image:A, CC (left) and MLO (right) low-energy images from pre-NAT CEM performed on 25th day of luteal phase show a 60-mm architectural distortion (line on CC) in the central portion of the right breast. B, CC (left) and MLO (right) recombined images from pre-NAT CEM show marked background parenchymal enhancement, hindering lesion evaluation; 90-mm non-mass regional enhancement (line) was described. C, Axial fat-saturated T1-weighted unenhanced MR image shows a 70-mm hypointense irregular mass (line) with not circumscribed margins in the central portion of right breast. D, Axial fat-saturated T1-weighted post-contrast MR images shows corresponding fast initial enhancement (line) with delayed plateau. view more
Credit: American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR)
Leesburg, VA, June 22, 2022According to ARRS American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) may be a useful alternative test for neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) response assessment in patients with breast cancer who are unable to undergo MRI.
After NAT for breast cancer, CEM and MRI yielded comparable assessments of lesion size (both slightly overestimated vs pathology) and RECIST categories, and no significant difference in specificity for pathologic complete response, wrote corresponding author Rubina Manuela Trimboli of IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital in Milan, Italy. Noting that MRI had higher sensitivity for pathologic complete response, delayed CEM acquisition may help detect residual ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Trimboli and teams prospective study included 51 patients (mean age, 46 years) with biopsy-proven breast cancer from May 2015 to April 2018, who were candidates for NAT. Patients underwent both CEM and MRI before, during, and after NAT: pre-NAT, mid-NAT, and post-NAT, respectively. Post-NAT CEM included a 6-minute delayed acquisition. One breast radiologist with experience in CEM reviewed CEM examinations; one breast radiologist with experience in MRI reviewed MRI examinations.
Compared with pathology, post-NAT CEM, MRI, and delayed CEM systematically overestimated residual tumor size by 0.8 mm, 1.9 mm, and 1.2 mm, respectively. For detecting pathologic complete response by post-NAT imaging, sensitivity and specificity were 81% and 83% for CEM, 100% and 86% for MRI, and 81% and 89% for delayed CEM.
While MRI remains the preferred test for NAT monitoring, the authors of this AJR article concluded, the findings support CEM as a useful alternative when MRI is contraindicated or not tolerated.
North Americas first radiological society, theAmerican Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) remains dedicated to the advancement of medicine through the profession of medical imaging and its allied sciences. An international forum for progress in radiology since the discovery of the x-ray, ARRS maintains its mission of improving health through a community committed to advancing knowledge and skills with the worlds longest continuously published radiology journalAmerican Journal of Roentgenologythe ARRS Annual Meeting, InPractice magazine, topical symposia, myriad multimedia educational materials, as well as awarding scholarships via The Roentgen Fund.
Contrast-Enhanced Mammography Versus MRI in the Evaluation of Neoadjuvant Therapy Response in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Prospective Study
22-Jun-2022
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
Dr. Robert Malone will present testimony before the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing on Monday June 27th.
In stating his qualifications, Dr. Malone explained why he is in a unique position to provide an opinion regarding federal pandemic responses, I have been deeply involved in multiple prior outbreak responses including AIDS, the Post Anthrax/Smallpox scare, Pandemic Influenza, Ebola, Zika, and now SARS-CoV-2.
He explained how in all prior pandemic responses, the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was to provide impartial and accurate data to advise state public health authorities who, according to the U.S. Constitution, have the right and duty to manage their own public health policy as well as the practice of medicine.
In the United States, each state has its own public health department and licensing board for medical doctors. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) took a lead role over the CDC. This had never happened before.
Malone also related how, In my professional experience, during all prior outbreaks and vaccine development programs, risks and benefits have always been evaluated and stratified by risk group, and public health recommendations have been tailored to account for differences in risk/benefit ratios.
Rather than following tried and true methods, new protocols were developed by Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx in a non-transparent way without public hearings, comment, or input from treating physicians.
These new protocols involved the rapid development of vaccines with inadequate safety trials and the aggressive blocking and suppression of the use of effective repurposed drugs and treatment regimes. None of the vaccines could have received Emergency Use Authorization if there existed an alternative efficacious treatment.
Since the COVID-19 vaccine role outs began, the CDC has purposefully withheld data that it thought would contribute to vaccine hesitancy and admitted that it did not monitor or analyze vaccine safety data, included cases reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
Malone said, This has compromised the informed consent process. Instead, the CDC has actively promoted and marketed vaccination with unlicensed (emergency use authorized) products, with over $1 Billion USD in federal funding expended to both market the products and to censor those who have raised concerns regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness.
He continued, [the] FDA, NIH, and CDC (together with WHO) have cooperated to actively restrict, demean, and deprecate use of multiple currently available licensed drugs for treatment of COVID-19 by licensed practicing physicians, and have facilitated retaliation against physicians who do not follow the treatment guidelines established and promoted by the NIH which has neither mandate nor significant prior experience in developing and implementing universal treatment guidance and protocols, and which has done so in a unilateral manner without seeking meaningful input from practicing physicians. He provided the example of the retaliation experienced by the highly qualified physician and scientist authors of the Great Barrington Declaration.
Both the NIH and CCD have promoted federal policies across the entire United States with no respect for state autonomy and evidence suggests they have gone so far as to withhold monoclonal antibody treatment from the state of Florida because Governor Desantis COVID management policies did not align with federal ones.
He stated, It is my professional opinion that in the case of the COVID crisis, we have seen an unprecedented weaponization of public health policies to advance political and economic agendas, which are not directly related to public health.
It is also my opinion that the federal government has incrementally usurped the constitutional rights of states to regulate health care and the practice of medicine, and that this has been accomplished using a variety of coercive tactics.
He urged Texas senators to develop their own state drug manufacturing not only for business and economic development but to also protect the health and safety of the citizens of Texas as, in his opinion, outsourcing drug development and manufacturing to places like China and India represents a threat to national security and public health.
Dr. Malone concluded, In sum, during the COVID crisis, I believe that we have seen an unprecedented encroachment of the U.S. Federal Government into the practice of medicine, the circumventing of both bioethical and regulatory norms that have been developed over decades, and heavy handed and politicized federal implementation of a wide range of interventions in our communities, businesses, churches, government, monetary policy and general commerce.
Nearly 30 percent of Americans use complementary and alternative healing methods in some capacity to improve general health.* At Everglades University, our Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Alternative Medicine can help you break into this emerging industry and explore the field of alternative medicine.
As a student enrolled in this program, you will explore areas such as, but not limited to:
If youre already working as a nurse, massage therapist, spa director, medical assistant or other practicing health care professional, this program can help you incorporate natural healing methods into your practice. For students new to the health care field, this program delivers the opportunity to learn about non-traditional healing methods that are practiced both domestically and throughout the world. A concentration in Science Studies is ideal for students preparing for advanced education. A capstone course is available with this degree program.
Everglades Universitys students have easy access to our online learning community and experienced faculty that hold a Masters or Doctoral Degree in their discipline. All degree programs are available at one of our convenient Florida campus locations or 100% online.
Give us a call to learn more. Our admissions counselors are here to answer any questions that you may have about our Alternative Medicine program.
*nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health
Explore the exciting field of Alternative Medicine with courses in Herbology and Botany, Nutrition and Aging, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Homeopathy, and Antioxidants.
Alternative medicine is a broad term encompassing a variety of medical modalities. These are typically supported by tradition and seldom taught in a Western medical setting. Such modalities range from the ancient Eastern practices of acupuncture and Tai chi, to herbal medicine, Reiki, chiropractic manipulation, and more. These services are often used interchangeably with the term "alternative medicine", a designation created in the 1800s that distinguished these modalities as alternative to allopathic medicine. Allopathic medicine is also commonly referred to as Western medicine, evidence-based medicine, conventional, or mainstream medicine. In the nineteenth century, allopathic medicine was based on a practice of opposites whereas the alternative branch suggested that like cured like. Present day differences remain but tend to revolve around a disease-centric (allopathic) versus a whole-body (alternative) approach. Alternative practices focus on stimulating the bodys ability to heal itself via energy alignment, herbal supplementation, and other balancing techniques. Conversely, allopathic medicine focuses on symptom-specific treatment, typically with pharmacological or invasive methods to remove the offending agent. With ancient records supporting alternative modalities and rigorous clinical trials supporting allopathic modalities, there continues to bedisagreementover which method is proven beneficial and safe. Today, many physicians are embracing the beneficial aspects of both types of medicine through the practice of Integrative Medicine in which they combine appropriate alternative and allopathic techniques according to the patient, symptoms, and circumstances. Additionally, large trials attempting to solidify evidence for the anecdotal benefits of alternative medicine are increasing in popularity.
Common Forms of Alternative Medicine:
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique used to balance chi, the energy of life. According to the ancient beliefs, chi is an energy flow that courses along pathways within the body. These paths are termed meridians. With acupuncture, small needles are placed trans-dermally along these meridians to redirect chi. The needles are often manipulated via clockwise or counterclockwise twisting to further stimulate chi. Additionally, the needles can be connected to electric stimulators that provide intermittent or continuous electric stimulation. This newer form of acupuncture is termed Electroacupuncture. The placement and manipulation of the needles vary based on the goal of the treatment. Treatment applications are expansive and range from symptomatic treatment for depression[1], pain[2][3], gastrointestinal issues, allergic rhinitis[4]to specific goal-oriented approaches such as with fertility treatments or decreasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease[5].
Ayurveda:
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian practice that originated thousands of years ago. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda translates to The Science of Life and is often referred to as the Mother of All Healing. This practice was passed down verbally and very few written documents are accessible today. Many alternative therapies are rooted in the basic belief system coined by Ayurveda that supports the promotion of health through the balance of mind, body,and spirit. It is believed that a unique combination of five universal elements makes up each individual: space, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements make up three doshas, or energies: Vata dosha, Pitta dosha, and Kapha Dosha. Each person has a unique combination of these energies, each with its own properties and controls. When one becomes ill, it is a result of an imbalance in their doshas that must be rebalanced. The Ayurveda practice focuses on maintaining a healthy balance amongst all these aspects of life to promote health and well-being. Many homeopathic and naturopathic practices are rooted in this belief system.
Herbal Medicine:
Herbal medicine is another loosely defined and broad term that encompasses a variety of practices. Many cultures throughout history have embraced botanicals and herbs for their healing properties. For example, the ancient Egyptians wrote a book in approximately 1550 BC called Ebers Papyrus in which they detailed the medicinal uses of over 850 plants. Similarly, much of today's knowledge on herbal supplements stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine in which herbs are prescribed and used for various ailments such as depression[6], respiratory symptoms including COPD[7], hepatic dysfunction[8]and chronic heart failure[9].
Today, many herbal products and supplements are sold over-the-counter in grocery stores, pharmacies, and clinics. An herbal product is any plant-based product used to improve health while an herbal supplement is an herbal product intended for internal use only. These products and supplements come in various forms including dried, minced, powdered or capsulated. They can then be utilized in various ways through methods such as ingestion (via pill or brewed teas), application (lotions, creams, and oils), or absorption (bath soaks). In the United States, these substances are categorized as food as opposed to medication and are thus not regulated by the FDA (see more about this in the Issues of Concern section).
Many case reports have been documented describing the beneficial effects of herbs and Traditional Chinese Medicine claiming cures for various diseases. Several large-scale evaluations have been proposed to validate these claims and improve the legitimacy of herbal substances within the scope of Western medicine.
Some commonly used herbal supplements:
Black cohosh: Primarily used for issues regarding the female reproductive system such as menstrual cramps.
Echinacea: Used to enhance the immune system
Garlic: Noted for its beneficial cardiovascular effects particularly cholesterol.
Ginseng: A commonly used energy-boosting agent (often found in energy drinks)
St Johns Wort: Claims improvement in mood, particularly mild to moderate depression.
Body Manipulation:
Yoga, massage, Tai chi, chiropractic, and Osteopathic manipulations all fall under the umbrella term Body manipulation. These practices vary greatly in their implementation but boast similar beneficial effects. Yoga and Tai chi are ancient exercises aimed at improving the health of both the mind and the body.
Yoga does this through asanas (postures and poses aimed to improve balance, flexibility,and circulation), pranayama breath, and samyama (meditation). Ancient yoga practices were rooted deeply in spiritual and religious beliefs; however, modern yoga has shifted the focus to a more personalized approach in which mindfulness and openness are encouraged as opposed to the subscription to certain religious beliefs. Many forms of yoga have emerged since its inception in ancient India (~300 BC) including vinyasa yoga which focuses on flowing movements coordinated with the breath, Bikram or hot yoga which is performed in a heated room, and Hatha yoga which incorporates a variety of different yoga techniques in one practice. While there are many challenges in studying the effects of yoga, thereare numerous studies documenting the benefits of yoga such as improved balance, strength, flexibility, and decreased pain and inflammation.
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese practice that similarly focuses on strengthening the mind-body connection. Originally, it was performed as a form of self-defense, but has since morphed into martial-arts inspired movements coordinated with the breath. These movements are performed at the participants own pace in a slow and continuous methodas a form of active meditation. The practice has many renditions varying from those focused on meditation to a more traditional self-defense approach. Tai chi claims comparable effects to those of yoga including improved mood, flexibility, stamina, and balance with decreased anxiety/depression and insomnia, among others.
Massage, chiropractic,and Osteopathic manipulations differ from yoga and tai chi in that a trained practitioner is adjusting ones body with an external force. Each specialist uses a unique diagnostic approach consisting of observation, palpation, and possibly additional imaging modalities such as x-rays and other body scans. They then manipulate soft tissues, primarily muscles, and bones to realign the body to its intended alignment.
Other alternative modalities:
Reiki
Biofeedback
Meditation
Hypnosis
Guided Imagery
While alternative modalities are rooted in thousands of years of tradition, there remain associated safety concerns. Implementing any alternative therapy can influence efficacy and dosing of many pharmaceutical agents, therefore knowledge of all ongoing medical treatments is imperative to safe care. Present-day practitioners are often open-minded about alternative techniques and can help incorporate appropriate methods into a comprehensive care plan.
Specific issues of concern:
Acupuncture:
Complications with acupuncture are relatively rare; however, always ensure patients are seeking care from a reputable, well-trained practitioner. Patients may be at higher risk for complications if they have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood thinners as these can increase the risk of bruising and/or blood loss. Additionally, electropuncture should be avoided in patients with a pacemaker. Pregnant patients should alert their practitioner as some puncture locations have been reported to stimulate labor. All patients should alert their acupuncture practitioner of any chronic illnesses and all prescribed medications.
Herbal Medicine:
In the United States, herbal products and supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Because of this, there is significant variation between batches regarding potency and additive amounts. Additionally, herbal products cannot advertise use for specific medical treatment which can cause confusion about their intended purpose amongst consumers. Finally, many supplements interact with enzymes in the body causing variation in the absorption and efficacy of other drugs. For example, St. Johns Wort is a Cytochrome P450 inducer[10]thus increasing the metabolism and possibly decreasing the efficacy of other medications including but not limited to antibiotics, anti-virals, and other medications predominately metabolized by the liver. Of note, many pharmaceutical drugs use purified botanical agents and are under strict regulation by the government for potency and clarity purposes and can be used as an alternative to herbal supplements. Careful consideration of side effect profiles for any treatment modality should be taken prior to recommendation.
Body Manipulation:
Overall, yoga and tai chi are considered low-impact and safe exercise modalities. As with any physical activity, the risk of injury is present. To help mitigate this risk, proper technique should be ensured by a certified instructor, limitations should be outlined for each individual patient, and the practice should be implemented slowly to allow the body to accommodate any changes.
Extrinsic manipulation of any kind should be performed by a trained and licensed practitioner. High-Velocity Low-Amplitude (HVLA) manipulation places patients at highest risk for injury. Recommendations vary with each manipulation technique and location, but generally, patients with the following medical conditions should avoid manipulation: pregnant women, individuals with osteoporosis, severe arthritis, or active infection, those taking blood thinners, individuals with known bone fractures, breaks or spurs and anyone with a known connective tissue disorder. Risk of artery dissection, herniated disk, and worsening of pain should be conveyed to all individuals prior to manipulation of any kind.
With the increase in research regarding alternative medical therapies, more and more physicians are embracing an integrative medical approach. Utilizing the benefits of both Eastern and Western practices for particular ailments works best. For example, alternative approaches lend themselves to the treatment of vague symptoms which Western medicine lacks definitive treatment options for such as fatigue, cold or flu symptoms, generalized gastrointestinal issues, etc. Other ailments necessitate the involvement of antibiotics and/or surgery such as appendicitis and certain bacterial infections. Remaining open-minded, tailoring treatment therapies to individual patients, their interests, and belief systems proves the most beneficial healing method. Finally, staying up to date on research supporting or refuting all types of medical treatment is vital to providing effective and appropriate care for your patients.
Dr. Oz admitted to the senators that his claims often dont have the scientific muster to present as fact. A study he had cited about green-coffee bean extract was later retracted and described by federal regulators as hopelessly flawed. The supplier of the extract paid $3.5 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission.
Dr. David Gorski, a surgery professor at Wayne State University and longtime critic of alternative medicine, said Dr. Ozs emergence as a Fox News authority on the coronavirus was no surprise.
He could have gone the route of trying to be more reasonable and careful, vetting information, trying to reassure people where the science was still unsettled, Dr. Gorski said. But of course, that wouldnt be Dr. Ozs brand.
Early in the pandemic, on March 20, 2020, Dr. Oz appeared on several Fox News shows trumpeting what he called massive, massive news a small study by a divisive French researcher, Dr. Didier Raoult, who claimed a 100 percent cure rate after treating coronavirus patients with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, or Z-Pak.
At the time, with Covid-19 cases and deaths rising rapidly, hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial treatment, was being studied in multiple countries and adopted by hospitals without much evidence. Mr. Trump hyped it repeatedly at White House news conferences as part of his effort to minimize the crisis. Dr. Oz communicated with Trump advisers about speeding the drugs approval to treat Covid. On March 28, the F.D.A. authorized its emergency use.
On Fox, Dr. Oz noted that the Raoult study, with just 36 participants, was not a clinical trial, but his enthusiasm overran his caution. The study was the most impressive bit of news on this entire pandemic front, he gushed.
On April 1, as Dr. Oz called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York to lift restrictions on hydroxychloroquine, a public health expert, Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University, cautioned Fox viewers that the facts are just not in on the drug.
The regenerative medicine umbrella includes stem cell therapy as well as biologic therapies that concentrate or stimulate specific blood components to trigger natural processes that alleviate inflammation and promote healing. With the latter, the concentration of platelets in platelet-rich plasma or the stimulation of white blood cells causes the release of proteins such as interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), says Schnabel.
That helps alleviate inflammation and restore normal joint health, she says. IRAP specifically blocks the receptor for the major inflammatory protein in joint disease, which is interleukin-1, thereby blocking its effect.
Many of the kits only take 20 to 30 minutes for the veterinarian to process and administer at the barn.
Biologic agents such as PRP, autologous conditioned serum, and autologous protein solution are showing promising results to support healing rather than simply reduce inflammation like corticosteroids do, explains Niklas J. Drumm, DMV, Dipl. ACVS-LA, ECVS, of Tierklinik Lsche im Sanakena, in Germany.
Ideally, these alternatives offer a longer-lasting effect than steroids, he says. However, the prognosis much more depends on the disease (chronicity and severity) and horse (age, discipline, build) than the treatment alone.
Stem cell therapies are also popular joint injection options following an injury. Whether taken from the patients own bone marrow or derived from another source, such as the umbilical cord or amnion, stem cells can encourage healing, says Schnabel.
David decides whether to use corticosteroids, PAAG, or regenerative therapies based on the horses pain level and the time allocated to return the horse to soundness. He typically reserves regenerative therapy for horses with mild pain or when the owner can afford a significant break in the horses competition schedule.
Regenerative therapies let us dig more into the problem itself and try to change the course of the disease, he says. The problem with regenerative therapies is that when embarking on that road you have to stick with the protocol, and it can take a while before you can conclude if this treatment is going to help the horse.
If a horses healing is progressing slowly, he says not to be discouraged because the goal is to target the disease itself. After an initial IRAP injection, for example, he says he follows up every seven to 10 days for three to six additional treatments. Each regenerative product involves a specific protocol that he adjusts to each injury or condition, patient, and owners wallet.
Corticosteroids are popular joint injection options because they cost $40 to $100 per injection. Synthetic joint lubricants are the next step up, costing around $300 to $500. Schnabel estimates that biologic treatments set you back about $500 to $1,000 and regenerative therapies average $2,000 to $3,000. Fees vary by location and clinic, however, and do not include the farm call, associated diagnostics, or actual joint injection fees, she adds.
Again, with most alternative options, it takes several weeks for their full effect to be visible. Like David, vets might administer IRAP in multiple doses over six to 12 weeksthe same goes for stem cells. And, as mentioned, it might take two to four weeks to see the effects of PAAG injections. Researchers are still working to determine how long the benefits of the latter therapy last, but they expect six months to a year or longer in some cases.
Most of these therapies are used in high-motion joints such as the coffin joint, fetlock, and carpus (knee), for which full range of motion is critical for performance or racing, but they are also commonly used in difficult-to-manage joints like the coffin and pastern joints, Schnabel says. They are less commonly used in low-motion joints that can be fused, like the distal (lower) hock joints.
While these joint therapies are exciting, they are not appropriate for every horse and disease, says Drumm. Its the vets discretion and responsibility to choose the right treatment for each case. Plus, when treating joint disease, youll never find a panacea but, rather, a combination of approaches, including systemic and intra-articular medications, controlled exercise programs, supplements, and physiotherapy, that works for your horse.
We are just at the beginning of understanding these therapies and how to best use them for optimal results, Schnabel says. Im very excited to continue to work on optimization of these therapies, particularly for cases of cartilage damage and soft tissue injury within the joint for which steroids typically dont work well or for very long.
The Substack Modern Discontent recently posted an anthology series on the benefits of quercetin,1 including the finding that it works like hydroxychloroquine, a drug found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 when used early enough.
Part 12 begins with a brief overview of what quercetin is and its basic mechanisms of action. Quercetin is a flavonoid found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as onions and shallots, apples, broccoli, asparagus, green peppers, tomatoes, red leaf lettuce, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, black currants and green tea.
The quercetin content in any given food is largely dependent on light exposure, though, so depending on the country youre in, different foods will top the list of most quercetin-rich. General mechanisms of action of this nutrient include:3
Antioxidant activity Antioxidants help prevent oxidative damage from harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). Quercetin acts as a free radical scavenger, and its activity can be further enhanced by vitamin C
Anti-inflammatory activity This is in part responsible for quercetins cardiovascular benefits
Inhibition of platelet aggregation
Anti-allergy activities (inhibits release of histamine and other allergic substances)
Immunomodulation
Anticancer activity
Antiviral activity Its been found to reduce replication of many viruses, including HIV, hepatitis C, enterovirus 71, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and SARS-CoV-2, by targeting the proteases in these viruses
Zinc ionophore Quercetin helps zinc enter your cells. Zinc, in turn, has potent antiviral activity
In Part 24 of the anthology, Modern Discontent reviews the evidence behind the recommendation to use quercetin against COVID-19 specifically. As mentioned, zinc has antiviral activity, and quercetin helps shuttle the zinc into the cell. But quercetin also has other mechanisms of action that make it useful in the fight against COVID-19.
Quercetin modulates NLRP3 inflammasome, an immune system component involved in the uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines that occurs during a cytokine storm.
For example, quercetin has been shown to:
Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to ACE2 receptor docking.5,6,7 Computational modeling studies have shown quercetin can bind to the ACE2 receptor and the spike protein interface, thereby inhibiting the two from binding together. By preventing viral attachment, it helps prevent viral entry into the cell. Commenting on one of these studies, Modern Discontent notes:8
Although [a] computer modeled study,9 the evidence here suggests that quercetins binding activity to ACE2 is comparable to other standard of care drugs used to treat SARS-CoV-2 (eg. Remdesivir, Lopinavir, Ritonavir).
Inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) production in macrophages.10 (TNF- is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation, secreted by activated macrophages, a type of immune cell that digests foreign substances, microbes and other harmful or damaged components.)
Inhibit the release of proinflammatory cytokines and histamine by modulating calcium influx into the cell.11
Stabilize mast cells and regulate the basic functional properties of immune cells, thereby allowing it to inhibit a huge panoply of molecular targets in the micromolar concentration range, either by down-regulating or suppressing many inflammatory pathways and functions.12
Act as a zinc ionophore, i.e., a compound that shuttles zinc into your cells.13 This is one of the mechanisms that can account for the effectiveness seen with hydroxychloroquine, which is also a zinc ionophore.
Boost interferon response to viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, by inhibiting the expression of casein kinase II (CK2)14 CK2 is an enzyme that is fundamental to controlling homeostasis at the cellular level. There is evidence that it down-regulates the ability a cell has to generate Type 1 interferon when attacked by a virus.
It does this by inhibiting retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I),15 which has protein sensors that signal genetic expression of type 1 interferon by identifying the replication of RNA viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Quercetin inhibits the expression of CK2, which slows the replication of RNA viruses.16
Interferons are a subset of cytokines discovered in 1957.17 These cells are often the initial defense against viruses. There are two types and three forms of interferon. Within Type 1 interferon, there are alpha and beta. Type 2 interferon has the gamma form.18
The different types are based on the function of the cytokine. Type 1 interferons help cells resist viruses. Type 2 aids in responding to infections and cancer growth. The name interferon came from the ability of Type 1 to interfere with the viruss ability to duplicate. A cell secretes interferons when a foreign substance, like a virus, is detected.
However, the interferon does not function by attacking the virus. Instead, it tells the infected cell and the cells that surround the infected cell to make proteins that stop viral replication. In a nutshell, quercetin stops CK2 from interfering with the action of Type 1 interferon so cells receive the signal to stop viral replication.
Modulate NLRP3 inflammasome, an immune system component involved in the uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines that occurs during a cytokine storm.19
Exert a direct antiviral activity against SARS-CoV20,21,22 Quercetins general antiviral capacity has been attributed to three primary mechanisms of action:
Inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.24
The Front Line Critical COVID-19 Care Alliance (FLCCC) early treatment protocol25 includes quercetin at a dose of 250 milligrams twice a day, in combination with 100 mg elemental zinc and 500 mg to 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice a day.
In Part 3,26 Modern Discontent reviews some of the clinical trials that have taken place. One COVID-19-specific study27 found that people who took zinc and two zinc ionophores quinine drops and quercetin had lower incidence of COVID-19 than the control group. Over the course of the study (20 weeks), only two of the 53 test subjects became symptomatic, compared to 12 of the 60 controls. As noted by Modern Discontent:28
Although this didnt test quercetin in isolation, the study does suggest that over-the-counter, easily accessible compounds may be extremely beneficial in fighting against COVID, especially when taken as a prophylactic.
In another trial,29 76 outpatients who tested positive but had only mild symptoms were given 1,000 mg of Quercetin Phytosome (quercetin in sunflower phospholipids that increase oral absorption 20-fold) per day for 30 days, in addition to standard care (analgesics, oral steroids and antibiotics). Another 76 patients were given standard of care only.
In the quercetin group, only 9.2% of participants went on to require hospitalization, compared to 28.9% of patients who received standard of care only. According to the authors:30
The results revealed a reduction in frequency and length of hospitalization, in need of non-invasive oxygen therapy, in progression to intensive care units and in number of deaths.
The results also confirmed the very high safety profile of quercetin and suggested possible anti-fatigue and pro-appetite properties. QP [Quercetin Phytosome] is a safe agent and in combination with standard care, when used in early stage of viral infection, could aid in improving the early symptoms and help in preventing the severity of COVID-19 disease.
Quercetin was also featured in two scientific reviews published in 2020.31 The first, published in in the Integrative Medicine journal in May 2020,32 highlighted quercetins promotion of SIRT2, which inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome.
The second review article,33 published in the June 19, 2020, issue of Frontiers in Immunology, highlighted quercetins usefulness as a COVID-19 treatment when used in conjunction with vitamin C. The vitamin C recycles oxidized quercetin, producing a synergistic effect. It also enhances quercetins antiviral capacity.
With the advent of processed foods, many important nutrients have been lost or minimized in the average persons diet. Quercetin, being found in fresh fruits, vegetables and berries is one of them. Unfortunately, while essential vitamins and minerals are generally recognized for their importance, antioxidants such as quercetin are often overlooked, and sometimes labeled as pseudoscience or fad supplements. As noted by Modern Discontent:
The great number of benefits that these compounds contribute to humans cannot be overstated An argument can be made that not only could quercetin prove beneficial to our health, but an absence of it may prove detrimental in the long term.
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, its the importance of basic health and a healthy immune function. In this regard, a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can go a long way. Nutritional supplements also have their place, especially in situations like a pandemic.
In conclusion, Modern Discontent provides the following summary of findings:34
Theres evidence that quercetin may work similarly to hydroxychloroquine It seems that quercetin may operate as both an immunomodulator and a zinc ionophore. Its use as an over-the-counter anti-allergic supplement as well as its use for asthma indicates an ability to affect the production of histamine and cytokines
Quercetin has plenty of other benefits Antioxidants are some of the most well studied compounds, with possible anti-cancer, pro-heart and pro-organ benefits. Add on possible antimicrobial properties and it becomes hard to argue that this is nothing more than a possible fad supplement.
Although limited, there is some evidence that quercetin may be effective against SARS-CoV2 Computer models and in vitro studies suggest that ACE2 receptors and the main protease of SARS-CoV2 may be good target candidates for quercetin the limited number of studies suggest quercetin may be effective, especially if used early on or as a prophylactic.
Dietary quercetin is the main source of quercetin, and its deficiency in modern diets may be contributing to our health problems Quercetin is primarily sourced from colorful fruits, vegetables, teas all foods that many of our ancestors would have consumed on a regular basis Modern enriched foods tend to supplement with additional vitamins and minerals, but may miss out on other plant-derived compounds that have played a substantial role in our diet.
Similar to reduced sunlight exposure and the need for increased vitamin D supplementation, we may need to look at possible supplementation of overlooked compounds such as polyphenols. Sourcing these compounds from real foods would prove the most beneficial, but in groups of people who may not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, quercetin and polyphenol supplementation may be useful.
This would include people with alternative diets such as keto, who may avoid high carb fruits, and thus may be missing a key nutrient in their diets.
Quercetin has plenty of benefits, and for those who may be missing out on it in their diet they may want to look into sourcing it with supplementation. Dont take this as a prescription or recommendation, but an argument to examine your own health and see what you may be lacking
Ever since the pandemic hit the world in 2019, people shifted their focus on health and switched to more healthy choices. Here is how the focus changed even more in the year 2021.
Written by Editorial Team | Updated : December 27, 2021 11:33 AM IST
If there was ever a time when we needed to pay attention to our health, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year has also made clear that not everything in the world of health is under our control. Healthy diets are critical to our overall health and immune systems. The foods we eat have a direct impact on how we feel and how our bodies function. This is true before, during, and after an illness.
India, too, has seen several changes in nutrition and dietary habits, the majority of which have been positive. The pandemic and ensuing lockdown appear to have had a greater than expected impact on eating habits and food choices, as explained below.
For the first phase of the nationwide lockdown, restaurants and other food facilities remained closed. One of the most significant adjustments in eating patterns in India has been the emphasis on home-cooked meals rather than going out or ordering food online, whether by choice or compulsion. Some studies found that around 60% of consumers around the world reported more cooking at home. Becoming self-reliant has been the mantra of late.
Due to a lack of time and the convenience element, dining out or consuming ready to eat processed foods was the norm in the pre-covid world. People's attitudes changed as a result of the lockdown, notably younger demographic groups, who learned to cook and bake and took care of their own meals. Social media played an important role in promoting home cooking and healthy eating habits provided even those with previously non-existent cooking skills the opportunity to awaken their inner chef. Social media platforms were inundated with pictures and videos of novice chefs trying their hand at new recipes, thus encouraging more people to start cooking for themselves.
Good health and immunity, as well as intrinsic factors, are heavily reliant on the food one consumes and the lifestyle one adopts, a fact that became clear during the pandemic. The general public was led to believe that an unbalanced diet made people more susceptible to the virus, causing them to make healthier food choices.
As a result, people began paying attention to the food they consumed, ensuring that it was healthier, in addition to using home remedies to boost immunity. People started consuming more fruits & vegetables and also decreasing the consumption of fried foods, sugar and salts. India had been traditionally more reliant on nutrient-dense plant-based foods. At the beginning of the pandemic, there was even a reduction in the consumption of animal protein such as meat, egg, fish & etc. due to fear that these animals might be potential virus-carrying hosts. But after WHO instructions people started eating food rich in protein to boost immunity. During COVID-19 pandemic, an emphasis was created on the importance of food safety. Even after the pandemic, there was an increase in demand for organic produce and natural food items in India. The pandemic accelerated this trend, as consumers realised the importance of including safe and nutritious foods in their diets.
Because of the illness's novelty and the complete lack of a cure or vaccination, people turned to traditional remedies to combat the coronavirus. Traditional recipes, using immunity-boosting medicinal herbs and spices, are being consumed by more and more people to strengthen their immunity, strong immunity has been proved to be essential to fight the coronavirus.
The Ministry of Ayush, which is in charge of promoting Complementary and Alternative Medicine, has issued a set of guidelines for improving immunity and other self-care measures using Ayurvedic principles. Along with Yoga, the Ministry released guidelines to help citizens with tips on beating the coronavirus suggested several Ayurvedic recipes such as kadha i.e. herbal tea made from Tulsi leaves, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, and haldi milk.
As life gradually returns to normalcy, there is a risk of a resurgence of unhealthy eating habits, particularly in urban areas. It is difficult that healthy habits are maintained; for example, someone who has begun practising and enjoying home cooking should continue to do so, eating out only on occasion rather than on a regular basis.
(The article has been contributed by Ms Shweta Mahadik, Clinical Nutritionist, Fortis Hospital Kalyan)
Patients with large prostates (LP), defined as greater than 80 grams, are generally limited to certain procedures such as a prostatectomy or transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) when surgery is required. In most instances, these procedures require general anesthesia and admission. In more recent years, however, investigators are introducing alternative therapies to men with LP with less invasive options for treatment.
In a study presented at the 2021 American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Michael Palese, MD, Evan Garden and co-authors estimate the long-term outcomes of Rezum water vapor therapy in treating men with LP (greater than or equal to 80 grams) who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Dr. Palese is the Chair of the Department of Urology at Mount Sinai Downtown & Beth Israel Medical Center and Evan Garden is a fourth-year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
Palese: The reason that we started looking at using this procedure, called Rezum or water vapor treatment, for this particular population of men was that there aren't many options for men with very large gland prostates. So, in men with prostates that are 80 grams or larger, you really either need to do a TURP - and again there's only so large of a TURP that you can do - or you're looking at doing a prostatectomy. The traditional approach for prostatectomy would be an open approach where you make an incision to remove the prostate. Nowadays, we're doing these robotically and laparoscopically. But again, this still requires general anesthesia. There is also a potential for higher complications. Patients need to remain in the hospital at least 1 night, if not 2 nights, so we were looking for an alternative for avoiding general anesthesia and more invasive surgery.
The Rezum became very interesting to us because it had the potential to do that. We had some excellent success with our initial patients, who have prostates between 20 and 80 grams. We started to look at this with an IRB approved study to see if we could do this in men with larger glands and hopefully push the envelope a little bit. We presented our data at the American Urologic Association meeting this year. We have also published our preliminary data.2 We have had some interesting findings that I think are very promising. We'd love to see if others can recreate it and see if they have the same, or hopefully better, outcomes than we did. That's the main reason why we chose to look at this as an alternative treatment for large gland prostates.
Garden: We divided our outcomes into a number of different categories: whether they were functional outcomes related to patients' urinary function, proxies for the severity of disease, self-reported symptom scores, reliance on medications, and the safety profile of the procedure for this subset of patients with prostates greater than 80 grams. We also compared the rates of certain post-procedural complications to patients whove had prostates less than 80 grams. Regarding functional outcomes and disease-related outcomes, we found that both groups of men, with greater than and less than 80 grams-sized prostates, had significant improvements in urinary function as demonstrated by Uroflow and post void residual. We also found that they had improvements in AUA symptom score, and we found that both groups had significantly decreased reliance on alpha blockers, which is one of the primary categories of medications used to provide symptomatic relief for patients with BPH. These are medications like tamsulosin, silodosin, etc.
And then in terms of the clinical side effects of the procedure, we found that largely the clinical side effect profile demonstrated by the 2 groups were comparable. No statistically significant differences in rates of urinary tract infection, hematuria retention, emergency room visits or post-operative hospitalizations. The only difference was that men with larger prostates reported significantly increased rates of post-operative urgency compared to men with smaller prostates.
The other significant finding that we found was those men with large prostates greater than 80 grams were surgically retreated at a significantly higher rate. So, the retreatment rate for our small prostate cohort was 4.4%, which is in line with the results demonstrated from the original WATER clinical trial,3 which also had a retreatment rate of 4.4%. For our large prostate cohort, this subset of patients had a retreatment rate of 18.4%, so a little less than one in five patients required subsequent procedural intervention for BPH related symptoms.
Palese: The significant finding is that we are dealing with a larger gland, which means more tissue needs to be ablated. It is therefore not surprising that we would have found it to be a much higher retreatment rate than with smaller glands. But a 1 in 5 retreatment rate is clinically not terrible. It does give men another option, and so I think that's really what we're focusing on here. Giving the option to avoid general anesthesia and to avoid a more invasive surgery, with the intent that if we don't have success that we're looking for, we still can go back and do one of the more traditional approaches.
Palese: One of the most important things about this procedure is setting up patient expectations. When patients come to see us, we want to provide the information that they require to make an informed decision and informed consent about what they're doing, and that their expectations are in line with what they're seeking. For the Rezum, one of the reasons that a lot of men will seek it out is because it tends to have minimal sexual side effects compared to many of the other procedures available. A lot of my younger patients will request to do a Rezum procedure, knowing that they'll probably need some type of retreatment or some other type of treatment in the future, anywhere from 3 to 5 years. We keep that in mind when we're recommending treatments, like Rezum. We want to make sure that patients understand what they're signing up for, what their expectations are and what they hope they can achieve by doing this procedure.
Palese: The main goal here is to provide another alternative for the large gland prostate group. It's certainly not something that I believe a urologist who's just starting out doing Rezum should be undertaking. I think you do need to get some experience with the traditional 20-to-80-gram group. There's no question that there is a learning curve. It important to understand how to counsel the patients as well because they do have more irritative symptoms afterwards. There's more inflammation and they tend to keep the catheter a little bit longer than with the other smaller gland prostates. I think these are all things that need to be addressed with a patient upfront, and they need to understand that there are going to be some differences. The main take-home message here for the urologist is that this is another alternative. It doesn't always work with an 18% retreatment rate but it is another option.
Garden: It's always important to understand the context in which this research is done. There are some limitations to our findings. This was a retrospective, not a prospective, study. So, while this study does offer a lot of promise for the treatment options that we can offer to these patients, it does also highlight the need for further prospective trials to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment for this population, as well as the efficacy of all the different surgical options available to patients who are suffering from BPH. We hope that this can contribute to the existing body of literature to better inform urologists and patients alike.
References
1. Garden E, Ravivarapu K, Levy M, et al. Rezum for men with large prostates 80 cc versus small prostates <80 cc: Updates outcomes and long-term results. Paper presented at: 2021 American Urological Association Annual Meeting; September 10-13, 2021; virtual. Abstract MP09-05
2. Garden EB, Shukla D, Ravivarapu KT, et al. Rezum therapy for patients with large prostates (80 g): Initial clinical experience and postoperative outcomes. Published online January 3, 2021. World J Urol. doi:10.1007/s00345-020-03548-7
3. McVary K, Roehrborn C. Five year results of the prospective, randomized controlled trial of water vapor thermal therapy for treatment of lower urinary tracts symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasa. Published online April 1, 2020. J Urol. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000000946.06
Dr. Randal Bladel, an Anchorage anesthesiologist, received this package from the Alaska Covid Alliance on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. The group, which promotes alternative COVID-19 treatments and organized an Anchorage event this fall featuring prominent vaccine skeptics, is sending the packages to dozens of Alaska doctors, including Bladel, who signed on to a letter asking the Alaska State Medical Board to crack down on doctors spreading COVID-19 misinformation. (Photo courtesy Randal Bladel)
Doctors asking the Alaska State Medical Board to crack down on colleagues spreading COVID-19 misinformation say theyre receiving holiday packages, some at their homes, from a group pushing for alternative treatments like ivermectin.
The delivery of the packages from the Alaska Covid Alliance came off as threatening and invasive, several doctors said. Each package at least some of which arrived in holiday-themed gift bags included chocolates, a letter acknowledging the recipients signatures on a recent letter to the medical board and a 28-page pamphlet advocating for mostly unproven COVID-19 treatments.
The gift drops idea came about as the result of brainstorming by Alaska Covid Alliance members on how can we get a dialogue started, said David Boyle, a member of the group and former executive director of the Alaska Policy Forum, a conservative nonprofit that advocates for small government and less regulation.
We need to all sit down at the table and talk to each other instead of battling back and forth, Boyle said Tuesday.
But doctors interviewed for this story say the feeling of being targeted at home and having strangers track down their addresses is part of an increasingly hostile and divisive climate facing the medical community.
At least one of the doctors has filed a report with the Anchorage Police Department. Dr. Merijeanne Moore, who originally drafted the letter sent to the State Medical Board, said she filed the report late last week after receiving a Christmas card signed by the Alaska Covid Alliance, candy and a pamphlet delivered to her home while she was at work.
Police say a detective assigned to investigate found a holiday-themed gift bag that contained a bag of untampered candy.
A stranger is coming to my house when Im not home, and leaving a package with no contact information, she said. That, to me, is stalking. The message is: We know where your family lives.
Providence Alaska Medical Center the states largest hospital, where a number of the targeted physicians practice this week sent an email to medical staff saying the deliveries had been reported to the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association as well as the State Medical Board. A spokeswoman said the situation is under review by hospital leadership.
Some of the packages arrived at medical offices. But many physicians reported the packages arriving at the front door of their home, dropped off by people who arrived in personal vehicles, rang the doorbell and then left quickly.
Dr. Randal Bladel, an Anchorage anesthesiologist, was one of seven doctors who spoke to the Daily News about the packages. Some asked not to be identified over concerns about personal safety.
Bladel said his wife was home when the package was dropped off by an older woman in what appeared to be a private car. He said he wasnt sure how the group got his address, which isnt listed on any tax or voting records.
The drop-off seemed vaguely threatening, Bladel said Tuesday. Like, Hey, we know where you live.
The Alaska Covid Alliance formed in October to hold the Alaska Early Treatment Medical Summit an event in Anchorage that featured nationally prominent vaccine skeptics and now pushes for alternative protocols, including ivermectin, widely viewed in the medical community as unproven.
Along with Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson and former Anchorage Health Department director David Morgan, at least two Anchorage providers participated in the conference: family practice physician Dr. Ilona Farr and Hillside Family Medicine co-owner Dr. John Nolte.
[Prominent COVID-19 vaccine skeptics to meet in Anchorage this week as Alaskas case rates top the nation]
Calls to the medical offices of Farr and Nolte were not returned. It was not clear whether either doctor was personally involved with the packages.
Volunteers with the 900-member alliance plan to deliver the packages to all 150 physicians who signed a letter last month asking the State Medical Board to investigate the conduct of local doctors, a representative said Tuesday.
The people dropping off the packages were told not to interact much, beyond a few words.
About 15 volunteers were instructed to drop off the gifts and just wish them a happy holidays or merry Christmas and just provide the gift of candy and the information package, Boyle said.
Asked about the doctors reactions to the deliveries as being intimidating, he said if someone came to his home with a gift of candy or a package, the least thing I would feel is threatened. I would say, Thank you very much.
Home addresses were used for some deliveries because some of the doctors medical offices were closed or the volunteers couldnt get inside, he said.
Boyle said he apologized if any of the doctors took the gesture as threatening.
Its unfortunate that they viewed it as such, he said. We were trying to start a conversation.
Dr. Megan Clancy, an infectious disease physician, said she received the letter and chocolates late last week at her office in Anchorage.
She said in an interview that the letter made her angry and uncomfortable, and caused some shifts in office policy in how packages were received.
Everybody Ive talked to who received it felt like it was an attempt at intimidation, Clancy said. We all really felt violated. I dont think we felt intimidated, but I think we felt violated, and very angry.
There have been at least 16 complaints filed with the Alaska State Medical Board against medical practitioners publicly advocating for the use of unproven COVID-19 treatments including ivermectin. As of last week, the board was actively investigating 10.
The alliance is not keeping its role in the deliveries secret. The group announced on its website that its delivering Christmas gifts and information packets to the doctors.
Dr. Benjamin Westley, an infectious disease doctor who shares an office with Clancy, described the package he got in the context of a charged climate working as a doctor in Anchorage who treats patients the majority of whom are unvaccinated for COVID-19.
Something has dramatically changed in Anchorage in the last six months, that has really altered the flavor of our town and the experience of living and working here, especially as a doctor, Westley said. It seems that the manner in which different points of view are worked out amongst people living in Anchorage has become more confrontational.
This fall, as Alaskas coronavirus cases skyrocketed and hospitals filled with unvaccinated patients, exhausted health care workers experienced an uptick in hostility by patients and the people they serve, Dr. Anne Zink, the states chief medical officer, told reporters at the time.
Zink said she had received reports from health care providers who had spoken out at local meetings and were spit at or received threatening letters in the mail. Some pharmacies stopped asking if people want a COVID-19 vaccine because of such angry responses by customers, she said.
Bladel said he returned his gift early this week, along with a letter of his own, with a delivery to Farrs home.
He said he couldnt find a physical address for the alliance, and that he chose Farr because her name appeared most prominently in the packet hed received.
No one was home, he said, so he left the chocolates on the porch.
My message was that Im not accepting this, Bladel said. And Im not going to be intimidated.
In the letter to Farr, Bladel wrote that the treatments the alliance was promoting as treatments for COVID-19 including ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine and vitamin D had no high-quality studies proving their effectiveness, and that they give an excuse to refuse the best known prevention: the vaccines.
Whatever your intentions, I, and many other recipients of your bags find it creepy and threatening that it was delivered to our residences, he wrote. I ask that you and your associates stay away from my residence, my family, and myself.
[Correction: This story was updated to reflect David Boyles status as former director of the Alaska Policy Forum. An earlier version of this story also incorrectly described who Providence Alaska Medical Center had emailed regarding the package deliveries. The email was sent to all medical staff credentialed to work at Providence, not to employees of the hospital.]
A new study published in theJournal of Cognitive Enhancementinvestigated the websites of 371 neurofeedback providers in the United States. The overwhelming majority of these providers made claims in relation to at least one clinical condition (e.g., anxiety, ADHD), and a quarter of them used hype words (e.g., miracle cure) to do so. Only 36% of providers had a medical degree or a doctoral degree in psychology.
Electroencephalographic (EEG) neurofeedback is a highly controversial form of therapy that provides patients with immediate biofeedback of their brain activity and teaches them to self-regulate their brain waves. The therapy is conducted across as many as 40 training sessions, at costs estimated between $3,00010,000 in the United States.
Importantly, the scientific literature has called to question the efficacy of neurofeedback training, with experimental studies suggesting that the benefits of training can be achieved with placebo and may be driven by psychosocial suggestion. Given that neurofeedback services are being widely offered to the public, study authors Anna Wexler and her team wanted to explore the claims being made by providers. The researchers embarked on the first systematic study of the advertising claims of neurofeedback providers in the US.
The study authors first identified 371 websites of neurofeedback providers in the US, after consulting four different directories. Two coders analyzed the websites, coding for clinic type, target audience, interventions offered, products being sold, language use, clinical indications advertised, and patient testimonials.
While neurofeedback clinics were identified across the US map, there were particular hotspots in the major cities of Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and New York. The overwhelming majority of websites (97%) made claims regarding at least one clinical issue, the most common being anxiety (92%), ADHD/ADD (86%), and depression (82%).
Additionally, 90% suggested improvements related to cognitive enhancement (e.g., focus, concentration). Wexler and her team note that there is little empirical evidence that neurofeedback is effective in any of these ways and some websites listed conditions for which there is even less evidence, like Aspergers syndrome (19%) and bipolar disorder (16%).
About three-quarters of the websites used language suggestive of complementary and alternative medicine, for example, using words like holistic and natural. About a quarter used hype language to advertise unrealistic benefits, adopting expressions like miracle cure. Many websites appeared to target vulnerable populations, with 75% targeting parents and 27% targeting the elderly. Other common targets were athletes (33%) and business executives (23%).
Alarmingly, only 32% of providers had a doctoral degree related to psychology and 4% had a medical degree. Most (74%) were certified by the Board Certified in Neurofeedback (BCN), which is a credential intended to show competency but not a legal license to practice. While the BCN certification that most providers reported having does require a significant investment of timea university-level neuroanatomy course, 36 hours of didactic education, 25 hours of mentoring, and 100 neurofeedback sessionsonly two hours of training are devoted to the research evidence base for neurofeedback (BCIA 2004; BCIA 2019), Wexler and colleagues point out.
The study authors note that their study was limited since they were unable to include all neurofeedback providers in the US, investigating only those they identified from four directories. Still, the findings offer a snapshot into the advertising claims of neurofeedback clinics and raise concern that some providers are presenting overblown claims that are not justified by the current scientific data.
While it is not unethical per se to offer the public an experimental treatment, the provision of such services requires informing clients of the mixed evidence and of the experimental nature of the procedure (at minimum), the authors say. Given that a quarter of websites in our sample utilized hype language, and that 43.9% made use of patient testimonials, it seems likely that at least some of these providers are not accurately representing the current state of the science regarding enhancement.
The study, Neuroenhancement for sale: assessing the website claims of neurofeedback providers in the United States, was authored by Anna Wexler, Ashwini Nagappan, Deena Kopyto, and Rebekah Choi.
This joke has gone on long enough. I am prepared to believe that the system of government on the mainland is effective in many ways. It can certainly be argued that most of the population are content with it, although in view of what happens to those who express discontent this is hard to establish.
By no sensible stretch of the meaning of the word can the Chinese system be described as democratic. Yet that seems to be the current line.
Of course it is democratic with a prefix. There is a long history of this sort of thing. When military take-overs were frequent events in the 1960s it was noticed that the resultant regimes frequently described themselves as a new variation on Democracy, dignified with a prefix: Authoritative, Developmental, Alternative, or in one case just New.
These interesting concepts were generally dismissed outside the country where they were the official theory of government, as a mere cosmetic effort to keep a despotic regime in the Free World where it would continue to receive American largesse.
This however is not the explanation for what has come over explainers of the Chinese system, of which this (from the China Daily) is a representative example: The Chinese mainland is well known for putting the concept of whole process democracy into real practice. Our country has successfully converted the vision and values of democracy into a scientific, institutionalized system.
And how does that work, one wonders? Here is the Global Times (spotted byHemlock): Whole-process democracy integrates process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy, and peoples democracy with the will of the state.
Whole-process peoples democracy integrates process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy, and peoples democracy with the will of the state: white paper https://t.co/VabyvHGicg pic.twitter.com/nG1r1l64cl
Well democracy is an easy-going lady, willing to consort with a wide variety of systems and habits, but I dont think she is as broad-minded as that. Its a fuzzy concept and nobody suggests that there is a clear dividing line. But that does not mean the difference between democracy and non-democracy is a trivial matter.
Most writers come up with three or four accepted variations: direct or participatory the town meeting or the Athenian assembly; elitist where leaders are chosen by the public from a limited group; and pluralist where groups compete with each other to influence policy.
Some people have a separate category for social democracy, meaning the idea common in Europe that the state has a wide range of responsibilities for the health and well-being of citizens.
The longest list I could find is from an Indian student who gets up to eight: Direct democracy, Representative democracy, Presidential democracy, Parliamentary democracy, Authoritarian democracy, Participatory democracy, Islamic democracy and social democracy.
Authoritarian democracy looks like a contradiction in terms. It is reserved for two polities: Russia under Putin and Hong Kong. Yes, and Im a bit dubious about the Islamic one too. But of Whole Process Democracy there is no sign.
Nor is there any sign of that commonplace of mainland propaganda, often preceded by so-called, the spurned Western democracy.
It seems that defenders of democracy have the same problem as defenders of medicine, who struggle to get over the message that there is no such thing as conventional medicine, or alternative medicine, or traditional medicine. There is just medicine, which is the stuff which can be shown to work.
There is nothing particularly Western about democracy. The largest example is India. In some ways the most successful one is Japan. Dare we mention Taiwan?
While it may be difficult to define exactly what is democracy, it is easy to identify some characteristics which are incompatible with it. Aristotle, who gets some of the blame for originating the idea, said that the basis of a democratic state is liberty. John Locke, who gets some of the blame for the American revolution, said that no government could be legitimate unless it enjoys the consent of the governed, and that consent cannot be rendered except through majority rule. John Stuart Mill said that restrictions on the expression of opinions are never justified. The 20thcentury political theorist Robert Dahl concluded that because democracy is not only a political system of rule by the people but necessarily also a system of rights, a government which infringes those rights is to that extent undemocratic.
Mr Dahl also offered a set of requirements for a democratic system. It should include:
I do not think it is possible to see China meeting these requirements, even if you are prepared to overlook what the Economist recently described as a form of tyranny in which individuals are crushed for displeasing the party, whether feminists, human-rights lawyers, gay activists, creators of art deemed unhealthy, underground Christians or Uyghurs.
It is natural for countries to aspire to democracy, or if that is inconvenient for the democratic label.
Mr Dahl again:
Historyparticularly 20th-century history demonstrates that democracy uniquely possesses a number of features that most people, whatever their basic political beliefs, would consider desirable: (1) democracy helps to prevent rule by cruel and vicious autocrats; (2) modern representativedemocraciesdo not fight wars with one another; (3) countries with democratic governments tend to be more prosperous than countries with nondemocratic governments; and (4) democracy tends to foster human developmentas measured by health, education, personal income, and other indicatorsmore fully than other forms of government do.
We must recognise that countries following non-democratic paths may also achieve the happy results of avoiding cruel autocrats, not fighting wars, getting rich and fostering human development. Good for them.
But there is a simple logical trap here. Just because all dogs have four legs it does not follow that all animals with four legs are dogs. Achieving peace, prosperity and development while avoiding viciousness is praiseworthy, but does not demonstrate democracy.
We must all hope that the mainland has found its way to an effective and successful system of government, if only because that system is the gift which is now being bestowed on us. But democracy it is not.
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Does God exist? Is there life after death? When did time begin? Which came first-the hen or the egg? These are among some of the most intriguing puzzles that constantly tease our brains. Ironically, answers to such posers remain unanswered.
There are two more equally troublesome questions for which answers are as elusive as those that have haunted mankind. Thy are: 1) What kind of food (rice or wheat or millets or something else) should we eat to lead a healthy life? 2) Which system of medicine (allopathy or ayurveda or homeopathy or something else) can we be dependent on for providing the perfect cure to all ailments?
People are in a fix to arrive at some conclusions by way of answers for these two vital questions. Every health-conscious citizen is in an utter state of confusion as they are bombarded by vociferous arguments and counters put forth by the food crusaders championing their own brand of foods and medicinal systems. With panacea nowhere in sight, the hapless citizens are trying everything and spending heavily even while putting their life in peril.
What to eat?
Everything was more or less honky-dory till the dawn of the new millennium. We used to devour rice, curries and pickles thrice a day along with curd.There never was (and never will) a dearth of delicacies for non-vegetarians.
For Telugu-speaking people, pickles like avakaya (mango), gongura (sorrel leaves), chintakaya (tamarind) and nimma kaya (lemon), were an intrinsic part of their cuisine. Jars filled with a dozen types of mango pickles, most of them prepared in summer by the family grannies and elders, would invariably occupy a pride of place on the dining table. The meal of our grandparents and parents was incomplete without having avakaya badda (a piece of mango pickle). Kids used to go to school after eating the leftover meal, called chaddiannam, with the available pickle, in the absence of 'tiffins.'Idli, vada, dosa, puri, bread etc replaced this traditional food as 'light' breakfast food.
Alas, of late, those who relished the abovementioned pickles went into an altogether different phase with doctors suggesting people to shun them forthwith. Our poor avakaya has become a banned substance now. The consumption of chaddiannam is now viewed as anuncivilised act and yummy curd and ghee are considered as a grave threat to our nerves system. Sprouts were suggested as a healthy breakfast meal but even this faded away in course of time.
All said and done, rice is our staple food, unlike North Indians. Slowly chapathis made their way into our meal. The wheat-made product became the evening meal of people, especially aged persons suffering from diabetes. The era of chapathis is slowly getting eased out by the innumerable kinds of millets that are being thrust on us. It has reached a stage where propagators of millets consider rice-eaters as potential patients. Amid this brings forth a never-ending organic or inorganic debate. The heavier priced organic millets are the norm of the day as consumption of rice is getting to be dubbed as a taboo by the proponents of 'millets for health' philosophy.
When it comes to handling those suffering from diabetes, nutritionists suggest a cup of rice, a phulka (chapathi without oil) and more veggies. Of course, it is still pizzas and burgers that the younger generation patronises. In tune with the diet and food habits recommended by the present day medical practitioners, salads, with all kinds of vegetables, have become a part of our daily food.
We grew up listening to the dictum, an apple a day, keeps the doctor away, but now-a-days, eating apples is considered anathema to one's healthy well-being. "Are you into apples? Let me tell you, it will serve no purpose! They do not have the nutritional value of the good old days. Apples should be eaten as they are plucked from the tree,"is the sagacious suggestion from a friend.
There is an apprehension that apples are glistened with a coat of wax and hence dangerous. We know that honey is linked to extraordinary health benefits such as bolstering the heart, quick healing of wounds, and the blood antioxidant status. However, people are baffled when reading news reports about pure honey getting contaminated with jaggery syrup.
A well-wisher by now might have asked you to straightaway ban three white substances-sugar, salt and maida power.
The Hyderabad-headquartered National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), as part of 'My Plate for the Day' recommendation, advocates that a healthy diet needs to include nearly 500 gms of vegetables and fruits accounting for at least eight percent of the daily calorie intake. However, more than 80% of Indians do not meet this recommendation, according to NIN Director Dr R Hemalatha.
In the last two years, NIN established Nutrition Surveillance System (NSS) in six States through the Anganwadi centers of the ICDS, which is an integrated approach to assess population nutrition. I wonder why our doctors don't write 'as per NIN recommendations' when they make dietary suggestions. Instead of dumping a lot of powders and other so-called 'balanced diet' manufactured by multinational companies, can't we trust the home-grown brains who are equally determined to make the citizens hale and healthy?
Medical dilemmas
Equally disturbing issue is the choice we ought to make on the medical front. People have tremendous faith in allopathy, an archaic term for science-based modern medicine. Though allopathy fails to provide a complete cure for some ailments, people repose faith on this type of medicinal system for its proven benefits.
Unable to bear the costs of tests and medicines, the economically-poorer lot opted for alternative medicinal methods. COVID-19 shook people's confidence on allopathy because of the delay in inventing a sure-shot medicine for the dreaded virus. Change of treatment protocols by an authority like the World Health Organisation (WHO) further impacted people's faith in modern medicine.
What were life-saving injections, that was heavily black-marketed were dropped from treatment later. The vaccination too didn't provide desired results to the people. Many people died even after taking two of vaccination. What adds confusion is the latest suggestion from health authorities that everyone should go for the booster doses at regular intervals to survive.
The highly dangerous trial and error method practiced by the modern doctors had a devastating impact on the physique and finances of public. That is why there was a mad rush to get herbal medicine prepared by ayurvedic practitioners like Anandaiah in Andhra Pradesh.
It is reported in media that some studies found an inverse relationship between smoking and COVID-19 infection. They contradicted the age-old belief that smokers are more vulnerable to infections in general and to respiratory infections in particular. It was indeed music to the ears of smokers. In hindsight, one really does not know what is right and whom to believe.
The modern, science-based medicine is undoubtedly the backbone of our healthcare systems, but alternative therapies like ayurveda and homoeopathy are gaining popularity prompting gurus like Baba Ramdev to launch a successful business on the back of selling herbal medicines and products by showcasing the Indian's age-old traditional healing system.
The Union Government has a Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) to promote traditional systems. When we are sure of the efficacy of the modern medicine, allopathy, then why should we have Ayush? People are forced to try their luck in alternative medicines by spending hugely. I know a good number of people who use all three types of medicines with a belief that one among them would click. Generic medicine seems to be the new norm in the face of skyrocketing medical costs.
I don't see any sincere attempt from the government side to clear the food and medicine dilemmas that have been troubling people. Multi-crore research institutions, being run with tax-payers money, are unable to come up with a concrete solution for the issues at hand. I strongly feel that social media is the main villain for this Indian food and medical predicament.
The government should not allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to make videos on food and medicine and post them on social media platforms. Most of them are spreading a fear-psychosis among gullible public and creating hype and speculation for their own benefit. A way out will be in the government opening public information centres to clear doubts of people on food and medicines without further delay.
(The author, a PhD in Communication and Journalism, is a senior journalist, journalism educator and communication consultant)
In a notable development, the first long-acting injectable shot for preventing HIV was approved by the Food and Drug Administration this week, ushering in what could be a new era in the battle against AIDS.
The medicine, which is called Apretude, offers a significant advancement in combating what continues to be a highly infectious disease. In 2019, approximately 36,800 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with HIV and an estimated 34,800 were infected that same year, according to the latest data from the federal government. As many as 1.2 million Americans, meanwhile, are believed to be living with the disease.
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Since the start of the pandemic, journals have retracted more than 200 COVID-19related papers and counting, most of them in 2021. But such papers represent only about 5 percent of the more than 3,000 retractions weve indexed this year in the Retraction Watch Database. In what has become an annual tradition, here we present the top retraction stories of the year.
1Like a lot of people, Victor Grech, a pediatric heart specialist in Malta, really likes Star Trek. The problem is that Grech was able to turn an Elsevier journal called Early Human Development into something of a scientific fanzine, publishing dozens of articles for the periodical that were in a galaxy far, far outside the scope of its editorial interests. The publisher learned about the problematic papers in late 2020 from Hampton Gaddy, an undergrad at the University of Oxford in the UK. Grechs articles covered topics such as the role of nurses in Star Trek, the banality of evil in Star Trek, and the portrayal of doctors in, you guessed it, Star Trek. Grech eventually lost more than two dozen papers to retraction.
2In 2015, officials at the University of Colorado Denver concluded that one of its former faculty members, Hari Koul, needed to correct or retract nine papers over concerns about problematic images in the articles. But six years later, most of those articles remained intactand many of the journals involved said theyd never heard of the investigation. After Retraction Watch reported on the delay, journals pulled three articles by Koul, who had left Denver for Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSU HSC) in Shreveport and eventually ended up at the schools New Orleans campus. Then, after local media reported on other allegations Retraction Watch had mentioned, LSU HSC New Orleans said it was investigating, and Koul stepped downfrom his post as department chair.
3When the journal Vaccine published a study in June claiming that COVID-19 vaccinations killed two people for every death they prevented, the scientific community was outraged. Two members of the journals editorial board stepped down to protest the article, which was written by Harald Walach, described on his Wikipedia page as a parapsychologist and advocate of alternative medicine. Vaccine quickly issued an expression of concern for the paper and subsequently retracted it. Meanwhile, Walach, whose institution in Poland terminated his position in response to the controversy, has defended his groups analysis, saying that the data, while imperfect, were analyzed correctly. He also lost another paper, in JAMA Pediatrics, on COVID-19 and masks for children.
4Last year, scientists began to express doubts about the validity of data theyd been receiving from Jonathan Pruitt, a behavioral ecologist with a prestigious position at McMaster University in Canada, whose field research on spiders had helped underpin many publications. Pruitts articles quickly began to fall, and over the next year he lost a dozen papers. Late this year, Pruitts doctoral dissertation, which hed received from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was withdrawn. Pruitt was placed on paid leave from McMaster and removed from the prestigious Canada 150 Chairs website.
5When Cyriac Abby Philips, a gastroenterologist in India, published a 2018 paper about a young woman whod suffered liver disease after taking herbal supplements, he didnt think that three years later hed be considering suing the journal for defamation. Philipss legal troubles started when he and his colleagues published their case study in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology, an Elsevier title. Herbalife, which makes dietary supplements including the ones the patient took, pressured the journal, which ultimately decided to retract the work for legal reasons, as stated in the original retraction notice. That notice was later changed to say that the scientific methodology, analysis and interpretation of data underlying the article were insufficienta claim Philips called highly defamatory. He threatened to sue the publisher and the journal for the equivalent of US $1.35 million. The retraction notice promptly was changed again, and now cites legal pressures as it initially did.
6Retractions often take years, but not in this case. Barely a month after the publication of a paper claiming female scientists fare better under male mentors, Nature Communications retracted the article amid a storm of criticism. Written by a group from the Abu Dhabi campus of New York University, the paper was lambasted from the moment it appeared online in mid-November. As one statistician tweeted, the paper doesnt tell us much about the impact of gender on mentorship but it sure does tell us that the statistics community needs to do a better job teaching scientists about correlation, causation, and confounding. The authors said they agreed with the journals decision and said they felt deep regret that the publication of our research has both caused pain on an individual level and triggered such a profound response among many in the scientific community.
7Pierre Kory, then of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, testified to Congress in May 2020 that MATH+an intensive care regimen that includes methylprednisolone, ascorbic acid, thiamine, heparin, and co-interventionsslashed the risk of death from COVID-19 by 75 percent compared with other regimens. Then, last December, he and his colleagues published a paper in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine about MATH+ (to which they later added the controversial drug ivermectin) saying as much, prompting questions from other experts about whether the effectiveness of the approach was overstated. Those concerns appear to be warranted. In November, the journal retracted Korys paper, citing inaccurately reported data from one of the study sites in the analysis.
8In late 2020, the journal Eurosurveillance announced that, in response to an international petition, it was looking more closely at a paper it had published at the start of the year on the validity of PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 (at the time called 2019-nCoV). The news heartened critics of the article, who argued that PCR testing wasnt capable of identifying the virusand thus, positive tests were meaningless and shouldnt be used to guide public policy, especially economically damaging steps such as lockdowns. But two months later, the editors issued a statementsaying that the paper would stand (or more precisely, the criteria for a retraction of the article have not been fulfilled).
9Advocates for the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 have little in the way of robust evidence to support their belief that the deworming drug is effective against the infection. One study many ivermectin fans pointed to this year appeared in Viruses in the spring. The randomized controlled trial purportedly found that a single dose of the drug led to fewer symptoms, lower viral load and reduced hospital admissions. Except that wasnt true. As BBC News reported, the study was found to have blocks of details of 11 patients that had been copied and pasted repeatedlysuggesting many of the trials apparent patients didnt really exist. The authors acknowledged that theyd mixed up their data files, and in November the journal retracted the paper, but not before the study had become part of a meta-analysis on the virtues of ivermectin for COVID-19, which as of this writing remains uncorrected.
10Finally, one of our favorites for the year. The Arabian Journal of Geosciences was forced to retract 44 articles from a special issue after readers pointed out that they appeared to be utter gibberish. The first clue? The titles read like a bunch of graduate students playing drunk Mad Libs: Neural networkbased urban rainfall trend estimation and adolescent anxiety management; Distribution of earthquake activity in mountain area based on embedded system and physical fitness detection of basketball. A guest editor of the journal, which is owned by Springer Nature, at one point blamed an email hack for the nonsense articles. In fact, the 44 were just the tip of the sand dune for Springer Nature. More than 400 papers in journals owned by the companyand hundreds more at journals owned by Elsevierhave been flagged for similar problems.
Ivan Oransky and Adam Marcus are the founders ofRetraction Watch. Email them atteam@retractionwatch.com, follow them on Twitter @RetractionWatch, and sign up for their daily newsletter.
The actor and presenter, who is also known for hosting ITV primetime quiz The Chase, revealed the extent of his condition when talking on This Morning to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes. He confessed that he suffers from a disorder known as blepharitis, which causes his eyes to swell and become extremely red and itchy.
So many times, people have commented on how I look. But they dont realise. If I take medication though, Im fine, Bradley elaborated.
One fan went as far to say that the 61-year-old looked like he had been drinking prior to filming The Chase spin-off, Beat The Chasers.
Voicing their concerns on Twitter, one fan said: I love Bradley Walsh, but he always looks like hes been on the p*** all day with his red eyes #BeatTheChasers.
The main symptoms of blepharitis, beyond making eyes physically red include:
DON'T MISS:
The condition can also cause more complex problems such as causing eyelashes to grow in the wrong direction, and swelling in other parts of the eye like the cornea.
Other symptoms that Bradley specifically suffers from includes itchy eyelids, swollen eyes and flakes or crusts at the base of his eyelashes.
Luckily for the star, the condition is not life-threatening, but can lead to conjunctivitis an infection that causes inflammation in the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and eyeball.
Individuals can also be at higher risk of contracting the condition if they have the following other health conditions that mainly affect the skin:
Typically, in order to treat the condition, medical professionals advise that individuals keep their eyelids clean and free of any crusts that may develop.
Although it might seem simple, there is a recommended process to cleaning your eyes properly, which uses a gentle cleanser.
The National Eye Institute recommends following these seven steps to make sure you are cleaning your eyes properly:
Blepharitis is a condition that wont disappear completely, so individuals will need to follow the cleaning routine for the rest of their lives.
Alternatively, individuals may be prescribed antibiotic tablets and eye drops which aim to fight the infection. As Bradley confessed, he has to take a daily tablet in order to keep his condition at bay.
Oral antibiotics are usually recommended by doctors if other forms of treatment have failed to clear up the infection, hinting at how bad Bradleys blepharitis is.
Unfortunately, no alternative medicine treatments have yet been proved to ease symptoms of blepharitis, but The Mayo Clinic does suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids or supplements may help symptoms associated with blepharitis and rosacea.
Although The Mayo Clinic admits that this still needs further study, omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as salmon, tuna, trout, flaxseed and walnuts. Omega-3 can also be taken in tablet form.
The science behind acupuncture | Photo Credit: iStock Images
New Delhi:Several ancient healing methods from across the world have been passed on from one generation to the other in form of traditions and cultures. Yoga, acupuncture, naturopathy, Kampo medicine, etc., are among some popular forms exhibiting these nuanced traditional methods of medicine and treatment. However, these alternate forms of healthcare date back to hundreds of years and despite being relevant and effective among some communities, little or no evidence on the same often caused these methods to be rendered obsolete and useless.
Acupuncture is one such form of traditional healing that originated in China. It is still being used as an alternative medicine to treat various health issues such as pain, mental distress, etc. This method uses the 'puncture' technique which involves piercing the skin at specific points of the body using thin needles. Acupuncture aims at eliminating an imbalance between yin and yang, which according to the Chinese tradition, is the cause of any health distress.
The credibility of acupuncture is highly debated, however, several studies, such as the study published in the journal Nature titled A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagaladrenal axis shed light on the neuroanatomical aspect of acupuncture. This can help achieve a better understanding of this method of healing and might also give way to the adaptation and application of this method to treat various other health complications.
As reported by Harvard Medical School, Qiufu Ma, lead investigator and author of the study said, Based on this nerve fibre distribution, we can almost precisely predict where electrical stimulation will be effective and where it will not be effective.
They tell us the acupuncture parameters, so where to go, how deep to go, how strong the intensity should be, he added. He defined the findings as the first concrete, neuroanatomic explanation for acupoint selectivity and specificity.
Despite mice being the subject of the study, the neuron organization in mammals, including humans, have been found to be evolutionarily conserved.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
As Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch of The Caucus, an LNP Media Group watchdog publication, wrote in the Sunday LNP, Dr. Mehmet Oz brings unrivaled name recognition and considerable personal wealth to the Senate Republican primary in Pennsylvania, an enviable toolkit for a political rookie. But like any doctor making a new house call, he brings his own baggage, too. And it didnt take long for opponents on the left and right to start rummaging through it. Chief among the criticisms being leveled at Oz is that hes a carpetbagger whose primary residence appears to be in New Jersey, not Pennsylvania. (The term carpetbagger first was used after the Civil War to describe Northerners who took up residence in the South hoping to profit from Reconstruction.)
Lets first address the most straightforward criticism of Oz: As The Caucus journalists pointed out, his primary residence over the last few years has been a mansion appointed with a movie theater, wine cellar, gym and indoor basketball half-court atop The Palisades, the steep cliffs above the Hudson River, in New Jersey.
But where is Ozs home now exactly?
The Caucus reported what is known, including this: Ozs Pennsylvania voting record will be barely a year old when his name appears on a ballot for the very first time.
He registered to vote in Pennsylvania the month after the 2020 election. His first vote in Pennsylvania, in the May primary, was cast by absentee ballot, according to state voter records. His New Jersey voter registration remained active as of early December, according to that states voter portal, though that does not indicate he voted in both states. Unless you affirmatively cancel your voter registration when re-registering in another state, the old registration can remain active until that state purges its voter roll, which can take years, The Caucus journalists explained.
Ozs Pennsylvania voter registration in Bryn Athyn lists an address that, according to Montgomery County property records, belongs to his mother-in-law.
He told WGAL that he spent his formative years in the Philadelphia area. Some of us spent our formative years in other places, too, but that doesnt make us current residents of those places.
He also said his wifes family has been here for 100 years, but that is meaningless. One does not become a Pennsylvanian by marrying into a family of Pennsylvanians.
Were guessing that Oz saw an opportunity in Pennsylvania, when U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey announced he would not seek reelection next year, and took it.
The residency requirement isnt a high bar: The U.S. Constitution requires only that senators be at least 30 years old and live in the state they want to represent at the time of the election.
It must be pointed out that carpetbagging isnt only for Republicans. Hillary Clinton won a New York U.S. Senate seat in 2000 as a newly arrived Chappaqua resident. Robert F. Kennedy, brother of President John F. Kennedy, successfully ran to represent New York state in the U.S. Senate in 1964, even though his home was in Virginia.
If Ozs tenuous residency status was his only obstacle, he likely would emerge unscathed by the slings and arrows that met the announcement of his candidacy.
But, as The Caucus journalists noted in Sundays edition, Ozs long television career five years as a medical guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show followed by his current shows 13-year run also has begun serving opponents in much the same way a long congressional career does: by offering a well of potentially damaging statements and stances.
A lot of video is produced over the course of 13 years in daytime television.
As The Caucus journalists noted, conservative activists have posted clips of Oz speaking favorably about red flag laws, which allow authorities to temporarily confiscate firearms from people deemed a danger to themselves or others, and the expansion of Medicare Advantage.
Were mostly concerned about the health-related misinformation Oz has disseminated. Hes a noted cardiothoracic surgeon, but he also has promoted health approaches not backed by science.
And, after nearly two years of enduring a pandemic, the last thing we need is another politician even one who is a trained medical clinician who doesnt adhere to science.
As The Caucus journalists noted, left-leaning publications such as HuffPost have pointed out the on-again, off-again controversies Oz has generated with his medical commentary. The British Medical Journal published a study in 2014 saying more than half of the medical advice Oz gave on his show was either not supported by evidence or was wrong.
A year later, 10 physicians and professors wrote to the dean of Columbia Universitys College of Physicians and Surgeons to protest Ozs position on the faculty. Dr. Oz is guilty of either outrageous conflicts of interest or flawed judgments about what constitutes appropriate medical treatments, or both, they wrote, noting that members of the public are being misled and endangered.
Oz has championed remedies with mostly imaginary benefits: green coffee extracts and raspberry ketones to lose weight and burn body fat, for instance. His since-debunked claims about weight-loss supplements made with those ingredients which he called magic and a miracle in a bottle landed him before a U.S. Senate subcommittee in 2014.
An article titled Whats Wrong with Dr. Oz? in the journalof the Missouri State Medical Association noted that Oz has devoted several shows to psychics and those who claim to speak to spirits, and on another show, interviewed a so-called miracle healer regarding the healers use of iridology. According to this widely debunked, bizarre belief, each part of the iris corresponds to a specific area of the body, and a persons state of health can be diagnosed by examining particular regions of the iris, the journal noted.
Complementary and alternative medicine treatments are disturbingly under-regulated. And Oz doesnt seem to be very discerning about what he promotes.
This we know to be accurate: Daytime television has far less rigorous standards for truth than medical researchers. And it takes a lot of money to buy a mansion in New Jersey.
It also takes a lot of money to buy a U.S. Senate seat. Oz has spent nearly $4 million on television ads, a sum first reported by Inside Elections this far exceeds the ad spending of any of the 17 other Republican candidates who have filed to run for Toomeys seat.
Buckle up, Pennsylvanians. This race is going to be a wild one.
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CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX), today announced that Lineage and its subsidiary, Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd., have entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Roche and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), for the development and commercialization of a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy for the treatment of ocular disorders, including advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) with geographic atrophy (GA).
Genentech will assume responsibility for further clinical development and commercialization of Lineages OpRegen program, which currently is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2a open-label, dose escalation clinical safety and efficacy study in patients with advanced dry AMD with GA. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Lineage will complete activities related to the ongoing clinical study, for which enrollment is complete, and perform certain manufacturing activities. Genentech will pay Lineage a $50 million upfront payment and Lineage is eligible to receive up to $620 million in additional development, approval and sales milestone payments, in addition to tiered double- digit royalties.
Genentech is a clear global leader in ophthalmology and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to patients, innovative research and successful product development, said Brian M. Culley, Lineages CEO. Their desire to combine our cell therapy technology with their ophthalmology expertise and capabilities will help advance the OpRegen program more rapidly and we believe successfully to patients with serious ocular disorders, such as dry age-related macular degeneration. Lineages objective is to pioneer a new branch of regenerative medicine, based on transplanting whole cells into the body to restore activity lost to aging, injury or disease. We believe the results we have demonstrated to date with OpRegen represent a paradigm change many did not believe possible with cell therapy, by restoring retinal tissue and potentially halting or reversing the expansion of geographic atrophy. I am incredibly proud of what the Lineage team has accomplished with the OpRegen program and look forward to joining forces with the Genentech team as they work to take this program to the next level and potentially to patients in need of treatment.
Mr. Culley continued, Looking ahead, Lineage will remain focused on advancing our spinal cord injury and oncology programs as well as announcing new disease settings where we plan to deploy our technology, either on our own or through strategic alliances. All of us at Lineage are immensely proud to have the opportunity and responsibility to advance a new and exciting branch of medicine, and our aim is to make a profound impact on the patients who serve as our inspiration.
Genentech has a longstanding commitment to discovering and developing novel drugs for the treatment of serious eye disorders such as with advanced dry AMD with GA, which is one of our focus areas within ophthalmology, said James Sabry, M.D., Ph.D., global head of Pharma Partnering, Roche. We are excited to partner with Lineage Cell Therapeutics to advance potential new therapies in an area of high unmet medical need.
Conference Call Information
Lineage will host a live conference call and webcast today beginning at 8 a.m. ET to discuss the collaboration with the Roche Group and Genentech. Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing (866) 888-8633 from the U.S. and Canada and (636) 812-6629 from elsewhere outside the U.S. and Canada and should request the Lineage Cell Therapeutics Call. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online in the Investors section of Lineages website. A replay of the webcast will be available on Lineages website for 30 days and a telephone replay will be available through December 27, 2021, by dialing (855) 859-2056 from the U.S. and Canada and (404) 537-3406 from elsewhere outside the U.S. and Canada and entering conference ID number 5174206.
About OpRegen
OpRegen has been developed in part through contributions and financial grants made by Hadasit Medical Research Services and Development Ltd. (Hadasit) and the Israeli Innovation Authority (the IIA). Lineage is obligated to pay a portion of upfront, milestone and royalty payments it receives to Hadasit and the IIA. OpRegen is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2a open-label, dose escalation safety and efficacy study of a single injection of human retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from an established pluripotent cell line and transplanted subretinally in patients with advanced dry AMD with GA. The study enrolled 24 patients into 4 cohorts. The first 3 cohorts enrolled only legally blind patients with a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/200 or worse. The fourth cohort enrolled 12 better vision patients (BCVA from 20/65 to 20/250 with smaller mean areas of GA). Cohort 4 also included patients treated with a new thaw-and-inject formulation of OpRegen, which can be shipped directly to sites and used immediately upon thawing, removing the complications and logistics of having to use a dose preparation facility. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of OpRegen as assessed by the incidence and frequency of treatment emergent adverse events. Secondary objectives are to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of OpRegen treatment by assessing the changes in ophthalmological parameters measured by various methods of primary clinical relevance. OpRegen has been well tolerated to date and there have been no new, unexpected ocular or systemic adverse events or serious adverse events related to OpRegen or study procedures that have not been previously reported.
About Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
Lineage Cell Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs. Lineages programs are based on its robust proprietary cell-based therapy platform and associated in-house development and manufacturing capabilities. With this platform Lineage develops and manufactures specialized, terminally differentiated human cells from its pluripotent and progenitor cell starting materials. These differentiated cells are developed to either replace or support cells that are dysfunctional or absent due to degenerative disease or traumatic injury or administered as a means of helping the body mount an effective immune response to cancer. Lineages clinical programs are in markets with billion dollar opportunities and include three allogeneic (off-the-shelf) product candidates: (i) OpRegen, a retinal pigment epithelium transplant therapy in Phase 1/2a development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the developed world; (ii) OPC1, an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell therapy in Phase 1/2a development for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries; and (iii) VAC2, an allogeneic dendritic cell therapy produced from Lineages VAC technology platform for immuno-oncology and infectious disease, currently in Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. For more information, please visit http://www.lineagecell.com or follow the Company on Twitter @LineageCell.
Forward-Looking Statements
Lineage cautions you that all statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, in some cases, can be identified by terms such as believe, aim, may, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, design, intend, expect, could, can, plan, potential, predict, seek, should, would, contemplate, project, target, tend to, or the negative version of these words and similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the collaboration and license agreement with Roche and Genentech and activities expected to occur under the collaboration and license agreement, the upfront, milestone and royalty consideration payable to Lineage, the potential benefits of treatment with OpRegen, and Lineages plans to advance its spinal cord injury and oncology programs and announce new disease settings where it plans to deploy its technology. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Lineages actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release, including the risk that competing alternative therapies may adversely impact the commercial potential of OpRegen, which could materially adversely affect the milestone and royalty payments payable to Lineage under the collaboration and license agreement, the risk that Roche and Genentech may not be successful in completing further clinical trials for OpRegen and/or obtaining regulatory approval for OpRegen in any particular jurisdiction, and risks and uncertainties inherent in Lineages business and other risks in Lineages filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Lineages forward-looking statements are based upon its current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading Risk Factors in Lineages periodic reports with the SEC, including Lineages most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and its other reports, which are available from the SECs website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Lineage undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.
In a stunning 46-page legal filing to the International Criminal Court on December 6, an intrepid attorney and seven applicants accused Anthony Fauci, Peter Daszak, Melinda Gates, William Gates III, and twelve others of numerous violations of the Nuremberg Code. These included various crimes against humanity and war crimes as defined by the Rome Statutes, Articles 6, 7, 8, 15, 21, and 53.
Besides the four kingpins, twelve others were named, including the CEOs of the leading vaccine corporations and the health leaders held accountable for the United Kingdom.
Dr. Ravid Shah, having worked for the Gates Foundation since 2001, was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2007. He now presides over the Rockefeller Foundation, a group funding ID2020 along with the Gates Foundation.
Klaus Schwab, a wickedly intelligent, perhaps diabolical German with double doctorate degrees in Economics and Engineering, is the founder of the World Economic Forum, a club for the wealthiest percentile of the worlds corporate and political elite. He is a power broker who has groomed many presidents, prime ministers, and tech CEOs who now view him with reverence and unswerving loyalty.
Schwab, an economist, and technocrat has befriended many nations, most significantly Chinas Xi Jinping, who delivered a key speech at Davos. He praised his vision of a New World Order. On January 25, 2021, Klaus Schwab vowed his support for Xi Jinping with these words, Mr. President (Xi Jinping) I believe this is the best time to reset our policies and to work, jointly, for a peaceful and prosperous world. We all welcome now, his excellency, Xi Jinping, President of the Peoples Republic of China. See mark 2:26.
Many consider Schwab the mastermind behind the current movement towards cryptocurrency, universal identification, and a one-world (fascist) government to be run jointly, in totalitarian fashion, with China.
Attorney Hannah Rose and seven applicants brought the Nuremberg action on behalf of the victims, the entire population of the United Kingdom. She filed the legal proceeding with the International Criminal Court located at The Hague. The Hague is notable for its long history in helping victims seek redress for war crimes and defining appropriate ethical guidelines for conduct during war.
Following the Nazi atrocities committed during World War II, the war crime trials were held in Nuremberg, Germany. Following these, a set of principles was developed, which ultimately led to the development of the Nuremberg Code.
These principles essentially meant that anyone, no matter how wealthy or powerful, even a head of state, was not above the law. The fact that the law of their home nation would permit their action would not relieve the person from justice under international law.
In particular, the medical experiments conducted by the Nazi doctors led to strict rules and ethical principles regarding future human scientific trials, including the doctrine of necessary informed consent and freedom from coercion or threat in submitting to experimental drugs.
As we all know, before receiving a surgical procedure, there is a legal and ethical requirement that the patient be apprised of any significant potential risks, including infection, bleeding, nerve damage, or even death. The patient usually signs the consent form following this explanation. And as we all know, whenever we receive prescription medication, we are notified of the potential risks on a package insert and usually a discussion with the Pharmacist.
The vaccines should be no different, yet they are. A person about to receive the jab is rarely told that there are risks of blood clots, bleeding, cerebral thrombosis, myocarditis, and death, yet those risks exist. See mark 12:58 to 17:40.
Attorney Hannah Rose notes in Point 40 of her brief that the ethical standards of the Nuremberg Code amount to an obligation on physicians and pharmaceutical manufacturers to abide by its principles. Accordingly, any physician or research scientist found to have breached any of the ten principles of the Nuremberg Code would face criminal liability.
She notes in Point 42, The first principle of the Nuremberg Code is a willingness and informed consent by the person to receive treatment and participate in an experiment. The person is supposed to activate freedom of choice without the intervention, either through force, deceit, fraud, threat, solicitation, or any other type of binding or coercion.
In Point 43 she argues, When the heads of the Ministry of Health as well as the Prime Minister presented the vaccine in the United Kingdom and began the vaccination of United Kingdom residents, the vaccinatedwere not advised, that in practice, they would be taking part in a medical experiment and that their consent is required under the Nuremberg Code. This as a matter of fact is a genetic medical experiment on human beings performed without informed consent under a severe and blatant offense of the Nuremberg Code.
In addition, Rose argues under Point 44 that there is an obligation for alternative treatments to be discussed, including the risks and benefits of such alternatives.She notes that these were never discussed despite the fact alternative treatments have been proven to be safe and effective with up to a 100% success rate.
A key principle of the Nuremberg Code requires that a scientist must be prepared toterminate the experiment at any stage, if he has probable cause to believe, in the exercise of the good faith, superior skill, and careful judgment required of him that a continuation of the experiment is likely to result in injury, disability, or death to the experimental subject.
In Point 46, she argues, It is known that the mRNA vaccination treatments have caused the death of many as well as injury and severe damage (including disablement and paralysis) after the vaccine was administered. Despite this fact, the government did not instruct the initiation of an investigation into the matter. It is also questionable that given the experimental nature of these vaccinations, that there are not any full reports available of the numbers of dead or injured, as may be expected in such a medical process for the benefit of the public participating in the experiment.
The reader is reminded that Nazi physicians conducted experiments on human beings in concentration camps without informed consent, leading to horrific suffering and death.
To dramatically underscore the relevance of Nuremberg to the horrific deaths we now see related to the experimental mRNA vaccination program, Rose, in Point 34a, included a statement from a group of Holocaust survivors, those who experienced first-hand both the Nazi experiments and today the vaccine experiment. This is an excerpt from their unique perspective:
We, the survivors of the atrocities committed against humanity during the Second World War, feel bound to follow our conscienceAnother holocaust of greater magnitude is taking place before our eyes. We call upon you to stop this ungodly medical experiment on humankind immediately. It is a medical experiment to which the Nuremberg Code must be applied.
Holocaust survivor Vera Sharav issued a statement in Points 34b and 34c:
The stark lesson of the Holocaust is that whenever doctors join forces with government and deviate from their personal, professional, clinical commitment to do no harm to the individual, medicine can then be perverted from a healing, humanitarian profession to a murderous apparatusWhat sets the Holocaust apart from all other mass genocides is the pivotal role played by the medical establishment, the entire medical establishment. Every step of the murderous process was endorsed by the academic, professional medical establishment.
As a direct result of the Nuremberg World War II experience, the United Nations asked the International Law Commission to develop the Nuremberg Principles, the key standardsto avoid the Nazi doctors' atrocities. Unfortunately, as Hannah Rose pointed out, many of these ten principles of the Nuremberg Code were systematically violated by the United Kingdom and many other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, a permanent international criminal court was established for investigation and enforcement - known as The International Criminal Court. The ICC began full-time operations in 2002 and currently has 123 member nations that have explicitly agreed to be bound by the Rome Statutes.
The United Kingdom is a member while the United States is not. However, under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, even a state that is NOT a member may exercise jurisdiction "by declaration lodged with the Registrar," meaning that any nation may be subject to the ICC depending upon the circumstances, member nation or not. Keep in mind that Nazi Germany had not consented to jurisdiction.
The ICC bills itself as a "court of last resort" meaning that claims should be decided in the perpetrator's home nation whenever possible. However, the core principle of impunity drives the ICC, the belief that no one who commits war crimes should enjoy freedom from criminal responsibility. Therefore, the ICC operates as an impartial and omnipotent arbiter of world human rights and will aggressively step in when it sees flagrant Nuremberg-type atrocities without consequence.
That is precisely what Hannah Rose has identified in her legal brief in Point 2,
"We have tried to raise this case through the English police and the English Court system without success, we have been unable even to get the case registered either with the police or with the court after several attempts...This is such a case which is why we are addressing the ICC directly."
Attorney Rose relied partly upon the expertise of Dr. Michael Yeadon, a research-based PhD in respiratory pharmacology and former Vice President and Chief Scientist at Pfizer.
In the background section of the brief, she writes in Point 5:
"The Covid-19 vaccines do not meet the requirement to be categorized as vaccines and are in fact gene therapy (Appendix 8)...Dr. Mike Yeadon, a joint applicant on this request, asserts that claims calling the Covid-19 injections a 'vaccine' is public manipulation and misrepresentation of clinical treatment.
"It's not a vaccination. It's not prohibiting infection. It's not a prohibiting transmission device. It's a means by which your body is conscripted to make the toxin that then allegedly your body somehow gets used to dealing with it, but unlike a vaccine, which is to trigger the immune response, this is to trigger the creation of the toxin.'
"MRNA uses the cell's machinery to synthesize proteins that are supposed to resemble the SPIKE protein of the virus, which is what it uses to enter cells via the ACE2 receptor. These proteins are then identified by the immune system, which builds antibodies against them. The real concern is that these proteins could accumulate in the body, especially in regions of high concentration of ACE2 receptors, such as the gonads. If the immune system then attacks the location where they accumulate, then you could be dealing with an auto-immune condition."
Dr. Yeadon mentions, in an interview, that our governments have grossly exaggerated the entire threat of COVID-19. He notes that COVID-19 represents a slightly greater risk than influenza if you are older than age 70 but a much lower risk than the seasonal flu if you are younger. See mark 31:00.
"So its just absurd that you should be happy or willing to let your economy and civil society be smashed for something which represents for almost everyone working a lower risk than influenza - but thats true," Yeadon said in the interview.
"Given this virus represents at worst a slightly bigger risk to the old and ill than does influenza, and a less risk than for almost everyone else whos younger and fit, it was NEVER NECESSARY for us to have done anything.
"We didn't need to do anything, lockdowns, masks, mass testing, vaccines - there are multiple therapeutic drugs that are at least as effective as vaccines are...an off-patent drug called Ivermectin, one of the most widely used drugs in the world, is also able to reduce symptoms at any stage of the disease including lethality by about 90%.
"So you don't need vaccines and you don't need any of the measures that have been introduced at all," Yeadon concluded. See mark 31:15.
For any reader still under the illusion that these mRNA covid vaccines have helped, please read the following article comparing the countries without vaccination to those with it. The most vaccinated nations have deaths per million up to 100 x greater than the least. Always question what the government tells you.
Yeadon goes on to explain that people need not worry about variants. He explains that our immune system is easily able to deal with ALL mutations of SARS-CoV-2 and explains that 18 years after the first SARS, those people are still protected by their immunity - and this immunity even extends to immunity against SARS-CoV-2, a virus 80% similar but 20% different than the original SARS.
Yeadon's major point is that if survivors of SARS some 18 years later have immunity against the new virus, which is 20% different, why would we believe that a current viral mutant only 0.3% different would be a threat? See mark 35:40.
"So when your government scientists say that a variant thats 0.3% different from SARS could masquerade as a new virus and be a threat to your health, you should know, and I'm telling you, THEY ARE LYING. If they're lying and they are, why is the pharmaceutical industry making top-up vaccines? They are making them," Yeadon said. See mark 35:55
"You should be terrified at this point. I am, because there is absolutely no possible justification for their manufacture. But they're being made, and the world's medicine regulators have said...we won't be asking them to do any clinical safety studies. Let me just say again, the variants are not different enough to represent a threat to you so you do not need top-up vaccines..., Yeadon said.
"The regulators have waved them through. I'm very frightened of that - there's no possible benign interpretation of this. I believe they are going to be used to damage your health and possibly kill you. Seriously. I can see no sensible interpretation other than a serious attempt at mass depopulation.
This will provide the tools to do it and plausible deniability - because they will create another story about some sort of biological threat, you'll line up and get your top-up vaccines, and a few months or a year or so later, you'll die of some peculiar, inexplicable syndrome, and they won't be able to associate it with the top-up vaccines." See mark 36:05 to 37:15.
Yeadon follows this up with his conclusion, "This system (mandatory vaccine passports) is being put in place using lies, and it's being put in place for some purpose, and I believe that purpose is complete totalitarian control, and I think the purpose of that is going to be mass depopulation." See mark 45:40.
"Do not allow it to be an interoperable global fixed-format database because that will be the end of human freedom, and I see no way of recovering from that once the system's up and running." See mark 46:30
Yeadon explained that few people will hear his words and that this fraud was perpetrated on the world's population through censorship, fear and propaganda. Dr. Yeadon, an insightful man, notes that the perpetrators have exhaustively planned this all, and they have considered how people might respond. Yeadon notes that if we all respond as expected, we will lose.
"Collectively, we need to do something unexpected." See mark 48:43.
However, it is likely they didn't plan on the International Criminal Court coming after them. They also didn't plan on Dr. Reiner Fuellmich, an experienced trial lawyer licensed in Germany and California who founded the Berlin Corona Committee, which heads a group of attorneys with global reach dedicated to dragging this deadly conspiracy into the open and suing it into oblivion.
Fuellmich does an excellent job in this interview of exposing the actions of Klaus Schwab and the World Economic Forum, WEF, also known as Davos. The WEF has as its goal the establishment of a New World Order, with the globe to be run by self-selected technocrats like Bill Gates, himself, and other members of Davos.
In 1971 Schwab founded what was to become the WEF in 1987. It has 1,000 members. In general, qualification requires a business to have more than 5 billion dollars per year in revenue. The theme of WEF and Klaus Schwab has recently been "The Great Reset," which essentially means a new world order. In the following video, Klaus Schwab can be heard discussing this with Henry Kissinger. We hear Dr. Kissinger praising Chinas Xi Jinping's speech and the formation of a new international order. See mark 2:50 to 4:00.
Schwab himself sums up the 2017 Davos Meeting with the following statement, "What a wonderful opportunity to conclude our week here with such concrete proposals and ideas of how we can really create a New World Order." See mark 26:40.
Professor Andreas Oehler aptly describes the agenda of Schwab and the WEF, "The World Economic Forum seems to be the driver behind and organizer of the global population control operations, be it pandemics, biometric IDs, Great Reset, or public-private partnerships in name of the "common good" (fascist corporatism)." See the following article,"The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse identified, along with the Apocalypse itself."
Professor Oehler of the University of Bamberg is widely published in credit, banking, finance, and investor protection. He believes that Klaus Schwab and his WEF members, including Bill Gates, planned the COVID-19 pandemic by sponsoring Event 201, a coronavirus pandemic simulation exercise held in New York City on October 18, 2019. WEF has been a proponent of digital biometric identity systems to make societies "more efficient and productive" (and easier to control).
Oehler wrote, "WEF collaborates with the ID2020 alliance, funded by the Gates and Rockefeller foundations to run a program to 'provide digital ID with vaccines.' In particular, ID2020 sees the vaccination of children as 'an entry point for digital identity.' In reality, this means that anything a person does or is allowed to do (employment, travel, commerce, health care...) will be linked to the person's digital ID. This will remove any privacy and take total control over each and every activity of any individual on earth."
