Can Zika Be Prevented? Vaccine Trials Yield Positive Results

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The scientific community is abuzz with the recent discovery of an experimental dengue vaccine that shows promise against Zika virus, with very encouraging results that larger clinical trials are already being conducted in Brazil.

In a study recently published by the Science Translational Medicine, the initial test involved 41 volunteers that were given the test vaccine, a placebo named TV003 that was developed jointly by the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The Zika virus is transmitted to humans by the same mosquito species that carries the deadly dengue virus – the aedis aegypti.

“Since dengue belongs to the same family as the Zika virus, the methods used to develop TV003 would be applicable to the Zika vaccine,” according to Dr. Anna P. Durbin, a researcher from the John Hopkins Bloomberg Public School of Health that is taking the lead for the TV003 testing.

“Dengue is unique and if (tests are) not done right, you can do more harm than good,” Dr. Durbin said.

The effects of the vaccine were very encouraging, researchers claimed, after the volunteers who were administered with the placebo only developed mild disease symptoms – with the infecting microbe analyzed as very weak that it could not cause the test subjects to become dangerously ill.

The results came to light six months after the test subjects became deliberately infected or ‘challenged’ with a strain of genetically modified dengue virus from Tonga and no other replicating virus was found in the blood samples of 21 test subjects who were vaccinated.

The dengue virus was positive in the blood of all 21 vaccinated with the TV003 and displayed symptoms of infection like rashes and low white blood cell levels or platelets.

The Zika virus recently gained notoriety after it was highly suspected to have a debilitating effect on pregnant women giving birth to babies with microcephaly or shrunken heads, but were less likely damaging to children and adults with symptoms ranging from rashes to fever.

The World Health Organization, early this year, released a bulletin warning about the further spread of the Zika virus, claiming that there is still no known cure for the disease.

The virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes also carrying the dengue virus with symptoms ranging fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint pain, conjunctivitis, headache and pain behind the eyes.

Primary prevention measures are to reduce or eliminate breeding grounds for the aedis aegypti mosquito by using insect repellants or installing insect screens around the house, as well as removing any possible water-filled habitats that sustain the mosquito larvae.

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Bench More: Get A Stronger Chest

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The bench press is one of the most popular strength exercises. However using the same moves more often will lead to a plateau. This will have a negative impact on your strength and muscle development. This article is here to give you six tricks for a stronger chest.

These tricks will target your arms and chest in ways you have never experienced before stimulating growth and making sure that you continue gaining muscles.

Paused Reps.

The bench press will become more difficult if you add a one or three-second pause when lowering the bar. This will make the lift a pure lift since it prevents the transfer of energy as it cuts off the stretch reflex. This strategy can work for any lift.

This is one of the main reasons why powerlifters are very strong. They use this method of lifting more often as it does not give you the options to bounce the bar off your ribs. Using this method, you may be surprised at how much harder the traditional bench press will become.

1.5 Reps.

Your   chest stimulation can be increased  and your workload doubled  using 1.5 reps. To perform this move all you have to do is lower the bar to your chest and perform a half rep. Push the bar off the chest to about 6 or 8 inches.

Freeze and then lower the bar slowly to the chest. Finally, drive the bar up for a full lockout at the top while making sure it is in contact with your chest. That is one full rep. You have to perform six reps per set.

Low Incline Dumbbell Bench Press.

To develop strong, big muscles with a small incline press dumbbells on a bench. Since you are not restricted by the bar, your wrists and elbow will have more freedom helping you reduce shoulder stress. The dumbbells and low incline will target each and every chest muscles individually. This is because the weights are stabilized for a greater workload.

Cluster Repetitions.

If your main goal is to gain strength try maximizing the three rep with the maximum weight. Add short breaks after each and every rep. After this, rack the barbell immediately after the first rep and then rest for 10 seconds.

Repeat the same process after the second rep then move on to your third rep. There is a good chance that you will have enough strength to squeeze another rep or two using this method. This is a great way to overload your muscles using heavy loads.

Floor Press.

The floor press stops your range of motion at 90 degrees. To improve lockout strength and boost the triceps size and strength, use dumbbells and a neutral grip. These are the key players which make for a strong bench and make your upper arm well rounded. 

Barbell Pin Press.

Set the barbell up in the squat cage. Rest the barbell on the safety pins just some few inches below the chest. Set up on a bench under the bar and push the weight up. Lower the bar to the pins. Let it settle and then repeat the process.

One good thing about pin pressing is the fact that you will not have to worry about negative rep making it similar to Olympic lifting. To save energy on each and every rep let the weight crash down to the pins. This makes it very different from paused reps since the remaining tight will no longer be a bother through the negative rep.

This will allow you to perform the exercise more frequently and help you load up on volume. You can set the pins at any level above the chest and you can choose either a shorter or greater range of motion. Set the pins high for a shorter rep is you feel like your common sticking point is near the top of the press. If your sticking point is off the chest then sett the pins very close to chest area and this will create more strength from the bottom.

 

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6 Foods For Lean Muscle

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The foods that you eat directly impact muscle repair and growth. Consuming a high-protein diet helps you to add mass without causing hunger or having to sacrifice taste. Your calories should ideally come from vegetables, lean beef, turkey breast, poultry and other nutritious foods for supporting optimum health.

For even faster gains in muscle strength and size, supplements like creatine and whey protein may be taken. However, the foundation of a healthy body is good nutrition.

Keep your kitchen well stocked with these 6 foods that build lean muscle:

Wild Salmon

The fatty fish is an excellent source of omega-3s  and protein. One 154-gram serving provides over 39 grams of protein along with large doses of monounsaturated fatty acids, folate, niacin, vitamin B12 and vitamin A. Recent research indicates that bio-active peptides are contained in salmon which help to strength joints, improve insulin response and reduce inflammation. Consume two servings of fish per week at least in order to reap maximum benefits.

Lean Beef

Lean been has more than 25 grams of protein in a serving, making it a staple for all bodybuilder’s diets. This kind of meat has just 164 calories per serving and contains no carbs. It is also a great source of important nutrients, like calcium, iron, vitamin K, vitamin B12 and choline. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), is one of lean beef’s key ingredients. It accelerates fat loss and promotes muscle growth.

Eggs

Eggs are rich in amino acids and protein and are considered to be the ideal food. One large egg is just 71 calories and has zero carbs, five grams of fat, 14 minerals and vitamins and more than 6 grams of protein. An egg also provides you with 5 percent RDA of vitamin A, 4 percent RDA of vitamin D, and 14 percent RDA of riboflavin. The protein contained in eggs improves health, suppresses hunger and supports lean muscle growth and fat loss.

Quinoa

If building muscle is your goal, complex carbs should be added to your diet. When you consume good carbs, like those found in sweet potatoes and quinoa, they support muscle repair and providing lasting energy. Quinoa is one of just a few vegetables sources that is a complete protein. One cup of quinoa contains 8 grams of protein, 39 grams of carbs and 5 grams of fiber. When consumed on a regular basis, the grain increases insulin-like growth factor-1 levels (IGF-1). This leads to strength gains and greater muscle.

Nuts

Nuts are packed with essential fats and protein. They are the ideal choice for athletes who are struggling to add muscle. The nutrient-dense foods contain antioxidants, iron, zinc, magnesium, dietary fibre, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. The lowest in calories are almonds. Natural peanut butter, pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts are also great choices.

Cottage Cheese

This low calorie food contains casein, which is a slow digesting protein which provides your muscles with fuel over the course of several hours. Numerous athletes consume it prior to going to bed in order to reduce muscle loss. Cottage cheese is the ideal nighttime snack. Due to its high level of electrolytes it can help to prevent muscle cramps. Compared to other kinds of cheese, it contains fewer carbs and less lactose, making it ideal for those who are lactose intolerant or have milk allergies.

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Effective Solutions To End The Food Waste Problem

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Billions of tons of food are wasted all throughout the world and a significant portion of it does not even make it to the market – all because of stringent quality standard practices resulting from commercialism and unfortunately, the quest for perfection.

But the world is starting to take notice as governments and multi-sectoral organizations all over the world are now trying to look for solutions that could cut food waste and eventually get rid of wanton food wastage.

Although a lot of countries implemented their own unique ways of combating these problems- from diverting cosmetically-challenged foods to be sold in markets, discounts for food about to go past its ‘best before’ shelf life to organic composting, so much work still needs to be done to see a collective campaign to impact global food waste.

The absence of a comprehensive long-term and collective plan is something that is need to get the world’s attention on the urgent demand to stop food wastage that would not only save the world from environmental damage, but could also feed millions of starving people worldwide.

Sarah Vared, interim director of ReFED, said that reducing food waste is one of the most tangible and effective ways to help protect the earth after introducing a comprehensive roadmap on the most effective solutions to address food wastage.

ReFED’s ambitious plan to consolidate an effort aims to reduce US food waste by 50 percent by 2030 and these efforts can be replicated anywhere around the world.

On the other hand, food waste also plays a role in climate change as landfill open composting of organic waste releases methane into the atmosphere, contributing to the volume of greenhouse gases.

Topping the list of solutions that would have the most impact on food wastage is a consolidated and large scale centralized composting, where industrial and commercial organic waste is delivered to composting facilities that harnesses the production of methane for use as fuel instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

Another solution is for wide spread consumer education and awareness programs to help create a sense of responsibility and accountability with consumers.

Smart food management in terms of only purchasing what is needed in the next few days or so and avoid buying food in excess that could only end up in trash bins.

Produce retailers to collaborate with farmers and suppliers to make ugly produce- or cosmetically-challenged food items available for sale at lower prices to the public instead of disposing it as waste.

There is in fact not one ultimate solution to end food waste, but a number of effective means to end this problem are the best solutions that could cut food waste and make this world a better place for everyone.

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Diabetes App For Blood Sugar Checks A Hit With Parents

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It pays to have an inventive mind and parental concern that pushed several caring parents to tinker with a glucose monitoring device and hooked it online, so they could keep track of their children when in school or away on a trip.

These kids, especially those with Type 1 diabetes, need to have their blood sugar levels monitored regularly since a sudden change in glucose levels could cause them to collapse or have seizures, which could prove fatal if left unattended.

Aptly called Nightscout, parents lauded this initiative as an innovative revolution in diabetes care, where parents are now able to keep tabs on their kids while apart from them at school, camping or out with friends.

Type 1 diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas that inhibit the production of insulin to help manage blood sugar in the body. Once ignored or neglected could lead to damage of the kidneys, heart and nerves. It could even lead to blindness or early death due to complications.

Nightscout is a cloud-based program where data is fed from software installed in a smartphone or smartwatch worn by children that is also wirelessly connected to a reconfigured blood glucose monitoring apparatus.

Parents could then have access to this data through the cloud database remotely via a cellphone, tablet, watches or computers.

“I used to worry all the time what her blood sugar was doing when she wasn’t with me or even when she is with me, when she’s watching TV or just falling asleep at the back of the car,” said Kate Farnsworth who installed the system for her 11 year old daughter with Type 1 diabetes.

Farnsworth was the first one in Canada to utilize this revolutionary system and said that it turned her life around and allowed her to stay confident and worry-free when her daughter was at school or anywhere apart from her.

All volunteers and parents donate their time and gives out the software for free to anybody who needs it. The only thing they are asking for is to also pay it forward by providing technical support or help to other parents who also have children with diabetes.

“We’re not in it for the money, Farnsworth said, adding that their only goal is to help improve the lives of people who are dealing with the stigma of diabetes.

(Watch Video Below) 

Source: Parent hackers spark do-it-yourself revolution in diabetes care for children – CTV News

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Transplanted Kidneys May Soon Overcome Rejection

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In efforts to put a stop to the age-old dilemma of organ rejection among kidney transplant patients, science is almost on the verge of new breakthroughs to ensure making it last a lifetime for the host.

This after medical researchers have already gone through leaps and bounds in diagnosing potential organ rejection scenarios and predicting possible failure situations by going deeper into molecular profiling that would determine the perfect match of the organ with the host.

Statistics show that recent technologies and methods of kidney transplants have shown significant results with 97% of new kidneys are fully-functional at the end of the first month, subsequently followed by a 93% success rate at the end of 1 year and 83% by the end of 3 years.

Compared to 10-15 years ago when more than 70 percent of kidney transplants often lasts for one year at most and the host starts to reject the transplanted organ.

This is primarily due to rejection where the immune system responds to the ‘new’ organ and starts attacking it slowly until it gets destroyed or expires.

There are basically two types of rejection that takes place, acute and chronic, where the former happens rapidly the process takes up one year at most, while chronic rejection develops slowly and may last for several years until the organ ends up in complete failure.

Latest research findings published by the American Journal of Transplantation indicated that out of 234 kidney biopsies conducted for possible transplant to new hosts, it was found out that 80% of the genes that promote acute rejection have the same tissues among chronic rejection kidneys.

The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) that spearheaded the study discovered that both rejection types are not separate conditions, but belong to the same gene pool.

Prof. Daniel Salomon, TSRI director for Laboratory for Functional Genomics, confirmed these findings and would now help researcher develop more methods to help prolong kidney longevity among its hosts.

Molecular profiling through better technologies would now be able to find perfect matches with hosts and may someday even take a step further by making the most out of effective treatments to  allow the kidneys to be adapted by the host throughout its lifetime.

In the United States, 26 million Americans have kidney disease and most of them are not aware that they have it, especially for those with suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes.

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Avoid Hidden Carbohydrates To Lose More Weight

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Weight loss is a noble goal. It seems like a simple one, too, especially to people who have never tried it. You spend plenty of time working out, you watch what you eat, and the pounds are supposed to come off, right? So how come you’re running yourself ragged and the numbers on your scale don’t seem to budge?

According to David Plourdé, Ph.D, the founder of the Plourdé Institute and an expert on scientific nutrition, it’s your body’s fat cells that are the true enemy when you’re trying to lose weight. He’s developed a scientific approach to weight loss that’s focused on adjusting hormone-sensitive lipase in the body. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down fat and releasing its energy, and keeping it properly balanced is essential for reaching a healthy weight. According to Plourdé, the “hidden” carbohydrates in most people’s diets can delay this process by 72 hours or more.

What do we mean by “hidden” carbohydrates? These are the simple bits and pieces of unhealthy nutrition (usually sugars and starches) that pass without notice in all sorts of everyday foods, even those with healthy reputations. A cheddar omelet made with broccoli is a prime example. Doesn’t it sound healthy and packed with protein? If it’s made with packaged, pre-shredded cheese, it may actually be packed with powdered cellulose to prevent clumping. That’s a starch you don’t want in your diet. Pre-separated egg whites are suspect, too; they often come with “modified food starch,” an ingredients label word for flower. You have to avoid hidden carbs like this if you want to lose weight faster. Check closely and you’ll see the same ingredients pop up over and over again. Starches masquerade in raw chicken as “product,” and these unwanted carbs can even pop up in medication.

This makes a surprising difference in the fight to control your weight. Dr. Plourdé ran an extensive test studying the weight-loss results of over 300 overweight people trying to stick with moderate-fat, high-protein diets. The results prove that it pays to know how to avoid hidden carbs. Individuals given comprehensive instruction on spotting and staying away from hidden carbs were able to reduce their body fat masses by an average of 67 percent. That’s 50 percent more fat reduction than the test subjects without instructions experienced.

Obviously, you should be looking for ways to spot and avoid these carbs yourself. Here are some keywords that should send up warning flags for you: Maltodextrian (a starch derivative), modified starch, powdered cellulose. As a good rule of thumb, though, you can judge your foods simply on the length of the ingredients list. As the list of substances grows longer, the odds of hidden carbohydrates popping up increases steadily. Keep it simple to avoid hidden carbs.

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