Neighbor to Neighbor – The Item – Worcester Telegram

February 2, 2020 medical

Joseph Hershberger, of Bolton, has been named to the Siena College fall dean's list.

Samuel Landadio, of Sterling, joined 22 other Cedarville University students who traveled to Washington, D.C. on Friday, Jan. 24, to attend the 2020 National March for Life.

The March for Life was held on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973, which legalized abortion in the U.S.

Three local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Nicholas college: Zachary Sullivan, of Berlin, Simeon Ramey, of Sterling, and Thomas Parda, of Lancaster.

Four local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Coastal Carolina University: Kelsie Antunes, a management major from Sterling; Brianna Krushefsky, a special education multi-categorical major from Boylston; Sarah Newton, a communication major from Lancaster; and Katarina Pizzarella, a marketing pre-major major from West Boylston.

Jillian Winer, of Bolton, was awarded faculty honors for the fall semester at Trinity College.

Southern New Hampshire University named four local residents to the fall president's list: Cassidy Cortes, of Bolton, Matthew Hross, of Clinton, Alexander Littizzio, of Sterling, and Katherine MacDonald, of Lancaster.

Stacy Anfinson, a University of Iowa student from Clinton, has been named to the fall dean's list. Anfinson's major is English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Several local residents were among 1,678 students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) named to the university's fall dean's list:

Berlin: Rachael Mair, Class of 2021, majoring in industrial engineering;

Bolton: Justin Schoepke, Class of 2022, majoring in aerospace engineering; Joshua McKeen, Class of 2022, majoring in computer science; John Higgins, Class of 2023, majoring in computer science; Matthew Adiletta, Class of 2021, majoring in electrical and computer engineering and computer science; Benjamin Guerriero, Class of 2022, majoring in electrical and computer engineering; and Andrew Adiletta, Class of 2023, majoring in electrical and computer engineering;

Boylston: Timothy McQuade, Class of 2020, majoring in mechanical engineering;

Clinton: Benjamin Seeto, Class of 2021, majoring in mechanical engineering; and Troy Howlett, Class of 2021, majoring in mechanical engineering;

Lancaster: Tyler Hunt, Class of 2022, majoring in aerospace engineering; and Allison Spratt, Class of 2022, majoring in management engineering;

Sterling: Olivia Wallace, Class of 2023, majoring in biochemistry; Carolyn Heighton, Class of 2021, majoring in biomedical engineering; Emma Bailey, Class of 2022, majoring in biomedical engineering; Emma Shulenburg, Class of 2023, majoring in biomedical engineering; Dylan Grady, Class of 2023, majoring in computer science; David Hinckley, Class of 2022, majoring in management engineering; and Rachel Manca, Class of 2020, majoring in management information systems; and

West Boylston: Priscilla Anand, Class of 2023, majoring in chemical engineering; Griffin Atchue, Class of 2023, majoring in computer science, and interactive media and game development; Hannah Frieden, Class of 2023, majoring in industrial engineering; John Amaral, Class of 2020, majoring in interactive media and game development, and computer science; and Molly O'Connor, Class of 2020, majoring in mechanical engineering.

Rebecca Meininger, of Bolton, has been named to the fall president's list at Clemson University. Meininger is majoring in marketing.

Carli Carbone, of Sterling, and Kyla Shaye, of Bolton, were named to the fall dean's list at the University of Delaware.

Jacqueline Cannon, a fourth-year student at the College of the Holy Cross, was named to the fall dean's list. She is the daughter of John and Maureen Cannon, of Lancaster.

Three local students were named to the fall dean's list at Wentworth Institute of Technology: Nicholas DeVincent and Chrisoula Moraitis, of Berlin, and Adriana Valenti, of Bolton.

Clinton Savings Bank announced several promotions.

Kelly Manz was promoted to consumer loan officer, an advancement from her position of consumer loan underwriter. Manzs previous CSB roles include teller, senior teller, teller supervisor and assistant branch manager.

After Consumer Lending had an extremely busy year, Ms. Manzs vast skillset did not go unnoticed, said Debra Colonna, vice president/mortgage operations manager. Kelly worked tirelessly this past year underwriting consumer loans - she exemplifies what we look for in our employees and we are extremely lucky to be able to call her a member of our team.

Manz, is a Clinton native now living in Leominster. She began working at CSB in 2004. Her primary responsibilities are underwriting and processing consumer loans.

In her free time, Manz loves traveling, attending concerts, spending time with her husband, Kyle, and daughter, Kasey, as well as volunteering at local community fairs. Throughout the course of her CSB career, she has been selected several times as employee of the month.

Lisa Poirier was promoted to vice president (VP), controller. In her role as VP, controller, Poirier is responsible for preparing the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, calculating the Allowance for Loan Losses (ALLL), preparing the annual budget, and preparing and analyzing Liquidity and the Asset / Liability Management reports.

Ms. Poirier has been an integral part of the CSB team since she began working here in 1998, said Richard Hayward Jr., executive vice president/chief financial officer/treasurer. Furthermore, she has continuously shown her commitment to learning the inner workings of all departments within CSB and has impressed us for over 20 years with her advanced knowledge of accounting and finance, her passion to learn, and her on-going dedication to her work.

Poirier holds a bachelors degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Fitchburg State University. Poirier started at CSB as a teller, which eventually led her to the accounting department as the accounting clerk. Shortly thereafter she was promoted to staff accountant followed by accounting supervisor. Poirier was later promoted to assistant VP, controller and now holds the title of VP, controller.

When she is not at CSB, Poirier enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with her dog, Harley, and her daughter, Sabrina. Additionally, since adopting Harley at the Sterling Animal Shelter, she often donates to the shelter as well as to other various charities through CSBs programs.

Nicole Martin has been promoted to the role of senior vice president (SVP), branch administration officer. After contributing to the growth of the retail side of Clinton Savings Bank for the last several years, Martin will broaden relationships with the banks customers and business partners in the community while continuing to be responsible for the operation and customer service performance of the branches.

Since Ms. Martin joined our team in 2016, she has worked tirelessly to improve the retail aspects of CSB as well as the function of our branches, said Robert Paulhus Jr., president and CEO of Clinton Savings Bank. She has used her strong administrative skills and extensive retail experience to elevate Clinton Savings Bank overall brand and retail staff. We are very lucky to have an employee like Ms. Martin who has a tenacious work ethic that heavily contributes to Clinton Savings Banks success.

With over 30 years of banking experience, Martin joined CSB as vice president, retail sales manager. During her time with the bank, one of Martins most notable accomplishments at CSB was building and establishing goals to achieve growth, profitability and operational efficiency. Martin attended Worcester State University, and now live in Clinton and enjoys spending time with her two children.

Samantha Ingui was promoted to operations officer. She began working at CSB in 2006 as a teller at the Sterling branch, which led her to becoming a teller supervisor, then assistant branch manager in both Sterling and Bolton. Ingui joined the operations department in 2015 as the operations supervisor.

Ms. Ingui has demonstrated her vast knowledge of CSB products and services, system capabilities and compliance requirements, while effectively supervising a staff of 6 employees, explained Pam Cutler, vice president/operations manager. "Her knowledge base and the experience shes gained over the past 14 years in retail and operations make Ms. Ingui an invaluable resource for her staff and peers.

Ingui's responsibilities as the new operations officer include, but are not limited to, overseeing all aspects of deposit operations including deposit accounts, card services, online banking, cash management, ACH and IRA. She is also responsible for training staff on regulatory requirements, products, policies and procedures.

In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, attending concerts and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their two children. Additionally, she is secretary of the Houghton Elementary School PTO Board in Sterling.

Two local students were named to the fall dean's list at the University of the South: Clare McNamara, of Bolton, daughter of Elizabeth and Frank McNamara Jr.; and Mary Watkins, of Sterling, daughter of Laura and John Watkins.

Several local residents were named to the fall dean's list at the University of New Hampshire:

Berlin: Ryliegh Scott, high honors, majoring in exercise science;

Bolton: Ashley Masse, honors, majoring in psychology; Caleb McClure, highest honors, majoring in psychology; Jill Conry, high honors, majoring in business administration:accounting; Elena Barshak, high honors, majoring in English; and Hannah Roth, highest honors, majoring in human development and family studies;

Boylston: William Hodgdon, high honors, majoring in geography;

Clinton: Christopher Saunders, honors, majoring in English literature;

Lancaster: Haley Taddeo, honors, majoring in sustainable agriculture and food systems; and Matthew Morrison, high honors, majoring in business administration;

Sterling: Connor Pauplis, highest honors, majoring in biomedical science and veterinary science; Samuel Marcoulier, highest honors, majoring in homeland security; Jack Prendergast, honors, majoring in undeclared; and Sophie Citro, high honors, majoring in psychology; and

West Boylston: Molly Krause, high honors, majoring in occupational therapy; and Nicholas Pichierri, high honors, majoring in English.

Six local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Northeastern University:

Berlin: Sanjana Sankar, majoring in chemical engineering/ biochemistry; and Lauren Walsh, majoring in mathematics

Bolton: Benjamin Fox, majoring in computer engineering; Isabella Susi, majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology; and Rachel Fox, majoring in mechanical engineering; and

Clinton: Smeet Patel, majoring in mechanical engineering.

Four local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Hofstra University: William Cubero, of Bolton; Gianna Direda, of Sterling; Audra Doolin, of Clinton; and Julia Wachtel, of Bolton.

Nicholas Galle, of Sterling, was named to the fall dean's list at Marquette University. Galle is pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Two residents were named to the fall dean's list at Colby College: Andrew Macdonald, Class of 2021, who attended Cushing Academy and is the son of Norman and Rebecca MacDonald, of Bolton; and Connor Smith, Class of 2020, who attended Bancroft School and is the son of Kelly Smith and Debra Twehous, of Lancaster.

Kate Burman, of Clinton, was named to the Champlain College fall dean's list.

Victoria Brandvold, of Bolton, was named to the fall dean's list at Muhlenberg College.

Two residents were named to the fall dean's list at The University of Hartford: Brooke Diefenbach, of Lancaster, and Andrew Wilcox, of Boylston.

Submit your Neighbor to Neighbor items to: clintonitem@yahoo.com or The Item, c/o Gannett, 100 Front St., fifth floor, Worcester, MA 01608.

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Neighbor to Neighbor - The Item - Worcester Telegram

Biochemistry

How Hot Is The Cannabis Industry? Thousands Crowd Into City’s First Resource Fair Looking To Break Into The Business – Block Club Chicago

February 2, 2020 medical

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE The thirst for getting into Illinois nascent legal cannabis industry was on full display Saturday as thousands packed into the citys first Cannabis Resource Fair.

How to expand the industrys diversity was a recurring topic as budding entrepreneurs line up to snag future state licenses to open cannabis businesses. All of the existing dispensaries are run by white men, a fact the state and city vow to improve on during the second round of licensing.

One message began with Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the morning and was echoed throughout the day: the industry is bigger than just pot shops.

The crowd showed up to the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, to listen to panels, connect with industry players or pitch a new idea. Many had or were planning to apply for state licenses in the industry.

The event was free and connected dispensaries, government departments, groups organizing around social equity and other industry insiders to a crowd that was much more diverse than the industry itself.

In addition to vendor booths, there were six panel discussions on topics like expungement and navigating the complex regulatory obstacles that make it difficult to open a business in the industry.

Mayor Lightfoot opened the event before sitting down with State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Wanda James, who opened the nations first Black-owned dispensary in Colorado, Simply Pure Dispensary.

Lightfoot said she hoped the event would help those with a great business idea link up with experts who can help them achieve their dreams.

Its all about building wealth, she said. Theres lots of different ways which you can participate and I want to make sure in the city of Chicago that we are laying the foundation for people to participate at all points of entry.

James had a free tip for entrepreneurs in the room, referencing a state law that requires strict packaging when driving on the highway with your cannabis.

The first person in this room that can come up with biodegradable child-proof packaging is going to be the richest person in this room, she said.

Lightfoots cannabis advisor Paul Stewart led the effort to organize the event and was thrilled with the turnout.

We had just over 4,800 people register and it felt like all 4,800 showed up. But I would probably guess close to 3,200- 3,500 over the course of the day, he said.

Stewart said the mayors team had been conducting neighborhood level outreach and realized there was a demand for a larger event, so they created what he described as a one stop shop.

We can bring all of the vendors here, all of the technical-assistance providers that we had already vetted so we knew people werent getting scammed, he said. You get expungement information, the licensing and technical assistance.

Stewart echoed the sentiment that those looking to enter the industry should look at other opportunities beyond opening a dispensary.

Everyone doesnt need to be a cannabis business. If you have a business already, then find out if you have the ability to contract with one of the companies. Anything from security, to trucking, electrical contractors, he said. We want as many local residents and clearly want to see more diversity in the industry as well.

On May 1 the state will announce the winners of 72 dispensary licenses statewide. On July 1, the Department of Agriculture will grant licenses to up to 40 processors, craft growers and transporting organizations.

Saturdays panel discussions were split into three, hour-long blocks with two simultaneous discussions. The popularity of the event led to an early hiccup, when people hoping to attend a panel on starting a business in the industry were shut out of the at-capacity meeting room.

A woman who asked not to be named attended because she is interested in opening an infusing or processing business. She was among a group of people unsuccessful getting into the room.

I came here to really understand what resources are available, which is why I am so upset that I cant get into the session on how to start a business, she said.

Later panels were moved into the main event hall to accommodate more people.

Many who attended were budding entrepreneurs who were seeking advice on the best way to enter the industry. Others saw it as a networking event a chance to pitch their product or idea.

Yewande Odusanwo owns a digital marketing company and was hoping to connect with people to help market their products. Odusanwo also hosts the Zora Talks podcast, where she interviews entrepreneurs in the healthy living business. She was inspired by James story and made it a stretch goal to get her on the podcast.

I saw it on the news today and I have my own business, she said. I just kind of wanted to see what opportunities there were in the cannabis industry.

Sugar LanCret, a tax accountant, and Precious Fraction, in school studying biochemistry, hope to one day open a dispensary or processing company. They plan to apply when more licenses become available next year.

Were preparing and we know that they have another round coming up next year, and so were getting all of our information and all of our documents ready now, said Fraction.

They attended a discussion on contracting opportunities. LanCret said they found it useful.

I liked their candor, she said. They helped paint a better picture of that [process], she said.

Samuel Hutchins works in the tech sector, which he said has the same lack of equity ownership as the cannabis industry.

Im really interested in understanding the intersection of technology and cannabis. Specifically from an equity lens and understanding that equity can be more than just the dispensary experience, but also the backend analytics that are helping make dispensaries more optimized and profitable, he said.

Peter Contos is vice president of the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition. His group has been attending community meetings for proposed dispensaries and asking cannabis companies to sign on to a community benefits agreement that would commit the companies to hiring standards beyond what state law requires.

On Saturday, he said his vendor booth was getting a lot of questions from people seeking to have their own, or a family members, record expunged for past cannabis-related offenses.

Were going to connect you with our partners at Legal Aid Chicago, Cabrini Green Legal Aid, who have been phenomenal for the last year in working with us to make sure the expungement process is as accessible as possible, he said.

Grady Norwood, managing partner of Chicago Minority Cannabis Group, said they provide classes that can train and certify people to work in the industry.

Everything is regulated now. So if you touch the weed, you gotta be certified, he said.

Classes are $100 and last 8 hours. He said they filled up five sign-in sheets with people interested in taking the class.

This was the citys first resource fair. There may be more planned later. Stewart said those who couldnt attend or are looking for more information can visit a website created by the mayors team.

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How Hot Is The Cannabis Industry? Thousands Crowd Into City's First Resource Fair Looking To Break Into The Business - Block Club Chicago

Genetics

Israel Prize awarded to Hebrew University Professor Dani Zamir for his agricultural research – Haaretz

February 2, 2020 medical

The Israel Prize for agricultural research and environmental science is being awarded to Prof. Dani Zamir, the Education Ministry announced Sunday. Zamir is professor emeritus in genetics at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at Hebrew University.

Zamirs fields of research deal with improving plants and developing innovative tools for genetic cultivation. For example, he developed a group of cultured tomatoes that contain a DNA string from species of wild tomatoes that make them resistant to dryness, salt and various diseases.

Twenty years ago he founded the company AB Seeds, which together with the universitys Yissum technology transfer company developed one of the leading species of tomatoes grown in California. Ten years ago, he and his student, Yaniv Semel, set up a company that applies computational methods to genetic cultivation. Zamir has won numerous research grants, including a particularly prestigious grant from the European Research Council

The prize committee called Zamir a leader in his field who is internationally recognized and involved in international cooperative ventures. He has contributed and continues to contribute to Israeli and global agriculture.

For 35 years, Zamir taught the basic genetics course in the agriculture department, along with advanced courses. Hebrew University noted that all the students in the agriculture department, from 1982 to today (except the years he was on sabbatical) studied genetics with Prof. Zamir.

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Israel Prize awarded to Hebrew University Professor Dani Zamir for his agricultural research - Haaretz

Genetics

The Key to Your Perfect Diet Could Be Hiding in Your DNA – The Spoon

February 2, 2020 medical

Our DNA contains the code that dictates how our body works including, apparently, information about which foods we should (and shouldnt) be eating.

Dr. Sherry Zhang is on a mission to help individuals eat healthier based on their unique genetic code. Thats why she created GenoPalate, the DNA-driven personalized nutrition company, and also why we cant wait to welcome her onstage at Customize, our food personalization summit in NYC next month.

Before she hits the stage, we had the chance to ask Dr. Zhang a few questions about DNA vs. microbiome-based nutrition, data privacy and the biggest challenges towards harnessing the power of personal biology.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Tell us a little bit about what GenoPalate does.GenoPalate is a personalized nutrition platform. We believe that food and nutrition play a powerful role in our health and wellbeing. Our mission is to empower people to optimize their health through personalized nutrition insights.

The GenoPalate platform uses the latest research in metabolic health, genetics and nutrition to provide personalized insights to encourage healthier eating behaviors. From a simple saliva sample, our proprietary technology uses DNA to make personalized recommendations on the ideal intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. We make this actionable for our customers by providing a comprehensive list of foods that best suit their geneticnutritional requirements.

Whats the difference between DNA-driven and microbiome-driven diet recommendations?This is a hard question as we are NOT comparing apples to apples. When we test DNA (like ancestry or 23andMe and Genopalate) we are testing the blueprint of a humans genome. The human genome is a 3.2 billion-letter genetic code that we all were born with. Within our genetic code or DNA we have many variants that define not only our food preferences but how our bodies will respond to or metabolise specific nutrients. For example there are variants that predict tolerance to lactose or caffeine metabolism.

Another factor that may contribute to how our bodies respond to nutrients, are the bacterial, viral and fungal floras that live in our gut. These are known as our microbiomes. Microbiome companies are testing the RNA and DNA of the gut bacteria NOT of our human genetic code.This is an important distinction. Microbiome research, while promising, is still in its infancy. Many studies are still being conducted to understand how nutritional interventions impact the microbiome and how they impact on human health.

How do you navigate concerns around data privacy?We at GenoPalate take extra care to keep customers genetic and personal information private and safe as we understand how important it is for us to deliver the best possible practices for customers data privacy. We implement de-identification along with encryption of each individuals data to ensure secure storage and complete anonymous separation fromgenetic and personal information. Only automated GenoPalate product services have access to all of the information to fulfill each order and deliver each product to customers. As a business, we do not sell, lease or rent users personal information to third-parties without the users consent. Customers genetic information may be used by GenoPalates product development team to enhance services to customers.

In this case, customers data will be de-identified and aggregated before analysis to preserve anonymity. We will continue investing measures that ensure responsible management of user data including transparency, consumer education, proper consenting and data security and privacy design and more by following the principles recommended by organizations such as Forum of Future Privacy.

Whats one of the biggest challenges facing personalized nutrition?I think one of the biggest challenges facing personalized nutrition is the question of how to create a contextual user experience in order to continuously drive a persons success in healthy eating.

Human genetics is known to explain approximately 30 percent of the variations we have observed in our phenotypic traits such as weight and body mass distribution, glucose and lipids profiles, blood pressure and inflammatory biometrics. We also know that approximately 40 percent of the health phenotype outcomes are also driven by an individuals daily lifestyle behaviors.

What we yet need to tackle as a scientific community is to establish an effective way of harnessing the power of personal biology in the context of that persons living environment. GenoPalate is up for the challenge and is seeking forward-thinking organizations to partner in our quest for helping people to reach and maintain their optimal health and prevent chronic diseases.

Watch Dr. Zhang dive deeper into the world of DNA-driven food recommendations at Customize on February 27th! Use discount code SPOON15 and Grab your tickets here before theyre gone.

Immunology

What You Need to Know About the First Peanut Allergy Treatment Approved by the FDA – Benzinga

February 2, 2020 medical

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 01, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the very first peanut allergy treatment: Palforzia, a standardized oral immunotherapy (OIT) product for peanut allergy. This is the first treatment for any food allergy to be approved by the FDA. In light of this groundbreaking approval, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) is here to share information about OIT to help patients understand this therapy and what it means for their treatment options.

"Most allergists trained at a time when we never thought we'd see a treatment for food allergy. Previously we recommended carrying injectable epinephrine and strict avoidance, which in some cases leads to serious or even life-threatening allergic reactions with inadvertent food exposures. Now, we have the first FDA approved treatment for food allergy, that when used in combination with avoidance measures, can reduce the possibility that an inadvertent exposure will lead to a serious allergic reaction," said AAAAI President David M. Lang, MD, FAAAAI, who is also Chair of the Allergy/Immunology Department in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic.

What is OIT? OIT involves feeding an increasing amount of an allergen to an individual allergic to that specific allergen. The goal of OIT is to increase the threshold that triggers an allergic reaction.

For example, the newly approved Palforzia is a capsule filled with peanut powder that can be mixed into food. Patients taking this capsule are therefore exposed to controlled doses of peanut protein. Over time, the dose will gradually increase with the hopes that higher doses will induce a level of tolerance that prevents allergic reactions to accidental peanut exposure.

It is important to remember that OIT is not a cure for peanut allergy, and it is likely an individual starting this therapy will need to remain on it indefinitely. Patients utilizing this therapy will still be expected to avoid dietary peanut and carry an epinephrine auto-injector.

Who Will Benefit From This Treatment? OIT will not be right for every patient. It is not a "one size fits all" approach. How to predict which individuals will respond to OIT and which individuals will be at highest risk of side effects (including anaphylaxis) has not been clearly determined, and there are many other important questions about OIT that require ongoing study.

The AAAAI encourages patients and families to engage with an allergist/immunologist to discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives of OIT and all other emerging treatments for food allergy. Ultimately, the choice of treatment, including that of active non-intervention, will be based on individual and family factors after careful discussion with one's physician.

"Patients and their families will need to understand the realities of these new therapies. As physicians, we must invest the time to explain the potential for benefit compared with the potential for harm/burden, and permit patients and families to express their values and preferences, allowing them to participate in the medical decision making process to determine whether they desire to proceed with food oral immunotherapy," said Dr. Lang.

Who Can Provide More Details? Food allergy experts from the AAAAI are available to speak about this new therapy and what it means for patients. If you're a reporter looking to speak with an expert, please email media@aaaai.org. If you're a patient, the AAAAI's Find an Allergist/Immunologist service will allow you to find a trusted AAAAI member specialist close to home.

You can learn more about the current state of OIT at the AAAAI's website, aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has nearly 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries.

SOURCE American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

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What You Need to Know About the First Peanut Allergy Treatment Approved by the FDA - Benzinga

Immunology

Coronavirus lurking in feces may be a hidden source of spread – The Japan Times

February 2, 2020 medical

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA While doctors have focused on respiratory samples from pneumonia cases to identify coronavirus patients, they might have ignored a less apparent source of the spread: diarrhea.

The novel coronavirus was detected in the loose stool of the first U.S. case a finding that hasnt featured among case reports from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. However, that doesnt surprise scientists who have studied coronaviruses, nor doctors familiar with the bug that caused SARS.

Diarrhea occurred in about 10 to 20 percent of patients afflicted with severe acute respiratory syndrome about 17 years ago and was the source of an explosive SARS outbreak in the Amoy Gardens residential complex in Hong Kong.

SARS and Wuhan viruses bind to the same distinctly shaped protein receptors in the body that are expressed in the lungs and intestines, making these organs the primary targets for both viruses, said Fang Li, an associate professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences at the University of Minnesota.

The discovery of the Wuhan virus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, in the fecal material of the 35-year-old man treated at the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett in Washington is interesting, said Scott Lindquist, the state epidemiologist for infectious disease at Washingtons Department of Health.

That adds to the knowledge about this, he told reporters on a conference call Friday. Its not only excreted in your respiratory secretions, its also secreted in your stool.

Researchers dont yet know how exactly 2019-nCoV spreads from person to person, but they suspect it is most likely from coming into contact with virus-containing droplets that could be emitted by an infected persons cough and transferred to their hands or surfaces and objects.

That has led to a run on face masks. But those may be of limited benefit in the event the virus is being transmitted via the fecal-oral route, said John Nicholls, a clinical professor of pathology at the University of Hong Kong.

Squat latrines lacking covers, common in China, and hands that arent washed thoroughly with soap and water after visiting the bathroom could be a source of virus transmission, said Nicholls, who was part of the research team that isolated and characterized the SARS virus.

A virus-laden aerosol plume emanating from a SARS patient with diarrhea was implicated in possibly hundreds of cases at the Amoy Gardens housing complex in 2003. That led Hong Kong researchers to understand the importance of the viruss spread through the gastrointestinal tract and to recognize both the limitation of face masks and importance of cleanliness and hygiene, Nicholls said in an interview.

I think in Wuhan, that would be a very likely place where you might get the transmission from fecal material, he said. If its using the same receptor as for SARS, I cant see why it shouldnt be replicating in the gut.

Nicholls and colleagues at the University of Hong Kong are testing laboratory models of human tissues and specimens to understand where and how the Wuhan virus replicates, he said.

Doctors have reported diarrhea infrequently in 2019-nCoV patients admitted to Wuhan hospitals, though it has been more prominent among reported cases outside the city, including members of a Shenzhen family infected in Wuhan, and more recently in the first U.S. case in Washington state. That patient experienced a two-day bout of diarrhea from which a sample tested positive.

The lab in Washington didnt attempt to grow the virus from that specimen, said Lindquist, because it wasnt going to add anything to his care.

Many of the emerging coronaviruses are so-called pneumoenteric viruses, meaning they can replicate both in the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal system, said Ralph Baric, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who has studied coronaviruses for decades.

Overwhelmed by hundreds of severely sick pneumonia patients, doctors in Wuhan might not have focused on any gastric signs, Baric said in a phone interview.

The Chinese are so overwhelmed at the moment and trying to do a combination of treating patients and dealing with the scope of the outbreak, and then trying to get out papers that describe whats happening, he said.

Any virus in stool is more likely to be present during the acute phase of an infection, occurring before hospitalized patients develop a life-threatening complication known as acute respiratory distress syndrome, Baric said.

I have also spent most of my time focusing on the respiratory tract symptomology rather than the gut because of the relationship between these different emerging viruses and acute respiratory distress syndrome, he said.

Zijian Feng, deputy director general of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues released a report Wednesday on the first 425 Wuhan cases, and noted that early infections that didnt appear to display typical signs such as fever and viral pneumonia or had mild symptoms might have been missed.

The initial focus of case detection was on patients with pneumonia, but we now understand that some patients can present with gastrointestinal symptoms, Feng and co-authors said in their report, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Emerging evidence of virus-containing diarrhea warrants further investigation, said Peter Collignon, a professor of clinical medicine at the Australian National University Medical School in Canberra, who advises the Australian government on infection control.

This is something new, Collignon said in an interview. We presume its respiratory droplets, but with SARS there was evidence of other routes. We have to keep an open mind.

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Coronavirus lurking in feces may be a hidden source of spread - The Japan Times

Immunology

What we’re learning about infectious disease from bats and mosquitos – Source

February 2, 2020 medical

We know surveillance is used to keep an eye on convenience stores and homes; it is also used to monitor the spread of infectious diseases. Of course, video cameras wont work to spot viruses or bacteria, so researchers at Colorado State University are working to create other methods that allow us to watch out for infectious disease harmful to humans.

Anna Fagre, Ph.D. student in CSUs Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Pathology, investigates how bats might be useful for disease surveillance. In Uganda, Fagre studies bats in caves visited by humans for recreational or religious purposes to determine what diseases or viruses might be present in that area.

We look at the potential for bats to act as reservoirs for these viruses, Fagre said.

Through non-lethal sampling, Fagre collects blood, saliva and fecal samples to find out what diseases exist in the bats. This information allows the researchers to determine if a particular disease might spread via blood through arthropod vectors like mosquitoes, or through the bats own fluids.

As the first veterinarian to receive the $25,000 Robert E. Shope International Fellowship, Fagre specializes in understanding the parasites found on bats, such as ticks and bat bugs, to study how these arthropods might transfer diseases from bats to humans.

But her team intends to take data collection a step further.

When we trap the bats, well be microchipping them, kind of like you would a dog or a cat, so we can identify the bats moving forward, Fagre said.

With GPS technology, the team will be able to track individual bats, view where they have been, and examine whether theyve picked up a disease between samplings. This can be extremely valuable in pinpointing where a virus is spreading from or what population of bats has been infected.

It allows us to get a step ahead of the virus, Fagre explained. If we know which viruses are present in the bat populations, and we know that humans are interacting with these bats by coming into these caves, then we know exactly which pathogens or viruses to be monitoring for in the human population.

This information can help doctors to diagnose the problem more quickly in patients with unknown illnesses.

Continued here:
What we're learning about infectious disease from bats and mosquitos - Source

Immunology

When Flight 752 was shot down, Canadian schools lost some of their best and brightest – Yahoo News Canada

February 2, 2020 medical

The tragic loss of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752, shot down near Tehran killing all 176 on board, has had a terrible impact on friends and family, and also on Canada's academic community.

At least 19 universities in six provinces lost researchers, professors and students in the disaster. Their expertise ranged across diverse fields, from engineering to medicine, and business to biology.

CBC News spoke to colleagues of three of those individuals about what they were like, and the incredible contributions they were making through their work.

Forough Khadem

Forough Khadem's research had immense promise.

The 36-year-old moved from Tehran to Winnipeg in 2010 to pursue a PhD in immunology at the University of Manitoba, after a chance encounter with a Canadian researcher visiting Iran.

Jude Uzonna, a professor of immunology and medical microbiology, met Khadem 10 years ago at a conference in Tehran. He says he was so impressed by her energy and intelligence, he offered her the chance to study in Winnipeg.

Khadem's background was in plant biotechnology, but working in a completely different field didn't seem to faze her. She jumped at the opportunity.

"She excelled," said Uzonna, who became her PhD adviser. "She was a very bright student."

Khadem's PhD focused on visceral leishmaniasis a deadly parasitic disease that affects people in nearly 100 countries. She discovered where and how the parasite hides in the body, including inside liver cells.

This research could be life saving, according to Uzonna.

"The type of disease she worked on is lethal. It's fatal if not treated," said Uzonna. "She was able to find this pathway, and that if you block this pathway and target these particular cells, you can cure it."

Khadem's findings were featured on the cover of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases' Hepatology journal in 2016.

"How many people get their work on the cover of the journal?" said Uzonna. "I've trained seven or eight PhD students only her work has made it onto the cover of a journal."

After graduating, Khadem worked at MITACS, a Canada-wide non-profit that makes connections between industry and researchers. But her link to the University of Manitoba stayed strong, and on Jan. 17 a vigil for Khadem was held on campus.

Story continues

"She loved the university and she loved science," said Saeid Ghavami, her friend and colleague. "She was so connected to her professional life that she always felt that university was her second home."

Uzonna says Forough's work lays the foundation for another person to continue with it. "When that person moves forward, she's always going to get the credit."

"That's the beauty of science," he said. "She lives on that way."

Mohammad Asadi Lari

Mohammad Asadi Lari was in his second year of an eight-year MD/PhD program at the University of Toronto when he was killed on Jan. 8.

Fewer than 10 students are accepted into the program each year.

"You can imagine, in a program where we're training the next generation of physician scientists that are going to make new discoveries and change health care, there are lots of amazing students," said Dr. Nicola Jones, the program's director.

"Within that group, Mohammad was exceptional. He really stood out."

At 23, Asadi Lari had already accomplished so much.

He started a STEM fellowship five years ago when he was an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia. The program, which provides youth with tools and skills to help them excel in STEM fields, now has 20 university branches and 15 high school chapters in eight provinces.

He gave a TedX Talk in 2019, urging young people to find what they're passionate about and take action on it.

"He had a way of connecting people and making other people feel great," said Dr. Vipan Nikore, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto.

At a Toronto vigil for victims of the crash, deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland remembered meeting Mohammad just a few months earlier.

"He cornered me," recalled Freeland, "and said 'Minister, the government has to do more about this! And I need to meet with you and talk to you about it.'"

Asadi Lari was to decide on his PhD research focus the week after he died. For his friends, teachers and mentors, the loss of his enormous potential in their community is immeasurable.

"People like Mohammad don't come around that often. And to me, there's no question he was going to change the world," said Dr. Nikore.

Zahra Naghibi

Zahra Naghibi, a thermodynamicist, was just about to launch two new projects. She was in her third year of a PhD at the University of Windsor when she died.

Naghibi's work in the university's turbulence and energy lab focused on energy consumption in greenhouses. She had just completed the delicate and painstaking task of creating a model of a micro-climate.

"Zahra's model could tell you minute to minute what the energy consumption would be in a greenhouse at any time," said her PhD supervisor, Rupp Carriveau.

"She could also show what was going to happen in the future, which enables you to do things like design a better or more innovative energy supply system."

Carriveau said it was Naghibi's work that facilitated the acquisition of the two large projects for the university. With Naghibi gone, the turbulence and energy lab faces the challenge of carrying on and developing them without her.

"We'll never be the same. The lab won't be the same," said Carriveau. "The research won't be the same."

Naghibi lived in Windsor, Ont., with her husband, Mohammad Abaspour Ghadi, who also died in the crash.

Carriveau said Naghibi was being courted for various positions in the agriculture and energy industries, and would have had her pick of opportunities when she graduated a year from now.

"As a country we lost so much, when you consider what one life can do," said Carriveau.

"I think we lost a lot as a nation. I can't imagine the collective impact."

Hundreds of frontline NHS staff in Salisbury don’t have flu jab – Spire FM

February 2, 2020 medical

The Society for Acute Medicine says it's concerning that many NHS staff across England who deal with patients have not been vaccinated.

According to Public Health England:

On Friday (31 Jan 2020) Lorna Wilkinson, Director of Nursing at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust told Spire FM News:

"Staff flu vaccination forms a key part of our overall plans to protect staff and patients in hospital and through our staff flu campaign we put in place a number of measures to encourage and make it as easy possible for staff to get the flu vaccination."

"80% of our frontline staff have now received the flu vaccination. This is an improvement on our uptake rate compared to this time last year and we have not only met but are now likely to exceed the 80% target, which is a great achievement."

"We are continuing to offer all our staff the flu vaccination and would encourage anyone who hasn't yet to contact their Peer Vaccinator/Occupational Health to arrange a convenient time."

The NHS's own guidelines say the flu vaccine reduces the risk of catching flu, as well as spreading it to others. The best time to have the vaccine is before the start of the flu season, usually December to March.

Doctors, nurses, clinical staff and support workers involved in direct patient care are encouraged to have the jab. Trusts have financial incentives for staff uptake, receiving full payment if at least 80% have it, and a decreasing amount down to 60% coverage, below which they get nothing.

The target is measured between September and February, and the payment varies depending on the size of the trust's contract. The proportion of staff who had the vaccine by the end of December differed widely across the 235 trusts that submitted figures.

Dr Nick Scriven, President of the Society for Acute Medicine, said:

"The NHS has enough to worry about without further issues with staff being unwell when it may have been prevented. We know there is a financial incentive for NHS trusts to get their staff vaccinated but I would hope the health need and protection it offers would be more than enough to persuade people."

Across England, the 68.5% uptake rate at the end of December was better than at the same point a year earlier, when it stood at 65.8%.

Dr Doug Brown, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology, said

"The flu vaccine is the best protection we have against a virus that can lead to serious illness in vulnerable groups. It is extremely important to continue to increase seasonal flu vaccine uptake among frontline healthcare workers to reduce the risk of spreading the virus and causing serious illness in at-risk groups."

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Hundreds of frontline NHS staff in Salisbury don't have flu jab - Spire FM

Immunology

Operations Officer job with KINGS COLLEGE LONDON | 195056 – Times Higher Education (THE)

February 2, 2020 medical

We are seeking an enthusiastic Operations Officer to join the professional services team supporting the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences. We are one of seven Schools in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at Kings College London. The School is based across three Campuses, and the successful candidate will be expected to work across these locations, as and when required.

This post will work closely with the two School Senior Operations Officers as well as with staff and students across the School, Faculty and University, to ensure that the Schools Operations are fully supported, including research grant management, staffing and financial processes, oversight of local estates and facilities, supporting the day-to-day administration of the School.

The post is responsible for a variety of tasks and the successful candidate must be:

versatile, adaptable, with the capacity to deal with competing requests and priorities, for action;

highly motivated;

approachable and confident in liaising with colleagues in the University and with external partners, including the NHS, to ensure a smooth exchange of information and collaboration to meet deadlines.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.

The selection process will include a panel interview, an assessment, a test.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Denise Jamieson denise.jamieson@kcl.ac.uk

To apply, please register with the Kings College London application portal and complete your application online.

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Operations Officer job with KINGS COLLEGE LONDON | 195056 - Times Higher Education (THE)