Category Archives: Preventative Medicine

The Maryland Department of Health is investigating patients with severe lung problems due to e-cigarette use or vaping. WBAL-TV talked to a pediatric pulmonologist from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who is very concerned about the growing use among teens, and a Baltimore County man who is trying to fight his addiction."Leaving the house, if I forget my vape, I literally have to turn around and come back and grab it," Rick Piechocki said.Piechocki, in Baltimore County, has been vaping for six years, and has been trying to stop for two. "I tried with patches, the gums and the mints and it didn't seem to do what it's supposed to do. I don't know. It wasn't working for me," Piechocki said.The recent reports about vaping-related lung illnesses have scared him. The MDH said Wednesday that 20 people have recently developed the severe lung problems in Maryland after using e-cigarettes or vaping, and seven people have died nationwide. Dr. Christy Sadreameli is a pediatric pulmonologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Some of it might be increased recognition, some of it might be an increase in use. It's more common now," Sadreameli said.Medical experts are encouraging everyone to stop, but Sadreameli pointed to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about teen use specifically reporting that more than 1-in-4 youth in the United States are using e-cigarettes -- that's about 27%, more than 30% increase in a year, and a 135% increase over two years. Sadreameli said that addicted teens might need a more individualized approach to stopping.A lot of programs are focused on adults 18 and up, but there are options. She suggests talking to individual health care providers, and online programs through the American Lung Association. Another option is having frank conversations. "You want to kind of start the conversation. Even kids who aren't using these things, parents should be talking about it with them in a preventative way," Sadreameli said.Piechocki wishes he never started."I would never start vaping if I knew it was this bad and causing this many problems," Piechocki said.Sadreameli also warns parents that devices can be easily disguised. They can look like flash drives, pens and even lipstick.https://www.wbaltv.com/article/states-approve-bans-on-sale-of-flavored-e-cigs/29094099https://www.wbaltv.com/article/it-is-time-to-stop-vaping-california-man-dies-in-7th-vaping-related-illness/29081109

The Maryland Department of Health is investigating patients with severe lung problems due to e-cigarette use or vaping.

WBAL-TV talked to a pediatric pulmonologist from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who is very concerned about the growing use among teens, and a Baltimore County man who is trying to fight his addiction.

"Leaving the house, if I forget my vape, I literally have to turn around and come back and grab it," Rick Piechocki said.

Piechocki, in Baltimore County, has been vaping for six years, and has been trying to stop for two.

"I tried with patches, the gums and the mints and it didn't seem to do what it's supposed to do. I don't know. It wasn't working for me," Piechocki said.

The recent reports about vaping-related lung illnesses have scared him.

The MDH said Wednesday that 20 people have recently developed the severe lung problems in Maryland after using e-cigarettes or vaping, and seven people have died nationwide.

Dr. Christy Sadreameli is a pediatric pulmonologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"Some of it might be increased recognition, some of it might be an increase in use. It's more common now," Sadreameli said.

Medical experts are encouraging everyone to stop, but Sadreameli pointed to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about teen use specifically reporting that more than 1-in-4 youth in the United States are using e-cigarettes -- that's about 27%, more than 30% increase in a year, and a 135% increase over two years.

Sadreameli said that addicted teens might need a more individualized approach to stopping.

A lot of programs are focused on adults 18 and up, but there are options. She suggests talking to individual health care providers, and online programs through the American Lung Association.

Another option is having frank conversations.

"You want to kind of start the conversation. Even kids who aren't using these things, parents should be talking about it with them in a preventative way," Sadreameli said.

Piechocki wishes he never started.

"I would never start vaping if I knew it was this bad and causing this many problems," Piechocki said.

Sadreameli also warns parents that devices can be easily disguised. They can look like flash drives, pens and even lipstick.

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/states-approve-bans-on-sale-of-flavored-e-cigs/29094099

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/it-is-time-to-stop-vaping-california-man-dies-in-7th-vaping-related-illness/29081109

Link:
New warning about vaping-related lung illnesses in Maryland - WBAL TV Baltimore

Published in theJournal of Investigative Dermatology, the research is in the early stages and has not yet been tested on humans. However, the new needle-free flu vaccine patch is an important step toward a technology that could replace needle-based vaccination methods that require administration by health care workers and biohazard waste removal.

It can be hard to transport big flu vaccine proteins across the skin as it is designed to keep things out, not let them in many allergens can enter through the skin and be sensed by the immune system. For this newneedle-freeflu vaccine patch, the study looked at the research and treatment of a common inflammatory skin disease to overcome this hurdle and inform their flu vaccine patch strategy.

Benjamin L. Miller, Ph.D., corresponding author and Deans Professor of Dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center said: Scientists have been studying needle-free vaccine approaches for nearly two decades, but none of the technologies have lived up to the hype.

Our patch overcomes a lot of the challenges faced by microneedle patches for vaccine delivery, the main method thats been tested over the years, and our efficacy and lack of toxicity make me excited about the prospect of a product that could have huge implications for global health.

Lisa A. Beck, M.D., corresponding author and Deans Professor of Dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center discovered that the expression of a protein called claudin-1 helps maintain barrier strength and lessen the permeability of the skin. Claudin-1 is significantly reduced in eczema patients compared to individuals without the disease.

In past research, Beck found that decreasing claudin-1 expression in skin cells from healthy donors made the skin more permeable. Beck, Miller, and first author Matthew Brewer, Ph.D., wondered if they could use this induced permeability to get a flu vaccine virus through the skin. The key would be to disrupt the skin barrier long enough to deliver the virus, but not so long to let unwanted things in.

Current needle-based vaccines are effective but require medical personnel to deliver, generate biohazards (sharps) requiring disposal, and can cause patients pain and anxiety all barriers to delivery in developing world countries, which are the areas of greatest need.

Beck said: These countries dont have the manpower to vaccinate entire populations. On top of that, theres an aversion to health care in many of these communities. A needle is painful, its invasive, and that makes things more difficult when you are dealing with a cultural bias against preventative medicine.

A needle-freeflu vaccine could provide a non-invasive way to administer vaccines quickly and cheaply to large numbers of people.

Miller added: If you want to vaccinate a village in Africa you dont want to do it with needles. A patch doesnt have to be refrigerated, it can be applied by anyone, and there are no concerns about disposal or needles getting reused.

The team hopes to conduct human trials in the future, and believes that if the patch is effective in people it could work for diseases for which theres already a needle-based vaccine.

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New technology paves the way for needle-free flu vaccine - Health Europa

At the 2019 52nd American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Annual Conference in St. Louis, Mo., two outstanding and long-time cattle veterinarians were inducted into the Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame (CPVHOF) in front of hundreds of their veterinary peers. Dairy veterinarian Dr. Andy Johnson, Green Bay, Wis., and beef cattle veterinarian and diagnostician Dr. Robert Glock, Marana, Ariz., were recognized for their dedication to the health and well-being of cattle.

The beef and dairy industries have been fortunate to have had the wisdom, vision and determination provided by the 2019 inductees into the Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame, says Dr. Brent Meyer, cattle technical services for Merck Animal Health. Drs. Andy Johnsonand Robert Glock changed the landscape of production medicine in both the beef and dairy industries.Their influence has impacted many colleagues, students, and producers. Their legacies will last generations.

Established in 2011, the CPVHOF honors the traditions of production veterinary medicine and the individuals who have made a lasting impact on the profession. Through early mornings, late nights and harsh weather conditions, veterinarians are a steadfast and essential part of cattle production. The CPVHOF celebrates the rich traditions of cattle production veterinary medicine by honoring the exceptional veterinarians who have made lasting contributions to their profession. The Hall of Fame is sponsored by Merck Animal Health, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and Bovine Veterinarian Magazine.

Dr. Andy Johnson Dairy Inductee

Dr. Andy Johnson, graduated with his DVM from the University of Minnesota in 1976. Known as The Udder Doctor, he currently resides in Green Bay, Wis. and is employed by Grande Cheese Company as their herd health and wellness veterinarian He also does private consulting worldwide on milk quality. For over 35 years he operated his consulting business, Total Herd Management Services, Inc.

Johnson has consulted in 32 countries and 46 U.S. states. He has consulted on dairies ranging from 20 to over 20,000 dairy cows. His specialties are quality milk production, new parlor design and performance, and cow comfort. He chaired the NMC subcommittee on milking machine evaluation and developed the new airflow protocols that have become the U.S. standards.

Johnson served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), was president of the National Mastitis Council (NMC) and resident of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association. He lectures at many state, national, and international meetings. He organizes and teaches the popular AABP milk quality preconference seminar. His articles are frequently seen in most of the dairy publications as well as scientific journals.

Johnson was named Wisconsin Veterinarian of the Year (1994), received the AABP award for Excellence in Preventative Dairy Medicine (1989), was awarded AABPs highest honor Practitioner of the Year (1998), and was named Quality Veterinarian of the Year at AABP (2003). In September 2013, he was named one of the 20 most influential veterinarians in the North America by Bovine Veterinarian Magazine. In January 2019, Johnson received the NMC Award of Excellence for Contributions in Mastitis Prevention and Control, the highest award given to an individual internationally for improving milk quality. This award has been given eight times in NMCs 58-year history.

Dr. Robert Glock Beef Inductee

Dr. Robert Glock received his DVM from Iowa State University in 1961, and his PhD from Iowa State in 1971. He became a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Pathology in 1974. He was employed at a practice in Jewell, Iowa, prior to graduation, then was a virologist from 1961-1963 for the U.S. Army in Fort Detrick, Md. Glock practiced in Edgerton, Wis., until 1967, he then joined the Iowa State Department of Pathology where he taught and remained until 1981.

From there, Glock served with Central Arizona Veterinary, Casa Grande, Ariz., as a lab director through 1987. He then joined Colorado State University through 1998, then returned back to Arizona, this time the University of Arizona where he was a research scientist and pathologist until 2016.

Glock has been active with the Salmonellosis Committee of the United States Animal Health Association, the Foreign Animal Disease Committee of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, the Arizona Cattlemen's Association BQA Committee and the AVMA Council on Research.

Glock has been a member of numerous organizations such as the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Academy of Veterinary Consultants, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Swine Veterinarians (president 1976-1977), Comparative Gastroenterology Society, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Arizona Veterinary Medical Association and more.

He received the AASV Howard Dunne Memorial Award (1995), the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Stange Award for Meritorious Service (2003) and the AAVLD Life Membership (2005) Academy of Veterinary Consultants Outstanding Service Award (2011).

Glock has also been published in over 90 scientific and outreach publications.

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Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame Inducts Johnson, Glock - Bovine Veterinarian

Photos courtesy Rutgers University

A look inside the new RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center on Rutgers University's Livingston Campus in Piscataway.

Rutgers University unveiled Thursday the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center on its Livingston Campus in Piscataway, designed to serve not only as a premier training facility for the Scarlet Knights, but also for the universitys world-class sports medicine program.

At Rutgers, we provide our students with the best resources, opportunities and facilities to help shape their goals and dreams this athletic training facility is yet another example of that, Christopher Molloy, chancellor of Rutgers University-New Brunswick, said. Because of partnerships like the one we have with RWJBarnabas Health, we are able to create yet another learning lab that will support a best-in-class sports medicine program for our students, with affiliated physicians and practitioners, including pharmacists like me, who can (utilize) their skills while training the next generation of health care providers interested in sports medicine and athletic training.

We always are looking at how we can expand and extend the runways for our students, to give them more opportunities to make the best of their careers that they possibly can, Robert Barchi, president of Rutgers University, said. We have great students with great potential, and we owe this to them.

With the Rutgers Athletic Center being the last building opened for Rutgers Athletics, in 1977, Patrick Hobbs, director of intercollegiate athletics at Rutgers University, said the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center makes a great new statement for the organization.

This center is now a benchmark of which other collegiate and professional sports facilities will be measured, because, in short, there is nothing like this facility elsewhere, he said.

The facility was built as part of the Rutgers Athletics R Big Ten Build, which utilized nearly $25 million in tax credits under the Economic Redevelopment and Growth program and more than $75 million in private donations for new athletic facilities. The RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center will be the first of three, to be followed by the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center to support the academic achievements of Rutgers student-athletes while also serving as a new home base for Rutgers lacrosse and soccer teams, and an enhanced football training complex.

When we started talking about this building nearly six years ago, the question was how the heck were we going to get it done, Barchi said. Then, we started having conversations with Barry Ostrowsky.

Mark Angelson, vice chairman of the Rutgers board of governors, said he had known Ostrowsky, CEO and president of RWJBarnabas Health, for more than 50 years, after being classmates and fraternity brothers with him as they both graduated from Rutgers college and Rutgers law school.

Therefore, conversations quickly morphed from RWJBarnabas Health as a health care sponsor into a naming opportunity and, ultimately, an $18 million investment from RWJBarnabas Health into the Athletic Performance Center.

We think, going forward, the RWJBarnabas Health name and the Rutgers name will become synonymous, Ostrowsky said.

As the exclusive health care provider of Rutgers Athletics, RWJBarnabas Health has developed an academic and clinical partnership with the university that will result in dozens of new medical research positions, internship and residence opportunities, and millions of dollars in further investment, Hobbs said.

So, between our academic relationship, our clinical training relationship and our commitment to medical research, this is a collective investment in a great state comprised of a diverse population, all of whom deserve the best, Ostrowsky said. We look forward to celebrating great accomplishments together in the years to come.

Located next to the Rutgers Athletics Center, the 307,000-square-foot, four-story Athletic Performance Center and parking deck provides 24/7 access to state-of-the-art practice facilities and training areas for sport-specific strength and conditioning, locker rooms, film review rooms, a caf, the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame, a team shop and office space for Rutgers mens and womens basketball, wrestling and gymnastics teams.

Though it broke ground in November 2016, it will now help to provide Rutgers University and Rutgers Athletics with comprehensive health care from specialists who best understand athletic needs, including nutritional medicine and preventative care. With modern technology, including X-rays and hydrotherapy stations, and three clinical and exam spaces, the nearly 700 Scarlet Knights will be receiving the very best in medical care.

Within these walls, education, training and patient care will coexist, and Rutgers will once again be at the center of it, Molloy said. The impact this will have on our students, sports medicine physicians, athletic trainers and our student athletes will be significant.

Steve Pikiell, mens basketball coach at Rutgers University, said the new facility will not only give student-athletes the ability to better balance their athletic and academic responsibilities, but also will help the university in its collective recruiting efforts.

Arella Guirantes, womens basketball player and a junior studying journalism at Rutgers University, said she could not agree more.

Around this time last year, because the largest career fair in the state takes place in the Rutgers Athletic Center, me and my team would be across campus practicing, away from our locker room, without a meeting space and without our athletic trainers, she said. This took time away from our academics and professional growth, as well as limited our opportunities to put extra work in at the gym, when the most valuable resource a student athlete has is time.

That is why today I could not be more excited and thankful to be speaking here at the Athletic Performance Centers grand opening.

Barchi, who recently announced his retirement in June 2020, said hell look back on the creation of the facility with the fondest of memories. And Im sure the teams and athletes who use this building will do us all proud.

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Rutgers hopes new athletic facility boosts both Scarlet Knights, sports medicine program (SLIDESHOW) - ROI-NJ.com

Neuropsychiatric patients are vulnerable to multiple agitation episodes; Alzheimers dementia patients specifically require integrated patient management solutions

Expands market potential of BXCL501, if approved, beyond traditional treatment paradigms to preventative therapy

Initial study to develop proprietary algorithms using multi-parametric analysis to predict the onset of agitation

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. (BTI or the Company) (BTAI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical development company utilizing novel artificial intelligence approaches to identify and advance the next wave of medicines in neuroscience and immuno-oncology, today announced a strategic plan to investigate the development of using wearable digital device technology such as the Apple Watch, with the goal of enhancing the prevention and treatment of agitation including, if approved, the administration of BXCL501 prior to the onset of agitation.

BioXcel Therapeutics plans to conduct a feasibility study with potential applications for uses in commercially available wearable digital devices to measure nervous and motor system activity relevant to both agitation and the mechanism of action of the Companys drug candidate, BXCL501. BTI plans to leverage its core drug development expertise in neuroscience and the AI expertise of its parent company, BioXcel Corporation, and to collaborate with both clinical investigators and a third-party digital solutions provider. The goal of this collaborative effort is to use these data to develop an integrated patient management solution, which may enable early intervention for agitation via an analytic algorithm that predicts and identifies agitation. If successfully developed, such technology could potentially be used in conjunction with BXCL501 for prevention and early identification of agitation in patients with Alzheimers dementia and other medical conditions including delirium and PTSD.

Utilizing predictive algorithms and developing related wearable device technology may enable the administration of BXCL501 prior to the onset of an agitation episode, which, if BXCL501 is approved, may reduce the burden on the patient and caregiver, noted George Grossberg, Samuel W. Fordyce Professor and Director of Geriatric Psychiatry in the Department of Psychology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. By identifying the early onset of agitation, BXCL501 could potentially be administered more efficiently and, consequently, we believe has the potential to reduce medical costs and improve patient management with lower doses, applicable to a broader set of institutionalized elderly patients.

Approximately 5.8 million people in the U.S. are afflicted by Alzheimers dementia. Many patients diagnosed with the disease will experience agitation, which is characterized by verbal and physical aggression, excessive motor activity, restlessness, and wandering. Agitation is the principle reason why patients move from home-based care to supervised living, to residential care and then to nursing homes, as they exceed the capacity of their care setting to manage agitation. Each transition being of escalating financial burden, predicting agitation would enable patients to be managed in the least restrictive lowest cost setting, potentially delaying the necessity to transition care. There are no predictive technologies for agitation and FDA approved treatments to help the agitation associated with Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia.

BioXcel Therapeutics is very pleased to further develop the BXCL501 program with integrated preventive treatment approaches, said Frank Yocca, Chief Scientific Officer of BioXcel Therapeutics. Our goal is to both prevent and reduce agitation episodes by proactively and safely administering BXCL501. We are excited to partner our 501 program with predictive technologies to develop non-invasive solutions that are designed to be easy to administer, well tolerated and provide rapid relief without excessive sedation.

About Digital Wearable Devices

According to third party research, the smartwatch market is primarily controlled by 3 vendors: Apple, Fitbit, and Samsung. In 2018, 45 million smartwatches were shipped globally with Apple Watches accounting for 22.5 million of those units. Fitbit shipped 5.5 million units while Samsung shipped 5.3 million units. Overall, global smartwatch shipments grew 54% from 2017 to 2018.

Story continues

About BXCL501:

BXCL501 is an investigational, proprietary sublingual thin film of dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha2 A -adrenergic agonist designed for the treatment of acute agitation. BTI believes that BXCL501 directly targets a causal agitation mechanism and the Company has observed anti-agitation effects in multiple clinical studies across multiple neuropsychiatric indications. BXCL501 is currently being developed for agitation associated with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorders followed by Alzheimer's/dementia.

About BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc.:

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on drug development that utilizes novel artificial intelligence approaches to identify and advance the next wave of medicines in neuroscience and immuno-oncology. BTI's drug re-innovation approach leverages existing approved drugs and/or clinically evaluated product candidates together with big data and proprietary machine learning algorithms to identify new therapeutic indices. BTI's two most advanced clinical development programs are BXCL501, an investigational sublingual thin film formulation in development for acute treatment of agitation resulting from neuropsychiatric disorders, and BXCL701, an investigational orally administered systemic innate immunity activator in development for treatment of a rare form of prostate cancer and for treatment of pancreatic cancer in combination with other immuno-oncology agents. For more information, please visit http://www.bioxceltherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to the Companys wearable digital device initiative and related feasibility study, clinical development initiatives and trials for BXCL501 and the efficacy of BXCL501 in the treatment of agitation. When used herein, words including anticipate, being, will, plan, may, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements or information that refer to expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are based upon BTI's current expectations and various assumptions. BTI believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, but they are inherently uncertain.

BTI may not realize its expectations, and its beliefs may not prove correct. Actual results could differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, its limited operating history; its incurrence of significant losses; its need for substantial additional funding and ability to raise capital when needed; its limited experience in drug discovery and drug development; its dependence on the success and commercialization of BXCL501 and BXCL701 and other product candidates; the failure of preliminary data from its clinical studies to predict final study results; failure of its early clinical studies or preclinical studies to predict future clinical studies; its ability to receive regulatory approval for its product candidates; its ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials; its approach to the discovery and development of product candidates based on EvolverAI is novel and unproven; its exposure to patent infringement lawsuits; its ability to comply with the extensive regulations applicable to it; its ability to commercialize its product candidates; and the other important factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019 as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.

These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent managements estimates as of the date of this press release. While BTI may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, except as required by law, it disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing BTIs views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contact Information:

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc.www.bioxceltherapeutics.comThe Ruth GroupCarol Ruth / James Salierno646-536-7004 / 7028cruth@theruthgroup.comjsalierno@theruthgroup.com

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BioXcel Therapeutics Announces BXCL501 Program Initiative for Prevention and Treatment of Acute Agitation using Wearable Digital Devices - Yahoo...

The St. Charles County Department of Public Health will conduct Star-Spangled Fright, a bioterrorism response exercise, with events planned for Oct 1-10. Community members and interested groups are invited to participate in the operation of the exercise.

The department is one of more than 25 organizations in both Missouri and Illinois playing a role in this regional exercise that tests the ability to deliver medical resources in response to a public health emergency. Although these jurisdictional Emergency Response Plans have been in place for several years, the Star-Spangled Fright exercise marks the first time an extended operation (multiple days across multiple jurisdictions) will be tested in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area and is one of the first times this has been exercised by regionally cooperative health departments in the United States.

While we hope well never have to implement this plan in a real situation, we regularly test our capabilities in the event that we should, Nick Kohlberg, St. Charles County Public Health Emergency Response Planner said. Practicing with our county coalition and volunteer team will help this community become better prepared for all types of emergencies we may face. Along with testing the ability to implement our departments response plan, this operation further strengthens the regional partnerships weve established.

To practice roles outlined within St. Charles Countys plan, the Star-Spangled Fright exercise will simulate the response to an incident requiring the distribution of medication to residents. Many of the designated tasks are activities that public health departments complete daily such as disease surveillance, distribution of preventative medication and sharing of health education messaging while others involve efficient cooperation with various response organizations. Local health departments are required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state evaluators to practice individual components of their plan regularly and to operationally test their entire plan at least every five years.

One vital operation in the plan requires trained personnel to screen patients to determine appropriate medical needs and distributing proper dosages of medicine to prevent illness and possible death from the incident. During Star-Spangled Fright, a mock distribution will be completed from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10 at St. Charles West High School (located at 3601 Droste in St. Charles). Volunteer participants are needed to serve as patients seeking medication for this, and individuals can register through sccpod2019.eventbrite.com. Interested groups of 15 or more should call Nick Kohlberg at (636) 949-7554 before September 27.

As a thank you to participants, the first 200 who register will receive a Chick-Fil-A sandwich following the exercise, and all who complete an event evaluation will be entered to win a gift package courtesy of Martian Car Wash.

Along with the St. Charles County health department, assisting in this regional exercise are representatives from the St. Charles County Police Department, St. Charles County Regional Emergency Management, the City of St. Charles, the City of St. Charles School District, Compass Health, the St. Charles County Ambulance District, Community Council of St. Charles County, the Community and Childrens Resource Board of St. Charles County, the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board, Chick-Fil-A, Martian Car Wash, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments throughout Missouri and Illinois.

The exercise illustrates the implementation of the federally coordinated Strategic National Stockpile program that can deliver large and continuous quantities of medical resources in times of need. The program is prepared for immediate deployment of assets anywhere in the United States within a few hours of a declared emergency. Upon receiving these supplies, local public health departments would enact their plans to distribute them directly, at no cost, to all residents and visitors in the community. For more information on the program, please visit the St. Charles County health department website.

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St. Charles County Department of Public Health to Host a Bioterrorism Response Exercise - The Boone Country Connection

Hundreds of thousands of Australians are needlessly enduring days of agony because they dont know how to prevent migraines, researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have found.

Once diagnosed migraines can be effectively managed. But the researchers say sufferers dont recognise the symptoms and so dont seek the right treatment.

Dr Stephanie Goodhew, from the Research School of Psychology, says the study highlights a need for a public health campaign to inform the community on the treatments and defining features of migraines.

Migraine is more than a headache. It is an incredibly disabling condition that is also incredibly common about 15 per cent of the population suffer from migraines, said Dr Goodhew.

What is unique about it is that among neurological conditions, migraines are one of the most underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed conditions. A lot of people have migraines and dont realise they have it.

Even when people see their GP it can be missed or undiagnosed.

People think having headaches is not big deal but having a migraine is not just a headache. It is a much more severe pain and can be debilitating.

The study found one-in-five people who suffered migraine did not know about preventative medications they can access which include Botox.

This research shows people suffering from migraines often have incomplete or insufficient information about their own condition, said Dr Goodhew.

If we can allow people to have greater knowledge about migraine they can advocate for the right level of care.

The study also showed one-in-five people who had migraine did not know about any of the dangers with acute medication treatments, which are often used to treat the condition.

In the short term acute medications can massively reduce the pain but there are other risks if those medications are overused, Dr Goodhew said.

They can create rebound headaches and they can create the problem that you are seeking to treat.

If you have migraines talk to your GP, arm yourself with knowledge and ask for a referral to a neurologist.

Dr Goodhew says she struggled to find a diagnosis and appropriate treatment for her own migraines.

I have had migraines my whole life, but I only received a diagnosis in my twenties, she said.

When I have one, looking at light induces a razor sharp pain and I was lucky enough to see a particularly savvy GP that realised I was light sensitive and referred me to a neurologist.

The researcher says the challenge for practitioners is that there is no single biological marker that indicates someone is suffering from a migraine and people experience different symptoms.

The source of the pain is often unilateral, on one side of the head whereas your standard headache is all over the head, she said.

Some people suffer from Aura visual disturbances, or sensitivity to light. Others might feel nausea or dizzy.

The study is published in Springer Nature Comprehensive Clinical Medicine.

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Migraine sufferers needlessly enduring agonising pain | ANU Science, Health & Medicine - ANU Science

Can a computer be used to explain why an environmental toxin might lead to neurodegenerative disease? According to Penn State College of Medicine researchers, a computer generated-simulation allowed them to see how a toxin produced by algal blooms in saltwater might cause Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The researchers investigated an environmental toxin called -Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) that has been linked to significantly increased occurrence of sporadic ALS in populations with frequent dietary consumption of food sources containing high levels of BMAA including the Chamorro population of Guam where ALS incidence is approximately 100 times greater than other populations.

The toxin is produced by cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae, and can occur in marine ecosystems. According to the researchers, BMAA accumulates in sharks, shellfish and bottom feeders so populations relying mainly on these food sources may be at risk.

Elizabeth Proctor, assistant professor of neurosurgery, and Nikolay Dokholyan, professor of pharmacology, used a computer to investigate why exposure to the toxin may lead to the development of diseases like ALS.

According to the researchers, if BMAA becomes part of a protein called copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), the protein may adopt a form that is toxic to neurons.

Proctor, who holds a doctorate in bioinformatics and computational biology, said the study may be a model for investigating non-genetic cases of ALS, which account for 90% of all diagnoses.

Our results suggest a need for further investigation of SOD1 modification patterns in ALS patients, Proctor said. If we can determine the molecular patterns of disease onset and progression, it may aid in the development of lifestyle and preventative interventions for sporadic ALS.

What eluded researchers was an explanation for why BMAA led to the development of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In their study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, Proctor and Dokholyan proposed that BMAA causes the protein SOD1 to fold into a form that is toxic to neurons.

Proteins are built using 20 amino acids according to specific recipes coded in DNA. Slight changes to the ingredients can result in proteins that arent able to function the way they are supposed to. Proctor said if enough BMAA is present in a motor neuron that is building SOD1, it may be mistaken for the amino acid L-serine, which has similar properties.

According to the researchers, who used computer modeling to see what the protein would look like with BMAA instead of serine, this substitution critically alters the structure and stability of the protein.

More than 150 mutations of SOD1 have been associated with ALS, but the structural changes from those mutations arent enough to affect the stability of the protein according to Nikolay Dokholyan, professor of pharmacology and co-author of the study.

SOD1 has a higher level of stability compared to most normal proteins, said Dokholyan, who has a doctorate in physics. Although many mutations in this protein are associated with ALS, the resulting changes to its structure are not strong enough to cause significant destabilization.

Serine, the amino acid that BMAA competes with, occurs ten times in the recipe for SOD1. The researchers tested their theory by substituting BMAA for serine in each of those ten occurrences using a computer program developed by Dokholyan. They observed that BMAA incorporation had detrimental effects to the structure and stability of the protein and caused it to fold, or adopt its shape, incorrectly.

According to the researchers, studying patterns of SOD1 modifications in patients may be useful in developing potential interventions for sporadic ALS. One example of a possible intervention is L-serine supplementation for people exposed to a high amount of BMAA.

Although the study suggestions a connection between two pieces of ALS evidence, Dokholyan says many molecular factors contribute to the presentation of symptoms that doctors see.

A variety of gene mutations and external factors, like BMAA exposure, are associated with ALS, Dokholyan said. If we can figure out one pattern out, it may give clues for how to unlock others.

Reference-Methylamino-L-alanine substitution of serine in SOD1 suggests a direct role in ALS etiology.Elizabeth A. Proctor, David D. Mowrey, Nikolay V. Dokholyan. PLOS Computational Biology, July 19, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007225.

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Model Shows How Algal Toxin May Cause ALS - Technology Networks

Genetic screening that can identify variants of the mucin-causing MUC5B gene the key risk factor that predisposes people foridiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) may hold the key to the development and administration oftargeted therapiesthat may prevent the disease before it can progress and cause harm.

The research behind this breakthrough the identification of the role of that MUC5B gene was led by David Schwartz, MD, professor of medicine and immunology, and chair of medicine at the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus.

We should be able to diagnose the disease before it destroys the lung, and well be able to treat it and prevent the long-term complications of lung fibrosis and scarring, Schwartz said in a press release written by Cathy Beuten.

IPF is a progressive lung disease of unknown cause that is characterized by increased scarring in lung tissues, resulting in shortness of breath and dry cough. To date, no cure has been found, and most treatments have focused on reversing or slowing down the tissue scarring.

But that scarring oftentimes is already severe and may have become irreversible by the time IPF is diagnosed in many patients. The difficulty in diagnosing IPF is compounded by the fact that its often misidentified, given its clinical similarities to other chronic lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseor frequent pneumonia.

Ideally, identifying the root causes of IPF before it scars the lungs would lead to preventative interventions, or treatments to halt progressive tissue damage.

In an effort to understand whether any genetic factors could contribute to the disease, Schwartz created an international IPF network of more than 60 researchers at more than 30 sites globally. The team collected and analyzed around 9,000 DNA samples from IPF patients who had close relatives who also had the disease.

The analysis revealed that the most important IPF risk factor was a single change in the DNA sequence of the MUC5B gene. That variation resultedin the increased production of the main gel-forming protein in mucous, calledmucin.

Mucous normally plays an important role in keeping the airways clear of dust particles and other potentially harmful agents. However, too much mucin can result in thicker mucous, and can interfere with the hair-like cilia that are in the airways to help in the process of mucous expulsion. Over the years, accumulation of mucous and airway contaminants can cause tissue scarring.

The newly identified MUC5B variant was found to occur in one of each five people of European descent (non-Hispanic). It is much more frequent in people of European ancestry compared with people from African or Asian descent. Schwartz speculates that this MUC5B gene variant may have given children in ancient European populations an advantage against respiratory illnesses during adulthood.

This hypothesis was reinforced by the discovery that pulmonary fibrosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis a disease that looks clinically similar to IPF is associated with the same MUC5B variant risk factor.

Based on these findings, the team believes that it is possible to develop personalized strategies to specifically treat people who carry the IPF-related MUC5B variant even before the disease onset.

Biological or therapeutic interventions can be applied, such inhaled medications, to reduced mucin production. That would prevent mucous build-up and subsequent lung tissue scarring. Such an approach may effectively block IPF in high-risk people before it begins.

I think that were going to move from a palliative approach to this disease to a preventive approach to this disease, Schwartz said. We can now tell clinicians, relatives of patients are at risk for developing pulmonary fibrosis. And we can use genetic tests to diagnose it earlier before it scars the lungs irreversibly. And, were in the process of developing treatments that are focused on MUC5B, on the cause of pulmonary fibrosis.

Were trying to use what we have found for earlier diagnosis and gene-specific intervention, he concluded.

To listen to a podcast on this topic featuring David Schwartz, click here.

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Screening for Mucin Gene Mutation May Lead to Personalized IPF Prevention Therapy, Researcher Says - Pulmonary Fibrosis News

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In todays world, owning a smartphone is not so much a rite of passage as it is a standard for kids. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 95% of teens have a smartphone or can readily access one, making them one of the most tech-savvy and well-connected generations. But such easy access to the internet and social media comes with its own host of issues, including an increased risk of online bullying, mental and emotional health problems, and an unhealthy attachment to screens all of which Gabb Wireless, the first company to provide phones and a network exclusively designed for kids, aims to combat.

Gabb, which announced its nationwide rollout for its phones and network this week, claims to be the premier safe network for young kids and teens. Gabbs phones stick to the basics, offering call and text options with a limited number of pre-installed apps, including a camera, a calculator, a calendar, and FM radio. And while neither of Gabbs phones or usage plans offers an internet browser or an app store, its products resemble popular smartphones on the market.

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I wanted [the phones] to look and feel just like a smartphone because I dont know if you remember what its like to be 12, or 13, or 14, or 15, but these kids are mortified when their parents give them flip phones, Gabb founder and CEO Stephen Dalby told SheKnows.

Gabb currently offers two phone models: Gabb Z1, manufactured by ZTE; and Gabb S1, manufactured by Samsung and available on October 15. At $99, the Gabb Z1 is the more basic model, featuring a five-inch screen, a five-megapixel back camera, a two-megapixel front camera, and 32GB of expandable memory. Gabb S1 is a bit more sophisticated, with a nearly six-inch screen, an eight-megapixel front camera, a five-megapixel back camera, Bluetooth capabilities, and 512GB of expandable memory; it retails for $199.99. Both phones run on a leading 4G LTE provider.

The company also offers two usage plans, Gabb Basic and Gabb Plus. The Basic option, which is available now, comes with unlimited calls and text and costs $19.99 per month. As with the S1, the Plus plan offers a bit more, with unlimited calls and text, picture messaging, and group text capabilities; it costs $22.99 per month and will be available soon. Neither plan requires a contract.

It was critical to Dalby that both the phones and the plans were simple. As a parent of teens, Dalby said hed exhausted 30-40 hours of research looking for age-appropriate options that were safe as well as reasonably priced. Ultimately, none of the options on the market seemed worth it; even with parental controls, every phone allowed far too much access to the internet and social media apps. To top it all off, the phones and plans were exorbitantly priced. It was just a really painful experience, he said.

Keeping kids safe online is a growing concern for many parents, and rightly so. A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media were at a higher risk of mental and emotional health issues. These findings were consistent with a 2018 study published in Preventative Medicine Reports which found that kids ages 2-17 who spent more than an hour a day using screens had lower psychological well-being than those who didnt. The same study found that teens who had seven or more hours of screen time were twice as likely to have depression and anxiety. These findings are concerning, especially since 71% of teens reported that they use one or more social media platforms regularly, according to the Pew Research Center.

Additionally, the World Health Organization recommends reduced screen time including time spent on mobile devices, in front of gaming systems, and watching TV for kids of all ages, as it could cause developmental delays.

The evidence is clear, children who are consistently exposed to screens and excessive social media are suffering, Collin Kartchner, national social media activist and founder of Save the Kids, said in a Gabb Wireless press release. Whether its FOMO, anxiety, or exposure to predators, we owe it to our children to create safe ways for them to adopt mobile technology and content in ways that are better suited to their age and maturity levels.

Dalby says one of his objectives with Gabb is to teach kids about responsible technology use and to hold them accountable for the ways they interact via text messaging. He says parents can do this by first introducing kids to the Gabb Basic plan. Once kids have proven theyre more mature, Dalby suggests graduating to the Gabb Plus plan, where kids can enjoy group messaging and send photos. Ultimately, Dalby says he hopes that Gabb phones will prepare kids for their inevitable online usage.

So far, Dalby says both kids and parents have embraced Gabb phones.

The feedback were getting is really positive, he said. Its really positive from the kids because theyre excited to get the phone. Its really positive from the parents because they just dont need to worry about [kids accessing harmful apps or websites].

Gabbs goals are ambitious, and its mission to reduce the number of hours kids spend online will be hard-fought. But its a challenge Dalby and his team are happy to take on, starting in their own homes.

The same phones that were selling at Gabb Wireless are the same phones that my children are using, Dalby said. Theres never going to be a phone on this network thats not safe for kids.

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The First Phone Network Exclusively for Kids Aims to Curb Screen Time Addiction - Yahoo Lifestyle