Daily Archives: August 9, 2017

A couple of extras from a busy night at the ballpark:

Byron Buxton said he was fine. Well, as good as could be expected.

The Twins center fielder was almost a victim of his own range again on Tuesday, racing back to the wall in an effort to catch Ryan Brauns straightaway blast.

But the ball tailed toward right field, Buxton had to make an unexpectedly awkward jump backwards, and the ball glanced off Buxtons glove just before he crashed into the padded wall.

Did it hurt? Oh yeah, Buxton said afterward. He laid at the base of the wall for a moment while the play went on Braun reached third base for a triple as the ball rolled toward the infield but then jumped up when fellow outfielders Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario arrived to check on him. It stunned me for a second. I hit pretty hard, he said.

Buxton sounded a little surprised he didnt make the catch, but said there was a reason. Its flight was not a normal path, he said, something he didnt realize until he got to the wall.

Castro said once it got about halfway out there, and I was probably at full speed, it started slicing really hard to the right, Buxton said, referring to catcher Jason Castro. I didnt realize how much it was moving away from me, so I had to turn around at the end.

The play was ultimately harmless, except for whatever bruises Buxton sustained from the crash. Adalberto Mejia left Braun stranded at third by getting Travis Shaw to hit a shallow fly to left, and Hernan Perez to fly out, ending the inning. And Braun finished just a home run short of a cycle, striking out in the ninth inning.

XXX

The Twins have a couple of options for Mejias next start, Sunday at Detroit, after placing the lefthander on the disabled list. Hector Santiago is scheduled to make a rehab start Wednesday night for Class AAA Rochester, so he could be scratched and told to rejoin the Twins right away, or his pitches could be limited, in order to rejoin the team this weekend while a different pitcher gets the job in the interim.

But it sounded like Paul Molitor might be willing to give Dillon Gee a try in the rotation. The former Met and Royal has pitched twice for the Twins, a three-inning stint against the Rangers and four innings on Tuesday, and hasnt allowed a run.

Hes had a couple of really nice outings. It was nice to see him come in and clean that game up like he did ,with four clean innings, Molitor said. I thought he pitched well his first time out too, and hes got the experience, so its definitely an option.

In that case, Santiago could be recalled and placed in the bullpen, filling Gees role. The Twins will announce their decision on Wednesday.

XXX

Molitor on Brian Doziers grand slam: [Matt] Garza started him with a fastball in each of his previous at-bats. I was just hoping he didnt try to pull a pitch that was unpullable. Thankfully, he let it get deep. The couple of home runs he hit to right field this week havent been cheap.

Here is the original post:

Postgame: Byron Buxton is sore but OK after another crash into CF wall - Minneapolis Star Tribune

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --CF Corporation (NASDAQ: CFCO) ("CF Corp.") today announced that its shareholders have voted to approve the previously announced merger under which CF Corp. will acquire Fidelity & Guaranty Life (NYSE: FGL) ("FGL") for$31.10per share in cash, or a total of approximately$1.835 billion, plus the assumption of$405 millionof existing debt. The shareholders of CF Corp. also voted to approve all of the other proposals that came before the extraordinary general meeting in lieu of annual general meeting of shareholders held today. The final voting results indicate that 100 percent of votes cast were in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement, representing 83.95 percent of all outstanding shares as of the July 20, 2017 record date. The final vote results will be filed on a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. No shareholders elected to have their public shares redeemed in connection with the business combination.

As previously announced, the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2017, subject to regulatory approvals and certain other customary closing conditions.

Upon closing of the transaction, CF Corp. will change its name to FGL Holdings. Chinh E. Chu and William P. Foley, II will continue to serve as Co-Executive Chairmen, and Christopher J. Littlefield, Eric L. Marhoun and Dennis R. Vigneau, each a current member of FGL's management team, will join FGL Holdings as executive officers.

About CF Corporation

CF Corporation's primary objective is to build an enduring, high quality business by using permanent capital, a core tenet of the CF Corp. structure. CF Corp. also has the largest individual founder co-investment in a U.S. special purpose acquisition company, which results in alignment of interests with CF Corp.'s investors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, and certain oral statements made by representatives of CF Corp. and its affiliates from time to time may contain, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. CF Corp.'s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "might" and "continues," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, CF Corp.'s expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impact of the business combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the business combination and the timing of the completion of the business combination. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Most of these factors are outside CF Corp.'s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement relating to the proposed business combination; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against CF Corp. or FGL following the announcement of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability to complete the business combination, including due to failure to fulfill conditions to closing in the merger agreement; (4) delays in obtaining or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals (including approval from insurance regulators) required to complete the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; (5) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement or could otherwise cause the transaction to fail to close; (6) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the post-closing company's ordinary shares on NASDAQ following the business combination; (7) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to the business combination; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that FGL or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (12) other risks and uncertainties identified in CF Corp.'s proxy statement relating to the business combination, including those under "Risk Factors" therein, and in CF Corp.'s and FGL's other filings with the SEC. CF Corp. cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. CF Corp. cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. CF Corp. does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, subject to applicable law. The information contained in any website referenced herein is not, and shall not be deemed to be, part of or incorporated into this press release.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities pursuant to the proposed transactions or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

CF Corporation Contacts:

Douglas B. Newton, Chief Financial Officer CF Corporation 212-355-5515

Jonathan Keehner/Julie Oakes / Tim Ragones Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 212-355-4449

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cf-corporation-shareholders-approve-merger-with-fidelity--guaranty-life-300501678.html

SOURCE CF Corporation

Continued here:

CF Corporation Shareholders Approve Merger with Fidelity & Guaranty Life - Markets Insider

Sweat from infants with cystic fibrosis contains substances that could be used as biomarkers of the disease and even identify new disease mechanisms, a study reports.

The research,published in the journalACS Central Science,was titledThe Sweat Metabolome of Screen-Positive Cystic Fibrosis Infants: Revealing Mechanisms beyond Impaired Chloride Transport.

Scientists say thegold standard for diagnosing CF remains the sweat chloride test, which measures the amount of chloride one of the bodys most important electrolytes in a persons blood.

The test results can be ambiguous, however. This is especially true when chloride levels are intermediate, as opposed to high or low, the researchers wrote.

If doctors had biomarkers they could use in conjunction with the test, they might be able to do a better job of diagnosing the disease, treating patients and predicting outcomes, according to the team.

Scientists know that levels of certain metabolites are associated with the outcomes of many diseases,supportingtheir role as potential biomarkers. Metabolites are substances necessary for cells metabolism.

The problem with using metabolites as CF biomarkers was that scientists had never determined the metabolic composition of patients sweat. Canadian researchers decided to remedy that.

Sweat contains lots of information related to human health that researchers have not fully analyzed, and we found some unexpected chemicals associated with CF, Philip Britz-McKibbin, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University, said in a press release. He was the studys lead author.

The McMaster team analyzed the metabolic composition of the sweat of 18 infants with cystic fibrosis and 50 infants without the disease. The children were at the McMaster Childrens Hospital and the Hospital for Sick ChildreninToronto.

The analysis showed that sweat from babies with CF contained several chemicals besides chloride.

Researchers also discovered that children with the disease had significantly lower levels of ametabolite that stimulates sweat production pilocarpic acid and a plasticizer metabolite, orchemical compound used in making plastics.

The results suggested that testing for the biomarkers could be a way to clarify an unclearchloride sweat test. The findings also indicated that mechanisms besides the ones scientists are aware of may underlie CF. Investigating these mechanisms could lead to new therapy approaches, the researchers said.

The easier it is to detect CF, the earlier it can be diagnosed, and the better peoples chances are at living a longer, healthier life, Joanna Valsamis, chief healthcare, research and advocacy officer at Cystic Fibrosis Canada, said of the results.

CF Canada invests heavily in research that aims to improve the lives of people living with CF, and findings such as those from Dr. Britz-McKibbin are crucial to our understanding of the disease, Valsamis added.

Originally posted here:

CF Patients' Sweat May Contain Diagnosis and Treatment ... - Cystic Fibrosis News Today

I fought cystic fibrosis for 15 years before the overwhelming burden collapsed. My family was driving to get dinner when my brain and heart suddenly exploded. I was sobbing and gasping for breath, able to hear every rapid pound of my heart against my ribs. I couldnt think, yet I was thinking too much my brain overloaded. My parents and sister asked me what was wrong and an unintelligible language gushed out from my mouth. The message was clear, though: Get me to the ER.

Somerelaxed hours later, I told doctors I thought it was a heart attack. After a series of tests, they concluded I experienced a panic attack my first-ever, and the first of hundreds.

You know how in sci-fi movies everything gets sucked into the void of space if theres a hole in the spaceship? Panic attacks are the hole, and depression is the void. My emotions kicked into overdrive and then evaporated, leaving me hollow. My emotions entered a cycle: the revolving door of anxiety and depression, feeling too much, then feeling too little.

Cystic fibrosis patients are two to three times more likely to experience anxiety or depression. I was told many times before, Mental illness comes with the disease. That might be true, but the phrasing belittled the problem for me. It seemed like depression and anxiety were mere side effects I had to get used to rather than serious issues requiring professional help. I made serious mistakes throughout my war against the hijackers of my mind.

I wish I had seen a psychologist before the symptoms occurred.If I already knew a therapist, its possible they could have seen early warning signs and prevented my anxiety and depression from going unchecked. Instead, I suffered for months without help.

When I finally sought help, my therapist only knew me in my crises, which led to mischaracterization and inaccurate benchmarks for my behaviors. They could have treated me more effectively if they knew what Normal Brad was like compared to Anxious and Depressed Brad.

I wish I knew that therapy needs to be comfortable.I stuck with my first therapist for about a year. She was a kind person, but I couldnt open up to her. There just wasnt a connection. A therapy relationship while technically a professional relationship is personal. You need to trust them.

I ended up trying a different therapist simply because they were closer to where I lived. Im so glad I did. We have a connection that lasts to this day, despite me moving away. I shouldnt have continued seeing the same person before if I didnt think I was reaching full potential in my therapy sessions.

I wish I was honest about my medication.The first time I took medicine for my depression, my psychiatrist said it could take a few weeks to begin working. I waited several months to feel a difference that never came. When my psychiatrist asked how my medicine was going, I would respond with an unhelpful, Good. The idea of telling the truth made me anxious for some reason. (Is anxiety ever rational?)

My depression got terrible enough that I confessed the medicine didnt work. He easily switched me to something new that helped fairly quickly. I could have halted my depression before it got unmanageable if I had just given honest feedback.

I wish I joined CF support groups sooner.I used to avoid support groups because I hated to see patients in really terrible conditions and imagine my inevitable future. I finally joined online groups during college when I became desperate for tips for fighting the disease. CF is an incredibly isolating disease. The frustration of normal people not understanding my struggles is depressing in itself. Chatting with patients who empathize is one of the best therapies. Sometimes we just need a good vent.

Many patients say they have enough appointments and medications without worrying about mental health. Its important to consider the effect mental illness has on your physical well-being, though.

Studies of CF patients and humans in general show an intertwined relationship between mind and body health. Lack of motivation can be as dangerous as bacteria when it comes to a high-maintenance disease like CF.

If keeping high spirits keeps you healthy, you could reduce your number of appointments and medications in the long run. CF already attacks your lungs. Dont let it get away with attacking your mind.

***

Note:Cystic Fibrosis News Todayis strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.

View post:

CF, Anxiety, and the Mistakes I Made in the War for My Mind - Cystic Fibrosis News Today