calm and healthy during coronavirus outbreak - CapeGazette.com

Three Michigan Medicine-led projects have advanced to the second round of STAT News annual STAT Madness competition a bracket-style tournament to find the best innovations in science and medicine

In this #Breakthru32 round, the U-M teams are up against Stony Brook University, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Notre Dame University.

Our teams are asking for your support to advance to the Sweet 16 round and ultimately to the finals.

Below are descriptions of the U-M projects and links to vote for them directly.

Pancreatic cancer treatment resistance:A team led by Costas Lyssiotis, Ph.D. in the Rogel Cancer Center and Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, made the bracket for a study that shows why pancreatic cancer cells stubbornly resist treatment with a common chemotherapy drug. It could pave the way to better treatment options.

Vote: michmed.org/PanCan32

Liquid biopsy technology:A joint Engineering/Rogel Cancer Center team led by Eusik Yoon, Ph.D. with former Rogel director Max Wicha, M.D., is in the competition for their work to develop a way to separate cancer cells out of blood samples taken from patients, so they can be tested for genetic signatures that could guide treatment.Vote for this entry here.Read more about the work, published in Nature Communications, here.

Vote: michmed.org/LiquidBiopsy32

Effects of intense stress on DNA:A team led by Srijan Sen, M.D., Ph.D., of the Depression Center, Department of Psychiatry and Michigan Neuroscience Institute, showed that new doctors DNA ages six times faster than normal during their first year of residency, thanks to the intense stress of their training. The research, published in Biological Psychiatry, has implications for understanding vulnerability to depression;vote for this entry hereandread more about it here.

Vote: michmed.org/DNAStress32

You can also view the entire bracket of the 32 remaining teams from across the country, each selected for a piece of important research they published in 2019. Anyone can vote for a winner in each matchup in the bracket, multiple times a day. Voting to enter the Sweet 16 round ends Saturday at 11:59 p.m.

The field of competitors will narrow week by week until the final two teams are standing right at the end of basketballs March Madness in early April.

A Michigan Medicine team studying tinnitus took home the top prize last year. Help us bring the title back to Michigan for a second year in a row.

Another Michigan Medicine team also made it to the Round of 8 in STAT Madness 2018 with an entry focused onantibiotic-resistant microbes in nursing homes. In the first year of the tournament, U-M researchers who study themicrobes that inhabit human lungsmade it to the final round.

Go here to read the rest:
UM science teams need public's help to advance to the Sweet 16 round of the STAT Madness tournament - University of Michigan Health System News

AUSTIN, Texas Texans who are college-educated, live in suburban or urban areas, have higher median incomes and are ethnically white are less likely to vaccinate their children, according to analysis by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. The findings could help public health officials identify pockets of low vaccination rates where communities within the state are at higher risk for an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

In a paper published today in the journal PLoS Medicine, professor of integrative biology Lauren Ancel Meyers, a computational epidemiologist, and her team at UT Austin compared publicly available census data with the number of conscientious vaccination exemptions from public, private and charter school systems across Texas. The state is one of 15 to allow families who cite a philosophical objection to vaccines to opt out of immunizations for their children that are otherwise required for enrolling in school. A total of 45 states and Washington, D.C., allow religious objections to immunizations.

The study not only provides a window into local vaccination patterns throughout Texas, but also allows us to make predictions, Meyers said. If you dont have data on the vaccination rate for a given community, you can use demographic factors to predict outbreak risks for vaccine-preventable diseases.

Researchers consider vaccination exemption rates of 3% or higher in a school or school district to be the threshold for high risk of an outbreak of vaccine-preventable illness. A growing number of schools exceed that threshold in Texas. Between the 2012-2013 school year and the 2017-2018 school year, the percentage of school districts reporting high-risk levels of exemptions doubled in public school districts across the state, rising from 3% to 6%. High-risk private schools increased from 20% to 26%, and charter schools increased from 17% to 22%.

The study examined the top 10 metropolitan areas in Texas, including rural, suburban and urban communities within each area. Suburban and higher-income urban communities were more likely to have high vaccination exemption rates than rural counties, the study found. Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston were the cities with the highest risk of vaccine opt-outs. Areas with higher percentages of young children, ethnically white people and people with a bachelors degree were more likely to have higher vaccination exemption rates.

On the flip side, researchers found that counties with lower median income and a higher percentage of people who spoke a non-English language at home were more likely to have a lower vaccine opt-out rate.

We wanted to identify potential pockets of hidden risk throughout Texas stemming from declining childhood vaccination rates, Meyers said.

To do this, Meyers and colleagues took a more detailed look at the data. Prior studies looked at average exemption rates within counties and concluded that most Texas counties did not cross the 3% exemption rate. By instead tracking the number of individual schools and districts above this threshold, the team identified unseen pockets of risk. Travis County, for instance, has a 2.3% conscientious exemption rate across all grade levels, according to the Department of State Health Services. But using her more fine-tuned model, Meyers was able to predict pockets within Travis County where the vaccination exemption rate in schools with grades K-8 was higher than 3%.

This study allows us to detect potential hot spots at a finer geographic scale, she said. The increasing numbers of exemptions are already alarming. In addition, the clustering of unvaccinated children in tight communities only amplifies the risk of an outbreak.

Similar studies have been performed in other states, such as California. Meyers study was the first to look at Texas, which is considered a high-risk state for an outbreak of vaccine-preventable illness, at such a granular level. Meyers and her team estimate that 5% of public schools in metropolitan areas of Texas, 28% of private schools and 22% of charter schools are at risk for an outbreak.

The study did not offer any clues about why some demographic groups are opting out of vaccinating their children at such a high rate.

Undergraduate Maike Morrison, a member of the Deans Scholars Honors program at The University of Texas at Austin, and Lauren A. Castro of Los Alamos National Laboratory co-authored the paper. Meyers holds the Denton A. Cooley Centennial Professorship in Zoology at The University of Texas at Austin.

The researchers were supported by the National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) Program and the National Institutes of Health Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study Grant.

Read the original post:
Demographics Linked to Choice Not to Vaccinate Children in Texas, Study Finds - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin

Better Than Ezra, Riverboat City of New Orleans and Port Orleans raise funds for alternative medical treatments

NEW ORLEANS (press release) The Riverfront Experience: 16th Annual Ezra Open presented by Better Than Ezra Foundation, the Riverboat City of New Orleans and Port Orleans Brewing Company benefitting the Better Than Ezra Foundation and their goal to raise money for alternative medicine through music therapy not covered by insurance.

This event is a culmination of what New Orleans is known formusic, food, beer, and good times, while raising money for a great cause, said Kevin Griffin, BTE lead singer and co-founder of the BTE Foundation. Its important for us to recognize that there are people in our community struggling to pay for the medical treatments they need on their journey to wellness. This event will specifically support those patients utilizing integrative oncology through music therapy.

The night of live music, craft beer, and food on the New Orleans Riverfront is the only scheduled New Orleans performance in 2020 by the platinum rock band Better Than Ezra (BTE). They will be joined by the boisterous blend of funk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop of Big Sams Funky Nation and New Orleans own indie pop six-piece band Sweet Crude, who blends Louisiana-French and English into their work.

Im proud to be a part of this event and working with the Better Than Ezra Foundation, said Zach Strief, Port Orleans owner. This community comes together better than any other community Ive seen, always willing to lend a helping hand whenever its needed.

Early Bird General admission tickets are $15 each. VIP tickets, $200 each, include all-inclusive access to the Riverboat with VIP exclusive concert viewing from the boat, full bar, gourmet menu prepared by a celebrity chef, pit access to the stage, surprise celebrity DJ performance afterparty, exclusive performance by Big Sams Crescent City Connection, and access to silent auction. Ticket are available online here.

On-site valet parking and Park & Ride Limo Bus from Metairie and the Northshore will be available.

WHEN:Friday, April 36 11:30 p.m.

WHERE:Waldenberg Park & Bienville Street at the Capital One Pavilion1 Canal St.

WHO:Better Than Ezra Foundation, founded by platinum selling rock band Better Than Ezra, is committed to raising funds to support the renewal of the structural and cultural heritage as well as education in New Orleans and Southern Louisiana. Since its inception, the Better Than Ezra Foundation has raised over $1,700,000 for various causes in and around New Orleans.

Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANSPort Orleans Brewing CompanyBetter Than EzraBig Sams Funky NationSweet Crude

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View post:
Rocking The Riverfront - My New Orleans

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director-General Shekhar C. Mande said in Mysuru on Monday that the Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), one of the CSIR labs, has started work on synthesising chemical formulations for the manufacture of drug for COVID-19.

Speaking to reporters after his lecture at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) here, Dr. Mande, who is also secretary for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said the scientists at the CSIR lab have taken up the challenge of developing the molecules towards discovering the drug.

Globally, researchers have shifted their focus on developing the drug and the national laboratories in the country have a collective role towards realising the urgency for the drug. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently reviewed the scientists efforts in this direction, he added.

D.r Mande said IICTs efforts will be to blend the chemicals that are needed in developing the drug.

He said a CSIR lab has obtained licence for developing cannabis-based drugs, particularly painkillers. The Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, had been working on the drug after the Centre approved the research using cannabis (marijuana), growing the plant for medical research.

Earlier, Dr Mande gave a lecture on the topic In science we trust where he touched upon contributions of modern science and the ancient Indias contribution to science and technology. We need to base our hypothesis with strong scientific evidence as the methods of modern science are time tested and trusted.

Field trials of pest-proof cotton variety soon: CSIR

In continuation of CSIRs farmer-centric approaches, a new pest-resistant cotton variety developed by a Lucknow-based research laboratory is ready for field trials which are expected to be done soon at Nagpur in Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, CSIR Director-General Shekhar C. Mande, who was in Mysuru, said the cotton crop usually faces the problem of pest attacks and scientists carried out a research for developing the pest-proof cotton variety.

The same variety will undergo further tests and trials before it is certified for commercial cultivation. The research has been carried out in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research.

Dr. Mande recalled the Samba rice variety (Samba Mashuri), which was developed jointly by the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, a CSIR lab, and the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research. Today, this pest-resistant rice variety was grown in about 18 lakh hectares in many States, helping farmers fetch higher yields and higher returns.

Dr. Mande also spoke about the aroma and honey missions. The Khadi Village Industries Corporation (KVIC) has joined hands with CSIR for the Honey Mission. Honey is a good alternative to sugar since it contains medicinal properties. A MoU had been signed with KVIC, he said. The idea is to help farmers take up modern methods of beekeeping to improve honey yield and also get additional income.

He said a new programme would be launched by the DST from April 1 to promote basic sciences by setting aside a grant of 50 crore. It would help students come up with scientific ideas in an attempt to encourage them to pursue basic science.

On the Aroma Mission and the CSIR Floriculture programme, he said the Aroma and Phyto-Pharmaceutical Mission was intended to boost the cultivation of aromatic plants that have medicinal properties. This mission, taken by the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and medicinal plants such as lavender and others, will be promoted with the help of farmers in several States, including Karnataka.

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CSIR lab working on drug to combat COVID-19 - The Hindu

CHANDIGARH: Prevention is the best strategy to combat corona virus opined the experts of Allopath, Ayurved, Homeopathy, Naturopath, Dietetics, Public Health, Molecular Biology & Yoga at a round table conference organised on Sunday by Joshi Foundation on the topic 'Integrated / Multi Disciplinary approach to combat CORONA VIRUS'.

For prevention experts were unanimous on boosting immunity, maintaining high standards of personal hygiene, nutritious diet and yoga exercises focused on strengthening of lung functions, detailed Vineet Joshi, chairman, Joshi Foundation; city based cardiologist Dr HK Bali who chaired the conference and Editor, Integrative Medicine Case Reports Prof. Akshay Anand who co-chaired.

Prof Rajendra Prasad, former head of the department, Biochemistry, PGI Chandigarh, said that blocking the cellular entry pathway is the best way and for which research in the field of immunotherapeutics is at the advance stage.

Sharing his views on "Why & How Anti Viral drugs are not helping in treatment of Coronavirus", Dr. Indranil Banerjee, assistant professor, Biological Sciences, IISER Mohali said as Coronavirus keeps changing its structure, hence vaccine discovery is a big challenge. His published research shows individual's genome is partly responsible for virus infection. This again indicates the importance of immune response.

Prof Ashish Bhalla, Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh and Dr Vishal Bhambri, medical specialist informed that these viruses keep on surviving medication but need not worry as the death rate in coronavirus is pretty low. The only way to counter it is by exploring innovative methods to get back our immune system, may be by healthy lifestyle, healthy diet and specific yoga asanas. Giving utmost importance to personal hygiene by avoiding to touch MEN i.e. mouth, eyes and nose. They asked people to limit travel and avoid public gatherings as much as possible.

Ayurveda experts Vaidya Naresh Mittal, Gen. Secretary, Shri Dhanwantry Educational Society (Regd.), Chandigarh; Vaidya Ishwar Sardana, Vice President, Arogya Bharti, Punjab; Vaidya Rajeev Mehta, Ayurveda Medical Officer, Department of Ayurveda, Punjab; detailed that the only way to prevent coronavirus is by boosting the immunity through intake of Amla, Trifla and Giloy.

See more here:
Precaution and prevention best medicines to avoid Covid-19 - Times of India

A FILM featuring high-level work being carried out by acupuncturists across the UK was shown in Parliament today (11) and features Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

The Northwood centre, run by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, has been involved in several studies researching the use of acupuncture for people living with cancer and those in remission.

The 30-minute film, called To the Point and produced by the British Acupuncture Council, highlights the work of the Supportive Oncology Research Team, in a partnership with the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre at Mount Vernon.

It was shown at areception in Commons, alongside a report titled The Scope of Acupuncture.

Among those to be interviewed for the film were consultant oncologist Dr Rob Glynn-Jones and Dr Beverley de Valois, researcher in integrative medicine, both based at Mount Vernon.

Macmillan nurse Elaine Melsome, from the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre, also speaks about the impact acupuncture has had on patients at Mount Vernon as part of the film.

Patient Val Fear, who was treated by Dr de Valois, said: It didnt hurt. There was a funny, tingly sensation, but it relaxed me and made me feel calm. Long term I benefited so much from it. I started to sleep properly and the nightmares stopped.

To watch a clip, visit: https://youtu.be/YTLbnG5yJFs

Read the original here:
Mount Vernon featured in Parliament film launch - Ealing Times

Drugmakers Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi SA are racing to launch clinical trials exploring whether their arthritis drug could treat symptoms of novel coronavirus infections.

The study preparations mark the latest effort in an emerging front in researchers' hunt for effective treatments for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. In the U.S., there aren't any drugs or vaccines approved for the condition.

The research aims to see whether certain drugs already on the market to tackle immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis could help ease damage to the lungs and respiratory system caused by the immune system's overreaction to the Covid-19 virus, rather than killing it.

The Sanofi and Regeneron drug, called Kevzara, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

"The goal would be in the next couple of weeks to have the trial up and running, and in weeks to months after that to have the data," Regeneron Chief Scientific Officer George Yancopoulos said in an interview on Tuesday.

Write to Joseph Walker at joseph.walker@wsj.com

More:
Arthritis drug to be tested to treat coronavirus - MarketWatch

Its not just your joints that rheumatoid arthritis can affect.

It can also affect your heart.

A new study published in the journal RMD Open concluded that the presence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, also known as MACE.

The researchers said the increased association was more common in cases of RA that are either seropositive or considered to be active.

In the study, the researchers assessed this risk for MACE and death in people with RA who were required to have a cardiac CT scan for chest pain.

In patients referred to cardiac CT due to chest pain, we found a trend of an association between RA and the combined primary outcome, supporting that RA per se, but in particular seropositive and active RA, may increase the risk [for coronary artery disease] even after initial [coronary artery disease] diagnosis and treatment, the researchers said in a statement.

The data used for this registry was obtained from the Western Denmark Heart Registry and Danish National Patient Registry between 2008 and 2016.

The outcome of the study found a mix of cardiac events, such as myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, ischemic or unspecified stroke, coronary artery bypass grafting, and other causes of death.

The Arthritis Foundation has noted this association between MACE and RA in the past.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, people with RA face a 50 to 70 percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease than the general population.

In addition, people with osteoarthritis face a 24 percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease than the general population.

Overall, the foundation reported, nearly half of all adults with heart disease also have some form of arthritis.

Women also have a higher risk for both heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. They sometimes face gender disparities in treatment for heart health issues and chronic pain.

Certain foods, such as seafood, and supplements, like fish oil and essential omega fatty acids, can help with both heart health and the inflammation of arthritis.

People living with RA should consult their doctor if they experience any new symptoms, want more information on heart health, or want to try out any new supplements or vitamins as a part of their treatment regimen.

The Arthritis Foundation and other experts recommend exercise as part of an overall balanced and healthful lifestyle of wellness for people with arthritis.

There are many health benefits to exercising, even with arthritis, Kindle Fisher, a physical therapist in Pennsylvania, told Healthline.

Exercises such as walking, swimming, or using a stationary bike can increase blood flow and synovial fluid to the joints. Increasing blood flow will also strengthen the heart, she said. While there are severe cases of arthritis where its not always possible to do so, any type of activity can release endorphins, improve health, and help you feel better overall.

People with RA say its important to keep a watch on their heart health but also to try to have a normal life.

I became educated on how unchecked inflammation increases the risk of heart disease, including the risk of heart attack and stroke, Sandra S. of British Columbia, Canada, told Healthline.

Knowing this has allowed me to make more informed decisions when it comes to my health and highlights the importance of managing inflammation effectively, she said.

William A. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, notes that while cardiovascular risk is a concern, it doesnt consume his life.

I became aware of the correlation between heart disease and RA just last year. I was first diagnosed with Sjgrens syndrome in 2009, and my RA diagnosis came just 2 years ago, he told Healthline.

My heart has always worked extra hard and beat extra fast, but Im lucky to have managed my blood pressure for the most part. It is a concern of mine, but I only really think about it when I am symptomatic, he said.

Im grateful to have the information about a link with heart disease and rheumatoid disease, and I do see it in my work, Cynthia S, a nurse from Philadelphia who has rheumatoid arthritis, told Healthline.

But I feel if I continue to try to live a healthy lifestyle even with these health issues, I will thrive, she said.

Go here to see the original:
People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Higher Risk for Heart Disease - Healthline

If everyday actions, such as opening a jar, have become painful, you just might be dealing with thumb arthritis.

Thumb arthritis affects one in every three women, said Dr. Patrick Johnston, an orthopedic surgeon in Steamboat Springs and a member of the medical staff at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. It also affects men, but not as frequently. Overall, its one of the most common conditions that brings patients into the office.

Below, Johnston outlines what you need to know about thumb arthritis.

The base of the thumb and wrist meet at the basal or CMC joint, commonly called the saddle joint.

When you pinch with your fingertips, the force in that joint is 13 times what it is at the fingertips, Johnston said. Over years of pinching, you stretch out the ligament that holds the thumb in the saddle joint, so the thumb no longer sits in the middle of the saddle.

That causes an extra load on the joints cartilage the strong, flexible tissue that provides padding at the joints. Eventually, that cartilage can wear out.

Arthritis is the progressive loss of cartilage, and its irreversible, Johnston said. Like tread on the tires, once it wears off, you cant put it back on.

Thumb arthritis cant be prevented, but genetics play a role: if one of your parents had thumb arthritis, you are more likely to suffer from the condition.

The most common complaint is pain at the base of the thumb when pinching things, especially when trying to open a jar. The pain may also be felt in the palm of the hand.

Thumb arthritis can begin as early as age 40. Eventually, the pain may go away on its own.

Over time, the pain from thumb arthritis tends to improve, Johnston said. It may take several years, but that pain can kind of burn out. But not everybody makes it to that point.

When dealing with arthritis, the goal is to alleviate pain.

I dont treat the X-ray, I treat the patient, Johnston said. If a patient has arthritis on an X-ray but isnt experiencing pain, were happy. Im concerned with their pain level and how its affecting their life. I want patients to be able to live the lifestyle they want, and Ill do whatever I can to help get them to that point.

To ease pain, Johnston recommends running the hand under warm water, taking anti-inflammatory medications if tolerated and trying natural supplements, such as tart cherry juice and turmeric, both of which have anti-inflammatory properties.

Another option is using a thumb splint, which is designed to support the thumb during aggravating activities, such as gardening and pulling weeds.

If those steps arent enough, a steroid injection may help. And finally, theres surgery.

Surgery is a good option for patients who are experiencing pain thats severe enough to affect their daily activities and quality of life and who are not improving with conservative treatment options, Johnston said.

While there are many surgical techniques for thumb arthritis, Johnston prefers one thats been around since the 1940s.

Its a tried and true technique with great long-term results, Johnston said. It has a very high success rate and a low complication rate.

In the 45-minute procedure, Johnston makes a little incision in the wrist to remove the small wrist bone that causes the pain, then uses a tendon from the forearm to reconstruct the ligament thats been stretched out. The patient wears a removable splint for six weeks, then can resume activities as tolerated.

Not necessarily. Other issues can cause similar pain, but thumb arthritis is the most common culprit.

If youre having pain in the base of your thumb, its probably worth having an evaluation, Johnston said. We can get an X-ray and help determine whats going on.

Susan Cunningham writes for UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. She can be reached at cunninghamsbc@gmail.com.

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Monday Medical: Thumb arthritis things to know - Steamboat Pilot & Today

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In the UAE, one in 10 adults suffer from arthritis. With its high prevalence, there is a common misconception that arthritis is a condition that only affects the elderly and adults. This isnt the case though. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can affect children that are as young as six months old, up to the age of 16. Some children can experience the symptoms for a few months and others can have the symptoms for the rest of their lives. Globally, JIA affects around one in 1,000.

Dr Anand Gorva, Specialist Paediatrics Orthopaedics, Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, says that JIA, like rheumatoid arthritis, is autoimmune-related and causes inflammation and pain and stiffness in the joints. JIA is an autoimmune disease or it is when the immune system malfunctions against the lining of the joints, called the synovial membrane.

Dr Gorva says that although the exact cause of the condition is unknown, it is associated with a number of factors. It is genetic disorder and risk factors include exposure to environmental factors, such as pollution. He says that smoking, infections, a lack of exercise and a poor diet can also be risk factors.

Dr Ajith Jose, Specialist Orthopaedics, Aster Hospital, Qusais, says that the majority of cases of JIA arent inherited. Most cases of JIA are sporadic, which means they occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family. A small percentage of cases of JAI have been reported to run in families, although the inheritance pattern of the condition is unclear.

A sibling of a person with juvenile idiopathic arthritis has an estimated risk of developing the condition that is about 12 times that of the general population. Dietary and emotional factors do not appear to play a role in the development of JIA. Researchers have also identified changes in several genes that may influence the risk of developing JAI.

Lack of awareness

Dr Gorva says that peoples lack of awareness about JIA means that it is often diagnosed late or missed. Most people assume that arthritis is an adult disorder and cant happen in children therefore they present late to the doctors. This lack of awareness delays the presentation time when compared to adults. Schools need to be informed and encourage the child to participate in extra-curricular activities as normal as possible. Occupational therapists should liaise with school-based therapists for the continuation of care for these children.

He says that diagnosing JIA at an early stage means that the child is more likely to be receptive to the treatment and less likely to face complications. If the treatment is started early, the response is good and it can prevent major complications such as joint destruction and functional disability.

Dr Jose says that another issue is that JIA can be tricky to diagnose. Diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be difficult because joint pain can be caused by many different types of problems. No single test can confirm a diagnosis, but tests can help rule out some other conditions that produce similar signs and symptoms.

He refers to different measurements that can be taken from blood tests, such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which can be indicative of inflammation. The blood can also be tested for antibodies such as cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) and the rheumatoid factor.

Treatment

For some JIA patients, symptoms can be controlled by taking normal anti-inflammatory tablets to reduce the inflammation. Other patients need to take stronger medication which modulate the immune system. For flare-ups management, doctors may also use cortisone, also called corticosteroids or steroids, says Dr Jose.

Corticosteroids such as prednisone may be used to control symptoms until another medication takes effect. They are also used to treat inflammation when it is not in the joints, such as inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis).

He says that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, can be prescribed to reduce pain and swelling.

If NSAIDs fail to relieve the symptoms of pain or swelling or the patient is at a high risk of future complications, Dr Jose says that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) can be prescribed.

These type of medicines can modulate the immune system to control the disease progression. The most commonly used DMARD for children is methotrexate.When only a few joints are involved, a steroid can be injected into the joint before any additional medications are given.

Dr Jose also refers to new classes of drugs called biologic agents. Also known as biologic response modifiers, this newer class of drugs includes tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, such as etanercept and adalimumab. These medications can help reduce systemic inflammation and prevent joint damage.Physiotherapy and support splints are also used when necessary.

Complications

JIA is associated with multiple deformities in more than half of patients, says Dr Jose. Among these deformities, hand and wrist are the commonest involved joints followed by knee joints. These deformities are statistically significantly associated with polyarthritis, seropositivity, and late presentation of patients to tertiary care.

While early diagnosis is vital, JIA can also disrupt a childs growth and bone development and some medications, such as corticosteroids, can also inhibit growth. Yet, Dr Gorva says that the emotional impact of the condition should also be considered.

Apart from functional disabilities like joint contracture and stiffness the child can have emotional, psychological and social problems. Therefore a multi team approach would mitigate these problems and most of the children with JIA lead an active life and do things as their peers do, he says.

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The misconception that arthritis only affects the elderly - Gulf News

(WZAW) -- Imagine not being able to hold your newborn baby or being thrown into a vicious cycle of unemployment through no fault of your own. Thats the reality for many of the 54-million Americans living with arthritis.

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States. The results of one the nations largest assessments of people with arthritis, called A Mandate for Action, reveals the devastating physical and emotional realities for those living with arthritis.

Some of the shocking revelations from the survey include:

- Physical Pain: 100% of patients registered pain so significant it effects their day-to-day lives, causing major lack of mobility and chronic fatigue. And not the kind of pain that can be easily managed, but significant pain that is disrupting sleep, causing isolation and leading to depression and anxiety.

- Life-Altering Emotional Effects: 72% reported having trouble doing all usual work including work from home.

- Gap in Quality Care: Only 57% of patients report being able to get the help they need during their healthcare appointments.

Comedian and TV host Matt Iseman lives with rheumatoid arthritis. He shared his story living with the chronic condition on NewsChannel 7 at 4, along with Cindy McDaniel, the senior vice president of consumer health for the Arthritis Foundation.

Its been almost 20 years that Ive been living with rheumatoid arthritis, but it was the first 18 months that were the most devastating, because thats when the disease started taking over my body, Iseman said.

Iseman went on to say that the pain started in his right index finger but eventually spread to the other joints in his hands, his feet, neck and back.

I was also fatigued. I was sleeping 10, 12 hours a day and still felt like I had no energy. I became a shell of myself," he added.

McDaniel said emotional pain can often equal the physical pain of the disease.

People become socially isolated, they become depressed, theres a lot of anxiety. Part of the assessment looks at these effects, she said.

Once Iseman got his diagnosis and on a treatment plan, he said he got his life back. Since then, hes been working with the Arthritis Foundation to be an advocate for the 50 million Americans live arthritis to get treatment and a better life.

For more information, visit http://www.Arthritis.org/Insights

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TV host and comedian Matt Iseman says he was a "shell of himself" living with arthritis - WSAW

NEW YORK, March 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Market by Drug Type (NSAIDs, DMARDs, Biologics, and Others), Type (Prescription, and OTC), and Route of Administration (Topical, Oral, and Injectable): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05868979/?utm_source=PRN

The psoriatic arthritis treatment market was valued at $7,860 million in 2018, and is estimated to reach at $13,744 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 7.2% from 2019 to 2026.

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease caused by an attack of body's immune system on skin and joint. The disease is characterized by stiffness, swelling in the joints, and pain. Symmetric psoriatic arthritis, asymmetric psoriatic arthritis, spondylitis, distal psoriatic arthritis, and arthritis mutilans are the different types of psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms associated with this disorder include low back pain, conjunctivitis, swollen joint, nail pitting, and foot pain. The disorder is more prevalent among patients already suffering from psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis can be diagnosed with tests such as rheumatoid factor (RF), joint fluid test, X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Drugs used to treat psoriatic arthritis disease include NSAIDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, immunosuppressant drugs, and others.

Significant increase in prevalence of psoriatic arthritis, rise in demand for psoriatic arthritis pharmacotherapy, strong pipeline of biosimilar & biologic products, stressful lifestyle resulting in the overstimulation of immune system, and rise in geriatric population are the key factors that fuel the growth of the global psoriatic arthritis treatment market. Moreover, rise in adoption of psoriatic arthritis treatment medications, increase in R&D activities to develop new products for effective treatment of psoriatic arthritis, frequent product launches by key players, surge in awareness toward availability of treatment for psoriatic arthritis, and increase in risk of diseases are other factors that contribute toward the growth of the market. However, lack of standardization tools for diagnosis and high cost of treatment are expected to hamper the market growth.

The global psoriatic arthritis treatment market is segmented into drug type, type, route of administration, and region. By drug type, the market is categorized into NSAIDs, DMARDs, biologics, and others. On the basis of type, the market is divided into prescription, and OTC. According to route of administration, it is segregated into topical, oral, and injectable. Region wise, the market is studied across North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Australia, India, South Korea, and rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and rest of LAMEA).

KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS The study provides an in-depth analysis of the market along with the current trends and future estimations to elucidate the imminent investment pockets. It offers a quantitative analysis from 2018 to 2026, which is expected to enable the stakeholders to capitalize on the prevailing market opportunities. A comprehensive analysis of all the geographical regions is provided to determine the existing opportunities. The profiles and growth strategies of the key players are thoroughly analyzed to understand the competitive outlook of the global market.

KEY MARKET SEGMENTS

By Drug Type NSAIDs DMARDs Biologics Others

By Type Prescription OTC

By Route of Administration Topical Oral Injectable

By Region North America o U.S. o Canada o Mexico Europe o Germany o France o UK o Italy o Spain o Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific o Japan o China o Australia o India o South Korea o Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA o Brazil o Saudi Arabia o South Africa o Rest of LAMEA

LIST OF KEY PLAYERS PROFILED IN THE REPORT AbbVie Inc. Amgen Inc. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Celgene Corporation Eli Lilly And Company Johnson & Johnson Merck & Co Inc. Novartis AG Pfizer Inc. UCB S.A.

LIST OF OTHER PLAYERS IN THE VALUE CHAIN (These players are not profiled in the report. The same will be included on request.) F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Abbott Laboratories

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05868979/?utm_source=PRN

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

__________________________ Contact Clare: [emailprotected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

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The psoriatic arthritis treatment market was valued at $7,860 million in 2018, and is estimated to reach at $13,744 million by 2026, registering a...

One of the lead authors of the scorpion venom study, Fred Hutch staff scientist Emily Girard (center), says she hopes her work results in a therapeutic that will help a lot of people. (Fred Hutch News Service Photo / Robert Hood)

Scientists at Seattles Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have identified a mini-protein in scorpion venom that can target joint inflammation in arthritic rats and theyre hoping it can do the same thing for human patients.

Its too early to say whether the technique will work as well in humans as it does in rats. But the experiments reported today in Science Translational Medicine hold the promise of delivering the benefits of steroid-based therapies for arthritis while avoiding the side effects that come with the use of those steroids.

For people with multijoint arthritis, the side effects of controlling the disease can be as bad or worse than the disease itself, Fred Hutch researcher Jim Olson, the studys senior author, explained in a news release. Steroids like to go everywhere in the body except where theyre needed most. This is a strategy to improve arthritis relief with minimal systemic side effects.

The study builds on years of study that Olson has conducted into the compounds contained in scorpion venom. One of those compounds has been found to latch onto cancer cells, providing the foundation for a startup called Blaze Bioscience. Blaze is currently testing a scorpion-derived fluorescent dye called Tumor Paint, which can help surgeons target brain tumors that would otherwise be hard to spot.

After spinning out Blaze in 2010, Olson widened the scope of his search. He and his colleagues screened dozens of mini-proteins known as peptides, looking for compounds that could cross over the blood-brain barrier. They noticed that one of the peptides, known as CDP-11R, tended to accumulate in cartilage. The researchers quickly realized that CDP-11R could be used in a targeted treatment for arthritis.

It really shows the value of playing scientifically and just doing things for the pure joy of learning, Olson said. You never know where its going to take you.

The next step involved pairing the peptide molecule with the right kind of steroid. Eventually, Fred Hutchs researchers focused on a steroid known as triamcinolone acetonide, or TAA.

When a drug that paired CDP-11R with TAA was injected into rats with arthritis, the peptide-steroid combination gravitated to the joints and eased the rats inflammation, as hoped. And if some of the drug leaked into the bloodstream, it became inactive without causing the side effects associated with steroids.

Its a pretty simple idea to take a mini-protein that naturally goes to cartilage and attach something to it so that you get targeted delivery of the drug, but it was challenging to accomplish, said one of the studys lead authors, Emily Girard, whos a staff scientist in Olsons lab at Fred Hutch. We had to learn and adapt the behavior of the mini-protein, the chemical linker and the steroid payload to make a product that would go to cartilage, stay as long as we needed it to, release the drug at the right rate, and have a local but not systemic effect.

The researchers say the technique seems promising enough to move on to human clinical trials, although additional studies with animals will need to be done first. They also suggest that CDP-11R could be used to deliver other types of drugs to a patients joints more precisely.

There is more development to be done, Girard said, but I hope that this work results in a therapeutic that will help a lot of people.

In addition to Girard and Olson, the authors of the study in Science Translational Medicine, A Potent Peptide-Steroid Conjugate Accumulates in Cartilage and Reverses Arthritis Without Evidence of Systemic Corticosteroid Exposure, include Michelle Cook Sangar, Gene Hopping, Chunfeng Yin, Fiona Pakiam, Mi-Youn Brusniak, Elizabeth Nguyen, Raymond Ruff, Mesfin Gewe, Kelly Byrnes-Blake (Northwest PK Solutions), Natalie W. Nairn and Dennis M. Miller (Blaze Bioscience), Christopher Mehlin, Andrew Strand, Andrew Mhyre, Colin Correnti, Roland Strong and Julian Simon.

The research was supported by the National Cancer Institute, Blaze Bioscience and philanthropic funding from Project Violet, the Wissner-Slivka Foundation, the Kismet Foundation, the Sarah M. Hughes Foundation, Strong4Sam, Yahn Bernier and Beth McCaw, Len and Norma Klorfine, Anne Croco and Pocket Full of Hope. The work was performed in collaboration with Blaze Bioscience, which has an ongoing collaboration and option agreement with Fred Hutch to develop optimized peptide therapeutics.

Competing interests: Olson is a founder and shareholder of Blaze Bioscience, which retains intellectual property rights to the peptides used in this research.

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A protein found in scorpion venom just might help take the sting out of arthritis - GeekWire

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory, cancer and liver diseases, announced today that data from the interim analysis of Piclidenoson in its Phase III clinical study is expected to be released during Q4 2020. Moreover and in line with the reports that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs have been introduced for the treatment of the Coronavirus, the Company is now exploring a collaboration to look at the effect of Piclidenoson against Coronavirus. Can Fite drug candidates possess anti-viral effect protected by a US patent US7589075.

Recently, two pharmaceutical companies announced the introduction of RA drugs for the treatment of patients with Coronavirus. Gilead is conducting a clinical study in China which combines its anti-viral drug candidate Remdisivir with the old RA drug chloroquine (http://www.natap.org/2020/newsUpdates/s41422-020-0282-0.pdf). In addition, Roche has donated its Actemra anti-RA drug for the treatment of patients in China (https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma-asia/china-turns-roche-arthritis-drug-actemra-against-covid-19-new-treatment-guidelines?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTVdVeU5XUmpOMlUyWkRSaCIsInQiOiJxRUtpQjhUU2U5NkJGMkxlaEdiZDhoRVFTQkkxbjJzQUV6d1hacVV3T3gzNmRZN3R5d0JWd0ZBeXhQZUo5RTN1XC91QTFIemVBekpzNHdwaGFHZGo1TmYweVgzeUdudHc1Z0R4alFYaUYyMXpVeEN1WlVTa2dSVkhqZlkxbWpkT0oifQ%3D%3D&mrkid=685430).

Can Fite is now exploring the possibility to collaborate with leading virology labs to explore the anti-viral effect of its drugs against the Coronavirus based on the known anti-viral and anti-rheumatic effects of the company drugs.

Can Fite completed the enrolment of 50% of the 525 patients planned for its Phase III ACRobat trial to evaluate its drug candidate Piclidenoson as a first-line treatment for RA. An interim analysis is being implemented, and will be managed and monitored by an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) that will have un-blinded access to the data which are expected during Q3 2020.

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About Piclidenoson

Piclidenoson is a novel, first-in-class, A3 adenosine receptor agonist (A3AR) small molecule, orally bioavailable drug with a favorable therapeutic index demonstrated in Phase II clinical studies. Piclidenoson is currently under development for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. It is being evaluated in a Phase III study as a first line treatment, to replace methotrexate, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and a Phase III study in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CFBI) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory disease and sexual dysfunction. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson, is currently in Phase III trials for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver cancer drug, Namodenoson, recently completed a Phase II trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, and is in a Phase II trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company's third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in preclinical studies and the Company is investigating additional compounds, targeting A3AR, for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,000 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: http://www.can-fite.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fites expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, market risks and uncertainties, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, Can-Fite or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by Can-Fite with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of Can-Fites authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Can-Fites actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause Can-Fites actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business; and risks and other risk factors detailed in Can-Fites filings with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. In addition, Can-Fite operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. Can-Fite does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200305005410/en/

Contacts

Can-Fite BioPharmaMotti Farbsteininfo@canfite.com

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Can-Fite Updates on Clinical Milestone for its Phase III Rheumatoid Arthritis Study with Piclidenoson; Drugs Combating Rheumatoid Arthritis are...

OBJECTIVES:

Inflamed airways are hypothesized to contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis due to RA-related autoantibody production, and smoking is the strongest environmental RA risk factor. However, the role of chronic airway diseases in RA development is unclear. We investigated whetherasthmaor COPD were associated with RA.

We performed a prospective cohort study of 205,153 women in the Nurses Health Study (NHS, 1988-2014) and NHSII (1991-2015). Exposures were self-reported physician-diagnosedasthmaor COPD confirmed by validated supplemental questionnaires. Outcomes were incident RA confirmed by medical record review by 2 rheumatologists. Covariates (including smoking pack-years/status) were assessed via biennial questionnaires. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for RA were estimated using Cox regression.

We identified 15,148 women with confirmedasthma, 3,573 with confirmed COPD, and 1,060 incident RA cases during 4,384,471 person-years of follow-up in NHS and NHSII.Asthmawas associated with increased RA risk (HR 1.53, 95%CI 1.24,1.88) compared to noasthma/COPD after adjusting for covariates including smoking pack-years/status.Asthmaremained associated with increased RA risk among never-smokers only (HR 1.53, 95%CI 1.14,2.05). COPD was also associated with increased RA risk (HR 1.89, 95%CI 1.31,2.75). The association of COPD with RA was most pronounced in the subgroup of ever-smokers aged >55 years (HR 2.20, 95%CI 1.38,3.51).

Asthmaand COPD were each associated with increased risk for incident RA, independent of smoking status/intensity and other potential confounders. These results provide support for the hypothesis that chronic airway inflammation may be crucial in RA pathogenesis.

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Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Subsequent Risk for Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis among Women: A Prospective Cohort Study - DocWire...

IANS-

Turmeric or curcumin is being advocated by some medical experts for reducing lung inflammation in the backdrop of rising Covid-19 cases in India, which is especially known to attack the respiratory system.

Turmeric is being touted as the only way to keep inflammation in your body low so that you have a better chance of fighting the coronavirus infection.

In view of the current Covid-19 epidemic and the panic around it, medical experts have a few suggestions besides washing hands, not being in crowded spaces, etc., on how to boost the immune system and possibly minimize the symptoms as there are no cures for the disease.

Vaccines are at least two years away and there are no drugs on the horizon except Actemra which is a biological drug that Roche had developed for arthritis.

Simple tricks to boost your immune system during coronavirus may help reduce the severity of the disease. One major thing that happens when you get infected is that one has a cytokine storm in the body.

Bad cytokines/hormones especially IL-6 and TNF-a levels rise which contribute to stress and organ failure during Covid-19 infection.

The pharmaceutical company Roche has dusted off an old drug, Actemra, which was developed for arthritis as it was shown to suppress IL-6. Tocilizumab (Actemra) is in a class of drugs called biologics.

Tocilizumab is a treatment for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), giant cell arthritis, and polyarticular and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Even if this drug is approved for Covid-19, it will cost at least $25,000-30,000 per patient. Nature has effective molecules for lowering IL-6 naturally: Turmeric/curcumin, Resveratrol and Lutein.

Turmeric/curcumin is especially excellent in reducing lung inflammation. This is the only way to keep inflammation in the body low so that one has a better chance of fighting off this infection.

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Turmeric seen as effective in reducing lung inflammation - indica News

How many times have we all grabbed a knife to open a pack of food, spilt it across the kitchen because the pack was too hard to open, been unable to read the text on the pack (even with glasses on) and then vowed to never buy that brand again? Now imagine if you were part of the ageing population, hospitalised, a consumer with a disability, an arthritis sufferer orachild.

All too often, accessible packaging is not considered when designing products, which in turn leads to unnecessary frustration when opening and closing packs, reading the ingredients and opening instructions on packaging. It is important that packaging technologists consider how their packaging design could affect someones ability to eat, drink and the flow on of wasting food.

Research from Arthritis Australia in 2018 shows that: All consumers struggle with packaging, but the growing ageing population, consumers with disabilities, arthritis sufferers and children are impacted the most. 44 per cent of consumers struggle with packaging every day. 92 per cent of consumers have spilt or damaged a product when trying to open the packaging. When consumers experience hard-to-open packaging:o 56 per cent look for the product but in a different typeof packaging.o 21 per cent look at buying a competitors product. 65 per cent of consumers have had to wait for someone to come and open packaging for them. 1-in-2 Australians have injured themselves opening packaging including deep cuts and chippedteeth. 89 per cent of consumers are currently feeling frustrated or furious with packaging. 67,000 people in the UK visited hospitals casualty departments every year due to an accident involving food and drinkpackaging.So, I ask you do you consider accessible design and ease of use critical design elements on your packaging? Are your packaging technologists using available resources and training to better understand the needs of this consumer market?

Step one: accessibility packaging design guidelinesIf you arent using the Accessibility Packaging Design Guidelines developed by Arthritis Australia, in conjunction with Brad Fain from Georgia Tech Research Institute, and available in New Zealand through a partnership with Arthritis New Zealand, then you could already be losing customers whose abilities are not being consideredand their needs are notbeing met.

Key guidelines include that packaging must be easy to open and use for those with limited functional abilities, packaging labelling must be highly legible, and packaging shall be fit-for-purpose and must be able to demonstrate accessibility.

Step two: accessible packaging design trainingThe Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), in conjunction with Arthritis Australia and Georgia Tech Research Institute, have developed a one-day training course on accessible packaging design. The course allows attendees to become aware of the required design requirements and understanding the ease-of-use packaging design tools, which include examples from around the world. It also providesinformation on changinghousehold demographics, meal preparationrequirements and case studies from users.

Attendees will learn measuring techniques, injuries caused by packaging and current consumer satisfaction levels with packaging accessibility. The course offers an activities-based approach, hands-on team exercises letting participants understand the constraints on current packaging designs for people with disabilities, arthritis sufferers, children and the ageing population. This includes the testing with simulation gloves that have been developed by Georgia Tech Research Institute in the US and reading glasses from a UK researcher. Attendees will leave the course with a differentapproach to packagingdesign; an approach that includes all sectorsofourcommunity.

Step three: recognition of innovative accessible packaging designThe AIP, in conjunction with Arthritis Australia and New Zealand, has developed a new Accessible Packaging Design Award that is designed to recognise packaging that is accessible, intuitive, easy-to-open and innovative. The judges are looking for accessible packaging design, which includes measuring techniques, understanding injuries caused by packaging and consumer satisfaction levels with packaging accessibility. The inaugural award winners were announced as a part of the Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards (PIDA), which are run by the AIP and are designed for Australia and New Zealand.

Finalists for 2019 were SPC Ardmona, Flavour Creations, Moana New Zealand & Sealed Air for Cryovac Grip and Tear and Campbell Arnotts. All four finalists deserve to be recognised for incorporating accessible packaging design into their ranges and it is inspiring to see some of the innovations that they have beenworking on.

The 2019 Gold Award went to SPC Ardmona. They developed their SPC ProVital Easy-Open Diced Fruit in Jelly range that is designed for all consumers to open, including those with reduced fine motor skills. It has dexterity and strength, and on-pack communication is clear, crisp and legible for all. This design achieved easy-to-open certification as well as an ISR +8 Accessibility Rating (i.e. the product is universally easy to open, with 95 per cent of the population able to open the pack without tools).

The 2019 Silver Award went to Flavour Creations who developed its pre-thickened Ready-to-drink (RTD) packaged in the new dysphagia Cup and Cup Holder that were designed to specifically increase rates of hydration and decrease rates of malnutrition for residents/patients with dysphagia. Along with the reusable holder and plastic over seal, the snap fitting portion control cup has a large overhanging tab that is textured and clear peel back wording to make it obvious to the consumer how toopen the product.

A Special Commendation went to Moana New Zealand & Sealed Air for Cryovac Grip and Tear (including small tab), which was designed to foster ease of use to packaged meat, poultry, and seafood products for processing,food service and retail markets. This accessible packaging design enables convenient product access using a packaging design that is simple and intuitive for consumers to use (irrespective of their age or functional abilities). Previously, these difficult to open items required opening tools, which could easily cause injuries. The grip-and-tear feature means the packs can now be opened by a simple hand action.

Sealed Air have undertaken design innovation in the development of the grip-and-tear feature to meet both the food handling and food protection requirements for the range of products proposed for thepackaging format.

Accessible packaging design that is intuitive, easy-to-open and innovative should be an integralpart of your packaging and we encourage you to integrate this critical element into your future NPD processes. Imaginethedifference you couldmake.

The rest is here:
Accessible packaging design is the key to helping consumers | Food & Beverage - FOOD Magazine - Australia