Podcasts about eastern finland

HEALTH NEWS   ·         Eating avocados during pregnancy associated with lower food allergy risk in baby Six new studies point to red raspberry's potential anti-inflammatory properties ·         Better physical health probably follows religious and spiritual engagement, rather than vice versa ·         Tomato and fruit juice improve quality of life for kids with asthma ·         Discover how parsley helps to fight cancer ·         Eating ultra processed foods may speed up early signs of Parkinson's disease   Eating avocados during pregnancy associated with lower food allergy risk in baby University of Eastern Finland, May 7, 2025 (Eurekalert)   An observational study among 2,272 mother-child pairs in Finland found that infants had 44% lower odds of developing food allergies at 12 months if their mother consumed fresh avocado during pregnancy, after adjusting for other lifestyle, delivery, and maternal health factors. This is the first published study to link avocados in the maternal diet to a lower risk of infant food allergies—a growing public health concern that affects nearly one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom.   Researchers analyzed data collected as part of the Kuopio Birth Cohort (KuBiCo). Participants who reported eating any avocado (>0 grams) in either trimester were defined as avocado consumers, and non-consumers were those who did not report consuming any avocado in either trimester. Infant allergic outcomes, including rhinitis, paroxysmal wheezing, eczema, and food allergy, were evaluated at 12-months of age. After adjusting for factors food allergy was found to be significantly higher in infants of non-avocado consumers (4.2%) versus avocado consumers (2.4%).    Six new studies point to red raspberry's potential anti-inflammatory properties   Various Universities, May 2, 2025 (Medical Xpress)   Initial findings from six animal model studies reveal the potential effects of red raspberry consumption on cardiovascular disease risk reduction, maintaining normal blood glucose levels and liver function as well as potential anti-inflammatory effects related to bone health.   Cardiovascular University of Michigan observed potential benefits of red raspberry intake on obesity-prone rats.   Metabolic Syndrome Washington State University noted positive effects of red raspberry consumption on metabolic syndrome in male mice with diet-induced obesity. Oregon State University studied the effects of red raspberries in mice fed a high-fat, high-sugar Western diet.   Diabetes Texas A&M University reported positive effects of red raspberry consumption on diabetes-related complications and heart disease in obese diabetic mice.   Liver Function Oregon State University noted raspberry's capacity for ellagic acid quercetin to bind to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARa).   Inflammation and Bone Health Texas Woman's University observed anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenols in red raspberries in the production of osteoclasts, the cells associated with the breakdown of bone.     Better physical health probably follows religious and spiritual engagement, rather than vice versa University of Miami, May 7, 2025 (PLoS One)   Better physical health probably follows religious and spiritual engagement, rather than vice versa, per six year longitudinal U.S. study aiming to tease out this relationship Religious and spiritual (R/S) engagement is generally associated with better health. However, it is not known which comes first between R/S engagement and health due to a lack of longitudinal studies. We examined this issue in a sample assessed six years apart. We examined the measurement invariance and reciprocal relationships of R/S engagement and self-rated physical health (SRH) at two timepoints (six years apart). We then assessed whether the strength of their relationships with each other differed.   Our findings demonstrate that religious and spiritual engagement predicts better self-rated physical health six years later, whereas better SRH does not significantly predict future R/S engagement.   Tomato and fruit juice improve quality of life for kids with asthma King Mongkut's Institute of Technology (Thailand), May 7, 2025 (News Medical) In a recent study published in the journal BMC Nutrition, researchers evaluated the effects of an antioxidant-rich diet on asthma outcomes in children. In the present study, researchers examined clinical outcomes, pulmonary function, and serum antioxidant levels in asthmatic children in Thailand. Participants were randomized to the intervention or control group. The control group received conventional usual care, whereas the intervention group received usual care and mixed fruit and tomato juices. Further, serum antioxidants (ascorbic acid, lycopene, and beta-carotene) were measured. In sum, the consumption of tomato and mixed-fruit juices for eight weeks improved asthma symptom control and quality of life in children. Serum beta-carotene increased within the intervention group, though this was not significantly different compared to controls. However, pulmonary function, ICS usage, and between-group antioxidant levels were unaffected by the intervention.   Discover how parsley helps to fight cancer University of Missouri, April 25, 2025 (NaturalHealth365) Research published in Oncotarget  detailed for the how apigenin in parsely slows and halts the production of the enzyme IKKa, which is behind the growth and progression of cancer. The scientists concluded that apigenin has a profound ability to slow cancer progression or stop it altogether.   In addition to these results, combined apigenin with green tea successfully treats colon cancer and the University of Missouri researchers found apigenin was effective against breast cancer and killed as much as 86 percent of lung cancer cells. Parsley is an excellent source of carotenoids, which protect against cancer-causing cell damage. Additionally, it's considered a “chemoprotective” food due to its ability to protect healthy tissues in the body from the toxic effects of many cancer treatments or drugs. As a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties – and its rich source of vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, folate and cryptoxanthin. It's also packed with a higher concentration of vitamin K than kale.   Eating ultra processed foods may speed up early signs of Parkinson's disease Fudan University (China), May 7, 2025 (Eurekalert) People who eat more ultra processed foods like cold breakfast cereal, cookies and hot dogs are more likely to have early signs of Parkinson's disease when compared to those who eat very few ultra processed foods. Researchers looked for signs of prodromal Parkinson's disease, which is the earliest stage, when neurodegeneration begins, but more characteristic symptoms of Parkinson's disease, like tremors, balance problems and slow movement, have not yet begun. These early symptoms can begin years or even decades before the typical symptoms start. The study included 42,853 people with an average age of 48 who did not have Parkinson's disease at the start of the study. They were followed up to 26 years. After adjusting for factorsg, researchers found that participants who ate 11 or more servings of ultra processed foods per day had a 2.5-fold higher likelihood of having three or more early signs of Parkinson's disease compared to those consuming fewer than three servings per day. When looking at individual early signs of Parkinson's disease, researchers also found that eating more ultra processed foods was tied to an increased risk for nearly all symptoms except constipation.

For a captioned version or to access the transcript, please visit: https://www.pharmaron.com/knowledge-center/dmpk-insights-12-bbb-transporters/In this podcast, Elena and Mikko will discuss the current state-of-the-art around transporter sub-types and their expression within the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and opportunities for utilizing these transporters for brain drug delivery. We will address the following questions: Current knowledge of BBB transporters in health and disease Approaches to utilize BBB transporters for brain drug delivery What to consider while developing transporter-mediated drug delivery systems to the brain Future development (anticipated and required) to further the fieldOur Speakers:Dr. Elena Puris – Academic Research Fellow and Associate Professor in Neuropharmacology at the University of Eastern FinlandDr. Elena Puris is an associate professor of neuropharmacology and senior researcher at the University of Eastern Finland. During her PhD at the University of Eastern Finland and postdoctoral research at Heidelberg University, Elena developed a strong interest in blood-brain barrier transporters and their roles in drug delivery and disease pathogenesis. She has a multidisciplinary background in drug development and over 15 years of experience in academia and the pharmaceutical industry. Elena's main research focus is membrane transporters and their impact on drug delivery and biochemical processes in health and pathological conditions.Dr. Mikko Gynther – Senior Researcher and Associate Professor in Biopharmacy at the University of Eastern FinlandDr. Mikko Gynther is an associate professor of biopharmacy and senior researcher at the School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland. He obtained his PhD in pharmacy at the University of Eastern Finland on utilizing glucose and amino acid transporters for the CNS delivery of prodrugs. He has extensive experience spanning 20 years in transporter-mediated drug delivery and pharmacokinetics research. Mikko's current research is focused on transporter-mediated drug delivery into the brain and cancer cells and utilizing proteomics to investigate disease-induced changes in drug transporters and enzymes.Stay tuned for more podcasts in our Pharmaron DMPK Insights Series!

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies.

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland, two countries that represent very different cultural backgrounds. Dr. Jingoo Kang and Dr. Sakari Tolppanen from the University of Eastern Finland introduce their cross-cultural comparative research on willingness for climate action among students in South Korea and Finland. This episode is produced with the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, and it relates to the Finland-Korea Symposium organised in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Republic of Korea. Dr. Jingoo Kang is an Academy Research Fellow at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Dr. Sakari Tolppanen is a Senior Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Ari-Joonas Pitkänen is a Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/korean-studies

We explore the fitness of children in this episode of Run With Fitpage. Prof. Andrew Agbaje is a leading authority in Clinical Epidemiology and Child Health and works as the principal investigator of the Understanding Fitness and Cardiometabolic Health In Little Darlings research group at the University of Eastern Finland.We discuss how the state of sedentariness achieved and what can be done to improve the fitness of children. Give it a listen for a macro view on the topic and it may help build the fitness of our kids.About Vikas Singh:Vikas Singh, an MBA from Chicago Booth, worked at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, APGlobale, and Reliance before coming up with the idea of democratizing fitness knowledge and helping beginners get on a fitness journey. Vikas is an avid long-distance runner, building fitpage to help people learn, train, and move better.For more information on Vikas, or to leave any feedback and requests, you can reach out to him via the channels below:Instagram: @vikas_singhhLinkedIn: Vikas SinghTwitter: @vikashsingh101Subscribe To Our Newsletter For Weekly Nuggets of Knowledge!

It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: A push to change the defined stages of T1D, InsuJet is approved in Canada, new study linked T2D and dementia, new drug looked at to prevent hypoglycemia, big honors for a T1D author and more! Our interview with Clare Edge here.  Find out more about Moms' Night Out  Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom  Edgepark Medical Supplies Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens  Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com  Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com Episode transcription with links:     Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I'm Stacey Simms and every other Friday I bring you a short episode with the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. XX   The understanding of type 1 has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years, specifically with the definition of stages of the disease. Now some researchers suggest the current 2015 model is ready for another update. University of Florida Health diabetes researchers and collaborators last week issued a call to action in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, urging the development of a more precise method of calculating type 1 diabetes risk. Under the current staging system, this is Stage 1 of the disease, when a patient does not yet have elevated blood sugar but has two or more of these autoantibodies in the blood. Stage 2 is diagnosed when blood sugar begins to rise, indicating a dysfunctional pancreas in a patient who does not yet have clinical type 1 diabetes. That comes in Stage 3 with high blood sugar and, eventually, the classic symptoms of the disease, including frequent urination, weight loss and fatigue. Jacobsen, however, said the staging system requires more precision. This is especially important as the current staging model determines if a patient is eligible to receive a drug therapy called teplizumab, the only Food and Drug Administration-approved medication that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes by an average of two years. The staging system, however, does not include a patient's age and these researchers say additional markers that would be important to consider include a greater array of abnormal metabolic measures beyond blood sugar and the presence of more autoantibodies.   https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/healthcare/2024/12/04/uf-health-scientists-propose-update-to-type-1-diabetes-staging-system/76734459007/ XX A product called InsuJet gets approval in Canada. Made by NuGen Medical Devices, InsuJet™ is a needle-free injection system. It's already approved for sale in 42 countries – not yet the US. Their website says InsuJet's jet-injected fluid penetrates the skin through a small orifice of a special nozzle, creating a thin, high pressure stream. This way, insulin doesn't remain around the place of injection, like it does with a needle. Instead, with InsuJet, the insulin is deposited into the subcutaneous tissue where it's easily absorbed and acts faster– saving you money, time, and discomfort.   https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nugen-announces-canada-wide-launch-221500674.html XX Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the age of 50 may be at a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. A study led by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, says the risk is notably greater among adults with obesity. Type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia. Although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, scientists think that some of the hallmarks of diabetes—such as high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and inflammation—may encourage the development of dementia in the brain.     The researchers note that this greater understanding of the connection between diabetes onset, obesity, and dementia may help inform targeted interventions to prevent dementia. https://scitechdaily.com/diagnosed-young-with-diabetes-your-dementia-risk-may-be-higher/ XX Embecta is out of the insulin patch pump business – just months after getting the ok from the FDA. Embecta received FDA clearance for its insulin patch pump in September. The device is indicated for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and includes a 300-unit insulin reservoir to support people with higher daily insulin needs. However, the version Embecta received clearance for was an open-loop patch pump, where users manually control insulin delivery, while the firm's goal was to develop a closed-loop version, which automatically delivers insulin when needed. The CEO also expects competition in closed-loop devices for people with Type 2 diabetes to intensify, with Insulet receiving FDA clearance for its Omnipod 5 patch pump for Type 2 diabetes in August. https://www.medtechdive.com/news/embecta-discontinue-patch-pump/734059/ XX Sanofi invests in a company developing a new drug to prevent hypoglycemia. We reported on Zucara Therapeutics back in 2022 and they've been moving ahead with ZT-01. ZT-01 is a medication being developed to help prevent dangerous low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) by fixing how the body normally fights it. In people without diabetes, a hormone called glucagon is released to raise blood sugar when it gets too low. But in people with insulin-dependent diabetes, like type 1 diabetes or some forms of type 2 diabetes, this process doesn't work well because another hormone, somatostatin (SST), blocks glucagon from being released. ZT-01 works by blocking the effects of somatostatin, allowing the body to release more glucagon when it's needed. This could help people with diabetes avoid severe low blood sugar episodes.   https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zucara-therapeutics-announces-strategic-investment-from-sanofi-as-part-of-us20-million-series-b-financing-302301820.html XX Omnipod 5 is now compatible with the FreeStyle Libre 2 plus. The company says the recent development “ makes Omnipod 5 the most connected tubeless AID system in the U.S.” It's already compatible with Dexcom's G6 and G7 CGMs. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241120268759/en/Insulet-Announces-Omnipod%C2%AE-5-System-is-Now-Compatible-with-Abbott%E2%80%99s-FreeStyle-Libre-2-Plus-Sensor-in-the-U.S. XX A new study involving 11 clinical centers across the United States aims to uncover how type 1 diabetes (T1D) impacts brain health and cognitive function in children. Led by the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, this is a five-year study to explore critical questions about how environmental, lifestyle, social and clinical factors affect brain development during childhood — a period crucial for cognitive growth. https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/new-study-to-explore-impact-of-type-1-diabetes-on-children-s-brain-development XX Dexcom looking to partner with smart ring company Oura. Originally launched to track sleep patterns, the latest Oura technology collects more than 20 biometrics ranging from heart rate and activity metrics to sleep and body temperature monitoring. The companies say the new partnership is intended to provide users with seamless integration between the two ecosystems so shared users can track their glucose levels and understand the impact of behaviors and biology on their metabolic health. https://www.forbes.com/sites/saibala/2024/11/29/smart-ring-maker-oura-hits-5-billion-in-valuation--strikes-major-partnership-with-dexcom/ XX   WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Taking even high doses of supplementary vitamin D won't lower an older person's odds for type 2 diabetes, new research confirms. They published their findings Dec. 2 in the journal Diabetologia. The new research followed on data from other studies that had suggested that people with especially low levels of vitamin D might face a higher risk for diabetes. That was true for people who were already prediabetic, especially. To find out, researchers led by Jirki Vyrtanen, from the University of Eastern Finland, randomly assigned nearly 2,300 people aged 60 or older to receive either placebo pills or 40 or 80 micrograms of vitamin D3 supplements per day, for five years.  At the end of the five years, "105 participants developed type 2 diabetes: 38 in the placebo group, 31 in the group receiving 40 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day, and 36 in the group receiving 80 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day," according to a university news release. In other words, there were no significant differences in the rate at which people developed type 2 diabetes, regardless of how much supplemental vitamin D they took. Vytanen's team also saw no benefit from high-dose supplements on a person's blood sugar or insulin levels, or measures of overweight/obesity. The bottom line, according to the researchers: For any healthy, non-prediabetic person with healthy vitamin D levels, upping intake of the vitamin won't alter your odds for diabetes or its common risk factors. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-12-04/high-dose-vitamin-d-supplements-wont-prevent-diabetes-in-healthy-seniors XX Big congrats to author Clare Edge – recent guest on the podcast. Her book, Accidental Demons is featured on People Magazine's top ten book gift suggestions for this year! Whether you're looking for books about winter and the holidays, a primer on some of this year's buzziest musicians and characters or that "one more chapter" kind of bedtime favorite, there's sure to be a book out there to suit their taste. Bernadette Crowley, also known as Ber, comes from a long line of witches. When Ber is diagnosed with diabetes, however, she learns that every time she tests her blood sugar, demons accidentally slip into the human dimension — and it's up to Ber and her sister, Maeve, to stop them. This fantastical book is a great escape for young readers over holiday break. Buy Now Top ten books https://people.com/kids-gift-book-suggestions-wicked-taylor-swift-books-8752097

Hey folks, welcome to the latest episode of the Ecosystem Member podcast. We're now into our second episode of season two exploring our relationship with nature and the more-than-human world through the medium of the arts. Our guests for this episode is the Norweigan-Finnish duo behind the project ‘Eyes as Big as Plates'. If you haven't seen their work before, Karoline and Riitta collaborate with a person - they started out focusing on elders but now engage people who have something to say about the climate crisis or are engaged in it in some way - and really a place to create an image. The human is fitted with a wearable sculpture featuring organic materials such as sticks or shells or fungi that match the setting so that the composition integrates the person into a place they have a connection to. They've created more than 150 of these images - and released two books of the images - since the project started in 2011. In the episode, we talk about how the project was initially influenced by Nordic folklore, working with serendipity as a project manager, how the word ‘nature' in and of itself can create artificial separations and a new school program the duo is working on with students in Eastern Finland to create their own Eyes as Big as Plates-style images and display them alongside the duo's work. I am a really big fan of Karoline and Riitta's work and their curiosity about people and the more-than-human world really radiates in our conversation. They consider the project an Adventure Club now combining landscape work, sculpture, photography, storytelling and anthropology as well. It was a real treat to get to chat with them and I hope you enjoy the episode. On the Eyes as Big as Plates website you can see more of their work and - most importantly - buy your own copy of their book ‘Eyes as Big as Plates 2', with the proceeds going to create book number three, which will feature works created with mycologists, biologists, soil scientists and operate singers. As you'll hear in the episode, seeing the final images is great, but getting to read the story along with each piece adds new layers and depth to the image. Links Eyes as Big as Plates Website Buy Book 2 from EyesAsBigAsPlates.com Behind the Scenes of Eyes as Big as Plates Details for Work Shown:Eyes as Big as Plates # Giuliana (Colorado 2024) Giuliana is the founder of the Fungi Foundation (Chile), a Harvard University associate, National Geographic Explorer, Dame of the Order of the Star of Italy, deputy chair of the IUCN Fungal Conservation Committee and an essayist for upcoming Eyes as Big as Plates exhibitions and book. Giuliana's portrait is part of a new commission for the ‘Anthropogenic Soils' project with University of Oslo, created during the Telluride Mushroom Festival Festival, with support from the Finnish Cultural Foundation artist grant as well as the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York. 120 x 100 cm, digital C-type.

Meg takes you through the murders of Riitta Pakkanen and Eine Nyyssönen during their camping trip in Eastern Finland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CeADAR, Ireland's Centre for AI, is playing a leading role in the development of a new diagnostics system for the detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The €6m 2D-BioPAD project brings together 11 public and private institutions from across Europe with the aim of developing a point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics system capable of detecting the early signs of AD in a way that's faster, cheaper, more reliable, and less invasive than existing tools and procedures. Researchers aim to leverage previous studies by project partners into the unique properties of graphene, a material consisting of a single layer of atoms which is stronger than most steels and has more thermal and electrical conductivity than copper. Researchers hope that a graphene-based PoC diagnostics system will combine nano and DNA technologies to analyse patients' blood samples and identify and quantify up to five biomarkers for AD. CeADAR is leading the training and optimisation of the AI models to be used in the identification of biomarkers and the implementation of the system overall. An ageing population, rising life expectancy, and a lack of available treatments increased incidence and mortality due to AD by almost 150% between 2000 and 2019. It is expected that almost 19 million people across Europe will suffer from the disease by 2050. The increase in AD cases is already having serious implications for public healthcare systems around the world. It is estimated that the treatment of AD patients cost the US healthcare system more than $355bn in 2021 alone, while the labour from unpaid caregiving was estimated to be worth around $257bn. Researchers believe that early and accurate detection of AD will lead to better outcomes for patients who will benefit from more effective and less costly treatments, leading to a lower emotional burden and better quality of life for themselves and their families. It is also hoped that the system will make cutting-edge drug treatments available to the wider public. Currently, drug trials require participants be assessed according to their risk for AD, a costly process which is often inaccessible for the average person. 2D-BioPAD began in October 2023 and is expected to run until September 2027. The system and its impact will be assessed during two clinical trials in three centres in Finland, Greece and Germany. The first trial will focus on benchmarking and technical validation through several use cases. The larger second trial will involve up to 300 AD patients in real-life clinical settings. Head of Innovation & Development at CeADAR Ricardo Simon Carbajo says: "CeADAR is delighted to play such an important role in the development of a ground-breaking digital diagnostics system for the early detection and monitoring of AD. This tragic disease is afflicting more and more people globally each year. The 2D-BioPAD project represents an opportunity to utilise AI in a way that will make a significant difference to the lives of people with AD and their loved-ones. We're excited to be part of that." The project is being led by the Palacky University in Czech Republic. Greek contributors include Q-Plan International Advisers PC (Q-Plan), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), and Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (GAADRD). Other project partners include Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Spain (ICN2), Grapheal SAS in France, University of Eastern Finland and ENVIA APS in Denmark, and CeADAR, Ireland's Centre for AI.

Finland has once again topped the ranking for the happiest country in the world. But what has food got to do with it? In this programme, Sheila Dillon finds out whether what they eat, their food culture and unique food policies are helping Finns feel happy. What we could we learn from this enterprising Nordic nation? And what challenges are they still facing? In Helsinki, Sheila visits restaurateur and ‘happiness hacker' Luka Balac, who in his spare time takes tourists through a day in the life of ‘a happy Finn', and explains how his approach to food hospitality fosters his own sense of happiness. Next. she joins a city food and walking tour to taste Finnish specialties like Karelian pies and cloudberry jam to find out more about the food habits of the locals. Finland has had its fair share of unhappiness with high depression and suicide rates in the past. Now, there are new efforts to improve mental health via food. Sheila speaks to Aino Kipfer, a researcher in Eastern Finland, who is part of a project aiming to treat depression with better diets, building on the pioneering science around food and mood. She also hears more about how food is linked to security in the eastern region from Kirsi Vartia, of the Rural Women's Advisory Committee, who shares her own personal tips for happiness. Sirpa Sarlio, an advisor at the government's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, explains why Finland became the first country in the world to offer free school meals, and why this ended up as a strong foundation on which to build a happy and healthy wider society. Back in London, Sheila visits diplomat and food enthusiast Marcus Hippi, at the Finnish church and community centre in Rotherhithe, to hear how the UK compares in terms of food culture and happiness from the point of view of Finns living abroad. Presented by Sheila Dillon and produced by Nina Pullman for BBC Audio in Bristol.

In this month's episode of Finally Friday, Matilda chats with two specialists in nalbinding to find out all the details of the development, origins, and variety of this unique craft. Niina-Hannele Nuutinen (Nele) is the co-ordinator of the EXARC textiles working group and a masters student in Crafting Science at the University of Eastern Finland, where she looks at identifying structure vs technique in different kinds of non-woven textiles. Emma Boast is an archaeological small finds specialist with the University of York Department of Archaeology, specialising in early medieval and Viking Age material culture, and is also registered with the UK Guild of Master Craftsmen as a professional nalbinder with her business Nidavellnir.Together, our guests discuss their experiences and answer those burning questions that I'm sure all of us have had about nalbinding. Where and when did nalbinding start? What is the difference between it and knitting or crochet? How can we know if it's the right craft for us to try out? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this month's episode! Support the Show.

It's In the News! A look at the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. Top stories this week: Dexcom goes Direct to Watch in the US, Abbott gets FDA okay for its OTC CGM, new study about metformin during pregnancy, an update on semaglutides, JDRF changes its name, and more! Find out more about Moms' Night Out  Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom  Edgepark Medical Supplies Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens  Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com  Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com Episode transcription with links:   Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I'm Stacey Simms and every other Friday I bring you a short episode with the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. XX In the news is brought to you by Edgepark simplify your diabetes journey with Edgepark XX Our top story this week – some CGM news… Dexcom announces Direct to Watch is here in the US. From the release: Using its own dedicated Bluetooth connection, Dexcom G7 sends glucose information and personalized alerts right to a user's Apple Watch. Dexcom G7 is the only CGM system that can display glucose on multiple devices simultaneously and independently, including on a smartphone, smart watch, receiver or connected automated insulin delivery system.‡ Apple products are built with strong privacy protections and users have control over their data in the Health app. (If you like to keep track of these things, we are just over 7 years since the official announcement this was going to happen) XX FDA approves Abbot's over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring system. It's called Lingo and comes a couple of months after Dexcom won clearance for its Stelo over-the-counter CGM. Abbott has been selling Lingo in the UK as more of a lifestyle device – not aimed at people with diabetes. They call it a consumer biowearable designed to help people make decisions about their overall health and wellness; Lingo is not intended for use in diagnosis, treatment or management of a disease or medical condition. No word yet on exactly what kind of app they'll launch here in the US or if it will be marketed toward people with diabetes like the Libre currently is.. just as an OTC option. While it seems like the same hardware, the company has not confirmed that. https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/abbott-wins-fda-clearance-for-its-lingo-otc-glucose-monitor/ XX New study looking at the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs by rural children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes. Previous studies examining the use of CGMs by children relied on prescription records to identify use of these devices, but just because someone is prescribed a CGM does not mean that they use one; barriers such as cost can stand in the way. this study instead identified use of these devices according to billing codes for the interpretation of CGM readings by the provider. The results unearthed a sizeable disparity. Those living in rural areas were significantly less likely to use a CGM than those in urban areas, even after adjusting for sex, race or ethnicity and insurance type. Specifically, compared with youth living in urban areas, the use of CGMs was 31% lower for children and adolescents living in small rural towns, and 49% lower for those living in isolated rural towns. The gap between rural and urban patients persisted across the four years of the study, even as the use of CGMs increased for all patient types during this time. These results are also relevant to people with type 2 diabetes who require insulin, Tilden said. The results also revealed that non-White patients, those who had public insurance and patients who lived in areas with a higher NPI all were less likely to use CGMs. More research is needed to explore the reasons for these disparities, but Tilden said they likely are a function of such issues as cost, reduced internet access, which CGMs require to relay their data, and distance from clinics and Medicaid-contracted pharmacies.   The next step is figuring out how to eliminate those disparities. These researchers are seeking funding to design an intervention that uses telemedicine and partners with a network of 35 clinics across Kansas to deliver specialty care to diabetes patients in rural areas.   https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive/diabetes-monitoring-disparities.html XX Metformin is just as safe to use during pregnancy to treat type 2 diabetes as insulin. The study, which hasn't been published yet in a peer-reviewed journal, tracked health data and potential long-term side effects of using metformin during pregnancy for up to 11 years postpartum. While today's popular GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, are not approved yet for use during pregnancy, metformin and insulin have been used during pregnancy for decades. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/metformin-may-be-as-safe-as-insulin-to-treat-diabetes-during-pregnancy XX Once weekly basal insulin is a no go from an FDA advisory panel. They found the potential benefits of the investigational once-weekly basal insulin analog icodec (Novo Nordisk) don't outweigh the increased risk for hypoglycemia in people with type 1 diabetes. We've been following this for a long time. Most of the trials here have been in people with type 2 – and the FDA hasn't publicly raised concerns about efficacy and safety seen in any of those trials. But the type 1 trial found a significant increase in serious or severe hypoglycemia with icodec compared with degludec (4.66 vs 1.0 events per 100 patient-years; 14 events in nine patients versus three in three patients), with the greatest incidence in the icodec group on days 2-4 after injection. None of the events resulted in treatment discontinuation or study withdrawal. This doesn't mean the FDA can't approve the drug – and the panel mentioned that they hope the FDA would work with Novo Nordisk to – quote - make sure that if this is approved there are as many guardrails as possible to make sure we don't harm people with type 1 diabetes." https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/advisory-panel-votes-against-once-weekly-insulin-type-1-2024a10009we XX The shortage of Ozempic and Mounjaro continues… with some doctors offering advice of what to do if you can't fill your prescription. Health care company Ro recently launched a public crowd-sourced shortage tracker to help patients. The company says they also share the patient-reported shortages to the FDA. Chae says some patients could discuss with their doctor off-label use of other medications, like liraglutide injections (such as Trulicity, for example), depending on their preexisting conditions. Patients may also consider trying compounded semaglutide. Compounded drugs are made to order in local pharmacies, but Chae says be wary of them: Because of their bespoke nature, the drugs' safety isn't regulated by the FDA. “The state of Mississippi, North Carolina and West Virginia have banned these compounded drugs,” he said. https://www.scrippsnews.com/health/popular-diet-and-diabetes-drugs-in-short-supply-as-demand-surges XX Commercial XX Big news from JDRF – they've changed their name to "Breakthrough T1D." Here's the statement: "Breakthrough T1D was selected following a rigorous, data-informed process because it more accurately conveys the nonprofit's ability to connect with and work on behalf of the entire type 1 diabetes community," The median age for a person living with T1D worldwide is 37 years. Only about one in five are aged 20 years or younger, two thirds are aged 20-64 years, and another one in five are aged 65 years or older.   The organization was founded in 1970 by parents of children with T1D and was originally called the "Juvenile Diabetes Foundation." The "research" part was added in 2012 to reflect that aspect of its mission. We will have much more on this next week – Tuesday's episode is an interview with JDRF. Oops with Breakthrough T1D. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/type-1-diabetes-group-grows-jdrf-now-breakthrough-t1d-2024a1000afr XX Android users – heads up! The FDA has approved a hybrid, closed-loop, insulin-delivery Android app. In May, CamDiab, revealed that the CamAPS FX had received approval. CamAPS FX is approved for people with type 1 diabetes who are two years of age or older, including those who are pregnant.   CamAPS FX works in unison with the FreeStyle Libre 3 and the Dexcom G6 to produce a hybrid, closed-loop system that is compatible with the Ypsomed mylife YpsoPump. The app and those pumps are already approved in several other countries. You may recall that the YspoPump had a partnership with Lilly to bring that pump to the US – but that deal died in 2022. Yspomed is still moving forward to get FDA approval for their pump. https://beyondtype1.org/fda-approves-camaps-fx-hybrid-closed-loop-insulin-delivery-app/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR137RhLAt2GfIJ_BBYMrhU2R-maQ0EQmwOFhPfKN9iCnG2BKWY6dEB0sTk_aem_ATLPk1xWOnLNzPz7LvYINbTdCVMZk7pcRmma2pgG5MIo0OfinomTSgjsTsTpW_fE6GNVRnScZS6UGzaTvP1SewNW XX Driven by payments for diabetes treatments — especially insulin — prescription drugs for metabolic diseases now make up nearly one quarter of total national pharmaceutical spending, reported a study of spending trends by therapeutic class. The detailed examination of a decade's worth of US drug spending also found changes in who pays for the medicines, with an overall drop in out-of-pocket costs, except in the metabolic disease category. The findings add to concerns about the costs of US diabetes treatments. Annual US spending on diabetes medicines surged from $27.2 billion in 2011 to $89.2 billion in 2020,  according to this paper was published online in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. In the same period, total annual pharmaceutical spending rose at a far slower rate. Yet much of the persistent gain in the cost of diabetes treatments in this same period was due to a decades-old drug, insulin, a cornerstone of diabetes care. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/study-raises-concerns-about-rising-cost-diabetes-meds-2024a1000a8e XX The number of people aged over 16 with insulin-dependent diabetes and eating disorder symptoms is as high as one in four, a study has revealed. Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland examined the findings from 45 past studies, looking at data from almost 11,600 people with insulin-dependent diabetes. They say that understanding the extent of the issue is the first step in developing treatment pathways, citing Finland as an example of a country which does not have care pathways for people with both diabetes and eating disorders. Of course, neither does the US. Typical eating disorder symptoms include restricting food intake and binge eating. Symptoms particular to insulin-dependent diabetes include insulin omission, which is when individuals restrict or skip insulin doses due to fears of putting on weight. The prevalence of eating disorder symptoms was higher in women than in men, a finding previously made in young people too. The age of an individual was not found to be a factor, with eating disorders occurring regardless of age group. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2024/jun/1-in-4-people-with-insulin-dependent-diabetes-have-eating-disorder-symptoms-research-shows.html XX Congrats to Kate Farnsworth who recently won Diabetes Action Canada Catalyst for Change award. Many of you know Kate from the early DIY days.. Kate Farnsworth is the patient partner co-lead for the Innovations in Type-1 Diabetes Program. Kate has been heavily involved in the Do-It-Yourself #wearenotwaiting movement since her daughter Sydney was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8. With a background in information technology and graphic design, Kate has lent her skillset to developing diabetes watch faces for remote monitoring used by patients worldwide. Kate has created an online patient-driven support community for people who are exploring DIY closed-loop solutions and continues to advocate for all people with diabetes to have access to the best tools to manage their diabetes. Very nice to see this award go to someone very well deserved. XX Join us again soon!

Understanding Person-Centered Care for Older Adults in Six Developing Countries: China [Episode 2] Download the Transcript The impact of population aging is universally recognized and has been extensively studied in wealthier, developed nations. But we know much less about how aging is experienced in low- and middle-income countries and how developing countries are responding to the current challenges created by the aging of their populations. The rapid rate of population aging in many developing countries—fueled by falling fertility rates and a shift in the predominance of chronic diseases rather than acute and infectious illnesses—has left little time to anticipate and prepare for the consequences of aging populations. The GSA Interest Group on Common Data Elements for International Research in Residential Long-term Care has developed a limited podcast series to provide insights into how culture, competing population health priorities, political conflict, and resource limitations influence older adults, their families, and paid/formal caregivers in six nations along a trajectory of national development, including Brazil, China, East Jerusalem, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Thailand. Guest: Honglin Chen, PhD Dr. Chen is currently a professor of gerontological social work at the University of Eastern Finland. She has been doing research and teaching in aging policy and practice field as a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Social Work at Fudan University in Shanghai, China for 20 years. Her current research area focuses on welfare technology, smart elder care, social work education and serves as an editorial board member in the Journal of Social Work. Dr. Chen is also a Sino-America Fulbright Scholar at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California. Host: Barbara Bowers, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, Emerita Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, School of Nursing; Founding Director of the UW–Madison School of Nursing's Center for Aging Research and Education Moderator: Jing Wang, PhD, RN, FAAN, Assistant Professor at the University of New Hampshire, College of Health and Human Services This podcast limited series is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund. 

How animals dealt with the ‘Anthropause' during COVID lockdowns (1:04)During the COVID lockdowns human behaviour changed dramatically, and wildlife scientists were interested in how that in turn changed the behaviour of animals in urban, rural and wilderness ecosystems. In a massive study of camera trap images, a team from the University of British Columbia has built a somewhat surprising picture of how animals responded to a human lockdown. Cole Burton, Canada Research Chair in Terrestrial Mammal Conservation at the University of British Columbia, was part of the team and their research was published in Nature Ecology & EvolutionScientists helping maintain an essential ice road to a northern community (9:40)The only ground connection between the community of Délı̨nę in the NWT and the rest of the country is a winter ice road that crosses Great Bear Lake. But climate warming in the north is making the season for the road shorter, and the ice on the lake less stable. A team of scientists from Wilfrid Laurier University, led by Homa Kheyrollah Pour, are supplementing traditional knowledge about the ice with drones, sensors, satellites and radar to help the community maintain a safe connection with the world.Stars nudging the solar system's planets leads to literal chaos (17:40)The orbits of the planets in our solar system are in a complex dance, orchestrated by the gravitational pull from the sun but influenced by their interactions with each other. Now, due the findings of a new study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, that dance is a lot harder to predict. Nathan Kaib, from the Planetary Science Institute, said the chaos that stars passing by our solar system introduces to simulations deep into the past or far into the future make our planetary promenade predictions a lot less certain. A freaky fish, the gar, really is a living fossil because evolution has barely changed it (26:33)`The seven species of gar fish alive today are nearly indistinguishable from their prehistoric fossilised relatives that lived millions of years ago. Now in a new study in the journal Evolution, scientists describe why these “living fossils” have barely changed and why two lineages separated by 105-million years can hybridise. Chase Brownstein, a graduate student at Yale University, discovered the gar's genome has changed less over time than any other species we know, a finding which could hold the key to fighting human diseases like cancer.Water, water, everywhere. But will we have enough to drink? (33:47)To mark world water day, Quirks & Quarks producer Amanda Buckiewicz is looking at the challenges we're facing with our global freshwater resources. It's one of Nature's bounties, and vital to agriculture and healthy ecosystems. But climate change and overexploitation are creating a global water crisis as glaciers melt, snowpack becomes less predictable, rainfall patterns change, and we overdraw the global groundwater bank. We spoke with:Miina Porkka, associate professor from the University of Eastern Finland. Related paper published in the journal Nature.Christina Aragon, PhD student at Oregon State University. Related paper published in the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences.Katrina Moser, associate professor and chair of the department of Geography and Environment at Western University.Scott Jasechko, associate professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Related paper published in the journal Nature.

We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is not healthy for anyone, but just how strongly is physical activity connected to lipid levels in childhood? Host Aaron Lohr talks with Andrew Agbaje, MD, PhD, a physician and pediatric clinical epidemiologist at the University of Eastern Finland. He has authored a study recently published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism titled, “Associations of Sedentary Time and Physical Activity From Childhood With Lipids: A 13-Year Mediation and Temporal Study.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp83-sedentary-time-and-physical-activity-effects-on-childhood-lipid-levels — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast

durée : 00:20:53 - Journal de 12h30 - Le nouveau gouvernement au fort accent de droite sarkozyste menace-t-il les équilibres politiques ? Quid de la parité ? Et que dire encore de l'éthique ? - invités : Lola Avril chercheuse en science politique à la University of Eastern Finland et enseignante à Sciences Po Paris

durée : 00:20:53 - Journal de 12h30 - Le nouveau gouvernement au fort accent de droite sarkozyste menace-t-il les équilibres politiques ? Quid de la parité ? Et que dire encore de l'éthique ? - invités : Lola Avril chercheuse en science politique à la University of Eastern Finland et enseignante à Sciences Po Paris

When you hear the word Utopia - what comes to mind? The images that it conjures up for you may seem unimaginable in the context of ecological crises, multiple wars, political strife, and the pandemic that characterizes our world.  Today, I get to talk with two scholars who are working to help us understand this idea of utopian methodologies – a research approach that can help us envision, implement, sustain, and critically evaluate educational activity systems – an approach that can help us take concrete, actionable steps that can guide us toward a more just future in our work as learning scientists.  My guests today are Drs. Antti Rajala and Moises Esteban Guitart. Antti is a Senior Researcher at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology at the University of Eastern Finland. Moises is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Institute of Educational Research of the University of Girona. ------------------- Works Discussed: Esteban-Guitart, M., Iglesias, E., Serra, J. M., & Subero, D. (2023). Community Funds of Knowledge and Identity: A Mesogenetic Approach to Education. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 54(3), 307–317. https://doi.org/10.1111/aeq.12451 Esteban-Guitart, M. & Moll. (2014). Funds of Identity: A new concept based on the Funds of Knowledge approach. Culture & Psychology, 20, 31–48. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067X13515934 Rajala, A., Cole, M., & Esteban-Guitart, M. (2023). Utopian methodology: Researching educational interventions over multiple timescales. Journal of the Learning Sciences. Rajala, A., Jornet, J., & Accioly, I. (2023). Utopian methodologies to address the social and ecological crises through educational research. In C. Damsa, A. Rajala, G. Ritella, & Brower, J. (Eds.), Re-theorizing learning and research methods in learning research, New Perspectives on Learning and Instruction, London: Routledge.

This episode discusses on the 4th Tibet Environment conference organised by Tibet Policy Institute in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, Thailand in Bangkok from 27 - 28 November. The theme for the two day conference was Tibet: The Water Tower of Asia (Towards a Global Common Good). The conversation features Mrs. Dechen Palmo, Environmental researcher at Tibet Policy Institute and Dr.Tenzin Tsering, a post doc at the University of Eastern Finland, Finland who shared their experiences and prospect of the conference.

This week on The Hamilton Review Podcast, we are honored to welcome two esteemed guests to the show, Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle! Pasi and William are authors of the book, "Let the Children Play." Pasi lives in Melbourne, Australia and William lives in Helsinki Finland and in this conversation they discuss their important book. The subtitle of the book and the direction of this great episode is: How More Play will Save our Schools and Help Children Thrive. A must listen discussion for every parent and educator! Pasi Sahlberg is professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His working experience includes teaching and teacher education at the University of Helsinki and serving as director at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland, senior education specialist at the World Bank in Washington DC, lead education specialist of the European Commission in Torino and visiting professor at Harvard University. Sahlberg's latest books include ‘Hard Questions on Educational Change' (2016), ‘FinnishEd Leadership: Four Big, Inexpensive Ideas to Transform Education' (2018), ‘Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive' with William Doyle (2019), and ‘Finnish Lessons 3.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland' (2021). He is a recipient of the 2012 Education Award in Finland, the 2013 Grawemeyer Award in the U.S., the 2014 Robert Owen Award in Scotland, the 2016 Lego Prize in Denmark, and the 2021 Dr. Paul Brock Memorial Medal in Australia. Sahlberg lives with his family in Melbourne. William Doyle is a New York Times bestselling author and TV producer for networks including HBO, The History Channel, and PBS. Since 2015 he has served as Fulbright Scholar, Scholar in Residence and Lecturer on Media and Education at University of Eastern Finland, a Rockefeller Foundation Resident Fellow, and advisor to the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland. He lives in Helsinki with his family. How to contact Pasi Sahlberg:  Pasi Sahlberg website How to contact Dr. Bob Hamilton: Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/ Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton

Chief Medical Officer at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Dr. Kevin Most joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss whether blood thinners can make you feel cold, how the cold frigid air can affect your immune system, and he explains how buying golf clubs could potentially make you smarter. Dr. Kevin Most's Steve Cochran Show Notes: Why do we feel colder as we age We all know that as people age, we see them with a need for that extra blanket or a sweater, why? There is more than one reason, and taken in total it is not surprising Our skin is much thinner, and having thinner skin allows for the heat to leave our core easier. Couple that with less fat which acts as insulation and those two reasons will cause arms and legs to feel colder We lose muscle mass as we age, and muscles when used use more oxygen and creates the heat that keeps us warm. We know that our circulation is not as robust as it is when we are younger, so less blood flow to our extremities makes us feel colder Diabetes also impacts our blood flow to our extremities and the damage done over years impacts the flow What can you do- Stay active- this helps maintain muscle mass as well as generates heat Maintain a healthy diet to slow the impact of diabetes as well as to maintain your muscle mass. Light weightlifting, with things as simple as a bottle of water or can of soup – increases the blood flow to your extremities and maintains muscle mass In the winter, layer clothes and wear mittens not gloves as the isolation of fingers in gloves will make them feel colder. Colds in the winter, why?  Cold air has an impact on our immune system Estimates are that individuals in the US suffer 1 billion colds a year Colds are caused by viruses and these viruses are around all the time, so why more in the winter? Some viruses actually are better prepared to survive cold weather, such as influenza We know with more indoor gatherings the chance of being closely exposed increases With holidays we see great amounts of travel which allows viruses to travel across the country or around the world to spread more easily. Probably one of the most important reasons was just identified recently, that is the impact on cold weather on our upper respiratory tract and more importantly our nose Researchers have shown that decreases of 9 degrees inside our nose kills 50% of the cells in our nose that fight viruses and bacteria, this is a common decrease when exposed to cold temperatures The cold air damages the immune response that occurs in our nose, so being exposed to a virus or a bacteria when the immune system is damaged leads to more infections. The nose is amazing, it identifies a virus or bacteria and tells the immune system to turn on defenses, the goal being to limit the chance of serious infection, another reason why nasal vaccines work The nose will produce cells to fight off infection once identified, but in the cold up to 50% of those cells are damaged or destroyed, thus more infections and severe infections. Why did influenza cases and common colds drop dramatically during the pandemic? Washing hands, distancing for sure but also masking kept our noses warmer. Should we all wear socks on our noses, probably not but walking in cold weather with a scarf may help you immune system , block frostbite and decrease your chance of catching a cold Want to increase your cognition?  Buy some golf clubs??  A study out of the University of Eastern Finland has shown a few interesting things Walking about 3.7 miles or playing 18 holes of golf improved cognitive function immediately following the exercise The study showed the impact of age appropriate aerobic exercise Previous studies showed that exercise is a strategy that slows cognitive decline. The study looked at individuals over the age of 65, who participated in 3 bouts of intense aerobic exercise in a real life environment, using EKG heart monitors The researchers then assessed cognitive function with a test that measured attention, processing speed and demanding skills Both types of exercise completed at the correct pace showed improvement in the cognitive tests immediately after the exercise See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La salute del tessuto di sostegno del dente al pari della salute delle gengive ha un impatto diretto sulla salute generale dell’intero organismo. Questo è quanto evidenzia una ricerca dell’University of Eastern Finland, e pubblicata da Journal of Dental Research che commentiamo a Obiettivo Salute con il prof. Luca Levrini, Direttore della Scuola di Specializzazione in Ortodonzia e Presidente Vicario del Corso di Laurea in Igiene Dentale presso l’Università degli Studi dell’Insubria.

In this podcast, we had an excellent conversation with international APA scholar Dr. Kwok Ng (@kwokwng) about the newly formed Para Report Cards that graded 14 countries, which include the US and Canada, on an assortment of physical activity and health indicators. Dr. Ng is at the University of Limerick, the University of Turku, and the University of Eastern Finland. His research is largely interdisciplinary and focuses on the health promotion of children, especially those with disabilities. Within this podcast we discuss the need for the Para Report Cards, their development, and some of the main findings from the Para Report Cards. In addition, the discussion also touched on the potential impact of these report cards on policies and initiatives aimed at improving physical activity for children and adolescents with disabilities.

#metaverse #extendedreality #augmentedreality Dipanjan Das is an XR enthusiast who has done his B.Sc (Electronics Science) and B.Tech (Optics and Optoelectronics) from West Bengal, India. he has also done a Master of Science in Photonics from the University of Eastern Finland and worked as a researcher in the technology cooperation projects and public funded projects developing his skills and experiences in the field of display technologies and XR hardware development and optical metrology, optical design, and fundamental photonics. Currently working as a business development manager in the deep-tech early-stage startup SoundxVision. SoundxVision is developing a thumb-mounted ring controller which can be used in various use cases and can be tethered with any XR devices or smart devices in hand that you can possibly think of. Dipanjan is also involved in global communities like the World Metaverse Council as a founding member - https://wmetac.com/founding-members/. World Metaverse council is a platform leading the dialogue for an equitable and inclusive life in the metaverse. plus very active in the startup ecosystem in startup communities like Platform6 - https://platform6.fi/ and Tribe - https://tribetampere.com/ which are based in Tampere, Finland under the Umbrella of city of Tampere - https://www.tampere.fi/ . https://soundxvision.io/ XROM- Home of Extended Reality India's 1st AR/VR Focussed Podcast Kindly subscribe to our youtube channel www.youtube.com/xrompodcast

For transcriptions and more detailed shownotes, please go to: https://swordschool.com/podcast/adhd-speedboats-and-wrestling-in-kindergarten-with-katriina-malkki/ To support the show, come join the Patrons at  https://www.patreon.com/theswordguy Katriina Malkki is a historical martial artist, dietician with an MSc from the University of Eastern Finland, a Ph.D. student and mum of four plus a lizard. She's an author and also a sea rescue volunteer. In our conversation we discuss nutrition: What does Katriina think of the Paleo diet, fasting, or keto? Top tips from a nutritionist are eat more vegetables and drink less booze! We also talk about ADHD, the symptoms, medication, and living with the condition. We discuss what historical martial arts instructors should bear in mind when teaching students with ADHD, and also what might help an instructor who has ADHD to run their classes. Katriina mentions Adele Diamond and her work on Executive Functions. Here's an article and a video about it: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4084861/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__8mV-7yAaE Katriina has an excellent and novel idea of what to do with €1 million to improve historical martial arts, and it involves very small children.  

In this podcast, Andris Piebalgs (FSR) interviews Andrei Belyi (University of Eastern Finland) the author of the article: "Gazprom's gas exit".

Episode #5 printables: Kirby 40mm Fume Extractor. wikipedia: The Kirby Company is a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and home cleaning accessories, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is a division of Right Lane Industries. lugcast: We are an open Podcast/LUG that meets every first and third Friday of every month using mumble. wikipedia: The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. wikipedia: Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band formed in Berlin in 1994. Goodluck with all the rest of the band/music chatter. I can't understand any of it. youtube: Burger Dance. Please no. Why did I signup for this. wikipedia: Syphilis is most commonly spread through sexual activity. wikipedia: Death was an American death metal band formed in Altamonte Springs, Florida, in 1984 by Chuck Schuldiner. 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It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. wikipedia: Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer and musician Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. wikipedia: Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. wikipedia: Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. wikipedia: Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. toastmasters Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. bbc: The British Broadcasting Corporation is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, based at Broadcasting House in London. matrix: An open network for secure, decentralized communication. wikipedia: The General Data Protection Regulation is a Regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy in the EU and the European Economic Area. wikipedia: The Gopher protocol (/ˈɡoʊfər/) is a communication protocol designed for distributing, searching, and retrieving documents in Internet Protocol networks. wikipedia: Gemini is an application-layer internet communication protocol for accessing remote documents, similar to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Gopher. wikipedia: Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, drummer Joey Jordison and bassist Paul Gray. wikipedia: After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. 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The UK is the only sovereign country to have left the EU or the EC. imdb: A WWII bomb group commander must fill the shoes of his predecessor and get the performance rating up to snuff. wikipedia: Twelve O'Clock High is a 1949 American war film about aircrews in the United States Army's Eighth Air Force, who flew daylight bombing missions against Germany and Occupied France during the early days of American involvement in World War II. wikipedia: The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). IRC IRC is short for Internet Relay Chat. It is a popular chat service still in use today. wikipedia: Next Unit of Computing (NUC) is a line of small-form-factor barebone computer kits designed by Intel. plex: With our easy-to-install Plex Media Server software and Plex apps on the devices of your choosing, you can stream your video, music, and photo collections any time, anywhere, to whatever you want. ubuntu: Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on Debian and composed mostly of free and open-source software. ebay: Buy & sell electronics, cars, clothes, collectibles & more on eBay, the world's online marketplace. amazon: Amazon Renewed is your trusted destination for pre-owned, refurbished products. wikipedia: Ryzen is a brand of multi-core x86-64 microprocessors designed and marketed by AMD for desktop, mobile, server, and embedded platforms based on the Zen microarchitecture. wikipedia: Apple M1 is a series of ARM-based systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) designed by Apple Inc. as a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) for its Mac desktops and notebooks, and the iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets. wikipedia: The Apple M2 is an ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. as a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) for its Mac notebooks and the iPad Pro tablet. wikipedia: A system on a chip or system-on-chip (SoC /ˌˈɛsoʊsiː/; pl. SoCs /ˌˈɛsoʊsiːz/) is an integrated circuit that integrates most or all components of a computer or other electronic system. wikipedia: ARM (stylised in lowercase as arm, formerly an acronym for Advanced RISC Machines and originally Acorn RISC Machine) is a family of reduced instruction set computer (RISC) instruction set architectures for computer processors, configured for various environments. youtube: One Woman’s Wilderness. wikipedia: Felix Unger (born 2 March 1946 in Klagenfurt, Austria) is a heart specialist who served as the president of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts for three decades. geekflare: How to create APT Proxy using a Raspberry PI with apt-cacher-ng? gpd: The world's smallest 6800U handheld Exclusive performance optimization tool Support SteamOS system. pine64: ROCK64 is a credit card sized Single Board Computer powered by Rockchip RK3328 quad-core ARM Cortex A53 64-Bit Processor and support up to 4GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory. wikipedia: Digital subscriber line (DSL; originally digital subscriber loop) is a family of technologies that are used to transmit digital data over telephone lines. wikipedia: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a feature of Windows that allows developers to run a Linux environment without the need for a separate virtual machine or dual booting. wikipedia: In computing, a virtual machine (VM) is the virtualization/emulation of a computer system. wikipedia: A Chromebook (sometimes stylized in lowercase as chromebook) is a laptop or tablet running the Linux-based ChromeOS as its operating system. virtualbox: VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. wikipedia: Telemetry is the in situ collection of measurements or other data at remote points and their automatic transmission to receiving equipment (telecommunication) for monitoring. gnu: Published software should be free software. To make it free software, you need to release it under a free software license. microsoft: MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS. apple: software license agreements for currently shipping Apple products. cdc: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). nhs: The NHS website for England. wikipedia: Ransomware is a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim's personal data or permanently block access to it unless a ransom is paid off. wikipedia: Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Internet Explorer, commonly abbreviated IE or MSIE) is a discontinued series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft which was used in the Windows line of operating systems. wikipedia: Microsoft Edge is a proprietary, cross-platform web browser created by Microsoft. oggcamp: OggCamp is an unconference celebrating Free Culture, Free and Open Source Software, hardware hacking, digital rights, and all manner of collaborative cultural activities and is committed to creating a conference that is as inclusive as possible. penguicon: A happy place where hackers, makers, foodies, open source software junkies, anime buffs, and science fiction fans of all ages and backgrounds come together. mozillafestival: MozFest is a unique hybrid: part art, tech and society convening, part maker festival, and the premiere gathering for activists in diverse global movements fighting for a more humane digital world. fosdem: FOSDEM is a free event for software developers to meet, share ideas and collaborate. wikipedia: A hybrid integrated circuit (HIC), hybrid microcircuit, hybrid circuit or simply hybrid is a miniaturized electronic circuit constructed of individual devices, such as semiconductor devices (e.g. transistors, diodes or monolithic ICs) and passive components (e.g. resistors, inductors, transformers, and capacitors), bonded to a substrate or printed circuit board (PCB). wikipedia: A real-time clock (RTC) is an electronic device (most often in the form of an integrated circuit) that measures the passage of time. eurovision: The Eurovision Song Contest. wikipedia: Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, Sunday trade laws and Sunday closing laws, are laws restricting or banning certain activities on specified days, usually Sundays in the western world. wikipedia: A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. businesspundit: The Commercialization Of Our 25 Favorite Holidays wikipedia: Leave It to Beaver is an iconic American television situation comedy about an American family of the 1950s and early 1960s. wikipedia: The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified in an outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. who: COVID-19 transmission and protective measures. forbes: CDC: 10 Ways To Dine Safely At A Restaurant With Coronavirus Around. restaurant: COVID-19 Restaurant Impact Survey. subway: Subway is an American multinational fast food restaurant franchise that specializes in submarine sandwiches, wraps, salads and drinks. dominos: Domino's Pizza, Inc., trading as Domino's, is a Michigan-based multinational pizza restaurant chain founded in 1960 and led by CEO Russell Weiner. mcdonalds: McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. wikipedia: In public health, social distancing, also called physical distancing, is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures intended to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other. wikipedia: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of non-pharmaceutical interventions colloquially known as lockdowns (encompassing stay-at-home orders, curfews, quarantines, cordons sanitaires and similar societal restrictions) have been implemented in numerous countries and territories around the world. wikipedia: COVID-19 lockdowns by country. bbc: Covid-19: What is the new three tier system after lockdown? wikipedia: A telephone directory, commonly called a telephone book, telephone address book, phonebook, or the white and yellow pages, is a listing of telephone subscribers in a geographical area or subscribers to services provided by the organization that publishes the directory. cdc: It’s important to keep your blood sugar levels in your target range as much as possible to help prevent or delay long-term, serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. wikipedia: Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. wikipedia: Powerade is a sports drink created, manufactured and marketed by The Coca-Cola Company. katexic: busthead (bust-head). noun. 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Lowering carbon emissions remains a key part of fighting climate change, but scientists are exploring other options. The United Nations Environment Program is calling for more research into solar geoengineering to reflect some of the sun's light away from the Earth. We talk to Daniel Schrag, director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment; Andrea Hinwood, an environmental scientist with the UN Environment Programme; and Tero Mustonen, an adjunct professor in the University of Eastern Finland's department of geographical and historical studies.

In this episode, we highlight a recent webinar conducted by the New Emerging Scholars of Adapted Physical Activity (NESAPA), which is a new group organized under the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA). In this webinar, their goal was to generate a space for conversations about experiences with applying and landing a Postdoc, regarding research activity, lifestyles, and recommendations during this process. The panelists include: Dr. Kwok Ng (@kwokwng) University of Limerick, Ireland, University of Turku & University of Eastern Finland, Finland & Vice President of IFAPA Dr. Alexandra Stribing (@AStribing), Kean University, USA & NESAPA Chair Dr. Nicole Kirk (@TheNicoleKirk), University of Georgia, USA & Former Student Representative. to IFAPA Board Dr. Ryan Hulteen (@Ryan_Hulteen), Louisiana State University, USA Dr. Emily Munn (@EmilyMunnPhD), University of South Carolina, USA

Videos: Brought to you by… Pfizer! FORMER PFIZER VP, DR. MIKE YEADON – EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT COVID-19 WAS A LIE Fauci didn't want autopsies done on Covid victims. I wonder why? Dr. Peter McCullough SLAMS Pfizer board member over censorship and propaganda | Redacted News Study explores effects of dietary choline deficiency on neurologic and system-wide health Arizona State University, January 16, 2023 Choline, an essential nutrient produced in small amounts in the liver and found in foods including eggs, broccoli, beans, meat and poultry, is a vital ingredient for human health. A new study explores how a deficiency of dietary choline adversely affects the body and may be a missing piece in the puzzle of Alzheimer's disease. It's estimated that more than 90% of Americans are not meeting the recommended daily intake of choline. The current research, conducted in mice, suggests that dietary choline deficiency can have profound negative effects on the heart, liver and other organs. Lack of adequate choline is also linked with profound changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease. These include pathologies implicated in the development of two classic hallmarks of the illness: amyloid plaques, which aggregate in the intercellular spaces between neurons; and tau tangles, which condense within the bodies of neurons. The new research, led by scientists at Arizona State University and published in Aging Cell, describes pathologies in normal mice deprived of dietary choline and in choline-deficient transgenic mice, the latter of which already exhibit symptoms associated with the disease. In both cases, dietary choline deficiency results in liver damage, enlargement of the heart and neurologic alterations in the AD mice, typically accompanying Alzheimer's disease and including increased levels of plaque-forming amyloid-beta protein and disease-linked alterations in tau protein. Further, the study illustrates that choline deficiency in mice causes significant weight gain, alterations in glucose metabolism (which are tied to conditions such as diabetes), and deficits in motor skills. In the case of humans, “it's a twofold problem,” according to Ramon Velazquez, senior author of the study and assistant professor with the ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center. “First, people don't reach the adequate daily intake of choline established by the Institute of Medicine in 1998. And secondly, there is vast literature showing that the recommended daily intake amounts are not optimal for brain-related functions.” The research highlights a constellation of physical and neurological changes linked to choline deficiency. Sufficient choline in the diet reduces levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which has been recognized as a neurotoxin contributing to neurodegeneration, and is important for mediating functions such as learning and memory through the production of acetylcholine. The growing awareness of choline's importance should encourage all adults to ensure proper choline intake. This is particularly true for those on plant-based diets, which may be low in naturally occurring choline, given that many foods high in choline are eggs, meats, and poultry. Plant-based, choline-rich foods, including soybeans, Brussels sprouts and certain nuts can help boost choline in these cases. Moreover, inexpensive, over-the-counter choline supplements are encouraged to promote overall health and guard the brain from the effects of neurodegeneration. The new study examines mice at 3-12 months, or early to late adulthood (roughly equivalent to 20-60 years of age for humans). In the case of both normal and transgenic mice displaying symptoms of Alzheimer's, those exposed to a choline-deficient diet exhibited weight gain and adverse effects to their metabolism. Damage to the liver was observed through tissue analysis, as was enlargement of the heart. Elevated soluble, oligomeric and insoluble amyloid-beta protein were detected, as well as modifications to tau protein characteristic of those leading to neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Further, choline-deficient mice performed poorly in a test of motor skills, when compared with mice receiving adequate choline in their diet. These adverse effects were heightened in the transgenic mice. Translating these findings to humans, this implies that people who are predisposed to Alzheimer's disease or in the throes of the illness should ensure they are getting enough choline.”Our work provides further support that dietary choline should be consumed on a daily basis given the need throughout the body,” Velazquez says. (NEXT) Melanoma: Vitamin D supplements linked to reduced skin cancer risk University of Eastern Finland & Kuopio University, January 15, 2023 A new study finds that the regular use of vitamin D is associated with lower rates of melanoma skin cancer. The cross-sectional study was a collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital. The research involved 498 Finnish adults determined by dermatologists to be at high risk of skin cancer, such as melanoma, as well as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. According to researchers, people who took vitamin D regularly were less likely to have had melanoma in the past or currently and were deemed by dermatologists to be less likely to develop melanoma in the future. Study participants ranged in age from 21 to 79 years old, including 253 males and 245 females. Participants were divided into three groups based on their intake of vitamin D supplements: non-use, occasional use, or regular use. The researchers were also interested in finding out whether regular use of vitamin D supplements corresponded to higher blood levels of vitamin D, known as serum calcidiol or 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3. This is the “storage form” of vitamin D in the body. Some research has linked low serum calcidiol with increased cancer risk, while other research has suggested otherwise. Nonetheless, it is a measure often used to determine a person's vitamin D levels. After testing serum calcidiol levels in 260 participants, researchers found that regular vitamin D supplementation corresponded with the highest levels of serum calcidiol and non-supplementation with the lowest levels. “Human skin itself expresses [the enzyme] CYP27A1 that produces calcidiol from vitamin D, and CYP27B1 that produces biologically very active calcitriol from calcidiol,” Dr. Harvima explained, noting that enzyme expression determines the level of vitamin D and its metabolites in the body. (NEXT) New research furthers case for exercise promoting youthfulness University of Arkansas, January 17, 2023 A recent paper published in the Journal of Physiology deepened the case for the youthfulness-promoting effects of exercise on aging organisms, building on previous work done with lab mice nearing the end of their natural lifespan that had access to a weighted exercise wheel. For this paper, the researchers compared aging mice that had access to a weighted exercise wheel with mice that had undergone epigenetic reprogramming via the expression of Yamanaka factors. The Yamanaka factors are four protein transcription factors (identified as Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, often abbreviated to OKSM) that can revert highly specified cells (such as a skin cell) back to a stem cell, which is a younger and more adaptable state. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Dr. Shinya Yamanaka for this discovery in 2012. In the correct dosages, inducing the Yamanaka factors throughout the body in rodents can ameliorate the hallmarks of aging by mimicking the adaptability that is common to more youthful cells. Of the four factors, Myc is induced by exercising skeletal muscle. Myc may serve as a naturally induced reprogramming stimulus in muscle, making it a useful point of comparison between cells that have been reprogrammed via over expression of the Yamanaka factors and cells that have been reprogrammed through exercise—”reprogramming” in the latter case reflecting how an environmental stimulus can alter the accessibility and expression of genes. Ultimately, the team determined that exercise promotes a molecular profile consistent with epigenetic partial programming. That is to say, exercise can mimic aspects of the molecular profile of muscles that have been exposed to Yamanaka factors (thus displaying molecular characteristics of more youthful cells). This beneficial effect of exercise may in part be attributed to the specific actions of Myc in muscle. Murach sees their research as further validation of exercise as a polypill. “Exercise is the most powerful drug we have,” he says, and should be considered a health-enhancing—and potentially life-extending—treatment along with medications and a healthy diet. (NEXT) Exploiting the synergy of nutraceuticals for cancer prevention and treatment Research suggests that free radicals (ROS) generated upon mixing two nutraceuticals—resveratrol and copper—can help ameliorate various diseases by inactivating cell-free chromatin particles Tata Memorial Centre (India), January 16, 2023 Chromatin comprises a complex mixture of DNA and proteins that forms the structural basis of chromosomes in the cellular nuclei. When cells die, they release cell-free chromatin particles or “cfChPs” into the circulatory system. In 1996, evidence for tumour-derived DNA circulating in the blood of cancer patients was first reported. This evidence caught the interest Dr. Indraneel Mittra, who is now Professor Emeritus and the Dr. Ernest Borges Chair in Translational Research at Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, India. His tryst with research on genetic material in cancer metastases began, and after 15 years of research he has presented various papers, developing a body of evidence that indicates the critical role of cfChPs in orchestrating development of not only cancer, but various other diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that cfChPs play an essential role in ageing, sepsis, cancer development, and chemotherapy-related toxicity. With respect to the latter, Prof. Mittra explains, “Chemo-toxicity is not primarily caused by chemotherapeutic drugs, but rather by cfChPs that are released from the first cells that die after chemotherapy. The released cfChPs set in motion a cascading effect, increasingly damaging the DNA of healthy host cells, and triggering inflammatory processes in a vicious cycle that perpetuates and prolongs the toxicity of chemotherapy.” Recently, a team from Tata Memorial Centre have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of a pro-oxidant mixture of resveratrol and copper, R-Cu, in patients undergoing chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. Combining R with Cu (R-Cu) leads to the generation of free oxygen radicals which can inactivate the offending cfChPs. In this context, the research team launched a single-arm phase II clinical trial to study the synergistic effects of R-Cu administration on cfChPs inactivation in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The primary objective was to determine whether R-Cu, via cfChPs' inactivation, was successful in reducing the grade ≥ 3 toxicity seen with docetaxel-based chemotherapies. To this end, the researchers monitored the likely changes in the toxicities of chemotherapeutic treatments using a grading system that provides a framework for the assessment of unwanted physiological effects. The results were promising—although R-Cu did not reduce haematological toxicities, it significantly reduced the incidence of non-haematological toxicities comprising hand-foot syndrome, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Moreover, R-Cu reduced docetaxel exposure compared to the control arm without affecting efficacy in terms of overall survival. (NEXT) Deep meditation may alter gut microbes for better health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (China), January 16, 2023 Regular deep meditation, practiced for several years, may help to regulate the gut microbiome and potentially lower the risks of physical and mental ill health, finds a small comparative study published in the open access journal General Psychiatry. The gut microbes found in a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks differed substantially from those of their secular neighbors, and have been linked to a lower risk of anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease. Research shows that the gut microbiome can affect mood and behavior through the gut–brain axis. This includes the body's immune response, hormonal signaling, stress response and the vagus nerve—the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees an array of crucial bodily functions. The significance of the group and specimen design is that these deep-thinking Tibetan monks can serve as representatives of some deeper meditations. Although the number of samples is small, they are rare because of their geographical location. The researchers analyzed the stool and blood samples of 37 Tibetan Buddhist monks from three temples and 19 secular residents in the neighboring areas. None of the participants had used agents that can alter the volume and diversity of gut microbes: antibiotics; probiotics; prebiotics; or antifungal drugs in the preceding 3 months. Sample analysis revealed significant differences in the diversity and volume of microbes between the monks and their neighbors.”Collectively, several bacteria enriched in the meditation group [have been] associated with the alleviation of mental illness, suggesting that meditation can influence certain bacteria that may have a role in mental health,” write the researchers. These include Prevotella, Bacteroidetes, Megamonas and Faecalibacterium species, the previously published research suggests. Finally, blood sample analysis showed that levels of agents associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, including total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, were significantly lower in the monks than in their secular neighbors by their functional analysis with the gut microbes. (NEXT) Curcumin/Boswellia shows promise in chronic kidney disease Baylor University, January 14, 2023. The Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine reports the finding of researchers at Baylor University of a reduction in a marker of inflammation among chronic kidney disease patients given a combination of Curcuma longa (curcumin) and Boswellia serrata. The study included sixteen individuals receiving standard care for chronic kidney disease who were not undergoing dialysis. Participants were randomized to receive capsules containing curcumin from turmeric extract plus Boswellia serrata, or a placebo for eight weeks. Blood samples collected before and after treatment were analyzed for plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (markers of inflammation), and the endogenous antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, as well as serum C-reactive protein (CRP, another marker of inflammation.) Blood test results from the beginning of the study revealed increased inflammation and reduced glutathione peroxide levels. At the study's conclusion, participants who received curcumin and Boswellia serrata experienced a reduction in interleukin-6 in comparison with pretreatment values, indicating decreased inflammation, while IL-6 values rose among those who received a placebo. In their discussion of the findings, the authors remark that curcumin and Boswellia serrata have been separately shown to lower interleukin-6 via inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa beta and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways.

Videos : Proof Government Lab Created COVID, Says Escaped Chinese Virologist Dr. Li-Meng Yan – Ask Dr. Drew   Fewer cases of melanoma among people taking vitamin D supplements University of Eastern Finland, January 10, 2023 Fewer cases of melanoma were observed among regular users of vitamin D supplements than among non-users, a new study finds. People taking vitamin D supplements regularly also had a considerably lower risk of skin cancer, according to estimates by experienced dermatologists. The study, conducted in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital and published in Melanoma Research, included nearly 500 people with an increased risk of skin cancer. 498 adult patients estimated to have an increased risk of a skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, were recruited at the dermatological outpatient clinic of Kuopio University Hospital. Experienced dermatologists at the University of Eastern Finland carefully analysed the patients' background information and medical history and examined their skin. The dermatologists also classified the patients into different skin cancer risk classes, namely low risk, moderate risk and high risk. Based on their use of oral vitamin D supplements, the patients were divided into three groups: non-users, occasional users and regular users. Serum calcidiol levels were analysed in half of the patients and found to correspond to their self-reported use of vitamin D. A key finding of the study is that there were considerably fewer cases of melanoma among regular users of vitamin D than among non-users, and that the skin cancer risk classification of regular users was considerably better than non-users'. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk for melanoma among regular users was considerably reduced, more than halved, compared to non-users. The findings suggest that even occasional users of vitamin D may have a lower risk for melanoma than non-users. Other relatively recent studies, too, have provided evidence of the benefits of vitamin D in melanoma, such as of the association of vitamin D with a less aggressive melanoma. (NEXT) Diabetics should pay attention to vitamin C University of Otago (New Zealand), January 9 2023. Research reported in Nutrients suggests that low intake and serum levels of vitamin C may be particularly risky for adults with diabetes. The study analyzed data from 25,206 men and 26,944 women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018. Four hundred twenty-eight individuals had type 1 diabetes and 6,807 had type 2 diabetes. At the beginning of the study, 38% of the people had an intake of vitamin C that was below the estimated average requirement (EAR), which worsened to 46.5% by 2017-2018. Individuals whose intake of vitamin C was lower than the EAR had a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes compared with an intake above the EAR, and those who did not use vitamin C supplements had a 28% greater risk than vitamin C supplement users. Low and deficient serum vitamin C levels were associated with fewer years of life in comparison with normal vitamin levels. Compared with an adequate intake of vitamin C, the risk of mortality through 2019 among type 2 diabetics was 25% greater for those with a very low intake of the vitamin. Deficient serum levels of the vitamin were associated with an 84% greater mortality risk compared with adequate levels. Not supplementing with vitamin C was associated with a 25% greater mortality risk among people with type 1 diabetes, a 20% greater risk among those with type 2 diabetes and a 24% greater risk among nondiabetics compared with supplementation. “Observation of declining vitamin C intake and deleterious consequences of low serum vitamin C in US adults with diabetes suggests encouragement of vitamin C intake, including vitamin C supplementation of 500–1000 mg/day, may be beneficial for pre-diabetic and diabetic US adults,” the authors concluded. (NEXT) Feeling depressed? Performing acts of kindness may help Ohio State University, January 10, 2023 People suffering from symptoms of depression or anxiety may help heal themselves by doing good deeds for others, new research shows. The study found that performing acts of kindness led to improvements not seen in two other therapeutic techniques used to treat depression or anxiety. Most importantly, the acts of kindness technique was the only intervention tested that helped people feel more connected to others, said study co-author David Cregg at The Ohio State University. “Social connection is one of the ingredients of life most strongly associated with well-being. Performing acts of kindness seems to be one of the best ways to promote those connections,” Cregg said. The research also revealed why performing acts of kindness worked so well: It helped people take their minds off their own depression and anxiety symptoms. This finding suggests that one intuition many people have about people with depression may be wrong, Cheavens said. “We often think that people with depression have enough to deal with, so we don't want to burden them by asking them to help others. But these results run counter to that,” she said. “Doing nice things for people and focusing on the needs of others may actually help people with depression and anxiety feel better about themselves.” The study involved 122 people in central Ohio who had moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. After an introductory session, the participants were split into three groups. Two of the groups were assigned to techniques often used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression: planning social activities or cognitive reappraisal. Members of the third group were instructed to perform three acts of kindness a day for two days out of the week. Acts of kindness were defined as “big or small acts that benefit others or make others happy, typically at some cost to you in terms of time or resources.” Some of the acts of kindness that participants later said they did included baking cookies for friends, offering to give a friend a ride, and leaving sticky notes for roommates with words of encouragement. Participants followed their instructions for five weeks, after which they were evaluated again. The researchers then checked with the participants after another five weeks to see if the interventions were still effective. The findings showed that participants in all three groups showed an increase in life satisfaction and a reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms after the 10 weeks of the study. “But acts of kindness still showed an advantage over both social activities and cognitive reappraisal by making people feel more connected to other people, which is an important part of well-being,” he said. In addition, the acts of kindness group showed greater improvements than the cognitive reappraisal group for life satisfaction and symptoms of depression and anxiety, results showed. Cheavens noted that just participating in social activities did not improve feelings of social connection in this study. “There's something specific about performing acts of kindness that makes people feel connected to others. It's not enough to just be around other people, participating in social activities,” she said. (NEXT) Selenium protects a specific type of interneurons in the brain Helmholtz Zentrum München (Germany) December 29, 2022 Exactly 200 years ago, the Swedish scientist Jöns Jacob Berzelius discovered the trace element selenium, which he named after the goddess of the moon, Selene. Selenium is an essential trace element and indispensable for humans, many animals and some bacteria. A team led by Dr. Marcus Conrad, research group leader at the Institute of Developmental Genetics (IDG) at Helmholtz Zentrum München, showed for the first time why selenium is a limiting factor for mammals. The scientists have been investigating for years the processes of a novel type of cell death, known as ferroptosis. In this context, the enzyme GPX4, which normally contains selenium in the form of the amino acid selenocysteine, plays an important role. In order to better understand the role of GPX4 in this death process, we established and studied mouse models in which the enzyme was modified,” said study leader Conrad. “In one of these models, we observed that mice with a replacement of selenium to sulfur in GPX4 did not survive for longer than three weeks due to neurological complications.” In their search for the underlying reasons, the researchers identified a distinct subpopulation of specialized neurons in the brain, which were absent when selenium-containing GPX4 was lacking. “In further studies, we were able to show that these neurons were lost during postnatal development, when sulfur- instead of selenium-containing GPX4 was present,” stated first author of the study, Irina Ingold. Furthermore, the scientists were able to show that ferroptosis is triggered by oxidative stress, which is known to occur for instance during high metabolic activity of cells and high neuronal activity. “Our study demonstrates for the first time that selenium is an essential factor for the postnatal development of a specific type of interneurons,” said Dr. José Pedro Friedmann Angeli, a scientist at the IDG, describing the results. “Selenium-containing GPX4 protects these specialized neurons from oxidative stress and from ferroptotic cell death.” (NEXT) Association of Dietary α-Carotene and β-Carotene Intake with Low Cognitive Performance in Older Adults Sun Yat-sen University (China), January 3, 2023 With the increased life expectancy around the world, the number of elderly people with cognitive decline has been escalating, causing a burden for their families and governments. The decline in cognitive function is associated with various factors, including normal aging processes and neurological diseases. However, without any prevention measures to delay cognitive function decline, the decline in cognitive function will gradually develop into mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease. The process of Alzheimer's disease is irreversible, and medical treatment for this disease is still limited. The underlying mechanism of vitamin B12 on cognitive function is related to the activation of methylation reactions in the brain. According to previous studies, vitamin A, an antioxidant in the central nervous system, also participates in cognitive function decline in older people. Both α-carotene and β-carotene can be transformed into retinol, which will be converted into a long-chain fatty acid ester that is the main precursor of vitamin A in the human body. Thus, α-carotene and β-carotene may have similar effects on neurocognitive decline. Some previous studies showed that higher levels of α-carotene and β-carotene in the plasma were associated with better cognitive function. In this study, our results reflected that dietary α-carotene and β-carotene intake might have inverse effects on cognitive function decline in older people. However, the excessive intake of dietary α-carotene and β-carotene may be a problem that needs special attention. (NEXT) Consumption of fast food linked to liver disease University of Southern California, January 10, 2023 The new year has begun, and with it, resolutions for change. A study from Keck Medicine of USC published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology gives people extra motivation to reduce fast-food consumption. The study found that eating fast food is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a potentially life-threatening condition in which fat builds up in the liver. Researchers discovered that people with obesity or diabetes who consume 20% or more of their daily calories from fast food have severely elevated levels of fat in their liver compared to those who consume less or no fast food. And the general population has moderate increases of liver fat when one-fifth or more of their diet is fast food. “Healthy livers contain a small amount of fat, usually less than 5%, and even a moderate increase in fat can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” said Ani Kardashian, MD, a hepatologist with Keck Medicine and lead author of the study. “The severe rise in liver fat in those with obesity or diabetes is especially striking, and probably due to the fact that these conditions cause a greater susceptibility for fat to build up in the liver.” The findings also reveal that a relatively modest amount of fast food, which is high in carbohydrates and fat, can hurt the liver. “If people eat one meal a day at a fast-food restaurant, they may think they aren't doing harm,” said Kardashian. “However, if that one meal equals at least one-fifth of their daily calories, they are putting their livers at risk.” Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as liver steatosis, can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, which can cause liver cancer or failure. Liver steatosis affects over 30% of the U.S. population. The study characterized fast food as meals, including pizza, from either a drive-through restaurant or one without wait staff. The researchers evaluated the fatty liver measurement of approximately 4,000 adults whose fatty liver measurements were included in the survey and compared these measurements to their fast-food consumption. Of those surveyed, 52% consumed some fast food. Of these, 29% consumed one-fifth or more daily calories from fast food. Only this 29% of survey subjects experienced a rise in liver fat levels. The association between liver steatosis and a 20% diet of fast food held steady for both the general population and those with obesity or diabetes even after data was adjusted for multiple other factors such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, alcohol use and physical activity.

Dr. Taylor received a Fulbright grant in Health and Environmental Sciences. He plans to spend much of 2023 at the University of Eastern Finland to research the carbon connections between forests and forest products and climate change.

This podcast discusses the interrelationship between perceived physical environments, group processes and well-being. It focuses on contexts where the physical environment is perceived to be (potentially) harmful or even destructive. These kinds of context can result from relatively rapid events such as natural, technological or natural hazard triggering technological disasters (natech disasters), but they can also cover contexts where the (potential) environmental threat is slow-moving and even invisible, and its effects are contested. The talk focuses especially on the latter context and it presents a research program that has analyzed how indoor environmental problems (e.g., poor indoor air quality) shape groups and the well-being of their members. In reviewing this literature, Professor Finell aims to demonstrate that problems in perceived physical environments are related to many processes that are both theoretically and empirically relevant to social psychology (e.g., social exclusion, black sheep effect, intergroup processes, discrimination, and group identity). Eerika Finell is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Eastern Finland. She obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Helsinki. The lecture was held during EASP Summer School 2022 organized by SWPS University, Faculty of Psychology in Wroclaw, European Association of Social Psychology and Social Behavior Research Center.

In this episode of Climate Discourse, Kate speaks to CCLR board member Harro van Asselt. Harro is an SEI Affiliated Researcher at the SEI Oxford Centre and Professor of Climate Law and Policy at the University of Eastern Finland. In a wide-ranging discussion, Harro and Kate discuss climate change litigation, 'scholactivism', the evolution of climate law and governance and the potential for a future international agreement on fossil fuel non-proliferation. 

A new study analysing the link between people's reduced movement and the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 shows that in some countries, the virus spread more rapidly when people stayed at home. In addition, restricting people's mobility to some extent appeared, retrospectively, to be better at minimising the spread of SARS-CoV-2 than extreme mobility restrictions, in many countries. “Over two years mark the start of the pandemic which changed the lives of many of us in various ways. The current development of the SARS-CoV-2 spread suggests that this chapter of history entitled COVID-19 might, hopefully, be fading to its end. There is, however, still a lot to learn about it. Reflecting on how we have reacted to the pandemic could help us draw useful lessons on how to minimize the damage of similar challenges, especially now that infectious diseases appear to be a re-emerging threat,” researchers Mounir Ould Setti and Sylvain Tollis point out. Government-imposed lockdowns and movement restrictions were likely the hallmarks of the response to this pandemic. These interventions were found invasive in some circumstances and settings. Were lockdowns and movement restrictions efficient in reducing SARS-CoV-2 spread? The researchers from the University of Eastern Finland analysed how the movement of people aligned with daily changes of the effective replication number of SARS-CoV-2. The effective replication number reflects the rate of spread of the disease as it captures dynamic changes in person-to-person viral transmission. The mobility indicators are based on anonymised position data from users of Google services who have Location History activated on their mobile phones. The positions are classified into different mobility categories, including, for example, residential mobility, which indicates that people are staying at home. The researchers focused on the pre-vaccination and pre-variants-of-concern phase of the pandemic from February 15 to December 31, 2020, analysing daily changes in mobility and SARS-CoV-2 spread in 125 countries and 52 United States regions or states. The analysis identified three groups of countries based on patterns of correlations between the mobility indicators and the effective reproduction number of SARS-CoV-2. Group 1 consisted of countries with “normal” correlations, in other words, negative correlations between residential mobility and SARS-CoV-2 spread, e.g. the United States, Turkey, and most OECD countries. Group 2 included countries with “inverted” correlations, referring to positive correlations between residential mobility and SARS-CoV-2 spread. Group 3 consisted of countries with more complex correlation patterns or “inconclusive” correlations. In group 1 countries such as Austria, the more time people spent at home, the less disease spread was recorded, while in group 2 countries such as Bolivia, the exact opposite was observed: the more time people spent at home, the more disease was spreading. In addition, in many countries, the patterns of correlation between mobility and disease spread displayed a minimum of disease spread at an intermediate level of mobility restriction (“U-shaped” correlations), indicating an optimal level above which restricting people's mobility could lead to more disease spread. In other words, complete lockdowns might have been counterproductive at certain levels and in some countries. The authors concluded that a systematic analysis of correlations between mobility and disease spread at a regional level could help understand the optimal level of mobility restriction that minimizes the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in that specific region.

Forest fires are a normal part of life cycle in the nature. However, forest fires release especially large carbon emissions to the atmosphere. How bad is this to our climate? Our guests today are Professor Olli Sippula and University Researcher Kajar Köster from the University of Eastern Finland. Read more https://bit.ly/39Jm53I (in Finnish, later also in English)

Videos: 1. The great recycling LIE (what really happens to plastic) (10:44) 2. Is It Game Over? New NASA Report (5:30) 2. You won't believe what Justin Trudeau's government just did | Redacted with Clayton Morris (13:26) 3. Neil Oliver – Who pulls the strings – Pandemic Treaty, Wealth & Power? (2:00) 4. He's EXPOSING the truth in Syria and they don't like it | Redacted conversation w/ Kevork Almassian (first 10:00) 5. Russian Ruble now best performing currency in the world this year… another example of how US sanctions have failed. 6. Vanessa Beeley and Eva Bartlett are smeared by the Guardian for reporting the truth (3:07) 7. Kim Iversen: Inside The SECRET Bilderberg Meetings Between Spies, War Hawks And World Leaders (9:28) 8. New Rule: The Misinformation Age | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) 9. https://theduran.locals.com/post/2311112/title  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3maIN4-ZJl8    Strawberry Compound Shown to Protect Against Alzheimer's, Memory Loss Salk Institute for Biological Studies, June 16, 2022  The thought of losing your mind is a frightening one, but one in three Americans die with Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia. Regardless how frightening the possibility is, the chances of it happening to you aren't exactly slim, which means prevention should be at the forefront of your mind. A recent study from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies indicates prevention could be as simple as a natural foods diet—rich in fruits (such as strawberries) and vegetables containing something called fisetin. Fisetin is a flavonol found in strawberries, mangoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables and fruits. Researchers with the Salk Institute found this simple compound can actually reduce the risk of Alzheimer's in mice, and could be effective in humans as well. Maher and her team have documented that fisetin has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in the brain. It is also able to turn on a cellular pathway related to memory function. The team looked to a type of mouse with mutated genes making them vulnerable to Alzheimer's. At three months old, the researchers began feeding the mice a diet enriched with fisetin. Mice who hadn't received the fisetin began struggling in the mazes at nine months of age, but the fisetin mice performed as well as normal (non-predisposed) mice at both nine and twelve months of age. Avocados may hold the answer to beating leukemia University of Waterloo (Canada), June 16, 2022 Rich, creamy, nutritious and now cancer fighting. New research reveals that molecules derived from avocados could be effective in treating a form of cancer. Professor Paul Spagnuolo from the University of Waterloo has discovered a lipid in avocados that combats acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by targeting the root of the disease – leukemia stem cells. Worldwide, there are few drug treatments available to patients that target leukemia stem cells. “The stem cell is really the cell that drives the disease,” said Professor Spagnuolo, in Waterloo's School of Pharmacy. “The stem cell is largely responsible for the disease developing and it's the reason why so many patients with leukemia relapse. We've performed many rounds of testing to determine how this new drug works at a molecular level and confirmed that it targets stem cells selectively, leaving healthy cells unharmed.” Inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds in mid to later life linked to near doubling in risk of death Exercise Medicine Clinic-CLINIMEX (Brazil) and University of Eastern Finland, June 21, 2022 The inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds in mid- to later life is linked to a near doubling in the risk of death from any cause within the next 10 years, finds research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine This simple and safe balance test could be included in routine health checks for older adults, say the researchers. The researchers wanted to find out whether a balance test might be a reliable indicator of a person's risk of death from any cause within the next decade, and, as such, might therefore merit inclusion in routine health checks in later life. Participants were asked to stand on one leg for 10 seconds without any additional support.  To improve standardization of the test, participants were asked to place the front of the free foot on the back of the opposite lower leg, while keeping their arms by their sides and their gaze fixed straight ahead. Up to three attempts on either foot were permitted. In all, around 1 in 5 (20.5%; 348) participants failed to pass the test. The inability to do so rose in tandem with age, more or less doubling at subsequent 5 year intervals from the age of 51-55 onwards.  The proportions of those unable to stand on one leg for 10 seconds were: nearly 5% among 51-55 year-olds; 8% among 56-60 year-olds; just under 18% among 61-65 year-olds; and just under 37% among 66-70 year-olds.  More than half (around 54%) of those aged 71-75 were unable to complete the test. In other words, people in this age group were more than 11 times as likely to fail the test as those just 20 years younger. During an average monitoring period of 7 years, 123 (7%) people died: cancer (32%); cardiovascular disease (30%); respiratory disease (9%); and COVID-19 complications (7%). The proportion of deaths among those who failed the test was significantly higher: 17.5% vs. 4.5%, reflecting an absolute difference of just under 13%. Anxious Children have Bigger “Fear Centers” in the Brain Stanford University School of Medicine, June 16, 2022 The amygdala is a key “fear center” in the brain. Alterations in the development of the amygdala during childhood may have an important influence on the development of anxiety problems, reports a new study in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry.

 Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine recruited 76 children, 7 to 9 years of age, a period when anxiety-related traits and symptoms can first be reliably identified.  The researchers found that children with high levels of anxiety had enlarged amygdala volume and increased connectivity with other brain regions responsible for attention, emotion perception, and regulation, compared to children with low levels of anxiety. They also developed an equation that reliably predicted the children's anxiety level from the MRI measurements of amygdala volume and amygdala functional connectivity.

The most affected region was the basolateral portion of the amygdala, a subregion of the amygdala implicated in fear learning and the processing of emotion-related information.

 Our study represents an important step in characterizing altered brain systems and developing predictive biomarkers in the identification for young children at risk for anxiety disorders,” Qin said.  New research: Olive oil compound destroys cancer cells in 30 minutes Rutgers University & Hunter College, June 12, 2022  Oleocanthal, a polyphenolic, therapeutic compound found in olive oil is the subject of a new anti-cancer study performed by nutritional science and cancer biology researchers with The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers and Hunter's College in New York City. Programmed cell death, known as apoptosis takes approximately 16-24 hours. Dynamic new research just published in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Oncology blew scientists away – when exposed to oleocanthal, a polyphenol compound found in olive oil, cancerous cells died within 30 minutes to an hour. While researchers previously understood that compounds in olive oil were capable of killing cancer cells, until now, such short apoptosis had not been observed. Even more fascinating was when the team looked closely to surmise why apoptosis was occurring under such swift circumstances – they discovered that cancer cells were being killed by their own enzymes. And, not only one isolated type of cancerous cell, but all of the cancerous cells they were examining. Unlike chemotherapeutic pharmaceuticals that devastate healthy cellular activity, the therapeutic polyphenolic compound found in olive oil kills cancer while maintaining vitality among healthy cells. As Paul Breslin, one of the study's authors at Rutgers noted, while cancerous cells died, healthy cells were not harmed, but rather the oleocanthal “put them to sleep.” The lifecycle of healthy cells was only temporarily affected in this way, without any negative observations and in approximately 24 hours, the healthy cells resumed their life cycle.  Sports, not screens: The key to happier, healthier children University of South Australia, June 21, 2022 Whether it's sports practice, music lessons or a casual catch up with friends, when children are involved in after-school activities, they're more likely to feel happier and healthier than their counterparts who are glued to a screen. In a new study conducted by the University of South Australia, researchers found that children's well-being is heightened when they participate in extra-curricular activities, yet lowered when they spent time on social media or playing video games. Published in BMC Pediatrics, the study analyzed data from 61,759 school students in years 4 to 9, assessing the average number of days per week children participated in after-school activities (3–6pm), and measure these against well-being factors—happiness, sadness, worry, engagement, perseverance, optimism, emotion regulation, and life satisfaction. It found that most students watched TV about four days of the school week and spent time on social media about three days of the week. Our study highlights how some out-of-school activities can boost children's well-being, while others—particularly screens—can chip away at their mental and physical health. “Screens are a massive distraction for children of all ages. And whether children are gaming, watching TV or on social media, there's something about all screens that's damaging to their well-being. Students in lower socio-economic backgrounds who frequently played sports were 15% more likely to be optimistic, 14% more likely to be happy and satisfied with their life, and 10% more likely to be able to regulate their emotions. Conversely, children who played video games and used social media almost always had lower levels of well-being: up to 9% less likely to be happy, up to 8% to be less optimism and 11% to be more likely to give up on things.

climate change, carbon negative, net zero, heat dome, heat wave, West Coast, Sea, Ocean, BC, marine ecology, sea life, marine protected areas, Chris Harley, zoology, University of British Columbia, Washington State, Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Kati Kulovesi, University of Eastern Finland, Edward Burtynsky, art, photography, Canadian artist, In the Wake of Progress

Videos :  2. Fake Cases: The Fraudulent PCR Test Is at the Heart of This Entire Plandemic – Dr. Reiner Fuellmich With Judy Mikovits & More   3.  Over 17,000 Physicians and Scientists Agree: “There Is No Medical Emergency” – Dr. Robert Malone   4. Honest Government Ad | Julian Assange   Cranberry juice may slash cardiometabolic risk factors: RCT study USDA Agriculture Research Center, April 30, 2022 Daily consumption of a low-calorie cranberry juice may improve certain risk factors of heart disease, including blood pressure and triglycerides, says a new study from the Agricultural Research Service at the USDA. Eight weeks of supplementing the diet with a cranberry juice containing 173 mg of phenolic compounds per serving was associated with significant reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP), diastolic blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, according to findings published in the Journal of Nutrition . While the majority of the science supporting the health benefits of cranberries is for urinary tract health, a growing body of data supports the cardiovascular potential of the berries. For example, a study by scientists at the Mayo Clinic and College of Medicine found that two glasses of cranberry juice a day may protect against the development of hardening of the arteries. Writing in the European Journal of Nutrition (Vol. 52, pp 289-296), the Mayo Clinic researchers reported that no effect was observed on the function of the cells lining the arteries (endothelial cells), but cranberry juice may reduce the number of endothelial cells that produce a compound called osteocalcin, which has been linked to hardening of the arteries.     Vitamin D toxicity rare in people who take supplements, researchers report Mayo Clinic, April 30, 2022   Over the last decade, numerous studies have shown that many Americans have low vitamin D levels and as a result, vitamin D supplement use has climbed in recent years. In light of the increased use of vitamin D supplements, Mayo Clinic researchers set out to learn more about the health of those with high vitamin D levels. They found that toxic levels are actually rare. A vitamin D level greater than 50 nanograms per milliliter is considered high. Vitamin D levels are determined by a blood test called a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test. A normal level is 20-50 ng/mL, and deficiency is considered anything less than 20 ng/mL, according the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The researchers analyzed data collected over 10 years from patients in the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a National Institutes of Health-funded medical records pool , one of the few places worldwide where scientists can study virtually an entire geographic population to identify health trends. Of 20,308 measurements, 8 percent of the people who had their vitamin D measured had levels greater than 50 ng/mL, and less than 1 percent had levels over 100 ng/mL. "We found that even in those with high levels of vitamin D over 50 ng/mL, there was not an increased risk of hypercalcemia, or elevated serum calcium, with increasing levels of vitamin D," says study co-author Thomas D. Thacher, M.D., a family medicine expert at Mayo Clinic. Only one case over the 10-year study period was identified as true acute vitamin D toxicity; the person's vitamin D level was 364 ng/mL. The individual had been taking 50,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D supplements every day for more than three months, as well as calcium supplements. The IOM-recommended upper limit of vitamin D supplementation for people with low or deficient levels is 4,000 IU a day.     Reducing sedentary time mitigates the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases University of Turku (Finland), May 2, 2022 A new study suggests that reducing daily sedentary time can have a positive effect on the risk factors of lifestyle diseases already in three months. Spending just one hour less sitting daily and increasing light physical activity can help in the prevention of these diseases. In an intervention study of the Turku PET Centre and the UKK Institute in Finland, the researchers investigated whether health benefits can be achieved by reducing daily sedentary time during a three-month intervention period. The research participants were sedentary and physically inactive working-age adults with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The intervention group managed to reduce sedentary time by 50 minutes per day on average, mainly by increasing the amount of light- and moderate-intensity physical activity. In the three-month period, the researchers observed benefits in health outcomes related to blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity and liver health in the intervention group.     Study Finds Cannabis May Be A “Miracle” Treatment For Autistic Kids Shaare Zedek Medical Center (Israel), April 26, 2022 Autism could now be added to the lengthy and perpetually-expanding list of afflictions and symptoms treatable with the one product of nature shamefully prohibited by the federal government — the “miracle” palliative, cannabis. In a recent article titled, “Marijuana may be a miracle treatment for children with autism,” Israeli researchers began a new study comprised of 120 children ranging in age from five to 29 years, who have been diagnosed with mild to severe autism. Study participants are given one of two cannabis oil treatments or a placebo, drops of which can be mixed into a meal — none contain high levels of THC, the ingredient which gives users a ‘high.' Myriad scientific studies and innumerable anecdotal cases have proven cannabis to treat everything from PTSD to ADHD, various cancers to the painful pressure of glaucoma — but the plant's miraculous quality has been most apparent in treating severe seizures of childhood epilepsy. Now, it appears, cannabis — specifically, the non-psychoactive compound, cannabidiol or CBD — may offer improved quality of life for children with autism, and the families providing their care. In an observational study, the doctor found 70 patients with autism experienced positive results from cannabis — so the clinical trial was launched for in-depth study.     Resveratrol and pinostilbene provide neuroprotectoin against age-related deficits. Duquesne University, April 27, 2022 According to news, research stated, "Age-related declines in motor function may be due, in part, to an increase in oxidative stress in the aging brain leading to dopamine (DA) neuronal cell death. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of natural antioxidants resveratrol and pinostilbene against age-related DAergic cell death and motor dysfunction using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and young, middle-aged, and old male C57BL/6 mice." The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Duquesne University, "Resveratrol and pinostilbene protected SH-SY5Y cells from a DA-induced decrease in cell viability. Dietary supplementation with resveratrol and pinostilbene inhibited the decline of motor function observed with age. While DA and its metabolites (DOPAC and HVA), dopamine transporter, and tyrosine hydroxylase levels remain unchanged during aging or treatment, resveratrol and pinostilbene increased ERK1/2 activation in vitro and in vivo in an age-dependent manner. Inhibition of ERK1/2 in SH-SY5Y cells decreased the protective effects of both compounds." "These data suggest that resveratrol and pinostilbene alleviate age-related motor decline via the promotion of DA neuronal survival and activation of the ERK1/2 pathways." Study sheds light on the benefits of exercise in fatty liver disease University of Eastern Finland, May 3, 2022 Exercise supports the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease by impacting on several metabolic pathways in the body, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows Regular high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise over a period of 12 weeks significantly decreased the study participants' fasting glucose and waist circumference, and improved their maximum oxygen consumption rate and maximum achieved workload. These positive effects were associated with alterations in the abundance of a number of metabolites. In particular, exercise altered amino acid metabolism in adipose tissue. The study was published in Scientific Reports. Exercise had a beneficial effect on fasting glucose concentrations, waist circumference, maximum oxygen consumption rate, and maximum achieved workload. These factors were also associated with many of the observed alterations in the abundance of various metabolites in the exercise intervention group. The most significant alterations were observed in amino acids and their derivatives, lipids, and bile acids. In particular, exercise increased the levels of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, in adipose tissue. According to the researchers, their higher accumulations in adipose tissue may be associated with improved lipid and glucose metabolism, as well as with reduced insulin resistance. The levels of various gut microbial metabolites were altered as a result of exercise, which is suggestive of changes in the composition of gut microbes, or in their function. Among these metabolites, increased amount of indolelactic acid, for example, can strengthen the intestinal mucosa, immune defense, and glucose balance.    

Listen in on the March NCPEID collaborative featuring a panel of experts in the Adapted Physical Activity (APA) field, as they discuss what's going on in the field of physical education from services & programs, to inclusion and support, and how these compare from a North American context to a European context. This panel of experts include Hayley Morrison (@Ms_HMorrison), assistant professor at the University of Alberta in Canada, Aija Klavina (@aijapro), professor at Lithuanian Sport University in Lithuania, Kwok Ng (@kwokwng) from the University of Limerick in Ireland and University of Eastern Finland, and Michelle Grenier (@michellegrenie1), President of NCPEID and recently retired professor at the University of New Hampshire.

In aging research, recent evidence has encouraged more focus on investigating socioeconomic status (SES) and its role in human health trajectories. Previous studies have used DNA methylation measures and epigenetic clocks to demonstrate a consistent association between low SES and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). Moreover, researchers have identified a need to further investigate the relationship between SES characteristics and aging. “Little is known whether current occupational characteristics or job-related stress – crucial SES characteristics – are associated with EAA.” Recently, researchers—from Imperial College London, University of Sassari, University of Eastern Finland, Karolinska Institutet, University of Oulu, and the Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine—conducted a research study in an effort to help elucidate potential mechanisms by which work characteristics and job stressors may be impacting health and accelerating aging. Their trending research paper was published by Aging (Aging-US) on February 2, 2022, and entitled, “Work-related stress and well-being in association with epigenetic age acceleration: A Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study.” Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2022/02/trending-with-impact-can-job-stress-cause-epigenetic-aging/ DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.203872 Corresponding author - Anna Freni-Sterrantino - a.freni-sterrantino@imperial.ac.uk Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.203872 Keywords - epigenetic age, job strain, effort-reward imbalance, work-related well-being, DNA methylation About Aging-US Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways. Please visit our website at http://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us: SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/Aging-Us Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/agingus​ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ Aging-US is published by Impact Journals, LLC: http://www.ImpactJournals.com​​ Media Contact 18009220957 MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Depression linked to reduced arginine levels University of Eastern Finland, February 20, 2022 People suffering from major depressive disorder, MDD, have reduced arginine levels, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. Arginine is an amino acid which the body uses to produce, e.g., nitric oxide. Nitric oxide, in turn, is a nervous system and immune defence mediator, and it also plays a role in vascular regulation. The global arginine bioavailability ratio, GABR, is an indicator of the body's arginine levels, and the ratio has previously been used to measure the body's capacity to produce nitric oxide. Reduced arginine bioavailability is also known to be an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. (NEXT) Vitamin D supplementation associated with improvement in mood, desire in women Medical University of Silesia (Poland), February 19 2022  A study reported in Endokrynologia Polska resulted in improvement in female sexual desire, orgasm and satisfaction, as well as mood, after supplementation with vitamin D. Based on researchers Robert Krysiak and colleagues' previous finding of an association between deficient vitamin D levels and abnormal female sexual function, a trial that examined the effects of six months of oral vitamin D supplementation was conducted among 47 women with deficient or insufficient plasma vitamin D levels. Women with vitamin D deficiency, defined as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels that were lower than 2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), were given 4,000 international units (IU) vitamin D per day, and participants with insufficient levels of 20-30 ng/mL were given 2,000 IU daily or no vitamin D. Questionnaires that evaluated female sexual function and depressive symptoms were completed before and after the treatment period. Supplementation with vitamin D was associated with improved sexual desire in both deficient and insufficient women. Among participants with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D improved total sexual function scores and scores for sexual satisfaction and orgasm, while decreasing total depression scores. (NEXT) Midwifery linked to better birth outcomes in state-by-state report cards Oregon State University, February 22, 2022  Midwife-friendly laws and regulations tend to coincide with lower rates of premature births, cesarean deliveries and newborn deaths, according to a new U.S.-wide “report card” that ranks all 50 states on the quality of their maternity care. The first-of-its-kind study found a strong connection between the role of midwives in the health care system – what the researchers call “midwifery integration” – and birth outcomes. States with high midwifery integration, like Washington and Oregon, generally had better results, while states with the least integration, primarily in the Midwest and South, tended to do worse. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE. About 10 percent of U.S. births involve midwives, far behind other industrialized countries, where midwives participate in half or more of all deliveries. Each state has its own laws and regulations on midwives' credentialing, their ability to provide services at a client's home or at birth centers, their authority to prescribe medication and the degree to which they are reimbursed by Medicaid. (NEXT) Microbiome changes could underlie nicotinamide riboside's ability to protect against weight gain Medical College of Wisconsin, February 21 2022. The January/February 2022 issue of the journal mSystems reported how the vitamin B3 derivative nicotinamide riboside (NR) impacts the gut microbiome and protects against weight gain. NR is a precursor of NAD+, a coenzyme found in all cells that aids in the production of energy. “Gut bacteria produce vitamin B3 in the colon and are capable of salvaging and metabolizing vitamin B3 and its derivatives,” wrote Valery V. Lozada-Fernández of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and colleagues. “However, it is unknown how dietary supplementation of NR alters the microbiome and if those alterations contribute to deflection of weight gain.” Mice were given diets that were high in fat with or without the addition of NR. NR supplementation resulted in less body mass gain, lower fasting glucose levels and differences in gut microbes, including a greater number of bacteria that produce butyrate. (NEXT) How sound waves could help regrow bones RMIT University (Netherlands), February 22,2022 Researchers have used sound waves to turn stem cells into bone cells, in a tissue engineering advance that could one day help patients regrow bone lost to cancer or degenerative disease. The innovative stem cell treatment from researchers at RMIT University offers a smart way forward for overcoming some of the field's biggest challenges, through the precision power of high-frequency soundwaves. Tissue engineering is an emerging field that aims to rebuild bone and muscle by harnessing the human body's natural ability to heal itself. Additionally, the few clinical trials attempting to regrow bone have largely used stem cells extracted from a patient's bone marrow—a highly painful procedure. In a new study published in the journal Small, the RMIT research team showed stem cells treated with high-frequency sound waves turned into bone cells quickly and efficiently. (Videos) 1. Justin Trudeau's China dictatorship gaffe (1:30) (start at :25) 2. Edward Dowd Clip (5:50) 3. Banishment From The Financial System The War On Dissent (11:51) 4. “OH MY GOD! Six Fatal Mistakes in Two Weeks”Jordan Peterson 5. Communism Has Arrived   6. Jonathan Haidt & Yuval Noah Harari: Adapting to Change in an Accelerating World (15:00 to 30:00)   (OTHER NEWS) Wokeism Is a Cruel and Dangerous Cult Wokeism's natural logic is to destroy the lives of people of both genders, of all races, and—if need be—of those of every age, all to leverage an otherwise unworkable ideological agenda. Victor Davis Hanson (Stanford University) Wokeism has been described by its critics as the omnipresent use of race—and to a lesser extent, gender—to replace meritocracy and thus ensure equality of result. What follows from implementing that ideology are reparatory actions to reward those of the present by atoning for the injustices done to others in the past. Some see it as an update of 1960s cultural Marxism fads. Others scoff that it is just a return to 1980s-style political correctness. Still more see it as the logical successor to 1990s-type race, class, and gender obsessions—albeit with a shriller and more dangerous Jacobin, Soviet, and Maoist twist. Wokeism's hysteria also invites comparisons to the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism. But few have described wokeism as the cruel creed that it is. Wokeism's natural logic is to destroy the lives of people of both genders, of all races, and—if need be—those of every age, all to leverage an otherwise unworkable ideological agenda. It is nihilist and destroys everything it touches. It tears apart foes and friends alike, whether by fueling media-driven hatred of Donald Trump or faux-deification of the disaster that is now Joe Biden. Woke's Victims Defunding law enforcement and defaming police resulted in record numbers of murders in 12 U.S. cities. A wave of violent crime is even hitting America's suburbs. Without much fear of arrest, indictment, conviction, and incarceration, emboldened violent career criminals for the past year have robbed, assaulted, and killed the innocent with impunity. The victims at the bus stop, the subway, or in the furniture store do not seem to warrant media or progressive attention, much less sympathy. They are the ignored—the unnamed, and the forgotten collateral damage from the grand experiment of redefining crime as a social construct. The guilty are the elite academics, activists, and billionaires like George Soros who are untouched by what they birthed. We have all seen videos of the vast expanse of flotsam and jetsam strewn by train thieves along the Union Pacific tracks in Los Angeles. Yet the Wild West mess is still more than just the concrete manifestations of Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascón's unhinged efforts to excuse criminals from legal consequences. The packages thrown along the ground by thugs and gangsters represent, among other things, lost COVID-19 test results of the ill. Presumably, they unknowingly are waiting still by the window for the delivery of results that never arrive. The package in the dirt was, perhaps, a key tractor part eagerly awaited, in vain, by the broke farmer in the Central Valley. The mess included the life-saving medicines shipped to the sick that disappeared. And our elected leaders did what in response? Governor Gavin Newsom apologized for using the insensitive word “gangs” to describe those who plunder, loot, and trash railcars. Always In Search of Targets It is a cruel thing to indoctrinate children with the lie that they are innately guilty of oppression due to their skin color. One accurate definition of racism is collective ill-treatment of an individual due to his innate appearance—on the pretext that such bias is deserved, given the target is deemed mentally, spiritually, or morally inferior because of said traits. But that, in a nutshell, is the essence of critical race theory: the destruction of all human traits and unique characteristics, as demonized individuals are reduced to stereotyped, faceless members of a collective. The Forgotten Broken Eggs of the Woke Omelet Equity in our Orwellian world is not equality, but payback. Again, it is the idea of making the current generation pay for the supposed sins of the long dead of centuries past. Aside from the destruction of merit by the substitution of racial criteria, millions from a discarded generation will have doors slammed on their careers—simply because of the color of their skin. And they will never forget that. The woke do not even make the effort to admit that class matters as much as, or more than, race. By doing so, they doom millions of poor white and Asian students, who managed in poverty to achieve excellent grades and test scores, from being admitted to top-tier schools. Their actual achievement, despite their absence of wealthy, college-educated, or well-connected parents, means little. Once a morally bankrupt society—for naïve, utopian, or ignoble reasons—begins to calibrate graduation ceremonies, dorm space, roommate selection, achievement, and grading standards based on race, then it not only will lose its standard of living, but it will deserve to. And it may have a future date with the violence of Rwanda, Iraq, or the Balkans. Power, Not “Equity,” Is the Creed In sum, wokeness is not about kindness, equality, fairness, or morality. It is the power agenda of the elite of all races. For differing reasons, they rig the game in their own interests, without a care about who suffers. Rich white people assume that they possess the money, the influence, the networking skills, and the connections to navigate around the very exclusionary rules they make for others. For them, there are seldom costs. But they win apparent psychological gain at feeling spiritually superior while driving a Range Rover. They get high on the sense of power they wield to engineer the lives of millions deemed less important than they. And to the degree they feel guilty about their own monopoly of wealth and leisure, such transient superficial remorse is alleviated by abstract caring for the “other.” If they can ensure that 50 percent of TV commercials highlight African Americans, then they worry little about the nation's existential crisis of 800 blacks murdered in Chicago last year. And no such television execs have a clue—or likely a concern—about how to stop it. The woke take out a medieval contract that all their material indulgences can be balanced by virtue-signaling caring for the less fortunate—although always at someone else's expense. Woke = Wealthy Careerists And for the millions of the affluent, elite nonwhite? The resurgence of racial obsessions conveniently destroys the old idea of class, even though now it is the far more precise calibration of inequality. For all the woke talk about “constructs” of gender, race is somehow alone exempted and declared innate, definable, and immutable. One's appearance becomes the permanent victimized refuge—even of NBA multibillionaires and billionaire rappers alike. A Ward Churchill or Elizabeth Warren can desperately seek to leverage a career in becoming Native American, apparently as if they were almost trapped in their own white bodies. Yet they can still not manage to construct such assumed identities in the manner of Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner. If race is now the sole immutable barometer of who is a victim, who a victimizer, then LeBron James, Jay-Z, Kayne West, Chris Rock, Michelle Obama, and Oprah Winfrey are always to be among the eternally oppressed. The enormous influence, power, status, and wealth they wield never negates their victimhood, despite a nation three generations into affirmative action. In the immoral calculus of woke, the poor white or Southeast Asian offspring of poorly paid high-school dropouts constitute “the privileged.” And a multimillionaire racist like the TV anchorwoman Joy Reid claims to be the perpetual victim, not the inner-city African American retiree who in 2021 has lost local police protection. No wonder the woke elite and the affluent leftists fixate on race, given they are now the ruling class. Otherwise, their own privilege would be the obvious target of the once-beloved “Revolution.” So, they fear that by their own prior left-wing standards, they too could end up on the wrong side of their moral Maginot Line. Wokeism's obsessions with ferreting out “white privilege” are a way for rich people to head off (so to speak) the fate of Marie Antoinette. Totalitarian Wokeism A final note. We know wokeism is both contrary to human nature and antithetical to democracy and constitutional government. Without public support, it has instead embraced an entire array of cruel, Soviet, and Maoist means to achieve its own self-interested ends. Woke talk about “racists” eerily emulates Soviet boilerplate about “counterrevolutionaries.” Today's wokeist spouts things that could come right out of the mouth of the novelist Boris Pasternak's character Army Commissar Strelnikov, or Mao's Little Red Book concerning “suppression of counterrevolutionaries.” No wonder the woke, so-called “humanists” are the first to resort to Trotskyization and iconoclasm. They are masters of censoring, blacklisting, scapegoating, deplatforming, ritual humiliation, doxxing, cancel-culture, ostracism, and disbarring. Wokeism's logic is the eternal one of the bully Jacobin with his guillotine lists of the revolutionary unpure, the 19th-century lynch mob storming the frontier jail, the Red Guards hounding the counterrevolutionary, and the forced mental hospitalizations of the Soviet Union. But above all, wokeism is a cruel cult—created by and for the careerist benefit of the privileged.

INDIGINOUS VOICES MINI-SERIES LAUNCH - FULL SERIES PLAYLIST https://spoti.fi/3av9npr Last June Stuart and William had a nice in depth conversation around the right to roam, which was sparked by a question sent in by one of our podcast listeners, Cliff from Radley, Oxfordshire, England, which was discussed in the episode 'Reclaiming Land Through Mass Trespass'. For the follow up conversation, they invited Heli Paulasto, Senior Lecturer in English Language And Culture at the University of Eastern Finland, to offer a Finnish perspective on this topic. This is part 1 of this conversation with Heli, you can hear part 2 (and also see the filmed version of part 2) by becoming an Indigenous Champion support tier Patreon backer. Become a Patreon today at https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside A filmed version of part 1 of this chat will be released over the next few hours as a video podcast on Spotify, and also on our YouTube Channel too https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl5Mo4k8ezK6HlZhAHfkjIw Do you have a question you'd like Stuart and William to examine, mull over, explore, discuss, delve into or debate? Send us an email thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com with your name, where you're listening from, and your question. Or you can record your question in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message Support this work through Patreon or just 'follow' so you don't miss any of the public posts https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

INDIGINOUS VOICES MINI-SERIES LAUNCH - FULL SERIES PLAYLIST https://spoti.fi/3av9npr Last June Stuart and William had a nice in depth conversation around the right to roam, which was sparked by a question sent in by one of our podcast listeners, Cliff from Radley, Oxfordshire, England, which was discussed in the episode 'Reclaiming Land Through Mass Trespass'. For the follow up conversation, they invited Heli Paulasto, Senior Lecturer in English Language And Culture at the University of Eastern Finland, to offer a Finnish perspective on this topic. This is the video to part 1 of this conversation with Heli, you can hear part 2 (and also see the filmed version of part 2) by becoming an Indigenous Champion support tier Patreon backer. All of which was released earlier today. Become a Patreon today at https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside Do you have a question you'd like Stuart and William to examine, mull over, explore, discuss, delve into or debate? Send us an email thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com with your name, where you're listening from, and your question. Or you can record your question in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message Support this work through Patreon or just 'follow' so you don't miss any of the public posts https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message

Dr. David Bengston is an Environmental Futurist and Social Scientist with the Strategic Foresight Group of the Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, and is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota where he teaches a seminar on environmental futures. Dr. Bengston has published more than 160 research publications, including papers in the Journal of Futures Research, World Futures Review, Futures, and The Futurist. He was the Chair of the North American Forest Commission's Foresight Working Group and is a member of the World Futures Studies Federation and the Association of Professional Futurists. Dr. Bengston has worked as a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, and the International Union of Forestry Research Organization's (IUFRO) Special Programme for Developing Countries. He was the Coordinator of the IUFRO Ecological Economics in Forestry Working Group and was an OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development) Research Fellow at Seoul National University in South Korea in 2004. In the summer of 2022, he will be a visiting Fulbright scholar at the University of Eastern Finland. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/plantatrilliontrees/support

Study finds vitamin D supplements with or without Omega-3s decreased risk of autoimmune diseases   Brigham and Women's Hospital, January 27 2022   Autoimmune diseases (AD) such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, autoimmune thyroid disease and psoriasis, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality as people age. Few effective treatments are available for AD, but some preclinical studies have hinted that supplements, including vitamin D and omega-3 (or n-3) fatty acids, may have beneficial effects. In a new study published in BMJ, investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital evaluated whether taking vitamin D and/or omega fatty acid supplements could affect rates of AD. The team tested this in the large-scale vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL), a randomized study which followed participants for approximately five years. Investigators found the people who took vitamin D, or vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids had a significantly lower rate of AD than people who took a placebo.   (NEXT)   Blueberry extract outperforms radiation in killing cervical cancer cells, study reveals   University of Missouri, January 27, 2022   Recent research has focused on attempts to identify radiosensitizers – or non-toxic, natural substances that can make radiation more effective – and (you guessed it) blueberry extract is emerging at the forefront – with a new study showcasing its ability to work along with radiation to combat cervical cancer. In a study of human cancer cells conducted at the University of Missouri, researchers found that combining blueberry extract with radiation increased the treatment's effectiveness.   (NEXT)   Physical activity protects against type 2 diabetes by modifying metabolism   University of Eastern Finland, January 26, 2022   Regular physical activity significantly changes the body's metabolite profile, and many of these changes are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. The study population included more than 7,000 men who were followed up for eight years. Men in the highest physical activity category had a 39% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than men who were physically inactive. Physical activity was associated with the levels of a total of 198 metabolites, i.e., compounds formed as a result of the body's metabolism, and increased physical activity had an impact on some of the same metabolites that have previously been associated with a health-promoting diet. In addition, the study showed that increased physical activity improves insulin secretion.   (NEXT)   Food as medicine   Mayo Clinic, January 26 2022.    The oft-heard adage “Let food be thy medicine” appears to be valid advice according to the results of a first of its kind study published on January 26, 2022 in the Journal of Nutrition. “Based on the outcomes seen in our study, using this type of food as medicine approach expands the options for medical professionals and patients,” first author Stephen Kopecky, MD, FACC, of the Mayo Clinic commented. “Many patients who are unwilling or unable to take statin drugs may be able to help manage their high cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia with a realistic food-based intervention.”   (NEXT)   Maternal consumption of soft drinks may be linked to ADHD symptoms in offspring   University of Bergen (Norway), January 27, 2022   Norwegian, Swedish and Dutch researchers examining a large Norwegian population-based cohort recently reported in European Journal of Nutrition that daily maternal intake of sweetened carbonated beverages (SCB) in pregnancy was associated with an increase in ADHD symptoms among offspring at eight years of age.   (VIDEO)   1. Barrister Una McGurk (Ireland) on pandemic and cancel culture – 6 minutes 2. VOICES PROFESSOR DOLORES CAHILL (2:56) 3. VOICES: ANNE MCCLOSKEY GP (3:48) 4. VOICES: DR PAT MORRISSEY (5:02) 5. VOICES: DR MARCUS DE BRUN (5:13)   (OTHER NEWS)   How 5G Puts Airplanes at Risk – An Electrical Engineer Explains   By Prasenjit Mitra, Professor of Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State. The Conversation, January 26, 2022   New high-speed cellphone services have raised concerns of interference with aircraft operations, particularly as aircraft are landing at airports. The Federal Aviation Administration has assured Americans that most commercial aircraft are safe, and AT&T and Verizon have agreed to hold off on installing their new cellphone antennas near airports for six months. But the problem has not been entirely resolved.   Concerns began when the U.S. government auctioned part of the C-band spectrum to wireless carriers in 2021 for US$81 billion. The carriers are using C-band spectrum to provide 5G service at full speed, 10 times the speed of 4G networks. The C-band spectrum is close to the frequencies used by key electronics that aircraft rely on to land safely. Here's why that can be a problem.   Wireless signals are carried by radio waves. The radio spectrum ranges from 3 hertz to 3,000 gigahertz and is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The portion of the radio spectrum that carries the signals from your phone and other wireless devices is 20 kilohertz to 300 gigahertz.   If two wireless signals in the same area use the same frequency, you get garbled noise.   Modern airplanes use altimeters, which calculate the time it takes for a signal to bounce back from the ground to determine a plane's altitude. These altimeters are a vital part of automatic landing systems that are especially useful in cases where there is low visibility.   So, if an altimeter interprets a signal from a wireless carrier as the rebounded signal from the ground, it may think that the ground is closer than it is and prematurely try to lower the landing gear and do the other maneuvers that are needed to land an aircraft. If interference with wireless carrier signals corrupts and garbles the altimeter's radio signals, the altimeter may not recognize the rebounded signal and thus be unable to figure out how close to the ground the plane is.   The portions of the radio frequency spectrum used by airplanes and cellphone carriers are different. The problem is that airplane altimeters use the 4.2 to 4.4 gigahertz range, while the recently sold – and previously unused – C-band spectrum for wireless carriers ranges from 3.7 to 3.98 gigahertz. It turns out the 0.22 gigahertz difference between the signals may not be quite enough to be absolutely sure that a cellphone carrier signal will not be mistaken for or corrupt an altimeter's signal.   (NEXT)   The Scientific Misconduct Story Behind Ivermectin   Joseph Mercola, January 26, 2022   STORY AT-A-GLANCE In mid-February 2021, Dr. Andrew Hill at Liverpool University published a scientific meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials involving the use of ivermectin. The review, funded by the World Health Organization and UNITAID, found the drug increased viral clearance and reduced COVID-19 deaths by 75%, yet the conclusion of the paper was dismissive In early April 2021, Hill was accused of scientific misconduct by the French civic group, Association BonSens. BonSens claims Hill manipulated data to downplay the usefulness of ivermectin. Hill admitted that the study sponsor had crafted the conclusion In early August 2021, Hill published a public notice stating one of the six studies included in his analysis had been withdrawn due to fraudulent data. A revised analysis excluding that study was published in November 2021 In the November revision, Hill included 23 randomized clinical trials, concluding ivermectin had no statistically significant effect on survival or hospitalizations Other meta-analyses of 13 to 24 studies have found reductions in death ranging from 62% to 91%. Recent research has also found a five-day course of ivermectin at a dose of 12 mg per day sped up viral clearance, reducing the duration of symptomatic illness by three days compared to placebo (9.7 days versus 12.7 days)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease Tel Aviv University (Israel) A new Tel Aviv University study reveals that hyperbaric oxygen treatments may ameliorate symptoms experienced by patients with Alzheimer's disease. "This revolutionary treatment for Alzheimer's disease uses a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which has been shown in the past to be extremely effective in treating wounds that were slow to heal," says Prof. Uri Ashery of TAU's Sagol School of Neuroscience and the Faculty of Life Sciences, who led the research for the study. "We have now shown for the first time that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can actually improve the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and correct behavioral deficits associated with the disease. (NEXT) Scientists discover that CoQ10 can program cancer cells to self-destruct A promising study shows that this nutrient causes cancer cells to self-destruct before they can multiply – giving rise to hopes that it can be utilized as an important integrative therapy for cancer patients.  Let's take a closer look at this wonderful scientific work. CoQ10 “reminds” cancer cells to die Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – which supports many indispensable biochemical reactions – is also called “ubiquinone.”  This is due to its ubiquitous nature – CoQ10 is found in nearly every human cell, with particularly high concentrations in the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. Researchers report that the out-of-control replication characteristic of cancer cells is a result of the cells' lost capacity to respond to programmed cell death, or apoptosis.  (NEXT) Study suggests hot flashes could be precursor to diabetes Analysis of Women's Health Initiative data demonstrates effect of severity and duration of hot flashes on risk of developing diabetes The North American Menopause Society Hot flashes, undoubtedly the most common symptom of menopause, are not just uncomfortable and inconvenient, but numerous studies demonstrate they may increase the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease. A new study suggests that hot flashes (especially when accompanied by night sweats) also may increase the risk of developing diabetes. Results are being published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). "This study showed that, after adjustment for obesity and race, women with more severe night sweats, with or without hot flashes, still had a higher risk of diabetes," says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. "Menopause is a perfect time to encourage behavior changes that reduce menopause symptoms, as well as the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Suggestions include getting regular exercise and adequate sleep, avoiding excess alcohol, stopping smoking, and eating a heart- healthy diet. For symptomatic women, hormone therapy started near menopause improves menopause symptoms and reduces the risk of diabetes." (NEXT) Garlic extract may help obese adults combat inflammation University of Florida Aged garlic extract may help obese people ward off painful inflammation and lower cholesterol levels, a new University of Florida study shows. In the UF/IFAS study, scientists divided 51 obese people who were otherwise healthy into two groups ? those who took the aged garlic extract for six weeks and those who took a placebo. Researchers encouraged participants to continue their regular diet and exercise routine during the experiment. Research showed the garlic extract helped regulate immune-cell distribution and reduced blood LDL ? or "bad" ? cholesterol in the obese adults. Aged garlic extract modified the secretion of inflammatory proteins from immune cells, Percival said. (NEXT) Having children can make women's telomeres seem 11 years older George Mason University A recent study by George Mason University researchers in the Department of Global and Community Health found that women who have given birth have shorter telomeres compared to women who have not given birth. Telomeres are the end caps of DNA on our chromosomes, which help in DNA replication and get shorter over time. The length of telomeres has been associated with morbidity and mortality previously, but this is the first study to examine links with having children. (NEXT) Scientists uncover why sauna bathing is good for your health UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND Over the past couple of years, scientists at the University of Eastern Finland have shown that sauna bathing is associated with a variety of health benefits. Using an experimental setting this time, the research group now investigated the physiological mechanisms through which the heat exposure of sauna may influence a person's health. Their latest study with 100 test subjects shows that taking a sauna bath of 30 minutes reduces blood pressure and increases vascular compliance, while also increasing heart rate similarly to medium-intensity exercise. (OTHER NEWS NEXT) Biden's Bounty on Your Life: Hospitals' Incentive Payments for COVID-19 By Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. and Ali Shultz, J.D. – ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. November 17, 2021 Upon admission to a once-trusted hospital, American patients with COVID-19 become virtual prisoners, subjected to a rigid treatment protocol with roots in Ezekiel Emanuel's “Complete Lives System” for rationing medical care in those over age 50. They have a shockingly high mortality rate. How and why is this happening, and what can be done about it? As exposed in audio recordings, hospital executives in Arizona admitted meeting several times a week to lower standards of care, with coordinated restrictions on visitation rights. Most COVID-19 patients' families are deliberately kept in the dark about what is really being done to their loved ones. The combination that enables this tragic and avoidable loss of hundreds of thousands of lives includes (1) The CARES Act, which provides hospitals with bonus incentive payments for all things related to COVID-19 (testing, diagnosing, admitting to hospital, use of remdesivir and ventilators, reporting COVID-19 deaths, and vaccinations) and (2) waivers of customary and long-standing patient rights by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In 2020, the Texas Hospital Association submitted requests for waivers to  CMS. According to Texas attorney Jerri Ward, “CMS has granted ‘waivers' of federal law regarding patient rights. Specifically, CMS purports to allow hospitals to violate the rights of patients or their surrogates with regard to medical record access, to have patient visitation, and to be free from seclusion.” She notes that “rights do not come from the hospital or CMS and cannot be waived, as that is the antithesis of a ‘right.' The purported waivers are meant to isolate and gain total control over the patient and to deny patient and patient's decision-maker the ability to exercise informed consent.” Creating a “National Pandemic Emergency” provided justification for such sweeping actions that override individual physician medical decision-making and patients' rights. The CARES Act provides incentives for hospitals to use treatments dictated solely by the federal government under the auspices of the NIH. These “bounties” must paid back if not “earned” by making the COVID-19 diagnosis and following the COVID-19 protocol. The hospital payments include: A “free” required PCR test in the Emergency Room or upon admission for every patient, with government-paid fee to hospital. Added bonus payment for each positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Another bonus for a COVID-19 admission to the hospital. A 20 percent “boost” bonus payment from Medicare on the entire hospital bill for use of remdesivir instead of medicines such as Ivermectin. Another and larger bonus payment to the hospital if a COVID-19 patient is mechanically ventilated. More money to the hospital if cause of death is listed as COVID-19, even if patient did not die directly of COVID-19. A COVID-19 diagnosis also provides extra payments to coroners.

A balance between agriculture and emissions can be found by managing the water table level of peat soils Agriculture is one of the greenhouse gas emission sources in Finland. Managing the water table level of peat soil fields may be one solution to control the emissions. Doctoral Researcher Zheng Yu from the University of Eastern Finland and Researcher Saara Lind from the Natural Resources Institute Finland tell us about the field experiments. You can find the full story on our university's website www.uef.fi!

Lizeth Veliz Rojas, PhD, MPH, Dipl Environmental Education, RN Iira was born in Kuopio, Finland, and has been working as a nurse since 2013. She received her Bachelors of Health Sciences in 2018 University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio and completed her Masters in Health Sciences degree there in 2019; her thesis was entitled “Finnish […]

Lizeth Veliz Rojas, PhD, MPH, Dipl Environmental Education, RN Iira was born in Kuopio, Finland, and has been working as a nurse since 2013. She received her Bachelors of Health Sciences in 2018 University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio and completed her Masters in Health Sciences degree there in 2019; her thesis was entitled “Finnish […]

Iira Tita, Registered Nurse, MHSc, BHSc  Iira was born in Kuopio, Finland, and has been working as a nurse since 2013. She received her Bachelors of Health Sciences in 2018 University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio and completed her Masters in Health Sciences degree there in 2019; her thesis was entitled “Finnish registered nurses' observations […]

Iira Tita, Registered Nurse, MHSc, BHSc  Iira was born in Kuopio, Finland, and has been working as a nurse since 2013. She received her Bachelors of Health Sciences in 2018 University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio and completed her Masters in Health Sciences degree there in 2019; her thesis was entitled “Finnish registered nurses' observations […]

In this podcast, Professors Kim Talus (Universities of Tulane, Eastern Finland and Helsinki), Dirk Buschle (Energy Community Secretariat, College of Europe), and Leigh Hancher (FSR, Tilburg University, and Baker Botts LLP) discuss the impact that the CJEU's recent recognition of energy solidarity as a justiciable principle of EU law will have on the future of EU energy law and policy.

This month on Episode 26 of Discover CircRes, host Cindy St. Hilaire highlights four original research articles featured in the June 25th and July 9th issues of Circulation Research. This episode also features an in-depth conversation with Dr Hirofumi Watanabe, Dr Ariel Gomez, and Dr Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez from the University of Virginia about their study, The Renin Cell Baroreceptor, A Nuclear Mechanotransducer Central for Homeostasis.   Article highlights:   Mesirca, et al. Electrical Remodeling of the AV Node in Athletes   Yang, et al. Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation in COVID-19 Heart   Örd, et al. Functional Fine-Mapping of CAD/MI GWAS Variants   Akhter, et al. EC-S1PR1 Activity Directs Vascular Repair     Cindy St. Hilaire:        Hi and welcome to Discover CircRes, the podcast of the American Heart Association's Journal, Circulation Research. I'm your host, Dr Cindy St. Hilaire from the Vascular Medicine Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, and today I'll be highlighting the articles presented in our June 25th and July 9th issues of Circulation Research. I'm also going to speak with Dr Hirofumi Watanabe, Dr Ariel Gomez and Dr Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez from the University of Virginia about their study, The Renin Cell Baroreceptor, A Nuclear Mechanotransducer Central for Homeostasis. Cindy St. Hilaire:        The first article I want to share comes from the June 25th issue of Circ Res and is titled Intrinsic Electrical Remodeling Underlies Atrial Ventricular Block in Athletes. The first authors are Pietro Mesirca, Shu Nakao, Sarah Dalgas Nissen, and the corresponding author is Alicia D'Souza. And they're from the University of Manchester in the UK. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Endurance training has cardiovascular benefits, but when taken to extremes, it can elicit heart problems such as atrial ventricular block or AV block. AV block is the impaired conduction through the AV node. In fact, some endurance athletes require pacemakers later in life due to AV block. One hypothesis for this conundrum is that the problem stems from disruptions in the autonomic nervous system. This study shows that in fact, the intrinsic electrophysiology of the heart is to blame. They used trained race horses, as well as mice, subjected to endurance swimming as models for human endurance athletes. Electrocardiograms on the animals showed that just like human athletes, the race horses and the swim-trained mice exhibited signs of AV node dysfunction that is not seen in sedentary controls. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Because the dysfunction also persisted when the autonomic nervous system was blocked, the team examined molecular changes within the heart itself. They found that ion channels, HCN4 and Cav1.2, were less abundant in the AV nodes of trained animals than those of the controls. The team went on to identify two microRNAs regulating HCN4 and Cav1.2 production and showed that suppression of these microRNAs restored normal heart electrophysiology in the mice. If the result holds true for humans, this could pave the way for novel treatments for AV block. Cindy St. Hilaire:        The second article I want to share is titled An Immuno-Cardiac Model for Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation in COVID-19 Hearts. The first authors are Liuliu Yang, Yuling Han, Fabrice Jafre, Benjamin Nilson-Payant and Yaron Bram. And the corresponding author is Shuibing Chen. And they're from Cornell University Medical Center. Cindy St. Hilaire:        COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease, but cardiac complications are common and appear to be linked with worsening outcomes. Post-mortem examinations of COVID-19 patients' hearts have revealed abnormally high numbers of macrophages, suggesting that these cells have a role in the heart pathology. To investigate this possibility, this group co-cultured macrophages and cardiomyocytes, both which were derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells and infected the cultures with SARS-CoV-2 virus. Upon infection, both cell types increased their rates of apoptosis. However, the number of cardiomyocytes succumbing to the cell death process was far higher than that of macrophages. When cardiomyocytes were infected with the virus in the absence of macrophages, their rate of apoptosis dropped. Cindy St. Hilaire:        The team showed that macrophages produced large amounts of the inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNF, in response to the virus and that trading the cardiomyocytes directly with the cytokines could similarly induce apoptosis. Blocking IL-6 and TNF alpha signaling prevented the macrophage-driven cardiomyocyte death. The team then identified two FDA approved drugs, ranolazine and tofacitinib, that prevented the virus-induced cardiomyocyte death in vitro and suggest that these drugs now be investigated in larger animal models. Cindy St. Hilaire:        The next article I want to share is titled Single-Cell Epigenomics and Functional Fine-Mapping of Atherosclerosis GWAS Loci. The first author is Tiit Ord, and the corresponding author is Minna Kaikkonen, from the University of Eastern Finland. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Genome-wide association studies, or GWAS studies, have identified hundreds of genetic loci associated with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. And many of these genes likely play a role in atherosclerotic development. However, most of these loci are located in non-coding intergenic regions of the genome. Thus, their functional effects on atherosclerosis development are not clear. Non-coding regions of the genome may contain gene regulatory elements, including cell type specific enhancers. And because such enhancer elements often have open chromatin structures, this team profiled the chromatin accessibility of single cells in human atherosclerotic plaques. Cindy St. Hilaire:        They found that many cell type-specific assessable regions overlapped with both transcription factor binding motifs, as well as GWAS-identified coronary artery disease loci. Using an algorithm called Cicero, the team was able to predict likely genes under the control of these accessible intergenic regions. They found that in more than 30 cases, they were able to confirm these intergenic regions control gene expression in in vitro assays. This work highlights the power of chromatin accessibility mapping for homing in on GWAS loci with transcriptional effects, and for identifying the likely genes they regulate. Cindy St. Hilaire:        The last article I want to share is titled Programming to S1PR1+ Endothelial Cells Promote Restoration of Vascular Integrity. The first author is Mohammed Zahid Akhter, and the corresponding author is Dolly Mehta, and they're from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Endothelial cells line the lumen of our blood vessels, forming a barrier that regulates the transport of nutrients, fluids and circulating cells to and from tissues. The lipid signaling molecule, sphingosine-1-phosphate, or S1P, and its receptor, S1PR1, promote endothelial barrier integrity. But how S1P and S1PR1 signaling might restore barrier function to inflammation-induced leaky vessels is unclear. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Using mice with fluorescently tagged S1PR1, this group showed that when mice are given a dose of the bacterial endotoxin, LPS, which induces lung inflammation, there's a dramatic boost in the proportion of growing lung endothelial cells. This boost in S1PR1+ endothelial cells is due to their increase in proliferation. Cindy St. Hilaire:        The authors go on to show that this proliferation is accompanied by increased production of the transcription factors involved in S1P synthesis and secretion. When they transplanted S1PR1+ cells into mice whose endothelial cells lacked the receptor, they could rescue the leaky blood vessels. By detailing the cells and molecular players responsible for vessel recovery after inflammation, this work may inform repair boosting therapies for chronic inflammatory conditions. Cindy St. Hilaire:        So today with me, I have Dr Hirofumi Watanabe, Dr Ariel Gomez and Dr Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez, from the University of Virginia. And they are all with me to discuss their study, The Renin Cell Baroreceptor, a Nuclear Mechanotransducer Central for Homeostasis. And this article is in our July 9th issue of Circulation Research. So thank you all for joining me today. I think we're spanning 13 time zones, so I appreciate you all making the effort. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  It's our pleasure. Thank you. Ariel Gomez:               Thank you. Hirofumi Watanabe:   Thank you. Cindy St. Hilaire:        I won't lie, the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System is quite complex, so we're not going to try to break it all down here, but it is essential for the regulation of fluid balance and blood pressure in the body. Without it, things go quite awry. And your study is focusing on the kidney cell that produces renin in response to the minute changes in the blood pressure and the composition and the volume of the extracellular fluid in the body. So I'm wondering if, before we jump into the study, if you can give us a bit of background about these renin-producing cells and what is known about the renal pressure sensing system? Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  So in the adult mammalian kidney, renin cells are located at the tip of the afferent arterioles at the entrance to the glomeruli. So that's why they are called juxtaglomerular cells. They synthesize and release renin. This is then, as you mentioned, the rate-limiting enzyme for the renin-angiotensin system that controls blood pressure and fluid-electrolyte homeostasis. However, during early embryonic development, as demonstrated many years ago, renin cells are widely distributed along the renal arterial tree and inside the glomerulus and the interstitium. And with maturation they differentiated to vascular smooth muscle cells and they end up being located in the juxtaglomerular area. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  But in response to a homeostatic challenge, such as hypertension, dehydration, hemorrhage, there is an increase in the number of renin-expressing cells along the renal arterial tree, resembling the embryonic counter. And this occurs mostly by re-expression of renin from vascular smooth muscle cells that descended from originally renin-expressing cells. And when the challenge passes, then they stop expressing renin and become vascular smooth muscle cells again. So renin cells are extremely plastic and they can switch back and forth from an endocrine to a contractile phenotype.   Cindy St. Hilaire:        I'm really glad you mentioned the vascular smooth muscle cell angle because I actually have a question about that later on. But before I get to that question, one of the things that I love reading in studies is when a current paper references much older work that often has a really intricate or insightful observation. And in your paper you cited, I believe it was in 1957, was the first real hypothesis that there is an existence of this pressure sensing mechanism in the kidney, what we're calling this baroreceptor. Yet, that was a long time ago and the identity has really been elusive. So I was wondering why has it just been so difficult to really pin down this baroreceptor and how this pressure and fluid sensing works in these cells? Ariel Gomez:               So it was elusive, as you said. The reason is the researchers didn't have the tools to actually study it. It really requires an evolution, conceptual evolution, and scientific evolution, as well as technical development. And so we were fortunate over time, over the years. We developed ways to mark the cells endogenously with the appropriate fluorescent markers, genetically engineer, then develop models that allowed to drop the blood pressure in a consistent manner, and so forth. And we could follow the lineage of these cells and study them as they move back and forth from their phenotypes. So I think it was a matter of even Dr Tovian, who is the person that you mentioned, Lou Tovian, who I actually met a long time ago. So he even postulated that maybe it was a stretch mechanism, and that's one of the great contributions of Hirofumi who figure out how to stretch the cells using different ways of doing that. Cindy St. Hilaire:        So in your quest to identify this baroreceptor, you use several murine models. A surgical tool, but also several genetic tools. And I was wondering if you could share a little bit about that initial surgical model, that aortic constriction and maybe the pros and cons about that method? Hirofumi Watanabe:   And so we established surgical model of in mice. We created inductation between the roots of the right and left renal arteries. By the surgery, and our right kidney receives high pathogen pressure, and the left kidney receives low pathogen pressure. And this surgery model resulted in a marked difference in the expression of renin in each kidney. And by RT2 PCR and in situ hybridization, renin was decreased in the right kidneys and increased in the left kidneys. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Excellent. So it's a really powerful model because you can use the same mouse to look at the same... Ariel Gomez:               Right. So the beauty of that is that, Hirofumi, by doing that, he got rid of any genetic variation between the mice. Because you are doing the high and low pressure in the same mouse. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  And another question I can think that we have said was when, if you calculate the number of cells that increase in one kidney and decreases in the other one, if you add them, it ends up being the number of cells in a non-aortic coarctation mouse. So it looks like- Cindy St. Hilaire:         It's a literal seesaw. That's beautiful. At least the math works out in your favor in the end. That's great. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  And that's something that Luis Tovian didn't see, because what he did is he increased the perfusion pressure in an isolated kidney and what he observed was less granulation. So it was an indirect method to find less renin in those kidneys. But with a low pressure, he didn't observe an increase in renin, or increase in granulation. What we know that really happens. Cindy St. Hilaire:        So you mentioned smooth muscle cells in the beginning of our discussion and my training has been in smooth muscle cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, mostly though focused on the aorta, especially in mice. A lot of times we just say smooth muscle cells, but people are really talking about the aortic smooth muscle cells in the mice. And in humans, in the coronaries. But we use the mouse aortic smooth muscle cells as the model, which you can obviously see when you frame it out like that, some issues. And one of the things we talk about at least in athero is the cell plasticity and this phenotype switching from the contractile quiescent state to one that's associated with disease processes. Cindy St. Hilaire:        And we've really evolved on what we've known about that. It used to be just about the migration and proliferation. Now it's about the actual phenotypic switching into different kinds of cells. Macrophage-like cells, for one. And yours really was the first to bring to my eyes that there's probably many more regarding that. So could you maybe expand a little bit on these renal smooth muscle cells or renin-like cells maybe, and what's happening in that disease process? And do we know the point at which it can switch and make renin and go back versus switches and doesn't return? Is that part of the disease process? Ariel Gomez:               We describe the plasticity of the smooth muscle cells from the renal arterioles long time ago. I mean, I think, I would say that even at the beginning of my career. And at that time people didn't use that term so much, plasticity. We didn't know how to call it because it was a switch back and forth from a smooth muscle contractile phenotype to endocrine without, at the moment, without causing disease. And the cells were able to come back to be smooth muscle cells. But the period of the stimulation was only a week or so. So during that time, the cells can go back and forth. And now we know that they do that. But if you create a persistent stimulation, and this is another paper that we are working with Hirofumi and Maria Luisa, if you create a knockout renin or knockout of angiotensin receptors or so forth, the stimulation doesn't stop because there is no angiotensin. Ariel Gomez:               And so under those conditions, the cells reach a point in which they become very aggressive, almost embryonic-like. They are constantly stimulated. They are attempting to reestablish the phenotype and in doing so, they create these concentric vascular hypertrophy. And I don't know whether we are going to send the paper to Circulation Research or to where, but we are still writing it. After that, we don't know whether they can come back because they are so seriously sick. And we know that they are responsible for this, but this is another paper. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  Another thing that I wanted to add is that these cells have been extremely difficult to study. Ariel has been developing many, many tools that allow him to dissect them and cover many secrets of the cells. But if you... First because they are very, very few in the kidney. And there were no markers to isolate them. And if you put them in culture, now that we can have them live with a person marker, they stop expressing renin and making renin within 24-48 hours. So it's difficult to study. So that's why Hirofumi [inaudible 00:19:21] how the system works. Stimulating them with cyclic AMP, they go back like renin. If not, they differentiate into vascular smooth muscle cells. It looks like that's their default pathway. So they need to sense that there is a need for renin to increase the blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis. So that's one of the characteristics of the cells. But if you stimulate constantly, as Ariel said, then they may be hard to… They cannot come back. Cindy St. Hilaire:        It's over the tipping point a bit. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  Yes. Cindy St. Hilaire:        In your discussion you mentioned another study from your group that kind of took more of a developmental angle. And you mentioned that you had identified unique chromatin structures of renin-producing cells, and you also identified what are called super enhancers that help dictate the differentiation of these running progenitor cells into renin producing cells. And then in your mechanical stimuli experiments, you mentioned identifying similar chromatin signatures. And I was wondering what this might suggest in regards to the disease pathogenesis. And I guess I'm thinking about it in terms of in many diseased states, we see this activation of developmental programs that either are not stopped or just go on and are even higher expressed than in developmental programs. And is that you think is happening in these renin cells? A developmental program gone awry? Ariel Gomez:               Yeah, definitely. I definitely think so. I think we all, the three of us think that way. Yeah. I think it's an exaggeration of a developmental program. One thing that we didn't mention and why the vessels get so sick is because during development, these cells contribute to the formation of the vasculature. And so when they regress so much trying to make renin... And they make it. I mean, they go from 20,000 units to 2 million of renin, right? And they never stop. But when they regress so much, they regressed on embryonic stage and they think that they need to make more blood vessels to actually increase the flow and the oxygenation of the tissue. But in doing so, they create more pathology. So maybe, Hirofumi, I don't know if you're going to ask him, but one of those super enhancers is the Lamin A/C gene. And he has studied that in this Circulation Research paper that we are talking about. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  I just wanted to add that they also make lots of angiogenic factors to make the vessels. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Got it. So developmentally, they're activating more production of renin but they're also producing these pro angiogenic cytokines and really driving that… Ariel Gomez:               BGF. They produce a type of BGF or angiopoietins. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Interesting. Ariel Gomez:               Yeah. And things like that. Cindy St. Hilaire:        I really liked reading about this magnetic bead experiment that you used as the mechanical stimuli. Frankly, I saw the picture and I brought it to my lab and said, "Guys, figure out how to do this." Can you explain a little bit about it? It seemed really nice, really elegant and very tuneable. So I'm excited. I'm sure many more people are excited to hear about it. Hirofumi Watanabe:   So we applied coated magnetic beads to the cultured ring cells. Then we placed a magnet above the cells so we can pull the cells by magnetic force. Cindy St. Hilaire:        How strong is the magnet that it doesn't just rip everything up? Hirofumi Watanabe:   Yeah. We cannot observe the shapes of the cells, but yeah, I hope it's just stretch. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Yeah. Well, it certainly elicited an effect. So, in terms of future translational potential, what do you think about these findings that suggest either potential future therapies or even targets that we can use to develop therapies? Is there a future therapeutic angle to these really interesting biomechanical findings? Ariel Gomez:               Discovering or knowing the structure of these pressure sensing mechanism, I think we'll eventually have many applications because it will be applicable to hypertension, of course. And maybe we can begin to think... Not yet because it's really a fundamental discovery, it's not yet at that stage. But eventually the information can be used to start thinking about treatments that are addressing those particular structures that are involved from the beta one, integrating all the way to the nucleus. And little by little people started developing epigenetic therapies, right? And we are testing some of these compounds in our lower authority. Not with this model, with other models. But I think eventually we will be able to do what was the dream. It was really a dream years ago, was to do molecular therapy, right? And so a small compound development will play an important role. And eventually driving the molecules to the exact place in the genome is... So it would be not only patient-oriented, personalized medicine, but local specific. That should be the goal of medicine in the future. I won't be there when we get there. Cindy St. Hilaire:        I don't know. CRISPR is moving things rather fast, so that's great. Ariel Gomez:               Oh, yeah. You're right. You're right. You're right about that. Okay. Cindy St. Hilaire:        So what's next in this project? What do you think is the next low hanging fruit? Now that you've identified this baroreceptor or maybe a component of a larger baroreceptor family, what do you think is the next most important question? Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  We want to know what is in-between. And the bigger one integrating and the Lamin A/C. And also, we want to see how fast this reacts. So we'll be doing experiments with the constriction for just a few hours, and harvest both kidneys and we will try to do single cell RNA-seq and a from those vials. Hirofumi Watanabe:   I think we want to study how Lamin A/C regulates renin expression in renin cells, so chromatic modification initiated by changes in particle pressure more. Ariel Gomez:               And I think the... What I've been now pushing a little bit is to remember that there is another cell in there that is in between the pressure and the JG cells. And that is the endothelium cell. Right? And so, they are communicating with one another. So we are going to engage some... In fact, it's already happening. A member of the lab is already working with the same model that Hirofumi used, looking at endothelial cells label also using aninterfering promoter linked to a fluorescent protein. So we want to know what happens to the endothelial cells, because they are receiving the brunt of the pressure. And we don't know how they sense. We described the mechanosensing capability of the JG cells, the renin cells, but the whole system is probably a lot more complex than what we think. Cindy St. Hilaire:        I think that's the lesson of renin angiotensin signaling. It's always more complex. Ariel Gomez:               Yeah. Exactly. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Well, thank you all so much for joining me today. This is a beautiful study, very elegant. And I liked the new kind of in vitro models with this bead system. And congratulations on a whole lot of work. The amount of mice was probably a lot. I look forward to your future studies and learning what's happening at this endothelial renin cell junction. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  Thank you. And we feel honored that you chose us. Ariel Gomez:               Yeah. Well, so I want to thank you for interviewing us. But I want to say that Hirofumi spent three years in the lab and he did a magnificent amount of work. Cindy St. Hilaire:        Wow. Yeah. I would have guessed a lot longer. Ariel Gomez:               Yeah. So he did a lot of work. And I'm very, very proud of what he has accomplished. Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez:  Yes. And I would like to add also that we were very lucky to have an expert in integrins, Dr DeSimone, who is the chair of Cell Biology at UVA and when we went and told him that we thought that this could be part of a mechanism sensing receptor, he started collaborating with us and opened his lab for us and trained Hirofumi with some experiments. It was really highly collaborative. Cindy St. Hilaire:        That's it for the highlights from our June 25th and July 19th issues of Circulation Research. Thank you for listening. Please check out the CircRes Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram with the handle @CircRes and #DiscoverCircRes. Thank you to our guests, Dr Hirofumi Watanabe, Dr Ariel Gomez, and Dr Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez. Cindy St. Hilaire:        This podcast was produced by Ashara Ratnayaka, edited by Melissa Stoner, and supported by the editorial team of Circulation Research. Some of the copy text for the highlighted articles was provided by Ruth Williams. I'm your host, Dr Cindy St. Hilaire, and this is Discover CircRes, your on-the-go source for the most exciting discoveries in basic cardiovascular research. This program is copyright of the American Heart Association, 2021. The opinions expressed by speakers in this podcast are their own and not necessarily those of the editors of the American Heart Association. For more information, please visit ahajournals.org.  

In today's very special episode we had an interview with Drs. Pauli Rintala (University of Jyväskylä) and Kwok Ng (University of Eastern Finland and University of Limerick) about the International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) and the field of adapted physical activity (APA) at an international level. Follow Dr. Kwok Ng @kwokwng. Also follow @ISAPA2021 and @ifapanet for updates about IFAPA and the upcoming ISAPA conference. Discussed in this podcast is the ISAPA, which acts under IFAPA, which will be held online, and will be from June 15th through 18th. This year’s theme is Quality Partnerships in Adapted Physical Activity: Stronger Together. The goal for ISAPA is to bring international researchers together to share their research in hopes of learning about what is going on in other countries. This podcast covers IFAPA and ISAPA, the international perspectives gained from attending ISAPA, how this years ISAPA will be unique, and changes in ISAPA overtime. For more information on IFAPA, you can visit their website at: http://ifapa.net. If you are interested in the 2021 ISAPA, check out their website at: https://www.jyu.fi/en/congress/isapa2021

Compound found in some vegetables may reduce diabetes-related kidney damage Phenethyl isothiocyanate, derived from watercress and other cruciferous vegetables, shows benefits Al-Maarefa University (Saudi Arabia), April 27, 2021 New research conducted in rats suggests a compound that gives some cruciferous vegetables their pungent taste could help to reverse kidney problems associated with diabetes.  It is estimated that about one-quarter of people with diabetes will eventually develop diabetic nephropathy, a gradual loss of kidney function eventually requiring dialysis. The condition is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease in the U.S. and is also associated with a high risk of heart disease. There is currently no cure.  For the new study, researchers assessed the effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in rats with diabetic nephropathy. PEITC is found in several types of vegetables but is most concentrated in watercress.  "Our study provides, for the first time, evidence that PEITC might be effective as a naturally occurring agent to reverse serious kidney damage in people with diabetes," said lead study author Mohamed El-Sherbiny, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at AlMaarefa University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "Our study introduces mechanistic evidence of how PEITC might manage kidney injury associated with diabetes by targeting multiple interconnected pathways involved in diabetic nephropathy, including inflammation, glycation and oxidative status." El-Sherbiny will present the research at the American Association for Anatomy annual meeting during the Experimental Biology (EB) 2021 meeting, held virtually April 27-30.  Previous studies have suggested sulforaphane, a related compound in cruciferous vegetables, also helps reduce diabetes-associated kidney damage. The new study bolsters the evidence that eating more vegetables containing these compounds could help people with diabetes to stave off kidney problems.  "PEITC seems to manage one of the most serious and painful diabetic complications. Luckily, PEITC is naturally present in many dietary sources, importantly watercress, broccoli, turnips and radish," said El-Sherbiny.  Since the research was conducted in animal models, further studies will be needed to confirm the findings and understand how the results could translate to new treatments or dietary recommendations for people with diabetes.   Eating probiotic foods helps improve bone health in women Kyung Hee University (South Korea), April 23, 2021 A recent study by researchers at Kyung Hee University (KHU) in South Korea presents a good example of how powerful probiotics are and how they can be used for medicinal purposes. The researchers examined the effects of probiotics on vaginosis caused by the bacterium, Gardnerella vaginalis, and osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy. They reported that probiotics, specifically, anti-inflammatory bacteria isolated from kimchi, caused significant improvements in female mice with the above-mentioned conditions. The researchers discussed their findings in an in an article published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. Probiotics from fermented food offer substantial benefits for women Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a type of inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacterialike G. vaginalis, which naturally reside in the vagina. Normally, good bacteria outnumber bad bacteria and keep them in check; but certain activities, such as frequent douching or unprotected sex, can disrupt the microbial balance in the vagina and promote the growth of bad bacteria. Osteoporosis, also called “porous bone,” is a disease characterized by either the loss of too much bone in the body, a decreased formation of bone, or both. These events cause the bones to become weak and more likely to break from a fall, a minor bump or even from sneezing. According to statistics, osteoporosis is more common in women, with one in three over the age of 50 experiencing bone fractures because of it, while only one in five men experience the same. Genetics and age can play a part in osteoporosis development, along with low calcium intake, thyroid problems, inflammatory conditions and the use of corticosteroid medications. In their study, the team from KHU noted that the excessive expression of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), a signaling protein (cytokine) secreted by inflammatory cells, is known to aggravate BV and osteoporosis. To determine if probiotics can influence the expression of TNF-a and alleviate these conditions, they isolated anti-inflammatory Lactobacillus plantarum NK3 and Bifidobacterium longum NK49 from kimchi as well as from human fecal samples. They then tested the effects of these good bacteria in female mice with BV and osteoporosis. The researchers reported that oral gavage of NK3 alone or in combination with NK49 significantly alleviated GV-induced vaginosis and decreased GV population in the vagina. The probiotics also inhibited the activation of NF-kB, a transcription factor that increases the production of inflammatory cytokines, and TNF-a expression in the vagina and uterus of the female mice. The researchers also found that treatment with NK3 alone or in combination with NK49 alleviated ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis and obesity. Moreover, it increased blood calcium, phosphorus and osteocalcin levels, as well as suppressed weight gain. NK3 and/or NK49 treatment also reduced TNF-a expression and NF-kB activation in the colon and restored optimal gut microbiota composition. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the probiotics present in fermented foods like kimchi can alleviate BV and osteoporosis by reducing inflammation and regulating gut microbial composition.     Chronic stress may reduce lifespan in wild baboons, according to new multi-decadal study Duke University, April 21, 2021 Female baboons may not have bills to pay or deadlines to meet, but their lives are extremely challenging. They face food and water scarcity and must be constantly attuned to predators, illnesses and parasites, all while raising infants and maintaining their social status. A new study appearing April 21 in Science Advances shows that female baboons with high life-long levels of glucocorticoids, the hormones involved in the 'fight or flight' response, have a greater risk of dying than those with lower levels. Glucocorticoids are a group of hormones that help prepare the body for a challenge. While these hormones have many functions in the body, persistently high levels of glucocorticoids in the bloodstream can be a marker of stress. To understand the relationship between stress responses and survival, scientists studied 242 female baboons in Amboseli National Park, in Kenya. For more than 20 years, they measured glucocorticoid levels in the baboons' feces, a task that drew upon one of the world's largest collections of data from a wild primate population. Females with higher levels of glucocorticoids in their feces, either due to more frequent exposure to different types of challenges, or more intense stress responses, tended to die younger. The researchers then used these real values of hormone levels and risk of death to simulate a comparison between females that lived at opposite ends of the stress spectrum. The model showed that a hypothetical female whose glucocorticoid levels were kept very elevated would die 5.4 years sooner than a female whose glucocorticoid levels were kept very low. If they reach adulthood, female baboons have an expected lifespan of about 19 years, so 5.4-years represents a 25% shorter life. Five years more life can also represent enough time to raise one or two more infants. The team's simulations represent extreme values that are unlikely to be maintained throughout the females' lives, said Fernando Campos, an assistant professor at the University of Texas San Antonio and lead author of the study. Nonetheless, the link between exposure to stress-associated hormones and survival is clear. "Whether it's due to your environment or your genes or something that we are not measuring, having more glucocorticoids shortens your life," said Susan Alberts, a professor of biology and chair of evolutionary anthropology at Duke and senior author on the paper. The variation in glucocorticoid levels observed by Campos, Alberts, and their team shows that some females have it worse than others. Glucocorticoid levels may vary due to environmental factors, such as growing up in very hot and dry years, social factors, such as living in an unusually small or large group, and individual differences, such as being pregnant more often. "Those are the things we know about," said Alberts, "there's a whole bunch of horrible things that happen to animals that we just can't measure." "Whatever is exposing you to the glucocorticoids is going to shorten your life," Alberts said. "The more hits you get, the worse your outcome." Glucocorticoids play all sorts of vital roles in our bodies. They regulate our immunity, help our bodies access energy from sugars and fats, and modulate metabolic reactions to prepare the body for a challenge. But being constantly prepared for a challenge has high costs: maintenance processes get shut down, and fight or flight processes stay active for longer. Over time, these effects accumulate. "This chronic activation of the stress response leads to a caustic downstream physiological environment of not enough immune system, and not enough attention to maintenance," said Alberts. Associations between stress and survival are extremely difficult to test in a natural scenario. They require very frequent data collection for a very long period of time, in this case through the Amboseli Baboon Research Project, which was launched in 1971. Amboseli females are followed daily from birth to death, their activity is monitored, big events in their lives are recorded, and their feces are periodically collected. "In my lab we have one of the largest collections of primate behavioral data in the world," said Alberts, "and also one of the biggest primate poop collections." More than 14,000 fecal samples were used in this study. Poop is a very valuable, if slightly smelly, repository of information. By measuring hormone levels in feces rather than in blood or saliva, researchers avoid handling and stressing the animals, which could influence hormone levels. "People have long hypothesized that glucocorticoids play a role in how long you live," said Campos, "but to our knowledge this is the first direct evidence that chronic exposure to glucocorticoids strongly predicts survival in wild primates."   Smoking cannabis significantly impairs vision, study finds Smoking cannabis significantly impairs vision but many users are unaware of it University of Granada (Spain), April 15, 2021 A study carried out by the University of Granada indicates that smoking cannabis significantly alters key visual functions, such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, three-dimensional vision (stereopsis), the ability to focus, and glare sensitivity Yet, more than 90% of users believe that using cannabis has no effect on their vision, or only a slight effect A group of researchers from the Department of Optics of the University of Granada (UGR) has studied the effects of smoking cannabis on various visual parameters compared to the effect that the users themselves perceive the drug to have on their vision. This study, led by Carolina Ortiz Herrera and Rosario González Anera, has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Its main author, Sonia Ortiz Peregrina, explains that cannabis use is on the rise despite being an illegal drug. According to the national Survey on Alcohol, Drugs and Other Addictions in Spain 2019-2020, cannabis use nationally has increased since 2011, with 37% of Spanish adults having used this drug at some time. Approximately 10% consumed it in the last year.  In this study, which had the approval of the Human Research Ethics Committee of the UGR (ref. 921/CCEIH/2019), an exhaustive visual trial was conducted on 31 cannabis users, both when they had not consumed any substance in advance and also when they were under the effect of the drug. The researchers also studied the participants' perception of the visual effects of having consumed this drug. The results showed that, following consumption, visual aspects such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, three-dimensional vision (stereopsis), the ability to focus, and glare sensitivity significantly worsened. Despite this, not all subjects reported a worsening of their vision after smoking cannabis. Indeed, 30% reported that their vision had not suffered at all, while 65% responded that it had worsened only slightly. The authors note that the visual parameter that could be most strongly linked to users' perception of the visual effect is contrast sensitivity. The study found a negative effect on all of the visual parameters evaluated, with the effect of cannabis on some of the parameters being analysed for the first time in this research. These results, together with the lack of awareness that the participants presented about the visual impairment caused by smoking cannabis, indicate the need to carry out awareness-raising campaigns, as this visual deterioration can pose a danger when performing everyday tasks.   Poor iodine levels in pregnancy poses risks to fetal intellectual development   University of South Australia, April 23, 2021 A growing number of young Australian women are at increased risk of having children born with impaired neurological conditions, due to poor iodine intake. Dietary changes, including a growing trend towards the avoidance of bread and iodised salt, as well as a reduced intake of animal products containing iodine can contribute to low iodine levels. A small pilot study undertaken by the University of South Australia (UniSA) comparing iodine levels between 31 vegan/plant-based participants and 26 omnivores has flagged the potential health risk. Urine samples showed iodine readings of 44 ug/L in the plant-based group, compared to the meat eaters' 64 ug/L level. Neither group came close to the World Health Organization's recommended 100 grams per liter. Participants from both groups who chose pink or Himalayan salt instead of iodised salt had severely deficient iodine levels, averaging 23 ug/L. The findings have been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. While the study was undertaken in South Australia, it builds evidence on a 2017 US study (1) that found nearly two billion people worldwide were iodine deficient, resulting in 50 million experiencing clinical side effects. UniSA research dietitian Jane Whitbread says adequate iodine is essential for fetal intellectual development. "Mild to moderate iodine deficiency has been shown to affect language development, memory and mental processing speeds," Ms Whitbread says. "During pregnancy, the need for iodine is increased and a 150mcg supplement is recommended prior to conception and throughout pregnancy. Unfortunately, most women do not take iodine supplements before conceiving. It is important to consume adequate iodine, especially during the reproductive years." Dietary sources of iodine include fortified bread, iodized salt, seafoods including seaweeds, eggs, and dairy foods. Concerns about the link between poor iodine status and impaired neurological conditions in newborns prompted the mandatory fortification of non-organic bread with iodised salt in 2009 in Australia. It has since been reported that women who consume 100g of iodine-fortified bread every day (approximately three pieces) have five times greater chance of meeting their iodine intake compared to women who don't consume that much. The average amount of bread consumed by women in this study was one piece of bread. The growing preference of Himalayan salt over iodized table salt may also be problematic, Ms Whitbread says. A quarter of women in the study reported using the pink salt which contains an insignificant level of iodine. Another issue is that plant-based milks have low levels of iodine and are not currently fortified with this nutrient. Neither group met the estimated average requirement (EAR) for calcium. The vegan/plant-based group also did not reach the recommended levels for selenium and B12 without supplementation, but their dietary intake of iron, magnesium, vitamin C, folate and fibre was higher than the meat eaters. This reflects the inclusion of iron-rich soy products, wholemeal foods, legumes, and green leafy vegetables in their diet. The researchers recommended that both new salts and plant milks be fortified with iodine as well as a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of iodine in the diet, especially for women in their reproductive years. They also called for a larger study sample to determine iodine status of Australian women.   Taking vitamin D could lower heart disease risk for people with dark skin Racial disparities in heart disease may be linked to vitamin D deficiency Penn State University, April 26, 2021 New research suggests a simple step could help millions of people reduce their risk of heart disease: make sure to get enough vitamin D. Elucidating linkages between skin pigmentation, vitamin D and indicators of cardiovascular health, the new study, combined with evidence from previous research, suggests vitamin D deficiency could contribute to the high rate of heart disease among African Americans.  "More darkly-pigmented individuals may be at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, particularly in areas of relatively low sun exposure or high seasonality of sun exposure," said S. Tony Wolf, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Pennsylvania State University and the study's lead author. "These findings may help to explain some of the differences that we see in the risk for developing blood vessel dysfunction, hypertension and overt cardiovascular disease between ethnic groups in the United States. Although there are many factors that contribute to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, vitamin D supplementation may provide a simple and cost-effective strategy to reduce those disparities." Wolf noted that the need for vitamin D supplementation depends on a variety of factors, including where you live, how much time you spend in the sun, your skin pigmentation and your age.  Wolf will present the research at the American Physiological Society annual meeting during the Experimental Biology (EB) 2021 meeting, held virtually April 27-30.  Melanin, which is more concentrated in darker skin, is known to inhibit the process our bodies use to make vitamin D in the presence of sunlight. As a result, darkly pigmented people may make less vitamin D, potentially leading to vitamin D deficiency. For the study, Wolf and colleagues measured skin pigmentation, vitamin D and the activity of nitric oxide in the small blood vessels beneath the skin in 18 heathy adults of varying skin tones. Nitric oxide is important for blood vessel function, and reduced nitric oxide availability is thought to predispose an individual to the development of hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Previous studies suggest vitamin D helps to promote nitric oxide availability.  Study participants with darker skin had lower levels of vitamin D and lower nitric oxide availability. In addition, the researchers found that lower levels of vitamin D were related to reduced nitric oxide-mediated blood vessel function. The results align with those of a separate study by the same research group, which found that vitamin D supplementation improved blood vitamin D levels and nitric oxide-mediated blood vessel function in otherwise healthy, young African American adults. "Vitamin D supplementation is a simple and safe strategy to ensure vitamin D sufficiency," said Wolf. "Our findings suggest that promoting adequate vitamin D status in young, otherwise healthy adults may improve nitric oxide availability and blood vessel function, and thereby serve as a prophylactic to reduce risk of future development of hypertension or cardiovascular disease."   Men's loneliness linked to an increased risk of cancer University of Eastern Finland, April 27, 2021 A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland shows that loneliness among middle-aged men is associated with an increased risk of cancer. According to the researchers, taking account of loneliness and social relationships should thus be an important part of comprehensive health care and disease prevention. The findings were published in Psychiatry Research. "It has been estimated, on the basis of studies carried out in recent years, that loneliness could be as significant a health risk as smoking or overweight. Our findings support the idea that attention should be paid to this issue," Project Researcher Siiri-Liisi Kraav from the University of Eastern Finland says.  The study was launched in the 1980s with 2,570 middle-aged men from eastern Finland participating. Their health and mortality have been monitored on the basis of register data up until present days. During the follow-up, 649 men, i.e. 25% of the participants, developed cancer, and 283 men (11%) died of cancer. Loneliness increased the risk of cancer by about ten per cent. This association with the risk of cancer was observed regardless of age, socio-economic status, lifestyle, sleep quality, depression symptoms, body mass index, heart disease and their risk factors. In addition, cancer mortality was higher in cancer patients who were unmarried, widowed or divorced at baseline.  "Awareness of the health effects of loneliness is constantly increasing. Therefore, it is important to examine, in more detail, the mechanisms by which loneliness causes adverse health effects. This information would enable us to better alleviate loneliness and the harm caused by it, as well as to find optimal ways to target preventive measures."     How exercise and the simple act of moving your body can improve mental health   University of Toronto, April 26, 2021 Whether running around a track or simply stretching in your living room, physical activity can go a long way toward making you happier. Catherine Sabiston, a professor in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, says the positive impact of exercise on mental health is well-documented. "There is uncontested evidence that physical activity is conducive to mental health," she says. For example, Sabiston co-authored a study in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology that adolescents who consistently participated in team sports during high school reported lower depression levels in early adulthood. A Canada Research Chair in physical activity and mental health, Sabiston directs a lab that studies the connections between physical activity and mental health, developing and evaluating interventions to promote physical activity and mental wellness among people who are at risk of inactivity and mental health problems. The lab also runs a six-week program called MoveU.HappyU that provides customized coaching and training aimed at reducing the stress and anxiety of students in the lab through physical movement. She recently spoke with U of T News about why it's important to stay active during the pandemic—and how to feel good doing it. How closely connected are physical activity and mental health? Symptoms of mental illness such as anxiety and depression can impede physical activity and vice versa. When you are experiencing symptoms, you may also encounter feelings of low self-worth and an inability to be motivated. It's very hard to find a type of physical activity that you can engage in when you lack interest in most things. Many of the symptoms tied to mental illness are also barriers to physical activity. On the flip side, there is uncontested evidence that physical activity is conducive to mental health. Physical activity prevents some forms of mental illness, and, for individuals who have been diagnosed with mental illness, physical activity can help reduce those symptoms and improve their quality of life. It holds its own weight in comparison to all other forms of treatment for mental illness, including psychotherapy and even medication. Physical activity is a potential adjunct to any other form of preventative or treatment-focused therapy. How exactly does exercise lift our mood? There are a number of mechanisms at play, including physical activity effects that are tied to our brain activity and brain chemistry. Physical activity increases our body temperature. When we are warmer, we are given the sense that we are comfortable and cared for. Also, from a historical perspective, we know that humans were naturally much more active in the past than we are now. So, physical activity brings us closer to that core level of movement that human bodies are meant to be. Moreover, physical activity can mimic mental health symptoms such as anxiety. When you exercise, you may sweat or feel your heart racing. That mimics the feeling of panic, so by engaging in exercise, you are producing a similar physical effect that can make you more accustomed to those symptoms. Exercise also provides you with an opportunity, whether for two minutes or 20, to break away from your usual routines or worries. This escape can help people better cope with their symptoms while experiencing a sense of purpose or accomplishment. In fact, feelings of mastery and accomplishment are also specific ways that physical activity impacts mental health. Small goals and activities inherent to physical activity offer plenty of opportunities for positive feedback, feeling successful and achieving, which helps stave off symptoms of mental illness. Finally, physical activity is something you can partake in outdoors, which has a potentiating effect on mental health. That allows you to see other people, even if you are not interacting with them, and feel a sense of connectedness. What are some ways people can stay active and motivated during the pandemic? We want to dispel the myth that physical activity is just running, biking and lifting weights. Physical activity can be any movement where your heart is increasing its work capacity and your body is moving. In "MoveU.HappyU," we coach students on day-to-day strategies for how to maintain a level of physical activity. Because the program is virtual now, we have trained students who are currently all over the world. Some students who had never spoken to their families about their mental health struggles are now actually having their whole families join in on the physical activities. The physical activity you are doing should be something that you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, you're not going to continue to do it. We also want people to engage in physical activity to improve function rather than appearance. It's important to uncouple the relationship between physical activity for weight and body-size reasons and move towards physical activity for enjoyment and fun reasons. If it's fun, you are more likely to do it, and more likely to do it leads to more benefits. Do you have any tips for people looking to boost physical activity at home? There are many ways you can innovate physical activity to make it more varied, even when you are stuck in the same place. The best part of physical activity is thinking about the endless possibilities of ways your body can move. If you are purposeful about it, physical activity can be integrated into your everyday routines: Set aside time as you would if you were going to the gym or commuting. Mark it in your calendar or set an alarm to give you an actual reminder. Use your phone or a pedometer to measure your step count. Having something that measures how many steps you're taking gives you a baseline: If you know you walked a certain number of steps on day one, you can add five additional steps on day two. That way you'll have a tangible goal for increasing movement. Consciously link items or places in your home to short bouts of movement. For example, if you use the toaster oven every morning, make a habit of doing squats while you're waiting for your bread. Or when you are wheeling from one room to another, add some extra distance. When you're outside, use aspects of your environment to change up your physical activity. You can change the intensity of your walking or wheeling, for instance, each time that you pass a lamppost or see a blue car. Make it fun to change up the intensity, type, and timing of your activities. Create movement challenges for yourself and your friends, family, colleagues, or students. Set goals for taking a certain number of steps or finishing a certain number of arm raises each day. Making physical activity more like a game is a proven strategy for increasing movement—and enjoying it.    

Anti-aging compound improves muscle glucose metabolism in people Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, April 25, 2021 A natural compound previously demonstrated to counteract aspects of aging and improve metabolic health in mice has clinically relevant effects in people, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. A small clinical trial of postmenopausal women with prediabetes shows that the compound NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) improved the ability of insulin to increase glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, which often is abnormal in people with obesity, prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. NMN also improved expression of genes that are involved in muscle structure and remodeling. However, the treatment did not lower blood glucose or blood pressure, improve blood lipid profile, increase insulin sensitivity in the liver, reduce fat in the liver or decrease circulating markers of inflammation as seen in mice. The study, published online April 22 in the journal Science, is the first randomized clinical trial to look at the metabolic effects of NMN administration in people. Among the women in the study, 13 received 250 mg of NMN orally every day for 10 weeks, and 12 were given an inactive placebo every day over the same period. "Although our study shows a beneficial effect of NMN in skeletal muscle, it is premature to make any clinical recommendations based on the results from our study," said senior investigator Samuel Klein, MD, the William H. Danforth Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Science and director of the Center for Human Nutrition. "Normally, when a treatment improves insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle, as is observed with weight loss or some diabetes medications, there also are related improvements in other markers of metabolic health, which we did not detect in our study participants." The remarkable beneficial effects of NMN in rodents have led several companies in Japan, China and in the U.S. to market the compound as a dietary supplement or a neutraceutical. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, and many people in the U.S. and around the world now take NMN despite the lack of evidence to show clinical benefits in people. The researchers studied 25 postmenopausal women who had prediabetes, meaning they had higher than normal blood sugar levels, but the levels were not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. Women were enrolled in this trial because mouse studies showed NMN had the greatest effects in female mice. NMN is involved in producing an important compound in all cells, called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD plays a vital role in keeping animals healthy. Levels of NAD decline with age in a broad range of animals, including humans, and the compound has been shown to contribute to a variety of aging-associated problems, including insulin resistance in studies conducted in mice. Supplementing animals with NMN slows and ameliorates age-related decline in the function of many tissues in the body. Co-investigator Shin-ichiro Imai, MD, Ph.D., a professor of developmental biology and of medicine who has been studying NMN for almost two decades and first reported on its benefits in mice said, "This is one step toward the development of an anti-aging intervention, though more research is needed to fully understand the cellular mechanisms responsible for the effects observed in skeletal muscle in people." Insulin enhances glucose uptake and storage in muscle, so people who are resistant to insulin are at increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. But the researchers caution that more studies are needed to determine whether NMN has beneficial effects in the prevention or management of prediabetes or diabetes in people. Klein and Imai are continuing to evaluate NMN in another trial involving men as well as women.   High dose of vitamin D fails to improve condition of moderate to severe COVID-19 patients   University of São Paulo's Medical School (Brazil), April 26, 2021 Can a high dose of vitamin D administered on admission to hospital improve the condition of patients with moderate or severe COVID-19? The answer is no, according to a Brazilian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The article reports a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the kind of study considered the gold standard to evaluate drug efficacy. It was conducted with FAPESP's support by researchers at the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FM-USP), who recruited 240 patients treated at Hospital das Clínicas (HC), the hospitalcomplex run by FM-USP, and the Ibirapuera field hospital in São Paulo City in June-August 2020. "In vitro studies or trials with animals had previously shown that in certain situations vitamin D and its metabolites can have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects, as well as modulating the immune response. We decided to investigate whether a high dose of the substance could have a protective effect in the context of an acute viral infection, reducing either the inflammation or the viral load," Rosa Pereira, principal investigator for the project, told Agência FAPESP. The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups, one of which was given vitamin D3 in a single dose of 200,000 units (IU) dissolved in a peanut oil solution. The other group was given only the peanut oil solution. All participants were treated according to the standard protocol for hospital treatment of the disease, which includes administration of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The main purpose was to see if acute supplementation would affect the length of hospital stay for these patients, but the researchers also wanted to find out whether it would mitigate the risks of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation and death. No significant difference between the groups was observed for any of these clinical outcomes. According to Pereira, the study was designed above all to assess the impact on hospital stay and a larger number of volunteers would be needed to achieve a scientifically acceptable estimate of the effect on mortality. "So far we can say there's no indication to administer vitamin D to patients who come to the hospital with severe COVID-19," she said. For Bruno Gualano, a researcher at FM-USP and penultimate author of the article, the findings show that at least for now there is no "silver bullet" for the treatment of COVID-19. "But that doesn't mean continuous use of vitamin D can't have beneficial effects of some kind," he said. Ideal dose Pereira is currently leading a study at FM-USP to find out whether subjects with sufficient circulating levels of vitamin D combat infection by SARS-CoV-2 better than those with insufficient levels of the nutrient. The ideal level of vitamin D in the blood and the daily supplementation dose vary according to age and overall health, she explained. Older people and patients with chronic diseases including osteoporosis should have more than 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/mL). For healthy adults, 20 ng/mL is an acceptable threshold. "The ideal approach is case-by-case analysis, if necessary dosing the substance periodically by means of blood work, with supplementation if a deficiency is detected," Pereira said.         Sufficient serum vitamin D before 20 weeks of pregnancy reduced risk of gestational diabetes mellitus Fudan University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (China), April 16, 2021 A new study on Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases and Conditions - Obesity and Diabetes is now available. According to news originating from Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels before 20 weeks of pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. This study is a retrospective study.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Fudan University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, “We analyzed the relationship between serum 25 (OH) D level before 20 weeks of pregnancy (first antenatal examination) and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Age, parity and pre-pregnancy body mass index were used as confounding factors. 8468 pregnant women were enrolled in this study between January 2018 and March 2020 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. Adjusted smoothing splinespline plots, subgroup analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relative risk between 25(OH)D and gestational diabetes mellitus. After fully adjusting the confounding factors, serum vitamin D is a protective factor in gestational diabetes mellitus (OR=0.90). Compared with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D insufficiency (OR=0.78), sufficience (OR=0.82) are a protective factor for gestational diabetes mellitus. Sufficience vitamin D before 20 weeks of pregnancy is a protective factor for gestational diabetes mellitus. Vitamin D>20 ng/mL can reduce the risk of GDM, which is not much different from the effect of >30 ng/mL.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “The protective effect of vitamin D is more significant in obese pregnant women.”     Review summarizes known links between endocrine disruptors and breast cancer risk University of Eastern Finland, April 20, 2021 Exposure to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals could elevate the risk of breast cancer, according to a new comprehensive systematic review of epidemiological research. However, for many chemicals, evidence is inconsistent or still limited. The review was carried out by researchers at the universities of Hong Kong and Eastern Finland and published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with the body's hormonal system, also called the endocrine system, and are widely present in the environment. They originate from a variety of sources, including pesticides, plasticisers and other industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals, as well as natural sources. Humans are often exposed to EDCs through food, but other possible exposure routes include drinking water, skin contact and air. Breast cancer accounts for the majority of women's cancers. There has been an increasing interest in the role of estrogene-mimicking EDCs, so called xenoestrogens, in the development of breast cancer. They comprise a broad range of pesticides, synthetic chemicals, phytoestrogens and certain mycotoxins. The researchers reviewed 131 epidemiological studies evaluating the link between xenoestrogen exposure and breast cancer. Most studies assessed exposures by measuring the EDCs and their metabolites in urine, serum, plasma or adipose tissues.  Some may be genetically more vulnerable to EDCs According to the review, the nowadays widely banned pesticide DDT is one of the most studied EDCs in relation to breast cancer risk. Out of 43 epidemiological studies, eleven reported positive associations between DDT or its metabolites in lipid, serum or plasma and breast cancer incidence. Nine reported higher DDT levels among women with breast cancer than among controls. In a few studies, DDT was linked to estrogen-positive breast cancer or the association to breast cancer risk depended on genotype.  Polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs, are a large group of compounds earlier much used in electrical devices, surface coatings and other purposes. The review of 50 studies found the association between total PCBs and breast cancer risk to be inconsistent. However, 19 studies linked certain PCBs to a higher breast cancer incidence. Similar to DTT, PCBs accumulate in the adipose tissue and in the food chain and can be excreted in breast milk.  Perfluorooctanoid acid (PFOA) found in some food packaging and cookware was linked to breast cancer risk in three out of five epidemiological studies. Some studies found an association between cancer risk and certain genotypes both for PCBs and PFOAs. DDT, PCBs ja PFOA are POP substances, persistent organic pollutants, the use of which is strictly regulated. DDT ja PCBs are old POP substances and their levels in the environment are decreasing. PFOA is a newer POP substance. Phytoestrogens were found beneficial in some, but not all studies Phytoestrogens are natural plant estrogens that have been suggested to prevent breast cancer. Genistein is a phytoestrogen found in soy products. The review included 29 epidemiological studies focusing on genistein, 18 of which linked it to a lower breast cancer risk, although some only in certain age groups or populations. For most EDCs included in the review, the link to breast cancer has been investigated in only a few epidemiological studies. Phtalates and bisphenol A (BPA), for example, are used in plastic packaging and can transfer to food. According to the review, four out of six studies linked phthalates to increased breast cancer risk. BPA was linked to more aggressive tumours in one study, but two other epidemiological studies found no link to breast cancer. Parabens are common preservatives in foods and cosmetic products and considered possible endocrine disruptors. The only epidemiological study on the topic reported a link between paraben exposures, breast cancer risk and mortality following breast cancer.  Oral contraceptive use was linked to an increased breast cancer risk in seven out of eight epidemiological studies, but there were controversies on how duration or discontinuation of oral contraceptive use affected the risk. The review also included the herbicide atrazine, the industrial by-product dioxine, mycotoxins produced by food and crop molds, and PBDEs found in household furniture coatings and appliances, but epidemiological studies on their links to breast cancer risk were still scarce and often inconsistent.  The writers point out that for EDCs to disrupt endocrine functions, dose, time, duration and age at exposure all matter. In addition, as multiple EDCs coexist in the environment, more research is needed to evaluate their interactive effects on breast cancer risk. The review also suggests that genotypes could determine whether EDC exposure affects breast cancer risk, and more research is needed on this topic. "One example is the polymorphism of the CYP1A1 gene, which is responsible for estrogen metabolism." According to the writers, next-generation technologies, such as genome sequencing, proteomics or epigenomics, can help identify new exposure biomarkers with better sensitivity and specificity. "These technologies will also pave way to better assessment of past exposure and prediction of future risks, by taking into account an individual's genetic profile."     Grape seed extract may protect gut from inflammation: Study Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain), April 25, 2021 Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extracts may protect the intestines from the deleterious effects of a high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet, according to data from a rat study. A high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet or Western diet has been reported to produce changes in the intestine, explained researchers from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. “Concretely, several recent studies have provided compelling new evidence to suggest that changes in the epithelial barrier function and intestinal inflammation are associated with and could even lead to altered regulation of body weight and glucose homeostasis,” they added. “The main consequence of the gut barrier dysfunction has been proposed to be the entry of toxins from the intestinal lumen, which can trigger local inflammation or gain access to the circulation and induce systemic inflammation through cytokine release.” Their new research indicated that a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) may protect the gut from such harmful effects. Study details Data published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research reveals that supplementing the diet of lab rats with medium or high-dose proanthocyanidins had beneficial impacts on intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and barrier function. The medium dose was 25 mg/kg, which is a dose similar to the dietary proanthocyanidin intake in humans, explained the researchers. The high dose (50 mg/kg) would exceed the dietary proanthocyanidin intake in humans. Thirty-six week-old rats were fed a Western diet for 15 weeks and then divided into one of four supplementation groups, receiving 0 mg/kg (control), 5 mg/kg (low dose), 25 mg/kg, or 50 mg/kg for an additional three weeks. Results showed that intestinal inflammation, assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, significantly increased in the control animals, but these increases were reduced in the rats receiving the grape seed extract. In addition, significant reductions in plasma levels of reactive oxygen species were observed in the medium and high dose groups, compared to the control group. Tight junctions The researchers also examined the function of the intestinal barrier, and looked specifically at so-called tight junctions (TJ) between cells in the lining of the intestine – the epithelium. On one side is the intestinal cavity and on the other is a mass of cells and tissues. In a healthy system, materials in the cavity find their way into tissues by passing through the cells, which controls which substances pass through. In an unhealthy system, the tight junctions are not so tight and materials can bypass the cells and find their way into tissues via the tight junctions. This increase in intestinal permeability has been referred to as "leaky gut". “Another point of interest in this study was to evaluate whether GSPE could modulate the alterations in the permeability of the intestinal barrier that are related to the state of intestinal inflammation,” wrote the researchers. “Our findings indicate that the TJ  proteins were negatively associated with measures of adiposity and with the circulating levels of [triglycerides]. These are not causal associations, but they suggest that increased adiposity is accompanied by lower expression of TJ components, which is in agreement with the hypothesis that obesity and a [high-fat diet] are associated with increased intestinal permeability. Then, given the importance of having a healthy barrier function, dietary interventions that can modulate the intestinal permeability might afford an effective tool for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases associated with obesity.” The researchers concluded: “Our findings indicate that orally administered GSPE modulates the intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and possibly the barrier function. Based on these findings, our data suggest that nutritional and/or therapeutic interventions focused on gut health and modulation of the intestinal permeability should be extensively explored in the context of obesity.”   Antidepressant use in pregnancy tied to affective disorders in offspring; no causal link   Mount Sinai Hospital, April 12, 2021 Major depressive disorder is highly prevalent, with one in five people experiencing an episode at some point in their life, and is almost twice as common in women than in men. Antidepressants are usually given as a first-line treatment, including during pregnancy, either to prevent the recurrence of depression, or as acute treatment in newly depressed patients. Antidepressant use during pregnancy is widespread and since antidepressants cross the placenta and the blood-brain barrier, concern exists about potential long-term effects of intrauterine antidepressant exposure in the unborn child.  Using the Danish National Registers to follow more than 42,000 singleton babies born during 1998-2011 for up to 18 years, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai investigated whether exposure to antidepressants in the womb would increase the risk of developing affective disorder like depression and anxiety in the child. In a study published April 5 in Neuropsychopharmacology,the scientists found that children whose mothers continued antidepressants during pregnancy had a higher risk of affective disorders than children whose mothers stopped taking antidepressants before pregnancy. However, to understand whether the underlying disorder for which the antidepressant was given or the medication itself was linked to the child's risk of developing an affective disorder, they also studied the effect of paternal antidepressant use during pregnancy and similarly, found that children of fathers who took antidepressants throughout pregnancy had a higher risk for affective disorders. Thus, the research team speculates that rather than being an intrauterine effect, the observed link is most likely due to the parental mental illness underlying the antidepressant use.  "Approximately half of women who use antidepressants before pregnancy decide to discontinue use either before or during pregnancy due to concerns about the negative consequences for their child," said Anna-Sophie Romel, PhD, an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Icahn Mount Sinai and first author of the paper. "Our study does not provide evidence for a causal relationship between in-utero exposure to antidepressants and affective disorders in the child. So, while other long-term effects of intrauterine exposure to antidepressants remain to be investigated, our work supports antidepressant continuation for women with severe symptoms or a high risk of relapse because untreated psychiatric illness during pregnancy can have negative consequences on the health and development of the child. Women and their health care providers should carefully weigh all of the treatment options and jointly decide on the best course of action."   Staying Active Can Fight Declines in Cognitive Engagement   North Carolina State University, April 22, 2021   Preserving physical and mental health helps older adults experiencing cognitive impairment stave off declines in cognitive engagement, a new study suggests “We found that declines in physical and mental health were associated with more pronounced cognitive disengagement,” says Shevaun Neupert, professor of psychology at North Carolina State University and corresponding author of the study published in Entropy. “The impact of declines in physical health was particularly pronounced for study participants who had more advanced cognitive impairment to begin with.” There’s a lot of research showing that cognitive engagement can help older adults maintain cognitive health. However, the vast majority of that work has been done on healthy adults. “There’s very little work on cognitive engagement in people who are already cognitively impaired, such as people who have been diagnosed with dementia,” Neupert says. “Are they still capable of sustained cognitive engagement? What factors contribute to that engagement?” To begin addressing those questions, the researchers enlisted 28 study participants. All of the participants were over 60 and had documented cognitive impairment. Participants came to a testing site two times, six months apart. On each visit, researchers collected data on the physical and mental health of the study participants and performed a battery of tests designed to assess cognitive ability. They also connected participants to a device that tracked blood pressure continuously and then asked them to engage in a series of increasingly difficult cognitive tasks. This allowed researchers to track how cognitive engagement changed as the tasks become progressively harder. Cognitive engagement means taking part in activities that are mentally challenging. Monitoring blood pressure allows the researchers to track how hard study participants are working to accomplish cognitive tasks. Specifically, blood pressure rises as more blood is pumped to the brain when participants work harder at these tasks. Broadly speaking, the researchers found that if a participant’s cognitive ability, physical health, or mental health declined over the course of the six month study period, that participant became less cognitively engaged as the tasks became harder. “Normally, you’d expect more engagement as the tasks became harder, but we found that some people essentially stopped trying,” says coauthor Claire Growney, a postdoctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis. “The findings highlight the fact that well-being is holistic; physical health, mental health, and cognitive function can influence each other,” says coauthor Xianghe Zhu, a recent PhD graduate of NC State. “In practical terms, it suggests that it may be particularly important for people to focus on mental and physical well-being during the early stages of cognitive decline,” Growney says. “Or, at the very least, don’t become so focused on addressing cognitive challenges that you ignore physical health, or create anxiety or emotional distress for yourself that leads to mental health problems.” “Future research will be needed to determine how beneficial it might be for people to take part in cognitively engaging activities once they’ve started experiencing cognitive decline,” Neupert says. “But we already know that there is an element of ‘use it or lose it’ to cognitive function in healthy adults. And while it’s understandable for people to want to avoid tasks that are difficult or challenging, it’s really important to continue challenging ourselves to take part in difficult cognitive activities.”

In the village of Selkie in Eastern Finland, industrial peat extraction had greatly degraded the landscape, poisoning lakes and rivers and endangering the aquatic life there. But thanks to the efforts of the Snowchange Cooperative with financial support from Hogan Lovells, a stunning nature recovery has taken place in only a few years. After years of decline, birds are coming back to nest and visit this key migratory site, biodiversity has been restored and the soil is shifting slowly from the release of heavy carbon dioxide emissions to effective carbon absorption. A blessing for the locals who can continue their traditional ways of life with nature and a model for all of Europe. Project Lead: Mareike van Oosting Creative Directors: Julian Wildgruber & Kathrin Höckel Editors: Kathrin Höckel & Julian Wildgruber Senior Texter: Kathrin Höckel Field Recording Artist: Julian Wildgruber Photography & Art Director: Julian Wildgruber Musik & Sound Design: Oliver Deuerling Narrator: Mareike van Oosting

In this Thursday episode, we are hosting wilderness guide and environmentalist Huck Middeke, who has chosen to live a very different kind of low impact lifestyle in a yurt in Eastern Finland. We discuss our different lifestyles, our ideas and attitudes behind them, and our thoughts about the current state of our global ecology and what to do about it. We also touch on the subject of environmental activism. This episode is, you guessed it, in English. Osallistu keskusteluun Twitterissä: https://twitter.com/futucast Lyhyet klipit Instagramissa: https://www.instagram.com/futucast/ Jaksot videon kera Youtubesta: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQPojdjir3suCXQA_09P0ag Siistit nettisivut: https://www.futucast.com

Title: Are Food Wrappers Making You Sick? Guest: Mike Schade We’ve done several shows about how chemicals in your environment may be contributing to your poor health, but nothing got me more than a recent study that shows the wrappers in fast food restaurants are just as bad. Mike Schade is the Mind the Store Campaign Director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families where he coordinates a national U.S. campaign challenging the nation’s leading retailers to transform the marketplace away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives. He has been working for nearly twenty years to safeguard American families from dangerous chemicals and polluting facilities. 1:38 Mike – why is this quest so important to you and how did you get started down this path 3:08 What can a healthcare provider do if something in their environment is making them sick? What protects them? 6:44 Newly released report – “Packaged in Pollution: Are food chains using PFAS in packaging?” https://saferchemicals.org/packaged-in-pollution/ 8:44 Packaged in Pollution: Are food chains using PFAS in packaging? 11:30 Why has the FDA only banned a small number of these chemicals? 12:50 Prior to this report, they weren't really restricting chemicals 15:05 Affects of these chemicals on our gut microbiome 17:29 Learn more about Mike Schade: www.saferchemicals.org 18:00 “Executive Medicine Moment” At Executive Medicine of Texas we understand that true health can only be found when you treat the patient as a whole. That’s why our Executive Physical Exams are second to none in the amount of testing and information we gather prior to making a wellness plan for our patients. Learn more about how you can take charge of your health at http://www.EMTexas.com 18:37 Chemicals in styrofoam to go cups? 19:00 “Pressing Health”- Health news that’s fresh off the press. Want a cost effective way to screen for risk of future Type 2 Diabetes? According to the University of Bristol, hand grip strength could be a very useful tool. Bristol University in conjunction with Eastern Finland measured the muscular handgrip strength of 776 men and women. At the beginning of the study non of them had a  history of diabetes. But, over a 20-year period the research demonstrated that there was a link between hand strength and diabetes, the risk being reduced by about 50% for every unit increase in handgrip strength value. The complete study can be found in the Annals of Medicine. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200902082339.htm   More articles on PFAs: Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-burger-king-packaging-contains-pfas-report-2020-8 CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/health/toxic-food-wrappers-pfas-wellness/index.html Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/toxic-chemicals-substances/potentially-hazardous-pfas-found-in-fast-food-packaging-report-finds/ The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, mention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m69I9yOsOLE&feature=youtu.be&list=PLykzf464sU9-IFE2ZBbUyfbi6_uNBQavD&t=81&fbclid=IwAR0U-7467rqg2bcdhp_OjqjO8k6jV36WcAT8DCyrIKuN28S1u57zlqbwlO0  McClatchy: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article244860817.html News12-TV: http://newjersey.news12.com/story/42498380/study-suggests-toxic-chemicals-can-be-found-in-fast-food-wrappers-and-takeout-packages Wired: https://www.wired.com/story/the-end-is-nearer-for-forever-chemicals-in-food-wrappers/   Website: StayYoungAmerica.com  Twitter: @StayYoungPod  Facebook: @Stay Young America!  Join us next time as discuss Concierge Medicine and why it’s on the rise.   

Huck Midekke is a Wilderness Guide and Survival Instructor based in Eastern Finland. Huck is the founder of NordicByNature which provides wilderness guide services, sustainability consulting, and survival workshops around the world, as well, he is Chairman of the International Wilderness Guide Association. Huck's latest endeavour is the establishment of Nomad Town/ Resilience Hub, an off-grid, minimalist, mobile, community that lies on the outskirts of Joensuu, Finland. We discuss much theory and philosophy of survival and it's importance connect with nature in our anthropocentric world. Huck also introduces us to some methods of wilderness survival practice like the S.T.O.P method, the 6 Survival priorities, the 8 Shields Model and the practice of the #FullMoonFullStop which he suggests to use in daily life. I think we might be exploring some new frontiers here in the world of podcasting, at least on this show because our guest Huck is joining us from a sauna in Northern Finland. Enjoy! Share and Subscribe! (Timestamps at the end of this description below) More about Huck: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmf2IY-JV-RrTlSV8LBlC7A NordicByNature (Guiding, Education and Sustainability Consulting) - https://www.nordicbynature.net/ CONTACT THE SHOW with comments, ideas, interview requests, funding/advertising propositions...etc Twitter: @TRANSNATURALPOD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TransnaturalPod/ Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/TransnaturalPod Email: TransnaturalPod@gmail.com Donate: Paypal.me/InternationalSuper Music: "Future" by Faserklang SFX: https://freesound.org/ Time Stamps 00:00:16 Opening Thoughts 00:06:24 The importance of saunas in Finland and the North 00:11:31 Connecting through tech, screens, listening and the versatility of the podcast 00:15:08 Josh's Sauna Experience 00:18:08 Humans Hibernating in the Winter 00:19:20 The Eight Shields Model 00:23:10 What is Nomad Town? 00:35:15 Wilderness Survival & the 6 Survival Priorities 00:47:26 The Power of trying 00:52:28 The S.T.O.P tool & the “Full Moon Stop” 00:59:50 Egocentric VS Ecocentric 01:05:41 Positive & Critical Thinking 01:16:15 Meet Reality: Go Outside! 01:17:30 Breathing Exercise 01:19:39 Invitation to visit Nomad Town 01:26:16 Closing Reflections #outdoors #nature #finland #Wilderness #education #ecology #philosophy #outdoorlearning #wildpedagogy #podcast #environmentaleducation #survival #sauna #nomad #sustainability #sauna --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/transnatural-perspectives/message

Howl is a DJ/producer from Joensuu, Finland. He is part of the Finnish DJ collective OUSNAP! and works as a booker/promoter at one of the most notable live venues in Eastern Finland. Follow Howl on Instagram: @howl013 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Travel has a different meaning to everyone. Today in absence of a vaccine against coronavirus, to travel needs to take a causious step. A Finnish start-up company SaimaaLife quickly pivots and develops the solution which has showcased the founder Mari Pennanen’s agility. Sited on Punkaharju in Eastern Finland, the seven kilometer long esker and ridge road, the iconic attraction in Finland since 19 century for Finns and for overseas travelers, Mari Pennanen and her creation SaimaaLife brings Punkaharju and its surrounding Saima Lake region to the people with the modern technology - Virtual Reality and 360 degree videos to the world. While we are talking about the “social distancing”, loneliness and social isolation worsen the burden of stress and often produce harmful effects on mental and health. Mari Pennanen makes possible the social interactions and fosters a sense of connection which bolsters psychological well-being. Let’s listen how Mari Pennanen gives another meaningful dimension to the travel. More info about Saimaalife: https://www.saimaalife.com/ https://www.youtube.com/saimaalife http://instagram.com/saimaalife/ https://www.facebook.com/saimaalife

In our story we journey deeper into the woods and find out what our earthlings were doing in the beginning of the new stone age. Did things change from Mesolithic to Neolithic and if so, how? Email for the podcast is thofpodcast@gmail.com Mentioned in this episode: Salpausselkä Operation Chastice Treaty of Nöteborg (1323) Henrik Gabriel Porthan Kierikki Jäkärlän ryhmä (group) Jean Sibelius Giant's churches   The two main groups of ceramics from the period of this episode are: Comb Ceramic (5200-3250 BCE) found mostly in Southern Finland, Asbestos Ceramic (4600-2500 BCE) mostly found from Eastern Finland. These in turn include sub ceramic groups.   SOURCES Georg Haggrén, Petri Halinen, Mika Lavento, Sami Raninen & Anna Wessman, Muinaisuutemme jäljet, Gaudeamus Oy, 2015 Juha Hurme, Niemi, Teos, 2017 Pentti Virrankoski, Suomen Historia, Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura 2019 Ilari Aalot, Elina Helkala, Matka muinaiseen Suomeen: 11 000 vuotta ihmisen jälkiä, Atena Kustannus Oy, 2017 Markku Liuskari, Hannele Palo, Vesa Vihervä, Forum V: Ruotsin Itämaasta Suomeksi, Otava, 2019

Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has spread quickly throughout the world, and we are updating the most relevant Cochrane reviews, as well as preparing rapid reviews of new topics. In this podcast, we asked author Blair Rajamäki from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio to describe the findings of the April 2020 update on the effects of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

This podcast was published with an earlier version of this review, but it is still valid for the version published in May 2020. Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has spread quickly throughout the world, and we are updating the most relevant Cochrane reviews, as well as preparing rapid reviews of new topics. In this podcast, we asked author Blair Rajamäki from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio to describe the findings of the April 2020 update on the effects of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has spread quickly throughout the world, and we are updating the most relevant Cochrane reviews, as well as preparing rapid reviews of new topics. In this podcast, we asked author Blair Rajamäki from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio to describe the findings of the April 2020 update on the effects of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

What can cold cities, where people nonetheless bike year-round through snow and seemingly endless hours of darkness, tell us about what it takes to make better streets? In this episode, Sarah reports back from her trip to Finland and the the 8th annual Winter Cycling Conference, held in Joensuu and Helsinki in early February. How does active transportation figure into Helsinki's goal to become the world “most functional city”? What's the right way to prioritize transportation modes? And why are most fully grown Americans less rugged than the average Finnish 11-year-old?  Support The War on Cars on Patreon. Rate and review the war effort on iTunes. Buy a War on Cars T-shirt at Cotton Bureau.   SHOW NOTES:  You can find all the presentations from the 2020 World Cycling Congress in Joensuu on the Congress website. Here's a little movie that shows some of what it was like. See if you can spot Sarah!  Coverage of the conference from Bicycle Dutch: Cycling in the Finnish snow Winter Cycling Congress 2020 in Joensuu Coverage of the conference from The Guardian: Winter wheelies: Finland blazes trail in keeping citizens cycling and healthy Why Finland leads the field when it comes to winter cycling Check out opportunities for winter adventure cycling in Eastern Finland with Karu Survival. The end music for the episode, from the song “Cold Dead Eyes,” comes courtesy of Joensuu thrash metal band Killing Attack. You can find more of their music on Spotify. Special thanks to Tony Desnick of Cycling Without Age, Oskari Kaupinmäki of the City of Helsinki, Matti Hirvonen of the Network of Finnish Cycling Municipalities, Timo Perälä of the Winter Cycling Federation, Markku Pyykkönen of the City of Joensuu, and Maria Halava-Napoles at the Finnish Consulate in New York. Find us on Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1. Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com https://thewaroncars.org  

In this podcast, Dr Seita Romppanen, from the University of Eastern Finland, discusses the key aspects of two interrelated regulatory instruments of the EU climate and energy policy framework for 2030 under the Clean Energy Package: the Effort Sharing Regulation and the so-called LULUCF Regulation on land use, land-use change and forestry. Dr Romppanean introduces the overarching regulatory framework for the two regulations and analyses the main provisions of the Effort Sharing Regulation and the LULUCF Regulation before, finally, discussing these regulations in the context of EU climate and energy law and highlighting the next steps of development in this dynamic field of EU law.

Play is a foundational element of a child’s life. Yet, how much is play embraced inside schools? My guests today, Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle, argue play is the fundamental energy of learning. And schools need to embrace play much more than they currently do to support child development. For Pasi and William, screen time and the global education reform movement that emphasizes standardized tests have reduced the amount of time children are allowed to play in school. Pasi Sahlberg is a professor of education policy at the Gonski Institute for Education of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He is a globally renowned educator, author, speaker, and scholar, and one of the world’s most respected authorities on educational improvement. William Doyle is New York Times bestselling author and TV producer. Since 2015 he has served as a Fulbright Scholar, a Scholar in Residence and lecturer on media and education at the University of Eastern Finland, and as advisor to the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland Their new co-written book is called Let the Children Play, which was published by Oxford University Press earlier this year. -- www.FreshEdpodcast.com/pasisahlberg-williamdoyle Twitter: @FreshEdpodcast Facebook: FreshEd Email: info@freshedpodcast.com

Preventing type 2 diabetes on population level - Can it be cost-effective? Can population health interventions be cost-effective? Yes, says StopDia research, which has developed and tested approaches to empower individuals to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Listen to interview of StopDia’s Principal Investigator Jussi Pihlajanmäki, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland and Dr Penny Breeze from the University of Sheffield, as they discuss the possibilities and challenges of population health interventions and how StopDia research has addressed them. Voiko tyypin 2 diabeteksen ehkäisy olla kustannusvaikuttavaa? Kuuntele Itä-Suomen StopDia tutkimuksen päätutkijan Jussi Pihlajanmäen (Terveystieteiden dekaani, Itä-Suomen yliopisto) ja tohtori Penny Breezen (Sheffieldin yliopisto) haastattelu, jossa keskustellaan kansanterveysprojektien vaikuttavuudesta ja haasteista ja kuullaan, miten StopDia-tutkimus on niihin vastannut. Podcast on englanniksi.

In this episode we talk with Eero A. Haapala, PhDAdjunct Professor in Paediatric Exercise PhysiologyEero is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, located at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. Eero's main interests are in the relationships of physical activity, dietary factors, fitness, fatness, and metabolic syndrome to brain, cognition, and academic achievement among children and adolescents. Eero has published scientific articles on the associations of physical fitness, adiposity, and physical activity with arterial stiffness in children and adolescents.After completing his PhD in physiology at the School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Eero visited Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, UMC Utrecht as a post doc researcher under supervision Dr. Tim Takken. Eero has also worked for the Children's Health and Exercise Reserach Centre at the University of Exeter, UK, as a visiting postdoctoral researcher. Specialties:Physical activity and learningPaediatric exercise medicine and exercise physiologyPhysical activity and physical fitness in paediatric populationsThe associations of dietary factors with cognition and learningThe relationships of health behaviors to vascular health and cardiometabolic risk factors since childhood

Will eating eggs increase your risk of having a stroke? This is Judy Gaman and this is your Stay Young Medical Minute.  A new study out of University of Eastern Finland found that, in moderation, it won't.  In fact, they found that moderate intake of cholesterol, up to one egg a day, 200 milligrams of cholesterol, doesn't impact your risk for a stroke. The study took place 1984-1989 consisted of 1,950 people.  Of the participants, 34% of them were carriers of the APOE4 phenotype, which affects cholesterol metabolism.  During a 21 year follow up, scientists found that moderate egg consumption didn't increase the risk of a stroke, even in the participants with the APOE4 phenotype.  So, enjoy that omelet—in moderation.  This Stay Young Medical Minute is brought to you by Executive Medicine of Texas, a leader in preventative and proactive medicine. Learn why patients from around the globe trust Executive Medicine of Texas to their health. Visit EMTexas.com that's EMTexas.com. Read more! Thank you for listening to the Staying Young Medical Minute! With all the mixed messages on health, you need information that you can use and that you can trust. Listen in as the experts discuss all topics health related. It's time to STAY YOUNG and stay healthy! Each week we tackle a topic and often with leading scientists, best-selling authors, and even your favorite celebrities! As a listener of our show, your input is important to us. Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey so we can serve you better - https://survey.libsyn.com/stayingyoung2 For more information on The Staying Young Show, please visit our website at www.StayYoungAmerica.com, and subscribe to the show in iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. You can also reach out to our host, Judy Gaman on www.judygaman.com for book purchasing, and speaking opportunities in your area!