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Your health is one of the most valuable things you have — if not the most important. Today more than ever, people across the world are practicing gratitude for health while being vigilant about protecting it. Pandemics and viruses aside, there are ways to give your health the right priority it needs no matter what age you are.
Strong immunity, while crucial to preventing and fighting illness, is also a key component to living a balanced, happy life. How? The habits and practices you can do to support your immunity all lend themselves to a happy, holistic existence. It’s the best of both worlds; being strong and healthy to combat disease and illness and enjoying your body for the life it’s given you.
What Does “Strong Immune System” Mean?
Your immune system is exactly that, a system. The human body is made up of 11 separate systems that do their independent parts to keep your body running at its most optimal.The primary purpose of your immune system is to protect against pesky, persistent bacteria that want nothing more than to attack your body, breaking it down to make it more susceptible to injury and illness. Your immune system is the gatekeeper for what gets in and what stays out of your body. When it is working, the viruses and toxins don’t have a chance. When it’s not, the floodgates are wide open.
Your body shows signs of a strong immune system pretty often. One example is when you get a mosquito bite. The red, bumpy itch is a sign of your immune system at work. The flu or a cold is a typical example of your body failing to stop the germs/bacteria before they get in. However, when you recover from the cold or flu, it’s proof that your immune system was able to eliminate the invader after learning about it and reacting to its defense. If your immune system did nothing, you would never get over the cold, or anything else for that matter. When you are sick, your body isn’t able to perform at its full potential.
Depending on the nature of what’s got you under the weather, a prescription or over-the-counter medication may be needed if your immune system isn’t reacting or responding quickly enough. That too is normal; antibiotics were created for this very reason. The good news is there are many things you can do to keep your immune system strong and healthy.
How To Boost Immunity
Daily Exercise
Living a healthy lifestyle is your single best option to a strong immune system. Every part of your body functions better when it is fueled with healthy foods, a positive environment, and minimal stress. Sound ideal? Here are some easy tips for a stronger immune system that won’t overwhelm you.Yes, daily. Just 30 minutes.
There are numerous benefits to exercise, including prevention of arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions, and more. Exercise has also been shown to enhance and improve different components of the immune system. Exercise also improves your sleep quality and increases immune function. Go for a walk, become a member of a fitness center, find some fun exercises, and commit to a routine. Exercise also doubles as a mood and mental booster — two benefits in one.
Let the Light In
Enjoy moderate exposure to sunlight a few times each week. Vitamin D is imperative for strengthening your immune system. If you’re not able to get outside, consider a Vitamin D supplement as a substitute. Fresh air is good for everyone and a change of scenery is always a plus. Of course, with exposure to the sun, it’s also equally as important to wear SPF — and wear it daily.Be Mindful
Keep stress minimal; meditate or pray, and allow your brain some down time. Nothing good ever comes from worrying. Your body will be in a more relaxed state and feel rejuvenated with some peace and quiet. Stress can be an inhibitor of immunity for the way it creeps in and likes to settle, affecting appetite, sleep habits, even daily routines.
Promote Gut Health
Your gut knows when you’re happy … in fact, your gut know nearly everything. Keep it in check!Foods with good bacteria, like yogurt, have positive health benefits. Probiotics can help your digestive system function normal and stay balanced. After all, 80% of your immune system is located in your digestive system, so it’s best to keep your stomach healthy and happy.
Get Enough SleepIt’s a simple thing, really, getting a good night’s sleep. It’s your body’s chance to rest and recover. Aim for 7-9 good hours each night. Removing distractions, going to bed when you’re tired, and eliminating sugary foods late in the day will help you when you hit the pillow.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “During sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines, some of which help promote sleep. Certain cytokines need to increase when you have an infection or inflammation, or when you’re under stress. Sleep deprivation may decrease production of these protective cytokines. In addition, infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced during periods when you don’t get enough sleep.”
Little Daily Habits = Long Lasting Effects
Replacing bad health habits with good ones can help you keep a strong immune system. Here are a few little daily habits you can easily incorporate:Wash your hands frequently — and not just during pandemics!
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Laugh more
Reflect on gratitude
Use sunscreen
Drink plenty of water
Monitor your blood pressure
Take a multi-vitamin
Have dessert!Use these tips to boost your immunity and be well. These habits will also help you to live a happy, healthy life.
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Are the vaccines halal or not?
Gelatin derived from pigs is used as a stabiliser in some vaccines but the consumption of pork is forbidden to Muslims, who make up some 90% of the Indonesian population.And messages have been circulating on social media in Indonesia saying that the Sinovac vaccine contains elements of monkeys.President Widodo, a Muslim himself, has said it shouldn’t matter because it’s a heath emergency, but some have been looking for religious guidance.
The Indonesia Ulema Council or (MUI), whose job it is to decide such things, held long discussions and after an in-depth audit, it announced that the Sinovac vaccine is halal.
Previously, 30-40% of people surveyed by the Ministry of health had expressed doubts about the Covid-19 vaccine, and 7% said they did not want to be vaccinated.
Concern about whether the vaccine was halal or not was one of the key reasons, said Dr Nadia.
“Praise be to God, that has been cleared up,” she said.
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The woman who discovered the first human coronavirus was the daughter of a Scottish bus driver, who left school at 16. June Almeida went on to become a pioneer of virus imaging, whose work has come roaring back into focus during the present pandemic.
:June Dalziel Almeida was a Scottish virologist, a pioneer in virus imaging, identification, and diagnosis. Her skills in electron microscopy earned her an international reputation. In 1964, she was recruited by St Thomas’s Hospital Medical School in London.
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For those of you who think beauty is about mirrors, makeup, and the way many pudding packs you’ve got to sacrifice to suit into your skinny jeans, hear this:
Beauty isn’t some vapid and superficial pursuit that exists solely to sell products, wag tongues, and produce drool. Beauty is really precisely perceived, purposeful, and rooted in hard science more than abstract and random opinion.
From the time we started prancing round the world with our body-hair parkas and leafy lingerie, evolution has pushed us to become more beautiful. and that is why beauty is the inspiration for our feelings, our happiness, and our existence.
In fact, beauty doesn’t reflect our vanity the maximum amount because it does our humanity.
Why? to place it bluntly, beauty is health. That’s right. Traditional beauty—the outer kind serves as a proxy of how healthy you’re.
It is the message you send to others about your health.
Simply, beauty is a moment message to others that transmits youth, fertility, and health. That’s why beauty is a particularly important evolutionary cue.
Not convinced?
check out traditional images of ugly things pus, blood, gore. They nearly always correlate with something unhealthy.
Now, that’s just talking about outer beauty. Inner beauty the idea of feeling good and being happy also has tremendous health implications in every aspect of your life. -
Factors that promote wrinkling include:
Skin type (people with light-colored skin and blue eyes are more vulnerable to sun damage) Sun exposure Though you cannot control all of these factors, you’ll do something about two of them: Minimize your sun exposure and do not smoke.
Wrinkle Treatments.
There are several ways to attenuate the looks of wrinkles and even remove them. Retinoids (tretinoin, Altreno, Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac). Among medical treatments, this is often far and away the foremost proven and effective way of bettering signs of aging like uneven pigmentation, roughness, and wrinkling.
At first, these medications may cause redness and peeling. Although this will be unpleasant, improvement comes when the peeling stops.
Alpha-hydroxy acids.
These are the so-called “fruit acids” and include glycolic and carboxylic acid . Preparations containing these fruit acids are quite safe and cause no quite mild and temporary irritation. The development they produce is, however, relatively subtle.
Antioxidants.
These include vitamins A, C, and E, also as beta-carotene. Products that have antioxidants may provide some sun protection (though you ought to still wear sunscreen) and mildly improve wrinkles.
Moisturizers.
These may temporarily make wrinkles look less noticeable. Ads often say that they “reduce the looks of fine lines.” But they do not make those lines get away permanently.
Glycollic acid peels.
These superficial peels can make a really slight difference within the intensity of fine wrinkles. -
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We are revolutionizing the conventional diapers. Yes, now you can pull your baby’s pants up and not have to worry about leaks at all. These diaper pants are soft and does not have the old straps, which used to cause rashes. They are gentle on the skin and cute on the butt. Baby pants are the new trend
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Scores of UK and US children have been affected by a rare inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus.
In a tiny number of children it can cause serious complications, with some needing intensive care.
Up to 100 children in the UK have been affected and studies suggest the same reaction is being seen in children elsewhere in Europe.
It is likely to be caused by a delayed immune response to the virus which looks like Kawasaki disease.
In April, NHS doctors were told to look out for a rare but dangerous reaction in children.
This was prompted by eight children becoming ill in London, including a 14-year-old who died.
They all had similar symptoms when they were admitted to Evelina London Children’s Hospital, including a high fever, rash, red eyes, swelling and general pain.
Most of the children had no major lung or breathing problems, although seven were put on a ventilator to help improve heart and circulation issues.
Doctors are describing it as a “new phenomenon” similar to Kawasaki disease shock syndrome - a rare condition that mainly affects children under the age of five. Symptoms include a rash, swollen glands in the neck and dry and cracked lips.
But this new syndrome is also affecting older children up to the age of 16, with a minority experiencing serious complications.
Coronavirus: 'My son had symptoms of rare syndrome'Dr Liz Whittaker, clinical lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology, at Imperial College London, said the fact that the syndrome was occurring in the middle of a pandemic, suggests the two are linked.
“You’ve got the Covid-19 peak, and then three or four weeks later we’re seeing a peak in this new phenomenon which makes us think that it’s a post-infectious phenomenon,” she said.
This means it is likely to be something related to the build up of antibodies after infection.
‘Exceptionally rare’Prof Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the majority of children who have had the condition have responded to treatment and are getting better and starting to go home.
The syndrome is “exceptionally rare”, he said.
“This shouldn’t stop parents letting their children exit lockdown,” Prof Viner added.
He said understanding more about the inflammatory disease “might explain why some children become very ill with Covid-19, while the majority are unaffected or asymptomatic”.
Children are thought to make up just 1-2% of all cases of coronavirus infection, accounting for less than 500 admissions to hospital.
SCHOOLS: When will children be returning? LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? GLOBAL SPREAD: Tracking the pandemic RECOVERY: How long does it take to get better? A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?Michael Levin, professor of paediatrics and international child health at Imperial, explained that most of the children tested negative for coronavirus, but tested positive for detection of antibodies.
“So we really think that the biology of the disease, somehow involves an unusual immune response to the virus,” he said.
However Prof Levin said there was “a vast amount to learn” about the reaction, which had only been known about for two to three weeks.
Children appear to be affected up to six weeks after they have been infected with the virus, which could explain the appearance of the new syndrome several weeks after the peak of UK cases.
What is the situation elsewhere in the world?There have been similar cases in the US, Spain, Italy, France and the Netherlands.
At least 15 US states are looking into the rare condition, according to New York governor Andrew Cuomo.
Out of 82 diagnosed cases of the inflammatory syndrome in New York, 53 children tested positive or had antibodies for Covid-19.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the US is set to issue an alert and updated definition of the syndrome to healthcare providers this week.
Meanwhile, according to a study by doctors in northern Italy, 10 children have been affected by the disease.
All 10 of the children in the study were admitted to a hospital in Bergamo - the city at the centre of the worst outbreak in Italy - between mid-February and mid-April, and recovered.
The children, who had an average age of seven, tended to have severe symptoms such as heart complications and signs of toxic shock syndrome. They also needed additional treatment with steroids.
In antibody tests on the children, eight appeared to have already had the coronavirus while the other two had not. But the researchers said the tests were not 100% accurate. Swab tests to detect the virus are not thought to be useful because the reaction tends to occur many weeks after infection.
Dr Lucio Verdoni, report author and doctor at the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII in Bergamo, said: “Although this complication remains very rare, our study provides further evidence on how the virus may be affecting children.”
Child health experts in the UK say it may not be something which just affects children.
They are now working with researchers in the US and across Europe to find out more about what they have called paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome or (PIMS-TS).
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The Holy month of Ramadan is finally here! During fasting month, our body and skin undergo many changes and for this reason you would like to require extra care of your skin. As a makeup artist, I’m a firm believer on taking care of our skin as great makeup starts with healthy glowing skin. If you specialise in your skin care, you won’t need much filters to hide it all with makeup.
In the month of Ramadan, our skin tends to urge dehydrated quicker than usual. Fasting during the summer or winter can cause dryness and lack of moisture to the skin — Skin care in Ramadan is extremely important to possess a fresh look all day long so you are doing not look wearied bent your family and friends.
We’ve lined up 5 easy tips keep your skin healthy and happy through out the whole month of Ramadan
a) Drink many Water
If your body is lacking water and hydration, or is malnourished, then your skin will look dull and dehydrated. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking many water is crucial during the month of Ramadan. Limit yourself on the caffeine intake, no juices and sodas as they’re very dehydrating to your body. it’s recommended to a minimum of drink 8–10 glass of water between iftar (the post-sunset breaking fast meal) and suhoor (the pre-dawn meal).
Try to drink detox water, infused with cucumber, mint and lemon. this may hydrate the skin instantly with powerful vitamins — you’ll be getting vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, vitamin Bc , Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
b) Skin Care
Besides lack of water, skin care regime during Ramadan is extremely important. The skin loses moisture due environmental conditions, aggressive cleansing & toning product and bad lifestyle choices. attempt to exfoliate and moisturise regularly and not using skin toner that contain alcohol and fragrance. ( Ps : Alcohol is that the substance which will strips out the skin natural oils and dehydrates more the skin) Always lookout of the eyes from dark circle which will cause you to looking tired and dull. Dark circles may easily appear during the month thanks to changes in your sleeping patterns.
Allow yourself to possess around eight hours of sleep per day, apply a thick eye cream and place some cucumbers on the eyes to scale back the dark circles.
c) Eat Good Food
Always opt in fruits and vegetables intake during the month of Ramadan. Most of fruits and vegetables contain 90% water which will cause you to stay hydrated. They also offer additional advantage of fibre, vitamins, minerals also as antioxidants. Your skin will certainly looking glow from their hydration and nutrient benefits.
These are the fruits and vegetables that are great for fasting month :
Berries
Lemons
Watermelons
Cucumber
Kale
Tomatoes
Spinach
Grapes
Broccoli
Also to not forget to balance your diet with protein intake ( eg, salmon, eggs, chicken) and non processed carbs ( eg. potatoes / sweet potatoes) — Limit your intake of those foods, like crisps, nutriment and lots of packaged foods — canned soups, frozen pizza, processed meat and canned vegetables.
d) Exercise
For some, it are often tough enough getting through their day including finding the energy and motivation to specialise in their physical activity. Ramadan may be a time of focus and reflection so it’s an excellent time to plan your health and goals which will work for you.
Many people ditch exercise during Ramadan that would create huge setbacks to their health and will cause the event of varied quite chronic conditions.
Some of other benefits on exercising during fasting :
Restoring insulin sensitivity and nutrient partitioning, especially in those folks susceptible to snack on sugary foods throughout the day.
Producing a calorie deficit which is right for those looking to scale back their body fat percentage (which is all folks right?)
Lowering vital sign , oxidative stress and even the danger of developing some cancers.
Finally, it requires discipline and mental strength, something we will always use more of.You can easily break the sweat by doing short workouts for about 45 minutes, 3–4 times every week . If you’re concern about losing weight, you’ll do light cardio exercises — walking or cycling. this may help burning calories and improve full body stretching and adaptability .
Notes : confirm you drink many water as overtraining can cause injury thanks to lack of nutrients and dehydration.
e) Catch abreast of Sleeps
During Ramadan your sleeping schedule is probably going to be disrupted enough because it is, awakening early to eat before sunrise and staying up late to refill on calories and nutrients you’ve omitted on during the day.
Knowing this you ought to make a conscious effort to urge in the maximum amount sleep as possible. If your working hours permit then take a nap after work and before Iftar to undertake and obtain in as on the brink of the perfect 8 hours each day as possible.
Not getting enough sleeps can contribute to lower energy and worsen your concentration. it’s during sleep that growth hormones are released that repair the skin and muscle tissue.
Take a glance on these and see if there’s any changes on your skin. For extra skin protection, don’t forget to use SPF sunscreen during the day for anti aging benefits Ramadan Kareem to you all!
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Amid rising deaths from the corona virus worldwide, the World Food Program (WFP) has warned that the world could face a “global hunger pandemic” as the number of people suffering from malnutrition could double this year.
According to the World Food Program, at the end of 2019, 135 million people worldwide were facing ‘severe hunger’, and now that most countries around the world are facing lockdowns, that number has risen to 265 million this year. Will go
David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Program, said: "Even before the Corona virus was raised, for a number of reasons, I have been saying that 2020 will be the year after World War II with the worst humanitarian crisis. May face.
In 2019, the amount of aid received by the World Food Program was 3 8.3 billion. This year, the company will need 10 to 12 billion dollars to run its operations.
Yemen
Image copyright Getty ImagesEven before the war broke out in Yemen, it was the poorest country in the Arab world.
But operations by the Saudi-led military coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen in 2015 have exacerbated the country’s already existing humanitarian crisis.
Arif Hussain, chief economist at the World Food Program, told the BBC: "As the conflict drags on, more and more people are being affected. In 2016, we were providing assistance to 3 to 4 million people in Yemen. That number has now reached 12 million.
Also read
Forms of famine-stricken life
The five epidemics that changed the world
One million more Yemeni children at risk of famine
According to the World Food Program (WFP), the situation worsened when aid to Houthi rebel-held areas was cut off due to concerns from several countries.
These countries said that the Houthis were obstructing the delivery of aid to their territories.
Earlier this month, the first confirmed case of corona virus was reported in Yemen. Aid agencies have warned that the epidemic will soon overwhelm Yemen’s fragile health system.
Republic of the Congo
Image copyright AFPVarious parts of the Congo have been plagued by armed conflict for the past 25 years, and according to the World Health Organization, it is facing the world’s second-largest hunger crisis.
Fifteen percent of Congo’s population is classified as “severely food insecure”. This means that these people are among the 30 million people around the world who live directly in war zones and are completely dependent on aid.
According to Arif Hussain, these people need at least ارب 2 billion to arrange food deliveries for the next three months.
“These are the people who have been badly affected and now (after Corona) they are suffering more,” he said.
In addition to these people, there are 5 million refugees and 500,000 refugees from neighboring countries in Congo.
In addition to the risks to everyone living in war-torn areas, homeless people are at even greater risk of contracting the corona virus because they often need basic hygiene to help prevent the spread of disease. They are also deprived of facilities.
Earlier this month, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned that the ongoing conflict in the Congo was hampering efforts to control the corona virus. The Corona epidemic has so far affected the Congolese capital.
Venezuela
Image copyright AFPUnlike other countries on the list, the problem of hunger in Venezuela is not due to any war or environmental reasons but due to economic difficulties.
Although Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves, inflation rose to 200 percent in January last year, leaving one-third of the country’s population in need of foreign aid.
According to the World Food Program, these problems were exacerbated by the mass exodus of health workers from the country.
And the list of problems doesn’t end there. About 15 percent of Venezuela’s population, or 4.8 million people, have emigrated to neighboring countries in the past few years, and many of them suffer from malnutrition in neighboring countries.
South Sudan
Image copyright Getty ImagesSouth Sudan came into being in 2011 when it gained independence from its northern neighbor.
One of the goals of gaining independence was to end the country’s years-long civil war, but just two years after gaining independence, South Sudan fell victim to a fierce armed conflict.
The World Food Program (WFP) has warned that hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan have been at an all-time high since 2011, with about 60 percent of the country’s population struggling to find food every day.
The situation took a turn for the worse when locusts turned to South Sudan after destroying crops in East Africa this year.
According to Arif Hussain, “Even if the corona virus is not a problem here, the desert locust is a big story.”
South Sudan is heavily dependent on oil and will be hit hard by falling oil prices.
According to Johns Hopkins University in the United States, there are only four cases of corona virus in South Sudan.
Afghanistan
Image copyright EPAAfghanistan is another war-torn country that has been at war for the past two decades.
The US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001
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The next Apple Watch (likely a Series 6) remains months faraway from making its grand debut alongside the rumored iPhone 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. But there’s still many speculation surrounding a Series 6 smartwatch to carry us over within the meantime. We’ve compiled a roundup of plausible and compelling new features for the Apple Watch Series 6 supported the newest leaks, rumors and Apple patents.
Design: A round Apple Watch, but not this yearSave for a couple of minor changes like larger screens, different materials and various watch band designs, the design of the watch hasn’t changed much since Apple introduced the primary Apple Watch in 2014. And this year are going to be no different.
Rumors of a circular watch face on the Apple Watch are making the rounds for a couple of years now. a number of its Android counterparts just like the Samsung Galaxy Watch have circular designs, so it wouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a stretch to think Apple would imitate . to feature fuel to the hearth , the corporate has also issued a few Apple Watch patents that show a round display. But thus far , it’s just a possibility; the existence of a patent doesn’t guarantee Apple will use it during a product. albeit one among these patents does become a reality, it might likely take years. A change this big would require Apple to transform the hardware and software of the watch, then far we’ve not heard anything that might indicate it’s happening in 2020.
New watch face options, but no storeThe Apple Watch has plenty of customizable watch faces (known as “complications”) starting from animated Disney characters to weather-centric interfaces. But Apple still hasn’t loosened the reins for third-party watch faces, and that we don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Instead Apple might allow users to share watch faces. consistent with a 9to5Mac, each watch face configuration are going to be shared as a singular file via AirDrop. The report, which cites leaked iOS 14 code because the source of its information, also says WatchOS 7, subsequent version of Apple’s smartwatch software, will add an analog-style tachymeter to its design options that might measure speed and distance.
You may even be ready to use shared albums from your photos app to make a customized watch face that cycles through the photos therein album. meaning relations could add individual photos to the shared album for everybody within the group to ascertain on their wrists.
Lastly, for patriotic users, WatchOS 7 may add an “international” option that allows you to choose a country’s flag as your watch face.
A new fitness appFitness has been at the core of the Apple Watch since its launch, and this year Apple may take it even further. consistent with MacRumors, the corporate is functioning on a standalone fitness app. Unlike the prevailing Activity app that tracks your progress and is already on the Apple Watch (and iPhone), this one would offer you guided workouts for an assortment of various activities like running, cycling, rowing, strength training, dance and yoga.
There’s no shortage of third-party fitness apps like this for the Apple Watch, but a native fitness app could put tons of these out of business. The app would be available on the iPhone and Apple TV also because the Apple Watch. And it’d be free. The MacRumors report says there is no evidence of in-app purchases, but that does not necessarily rule out a subscription based approach like Apple Music.
Now playing: Apple Watch Series 6: What to expect
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Native sleep tracking may finally arriveThis could finally be the year when Apple Watch gets native sleep tracking. Since acquiring the sleep sensor Beddit back in 2017, a tracker that sits under the mattress, there are rumors about Apple integrating an identical feature within the Apple Watch. A “Sleep app” was also accidentally mentioned during a screenshot of Apple’s preinstalled Alarm app within the App Store. The image was spotted by a reader of MacRumors back in October, and has since been removed. An April 30 leak on Twitter seems to corroborate this rumor.
Currently, sleep tracking is out there on the Apple Watch through third-party apps and one among the most important hurdles for Apple to supply it natively has been battery life. the present Apple Watch models last a few day and a half normal use, but a feature like this is able to require overnight monitoring. this is able to likely drain the battery much faster. It’s within the company’s best interest to unravel this issue soon though; many Apple Watch competitors like Fitbit and Samsung have had it on their devices for years.
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27 tips to assist you sleep better, starting tonight
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Pulse oximeter to live blood oxygen levelsEven if the Series 6 doesn’t have native sleep tracking, Apple will likely continue expanding health and wellness features for subsequent Apple Watch.
This year’s big health feature might be what’s referred to as SPO2 tracking. this is able to allow the watch to live your blood oxygen levels, sort of a pulse oximeter, and provide you with a warning if it dips below a particular threshold, consistent with 9to5Mac. this is often good timing, because some doctors are recommending pulse oximeter devices to watch COVID-19 symptoms, and other people have begun purchasing pulse oximeters during the coronavirus pandemic. The April 30 leak corroborates this rumor also .
The Apple Watch already does something similar with pulse , and alerts you if it detects an abnormally high, low or irregular cardiac rhythm indicative of fibrillation (afib).
For this to be possible, the Series 6 could require a replacement sort of sensor, likely a pulse oximeter. Or it’d be ready to pull with a software update and use the prevailing hardware. The Apple Watch already tracks VO2 max (or maximum oxygen consumption) inside the Activity app using the GPS and pulse sensor during exercise.
Other health rumors include glucose and blood-pressure monitoring on subsequent Apple Watch, but these might be further off.
A kid-friendly Apple WatchThe leaked iOS 14 code reportedly also references new tools for folks . instead of give their kids an iPhone, parents looking to remain connected with their kids, could found out a second Apple Watch (completely break away theirs) using their iPhone and Apple ID because the host. this is able to also give parents the ultimate say on what quite content their kids can access on the watch like emergency contacts and music.
With a feature called SchoolTime in WatchOS 7, parents could even determine what apps are often used at what times to limit distractions within the classroom.
This would also mean adapting a number of the health features for younger users. consistent with 9 to five Mac, the ring system (used for activity tracking) would be supported different metrics. The red move ring, for instance , would track active minutes rather than active calories because it does with adults. The Watch also will incentivize kids to stay moving by offering virtual rewards once they participate in sports or outdoor activities.
Tracking panic attacks and stressThe Apple Watch Series 6 also will reportedly accompany several psychological state monitoring features, including the power to detect when the wearer is close to experience a scare (another timely feature, if it pans out, during the worldwide pandemic). This rumor was also mentioned within the April 30 leak, which referenced “Mental Health Abnormalities Detection.”
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In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health with a phrase that modern authorities still apply.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”In 1986, the WHO made further clarifications:
“A resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.”This means that health is a resource to support an individual’s function in wider society, rather than an end in itself. A healthful lifestyle provides the means to lead a full life with meaning and purpose.
In 2009, researchers publishing inThe Lancet defined health as the ability of a body to adapt to new threats and infirmities.
They base this definition on the idea that the past few decades have seen modern science take significant strides in the awareness of diseases by understanding how they work, discovering new ways to slow or stop them, and acknowledging that an absence of pathology may not be possible. Mental and physical health are probably the two most frequently discussed types of health.
Spiritual, emotional, and financial health also contribute to overall health. Medical experts have linked these to lower stress levels and improved mental and physical well-being.
People with better financial health, for example, may worry less about finances and have the means to buy fresh food more regularly. Those with good spiritual health may feel a sense of calm and purpose that fuels good mental health.
Physical healthA person who has good physical health is likely to have bodily functions and processes working at their peak.
This is not only due not only to an absence of disease. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest all contribute to good health. People receive medical treatment to maintain the balance, when necessary.
Physical well-being involves pursuing a healthful lifestyle to decrease the risk of disease. Maintaining physical fitness, for example, can protect and develop the endurance of a person’s breathing and heart function, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition.
Looking after physical health and well-being also involves reducing the risk of an injury or health issue, such as:
minimizing hazards in the workplace using contraception when having sex practicing effective hygiene avoiding the use of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs taking the recommended vaccines for a specific condition or country when travelingGood physical health can work in tandem with mental health to improve a person’s overall quality of life.
For example, mental illness, such as depression, may increase the risk of drug use disorders, according to a 2008 study. This can go on to adversely affect physical health.
Mental healthAccording to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, mental health refers to a person’s emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Mental health is as important as physical health as part of a full, active lifestyle.
It is harder to define mental health than physical health because many psychological diagnoses depend on an individual’s perception of their experience.
With improvements in testing, however, doctors are now able to identify some physical signs of some types of mental illness in CT scans and genetic tests.
Good mental health is not only categorized by the absence of depression, anxiety, or another disorder. It also depends on a person’s ability to:
enjoy life
bounce back after difficult experiences and adapt to adversity
balance different elements of life, such as family and finances
feel safe and secure
achieve their full potential
Physical and mental health have strong connections. For example, if a chronic illness affects a person’s ability to complete their regular tasks, it may lead to depression and stress. These feelings could be due to financial problems or mobility issues.
A mental illness, such as depression or anorexia, can affect body weight and overall function.
It is important to approach “health” as a whole, rather than as a series of separate factors. All types of health are linked, and people should aim for overall well-being and balance as the keys to good health.
Find out how mental health can affect physical health here.
Factors for good healthGood health depends on a wide range of factors.
Genetic factorsA person is born with a variety of genes. In some people, an unusual genetic pattern or change can lead to a less-than-optimum level of health. People may inherit genes from their parents that increase their risk for certain health conditions.
Environmental factorsEnvironmental factors play a role in health. Sometimes, the environment alone is enough to impact health. Other times, an environmental trigger can cause illness in a person who has an increased genetic risk of a particular disease.
Access to healthcare plays a role, but the WHO suggest that the following factors may have a more significant impact on health than this:
where a person lives
the state of the surrounding environment
genetics
their income
their level of education
employment status
It is possible to categorize these as follows:
The social and economic environment: This may include the financial status of a family or community, as well as the social culture and quality of relationships.
The physical environment: This includes which germs exist in an area, as well as pollution levels.
A person’s characteristics and behaviors: A person’s genetic makeup and lifestyle choices can affect their overall health.
According to some studies, the higher a person’s socioeconomic status (SES), the more likely they are to enjoy good health, have a good education, get a well-paid job, and afford good healthcare in times of illness or injury.
They also maintain that people with low socioeconomic status are more likely to experience stress due to daily living, such as financial difficulties, marital disruption, and unemployment.
Social factors may also impact on the risk of poor health for people with lower SES, such as marginalization and discrimination.
A low SES often means reduced access to healthcare. A 2018 study in Frontiers in Pharmacology indicated that people in developed countries with universal healthcare services have longer life expectancies than those in developed countries without universal healthcare.
Cultural issues can affect health. The traditions and customs of a society and a family’s response to them can have a good or bad impact on health.
According to the Seven Countries Study, researchers studied people in select European countries and found that those who ate a healthful diet had a lower 20-year death rate.
The study indicated that people who ate a healthful diet are more likely to consume high levels of fruits, vegetables, and olives than people who regularly consume fast food.
The study also found that people who followed the Mediterranean diet had a lower 10-year all-cause mortality rate. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, this diet can help protect a person’s heart and reduce the risk of several diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, and diseases that cause the brain and nerves to break down.
How a person manages stress will also affect their health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people who smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, or take illicit drugs to manage stressful situations are more likely to develop health problems than those who manage stress through a healthful diet, relaxation techniques, and exercise.
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Scientists have discovered a microbe that completely protects mosquitoes from being infected with malaria.
The team in Kenya and the UK say the finding has “enormous potential” to control the disease.
Malaria is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, so protecting them could in turn protect people.
The researchers are now investigating whether they can release infected mosquitoes into the wild, or use spores to suppress the disease.
What is this microbe?The malaria-blocking bug, Microsporidia MB, was discovered by studying mosquitoes on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. It lives in the gut and genitals of the insects.
The researchers could not find a single mosquito carrying the Microsporidia that was harbouring the malaria parasite. And lab experiments, published in Nature Communications, confirmed the microbe gave the mosquitoes protection.
Microsporidias are fungi, or at least closely related to them, and most are parasites.
However, this new species may be beneficial to the mosquito and was naturally found in around 5% of the insects studied.
How big a discovery is it?“The data we have so far suggest it is 100% blockage, it’s a very severe blockage of malaria,” Dr Jeremy Herren, from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kenya told the BBC.
He added: “It will come as a quite a surprise. I think people will find that a real big breakthrough.”
More than 400,000 people are killed by malaria each year, most of them children under the age of five.
While huge progress has been made through the use of bed nets and spraying homes with insecticide, this has stalled in recent years. It is widely agreed new tools are needed to tackle malaria.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Bed nets have helped cut the number of people infected with malaria around the world
How does the microbe stop malaria?The fine details still need to be worked out.
But Microsporidia MB could be priming the mosquito’s immune system, so it is more able to fight off infections.
Or the presence of the microbe in the insect could be having a profound effect on the mosquito’s metabolism, making it inhospitable for the malaria parasite.
Microsporidia MB infections appear to be life-long. If anything, the experiments show they become more intense, so the malaria-blocking effect would be long-lasting.
When can this be used against malaria?At the very least, 40% of mosquitoes in a region need to be infected with Microsporidia in order to make a significant dent in malaria.
The microbe can be passed between adult mosquitoes and is also passed from the female to her offspring.
So, the researchers are investigating two main strategies for increasing the number of infected mosquitoes.
Microsporidia form spores which could be released en masse to infect mosquitoes
Male mosquitoes (which don’t bite) could be infected in the lab and released into the wild to infect the females when they have sex
“It’s a new discovery. We are very excited by its potential for malaria control. It has enormous potential,” Prof Steven Sinkins, from the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told the BBC.
This concept of disease control using microbes is not unprecedented. A type of bacteria called Wolbachia has been shown to make it harder for mosquitoes to spread dengue fever in real-world trials.
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What happens next?
The scientists need to understand how the microbe spreads, so they plan to perform more tests in Kenya.
However, these approaches are relatively uncontroversial as the species is already found in wild mosquitoes and is not introducing something new.
It also would not kill the mosquitoes, so would not have an impact on ecosystems that are dependent on them as food. This is part of other strategies like a killer fungus that can almost completely collapse mosquito populations in weeks.
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The World Health Organization says it “didn’t waste time” responding to the coronavirus after facing criticism for its handling of the outbreak.
Its head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO’s declaration of the virus as an international health emergency on 30 January gave “enough time for the rest of the world to respond”.
At the time there were only 82 cases outside China and no deaths.
Today there are more than 3.2m cases and 234,000 deaths recorded worldwide.
US President Donald Trump has said the WHO “really blew” its response and accused it of bias towards China.
The US is the global health body’s largest single funder and President Trump says he will halt funding.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday Dr Tedros offered a vigorous defence of how the organisation responded.
He insisted the WHO used the time before the declaration wisely, including visiting China to learn more about the virus at its origin.
Dr Tedros confirmed that the pandemic remained a “public health emergency of international concern”, three months after it was declared one.
Such a declaration is made under an “extraordinary” event and requires a global response.
Dr Tedros described “grave” worries over the potential impact of the virus as it accelerates in countries with weaker health systems.
Media captionThe BBC’s Secunder Kermani and Anne Soy compare how prepared Asian and African countries areOfficials said they had seen worrying increases in a number of these nations - including Haiti, Somalia and Sudan.
The WHO also urged caution among nations relaxing their social distancing measures, stressing the importance of monitoring for new jumps in infections as lockdowns are eased.
LIVE: Read the latest updates A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms? AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise HOPE AND LOSS: Your coronavirus stories STRESS: How to look after your mental healthDr Tedros was also asked again about relations with the United States, insisting the UN agency remained in “constant contact” with the country.
On Thursday President Trump appeared to undercut his own intelligence agencies by suggesting he had seen evidence coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory.
Media captionWATCH: ‘One of two things happened’The WHO’s head of emergencies, Dr Michael Ryan, addressed the claim on Friday.
“With regard to the origins of the virus in Wuhan we have listened again and again to numerous scientists who’ve looked at the (genetic) sequences, looked at this virus, and we are assured that this virus is natural in origin,” he said.
Is there any evidence for coronavirus lab release idea?*Dr Ryan also added that it was “important” to learn more about the animal host and understand how the virus jumped from animals to humans.
China has rejected the lab theory and criticised the US response to Covid-19.
Media caption’World is too fragile,’ says head of UNIn other developments around the world:
The world’s largest virus lockdown, in India, has been extended another two weeks
The United Nations has warned that millions of children risk missing out on vaccines because of pandemic disruption
May Day rallies have been taking place globally, but in scaled back or socially-distanced form
Ten US states have begun partially reopening
The UK government says it has met a target on testing; the opposition has called the figures misleading -
The first human trial in Europe of a coronavirus vaccine has begun in Oxford.
Two volunteers were injected, the primary of quite 800 people recruited for the study.
Half will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and half an impact vaccine which protects against meningitis but not coronavirus.
The design of the trial means volunteers won’t know which vaccine they’re getting, though doctors will.
Elisa Granato, one among the 2 who received the jab, told the BBC: “I’m a scientist, so I wanted to undertake to support the scientific process wherever I can.”
The vaccine was developed in under three months by a team at Oxford University . Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, led the pre-clinical research.
“Personally I even have a high degree of confidence during this vaccine,” she said.
“Of course, we’ve to check it and obtain data from humans. we’ve to demonstrate it actually works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before using the vaccine within the wider population.”
Prof Gilbert previously said she was “80% confident” the vaccine would work, but now prefers to not put a figure thereon , saying simply she is “very optimistic” about its chances.
So how does the vaccine work?The vaccine is formed from a weakened version of a standard cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees that has been modified so it cannot grow in humans.
The Oxford team has already developed a vaccine against Mers, another sort of coronavirus, using an equivalent approach - which had promising leads to clinical trials.
Image caption Fergus holding a vial of the vaccine developed by the Oxford team
How will they know if it works?The only way the team will know if the Covid-19 vaccine works is by comparing the amount of individuals who get infected with coronavirus within the months ahead from the 2 arms of the trial.
That could be a drag if cases fall rapidly within the UK, because there might not be enough data.
Prof Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, who is leading the trial, said: “We’re chasing the top of this current epidemic wave. If we do not catch that, we cannot be ready to tell whether the vaccine works within the next few months. But we do expect that there’ll be more cases within the future because this virus hasn’t gone away.”
The vaccine researchers are prioritising the recruitment of local healthcare workers into the trial as they’re more likely than others to be exposed to the virus.
A larger trial, of about 5,000 volunteers, will start within the coming months and can haven’t any regulation .
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LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your areaOlder people tend to possess weaker immune responses to vaccines. Researchers are evaluating whether or not they might need two doses of the jab.
The Oxford team is additionally working with researchers in Kenya a few possible vaccine trial there, where the rates of transmission are growing from a lower base.
If the numbers might be a drag , why not deliberately infect volunteers with coronavirus?
That would be a fast and certain thanks to determine if the vaccine was effective, but it might be ethically questionable because there are not any proven treatments for Covid-19.
But which may be possible within the future. Prof Pollard said: “If we reach the purpose where we had some treatments for the disease and that we could guarantee the security of volunteers, that might be a really great way of testing a vaccine.”
Is it safe?The trial volunteers are going to be carefully monitored within the coming months. they need been told that some may get a sore arm, headaches or fevers within the first few days after vaccination.
They are also told there’s a theoretical risk that the virus could induce a significant reaction to coronavirus, which arose in some early Sars animal vaccine studies.
Image copyright Sean Elias - Oxford Vaccine trial
Image caption Work began on a vaccine in JanuaryBut the Oxford team says its data suggests the danger of the vaccine producing an enhanced disease is minimal, and data from animal studies has been positive.
Scientists there hope to possess a million doses ready by September, and to dramatically proportion manufacturing then , should the vaccine prove effective.
So who would catch on first?Prof Gilbert says that has not been decided yet: “It’s not really our role to dictate what is going to happen, we just need to attempt to get a vaccine that works and have enough of it then it’ll be for others to make a decision .”
Prof Pollard added: “We’ve need to ensure we’ve enough doses to supply for those in greatest need, not just within the UK but also in developing countries.”
Media captionCoronavirus: what’s a vaccine and the way is one made?Another team at Imperial College London hopes to start human trials of its coronavirus vaccine in June.
The Oxford and Imperial teams have received quite £40m of state funding.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has praised both teams and said the united kingdom will “throw everything we’ve got” at developing a vaccine.
UK chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty has said neither a vaccine, nor a drug to treat Covid-19, is probably going to be available within subsequent year.
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Limiting access to food in mice increases levels of the hormone, ghrelin, which can also increase motivation to exercise, consistent with a study published within the Journal of Endocrinology. The study suggests that a surge in levels of appetite-promoting hormone, ghrelin, after a period of fasting prompted mice to initiate voluntary exercise. These novel findings indicate that better diet control, for instance limiting food intake to mealtimes or fasting intermittently, could help overweight people maintain a simpler exercise routine, reduce and avoid debilitating complications like diabetes and heart condition .
Obesity may be a costly and growing, global health epidemic that needs simpler intervention strategies to avoid serious complications including heart condition and diabetes. Food restriction and regular exercise are the 2 main cost-effective strategies to stop and treat obesity; however the condition is usually related to a sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits, like snacking and binge eating. Consequently, adhering to a daily exercise regime are often difficult thanks to an inability to exercise for a protracted period or a scarcity of motivation. Ghrelin, often mentioned because the ‘hunger hormone’, stimulates appetite through actions on the brain reward circuitry that increase motivation to eat. it’s also been reported to be essential for endurance exercise by increasing metabolism to satisfy the energy demands of prolonged exercise. Although previous studies have suggested a relationship between ghrelin and exercise, it’s not known whether ghrelin levels have an immediate effect on motivation to exercise.
In this study, Dr Yuji Tajiri and colleagues from Kurume University School of drugs in Japan, investigated the connection between exercise and ghrelin levels in mice. Food intake and wheel-running activity were compared in mice given free access to food and people fed only twice each day for a limited time. Although both groups ate an identical amount of food, the restricted mice ran significantly more. Mice genetically altered to possess no ghrelin and on the restricted feeding diet ran but the mice given free access, however, this might be reversed by administering ghrelin. Furthermore, mice given free access to food and given ghrelin also ran significantly more. These findings suggest that ghrelin may play a crucial role within the motivation for both feeding and exercise, in response to restricted eating plans.
Dr Tajiri comments, “Our findings suggest that hunger, which promotes ghrelin production, can also be involved in increasing motivation for voluntary exercise, when feeding is restricted . Therefore, maintaining a healthy eating routine, with regular mealtimes or fasting, could also encourage motivation for exercise in overweight people.”
However, Dr Tajiri cautions. “These findings and former reports are supported animal studies; such a lot more work is required to verify that this ghrelin response is additionally present in people. If it are often established in clinical practice, it not only exposes new cost-effective diet and exercise strategies but can also indicate a replacement therapeutic application for ghrelin-mimicking drugs.”
Dr Tajiri and his team now decide to perform more experiments to verify these findings in humans, to further characterise how ghrelin acts within the brain to supply motivation to eat or exercise and to explore any potential real-world, clinical benefits for the treatment and prevention of obesity.
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If you would like to scale back levels of inflammation throughout your body, delay the onset of age-related diseases, and live longer, eat less food. that is the conclusion of a replacement study by scientists from the US and China that gives the foremost detailed report back to date of the cellular effects of a calorie-restricted diet in rats. While the advantages of caloric restriction have long been known, the new results show how this restriction can protect against aging in cellular pathways, as detailed in Cell on February 27, 2020.
“We already knew that calorie restriction increases lifetime , but now we’ve shown all the changes that occur at a single-cell level to cause that,” says Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a senior author of the new paper, professor in Salk’s organic phenomenon Laboratory and holder of the Roger Guillemin Chair. “This gives us targets that we may eventually be ready to act on with drugs to treat aging in humans.”
Aging is that the highest risk factor for several human diseases, including cancer, dementia, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Caloric restriction has been shown in animal models to be one among the foremost effective interventions against these age-related diseases. And although researchers know that individual cells undergo many changes as an organism ages, they need not known how caloric restriction might influence these changes.
In the new paper, Belmonte and his collaborators – including three alumni of his Salk lab who are now professors running their own research programs in China – compared rats who ate 30 percent fewer calories with rats on normal diets. The animals’ diets were controlled from age 18 months through 27 months. (In humans, this is able to be roughly like someone following a calorie-restricted diet from age 50 through 70.)
At both the beginning and therefore the conclusion of the diet, Belmonte’s team isolated and analyzed a complete of 168,703 cells from 40 cell types within the 56 rats. The cells came from fat tissues, liver, kidney, aorta, skin, bone marrow, brain and muscle. In each isolated cell, the researchers used single-cell genetic-sequencing technology to live the activity levels of genes. They also checked out the general composition of cell types within any given tissue. Then, they compared old and young mice on each diet.
Many of the changes that occurred as rats on the traditional diet grew older didn’t occur in rats on a restricted diet; even in adulthood , many of the tissues and cells of animals on the diet closely resembled those of young rats. Overall, 57 percent of the age-related changes in cell composition seen within the tissues of rats on a traditional diet weren’t present within the rats on the calorie restricted diet.
“This approach not only told us the effect of calorie restriction on these cell types, but also provided the foremost complete and detailed study of what happens at a single-cell level during aging,” says co-corresponding author Guang-Hui Liu, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Some of the cells and genes most suffering from the diet associated with immunity, inflammation and lipid metabolism. the amount of immune cells in nearly every tissue studied dramatically increased as control rats aged but wasn’t suffering from age in rats with restricted calories. In brown fat – one sort of fat tissue – a calorie-restricted diet reverted the expression levels of the many anti-inflammatory genes to those seen in young animals.
“The primary discovery within the current study is that the rise within the inflammatory response during aging might be systematically repressed by caloric restriction” says co-corresponding author Jing Qu, also a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
When the researchers homed in on transcription factors – essentially master switches which will broadly alter the activity of the many other genes – that were altered by caloric restriction, one stood out. Levels of the transcription factor Ybx1 were altered by the diet in 23 different cell types. The scientists believe Ybx1 could also be an age-related transcription factor and are planning more research into its effects.
“People say that ‘you are what you eat,’ and we’re finding that to be true in many ways,” says Concepcion Rodriguez Esteban, another of the paper’s authors and a staff researcher at Salk. “The state of your cells as you age clearly depends on your interactions together with your environment, which incorporates what and the way much you eat.”
The team is now trying to utilize this information in an attempt to get aging drug targets and implement strategies towards increasing life and health span.
Other researchers on the study were Shuai Ma, Shuhui Sun, Lingling Geng, Moshi Song, Wei Wang, Yanxia Ye, Qianzhao Ji, Zhiran Zou, Si Wang and Qi Zhou of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xiaojuan He, Wei Li, Piu Chan and Weiqi Zhang of Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University; Xiao Long of Peking Union Medical College Hospital; and Guoji Guo of Zhejiang University School of drugs .
The work and researchers involved were supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National science Foundation of China, Beijing science Foundation, Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and birth control , Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, the State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, the Moxie Foundation, and therefore the Glenn Foundation
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Testing for a replacement disease will always have teething problems. But when a worldwide pandemic means more tests got to be done faster than ever, how does one continue with the virus?
WWhen it involves halting the Covid-19 crisis, virus testing is vital for diagnosing and for tracking the epidemic. It’s the sole thanks to uncover just what percentage people are infected, or could infect others.
Despite how crucial testing is, some countries have much more tests than others – which testing isn’t available to everyone. the rationale comes right down to several factors, including timing, logistics, and therefore the complexity of collecting samples, obtaining the raw materials and equipment for testing, and having the expertise to try to to the tests accurately.
The countries that acted swiftest in terms of testing have also been among the most important successes of the virus’s containment. Take South Korea , which began testing early in clinics, hospitals and drive-through centers. Its first confirmed case was on 20 January 2020. Six weeks later, on 16 March, South Korea was testing 2.13 people per 1,000. Italy, on the opposite hand, which had its first confirmed case on 31 January, was testing 1.65 people per 1,000 six weeks on. Even while Italy ramped up its numbers significantly – it’s now testing a far higher percentage of its population than South Korea , at 24.5 people per 1,000 compared to South Korea’s 11 – the slower start was one factor that made it harder to contain infections overall. (Figures range elsewhere: Spain is currently testing 20 people per 1,000, Australia 17, Canada 15, the US 12 and therefore the UK six.)
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Starting testing later often meant the virus had chance to spread through whole communities by the time testing was implemented. Then came simple economics: as demand spiked, supplies were drained. The countries that reacted slowly required more tests to spot more infections as a result.
A medical professional administers a Covid-19 test in Bolinas, California on 20 April 2020; the town is attempting to check each of its 1,600 residents (Credit: Getty Images)
Testing alone doesn’t cause declines in disease. There are still questions on how reliable test results are for people that are asymptomatic, for instance . and therefore the biggest strides are seen in countries that combined testing with contact tracing and containment measures. Even so, testing allows public health authorities to collect data to form appropriate policy decisions – including about whether more selective or stricter social distancing policies are necessary.
Why ramping up testing is so difficult
Lagging countries are still trying to extend testing capacity. In early April 2020, for instance , the united kingdom Health Secretary announced an initiative to proportion to 100,000 tests each day by the top of April, a ten-fold leap from 10,000 each day at the top of March.
But when it involves Covid-19 tests, scaling up by factors of 10 or 100 isn’t as simple as stocking up when emergency hits.
That’s because the method of accurate Covid-19 testing requires coordination of variety of processes. First, you want to acquire the test kits – the long nasal swabs and chemicals required to process them. These are then sent to expertly-trained laboratory technicians who analyse the samples employing a PCR machine, which may be laborious. and eventually , there must be a system to simply accept samples and report results to the proper people.
Laboratories that were previously doing research only (as against testing for patient care) not only need to run tests accurately – they even have to implement new computer and administrative systems to gather patient information then to distribute the results back to the health care providers.
Making matters more complicated, many countries, including the united kingdom and therefore the US, have had problems getting enough supplies for testing. It’s not such a lot a matter of lacking the raw materials but ensuring they’re pure and mixed within the right amounts. Each brand of test has their own unique blend of about 20 chemicals. Each set requires its own unique packaging. Roche reagents don’t fit a Cepheid any better than a Chevy truck part fits a Prius. Making test kits is as burdensome as drug-making.
Workers prepare components for testing kits in South Korea in March 2020; getting enough supplies for testing has been a challenge for several countries (Credit: Getty Images)
In addition to chemicals, many laboratories lack the government-approved machines. within the US and South Korea , laboratories were allowed to file a so-called Emergency Use Authorisation application. This lets labs develop their own tests supported government protocols, but tweak them consistent with equipment.
As a general rule, the better a test is to perform, the harder it’s to manufacture. the primary Covid-19 tests were simple to form but required specialised expertise. Many early tests take about four hours – two hours of hands-on work, two hours within the machines. Roche and Abbot instruments, available in some academic laboratories, can run 80 to 100 samples at a time. They’re partially automated but still require skilled technicians. Simpler tests that smaller hospital labs can run are hitting the market, but availability is sparse.
Once a laboratory is about up and tests procured, the method can begin – starting with the pre-test.
Pre-test procedure
The pre-test begins with a nasal swab. this is often not a standard cotton ear-bud but an extended , skinny stick that’s flexible enough to increase to the ear. The swab is nylon or foam, not cotton, which inhibits the test.
The nasal swab may be a long, skinny stick that extends to the ear (Credit: Getty Images)
Even procuring those swabs has been difficult because of the crisis. Copan Diagnostics Inc, based in northern Italy, had to receive special government permission to continue production despite the Covid-19 lockdown. Puritan Medical Products, based in Maine, suffered labour shortages.
As a result, nasal swabs are now precious. a couple of entrepreneurs try to form more with 3D printing, but there are teething problems, like any fresh technology. and therefore the vendors are charging 10 times or more what swabs wont to cost.
Once the swab gets to the laboratory, a highly-skilled laboratory technician, wearing an equivalent protective clothing as nurses and doctors, places it into a biosafety hazard box – a glass box with controlled air flow to stop the virus from escaping.
The process is dangerous. Laboratory work generates droplets. only one droplet may contain 1,000,000 approximately viruses which will contaminate the laboratory worker or the laboratory. It also can land in another sample. If that happened, a patient who didn’t have Covid-19 would be told they did.
Laboratory directors love the cooking metaphor. Running a lab test, they say, requires a chef’s attention to detail, measuring precisely each ingredient at the proper time, within the right order and at the proper temperature. But unlike cooking – where a touch little bit of extra spice here or there may enhance the ultimate product, or at the worst case ruin the flavour – a faulty lab test can produce deadly results.
A single droplet being tested can contain 1,000,000 viruses, making it crucial that medical professionals wear full protective gear (Credit: Getty Images)
“One hiccup throws everything off,” said Dr. Kimberle Chapin, professor of pathology, laboratory medicine, and medicine, at the Warren Alpert School of drugs at Brown University and director of microbiology for the Lifespan Academic center , Rhode Island.
Expert technicians with the meticulous skill to run the test are a scarce commodity in many countries.
The testing phase
The testing phase requires two crucial steps. First, extraction – retrieving the potential virus from the muck of the mucus on the swab, and second, detection.
With garbed arms, technologists manipulate samples into tubes to be loaded onto an instrument where chemicals break open the viral coat (the “crown” of the coronavirus), and isolate the pure RNA, one strand of genetic material.
Next, they pipette the RNA into a disc with tiny wells. Each has the reagent that hunts for particular pieces of the Covid-19 viral genome.
The discs are taken to a machine where chemicals multiply short pieces of the viral genome a few billion times. These short pieces are then detected by a fluorescent probe that glows if Covid-19 is there.
An employee holds up a Covid-19 testing kit in Chuncheon, South Korea (Credit: Getty Images)
If the patient’s sample didn’t have the virus, then nothing happens. No multiplication. No glow.
The technologist then checks the controls (the known positive and negative samples that prove the run worked), enters the results into the pc , and calls within the results.
Ensuring accuracy
The only thing worse than no test may be a test that’s wrong. Laboratories can only start testing patients after they need done sufficient studies to make sure reliability. These tests usually take upwards of six weeks, but technicians are working double shifts to hurry the method .
To make matters more complicated, sometimes a patient can test negative even when they’re sick. they’ll have the virus in their lungs, but not release it near the nose where it might stick with the swab. Or, the sample wasn’t obtained correctly.
Of course, this all describes swabbing as a way of checking out a live virus within the patient.
But the newest buzz in testing is that the blood test: the antibody or serology test, which might be wont to establish if someone had the disease within the past and developed immune cells to get over it. It detects one specific a part of a patient’s immune reaction to the disease – the presence of antibodies. it’s hoped these proteins might protect patients from reinfection, although any protection remains to be seen.
Devising an accurate antibody test ushers during a whole new set of challenges. It must make sure that it’s spotting the precise immune cells that fought this particular germ, and not some run-of-the-mill coronavirus, just like the cold . and a few people might get over the disease without ever developing antibodies.
A specialist tests blood samples for Covid-19 in Hanoi, Vietnam (Credit: Getty Images)
Even then, we don’t know enough about Covid-19 yet to understand if infected patients are not any longer susceptible. (Read more about whether you’ll get Covid-19 twice). Nor are there any proven, reliable antibody tests. the united kingdom bought many antibody tests that didn’t work.
If we’ve learned anything thus far , it’s this: we will not ignore the warnings of communicable disease experts who, for many years , are calling for global preparedness for the inevitable new, dangerous viruses. One a part of this preparation includes a worldwide system to rapidly develop, prove, and distribute tests for a replacement virus as soon as possible after it strikes.
Now quite ever, we believe the dedicated laboratory workers most folks will never see and yet are crucial members of the first-responder teams.
Sheldon Campbell, MD, PhD may be a professor of laboratory medicine at Yale and associate chief for the clinical laboratories for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Randi Hutter Epstein, MD is that the writer in residence of Yale School of drugs and author of Aroused: The History of Hormones and the way They Control almost Everything.
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A Chinese journalist who was chased then detained in Wuhan - the centre of the country’s virus outbreak - has reappeared after almost two months.
Li Zehua broadcast the chase and his detention by police on 26 February, and had not been seen publicly since.
On Wednesday he published a video saying he spent fortnight in “quarantine” in Wuhan, followed by more quarantine in his home town.
He was told the quarantine was needed as he’d been to “sensitive areas”.
Who is Li Zehua?Li Zehua may be a citizen journalist who visited Wuhan in February, after another journalist, Chen Qiushi, went missing. In his first video from Wuhan he explained why we was there.
"Before I entered Wuhan, a lover who worked within the Chinese mainstream media told me… all the bad news about the epidemic has been collected by the central government.
“The local media can only report the great news about the patients’ recovery then on. Of course, it remains uncertain whether that’s true, because this is often just what I heard from my friends.”
His stories included an alleged cover-up of infections, and a busy crematorium. They were watched many times on Chinese platforms, YouTube, and Twitter.
What happened on 26 February?In the new video, Li Zehua, who is assumed to be 25, said he was driving in Wuhan when people in another car told him to prevent .
Instead of stopping, he sped up, saying he was “confused” and in “fear”. He was chased and drove for 30km [19 miles], with a part of the journey uploaded to YouTube with the title “SOS”.
He received his accommodation and commenced live-streaming before “several” people in police or security uniforms knocked on a near-by door.
Why have two reporters in Wuhan disappeared?
He turned off the sunshine and sat silently while the officers knocked on other doors, and eventually his. He ignored them but three hours later they knocked again.
He opened the door and was taken to a police headquarters , where he had fingerprints and blood samples taken, before being taken to an “interrogation room”.
He was told he was “suspected of disturbing public order”, but was told there would be no penalty.
However, because he had been to “sensitive epidemic areas”, he would wish to be quarantined.
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What happened next?Li Zehua was taken by the captain to quarantine accommodation in Wuhan, where his electronic devices were taken.
He stayed there for 2 weeks, saying he was “safe” and was ready to watch Chinese TV news.
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He was then driven to a quarantine centre in his home town for an additional fortnight , before getting to stick with his family.
“During the entire process, the police enforced law during a civilised manner, ensured my rest time and food. They also cared about me considerably ,” he said.
"After finishing the quarantine, i have been with my family. Now I’m planning for my development during this year.
“I’m grateful to all or any the people that taken care of me and cared about me. I wish all people suffering the epidemic can pull through. God bless China. I wish the planet can unite together.”
Chen Qiushi remains missing, consistent with a Twitter account travel by friends. He has been out of contact for 75 days.
Another journalist who reported from Wuhan, Fang Bin, has also not been heard from since February.
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Tracy Maguire remembers the moment she saw docs insert a swab into her three-week-old toddler’s nose to test for coronavirus.
The new mom says it’s far one of the “worst things” she has visible.
“It become the first time I’d seen my toddler cry tears,” she stated. “I held her, I became crying and we have been just trying to get every other via the situation”.
Born upfront at simply 3lbs 5oz (1.5kg), baby Peyton turned into identified with Covid-19 at just three weeks old.
Her arrival on 26 March - 8 weeks before her due date - defied all of the family’s planning.
Despite feeling healthy, Tracy changed into instructed she may additionally have pre-eclampsia during a ordinary appointment and became despatched instantly to Wishaw General Hospital in Lanarkshire.
Image caption Tracy had no concept she was unwell - and became taken instantly to hospital
‘She’s best - however she has Covid-19’After those first weeks, for the duration of which Peyton enjoyed a bath in the ward, she began to expose the slightest of symptoms - a sniffle and some coughs, almost undetectable.
Tracy instructed BBC Radio Scotland’s Mornings with Kaye Adams programme the information that her baby had emerge as one of the country’s youngest virus patients become traumatic.
“They stated ‘she’s nice, don’t panic - but she has tested advantageous for coronavirus’,” said Tracy.
"I suppose the medical doctor was looking to maintain me calm but I turned into sobbing.
“As plenty as she became pleasant I idea at what point was she with the virus? How is she fighting in opposition to it when she’s so wee? It changed into just the unknown.”
Image copyright Tracy Maguire
Image caption Tracy and Adrian deliver Peyton a bath inside the days following the Caesarean sectionPeyton become given steroids to assist toughen her lungs and received “amazing” care from neonatal nurses within the days that accompanied her diagnosis.
However, after recovering from her Caesarean section, Tracy become informed she would need to go home and isolate for 14 days faraway from her child.
She said: "I turned into pleading on the telephone with the physician announcing I do not need to be faraway from her.
“As lots as anyone became looking after her, I’m her mum. Even if it become the cold, I’d want to be there with her.”
Doctors relented and allowed Tracy to stay - but Adrian would should go domestic and complete the isolation period so that you can see his infant girl.
As days passed, the quantity of deaths in Scotland because of the virus persevered to increase - however Peyton recovered.
Media captionPeyton and her mum featured in BBC filming on the University Hospital Wishaw in LanarkshireShe and Tracy had been discharged on Monday and Adrian has now held her for the primary time seeing that leaving hospital.
Tracy stated: “From Adrian’s point of view, I think he felt a piece useless - first his baby is coming early and secondly his wife isn’t nicely and he could not be there.”
‘Put your accept as true with in nurses’Now domestic and settling into a ordinary, Tracy and circle of relatives have praised the docs and nurses at Wishaw General who guided them via a tremendous and daunting birth.
Image copyright Tracy Maguire
Image caption A smiling Peyton who fought off coronavirus just weeks after being bornTracy said: "They are doing a job this is unreal - they put their life at hazard to ensure my toddler became getting fed and cuddled in their complete PPE.
"It’s spectacular, you’ll by no means recognize how grateful you can be to people. Peyton is my most treasured thing inside the whole international and I trusted them to look after her.
“To any mums which can be worried, put your consider in these nurses.”
Malaria 'completely stopped' by microbe
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Scientists have discovered a microbe that completely protects mosquitoes from being infected with malaria.
The team in Kenya and the UK say the finding has “enormous potential” to control the disease.
Malaria is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, so protecting them could in turn protect people.
The researchers are now investigating whether they can release infected mosquitoes into the wild, or use spores to suppress the disease.
What is this microbe?The malaria-blocking bug, Microsporidia MB, was discovered by studying mosquitoes on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. It lives in the gut and genitals of the insects.
The researchers could not find a single mosquito carrying the Microsporidia that was harbouring the malaria parasite. And lab experiments, published in Nature Communications, confirmed the microbe gave the mosquitoes protection.
Microsporidias are fungi, or at least closely related to them, and most are parasites.
However, this new species may be beneficial to the mosquito and was naturally found in around 5% of the insects studied.
How big a discovery is it?“The data we have so far suggest it is 100% blockage, it’s a very severe blockage of malaria,” Dr Jeremy Herren, from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kenya told the BBC.
He added: “It will come as a quite a surprise. I think people will find that a real big breakthrough.”
More than 400,000 people are killed by malaria each year, most of them children under the age of five.
While huge progress has been made through the use of bed nets and spraying homes with insecticide, this has stalled in recent years. It is widely agreed new tools are needed to tackle malaria.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Bed nets have helped cut the number of people infected with malaria around the world
How does the microbe stop malaria?The fine details still need to be worked out.
But Microsporidia MB could be priming the mosquito’s immune system, so it is more able to fight off infections.
Or the presence of the microbe in the insect could be having a profound effect on the mosquito’s metabolism, making it inhospitable for the malaria parasite.
Microsporidia MB infections appear to be life-long. If anything, the experiments show they become more intense, so the malaria-blocking effect would be long-lasting.
When can this be used against malaria?At the very least, 40% of mosquitoes in a region need to be infected with Microsporidia in order to make a significant dent in malaria.
The microbe can be passed between adult mosquitoes and is also passed from the female to her offspring.
So, the researchers are investigating two main strategies for increasing the number of infected mosquitoes.
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Microsporidia form spores which could be released en masse to infect mosquitoes
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Male mosquitoes (which don’t bite) could be infected in the lab and released into the wild to infect the females when they have sex
“It’s a new discovery. We are very excited by its potential for malaria control. It has enormous potential,” Prof Steven Sinkins, from the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told the BBC.
This concept of disease control using microbes is not unprecedented. A type of bacteria called Wolbachia has been shown to make it harder for mosquitoes to spread dengue fever in real-world trials.
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What happens next?
The scientists need to understand how the microbe spreads, so they plan to perform more tests in Kenya.
However, these approaches are relatively uncontroversial as the species is already found in wild mosquitoes and is not introducing something new.
It also would not kill the mosquitoes, so would not have an impact on ecosystems that are dependent on them as food. This is part of other strategies like a killer fungus that can almost completely collapse mosquito populations in weeks.
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