Q. You and Burns have worked together in the past. Could you describe the collaborative process of turning a book into a documentary?

A. First of all, its an incredible collaboration. When Ken and I launch a film we begin with talks about the book, both of us excited and aware that we are wading into the unknown. We take long walks through Central Park and ask questions outside the nitty gritty of the film: What is the mood of the film? What are the primary messages were trying to convey? I was lucky to work on The Gene with largely the same production team that adapted my first book, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, including the incredible filmmaker Barak Goodman (JRN86).

A film is different from a book. In The Gene we wereable to include a trove of historical footage and humanize the inspiring stories of patients and their families seeking cures for their genetic disease. People like Nancy Wexler, professor of neuropsychology at Columbias medical center, who has spent most of her life on an odyssey to find the gene for Huntingtons, a disease that killed her mother. Luke Rosen and Sally Jackson, parents on a tireless quest to raise awareness for their daughters rare degenerative disease. These personal stories help genetics come to life, but they also highlight how much we still do not know. I hope people will find the mood of our film somber, thoughtful and hopeful.

Q. For $200 a person can order a profile of his or her genome that provides ancestral information, as well as genetic health risks. Do you see this as a positive societal development?

A. The question you have to ask is do we want to live in a world where you can send a sample of saliva and find out that you have a 10 percent or 20 percent risk of developing breast cancer in the next 30 years. This information can be useful, motivating you to adopt more positive health behaviors. But it also marks you, changes you. It can change your relationship with yourself, your body. When you decide to test for future risk you are also, inevitably, asking yourself, what kind of future am I willing to risk?

Q. Could genetics play a role in how vulnerable a person is to contracting COVID-19, and whether that person is more at risk of dying from the illness?

A. This is one of the great mysteries of this infection. Young, healthy people are dying, even if most serious cases occur in the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. There are multiple studies trying to unravel why some people infected with SARS-Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19, fall seriously ill, while others show only mild or nonexistent symptoms.We are finding a correlation between high viral loadthe amount ofvirus present in any sample taken from a patientand more severe illness.

As I argued recently in The New Yorker, we have done a good job measuring the spread of the virus across populations, but it is now time we learn more about how SARS-Cov2 behaves in the body. This requires large-scale efforts to collect the DNA of people and the virus that they are infected with. One example of a study might be taking the DNA of those with serious underlying disease and comparing it to the DNA of those with mild or asymptomatic cases. We need to determine whether genetic variations among humans affect how susceptible individuals are to COVID-19 infections as rapidly as possible.

Q. What would you like audiences will take away from the film?

A. We hope The Gene will help people understand that the story of the revolution in genetics that is transforming medical science is also the story of what makes us who we are. Wed like to see the film spark a national conversation. The National Institute of Healths National Human Genome Research Institute, our outreach and education partner, is planning many activities. We are in conversations with people in cities across the country, including policymakers and science educators, right down to the primary school level, to take part in discussions and host screenings.

In the next few weeks NIH will launch an interactive digital platform that will go beyond the book and film, adding discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic. After you watch the film, please keep up with us on Twitter to learn more about these activities. Visit @DrSidMukherjee, @KenBurns and @WETA (our producing public media station). Stay tuned.

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Siddhartha Mukherjee and Ken Burns Present PBS Premiere of 'The Gene: An Intimate History' - Columbia University

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

TORONTO, April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

QuestCap Inc. (QuestCap or the Company) (CSE: QSC; OTCMKTS: COPRF; FRA: 34C1) is pleased to announce an investment of $1 million in the Sunnybrook Research Institutes COVID-19 research. With these funds, Sunnybrook will establish the Sunnybrook Translational Research Group for Emerging and Respiratory Viruses (SERV) and QuestCap will receive a 3.5% royalty on any revenues earned by Sunnybrook from the commercialization of any of the research done by SERV.

Led by infectious diseases physician and microbiologist Dr. Samira Mubareka, SERVs work will focus on three crucial streams of research: vaccines and therapeutics, virus biology and transmission prevention. Dedicated investment in SERV means Dr. Mubareka and her team will be able to accelerate the pace of further research into COVID-19 at a crucial time.

Dr. Lawrence Steinman and Mike McCarthy Appointed as Advisors

QuestCap is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Steinman and Mike McCarthy to the board of advisors. Dr. Lawrence Steinman is Professor of Neurology, Neurological Sciences and Pediatrics at Stanford University and Chair of the Stanford Program in Immunology from 2001 to 2011.

Mike McCarthy has more than 14 years of experience with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and 24 years in health policy and delivery. He was appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the Progressive Conservative Minister of Health of Ontario, advising on physician, nursing and primary care, public health, laboratories, OHIP, organ transplant, HIV and blood issues. In 2003, he provided strategic support and counsel to the government of Ontario during the SARS outbreak.

Lawrence Steinman stated that, The Sunnybrook technology will be a key tool for the development of both powerful and safe vaccines against COVID-19, and for the development of point of care and even home diagnostics to test whether one is immune to the COVID-19 virus. Those who are immune can return to work and can provide safe and needed duties to the community. It would be especially important to know if you are a health care worker, grocer or delivery person whether or not you have immunity. You could then be safe and carry on as a SuperWomen or SuperMan in these times, knowing you are immune! Mike McCarthy adds I look forward to advising QuestCap in its visionary efforts to bring innovative testing and vaccine technologies to Canada and the world to combat COVID-19.

The Company has granted 500,000 stock options to Mr. Steinman pursuant to the Companys stock option plan. The stock options shall vest in four equal instalments every three months such that all stock options fully vest by the date that falls 12 months from the date of grant and may be exercised at a price of $0.305 per common share for a period of five years from the date of grant. This grant of options is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Sunnybrook Translational Research Group

Sunnybrook has been at the global forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic since the first Canadian case was identified, both clinically and on the research front. Dr. Mubareka, along with clinical microbiologist Dr. Robert Kozak and a team of close collaborators, has led Sunnybrooks research response efforts since the earliest days of the pandemic. Their work has been globally significant, leading to early implementation of a hospital-based COVID-19 test. Most crucially, on March 10, 2020, their team isolated the agent responsible for the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. The isolated virus is helping researchers in Canada and elsewhere to develop better diagnostic testing, treatments and vaccines, and gain a better understanding of the viruss biology, evolution and clinical shedding.

This is extremely time-sensitive research, says Dr. Mubareka. As a scientist on the frontlines, I have seen the devastation this virus can cause. We all feel the effects of physical distancing as our lives are fundamentally changed. This is why support from our community is so important right now. The more we understand how this virus behaves, the better we can limit its spread as we race to find a treatment or vaccine. This investment will be put to work immediately toward our human and operational funding needs to rapidly accelerate research into COVID-19.

Now is the time to dedicate as many resources as possible to stopping the spread of this highly contagious virus, explains Dr. Andy Smith, Sunnybrooks President and CEO. On behalf of Sunnybrook, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to QuestCap for stepping up with this inspiring investment. Your support will have a direct impact on the lives of countless people in our communities, across Canada and around the world.

With these crucial tools in hand, QuestCap saw an opportunity to give this research a major boost at a critical juncture. As countries grapple with the effects of COVID-19, there has been a collective global effort to help minimize the impacts of this deadly virus, says Stan Bharti, Co-Chairman of QuestCap. QuestCap, through its investment platform, is looking to do its part by providing a critical investment to help fund the vital research being conducted by Dr. Mubareka, Dr. Kozak and their teams.

The investment to Sunnybrook will help researchers in Canada and across the world develop better diagnostic testing, treatments and vaccines, and gain a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 biology, evolution and clinical shedding for the development of commercial applications (Commercial Applications). As consideration for its investment, QuestCap will receive a 3.5% royalty on any revenue earned by Sunnybrook from the any Commercial Applications resulting from the research conducted by SERV.

At a time of global uncertainty as COVID-19 continues to devastate people, families and entire countries, the urgency of research has never been greater, says Dr. Kullervo Hynynen, Vice President of Research & Innovation at Sunnybrook. Yet, often times, there simply isnt enough funding for research. I am deeply grateful to QuestCap for this clear statement on supporting the power of research to save and change lives.

About the Research

SERV is a three-pronged COVID-19 research response program, consisting of the following critically important areas of focus:

1. Virus biology (genomics): Identifying the genetic sequence of a virus is an essential step for identifying key targets for treatments and vaccines. It also tells the story of origin and its relation to other viruses. This approach provides precision genomic data, which will be essential for outbreak investigation. Funds for SERV allow Sunnybrook scientists to turn around whole genome viral sequences at the site of care: Sunnybrook.

2. Vaccines and therapeutics: Our ability to identify and isolate the virus that causes COVID-19, based on samples from infected patients, allows us to collaborate on antiviral research and conduct our own vaccine and transmission work. With SERV, Sunnybrook will share our findings about the virus within the Canadian research and diagnostic community, thereby driving further innovative solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Transmission prevention: As part of a World Health Organizations effort to evaluate risk to health-care workers of providing certain support measures, such as high-flow oxygen use, Sunnybrook is building a simulation space for live virus experiments using mannequins with funds for SERV. This is important because protecting care providers is key to preventing the spread of the virus within hospitals.

About Lawrence Steinman

Steinman is Professor of Neurology, Neurological Sciences and Pediatrics at Stanford University and Chair of the Stanford Program in Immunology from 2001 to 2011. His research focuses on antigen specific tolerance in autoimmune disease and in gene therapy for degenerative neurologic diseases. He has elucidated what provokes relapses and remissions in multiple sclerosis (MS). He is taking forward a pivotal clinical trial with antigen specific tolerization therapy for type 1 diabetes. He serves as attending neurologist at Stanfords Lucille Packard Childrens Hospital. Steinman is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

Steinman was senior author on the 1992 Nature article that led to the drug Tysabri, approved for MS and Crohns disease. Tysabri has been taken by over 200,000 individuals with MS.

Dr. Steinman graduated from Dartmouth College, Magna Cum Laude in Physics. His MD is from Harvard Medical School. He was a post-doctoral fellow in chemical immunology fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science. After neurology residency he remained on the faculty in 1980. He has received numerous honors, including the John M. Dystel Prize in 2004, the Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the NINDS twice, the Charcot Prize in MS research, and the Cerami Prize in Translational Medicine. Steinman is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Steinman co-founded several biotech companies, including Neurocrine, Atreca, 180 Therapeutics, and Tolerion. He was a Director of Centocor from 1988 until its sale to Johnson and Johnson.

About Mike McCarthy

Mike is widely recognized across Canada as a stellar health care advocate and system expert. As a volunteer Vice-President of the Canadian Hemophilia Society, Mike was the national spokesperson for Canadians infected by blood tainted with Hepatitis C. His tireless efforts resulted in a landmark $2 billion settlement with the federal government in 2006, and the Queens Golden Jubilee Award presented by the Governor General of Canada.

Presently Mike is a Principal at Grosso McCarthy and provides counsel to clients in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors. He helps clients navigate provincial, federal and international governments at the levels of the civil service and elected officials. Mike has also been on the front lines of health care, working for 18 years as a psychiatric nurse.

As a principal with Grosso McCarthy, Mike builds on more than 14 years of experience with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and 24 years in health policy and delivery. He was appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the Progressive Conservative Minister of Health of Ontario, advising on physician, nursing and primary care, public health, laboratories, OHIP, organ transplant, HIV and blood issues.

In 2003, he provided strategic support and counsel to the government of Ontario during the SARS outbreak.

About QuestCap

QuestCap is an investment company that seeks to enhance shareholder value over the long term by opportunistically making various investments that may include, without limitation, the acquisition of equity, debt or other securities of publicly traded or private companies or other entities, financing in exchange for pre-determined royalties or distributions and the acquisition of all or part of one or more businesses, portfolios or other assets.

For additional information, please contact:

G Scott Moore

Co-Chairmansmoore@forbesmanhattan.com1-416-861-5903

Media contact:

Wynn TheriaultThirty Dash Communications34 King St East #400Toronto M5C 2X8416.710.3370

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-lookingInformation

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the investment with SERV; the grant of options; and Sunnybrook and the appointment of advisory board members. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

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QUESTCAP TO INVEST $1 MILLION WITH SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO ESTABLISH THE SUNNYBROOK TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH GROUP FOR EMERGING AND RESPIRATORY...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A new business intelligence report titledGlobalGene TherapyMarketincludes analysis of factual data that contains all information on the global and regional market, historic and future trends for market demand, size, trading, supply, competitors, and prices as well as global predominant vendors information. The report highlights factors related to the growth of the globalGene Therapymarket such as market evolution, overview, genesis, value chain, trade scenario, market size, market segmentation, and competitive scenario. Leading market players in the industry are analyzed with their corporate overview, financials, financial summary, and SWOT analysis. Then, the key driving and restraining forces are highlighted.

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The report has mentioned the leading segments and the players that are expected to shape the market in the coming years. The current and future of the market in developed and emerging markets has been explained in the report. The report provides the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years (2019-2025). The worldwideGene Therapyindustry report executes a thorough study of the chronicled information, current and additionally upcoming market trends of the market and future outcomes.

Segment Analysis:

The report throws light on the segment expected to dominate the globalGene Therapyindustry and market. The research includes market attraction assessment, in which different segments are evaluated in accordance with their market size, and growth rate. The report includes segmentation such as application, product type, and end-user

This report presents the worldwide market size (value, production, and consumption), splits the breakdown (data status 2014-2019 and forecast to2025), by companies, region, type, and application. Top companies involved in the market:Spark Therapeutics LLC, Bluebird Bio, UniQure N.V., Juno Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Human Stem Cell Institute, Voyager Therapeutics, Shire Plc, Sangamo Biosciences, Dimension Therapeutics and others.

Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers in these key regions:North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

Additionally, the report sheds light on the current trends, market drivers, growth opportunities, and restraints that are likely to impact the dynamics of the globalGene Therapymarket over the forecast period 2019 to2025. The study helps to take business people an important judgment by having an overall in-depth analysis of a market. Then, the market report includes key point analysis for changeable competitive dynamics.

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Global Gene Therapy Market 2019 Valuable Growth Prospects and Upcoming Trends till 2025 - Curious Desk

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy market report:

The Negative Pressure Wound Therapy markets business intelligence research comprehensively provides a quick of crucial facts consisting of the merchandise catalogue, analytical elaboration, and other industry-linked information.

The study also covers the key aspects related to the on-going events such as mergers & acquisitions, new product launches, and synergisms. The study further harmonies a rigid preliminary for gaining loads of insights that potential buyers can use for ensuring better profits at low capitals. The demonstration of information on market segmentation by type, application, and geography delivers a critical viewpoint of, what manufacturers are seeking for the stipulated timeframe, 2020 2026.

Scope of the Report:

North America is the largest market of negative pressure wound therapy, both in production and consumption. In 2015, North America supplied more than 60% and consumed more than 50% of the global negative pressure wound therapy.

Europe is the second largest market, following North America. Asia area is the emerging market with a higher growth rate. While the negative pressure wound therapy industry in Asia market is still underdevelopment with many hospitals and patients are still using common gauze to cure wound.

In recent years, disposable negative pressure wound therapy is more and more popular. Among them, PICO single use product provided by Smith & Nephew is outstanding.

The worldwide market for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly 6.1% over the next five years, will reach 2000 million US$ in 2024, from 1400 million US$ in 2019, according to a new Globalmarketers.biz Research study.

This report focuses on the Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.

This article will help the Negative Pressure Wound Therapy manufacturers identify the volume inflation prospect with affecting trends.

This handout will assist you to know the quantity, growth with Impacting Trends. Click HERE to urge SAMPLE PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) @https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/medicine/global-gene-therapy-market-2019-by-company,-regions,-type-and-application,-forecast-to-2024/130926#request_sample

An in-depth list of key vendors in Negative Pressure Wound Therapy market includes:

Acelity (KCI)Smith & NephewCardinal HealthDevonMedelaTriage MeditechWuHan VSDTalley Group

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Market segment by Type, the merchandise are often split into

Conventional NPWT DevicesDisposable NPWT Devices

Market segment by Application, split into

HospitalsClinicsHomecare

Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers

North America

Europe

China

Japan

Southeast Asia

India

Central & South America

Make an Inquiry About This Report @https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/medicine/global-gene-therapy-market-2019-by-company,-regions,-type-and-application,-forecast-to-2024/130926#inquiry_before_buying

The study objectives of this report are:

In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy are as follows:

For the info information by region, company, type and application, 2019 is taken into account because the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the bottom year, the prior year has been considered.

The market study discusses the highlighted segments on the idea of BPS, market share, profit, and other vital factors. Our business report elaborates the impact of various subdivisions to the growth of the global Negative Pressure Wound Therapy market. It also delivers information on key trends associated with the subdivisions covered in the report. This aids market participants to address worthwhile areas of the global Negative Pressure Wound Therapy market. The marketing study also delivers analysis on the subdivisions supported absolute dollar opportunity.

The research answer many questions as follows:

Ask for Detailed Table of Content with Table of Figures:

https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/medicine/global-gene-therapy-market-2019-by-company,-regions,-type-and-application,-forecast-to-2024/130926#table_of_contents

Why Choose Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Market Research?

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Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Market : Growth, Demand Analysis, Size, Global Industry Research Trends, Manufacturers, Developments in Performances...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Have you ever wondered what is the importance of day and night, what is the role of sleep, how do we set a good circadian rhythm?? Well all this revolves around the hormone Melatonin!!Setting up the circadian rhythm helps in production of good amounts of melatonin hormone. Melatonin does help in reducing the pigmentation, anti ageing and also reduces hair fall so on and so forth..Dr. Pallavi Sule, Mumbai based Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician starts by first explaining the meaning of Melatonin, HOW DOES MELATONIN GET SECRETED?

So what's new about this hormone and why is it studied in more detail than before??

Dr. Pallavi Sule, explains, "Melatonin is also known for its antioxidant benefits!! We all are living in a very stressful environment, be it the external or internal stressors like pollution, food consumed (adulteration), solar radiation, sleep patterns, work environments and so forth!! Any kind of stress releases free oxygen radicals in the body, which damages our DNA, causing degenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. Melatonin hormone serves as a potent antioxidant, presumptive anti aging substance and anti cancer agent."

Dr. Sule further elaborates on this imperative subject saying, "

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Sleep is the most underrated antioxidant - Times of India

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Komen is providing breast cancer patients with transportation, food delivery and other resources to meet critical needs during the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine.

One of Downtowns most visible, crowd-drawing events is on the postponed list. But the needs of the cancer patients it serves are not.

Citing concerns for the health and safety of participants, supporters and staff, Susan G. Komen Columbus recently decided to postpone the 2020 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure scheduled for May 16. The event is the largest Race for the Cure in the United States. Last year it drew more than 21,000 participants.

With its primary fundraiser on hold, Komen still tends to the real-time needs of people living with breast cancer. Were hoping we can still see pink. We have a vision for an actual race, says Julie McMahon, Komen Columbus interim executive director. But our primary mission is to help women today.

McMahon says Komen still provides transportation, food delivery and other resources to meet critical needs during the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine. It is launching programs to provide special support to immunosuppressed patients so their treatment isnt disrupted, using sources like Uber Health for transportation and Amazon delivery for food.

Komen Columbus is hosting virtual support groups and wellness activities such as yoga and coping skills education, and its Facebook page livestreams content as well. This is only made possible by our tens of thousands of supporters here in Central Ohio. Our partners and sponsors have been amazing, McMahon says.

The Komen website details information on its response to the pandemic.

The organization is helping breast cancer patients grapple with unanswered questions, such as whether their treatment protocol makes them especially vulnerable at this time. For example, McMahon says, most hormone therapy does not cause immunosuppression, while most chemotherapy does. Its also talking with clients about whether treatment can be paused or delayed. For people about to start treatment, this is especially scary, she says.

She says the information provided by Komen is by no means medical advice but offers general guidance about questions that may be on patients minds or things to consider. Of course, you consult with your physician on your personal treatment.

Komen is guiding women on postponing routine screening mammograms so those resources can be targeted directly toward patients now undergoing treatment.

The re-allocation of resources now required during a world pandemic has immediate consequences for patients who are relying on clinical trials to give them hope. Research is affected, and many clinical trials are at a halt for women with no remaining options, McMahon says. We pray for them, and we pray with them.

Last years local Race for the Cure raised more than $1.3 million last yearwhich represents about 80 percent of the organization's annual budget. It uses the funds for education, screening and research. Money also is used for community outreach and programing for underserved and uninsured women.

The organization was about to host another fundraiser when Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton closed the Arnold Expo and Classic to most spectators and visitors. When the CDC issued guidelines that limited gatherings to 50, we were very concerned. We want to be leaders and show how important we think this is, says McMahon, who has a background in public health and epidemiology.

The decision to postpone major events threw crucial fundraising support into a tailspin that will reverberate for months or years to come. We cant stop fundraising right now, but it will look differently. The Race for the Cure sustains us year-round. Its going to be difficult for us moving forward.

Laurie Allen is a freelance writer for Columbus CEO.

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The Komen Columbus race is postponed, but heres how its still helping patients - Columbus CEO

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The clich health is wealth mantra is timeless and now, more important than ever. Immune system supplements are flying off shelves and everyone (including myself) wants to do everything in their power to avoid illness and seasonal issues like allergies and the flu. But not so fast. Straight-forward as it may appear, its vitally important to remember that supplements made specifically for supporting your immune system arent a magic bullet cure for anything, though taking one certainly isnt a bad idea either.

Your immune system, aka the part of your body that helps prevent disease and illness, is composed of many, many cells and chemicals that work together toward one common goal. The upside of attempting to bolster this singular system is that there is actually more than one way to do it. Outside of the always-recommended healthy eating/drinking and daily exercise guidelines are supplements with the potential to give your body an extra layer of security against the bad stuff. Of course, its best to consult with a physician before starting one (especially if you have a health condition or take prescribed medication), but there are some options that are generally okay for most of us to try.

As someone who swears by daily supplements but definitely isnt a doctor, I knew getting the 411 on immune system boosters from Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C was a smart move. The best-selling author just so happens to be the founder of Ancient NutritionandDrAxe.com, two very popular destinations that thankfully still have plenty of immune boosters in stock. Keep scrolling for his top-recommended options and why you need each one.

Ancient Nutrition.

Immune health is tied to gut health there are no two ways about it. Today, we know your gut houses between 70 percent and 80 percent of the cells that make up your immune system, which is why I believe maintaining the integrity of the gut is a crucial, and often underappreciated, form of supporting your immune system health. And this is nothing new. Theres a reason cultures all around the world relied on probiotic-rich, fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt and apple cider vinegar over the centuries. In general, probiotics possess the capacity to support healthy immune system function and more.

Choosing survivable probiotic strains, though, is key in my viewpoint, because these strains are known to survive higher temperatures and a harsh environment (i.e., stomach acid). So while you may think you need to choose probiotics that require refrigeration, that isnt necessarily true. Our bodies generally run at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, so we selected hardy, no-fridge-required probiotic strains for Ancient Probiotics-Immune so they can make it to your digestive tract.

NutriFlair.

How many times growing up did your mother remind you to get enough vitamin C? Kiwi fruit, spinach, strawberries, oranges, and black currants serve as rich natural sources, but for times when you need more, we created a body-ready capsule version. (Editor note: Alternative above until Dr. Axes recommendation is back in stock.)

Ancient Nutrition.

One-third of Americans take multivitamins to help fill nutritional gaps, but how those vitamins are created varies greatly. Some contain filler ingredients, food dyes, artificial sweeteners, GMOs and even synthetic nutrients. These ingredients are often cheaper than sourcing the real thing, but I believe in feeding the body with what it knows and recognizes: whole food sources. Thats why our multivitamin helps you build a foundation with food-based ingredients and no fillers or synthetic ingredients, ever.

Solgar.

Vitamin D is involved with healthy immune system function, and our immune cells actually contain receptors for this vitamin. We can get vitamin D from foods like wild-caught salmon, beef liver and egg yolks, and our bodies naturally manufacture vitamin D, which is actually a hormone, with sun exposure.

But according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey statistics, were falling short. More than 90 percent of people with darker skin pigments living in the United States now suffer from vitamin D insufficiency, while 75 percent of the white population is deficient. Of course, this is one statistic, but the bottom line is that we are often coming up short on vitamin D.

Ancient Nutrition.

An essential trace mineral involved in hundreds of enzymatic functions in the body including supporting healthy immune system functions zinc plays a crucial role in overall wellness. Generally speaking, zinc catalyzes nearly 100 enzymes and is essential for proper protein synthesis in the human body. Zinc supports immune system health in its own right and also relies on vitamin C to maximize its role in the human body.

As humans, we need to take in zinc each day because our body doesnt manufacture it. Zinc-rich foods, including pumpkin seeds, lentils, chickpeas and cocoa powder, can help us get the zinc we need, although animal sources like grass-fed beef or kefir are often more bioavailable in the body. If supplementing is what youre looking for to hit your zinc goals, I recommend my supplement below because it pairs organic vitamin C with zinc to support zincs potential.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think youll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

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5 Expert-Approved Supplements to Boost Your Immune System (and Beauty Routine) - STYLECASTER

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Family Features Michele Adams is quick to say, I dont want to throw anyone under the bus, but it took her being hit by a car for her thyroid disease to finally be diagnosed.

Adams has always been an active person, but for a few years, she had felt tired and had a constant tightness in her throat. She was diagnosed with post-nasal drip but did not feel relief after a year of treatment.

I thought this exhaustion, hoarse voice and lump in my throat were just my new normal, Adams said. Id accepted it, and I shouldnt have.

During this time, Adams went on a bike ride in northeastern New Jersey something she still does frequently. However, on this day, Adams was struck by a car as she was biking.

The incident resulted in an MRI scan. Adams was not seriously injured, but doctors noticed something unexpected. The scan revealed nodules in her lower neck, which suggested thyroid disease?.

I now realize I had symptoms of a thyroid condition for years, Adams said. Id had it up to here with not feeling like myself. Once I had the MRI results, I knew to seek out a thyroid expert, and I found an endocrinologist.

What you probably do not know about your thyroid

Thyroid disease is more common than diabetes and heart disease, but more than half of Americans with thyroid disease are unaware, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). This lack of awareness can endanger a persons health and well-being.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located low in the front of the neck below the Adams apple. It produces thyroid hormones that influence almost every cell, tissue and organ in the human body.

Common signs of thyroid diseases include:

Unexplained changes in weight

Depression, anxiety or feelings of irritability

Changes in memory or ability to concentrate

Joint or muscle pain or weakness

Fatigue or trouble sleeping

Fast or irregular heartbeat

Irregular menstrual periods

Cheryl Rosenfeld, D.O., is a thyroid expert and AACE member. Rosenfeld is also the physician who treated Adams thyroid disease.

If the thyroid does not function correctly, it can affect every possible aspect of a persons life, Rosenfeld said. Remember that thyroid conditions can cause changes in mental health, including depression. Ive also spoken to patients whove experienced an inability to concentrate, which seriously affected their performance at work.

Several disorders can arise if the thyroid produces too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) or not enough (hypothyroidism).

Other thyroid diseases include:

Nodules

Thyroid cancer

Graves disease

Hashimotos thyroiditis

Thyroid eye disease

Undiagnosed thyroid issues can also place a person at increased risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, infertility and other serious conditions.

What to do if you are up to here with not feeling like yourself

Once I was placed on treatment for Hashimotos and hypothyroidism, my life changed completely, Adams said. My throat is no longer sore, and Im able to go out with my family or spend time at the gym without feeling completely drained of energy.

The first step to ensure your thyroid gland functions properly is to speak with a health care provider about your symptoms and whether a thyroid test is needed.

An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor who is qualified to diagnose and treat hormone-related diseases and conditions, including thyroid cancer and all other diseases related to the thyroid gland.

Visit thyroidawareness.com to learn more about thyroid health.

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What you need to know about your thyroid | News, Sports, Jobs - Lock Haven Express

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ENDO 2020, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, was postponed until June 2020. In lieu of the meeting, which was originally scheduled for March 2831, 2020, in San Francisco, organizers held virtual news conferences March 30 and 31 to share the latest emerging science in endocrinology. All ENDO 2020 studies will be published in a supplemental issue of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

The worlds first use of a drone to deliver insulin to a patient living in a remote community was performed late last year in Ireland, an accomplishment that has implications for wider use of drones to deliver medications in trying circumstances. Such circumstances might include infectious-disease pandemics like the COVID-19 outbreak.

An international team of researchers spent a year planning the drone test flight from Galway, Ireland, to the Aran Islands, about 12 miles off the west coast of Ireland. The drone was used to drop off insulin and return with the patients blood sample so that a doctor could check the patients glucose levels, says Spyridoula Maraka, MD, an endocrinologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System in Little Rock.

The project was conceived after healthcare professionals in Ireland noted the difficulties people faced obtaining critically needed medications during a 2017 hurricane and a 2018 blizzard in Ireland, Dr. Maraka says. People with diabetes who require insulin could fall critically ill if they run out of their medication, she says. Drones are already used in remote parts of Africa to deliver blood supplies.

Medicine has a track record of practicing for emergencies before they happen, Maraka said. There are multiple medical delivery drone opportunities.

Irelands Diabetes Drone Mission was launched with a team of experts across different fields, including medical, pharmaceutical, technical, flight operations, telecommunications, and regulatory agencies. The team selected a Wingcopter 178 drone for the first flight and received Irish Aviation Authority approval to conduct the mission.

The team plans to scale up the program to deliver medications to remote areas in the future. It will be important to gain the publics confidence in the program, as well as negotiate with airspace authorities to allow delivery access, Maraka says. That may be challenging in more densely populated areas.

RELATED: 9 Diabetes Care Tips During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A common chemical called PFAS detected in the blood of pregnant women is linked to a higher risk of obesity in their granddaughters. PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are man-made chemicals used as oil and water repellents and coatings for common products including cookware, carpets, and textiles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. They are known as endocrine-disrupting forever chemicals because they persist when released into the environment and accumulate over time.

The study, by researchers at the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California, featured an analysis of data from a project known as the Child Health and Development Studies. Blood samples from pregnant and postpartum women in the 1960s were collected and stored. In the early 2000s, the researchers measured the weight, height, and waist circumference of a subset of the study participants daughters and granddaughters. They determined the risk of total obesity and abdominal obesity in the daughters and granddaughters. The study included 213 sets of grandmothers, mothers, and granddaughters. The California Department of Toxic Substance Control then measured PFASs and other chemicals in the stored blood of the grandmothers.

The study showed that a granddaughters combined risk of abdominal and whole-body obesity increased 53 percent with a doubling of PFAS blood levels in her grandmother, when her grandmother also had lower cholesterol (in the bottom 25 percent). This translated to an estimated 2.3-fold increase in the combined risk of abdominal obesity and whole-body obesity for women whose grandmothers were in the top 25 percent of PFAS exposure compared with the bottom 25 percent of PFAS exposure. Cholesterol is somehow involved in the transport and metabolism of the chemicals, the researchers note.

Pregnancy appears to be based on our study and animal research and other work in progress a critical window of exposure for three generations in humans, says the lead author of the study, Barbara A. Cohn, PhD, the director of Child Health and Development Studies, who is based in Oakland, California.

These findings may help to explain the current U.S. and worldwide increases in obesity in young adults, she says. We dont understand the mechanisms for this association. We do know it has implications for the current epidemic of obesity if this can be confirmed.

Consumers can reduce their exposure to the chemicals by avoiding eating out of take-out and to-go food containers and using glass or stainless steel food storage containers. Another source of exposure is stain- and water-resistant carpet.

But, she says, Personal measures probably are not going to be enough because, like other legacy compounds, they have been so ubiquitous. There is so much everywhere.

RELATED: New Report Finds Toxic Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water in 31 States

People with diabetes who have a stroke have a better chance of preserving cognitive function if they have good blood glucose control after the stroke, according to a study from the Sheba Medical Center and the Sackler School of Medicine of Tel Aviv University in Israel.

The study involved patients who had lacunar strokes, which are a common type of stroke that occurs in a blocked artery deep within the brain. The stroke can cause neurological damage. Researchers looked at 942 adults with diabetes who had a lucunar stroke to assess their A1C management following the stroke. A1C is a measurement doctors use to assess how well a person with diabetes is managing his or her glucose. Its also used to diagnose diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study showed better glucose management was linked to greater cognitive function and less cognitive decline. The research was observational, meaning that it only links better glucose management with cognitive benefits following stroke. A clinical trial could help prove a causal effect between the two, the authors said.

Still, Understanding potentially modifiable risk factors has large public health implications. One such factor may be A1C control, says the study's lead author, Tali Cukierman-Yaffe, MD, a physician and researcher at the Sheba Medical Center and the Sackler School of Medicine of Tel Aviv University. For example, she says, It may be that individuals with cognitive impairment who have difficulty managing their disease would have worse glucose control.

Current medical recommendations urge healthcare providers to screen older people with diabetes for cognitive impairment, she notes.

Cognitive assessment should be part of the routine checkup of older people with diabetes, she said. The reasons for that are, one, the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and diabetes self-care; and the other is that cognitive function is another complication of diabetes that we should be looking for.

RELATED: Why Some Researchers Are Calling Alzheimers a Type 3 Diabetes

A minimally invasive endoscopic technique that has been approved in Europe can help people with poorly managed type 2 diabetes improve their A1C. The procedure, called Revita duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR), has not been approved for use yet in the United States.

During the procedure, doctors insert a balloon catheter through the mouth into the duodenum, which is part of the upper small intestine. They deliver thermal energy to remove or ablate the duodenal lining. After the damaged duodenal lining is removed, a new layer of tissue eventually forms.

Data from a new study of 70 people, dubbed REVITA-2, showed that people who received DMR had improved blood glucose levels and liver insulin sensitivity three months following the procedure compared with patients who underwent a sham procedure.

The novel technique is based on research that shows the duodenal lining is critical to the hormone changes and hormone signaling that lead to insulin resistance. Destroying the lining can interrupt the process underlying diabetes, the study authors say.

A major question about DMR is how long the effects last. Researchers reported evidence that some patients have improved diabetes control for up to two years. But its not known if the procedure will have to be regularly repeated.

This procedure would be for patients who have not been helped by previous treatments, says the study investigator David Hopkins, MBChB, a physician and the director of the Institute of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity at Kings Health Partners in London. But, he adds, treatment earlier in the course of diabetes could likely produce the most benefit by changing the course of disease.

RELATED: How to Stabilize Your Blood Sugar

In another study on bariatric surgery released from ENDO 2020, researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have found that bariatric surgery that takes place prior to the development of diabetes is more effective in facilitating weight loss.

Researchers studied 714 participants who had either gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy surgery. All of them had a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 prior to surgery. Those without diabetes at the time of surgery had a 1.6 times higher chance of losing at least 50 percent of total body weight, regardless of the type of surgery.

The presence of diabetes before surgery is a predictor of future weight loss outcomes, says a study coauthor, Yingying Luo, PhD, of the University of Michigan.

The study suggests that having bariatric surgery before developing diabetes may be an important preventive strategy, says a lead researcher,Elif A. Oral, MD, of the University of Michigan. More research is needed to confirm the study results, the authors said. Yet doctors and patients should consider the timing of bariatric surgery.

We know that bariatric surgery may protect or delay the onset of diabetes, Dr. Luo says. We need a larger sample size. If we can find a true impact on the presence of diabetes, maybe it suggests we should take a step forward to have the surgery.

RELATED: Bariatric Surgery Cuts Heart Risks in People With Obesity and Diabetes

People with diabetes who lose a gland that helps lubricate the eye by producing tears may have elevated blood glucose levels, say the authors of a study from the University of California in San Francisco.

People with diabetes can experience dry eye and eye discomfort. They may have a loss of the meibomian glands in the eyes. The study looked at people with type 2 diabetes diagnosed with dry eye. People with higher A1C levels, a measure of blood glucose levels, were more likely to have the loss of the meibomian glands compared with those with more controlled A1C levels. Even among people who did not have diabetes, those with higher A1C levels had greater loss of meibomian glands.

Doctors should check the eyelids of individuals with diabetes who complain of dry eye, says the coauthor Gloria Wu, MD, an adjunct faculty member at the University of California in San Francisco.

Some people have severe discomfort and pain, she says. This is an easy diagnostic way of looking at diabetes.

RELATED: 5 Ways to Lower Your A1C Levels

People with type 1 diabetes using the Medtronic MiniMedTM 670G insulin pump system are able to maintain blood glucose levels in the targeted range over 71 percent of the time, according to a study that analyzed some 6 million days of real-world data.

The data compares favorably to the results found in clinical trials that led to approval of the device. The MiniMed TM 670G system is the first hybrid closed-loop system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people with type 1 diabetes.

Sometimes referred to as an artificial pancreas, the device consists of an insulin pump with a tiny infusion catheter worn under the skin and a small continuous glucose monitor that is also placed under the skin. The device measures glucose levels every five minutes and sends the results to the pump to dispense insulin as needed. Individuals upload data from the device to a website so that physicians can monitor their patients.

The real-world study involved more than 51,000 people. Researchers found that individuals were able to maintain blood glucose levels in the targeted range more than 71 percent of the time. When managing diabetes, the goal is to be in the target glucose range of 70180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) more than 70 percent of the time.

Real-world experience does not necessarily live up to the results seen in a clinical trial that recruits highly motivated participants who are under close supervision, says the study's principal investigator, Robert Vigersky, MD, the chief medical officer of Medtronic Diabetes, in Northridge, California. Our results demonstrate that the glycemic control using the MiniMedTM 670G in the real world is excellent and mirrors the results of the small pivotal trials that led to the systems approval.

In February, the FDA announced Medtronic had recalled MiniMed 670G insulin pumps with broken or missing retainer rings following reports that a broken or missing part could lead to incorrect dosing. Insulin pumps with the retainer ring intact do not need to be returned to Medtronic.

The rest is here:
ENDO Online 2020: The Top Diabetes News From March 30 - Everyday Health

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By now we are all well-versed in the COVID-19 lingo of flattening the curve, self-quarantining and learning all about physical distancing. But life does tramp on, meals need to be made, and health continues to be our No. 1 priority.

Heres a sampling to help you make the best of the coming weeks, and to help you stay healthy and stable in these unstable times.

Chef Mareya Ibrahim, author of Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive

BLUEPRINT YOUR FRIDGE:

Youve done the shopping and stocked your cupboards and fridge. Now what? Well-known celebrity chef Mareya Ibrahim, author of Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive, says its now time to blueprint your fridge. Especially when you discover that $7 box of organic berries you recently purchased are covered in mould, and the spinach you thought would have been used by now has wilted and discharged green slime all over the floor of the crisper.

If you want your food to last and you dont want to search through the chaos of overstocking Ibrahim offers the following tips thatll save your food and your mind!

Mareya Ibrahims Refrigerator Essentials and Foodie Blueprint Tips:

THE TOP SHELF: Stock it with ingredients that help you create simple sauces and marinades, like low-sodium broths, stocks, veggie purees and nut milks.

FRIDGE BINS HOLD SMART SNACKING VEGGIES: The hearty ones that hold up nicely and dont require much prep, like grape tomatoes, miniature bell peppers, Persian cucumbers, and radishes. Keep them in open containers at eye level so theyre visible and ready to munch. These great raw veggie snacks will satisfy your need to crunch.

THE BOTTOM SHELF: Holds grab n go meals, prepped and ready for you and your family. You can also have veggies and fruit that can be easily converted into meals

CRISPER: Fill the crisper drawer and baskets with prewashed greens, ready to throw into a smoothie, salad, soup, or entree. Fill the meat/cheese drawer with precooked proteins and grains, including chicken, ground turkey, quinoa, farro, and such.

STOCK: the fridge door with sauces and toppings, pickles, etc. that will accessorize your meals with flavour. Check out Mareyaibrahim.com for more details; @EatCleaner

Dr. Alok Trivedi

BOOST TO STAY YOUR BEST: Doctors top tips to boost your immune system and stay healthy in this COVID-19 world.

Were all pulling together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by focusing on things like social distancing, self-quarantining, washing hands and not touching our faces. But what else can you do to boost your immune system, optimize your health and stay safe?

Dr. Alok Trivedi is a U.S.-based human behaviour and performance expert and author of Chasing Success: Lessons in Aligned Performance, who has spent years studying the neurological and psychological connection to physical health. Here he offers some of his top tips to keep healthy, especially during these trying times of self-isolation and, in some cases, quarantine:

Drink a lot of water: Staying hydrated is always good advice. Coconut water is also a good alternative because it has a lot of potassium. When your sodium and potassium levels are in balance, youre going to be healthier.

Get enough vitamins and minerals: In other words, eat a lot of fruits and veggies, especially green vegetables. It is best to get the nutrients you need through real living food, but during this pandemic you can also supplement with the use of high-quality vitamins and minerals.

Boost your immune system with vitamin C, zinc and echinacea: Of course, always talk to your own personal physician first

Drink apple cider vinegar: Drink one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with water each day.

Avoid sugar and processed foods: This is also good advice in general, but even more so during these times. Sugar causes inflammation and obesity. If you cant cut it out altogether, eliminate it as much as you can. Similarly, avoid processed foods and stick to living foodswhich will aid in digestion.

Dont drink OJ: While orange juice may be high in vitamin C which can boost the immune system, its also loaded with sugar. Opt for eating a real orange instead which is much healthier and has loads of vitamin C.

Get a lot of aerobic exercise: The idea is to get the blood pumping and oxygenate the lungs. One of the simplest ways to do this is to go for a walk every single day. It can help protect you from viruses and is great for your overall health.

Avoid family arguments: If you are avoiding crowds and self-quarantining, you are going to be spending a lot of time around family. Tensions can quickly rise and you can become stressed. Too much stress lowers the white blood cell count, and white blood cells areneeded to fight off infection. Focus on coming together and appreciating the time together.

Do something productive toward combating the virus: Whether its social isolation, self-quarantining, washing your hands, wiping down surfaces in your home, doing something that gives you a sense of accomplishment toward beating the virus is a good immune system boost. It also changes your mental attitude for the better knowing you have taken steps to protect yourself and your family.

Check out Aloktrivedi.com for additional details.

PARAMOUNT STEPS UP

Paramount Fine Foods is taking steps to ease some of the burden caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by donating nearly 2,000 meals to food banks and shelters across the GTA to support the most vulnerable during these uncertain times.

Its about supporting each other and understanding that everyone is experiencing hardship right now, says Mohamad Fakih, founder of the Middle Eastern restaurant chain. We must come together as a community to best support one another and fight through this together as one strong entity.

The company will also be working with Feed Our Heroes, an initiative to support hard-working frontline health-care workers through meal delivery.

For additional details, check out Paramountfinefoods.com.

TEA FOR YOU AND ME

Feeling stressed (and who isnt during these trying times), then reach for a cuppa. A recent study by the Tea Advisory Panel has found that herbal infusions could benefit certain aspects of health. Herbal infusions are a good source of flavonoids and other polyphenols in the human diet. According to recent research on emerald.com, herbal infusions have long been used in traditional medicine and are a popular global beverage choice. These health benefits were based on 1-3 daily cups with infusion rates of up to 15minutes per cup. The panel suggested the following teas for various ailments:

German Chamomile sleep quality Spearmint osteoarthritic stiffness and hormone control

Lemon balm for stress

Rosehip primary dysmenorrhea, or something for menstrual cramps

For additional details, check out tea.ca.

A TOAST TO CANADA

Heres a bit of cheery news: The Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery recently struck gold at the 2020 World Spirits Award, being named Distillery of the year and World-Class Distillery for 2020.

The company was awarded nine gold medals, four silvermedals and one bronze at the World Spirits awards in Austria. Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is Western Canadas original craft distillery, dating back to 2004. The distillery sprung from the idea of using 100% locally grown fruits and grains to make premium,world-class spirits just a tractor-ride away from the orchards and fields where the base ingredients were grown.

B.C.s original farm-to- flask distillery now offers a selection of more than 30 internationally awarded spirits. To have the honour of representing Canada and to come away with so many medals is a dream come true, says Okanagan Spirits president Tony Dyck.

Our entire team is so honoured to be in the company of some of the best distillers from around the world honestly, the magnitude of how this places craft Canadian spirits on the world map is only now starting to sink in.

Check out Okanaganspirits.com.

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Tips to help you while flattening the coronavirus curve - Toronto Sun

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A colourisedscanning electron micrograph of a cell infected with SARS-COV-2 viruswhich causes the Covid-19 disease.

While Switzerland continues to be a hotspot for coronavirus cases, Swiss scientists and drug companies are playing an important role in the global effort to develop treatments or a vaccine for the virus.

The scientific community has responded much more effectively to the Covid-19 outbreak than to the SARS outbreak, Francesco Stellacci, professor at Lausannes Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) said.

Stellacci has been working on developing a broad-spectrum anti-viral drug for the past 10 years. In an interview published by EPFLexternal link, he said data had been shared very quickly and everyone has helped each other out.

The scientific community truly grasped the importance of expanding the scope of research and sharing everything openly.

The collaboration appears to be bearing fruit. Only three months have gone by since Chinese health officials first informed the World Health Organization about a cluster of 41 patients with a mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan on December 31. Despite the short time frame, there is a lot of progress to report on the research side.

The Department of Immunology at the University Hospital in Bernhas been working on a vaccine since January. Initial sequences of the virus were quickly isolated. The vaccine has already been tested on animals.

Meanwhile,Peter Burkhard, an immunologist with a private laboratory in cantonBasel City, has alsodeveloped aprecursor of the Covid-19 vaccine, which has been tested on animals and he is now testing on himself. See the full report in this swissinfo.ch video .

There will soon be more research in the pipeline after the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) put out an emergency call for proposals on research into coronaviruses on February 25 to tackle the current crisis and prepare for future likely epidemics. A sum of CHF5 million ($5.2 million) has been earmarked for projects.

The first call of its kind ever organised by the SNSF received 220 applications. The majority of projects were biomedical, including studies of viruses and infections, the immune response in humans and the spread of the disease.

The selected projects will provide a basis for the subsequent industrial development of active agents. The grants available are between CHF50,000 and CHF300,000 per project.

The best defence against this virus is a vaccine, but since it is likely to take at least 18 months to develop one, a broad-spectrum anti-viral drug could buy us some time, according to Franceso Stellaccio.

While a miracle cure is still the dream of all those working hard in the lab, Stellaccio explains that a less effective drug would also be beneficial to society.

Current data show that every person who catches the virus infects 2.6 other people on average. So a drug with an efficacy of 50% would reduce this figure to 1.3, and that would slow the viruss spread considerably.

It is often the case that a drug developed for one condition can turn out to be useful for other indications. In a promising development, Relief Therapeutics, headquartered in Zurich, is making progress with its erectile dysfunction drug Aviptadil, which has been found to be helpful in treating patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Sydrome (ARDS).

With the coronavirus, death is primarily caused by ARDS, in which severe inflammation causes the lungs to fill with fluid. Aviptadil is a patented formulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), a naturally occurring peptide hormone that is concentrated in the lungs.

Relief Therapeutics announced on March 26external link that it has filed an investigational new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with an American drug development company, NeuroRx. The application is for a phase two trial of Aviptadil in the treatment of acute and moderate respiratory distress in patients infected by the coronavirus.

Also in the last week, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced it was launching a clinical trial of a potential new Covid-19 drug, another case of repurposing. Roche is working with the FDA and the US government to initiate a phase three trial to evaluate the safety of Actemra, a drug used to treat two inflammatory diseases. The drug is known as RoActemra outside the US. As reported on March 20, the study will enrol about 330 patients globally starting next month, including in the US. Actemra works by inhibiting the bodys immune response.

Meanwhile, a number of Swiss university hospitals in Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva and St Gallen are preparing to carry out serological tests to detect the presence of Covid-19 antibodies in the blood.

The aim is to estimate the proportion of the population that is already immune to the disease. The higher the proportion, the better the protection against a second wave of infections.

"Today we know that we have a certain number of infected people but we dont have the exact denominator, because only symptomatic people are being tested. It would be useful to have those numbers to better manage the crisis as a whole, Gilbert Greub, senior physician at the Institute of Microbiology in Lausanne University Hospital told Swiss public television RTS.

Although many different avenues are being pursued simultaneously, there will be no quick fix to the immediate problem through a drug or vaccine. Professor Stellacci stressed the importance of managing the expectations of the public in this stressful time.

We have to be clearer about what were doing, the challenges we face and the time it will take. Otherwise we may be selling false hope.

Switzerland is oneof the countries most affected by the coronavirus, with more than 19,000 positive tests and more than 550deaths.

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What Swiss researchers are doing to beat Covid-19 - swissinfo.ch

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

There are plenty of hair products out there that promise all kinds of miraculous results. If youre experiencing hair loss, hair thinning, or damaged hair, you might be at your wits end trying products to bring your hair back to health. With so many different options out there, its hard to know which product to choose. And how can you be sure whether any of them really work?

One of the latest big trends in the beauty industry is the use of natural plant stem cells to help replenish your hair and promote healthy growth. Companies claim that stem cell shampoo could be the answer to all your hair problems. We decided to test out the latest product from Cel MD, the Biotin shampoo and conditioner, and see the results it produced.

What is Cel MD?

Cel MD is a cosmetics company that utilizes patented techniques and cutting-edge science. Its aim is to bring the best in beauty treatments to retail. The company offers lots of different products, most of which use plant stem cells. These and other natural extracts help promote healthy skin and hair.

Stem cells are non-specialized cells that are found in our bodies. They can form any cell, meaning they have great potential for regenerating lost cells, particularly in our hair and skin. Stem cell products like shampoos use plant stem cells and extracts, which can help the body produce more stem cells naturally. This can, in turn, lead to healthier hair.

Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Ingredients

Cel MDs Biotin shampoo and conditioner include the following active ingredients:

Biotin Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner Results

Biotin Stem cell Shampoo and conditioner are most effective for thin and flat hair. These products are supposed to promote new hair growth while also strengthening hair and preventing breakages and damage.

The shampoo is listed as being hypoallergenic, meaning its unlikely to cause any rashes or discomfort. I used the Biotin shampoo and conditioner for six weeks, during which time we followed the instructions provided. Both the shampoo and conditioner were used together, with a short, cold water rinse in between.

After just two weeks of using the product, I found that my hair was softer and looking healthier. I was able to grow my hair longer without suffering from the damaged look that had always happened previously. At the end of the six weeks, my hair was noticeably looking a lot thicker, shinier, and was softer to the touch. My hairstylist commented on how it had improved, and it was clear that the shampoo and conditioner were working their magic.

Originally posted here:
Cel MD Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Review - Explosion

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Hypergonadism is a condition in which your gonads overproduce hormones. Gonads are your reproductive glands. In men, gonads are the testes. In women, theyre the ovaries. As a result of hypergonadism, you can end up with higher-than-normal levels of testosterone and estrogen.

Hypergonadism is less common than hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is another term for abnormally low hormone production in the gonads.

Hypergonadism and hypogonadism are both treatable. However, depending on when they appear, they can affect puberty, fertility, and other issues related to development and reproductive health.

Hypergonadism that develops prior to puberty can lead to precocious puberty. Precocious puberty is the early and rapid onset of changes related to sexual maturity. Hypergonadism is one of several possible causes of precocious puberty.

In boys and girls, hypergonadism can bring on:

Some symptoms of hypergonadism and precocious puberty are unique to each sex.

In girls, hypergonadism can cause:

In boys, hypergonadism can cause:

Hormonal treatments aimed at slowing the onset of puberty can be effective, and may help to make for a more normal adolescence.

Doctors cant always diagnose the cause of precocious puberty. Some conditions that are associated with it include:

In mild cases of hypergonadism prior to puberty, the onset of physical and mood changes may not be abnormally early or significant enough to cause any psychological or long-term physical complications.

If hypergonadism develops after puberty, men may face early hair loss and women may have some facial hair growth.

The underlying cause of hypergonadism is often never identified. When the cause of is unknown, its known as idiopathic hypergonadism.

There are several health conditions that are known to cause hypergonadism. Some of them include:

Youre at a higher risk of hypergonadism if you use anabolic steroids. Thats because those supplements can lead to abnormally high levels of testosterone and other androgens (male sex hormones) as well as estrogen, a female sex hormone.

Aside from acne and other physical changes, such as facial hair on women and more breast tissue in men, hypergonadism can cause some more serious complications.

Hypergonadism can interfere with regular menstrual cycles. That can make it difficult for women to become pregnant.

Men may also have fertility challenges, especially if their hypogonadism was caused by anabolic steroid use. Anabolic steroids can affect testicular health, including reducing the production of sperm.

Generally, the complications associated with hypergonadism are related to the underlying cause. Treating the cause may help reduce symptoms and complications brought on by hypergonadism.

If you notice precocious puberty in your child or physical changes in yourself that may be related to hormonal abnormalities, discuss your concerns with a doctor.

If hypergonadism is suspected, your doctor may order a blood test to see if hormone levels are unusually elevated. Additional tests might include a pelvic ultrasound to get a more detailed view of the adrenal glands and other parts, such as the ovaries (for women). Brain imaging may be done to look for tumors of the pituitary gland.

Treating hypergonadism is difficult. The goal is to reduce hormone levels, which is more difficult than trying to increase hormone levels.

The hormonal treatments that are administered for hypergonadism include a combination of hormones tailored to your particular levels. This can be a slow process. It may take some time to find the right mix of hormones at the right dosages.

If a specific cause can be diagnosed, then treatment will also focus on caring for that condition. If a gland has a tumor, for instance, it may be necessary to surgically remove the tumor. If the cause is severe underactive thyroid, you may be prescribed strong doses of thyroid medication to help restore healthier body chemistry.

Hypergonadism, unlike hypogonadism, is a rare condition, often triggered by a more serious health problem. Treating that underlying cause and working with your doctor to help balance out your hormone levels may help you avoid or at least reduce hypergonadism complications.

One important key is to see a doctor as soon as you suspect that there may be hormone-related problems. An earlier start to hormone treatment may mean a faster resolution.

Read this article:
Hypergonadism: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and More

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As Krista Petruzziello puts it herself, she picked a hell of a time to get cancer.

She got the diagnosis early last month: Breast cancer. An early stage with an excellent prognosis, but still, shed need surgery and then hormone treatments. The surgery was scheduled for mid-April.

Then the coronavirus hit full force and turned the world upside down and her treatment plan as well. Her surgery was postponed indefinitely.

Right now, the risks outweigh the benefits for me, says Petruzziello, 48. The risk of infection and they need the ventilators in the OR.

Instead, shell start hormone treatment first, not a bad option because it could shrink the tumor in advance of surgery, she says, and is often used first in women with larger tumors. But its still disconcerting to know this is not the usual order.

Its like, 'Here's what we'd be doing in a normal world. But we can't do that for you, " she says. "So there are just concerns that come with that, obviously.

And I tend to be an anxious person anyway, she adds. So, you know, your mind just spins. And with her job as a licensed insurance agent also taken by the pandemic, there's nothing else to do but think about it right now.

Petruzziello is far, far from alone in grappling with concerns about a postponed procedure and wondering what the consequences will be.

In Massachusetts and around the country, hospitals are putting off all but the most urgent treatment to free up space and staff for coronavirus care and to keep vulnerable patients out of buildings that are documented infection hot spots.

Postponing elective procedures may sound like the care is optional, like cosmetic surgery. But the category comprisesmany much-needed treatments. They include hip and knee replacements for patients living in constant pain, mammograms and colonoscopies to screen for cancer, hernia surgery, kidney donation and much, much more.

At Massachusetts General Hospital, the orthopedics department which has 45 surgeons whose patients include sports stars is uneasily quiet now, running at only 3% to 5% of its usual volume, says its chief, Dr. Mitchel Harris. It has even given up its entire sports medicine clinic to be transformed into a respiratory care clinic, where the X-ray machines can serve COVID-19 patients instead of athletes.

Its treating only patients with urgent, time-sensitive issues," he says: broken bones and other trauma-related injuries, infections and spinal surgery where delay could lead to permanent damage.

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale, who recently underwent elbow surgery in Los Angeles despite the pandemic, would not have been able to have surgery done here, Harris says.

Challenging Conversations, Uncomfortable Decisions

Across health care, disciplines from orthopedics to cardiology are having to figure out whats best for non-coronavirus patients during the pandemic.

These are complex adjustments, and they can be tricky to present to patients, says Dr. Harold Burstein, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who has been working on national guidelines for breast cancer treatment during the pandemic.

We often map out a roadmap for patients, and we say something like, The first step is surgery, and then you'll get radiation, and then you'll get these hormone therapies, he says.

These days, with most surgeries canceled, many women will begin treatment with hormone therapies first, like Krista Petruzziello. Extensive evidence shows that for many patients, the outcomes can be just as good whether surgery comes first or second, Burstein says.

So for our patients, it's a real win-win, he says, in the sense that we can preserve these precious health care resources at a time of crisis, but we can also deliver very effective therapy without compromising long term results.

The trick is getting that across, he says: I liken this sometimes to going into a three-star Michelin Guide restaurant and saying, 'Instead of the appetizer and then the salad and then the main course and then the dessert, tonight we have a special: We're going to do the main course first and then we're going to have a salad and then an appetizer afterwards, then finish with a dessert. The point is, it all ends up in the same place, .

Overall, Dr. Burstein says, I think it is fair to say that we can come up with a good plan so that the vast majority of patients will have outcomes every bit as good as otherwise.

Thats particularly true for patients with early cancer, whether breast or prostate or other types that lend themselves to re-ordering the treatments. Theres more concern about patients with more advanced cancers who need to continue intensive treatment.

And research on disasters like Hurricane Katrina does suggest that they take a toll on how cancer patients fare, says Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.

When we start postponing screenings for cancer early detection, when we start postponing chemotherapy, when we start postponing surgeries, I unfortunately have no doubt that we're going to see impact when we look back at this, he says. Obviously, patients who have more advanced disease, if any of their treatments are delayed, the impact is going to be more severe.

Normally, patients caught in a disaster area can be sent somewhere else for care, but there is no somewhere else for American cancer patients right now. And the disruption is likely to continue for months, Lichtenfeld says.

We're in uncharted territory, he says of treatment adjustments and delays. We don't know the impact of these changes. These are not things we want to do. These are delays that we have to do.

Hospitals will undoubtedly still treat severe, serious cancers, Lichtenfeld says, but may say no to some last-ditch treatments with low odds of success.

Right now, we're in a situation where we're going to have to make decisions that are not comfortable, he says.

It Doesnt Feel Elective To Them

Researchers have looked at the impact of delayed treatment in other contexts particularly long waiting lists and inability to afford care.

In the VA system, we found that longer appointment wait times negatively impact health care outcomes for very frail, geriatric populations, says Julia Prentice, who is now research director for the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety. But these effects were not seen for less frail populations.

Not enough is understood about the impact of delays to be able to predict what effect the pandemic-related deferrals will have, she says.

But it is clear that telemedicine care is critical to make up for what would normally be office visits to monitor chronic conditions like diabetes. In the VA system, Prentice says, people with diabetes who had to wait longer to see doctors tended to have worse blood sugar control.

She has several extended family members whose elective procedures joint replacements and other orthopedic surgeries have been delayed, And it doesnt feel elective to them right now, she says.

But I will emphasize that the health care system is still doing the right thing by canceling these elective care procedures to protect the capacity, she says. It is just a very difficult tradeoff that we're grappling with.

And there could be an upside: The pandemic is creating an unfortunate but potentially illuminating natural experiment, says Dr. Bapu Jena, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. It could be that in some cases, people who must delay treatment end up better off, because their medical problem resolves on its own and treatment could have caused more harm than good. The widespread delays could bring such benefits to light, he says.

Krista Petruzziello, whose breast cancer surgery is on hold, is doing her best to find upsides, too. She has confidence in her doctors, including Dr. Burstein.

I'm lucky that I'm not a case where it's like if I don't get this surgery, I'm going to die, she says. No one is saying that. And they are telling me it's treatable and curable.

And luckily, I have a great support system at home and all my friends, she adds. One thing, though: I just miss hugging my friends.

Original post:
'A Heck Of A Time To Get Cancer': Hospitals Defer All But The Most Urgent Treatments - WBUR

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A little bit of stress can push you to perform at your best. Let it get out of control, and you're at risk of burnout and serious health issues. While it's a simple enough concept to understand, effectively managing stress is much harder in practice. Case in point: 30 percent of Americans that visited a doctor between mid-2017 and mid-2018 went for stress-related issues, according to a survey conducted by media company Everyday Health.

Finding that Goldilocks-esque middle state--enough pressure to encourage mental sharpness, not enough to wear out the body and mind--is where most leaders want to be most of the time. Fortunately,psychologists and performance coaches say you can train your brain to get there--and even leverage stress in high-stakes situations.

It starts with understanding the roles that two hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, play in stress. Here's what you need to know:

Adrenaline and Cortisol

Whenever your body perceives a threat, like receiving an angry email or one more assignment on top of anoverwhelming workload,it releases a surge of adrenaline and cortisol into your system. A March 2019 article published by the Mayo Clinic effectively sums up each hormone's function:

Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure, and gives you an energy boost.

Cortisol suppresses functions that are unhelpful in fight-or-flight situations, like the digestive and reproductive systems, and sends signals to the parts of your brain that control mood, motivation, and fear.

Together, they can be a game-changer in high-stakes situations, says Jarrod Spencer, a sports psychologist and author who has worked with college athletes at the University of Maryland and Princeton University, among others. Stress, he says, can sharpen your focus to an extreme degree. That's why deadlines and time pressure can be so effective for performance: Cortisol enables above-average productivity, while adrenaline gives you energy to push your physical and mental capabilities.

A Double-Edged Sword

At the same time, staying levelheaded while stressed can be a challenge--and the same two hormones are to blame. "Your body is kicking into survival mode, and 99.9 percent of the time, you're not actually in a life-or-death situation," explains Graham Betchart, a mental skills coach who has worked with basketball stars like Ben Simmons and Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as staffers at venture capitalfirm True Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank. "You might just be having a talk with someone you work with, and all of a sudden, bang, you're in this very limited, primal state of thinking. You're basically dealing with old, hardwired instincts."

If you don't find ways to recover from stressful situations, you're subjecting your body to overexposure to adrenaline and cortisol, according to the Mayo Clinic. Over the long term, chronic stress increases your risk of anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, heart disease, sleep issues, memory and concentration impairment, and other conditions.

Strategies for Stress

Humans have a built-in mechanism for managing stress as it's happening: The ability to breathe deeply. It's a short term, temporary fix--but a powerful one, says Louisa Sylvia, a staff psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School professor who often works with military veterans and service members. Sylvia explains that taking "big, deep belly breaths" helps with cardiorespiratory coupling--the synching of your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing--which, in turn, helps you stay clearheaded under pressure.

Long term, Betchart adds, you can train your brain totake advantage of stress's positives while ignoring its negatives. He refers to his favorite method as the MVP technique:

Meditation, which trains your breathing and ability to stay mentally grounded in tough situations.

Visualizing yourself overcoming obstacles, which gives you the perspective you need to consistently realize that your stressors aren't life-or-death situations.

Positive self-talk, which motivates you to work hard at regularly managing your stress.

Practicing all three daily, Betchart says, can help you reframe the very nature of stress. "Stress is just energy, right? It's stress when you don't want the energy there, or you can't handle it," he says. "The person who understands how to reframe it into energy and opportunity already has a massive advantage--but you need that training on how to harness it. If you don't, it can overwhelm you."

Published on: Apr 1, 2020

Continue reading here:
How Stress Hormones Work--and How to Harness Them - Inc.

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Your thyroid gland plays a key role in making sure that yourbody operates at peak performance. It releases just the right amount of thyroidhormone to help regulate the bodys functions.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

But if something is out of whack with your thyroid, you mayexperience:

Thyroid diseases generally arent preventable. (If youve been avoiding soy or cauliflower to decrease your risk thats just a myth.) But according to endocrinologist Christian Nasr, MD, many thyroid diseases do run in families.

Knowing your family history can help you stay one stepahead of complications from a thyroid disorder and related conditions, he says.

More than 75% of the time, patients with thyroid disease tell me that someone on one side of their family has thyroid disease, says Dr. Nasr.

The more family members that have thyroid disease, the greater the likelihood that there is a hereditary root. And the higher the chances the patient will experience a thyroid problem.

Autoimmune disorders seem to be a genetic link for some of the familial thyroid disorders, he notes. Autoimmune disorders occur when white blood cells go haywire and attack the cells that regulate body functions. The immune systems foul play could cause the thyroid gland to produce too much or too little hormone. So having an autoimmune disease may increase your risk for thyroid disease, Dr. Nasr says.

But this same action the white blood cells attacking bodycells could result in other autoimmune disorders like diabetes, lupus orrheumatoid arthritis, too.

In a family, the same person could have an autoimmunedisorder that causes hypothyroidism and another that causes diabetes, says Dr.Nasr. And you may have a different family member who has diabetes, but notthyroid disease.

The takeaway: Inform your healthcare provider if any autoimmune diseases run in your family, even if there isnt an obvious thyroid connection.

Dr. Nasr has found that even thyroid cancers that arentconsidered hereditary can have a family link. Ive had situations wheremultiple family members have had the type of thyroid cancer thats usually nothereditary, he says.

Clustering of cancers in families isnt unique to thyroidcancer. Some families carry a mutation that suppresses good genes in thebody, which can put them at risk for a variety of cancers.

Different syndromes can increase someones risk for certain types of cancer, Dr. Nasr explains. Cowdens syndrome, for example, increases your risk of thyroid, breast and uterine cancers. Your family history may not include thyroid cancer, but if we see a lot of breast and uterine cancers, we may want to investigate whether there is a syndrome that puts you at risk for thyroid nodules or cancer.

The takeaway: As with the autoimmune disorders, knowyour family history. This information helps your healthcare team find patterns thatmight indicate thyroid disease-causing gene mutations lurking in the background.

What if you dont know about your familys history withthyroid disease? These symptoms may indicate its time to seek medical care:

Once youve addressed your symptoms with your provider, theywill likely perform a neck exam and a simple blood screening test. If allsystems appear to be operating well, your doctor may recommend monitoring overtime. If any of the results are concerning, your doctor may refer you to anendocrinologist or order an imaging test. And if you have a strong family history, genetictesting may help you make important healthcare decisions.

See the rest here:
Thyroid Disease May Run in Your Family and You Might Not Know It - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

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Human Growth Hormone (HGH) therapy has been around for decades but has been reserved for specific patients. Those with HIV or children with a hormone deficiency were some of the patients who benefitted. However, in recent years, a new focus has targeted therapy to help adults with hormone deficiencies.

HGH is aproteinproduced by the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus and hormones in the intestinal tract and pancreas help to balance it. It thrusts into production during sleep, exercise or trauma with more produced at night than in the daytime, given rising to the term beauty rest as the hormone is also linked to anti-aging.

Production of the hormone decreases as we age and that can lead to problems typically associated with getting older like:

The purpose of the growth hormone in children is to help bones and muscles grow. It also helps with organ function. Hormone therapy in adults is linked to:

Manycelebritiesare reportedly using hormones, but many are doing it illegally. They do it for anti-aging or for muscle mass. This is something all doctors warn against because the growth hormone has some possible side effects including water retention, high blood sugar, and joint and muscle pain. Plus, for those who have normal hormone levels, illegal use of it and then stopping will cause your body to produce less. That leaves you worse off than before.

Most celebrities who take legal hormone therapy dont like to talk about it for a variety of reasons. Its a controversial subject and many deem it private. However, a handful of aging stars have come out to talk about their decision to go on legal hormone therapy.

Benefits of therapy were noted in a New EnglandJournal of Medicine study. Men on six months of therapy increased their muscle mass 8.8 percent and reduced body fat by more than 14 percent. While it is linked to anti-aging, there are no conclusive studies to prove that.

Those considering hormone therapy must get a prescription in order to go to Hormone Clinic. That includes going to a doctor, getting a blood test and probably some specialized testing on the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Or, you can just call for free consultation toHGH Therapy Clinicand get all the instructions. This clinic, as long as other top-rated clinics, does not provide therapy for bodybuilders and only provides it to those with a hormone deficiency.

This therapy is administered by injection and should be part of a routine health management plan under a doctors care to avoid side effects. For more information about hormone therapy, fill in the contact form and the knowledgeable advisor will call you back.

Link:
Celebrities that take HGH: Why do they need it? - - VENTS Magazine

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

MD Medical Group now has drive-thru COVID-19 testing facilities at seven Dallas-Fort Worth locations. (Courtesy MD Medical Group)

The drive-thrus are open to adults and children age 2 and older from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. According to MD Medical Group, select locations have the ability to administer 1,200 tests per day.

Those looking to get tested must schedule an appointment by calling or texting 888-776-5252. Same-day appointments are available.

The drive-thru sites are intended to allow people to get tested for COVID-19 while reducing demand at local hospitals, according to the medical group.

Julia Robles, lead medical assistant at Clinicas Mi Doctor, said the health professionals at the clinic start by assessing whether a patient is showing symptoms of COVID-19 and whether they have been exposed to the disease.

We do a quick questionnaire, and then, we will test them for flu and strep first, Robles said. And then, if they meet the criteria, well go ahead and do COVID-19 testing on them as well.

MD Medical Group has drive-thru testing facilities at the following Dallas-Fort Worth locations.

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MD Medical Group opens COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites at 7 locations in Dallas-Fort Worth - Community Impact Newspaper

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Young and Clement [3] reported the first case of mllerianosis in the urinary bladder in 1996 and defined this disease as a lesion seen at any site containing admixtures of endosalpingiosis, endometriosis, and endocervicosis. Twenty-one cases occurring in the urinary bladder have been documented in 19 articles (Table1) in the English literature, accounting for the majority of cases of mllerianosis [18]. Some sporadic cases have been reported in the ureter, spinal cord, inguinal lymph nodes and mesosalpinx [2]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe mllerianosis of the umbilicus. Due to its rarity, the prevalence of mllerianosis is unknown.

Several hypotheses of the pathogenesis of mllerianosis of the urinary bladder have been proposed; however, the mechanism is not clearly understood. Implantation, one of the most discussed theories, suggests that mllerian tissue implants into the urinary bladder wall during pelvic surgery [3]. However, this cannot explain why mllerianosis is found in surgery-nave patients or in organs other than the urinary bladder. Ten of the 19 cases (52.6%) with detailed surgical records, the present case included, had not experienced any pelvic surgery such as hysterectomy or cesarean delivery. Another theory, metaplasia, advanced by Donne et al., [4] is based on the presence of two or more mllerian-derived tissues, which implies the potential of mllerian epithelium to differentiate rather than the implantation of a single type of the tissue. Moreover, of the 20 cases with marked tumor locations, a total of 16 tumors (80%) were situated on the posterior wall or the dome of the urinary bladder, a place adjacent to the peritoneum and more sensitive to female hormones. Koren et al. [9] in 2006 reported a case supporting the metaplasia theory with the metaplastic epithelium in continuity with the urothelium. The present case is also supportive of metaplasia because of concurrent occurrence of the bladder and the umbilical masses.

Mllerianosis of the urinary bladder mainly affects women of the reproductive age, with a mean age at diagnosis of 44.6years (range 27 to 70years). Of the total 22 patients with mllerianosis of the urinary bladder, five were postmenopausal females. The most common symptoms have been reported to be irritative voiding symptoms (54.5%) including frequency, urgency, urge incontinence and dysuria, abdominal/pelvic pain (45.5%) and gross hematuria (36.4%). These symptoms occurred cyclically in six cases (27.3%), mostly during the menstrual period. One patient with a tumor on the ureterovesical junction presented with renal colic [13]. Our case had none of the symptoms associated with bladder lesions, and only had umbilical bleeding.

Grossly, mllerianosis of the urinary bladder has been described as sessile polypoid, [17] submucosal, [6] or smooth with normal appearing overlying mucosa [14] on cystoscopic examinations. The gross appearance of the bladder tumor in our case revealed the similar findings as a mass with hemorrhage underneath the intact epithelium. Histologically, it revealed multiple foci of glands with variable size lined by tubal, endocervical, or endometrial epithelium situated in the lamina propria and muscularis propria [2, 15]. These glandular cells were immunohistochemically positive for ER and progesterone receptor (PR) [9]. In addition, the stroma surrounding the endometrial glands diffusely expressed CD10, and the epithelia showed positive staining for Ca-125 [15].

Both medical and surgical treatments can be used for mllerianosis of the urinary bladder. Regardless of the lack of consensus on the choice of therapy, most physicians and patients chose the surgical intervention in the reported cases, and most of the patients had a favorable prognosis. Sixteen patients underwent TURBT, only five of whom required subsequent medical treatment, [12, 13] or partial cystectomy [16, 18, 19] due to persistent symptoms or tumor recurrence. None of the four patients who underwent partial cystectomy had recurrence; by contrast, in two cases using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues to inhibit pituitary and gonadal function to reduce the tumor volume as medical treatment, cystoscopy showed smaller but persistent tumors at 3months and 2years of follow up. There was no documented distant metastasis or mortality in the cases with short-term follow-up (124months).

Mllerianosis of the urinary bladder mimics several bladder neoplasms such as cystitis glandularis and nephrogenic adenoma [9]. It is most important to differentiate between mllerianosis and invasive adenocarcinoma, both of which exist in the lamina propria and muscularis propria. A case of bladder endometrioid adenocarcinoma complicating mllerianosis has been reported [8].

In conclusion, mllerianosis is a rare neoplasm which mainly affects women of reproductive age. The common presentations of mllerianosis of the urinary bladder include irritative voiding symptoms, abdominal/pelvic pain and gross hematuria. In our case, multifocal mllerianosis were separately located on the urinary bladder and the umbilicus, which implies that the possibility of concurrent bladder mllerianosis should be considered when mllerianosis is found at other location. Despite a favorable prognosis in the majority of patients, in view of the importance of establishing the correct pathological diagnosis, we suggest treatment with a surgical intervention consisting of TURBT and partial nephrectomy if recurrence occurs with persistent symptoms.

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Concurrent mllerianosis of the urinary bladder and the umbilicus presenting with umbilical bleeding: a rare case report and review of the literature -...

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Even as Lorena Borjas was feeling ill and waiting on Covid-19 test results, she was worried about how transgender immigrants would cope with the pandemic.

That, according to her friends and chosen family, was typical of Borjas, a transgender Latinx activist from Queens who spent decades advocating for people from marginalized communities. Despite numerous challenges and traumas she faced in her personal life, she never took a rest from fighting for transgender women, undocumented immigrants, sex workers and those living with HIV/AIDS.

On Monday around 5:22 a.m., Borjas, 59, died from complications due to Covid-19 at Coney Island Hospital, according to her close friend Cecilia Gentili.

"Lorena spent her life tirelessly fighting and supporting our trans sisters, making sure they were treated with dignity and respect they deserve," Make the Road New York, an organization that fights for immigrant and working class communities, said in a statement. "We will truly miss her. May she rest in power and love."

She was a fighter and a leader

Borjas was like a mother to Gentili, she said -- one of many people in Queens' transgender Latinx community who shared that sentiment.

"You could aspire to be like her but you clearly know you won't be like her because you are not as selfless as she is," Gentili told CNN.

For more than 25 years, Borjas spent her days serving people in marginalized communities in whatever ways she could.

"Lorena brought light to us when we were living through a very dark time here in New York," said Cristina Herrera, founder and CEO of Translatina Network and a friend of Borjas' since 1987. "She brought us light when we were dealing with the crack epidemic, when we were dealing with the AIDS crisis, dealing with changes in immigration policies."

Borjas walked up and down the streets in her neighborhood of Jackson Heights, handing out free condoms to sex workers. She set up syringe exchanges to protect transgender people who were undergoing hormone therapy. She set up an HIV testing clinic in her own home.

Gentili recalled a time when she was tasked with connecting transgender patients to mental health services at a clinic she worked at. Borjas offered to introduce her to people in the community who could benefit from those services, asking Gentili to accompany her late one night while she was distributing condoms to sex workers.

"She wasn't expecting people to come to her," Gentili said. "She was going to them."

Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the LGBT & HIV Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, said he first met Borjas in 2009 and started working closely with her in 2010 through his role at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, where he was working on immigration and criminal justice issues.

At first, Borjas was a client, but "quickly she became a colleague and co-conspirator," he said.

"She brought people into the office every week who needed legal support and made sure that I was paying attention to the crisis of policing and deportation facing her community," Strangio wrote in an email to CNN.

The two worked together to support transgender Latina immigrants and others who were dealing with arrests, convictions and court appearances, he said. Eventually, they co-founded the Lorena Borjas Community Fund, which helps transgender people and others pay for legal costs and bail.

Bianey Garcia, an activist at Make the Road New York, said she first met Borjas when she was 17 -- during a time when she lived "a crazy life." One of her earliest memories of Borjas was when she invited her to a support group.

Later, Garcia, who was previously a sex worker, said she was arrested and incarcerated at Rikers Island. Borjas visited her at the jail complex, listened to her fears about deportation over the phone and eventually found an immigration lawyer to fight for her release.

"I really appreciated her for everything that she did when I most needed," Garcia said.

She faced her own challenges

Borjas came to the United States from Mexico in 1981 when she was 20, according to a short film called "The Story of Lorena Borjas." She considered herself a gay man at the time and didn't see a future for herself in Mexico, Borjas says in the film. So she emigrated in order to transition -- and to find professionals who could help her do so under medical supervision.

Though she successfully transitioned, she remained undocumented until 1986, when she was granted amnesty under a law enacted by President Ronald Reagan. She became a legal permanent resident in 1990. That same year, however, she was arrested on charges of prostitution and trafficking -- though she was a human trafficking victim herself.

Borjas' subsequent convictions meant she could not renew her status as a permanent resident or become a US citizen. Despite her circumstances, she began her life as an activist in 1995, organizing a transgender march to protest "police policies and systems" and helping transgender women with HIV/AIDS.

In 2017, Borjas was granted a pardon by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, finally easing her long-held fears of deportation.

"Lorena has done more than anyone else I know to shine a light on the epidemic of trafficking in transgender communities and to help other trans women escape exploitation," Lynly Egyes, who represented Borjas on behalf of the Transgender Law Center, said at the time.

She wanted to people to share joy

Borjas took care of people in ways big and small, friends said.

Aside from helping transgender immigrants navigate the legal system, she also made sure they had food to eat, a roof over their heads and a cell phone, according to Strangio.

Herrera added that Borjas would provide new immigrants with Metrocards so they could use the subway. She stayed up late talking to people and helping them deal with their problems. She'd call people to remind them about medical appointments -- and follow up to see whether they had made it and how things went.

"She just wanted people to be OK," Herrera said.

It was important to Borjas that people not only survived, Strangio said, but thrived and shared joy with each other.

In May 2012, a few months before Strangio was expecting a child, Borjas threw his family a surprise baby shower and bought them a car seat and a stroller.

"We had so much more access and privilege and yet she found a way to demonstrate that she was going to provide love and support to our growing family," he said. "This is what she did for everyone."

Monday night, about 250 people gathered for a virtual vigil to honor Borjas' life and legacy.

CNN's Maria Santana contributed to this report.

See the rest here:
Lorena Borjas, a transgender Latina activist who fought for immigrants and sex workers, has died of Covid-19 - The Albany Herald

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A healthy sex life is beneficial for the body and mind. In fact, it can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep.

While research is extensive on the benefits of a healthy sex life, there aren't as many studies to determine whether the benefits of masturbation match those of sex with a partner.

However, masturbation is the safest way to achieve sexual pleasure, and some research has suggested that solo sex can be just as healthy. Here's what you need to know.

Older research has connected orgasms with increased immune function. In 2004, a study of 11 men published in the journal Neuroimmunomodulation found that sexual arousal and orgasms activated components of the immune system.

Though the study was very small, the researchers found that masturbation increased the number of inflammatory mediators called leukocytes (white blood cells) and natural killer cells. Both of these fight infection as a part of the body's immune response.

Jennifer Berman, MD, a sexual health expert, also notes that the research was focused on the male experience, and sexual arousal may affect women's bodies differently. But overall, orgasm whether with a partner or without has other known health benefits.

"Sex reduces stress," says Britney Blair, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and founder of The Clinic, a sex therapy clinic in Northern California. Blair clarifies that when she talks about sex, she includes both sex with a partner and solo sex, or masturbation.

"Sex can be like exercise, which is great for your heart, your lungs, and your immune system," Blair says. "Sex is also great for improving sleep and allowing you to fall into deeper sleep more quickly, so overall, masturbation is great for health."

There isn't research that compares the immune benefits of masturbation versus having sex with a partner, but Blair does note that sex may have the additional benefit of boosting oxytocin also known as the cuddle hormone and improving bonding with a partner.

But masturbation has also been found to stimulate the production of endocannabinoids, according to The Journal of Sexual Medicine. These neurotransmitters are a part of the endocannabinoid system, which plays a critical role in regulating the body. Stimulating the endocannabinoid system like through an orgasm may have positive effects on the immune system, inflammation, and the stress response.

Frequent orgasm can also have long-term health benefits, whether through masturbation or partner sex. Men who ejaculated between 4 and 7 times a week between the ages of 20 and 29 were at a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer, according to Harvard Health Publishing. This research included ejaculation through masturbation, intercourse, and nocturnal emissions.

While there isn't equivalent research for women, Blair recommends that women should masturbate or orgasm daily.

A healthy sex life, either with a partner or with yourself, is certainly good for you but there doesn't appear to be an exact number for staying well. Instead, Berman suggests choosing a frequency that is most comfortable for you personally.

"It's individually defined for the person and the couple," says Berman. "There isn't a number of times that you should be having sex. It's what's right for you."

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Does masturbation help your immune system? An orgasm may have benefits - Insider - INSIDER

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captionMr. Tatyana Bellamy Walker worries his gender confirmation surgery will be canceled.sourceCourtesy Tati Bellamy Walker

I took the subway two weeks ago to one of the few transgender healthcare centers in New York City to retrieve my last psychological letter for gender-affirming surgery.

Yet, when I arrived at the center in Manhattan, the psychiatrist wasnt there. I was told she was adhering to the states mandates and began social distancing.

Outside the office, it was a ghost town.

The streets that are normally filled with halal trucks and people selling knockoff purses were nearly empty. And then there was me: a guy who left his house and essentially risked coming in contact with coronavirus for no reason.

This was one of the last letters I need for Medicaid to begin approving my gender-affirming procedure more simply known as bottom surgery. Without these letters, my health insurance will not deem the surgery medically necessary. And as a result, I will not be able to afford it.

This comes just a week after the US Surgeon General requested that health systems consider pausing elective surgeries. Last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered that medical centers pause elective surgeries. Whats more, a staff member at the health center warned me that because of the outbreak my surgery could be postponed.

I am not alone: Transgender and nonbinary people face many barriers when it comes to finding access to gender-affirming healthcare. In 2015, the US Transgender Survey found that one-third of trans and nonbinary people face discrimination at the doctors office. Their findings also show that 33% of trans people postponed medical care because of the cost.

On the other hand, research shows gender confirmation surgeries improve the overall mental health and wellbeing of trans and nonbinary people.

For many people, when they hear elective surgery they assume cosmetic surgeries. Ive waited nearly a year for SRS and now the growing coronavirus pandemic is threatening to take it away.

I am scheduled to have bottom surgery or metoidioplasty in July 2020, but because of the delay in elective procedures, its likely that my pre-op appointment and surgery will be rescheduled. Before then Ive had to go through a number of psychological evaluations to be deemed sane for the procedure.

According to national trans health guidelines from WPATH (The World Professional Association of Transgender Health), trans and nonbinary patients who want bottom surgery must have gender dysphoria, have their mental illnesses under control, receive hormone replacement therapy for a year, and live consistently as their gender (whether male, female, or nonbinary). Also, you need letters from a doctor, psychiatrist, and counselor that prove this procedure is medically necessary.

Not only do we face strict requirements for treatment, but this system is backlogged with patients. Last September, I called Mount Sinais Transgender Health Clinic, was put on a waitlist, and then scheduled for my first appointment in November.

At the appointment, I didnt make the weight requirement. All transgender and nonbinary patients are required to have a BMI of 33. At the time, my BMI was closer to 34. Business Insider has previously reported that BMI is an outdated system that doesnt measure body fat. According to health experts, physicians can yield a more accurate result of your health by measuring your waist circumference.

Yet, the facility did not allow me to schedule surgery until I lost the weight. I lost 10 pounds through a crash diet. Hours before I graduated from the Craig Newmark School of Journalism, I weighed in at Mount Sinais Transgender Health Clinic. Then, I had my first consultation with the doctor in January.

I also faced bias from mental health counselors who could write a letter. The first therapist I went to for a letter for bottom surgery told me she didnt feel comfortable advocating for me to get surgery. So, I had to look elsewhere. And my former psychiatrist who is covered under Medicaid calls me Mrs. at every appointment, despite knowing I am male. Therefore, receiving a letter from him was not an option. Now, social distancing has delayed me even further. To this day, I have not received a letter.

In August of 2018, a doctor officially diagnosed me with gender dysphoria, the debilitating distress I feel because of a disconnect between my brain and how the world perceives my body. Since then, Ive received treatment through hormone replacement therapy or injecting my stomach every week with testosterone. This has relieved a lot of my symptoms, such as depression and anxiety.

Much of my dysphoria comes from not feeling socially included in male spaces. On a day-to-day basis, this means finding another bathroom at work because there are no open stalls. At a former internship and graduate school, this meant people intentionally calling me by my dead pronouns and grouping me in with women or ladies.

Its only recently that Ive started to be read as male in public (for example, grocery store cashiers calling me sir, people on the street calling me brother and guy). While this is a relief, its also scary. I avoid public gyms because I fear the potential violence and stigma Ill face in the mens locker. Receiving this surgery as soon as possible will allow me to avoid potential violence and live my life safely.

Now, I am waiting for a call from my surgeons office on whether or not my surgery and pre-op appointment will be rescheduled or canceled. Bottom surgery is one of the final steps Im taking in my gender transition. Most of my legal documents are male. My mail is addressed to Mr. Tatyana Bellamy-Walker and I have an M on my drivers license, social security records, and birth certificate.

And although transgender people are banned from the US military, I managed to be registered into the US Selective Service System, a military draft system for all males under the age of 26.

Yet, somehow, the pandemic is becoming my latest obstacle to participating in public life.

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Elective surgeries are being postponed during the coronavirus outbreak. But my gender-affirming surgery isnt optional its life-saving. - Business...

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Coronaviruscure is still not found by health experts around the globe. Thankfully, there were already a lot of hospitals testing their versions of COVID-19 cure for a faster way of solving the viral disease. On Sunday, Mar 29, a U.S-Israeli pharmaceutical company found a medicine that may lead us to flatten the curve to this disease. The US Food and Drug Administration also wants this medicine to have its test trials starting next week. Will it be the long-awaited solution we're looking for?

(Photo : BRENDAN MCDERMID on Reuters )FDA Says Yes to Coronavirus Cure From Israel; US Gov't Ready to Test Trial Medicine Starting Next Week

As of today, Mar 30, more than 700,000 people were already infected with COVID-19, while over 35,000died. With this, everyone is now more determined to find a way to solve this pandemic. Interestingly, the US FDAfinallyapproved medicine that may be one of a potential cure against the virus.

On alocal reportin Israel, NeuroRx, a US-Israeli pharmaceutical company, and Relief Therapeutics, a Swiss drug development company, had finally got approval from the FDA. The companies explained that they are not yet approved to market the medicine. They are only allowed for test trials. The companies are currently approved to create phase-two testing trials starting next week of a possible cure from COVID-19 called Aviptadil.

The drug called Aviptadil is a synthetic form of a neuropeptide hormone that works to enable communications between neurons in the human nervous system. Since COVID-19 patients mostly experience difficulty in respiratory function-- which kills diagnosed patients, the substance is expected to be the solution for this problem.

Specifically, Aviptadil is said to cure Acute Respiratory Distress in most coronavirus patients.

(Photo : JEENAH MOON on Reuters )FDA Says Yes to Coronavirus Cure From Israel; US Gov't Ready to Test Trial Medicine Starting Next Week

However, to clarify, both companies reiterated that they still have no assurance that Aviptadil cures Coronavirus. On the other hand, with the help of the go-signal from the FDA, they are now legally capable of testing the substance to COVID-19 patients.

Just like Aviptadil, US FDA also approved other possible Coronavirus cure from the past. The Trump administration, according to theWashington Post, had also given directives from the agency to legally distribute anti-malarial drugs across the country. Drugs, including hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, were part of the distribution.

"It is reasonable to believe that chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate may be effective in treating covid-19,'' the FDA's chief scientist, Denise Hinton, wrotein the lettergranting emergency approval.

However, other health expertsexpressedtheir dismay with the FDA. Most of them say that the FDA might be rushing things out by allowing the distribution of 'off-label' drugs for rapid testing without proper studies.

"The concern really is if we're talking millions of patients, then this issue of drug-induced sudden cardiac death is absolutely going to rear its ugly head,'' said Michael Ackerman, a pediatric cardiologist, and professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, who last week co-authored akey paperabout the risks in response to the surge in the drugs' use.

For now, let's see what will happen.

2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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FDA Says Yes to Coronavirus Cure From Israel; US Gov't Ready to Test Trial Medicine Starting Next Week - Tech Times

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Some cancer patients are angry that athletes, including Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale, are having elective surgery while theirs have been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale went under the knife in Los Angeles to repair the ligaments in his throwing arm.

A few days earlier, on March 24, Shelly Stevens had been scheduled to be on the operating table in Boston for the removal of a mass from her left lung.

But on March 15, Gov. Charlie Baker had ordered hospitals to postpone or cancel all "nonessential elective procedures" to free up resources, such as protective gear, for treating COVID-19 patients. Three days later, Stevens got a call from her surgeon at Mass General, saying they had to postpone the surgery for four weeks, if not more.

After some anger and tears, Stevens accepted her delay, calling it the "right decision." She didn't want to infect anyone, nor did she want to get infected with the highly contagious disease.

But the Brewster woman said she was angered by Sale's surgery as discussions began about the ethics of his "Tommy John" procedure during the global pandemic, when protective equipment for health care workers and testing kits are in short supply.

Now, as the country tries to fight the spread of the virus, Sale is recovering from his surgery while Stevens is fighting the potential spread of cancer inside her lungs.

"(My doctor) said, 'Its not that your (procedure) isnt urgent, or that its not important, but with everything going on, for your own health and safety, the best thing we can do would be to wait,'" said Stevens, 51. "He said they don't have the equipment or staff that they need and that exposing me to the virus would be very detrimental."

Nonessential, elective procedures, as defined by the state Department of Public Health, include, but are not limited to, incision of the skin, orthopedic surgery, endoscopy, oral procedures and podiatric procedures.

The department defines "elective" and "nonessential" as procedures scheduled in advance, since they do not involve a medical emergency. The state recommends providers use their clinical judgment on a case-by-case basis, and the order does not apply to life-sustaining care.

While this is what Baker ordered and what the American College of Surgeons has recommended governors elsewhere, including in California, have issued different orders or none at all regarding canceling elective surgeries during the pandemic.

Sale isn't the only athlete having elective surgery during the pandemic. San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Beede had arm surgery last week, and Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is scheduled to have it Thursday, according to USA Today.

Although Sale was treated in a private clinic, people took to social media to argue that his surgery used protective equipment that could have been routed toward hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

"People in Los Angeles were begging for people to bring in masks, gloves, gowns, face masks, and here (Sale) is having surgery that could have waited," said Stevens. "My sister-in-law is a nurse in New York ... and they were given one face mask to wear for an entire week, so it just really made me angry."

Stevens was first diagnosed with cancer in 2010 when doctors found it in her hand. Her type is called leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that affects smooth muscle tissue.

Surgeons removed it, but after years of frequent CT scans, doctors found masses in her lungs in November 2018. She underwent more surgery and radiation. About a year later, doctors found a small spot in her lungs. When she returned in February for a follow-up scan, her doctors determined the mass had grown.

Surgery was scheduled. But then COVID-19 reached new levels.

"Every day I wake up and I'm scared. I don't know what's going on inside of my body," Stevens said. "You kind of feel like someone is holding a gun to your head and (you wonder) when are they gonna pull the trigger. Every little ache, every pain, every bump, you think, 'Is this more cancer?' "

Stevens has four daughters from 15 to 20 years old who have been helping her, along with her husband, Ryan. She has started a gratitude journal, in which she writes every night before bed. Tuesday night's topic was the Red Sox.

"Last night I had to try to get over being angry at these baseball players. It's not anything personal. ... but it's something I had to let go of."

The pandemic has had similar implications for another Brewster woman, Raquel Ellis, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February after visiting the Dana-Farber cancer center in Weymouth. Her double mastectomy was scheduled for April 30, but it has been postponed.

Overall, Ellis said she's been coping. "I live with two teenage boys, so we kind of deal with everything with a lot of humor and silliness," she said.

More than her health, she's worried about how her delayed surgery will affect her ability to take her eldest son to college and teach her students at Ezra Baker Elementary School in Dennis in the fall. "In some ways, those are bigger losses for me," she said.

Her doctors concluded the cancer is related to her hormones, so they started her on hormone blockers to prevent further cancer growth as she awaits surgery. They also told her the mass won't kill her, but she's still eager to get it out.

"It's that feeling of knowing it's there and just wanting to get rid of it because it doesn't belong," she said.

Ellis didn't know much about Sale and the other athletes until her friend, Stevens, shared articles on Facebook, but she now agrees it might not have been a responsible decision.

"I was told (my doctors) don't want to do surgery right now because they don't want to bring a healthy person into a hospital and get them infected," Ellis said. "So it really doesn't make sense whether you're a professional athlete or a teacher or an electrician, that the standards would be any different for a human being."

Sale's surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, told the San Fransisco Chronicle, "I know that I'm going to get criticized for taking care of these kinds of guys, but it's essential to their livelihoods."

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Talk to anyone whose been around for a few decades, and youll usually hear that life gets sweeter with age. Even with the inevitable slowdown that starts in your 30s, your best years can still be ahead.

Perhaps youve noticed that slowdown: If you become fatigued more easily than you used to, your mind isnt as sharp, or your libido is on the decline, it could be because of low testosterone.

As you grow, your brain periodically produces signal hormones responsible for stimulating testosterone production, according to Vital4Men. Testosterone is the main hormone responsible for the growth and development of male sex organs, muscle mass, and bone density. It also gives you energy and affects your mood.

When testosterone reaches an acceptable range, brain signals slow down, which allows your testosterone to lower. However, that decrease could lead to testicular problems at this stage. This low level of testosterone production is called hypogonadism.

Signs you may have low testosterone

The symptoms of low testosterone or hypogonadism include the following:

You may not think that you have low testosterone if you ignore symptoms or simply attribute them to aging. Unfortunately, hoping these issues will go away on their own wont work and, in fact, you may notice they just get worse.

Your testosterone levels will likely continue to decline over time and the severity of your symptoms will most likely continue to increase, Vital4Men says.

However, if you pay attention, the good news is that low testosterone is treatable, so you can feel like yourself again and look forward to the years ahead.

One of the best treatments is testosterone replacement therapy.

What is testosterone replacement therapy?

Testosterone replacement therapy can improve the symptoms of low testosterone. Doctors may prescribe testosterone through injections, gels, patches, surgically implanted pellets, or oral options to improve hormone levels.

The treatment process is simple. For example, when you visit Vital4men, the medical professionals will perform a blood test to determine if you are an eligible candidate for testosterone replacement therapy, and youll receive your results within a few days.

If your testosterone levels fall outside the normal range, you may be a candidate for treatment. Your doctor will go over potential side effects to determine if testosterone replacement therapy is the right option.

At the viTal4men clinic, we treat low testosterone levels with testosterone replacement therapy to get you back to your optimum level, the company says. We are a complete mens wellness center.

The clinic will support you through the entire process. The best part, though, is the results. While your outcome will be individual, there are many potential benefits to testosterone replacement therapy:

If youre experiencing any of the symptoms of low testosterone, dont give up hope. Visit Vital4Men for more information and to schedule a free testosterone level test.

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What is testosterone replacement therapy, and do you need it - KTAR.com

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