As local epidemiological trends have improved, and in consultation with experts and authorities, District Center for Integrative Medicine is excited to welcome patients back to the offices.

(Spin Digit Editorial):- Washington, D.C, Jun 17, 2020 (Issuewire.com)The District Center for Integrative Medicine (DCIM) mission has always prioritized the health and safety of our patients and staff. It is one of the few things the current situation has not changed. DCIM has designed a careful re-start strategy for in-person appointments based on that constant mission and after in-depth consultations with local and national experts and authorities, as well as a careful assessment of epidemiological trends and other data.

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People might be addressing an autoimmune condition like Hashimotos Hypothyroidism that has not responded well to typical managed care, have digestive complaints that require a highly-individualized approach, or maybe they arent sure whats wrong. Whatever health issue people are dealing with, our comprehensive approach is key to putting individuals on track to a better self.

DCIM is following all governmental guidelines and taking preventative measures to keep patients and staff safe. Listed below are some of the precautions that DCIM will be taking upon restarting in-person integrative and functional medicine appointments.

We are so excited to be able to see our patients and I am eager to work with patients in person once again, said Dr. Anjali Dsouza. In the meantime, Im still available via telemedicine for any patient that prefers it, and am excited to support their healing in any way that may be.

DCIM approaches healthcare differently. By freeing itself of the traditionally managed care constraints, including the 15-minute industry average patient appointments, DCIM sees the patient holistically. Practitioners at DCIM use the initial 90-minute appointment, for example, to understand the patients entire medical history, as well as her familys. DCIM offers advanced diagnostic testing to uncover persistent-but-often-overlooked conditions. The doctors at DCIM delve into environmental and lifestyle issues and develop individually tailored, detailed health plans. The resulting deep dive is a highly personalized analysis of the patients health.

In addition to their traditional, western medical training, the doctors at DCIM are also trained in Integrative and Functional Medicine. These disciplines treat the whole person rather than a specific disease. Because of their holistic approach, these disciplines prioritize the physician-patient relationship.

Interested in becoming a patient? Please request an appointment at https://dcimedicine.com/request-an-initial-appointment/

More about District Center for Integrative Medicine

The District Center for Integrative Medicine (DCIM), founded and directed by Dr. Anjali Dsouza, heals patients through a deeply individualized and holistic approach to health. We treat individuals with chronic complaints and conditions that persist despite the conventional managed-care model, as well as those looking to achieve the highest level of wellness. By prioritizing the patient-physician relationship, we take the time and resources to understand every aspect of your medical history, as well as nutritional and environmental factors that affect your well-being. Our role is to acknowledge your bodys innate capacity to heal and to cultivate it.

Continued here:
District Center for Integrative Medicine Center Announces Restarting of In-Person Appointments - Spin Digit

David Rosen, MD, a critical care pulmonologist based in Bergen County, NJ, arrived home from a 3-day stint in the ICU. As usual, he changed his clothes in the garage, put them in a plastic laundry bag, and, clad only in underwear, he headed straight for the guest room shower.

Earlier that day, Rose had seen five patients very sick with COVID-19, in a hospital with only four ventilators. He was devastated by the agonizing situation that had ensued. How could he force a smile and pretend everything was okay when he greeted his young children? On the other hand, he didn't want to burden or frighten them.

Rosen's 6-year-old daughter could tell something was wrong. Rosen carefully explained that Daddy was sad because there were a lot of sick people in the hospital and he couldn't help all of them.

"There's a constant balancing act between being there for patients, acknowledging my own feelings about their suffering and the horrors I've been seeing, and being there for my own family and their day-to-day emotional needs," Rosen said.

While this balancing act is part and parcel of being a physician, it has been especially wrenching during the pandemic, when the needs of family seem to be pitted against the calling to be a doctor.

Fear of infecting children has motivated some to stay in hotels, send their children to live with grandparents, self-quarantine in a separate area of the house, or avoid physical contact with the children, according to Sara "Sally" Goza, MD, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

"These are hard, anguishing choices, which contribute to stress and burnout," she said, emphasizing that it is a very personal decision, based on individual and family considerations, and no single solution will fit everyone.

Rosen said that staying at a hotel was not an option for him because he has a newborn baby, a 3-year-old, and a 6-year-old. "It would have been an unfair expectation for my wife to shoulder all those parenting duties without any help from me."

He added, "Of course, I'm always concerned about potential contagion and I take every precaution through rigorous decontamination procedures, but I remind myself that it's right for our family for me to be as present as possible at this time."

Ilana Friedman, MD, a pediatric ophthalmologist, starts her workday well before she leaves for the Bronx, New York-based hospital where she is the associate director of a residency program.

"I've been setting the kids up for school in the mornings, making sure they have the food they need for the day, that they're organized and ready to begin their online classes, and that their schoolwork is done," she said.

"They also text me during the day if something comes up, and I check in with them to make sure they're on task with their work," reported Friedman, whose children are 10, 11, and 13 years old.

"When I'm at work, I'm thinking about the kids at home; but when I'm at home, I think about my patients, so I never feel fully present in either place," she said.

Even when you're home, you may not have emotional or physical energy to be present for children, according to Katherine Gold, MD, MSW, associate professor of family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

At the end of an intensive period in the labor/delivery unit, "I can't do anything but crawl into bed, so sometimes my kids fall behind on homework and chores because I'm the person in the family who tends to make sure these things happen," Gold recounted.

Conducting telemedicine visits from home often with young children underfoot has its own challenges. Although some practices are reinstating in-person patient visits, reopening amid COVID-19 often necessitates at least a partial work-from-home schedule.

"There's no question that it's disruptive to care for small children while trying to take care of patients," said Damon Korb, MD, a developmental pediatrician based in Los Gatos, California. How to navigate this depends largely on the age of your children.

It may not be realistic to have much telemedicine time when you're the caregiver to infants or toddlers; but for preschoolers, Korb recommended "stations in different parts of the room, such as specific areas for mushy stuff, balls, books, blocks, dress-up, and eating" and "rotating the child from station to station."

He also suggested "parallel play if possible, bring your computer next to them so they can be involved with their 'work' while you're involved with yours." For the sake of patient privacy, he suggested using a headset so the patient's words remain confidential.

Although child-related interruptions during a telehealth visit may be distracting, "it might be comforting for patients to recognize that their doctors also have challenges with children at home and that we're not doing everything perfectly which they may be experiencing in their own lives," Gold said.

By the time a child is 4 or 5 years old, you can set a timer and say that when the bell rings, you'll play with them for a few minutes or reward them for their cooperation, suggested Korb, who is the director of the Center for Developing Minds and the author of Raising an Organized Child.

Maiysha Clairborne MD, an integrative medicine physician who coaches other physicians in business and entrepreneurship, said her 5-year-old son has been home from school since the end of March. His preschool held classes 3 to 4 hours per day, and "that's been a big help in keeping him occupied and up with his schoolwork." She has organized for him to be "autonomous in class" while she conducts virtual sessions and coaches colleagues.

"I check up on him between patients and clients and have lunch with him as often as I can, make sure he has virtual play dates and activities such as arts and crafts, and I try to go on walks with him around the neighborhood," reported Clairborne, who is the founder of Stress Free Mom MDand the Next Level Physicians Entrepreneur's Institute.

When your children are in front of the screen, make sure they're doing so safely, Gold cautioned, noting that there has been an increase in online sexual predators since the beginning of the pandemic. "Regularly talk to your children, including teenagers, in an age-appropriate way, tell them not trust strangers online, and monitor their activities."

Gold suggested asking an older sibling, relative, or friend toengage with the youth on social media andbe the "eyes and ears"to ensure safety online.

Summer is usually associated with camp, sports, travel, and hanging out with friends. But how many of these activities can take place this year?

Some activities will be available, according to the CDC. For example, camps are allowed to open, with specific guidelines and protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Experts recommend doing your "due diligence" to find out which group activities, if any, might be appropriate for your child, taking into account your own needs as well as those of your children.

But many physicians may prefer to keep children at home rather than risk sending them into group settings.

Korb encourages parents with children of all ages to maintain a daily structure. "Get up, get dressed, don't lounge around in pajamas all day, exercise each day, and do something social and creative."

He suggested making sure that kids have "outlets," like going for walks or hikes with the family, virtual play dates, or get-togethers with friends while keeping social distancing in mind or trying a new experience, such as guitar, cooking, gardening, or learning sign language.

Talking to children about social distancing and sanitizing requirements is especially critical as they begin getting together with friends in person.

"Even very young children can understand that 'germs' cause sickness and if you get too close to other people or touch things that they touch, you can catch the sickness," AAP's Goza said.

She recounted the story of a 5-year-old patient who proudly went to the sink in her office and began washing her hands "to make sure the germs don't get to us."

Rosen's 6-year-old daughter understands the importance of not getting close to people outside the family, and even his 3-year-old understands not to touch something lying on the ground.

"It empowers kids to know that they can help themselves and others stay healthy and safe," Goza said.

Even with the most creative alternative summer plans, children of all ages are facing disappointments about missed activities, missed milestones, and uncertainty about the future.

Korb's daughter, a high school senior, missed out on her prom, graduation, and visiting the colleges she had been accepted to. She still has not made a decision about college and does not know if colleges will even be open in the fall.

"This situation is difficult for all children, but especially for adolescents, whose identity is based on the friends they hang out with and what they do with them, and many are grieving the loss of their normal lives," Korb noted.

"When people are grieving, they have to grieve," he continued. "As physicians and parents, our job is to listen, not tell them what to do, not belittle what they're saying, but support them while they find their way through the situation."

Delaney Ruston, MD, documentary filmmaker of Screenagers and Screenagers Next Chapter, which focus on solutions for healthy screen use and adolescent stress, anxiety, and depression in the digital age, agreed. "Validation is the number one skill parents should master because teens want to be understood as much as they want anything."

"Most adolescents don't have a long-term perspective on what's going on in life, so it's important to provide reassurance and place things in perspective after validating their concerns and distress," Korb advised.

Taking a "big picture" view is also helpful. "I remember my high school and college graduations, but neither have played a huge role in my life in the long run, which I have shared with my daughter," Korb said. "I'm proud that she has handled the disappointment wonderfully."

It's unknown whether schools will fully or partially reopen, and physicians may still face challenges in helping children with homework in the fall.

Korb suggested that home schooling might be different from what it was during the beginning of the pandemic. "The need for online school caught most schools off-guard, but schools will be more prepared for online teaching this time around."

He suggested turning to teachers for additional help if you're unable to provide your child with sufficient support. Additionally, "there is an entire network of online tutors popping up in response to the pandemic," he said.

Asking family friends and relatives, such as grandparents, to pitch in with helping your child with schoolwork can also go a long way toward relieving the burden that has fallen primarily on parents and it might also make schoolwork more enjoyable for the children.

Like Friedman, Michigan family medicine professor Gold feels "pulled in all directions," but has concluded that she needs to adjust her expectations.

"It's simply not feasible to be a parent, educator, emotional support system, disciplinarian, entertainer, and therapist all at once, especially during a pandemic," Gold pointed out.

"As physicians, we have high expectations of ourselves. But the most important message I can share is that none of us can possibly be as good a parent as we would like right now, so we need to recognize we're doing the best we can and give ourselves permission to fall flat sometimes," stated Gold, whose younger children are teenagers.

"At the beginning [of the pandemic] I think my kids felt they were missing out because I wasn't home while their friends' parents were," New York ophthalmologist Friedman said. "But since then, they've become proud of me. I overheard one of them say to a friend, 'My mom's a healthcare hero.' "

She added, "It's not that I feel like some kind of 'hero,' but it was validating to know that my children understand what I'm doing and why, and this helps somewhat to alleviate my guilt at being away from them so much."

For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, andYouTube.

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MD Parents: Trying to Keep the Kids Busy and Safe During COVID-19 - Medscape

By Deepak Chopra, MD and Anoop Kumar, MD

When people seek personal change in their lives, they often dont get very far. Even in this day when online advice is bewilderingly abundant and self-improvement books are at our fingertips, change eludes us. One way to remedy this is to start from the ground up. Normally, we feel compelled to start where we are right now, and thats a tremendous problem.

No matter how different people are, each of us woke up this morning to the same situation. We are constantly involved in thinking, feeling, and doing. No one starts this activity afresh. Instead, we are heavily invested in habits, beliefs, opinions, hopes, dreams, and fears collected from the past. So our thinking, feeling, and doing is entangled with the past even when we want something new, better, fresh, and different.

You cant always use will power or desire to cut the ties that bind you to the past, but you can do something that will lessen the influence of the past: You can start to see yourself clearly. With that one intention, you are starting from the ground up, because seeing yourself clearly happens here and now. You detach yourself from your story, which is the accumulation of your past. You take a fresh look at what is generating all this thinking, feeling, and doing. The process has to have an origin, a source, a wellspring that sets the active mind going every minute of the day.

Normally, if we try to see ourselves clearly, we are actually looking through a lens. We filter and arrange our experiences. Some experiences we reject, ignore, judge against, or censor. Other experiences we encourage, value, appreciate, and allow to enter our minds. The lens you choose is critical, yet people often dont realize they have a choice. It doesnt strike them in the first place that they see themselvesand everything around themthrough a lens.

The lens you see through can also be called your mindset, worldview, or simply your state of awareness. Your perspective, on life, family, relationships, work stem from it. Things become confusing because we are caught up in the conflicting stories, explanations, and belief systems that everyone gets exposed to. This confusion can be sorted out once you start to see yourself clearly. Cutting through all the clutter, you discover that you actually know whats going on. Deep inside, you are fully aware already.

There are three lenses you can view life through, configured as Mind 1, 2, or 3 at this moment.

Mind 1: You view life as a separate individual. The leading indicator of Mind 1 is the sense of localization within the body. As a result of being limited by the body, Mind 1 can only detect a world of localized things. As we see ourselves, so we see the world. You localize yourself in your body, and as a result you see a world of separate things. Other people live inside their own bodies, which gives them their own sense of separation. In Mind 1 you provide fertile ground for the ego. I, me, and mine become all-important. This makes perfect sense, because your agenda as a separate person is all about the experiences of pleasure and pain that emanate from the body. Even a mental state like anxiety is rooted in the body, because what you fear comes down to a painful feeling in here. In every respect Mind 1 is dominated by yes and no to the experiences that come your way. To achieve peace, you must successfully compete in the arena of separate people and things, experiences and events.

Mind 1 seems totally right and natural in the modern secular world. Mind 1 is reflected in sciences total focus on physical things, from microbes and subatomic particles, from the Big Bang to the multiverse. A bestselling book from 1970, Our Bodies, Ourselves, applies to all of us in Mind 1.

Mind 2: Mind 2 is centered in the unity of mind and body. It isnt necessary to see yourself confined to the physical package of a body. In fact, this mindset can be turned on its head. In place of isolation there is connection; in place of things there is process; in place of hard facts, there is an easy continuous flow. You relax into the flow of experience rather than slicing life into bits that must be judged, analyzed, accepted or rejected. Mind 2 lets you see yourself more clearly, because in reality the mind-body connection is a single continuity. Every thought and feeling creates an effect in every cell. You can consciously create change in the whole system through a switch in awareness. Mind 2 is subtler than Mind 1you have moved deeper inside who you really are, and those aspects and abilities that were filtered out by Mind 1 begin to come into view. You are the one who experiences, observes, and knows.

For most people Mind 2 begins to dawn when they meditate or do Yoga, finding access to the quiet mind that lies beneath the surface of the restless active mind. With this discovery comes a way to see beyond the separate egos fruitless search for perfect pleasure, power, or success. As a deeper vision of self and life soaks through all experience, Mind 2 is established.

Mind 3: Mind 3 expands awareness beyond all particulars. It is a radical redefining of what we mean when we use the indicator I. It places you in an infinite field of pure awareness, where all things exist as possibilities. This is not only a clear view, it is clarity itself, because there is no thing or process to obstruct your vision. Boundaries dont exist. There is no past or future. Even the idea of a present vanishes. the clearest view you can possibly have, because there are no boundaries to limit your vision. You are awake, you see things without any filter, your past no longer holds you captive, and therefore you are free, which is why Mind 3 has been known for centuries as liberation. There are no more mind-forged manacles, as the poet William Blake memorably called our self-imposed limitations.

Mind 3 is open to everyone, but there is a large obstacle that must be overcome, which is this: We are convinced by the lens we see things through already. Each mindset feels real and complete. You identify with physical things in Mind 1, the most important thing being your body. In Mind 2 you identify with your field of awareness as it brings experiences and sensations that rise and fall. Because it takes an inner journey to reach, Mind 2 isnt where the mass of humankind is, yet without a doubt anyone can go there. Mind 2 is a more natural fit than Mind 1, in fact, because if you see yourself clearly, you cannot doubt that thinking, feeling, and doing is constantly on the move, ever-changing, ever renewing itself.

But Mind 2 has its own peculiar limitation. I lingers and holds its own by experiencing my thinking, feeling, and doing. There is no need for this. Everyone alive, with the fewest exceptions, has been indoctrinated into Mind 1. In Mind 2 you escape this crude, second-hand, socially approved indoctrination. But there is a subtle indoctrination that replaces it, which sees the spiritual life as higher, better, and more valuable than ordinary life. This leads to a subtle clinging, a desire to keep the spiritual goodies coming your way and a self-image superior to those people who have not yet seen the light.

The subtle tendency to possess any idea, however fine that idea is, keeps the ego going. Letting it go entirely feels threatening. Who will I be if there is no I anymore? But if you stand back, this fearful worry only exists because the ego is asking it. Of course I will never agree to its own demotion. I is about self-preservation. The shift into Mind 3 occurs when you see that there are countless moments when you did without your ego.

Every experience of joy, love, compassion, beauty, peace, and service sets the ego aside. You go beyond I in a simple, natural glimpse of who you really are. You are the field of awareness itself, unbounded and free. Every possible experience originates here, before the whole interference of ego, society, family, school, and painful memories even begins.

Thats why Mind 3 has been dubbed the first and last freedom. It is the freedom you attain when you realize that you had it all along. Clear away the clutter, and it is simply there. Mind 1 and Mind 2 are creations, while Mind 3 is uncreated. It is the womb of creation, and when we arrive there, the inevitable feeling is that weve returned home at last. NOTE: For a visual journey through these Three Minds, visit anoopkumar.com/mind.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

Anoop Kumar, MD, MMgt is a Mind-Body Strategist who is Board-Certified in Emergency Medicine and holds a Masters degree in Management with a focus in Health Leadership. He is a keynote speaker and author who enjoys bringing clarity to the intersection of consciousness and everything else. Anoop is the author of numerous articles as well as two booksMichelangelo's Medicine and Is This a Dream? In addition to speaking and writing services, he offers consultations with individuals, teams, and organizations interested in deepening their understanding and experience of human potential, mind-body systems, and consciousness. Visit Anoop at anoopkumar.com and @dranoopkumar.

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If You Want to Change, Start from the Ground Up - SFGate

Oregon State University is helping the National Institutes of Health to harness the power of big data in the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The NIHs National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences is creating a centralized, secure digital enclave for collecting medical record data from COVID-19 patients throughout the United States. The enclave is part of an effort called the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, or N3C, designed to help scientists expedite their understanding of the disease and to develop treatments.

For example, can we predict who might have severe outcomes if they have COVID-19? What drugs are most likely to exacerbate or be protective against COVID-19?

Vast amounts of clinical data are being generated that can be used to push research forward, but the datasets are hard to meld in meaningful ways, said Melissa Haendel, director of OSUs Translational and Integrative Sciences Laboratory.

In the United States, there hasnt been a standardized way to collect, harmonize, securely share and reproducibly analyze all the COVID-19 data being generated, she said. N3C is overcoming these varied challenges in order to rapidly transform clinical data into useful knowledge that can improve clinical care and understand the long-term impact of COVID-19.

Haendel stressed that multiple security measures will safeguard patient privacy throughout the data collection process and that the data will not include information such as names or addresses.

The cohort collaborative is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and is a partnership among NCATS-supported Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program hubs and the National Center for Data to Health, or CD2H.

The N3C platform will enable machine learning approaches and rigorous statistical analyses that require large amounts of data to reveal patterns.

The N3C pulls in extensive capabilities, and by leveraging our collective data resources, unparalleled analytics expertise and medical insights from expert clinicians, we can catalyze discoveries that address this pandemic that none of us could enable alone, said Haendel, who directs the CD2H program at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine.

In addition to OSU and OHSU, CD2H consists of the University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Sage Bionetworks, the Scripps Research Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Iowa, Northwestern University and the Jackson Laboratory.

The CD2H was created in 2017 by a five-year, $25 million grant from NCATS.

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OSU helping to drive National Institutes of Health effort to harness analytics in COVID-19 fight - The News Guard

More than 8.4 million people have contracted the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 453,290 have died across the world in nearly six months after it was first reported from Chinas Wuhan late last year.

Around 10 potential vaccines are now undergoing trials in humans, in the hope that a shot to prevent infection can become available in coming months. And even before any vaccines have been proven to work, several countries have already begun making deals with pharmaceutical companies to order doses.

The World Health Organization (WHO) hopes hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine can be produced this year and 2 billion doses by the end of 2021, chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Thursday.

The WHO is drawing up plans to help decide who should get the first doses once a vaccine is approved, she said.

Priority would be given to frontline workers such as medics, those who are vulnerable because of age or other illness, and those who work or live in high-transmission settings such as prisons and care homes.

Here are all the latest updates you need to know about Covid-19 vaccines:

Caution on dexamethasone

Dexamethasone, a cheap steroid that can help save the lives of patients with severe Covid-19, should be reserved for serious cases in which it has been shown to provide benefits, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Mike Ryan, the head of the WHOs emergencies programme, said the drug should only be used in those serious cases where it has been shown to help.

It is exceptionally important in this case, that the drug is reserved for use in severely ill and critical patients who can benefit from this drug clearly, Ryan said during a briefing.

Trial results announced on Tuesday by researchers in Britain showed dexamethasone, a generic drug used since the 1960s to reduce inflammation in diseases such as arthritis, cut death rates by around a third among the most severely ill coronavirus patients admitted to hospital.

The research body involved in the trial was the same one which found evidence that HCQ (Hydroxychloroquine) was not extremely effective on all Covid-19 patients.

That makes it the first drug proved to save lives in fighting the disease. However, some doctors were cautious, citing possible side-effects and asking to see more data.

Volunteers lining up to be infected

Thousands are signing up to take part in a high-stakes experiment willing to deliberately expose themselves to the coronavirus to test a potential vaccine, should researchers decide to proceed.

Known as human-challenge studies, these tests can hasten research by placing volunteers in the path of the virus, rather than waiting for accidental exposure.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc, said the controversial approach may become necessary at some point as the disease ebbs in some cities, making it harder to evaluate shots in the more conventional way.

The company is working with the University of Oxford on one of the most advanced vaccines against the virus.

The initiative is organized by 1DaySooner, a group that advocates on behalf of people who want to join challenge studies. The organisation has held discussions with potential partners and vaccine manufacturers in a bid to start production of the virus, said Josh Morrison, one of its founders.

More than a quarter of the volunteers are in Brazil, where the coronavirus is spreading fast.

Morrison said 1DaySooner has contacted vaccine developers planning final-stage studies there to suggest they consider people on its list for conventional studies, too.

Proponents note that the approach was used safely for diseases such as malaria, typhoid, cholera as well as the flu. Some experts are calling for a cautious approach.

Caution towards polio vaccine for Covid-19

Indian scientists have responded cautiously to a suggestion by global researchers that the oral polio vaccine be tested for Covid-19 treatment, saying it is a testable idea based on a sound scientific concept but may offer only limited protection against the infection.

With a vaccine for Covid-19 at least a year away, scientists say repurposing already safe and effective vaccines is the way to go for immediate relief against Covid-19.

The repurposed vaccines could include the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the Bacillus CalmetteGuerin (BCG) used against tuberculosis, both part of the immunisation given to Indian children.

It is worth conducting a clinical trial, said Ram Vishwakarma, director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) in Jammu.

A study was published last week by an international team of researchers in the journal Science. The researchers, including Shyamasundaran Kottili and Robert Gallo from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the US, said the OPV should be tested to see if it might protect people from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

They noted that the vaccine used to prevent poliomyelitis infections has been around since the 1950s, and is found to provide some protection against other viral infections.

Hydroxychloroquine wont stop coronavirus deaths

WHOs top scientist has said its now been definitively proven that the cheap malaria drug hydroxychloroquine the drug favoured by President Donald Trump doesnt work in stopping deaths among people hospitalised with the new coronavirus.

But Dr Soumya Swaminathan said there could still be a role for the drug in preventing people from catching Covid-19 in the first place and noted that clinical trials testing hydroxychloroquines role in this are ongoing.

Swaminathan said in a press briefing on Thursday that there is still a gap in determining whether hydroxychloroquine has a role at all in the prevention or minimising the severity of the illness in early infection or even in preventing it.

The UN health agency announced this week that it is suspending the hydroxychloroquine arm of its own trial testing various experimental therapies for Covid-19, referring to previous results from a large UK trial and a separate analysis of the evidence on the drug.

The other drugs being tested by WHO, including treatments used in the past for Ebola and AIDS, are still being pursued.

(With agency inputs)

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From warning on dexamethasone to HCQ: Latest on Covid-19 treatment, vaccines - Hindustan Times

NEW YORK (CNN) As states gradually reopen even as the pandemic wears on, many of us are concerned about our health and well-being. Especially now, with some continuing to stay at home and social distance while others join the throngs at nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, it may even be a priority.

From state to state, the loosening of restrictions vary, and within our local communities, the reality is that not only do people have different ideas on what constitutes social distancing but for many others still, in the face of racial inequality, the desire to create social change far outweighs the potential risk of spreading or catching the virus.

It's all the more reason to make sure we're taking the best care of ourselves to fortify against the disease. But while living a healthy life may be a desired goal, how to achieve it is another story.

Even if you're someone whose healthful habits were perfected to a tee during pre-pandemic times, you may find yourself struggling to engage in even the most basic self-care in these increasingly unpredictable days.

That's where a wellness routine can come in handy.

I'm not talking about a spa escape every so often or even regular massages or chef-prepared meals (though all of that may sound really nice). I'm talking about creating your own personalized routine that will benefit you physically and emotionally, one that simply requires a regular commitment to yourself.

Creating a wellness routine allows you to shift from diet culture and adopt healthy habits that easily fit into your daily lifestyle. What's more, having a routine allows you to focus on health goals by creating structure and organization, which can be particularly beneficial when things seem out of your control, like life during an unprecedented pandemic and simultaneous upheaval as people fight against social injustice.

In fact, predictable routines, or ritualistic behavior "developed as a way to induce calm and manage stress caused by unpredictability and uncontrollability, heightening our belief that we are in control of a situation that is otherwise out of our hands," according to researchers at Tel Aviv University.

"We need an internal structure because our external lives have become totally unstructured and that triggers anxiety and stress," said Robin Foroutan, a New York City-based integrative medicine dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"In the beginning, we thought this was going to be a little break; a couple of short weeks, and then we'd resume life as we knew it. Now we know that probably is not going to be the case. We don't know how long this will last, but we can find ways to stay steady and structured on the inside amidst the chaos outside."

Engaging in a wellness routine with a focus on good nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management can boost our health and well-being and strengthen our immunity during a time when we may need it most.

And while social obligations, travel and other commitments typically make it challenging to start new habits, being stuck at home without these distractions provides an opportune time to start creating a wellness routine that is accessible, doesn't require a lot of money and is something that you can count on during this uncertain time and in the future, too.

Health experts say it's important to create a manageable routine that you can stick with as part of a lifestyle not something overly ambitious that you can't sustain. One way to do that is to start small and build upon it, as you feel comfortable.

Here are some tips to get started in creating your personal wellness routine.

"Most people feel better when they are going to bed and waking up at consistent times, eating regular meals and snacks and getting a steady dose of exercise, said Marysa Cardwell, a registered dietitian, nutrition therapist and certified personal trainer based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For sleep: Everyone's sleep schedule is different, and that's OK, as long as you stick to your natural circadian rhythms, experts say. That means going to sleep when the sun is setting (or a bit later) and waking up when sun is rising (or a little later, according to your individual needs).

Aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep is key, as it helps to "reduce the stress hormone cortisol and your adrenal load," Cardwell said.

Getting adequate sleep also bodes well for engaging in other healthful behaviors by going to bed at a reasonable hour, you'll be less likely to engage in nighttime eating or mindless eating in front of the TV, and you're more likely to wake up early and start exercise, Cardwell explained.

For eating: Setting regular meal times, and taking a break to eat your food mindfully is key, Cardwell advised, but when you actually eat is up to you. "Some do well on three meals per day with an afternoon snack; others prefer three smaller meals and three snacks."

Regardless of the pattern you choose, aim to eat at least every four hours, which prevents blood sugar from crashing and can lead to overeating. For example, if you're eating three meals and one afternoon snack, you might choose to eat breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m., a snack at 4 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

Taking a few deep breaths, enjoying the wonderful smells of the food you are about to eat and chewing food really well can all help make mealtime a healthful ritual, Foroutan explained.

Additionally, dinnertime can become a daily social ritual by sharing the meal with family or friends, advised Jen Scheinman, a Denver-based registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Jen Scheinman Nutrition, a virtual nutrition coaching practice. "Even a Zoom dinner with a friend if you're by yourself can help you feel connected."

For fitness: Pick a time that you're most likely to stick with. That might mean taking a morning walk before your day gets started, or scheduling your favorite fitness class on your calendar so you won't forget.

"I shut my day down with a run or yoga at around 5:30 p.m. That's my last thing for the day. The more you can make it a routine, the less you have to think about it," Scheinman said.

Planning what you will eat and how you will exercise means that you are more likely going to do what you intend to do, which will ultimately help you achieve your health goals. For example, planning meals in advance means you'll be less likely to reach for quick sugary snacks when you run out of energy. It also helps to limit shopping trips.

"Not only does planning your meals ahead of time help cut down on the number of times you're going to the grocery store, but it can also help reduce food waste and ensure you have meals that were intentionally picked to fit your nutritional goals," said Denver-based registered dietitian nutritionist Kelli McGrane.

For food: Eating a nutrient-rich breakfast sets the stage for making other healthful choices throughout the day.

Choose protein-rich breakfasts like egg whites, cottage cheese or smoked salmon on a bagel; Greek yogurt, smoothies with low-fat milk, high fiber cereals with milk or peanut butter on whole wheat toast.

Scheinman recommended preparing breakfast foods ahead of time, like making overnight oats with milk. "It makes the breakfast routine less daunting."

For lunch and dinner, Cardwell encouraged a fist-size portion of protein, such as fish, chicken or beans; a fistful of carbohydrates like whole wheat pasta or brown rice; and a half plate of veggies. This will help meet your micronutrient needs, as well as fiber. Use fats sparingly, as a condiment, to make your food taste better, but limit fried foods and saturated fat, Cardwell advised.

For snacks, choose protein and carb combos, like cheese with crackers, sliced fruit with peanut butter, nuts and seeds with dried fruit or Greek yogurt. Pairing protein with carbs "helps keep your blood sugar level stable, and helps you stay fuller longer," Cardwell said.

Scheinman recommended using the weekends for batch cooking, like making chili or soups, which you can freeze to enjoy later in the week. Washing and chopping veggies and fruit during the weekend can also save you time during the week.

For fitness: Pick a fitness activity that inspires you and is doable. There are a lot of fitness apps offering free trials and online Zoom fitness classes, so you can use this time as an opportunity to try something new. Cardwell recommended aiming for at least 30 minutes per day, if possible.

If you are looking for a simple at-home cardio workout, MaryAnn Browning, founder and CEO of Browningsfitness in New York, recommended jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, burpees and switch jumps during which you'll jump to turn 180 degrees and then back again for 15 seconds each. Then repeat the circuit five to 10 times, depending on what you can handle.

For at-home fitness essentials, Browning recommended getting a set of yellow, green and red resistance bands, which can be used for back, bicep, triceps, shoulders and leg work. She also recommended looped bands to go around the calves or thighs, which strengthen the glutes and can help prevent knee and back injuries.

If you want to weight train but don't have equipment, anything that will give you muscle tension will be beneficial, such as jugs of water, books or even your children. "I use my kids I'll do planks and have them sit on me ... or I'll do leg presses while letting them do airplane," Cardwell said.

And don't forget to keep moving throughout your day. Tracking apps like Lose It! are a good way to see how normal daily activities can all count toward our daily fitness goals.

"Dancing with your kids or partner, yard work, house projects, sex and cleaning are all trackable activities. Doing these activities with intention and extra vigor all count towards a healthy lifestyle," said Cardwell, who is also a contributing dietitian for Lose It!

For sleep: Engage in a bedtime routine where you can quiet down and prepare for sleep. "Turn off electronics, including the TV, iPad, and cell phones an hour before bedtime," Scheinman advised. This helps to reduce exposure to blue light, which "the brain perceives as daylight, so your brain is not quite getting the signal that it's nighttime and melatonin is not produced."

Unplugging also prevents you from checking one more email or scrolling through social media while in bed, which can be stimulating and interfere with sleep, Scheinman explained.

Most experts recommended engaging in a morning ritual that brings you pleasure. "Starting your day with the same routine each morning can bring steadiness and calm to the rest of the day. You are starting from a more grounded and positive place, versus waking up; grabbing the phone and checking the news and getting stressed out," Foroutan said.

"The morning is a nice time to start integrating things you didn't have time for previously like taking the dog for a longer walk in the morning, making a nice cup of coffee you can sit and enjoy or engaging in a meditation practice," Scheinman added.

"It sets the day off with a healthy intention, with a sense of comfort. ... I know this is what I do," Scheinman said.

Foroutan enjoys waking up and writing down three things she is grateful for. "Starting the day with a thought about gratitude can be really centering. Writing it down does something extra it solidifies the thought and intention. Not every day is good but there's something good in every day. Even if it's one small thing that gives you a sense of gratitude that's really grounding and it can help shift your perspective."

Stretching your body after you wake up or doing a sun salutation can help to get your blood flowing and your body moving in the morning.

It's also important to prioritize self-care. "Make stress relievers like enjoyable activities a non-negotiable right now," Cardwell said. That may include knitting, taking an extra-long shower or bath, reading, taking a tea break, enjoying a glass of wine or calling family members. Even better, schedule these stress relievers into your day just like mealtimes and other obligations.

"We're taking stock of what's important ... and (our) health is important. Doing these things now can help you deal with the stress of right now," Cardwell said.

It can also keep you healthy and feeling good well into the future, too. That's a gift from quarantine life if there ever is one.

The-CNN-Wire & 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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If youre like many parents who planned your family summer vacation earlier in the year, youve probably spent the past few months trying to make new arrangements. Many families are skipping the flights and renting RVs for road trips. Disney World plans on reopening July 11, but you might not be ready for that type of vacation. According to a survey from MMGY Travel Intelligence, in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association, 47 percent of respondents said theyd be more likely to travel by car.

Youve likely set up a routine for your kids while they were under quarantine. Maintaining a routine is just as important for the summer. Encouraging routines around meals, naps and bedtimes, even in the summer, will help break up the day and provide structure for your little ones, says Nicole Grossmayer-Mercado, executive director of Little Smiles, a nonprofit that helps caring professionals bring joy to children in tough situations. But more importantly, maintain positivity. Above all, parents should be kind to themselves and not put pressure on themselves to create a backyard Disney World this summer, she says. Children will be happy if they see their parents are happy.

The good news is, businesses across the country have taken note and pivoted on their summer offerings, but theres a lot to consider. In a survey of 1,100 moms by Party City, almost 80 percent of moms said they were concerned on how they would entertain their children after 2 to 3 months of home schooling. By this time, you've probably tried all of the family board games and watched plenty of funny family movies. If youre juggling work and childcare, virtual summer camps may be a great way to keep your kids engaged during the day. But if youre over Zoom and want to limit screen time (unless its something educational!), this list offers plenty of fun ways to stay busy.

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1Make a List

The first thing author Jessica Speer and her kids did this summer was create a "Things We Want to Do This Summer" list. This helps us brainstorm and get our ideas on paper so the summer doesn't slip by, she says. Some of our usual activities, like traveling and visiting grandma, are not possible given the pandemic as well as financial constraints. My kids understand the need to stay home more this summer, so have been really accommodating to a different plan. Most of the activities are free and home-based due to the pandemic. Speer has found that since they came up with the list themselves, the kids have been especially engaged in the activities.

2Sharpen Your Skills

Most students will be heading back in the fall after a very unique school year. Whether it was cut short or became a modified remote learning experience, you may feel like your kids need a little catching up. Teachers will be ready in the fall to help kids get back on track, but you can do your part, too. Create a reading challenge with a fun reward at the end, like an ice cream party, movie night, or new toy. Now that youve taken on a part-time teacher role during quarantine, you may have noticed certain subjects where your kids could use some extra attention. Consider online options like Wyzant, which offers tutoring in more 230 subject areas.

3Camp in the Backyard

If you have the room, this is a great way to get out this summer, without going too far. Share scary stores, make some smores, and doze off under the stars. One classic idea you can't go wrong with is the backyard camp-out, says Theresa Bertuzzi, co-owner and co-founder of Tiny Hoppers. Get some blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags ready, because it's time to turn your backyard into a weekend adventure. Kids love to make a pretend campfire and roast marshmallows, play board games and just spend time being lazy in the tent. If youre a city dweller, or prefer not to camp outside, bring the tent indoors. Use some imagination and turn any room in your house into an outdoor oasis.

4Virtual Summer Camps

Many traditional camps across the country have canceled or postponed camp season, although thats largely dependent on your states current regulations. Coding, art, robotics, and karate are just a few of the options available. If your kids are regular campers, check with your camp to see if theyve developed a virtual experience. Party City and Little Tikes Camp Play@Home are two companies sharing fun activities throughout the summer. Another idea: Varsity Tutors, a series of free online summer camps for kids ages 5-18. Each week-long camp features live, interactive classes in photography, theater, coding and chess.

5Learn a New Language

Not only is learning a new language great for the brain, it promotes open-mindedness and introduces kids to different people, cultures, and ways of life. There are many ways for kids to learn Spanish, in particular, from the comfort of their own homes this summer, says Rachel Kamath, founder of Small World Spanish. She recommends lessons through the Homeschool Spanish Academy. For a wider range of languages, Rosetta Stone for Students is offering free access this summer.

6Stay Cool

Is your local community pool closed? If you have room for an inflatable pool, kids will appreciate the ability to splash around, even if its not the usual swimming experience. Think outside the box this summer and transform your backyard into an oasis thatll keep your kids busy all summer long, says Heather Meehan, an outreach consultant for Heart Water. All you really need is a couple of plastic swimming pools to create your very own beach scene. Fill one with sand and the other with water for a DIY surf & turf retreat that your kids will adore. You may also want to stock up on some water guns, slip and slides and sprinklers for some variety. There are a lot of water games you can play outside with your kids to stay refreshed in the hot summer months.

7Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Team up with local parents to create a fun way for kids to spend the day in their neighborhood. Create a list of plants that can be found in your neighborhood, says Debbie Lopez of Zivadream, an education advocacy and test prep review website. Be specific. Instead of asking them to identify a flower or a tree, ask for a rose or an oak. If you want to share the results, consider setting up a Zoom call, or posting the results on a neighborhood social media page.

8"Go" to the Zoo

Although many zoos are still closed, there are plenty of ways you can still stay connected from your home. For example, San Diego Zoo Global encourages parents, educators, and fans from around the world to stay connected to their favorite animals with wildlife cams, video stories, hands-on activities, games, and online classes. The Brevard Zoo in Floridas Space Coast is also offering a Zoom-based three-day session through August. The paid program offers animal encounters, scavenger hunts, zoo tours, and more. If you live near a drive-through safari, like Six Flags in New Jersey, you can get closer to the animals while social distancing.

9Grow a Garden

A great thing to do this summer is start a vegetable garden by saving your own seeds from fruits and vegetables. When we shop for vegetables and fruit, we try to find the ones with seeds inside, or the ones that can be grown from cuttings, says Elle Meager, founder of Outdoor Happens. Its very easy, lots of fun, and you still get to eat the vegetables so you dont lose any money. She recommends starting with pumpkin, squash, cucumber, and tomato. You can develop your own love for gardening alongside your kids.

10Foster (or Adopt!) a Pet

A piece of good news out of the coronavirus: many animal shelters are celebrating the boost in adoptions. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the rates of fostering have increased by 90 percent in some cities. Not only will your children have a new friend this summer, but theyll learn some valuable responsibility skills.

Author Jessica Speer jumped on the opportunity to help take care of a family of cats. On the first day of summer break, we saw a Facebook post that the shelter needed foster homes for kittens, she says. I called the shelter and they had a mother cat and six one-week old kittens. We picked them up later that day. My kids are thrilled to have this cat family in our house. They are never bored because they can always tend to the kittens. They weigh them daily to track growth, make sure the mom cat is fed and feeling loved, change the cat litter, and more. They love watching the kittens change and grow.

11Learn to Cook

Cook up some summer fun with free recipes and activities from Raddish, a monthly subscription kit and cooking club for kids. Kids will learn key skills in their at-home cooking camp, like cracking eggs and kneading dough. This year, the company is also offering virtual summer cooking camps (at a cost), with themes like Restaurant Camp, Around the World, and Summer Fun. The week-long camps are suitable for kids ages 8-13. Our cooking camps are designed to excite kids about the joys of cooking and help them hone a lifelong skill, says Samantha Barnes, founder of Raddish Kids. From empowering kids to start and run their own restaurant to taking them on a tour of the world through flavors, our goal remains the same: to nurture kids' confidence in the kitchen and beyond. The company also offers a popular kids subscription kit, designed for kids ages 4-14. Each monthly kit features a different theme ranging from seasons and holidays to cultures and creative cookery.

Baketivity, a subscription-based baking box service, launched Bake-A-Camp. Campers will get a big baking box featuring four themed Baketivity kits with pre-measured ingredients, step by step instructions, and an activity book (all you need are the eggs, oil, and water). Each weeks kit will take campers through progressively advanced recipes and techniques as they explore one theme, or cuisine throughout the month.

If youre looking for less of a commitment to cooking, but still want to get your kids in the kitchen, plan your own in-house cooking workshop. Apart from learning to make yummy dishes, children also develop mathematical skills, safety measures, cleanliness, motor skills and more, says Will Ward, CEO of Assistive Listening HQ.

12Teach Your Kids about Entrepreneurship

Help your kids build a better future for themselves and encourage them to start a business. I've been advocating that kids start Stuck-at-Home Startups this summer to have fun and begin to build an entrepreneurial mindset that will serve them well in life and give them the opportunity to earn money for themselves, their family, or a good cause, says Brian Weisfeld, co-author of The Startup Squad. Weisfelds ideas for this summer include online tutoring, selling items for neighbors on eBay, designing and selling T-shirts, and taking photos for stock photo websites.

Ray Ronan, a literary agent, also encourages families to get creative and write a childrens book together. The idea transformed his kids into authors and entrepreneurs at ages 8 and 13. Hes developed an online video course called Write a Book with Your Kids to help other families get started.

13DIY Summer Camp

Neighborhood families can come together and organize their own mini summer camps and activities. Thats the thought behind Sittercitys DIY summer camp. The online source for in-home care also offers virtual sitting, a tool that allows parents to hire a professional to engage and play with children virtually for short periods of time throughout the day.

As a company filled with moms and dads, we understand how hard it is for parents trying to do everything at home right now, says Elizabeth Harz, CEO of Sittercity, Americas first online source for in-home care. Child care professionals are still in need of work and their support is available. Many daycares, schools and camps have been sidelined, but our platform continues to connect families with child care providers. A DIY summer camp is just one way to adapt to the current situation of needing care and wanting to provide some fun and normalcy for your family, but also wanting to keep your bubble as small as possible. The experience can range from outdoor activities like scavenger hunts and tie-dying to a coach leading small groups of community kids in parent organized soccer camps.

14Family-Friendly Experiments

Keep your kids entertained with these easy experiments, using ordinary household items. Mad Science has a collection of experiments, which are compiled on their website with videos and downloadable instructions. Some of the projects that may appeal to your family: a soap-powered boat, balloon hovercraft, DIY sprinkler, and bottle barometer.

KinderCare Education is also offering a weekly at-home activity hub with guides for all ages to help families stay active and engaged at home. Dr. Elanna Yalow, chief academic officer at KinderCare, recommends some other fun activities, like DIY scratch-paper fireworks, talking art, and a whole series of fun using ice.

15Learn About the World

Kids love getting mail, and with fun and educational subscription boxes, kids will have something to look forward to with perfectly timed gifts year-round. Teach children about countries from around the world and their cultures with Little Global Citizens. This subscription service, staring at $39.95, sends a box to kids, aged 4 to 10, to bring a new country and its culture to life. Little Global Citizens boxes include crafts, books, screen-free games, puzzles, recipes and more from countries like Kenya, China, India and Jamaica, says Akeelah Kuraishi, CEO of Little Global Citizens.

16Become a Young Artist

Kim Bloomberg, a Chicago-based art teacher, recently pivoted to creating camp-in-a-box experiences for tweens/teens. Art Beat Box takes the guesswork and the supply purchasing out of the equation by creating comprehensive art project boxes. Each box contains five higher level art projects, like mosaics, painting and polymer clay for ages 9-99. They include all of the supplies, materials and a video tutorial to complete each project. We saw a huge hole in the teen/tween market since so many projects are entirely geared towards younger children, says Bloomberg. Older kids really need to be occupied, but more importantly, this is a perfect stage of life to embark on a new hobby."

17Explore Nature

With summer camps and vacations on hold, a great summer activity for kids is to hit the trail for a hike. AllTrails, an outdoor recreation app, helps users find and navigate trails and parks, making getting outside easier and more accessible. Users can filter to find trails that are suitable for their needs, like kid-friendly or dog-friendly. The app has also added several features to help users maintain social distancing. We all know that its important for kids to get outside and play, says Dr. Suzanne-Bartlett Hackenmiller, an integrative medicine physician and medical advisor for AllTrails. Not only is it vital to our childrens physical, mental, and emotional health, but it promotes creativity, and teaches valuable social skills.

Natalie Lloyd, a parenting blogger at Milkweed & Messes, believes that one of the best ways to keep kids occupied during summer vacation is to get outside with them. Encouraging kids to explore their surroundings will allow them to work through any boredom while also getting the body and brain moving in ways that kids so desperately need, she says. Together, parents and children can learn about bugs, butterflies, plants, and more. Even when families are just walking and talking together, the bonding time is so helpful. Once youre outside for the day, dont forget to set up a family picnic. You can keep it simple with a brown bag lunch, or take some inspiration from these 94 delightful picnic food ideas.

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