Daily Archives: November 17, 2021

If you know any doctorswe mean, know them wellyou know the deep, dark secret hiding under their lab coats: They're human. "Doctors are not really known to take care of themselves as much as they should!" admits Dr. Thomas Jeneby, a plastic surgeon from Texas. "But there are some perks!" One perk is that they know how to be healthybetter than anyonewhether they live that way or not. Which is why we asked the experts what you should do to live longer.Read on to find out moreand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

"Pet ownership is a 24/7 form of pet therapy and is a personal stress reducer for me," says Carmen Echols, MD. "Shortly after my husband and I married, we got a dogthat we still own, by the way. After especially challenging days at work, I sit on the couch and watch TV while petting the dog and find that simple activity so relaxing."

"I'll tell you my experience in the field of holistic medicine what I've learned from other top doctors," says Dean C. Mitchell, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The simple things really work!

"Some studies have shown that having a purpose in life helps to maintain mental and possibly physical health and benefit longevity. Intuitively this makes sense as it maintains an energetic 'drive' in life," says Jack J Springer, MD, Assistant Professor Emergency Medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell. "This purpose can be intellectual, emotional, physical or spiritual. Before writing my new book, I focus on the purposehelping people with anxietywhich is energizing physically and mentally. It also allows for more focus which decreases distraction and 'wasted' time spent doing things that may, in the short term, feel good, but ultimately are taking time from more beneficial, healthful and rewarding activities."

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"One thing physicians do to live longer is to go to the doctor!" says Carmen Echols, MD. "Many people assume that we physicians can take care of our own health concerns merely because we have the medical knowledge to do so, but that simply is not for the best. It is always wise for us to have the objective expertise of a colleague when it comes to personal physical and mental health."

"The field of epigenetics is where doctors are looking when it comes to reversing rapid aging and preventing disease," says Dr. Elena Villanueva of Modern Holistic Health. "With genetic testing doctors can uncover their unique individualized 'operations manual' to understand what foods, environmental toxins, and lifestyle choices they should make. Then they can even understand what type of exercise will benefit them the most, what sleeping patterns they should adhere to, and what supplements will benefit them."

"Massage therapy is an excellent way to improve muscle spasms and help relax," says Dr. Allen Conrad, BS, DC, CSCS of Montgomery County Chiropractic Center. "Not to mention relieve stress."

RELATED: Everyday Habits That Lead to Aging

"I find that exercise is a very important part of my routine to control stress and be healthier," says Nathan Rock, OD, FAAO. "As doctors, we know that exercise has positive benefits in many ways including promoting excellent cardiovascular health and promoting a balanced mood through release of endorphins. Personally, I have found that exercise, when possible, both before and after work can help to prepare for a successful day as well as relieve any stress from a day's work." He enjoys yoga "in the morning, as they very first thing to start my day. In the evenings, I enjoy running and weight lifting." Don't discount the power of doing it with others. "I have found I enjoy exercising with others, so I have joined two running clubs in my community which I run with on two weeknights. This adds to the social aspects of exercise and helps me keep motivated and accountable."

"As a 49-year-old physician, there are several things I try to do in order to live healthier and longer. Getting enough sleep is crucial, and I aim to get at least 6 hours a night," says Dr. Monique May, a physician. (Most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours.)

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"I also stay well-hydrated by drinking enough water each day so that my urine is clear and not dark yellow," admits Dr. May. "The amount of water I drink can vary depending on how much exercise I have done for the day, so I go by the color of my urine as a good indicator. Also, when I feel hungry I drink water. If I drink water before I eat I do not eat as much, and it prevents thirst. By the time one feels thirsty, he or she is actually already dehydrated, so one should drink when they feel hunger to prevent that."

"I also exercise at least 3-5 times a week, and do a variety of activities, such as spin class, yoga, and kickboxing. I also like to dance as well," says Dr. May.

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"Eating right is key, and I have recently incorporated more fruits and vegetables in my diet as I cut down on my meat intake," says Dr. May. "I still have to have a juicy burger every now and then!"

"There are so many diseases that arise with an increased body mass that maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to longevity," says Dr. Thanu Jey, Clinic Director at Yorkville Sports Medicine Clinic. "Extra weight also puts a substantial burden on your joints causing earlier joint problems like arthritiswear and tearand tendonitis."

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"Stretching your muscles helps keep you flexible and mobile, which helps prevent many compensatory injuries," says Dr. Jay. "Stretching increases blood circulation, joint health, mobility, balance and much more that'll help you live a longer, happier life."

"I have been utilizing my Hyperbaric Chamber which increases the volume of oxygen absorption by increasing atmospheric pressure," says Dr. Rudy Gehrman, DC Executive Director and Founder of Physio Logic NYC."It can create new blood vessels, essentially enabling new circulation and oxygen to areas that are depleted. It can reduce inflammation and speed up healing. These treatments can also help the immune system kill harmful bacteria and viruses. In simple terms, the fastest way to kill a human being (outside of trauma) is to deplete them of oxygen. What better way to reverse signs of aging than to push oxygen at a cellular level throughout your body!"

"Three to four days per week I implement whole body hot and cold contrasts treatments by soaking in a hot bath to induce a fever, followed by an ice cold shower," says Dr. Rudy Gehrman, DC, Executive Director and Founder of Physio Logic NYC. "This process pumps up the lymph system which is responsible for moving inflammation causing movement of stagnant fluids through the body."

"Ballroom dancing has been a passion of mine since college at Harvard and MIT, when I was members of ballroom dancing clubs," says Dr. Ming Wang, MD, Ph.D., an ophthalmologist in Nashville. "I still practice it today weekly and participate in local and regional championships. I find it to be a great way to relax, relieve stress, as well as stay active."

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"It can be easy with the busy routine of medicine to fall into poor eating habits," says Dr. Wang. "After all, fast food and unhealthy options are much easier to come by. I feel it is important to make conscious decisions to eat healthier. The easiest way to do this is bring my own lunch to work when I can. Because food cooked at home can generally be prepared much more healthy than what is bought from a restaurant, it is a good way to control exactly what I am eating in the correct portion. It also has another benefit of avoiding the stress that can come from trying to grab a lunch if the lunch hour is busy."

"I can single out a simple way to get started to increasing longevity: Eat a good breakfast on a regular basis," says Morton Tavel, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine. "Those who regularly consume this meal enjoy greater longevity and find it easier to maintain a lower weight. Breakfast is more apt to contain more nutritious foods such as fruit and protein. Protein also provides more persistent satiation that delays hunger and, therefore, the desire for mid-morning snacks. Protein is especially helpful, for it not only provides a lengthier sense of fullness but also burns up more energy while being digested, resulting in fewer excess net calories to deal with. Therefore, don't forget to include protein sources such as eggs, yogurt, low-fat milk, cheese, nuts, etc.,"like the recipes in Zero Belly Breakfasts, for example"but minimize such processed meat sources as bacon, sausage and the like, for the latter pose, in themselves, significant threats to health."

"I have two tips for living a longer, healthier life," says Dr. Joshua D. Zuckerman, a plastic surgeon. "First, I wear sunscreen! Skin cancer is pervasive, and melanoma especially is aggressive and can be deadly. Photodamage (sun damage) from UV exposure is cumulative, so it's important to wear sun protection every day whether it's cold and cloudy or warm and sunny. I typically recommend higher SPF than most: 30+ for medium skin tones and 50+ for those with fair skin." Read on to hear his second tip!

"Second, I try to maintain a stable weight," says Dr. Zuckerman. "Whether by diet and exercise or other means, a stable weight helps an individual maintain activity levels and general life satisfaction. In addition, as we age it can be more difficult to lose weight, and losing weight can have side effects such as leaving excess skin or sag. This is due to tissues losing elasticity as we age, and once stretched beyond the limit of its elasticity, tissue cannot fully contract back down."

"Physicians make thousands of decisions every day, answer a million questions, and work long hours. I have two strategies to live longer. One, I have dinner with my wife and kids every evening," says Dr. George Hennawi, director of the department of geriatrics at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore. Read on for his second tip!

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"Two, I categorize my decisions into buckets," says Dr. Hennawi. "One bucket is people wanting to ventso I listen and sympathize. Another bucket is a systemic issue that needs a deeper dive and time to answer. The last bucket is an urgent matter that needs attention as soon as possible. As you may guess, a lot falls into the first category, which allows me to reduce stress and live longer, hopefully."

"There are several ways we can stay healthy and live a longer, higher quality life," says Anthony Kouri, M.D., an Orthopedic Surgeon at the University of Toledo Medical Center. "I personally take calcium and vitamin D supplementation daily. Something that is not appreciated by many people is the effect that low calcium and vitamin D can have on us as we age. It is most common in post-menopausal women, and both genders after age 50, however it can be found in young people as well. Our peak bone density is found in the second and third decade of life, typically around age 30. Nearly 50% of all people are deficient in vitamin D, which can lead to osteopenia, osteoporosis, and has been linked to breast, prostate and colon cancers, as well as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Many people don't feel the effects of vitamin D deficiency until it's too late."

"Though any exercise is better than no exercise at all, the type of exercise makes a difference when it comes to bone health," says Dr. Kouri. "From the age of 30, we begin to lose bone mineral density. Studies have demonstrated that moderate-impact exercise is ideal for maximizing bone mineral density as we age. Moderate impact running and jogging in the elderly leads to a significant increase in bone mineral density when compared to those who do minimal activity. Preventing osteoporosis or osteopenia from occurring is the best way to avoid big, life-altering problems in the future."

"Spend as much time with close friends and family," recommends Dr. Springer. "Loneliness is closely tied to poor health (over time) and certainly decreased longevity. It is epidemic in many areas of the world (especially the 'Western' highly developed countries) it is a killer of spirit and life, literally. Intimacy (in person!) is a great human need. This connection is vital to the health if humans and its absence is probably a major factor in the global epidemic of anxiety and depression. People with whom you can be yourself and not hold back for fear of judgement. To understand the importance, think about how you feel mentally and physically after a few hours talking or laughing or just sitting with someone close to you."

"Develop a sense of ties to the community around you: this could be semi-regular block parties, clubs, service organizations, religious or spiritual groups," advises Dr. Springer. "This ties together both a sense of purpose and intimacy."

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"Keep learning: whether crossword puzzles, Sudoku, a new language, instrument, or hobbyexpressive ones such as art/ performance may be best," says Dr. Springer. "Again, group activities are ideal."

Leslie P. Soiles, Chief Audiologist at HearingLife, recommends visiting a hearing health center to get your ears assessed, as side effects from hearing loss can impact living a long and healthy life. Hearing problems can lead to other serious physical and mental health issues such as, balance issues, dementia, depression and Alzheimer's.

RELATED: Ways You're Ruining Your Body After 60, Say Experts

"My non-obvious health tip: don't eat your children's leftovers," says Dr. Edna Ma, MD. "I grew up eating all the food from my plate before being allowed to leave the dinner table. This was probably due to our family's poor economic status at the time. My parents were first generation Chinese immigrants who grew up during China's worst famine. This aversion to food waste also deepened during my time as a Survivor (yes, the TV show!) contestant. Now that I am a parent, it's still hard for me to see food waste. As adults, our nutritional needs are different that children's. And eating their leftovers will lead to unnecessary caloric intake and weight gain."

"Living longer isn't just a recipe to eat this, use this cream, or do crossword puzzles everyday," says Dr. Jacqueline Darna, N.M.D. "Instead longevity of life is about a state of mind. I have heard countless friends who stop doing what they love, working as a physician, and start to decline in health. Do what gives you purpose and love life. As a physician I want my patients to see I live a healthy life by example, I cycle every morning so I can enjoy food and not count calories, I don't put poisons in my body and choose natural remedies, I dance everyday (from the shower to the car), and I always look on the bright side."

RELATED: Vitamins That Can Prevent Aging, Say Studies

"The clich is true: 'The things that you own are the things that own you,'" says Dr. Will Kirby, a board certified dermatologist and the Chief Medical Officer of LaserAway. "And no one was ever on their deathbed and said, 'I wish I spent more time buying stuff on Amazon.' So recognize that physical possessions only make you happy very temporarily while less tangible pastimes will give you a more stable, long term endorphin boost! I'm not naive enough to think that we aren't consumer but I sold my expensive car and walk it bike or use ride-sharing. I don't own an expensive watch, and I try to minimize the physical possessions I own. After all, I don't own them they actually own me!"

"Fiber is an excellent way to stay healthy and lose weight" states Dr. Conrad. "People who regularly eat a lot of fiber have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol, and fiber is a healthy low sugar option for diabetics. Foods high in fiber include oatmeal, flax seeds, chia seeds, broccoli and beans."

RELATED: Sure Signs You Have Abdominal Fat, Say Experts

"Contribute to society through mentorship: Humans are social creatures and for tens of thousands we worked in collective groups to benefit our cause," says Dr. Kirby. "In modern society, that has all but disappearedwe are no much more selfish and driven to only accomplish quantifiable persists. So it's my contention that one of the best things that you can do to live a long life is to find meaning and purpose by helping others in your community or profession."

"Don't avoid stress: So many people want to minimize stress for longevity but not only is stress is terribly misunderstood and it is a mistake to attempt to avoid it," says Dr. Kirby. "Many people who live though incredible hardship live a long time. And I'm not advocating monthly trips to Everest but embracing the concept that stressful events eventually pass and you often because emotionally (and even physically!) stronger following stressful events."

"I listen to my wife," says Eric Branda, AuD, PhD at Signia. "All jokes about marriage aside, many of us put the well-being of our families and significant others above our own health. Consequently, we may neglect being as attentive to our own health needs. It's important to remember that those significant others in our lives may pick up and call attention to changes in our health that we may be slower to act on."

"I personally travel to a least a new country every year alone," says Colin Zhu, DO, DipABLM of the Thrive Bites podcast. "For me, solitude gives me stress relief and balance and clarity. Also, it helps me to re-engage my five senses again. On a daily basis, it would be cooking at home. It's very therapeutic for me and also reinforces social connection especially when I cook with others!"

"Weight-bearing exercise can help slow bone loss," says Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, author of The Magnesium Miracle. "Putting weight on your bones by walking, running and/or lifting weights stimulates the growth of new bone. Exercise can also help keep joint cartilage healthy. Strong muscles support joints and reduce the load on them." As for yourself: To get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

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The #1 Anti-Aging Tips Doctors Use Themselves Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

A panel discussion on reinventing existing buildings and a talk focused on designing architecture in tandem with natural environments are among the highlights of the third day of Velux's Build for Life digital conference.

Throughout the three-day Build for Life programme, which runs from 15 to 17 November, architectural experts will discuss climate-related challenges and opportunities.

Dezeen is hosting three talks throughout the conference, which are being live-streamed on Dezeen and moderated by Dezeen's founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs.

Velux's other talks will be delivered from the Compass stage and the Daylight Symposium stage in Copenhagen.

Find out about the Dezeen sessions here, see the full Build for Life programme here, register for the full conference here and read on for some highlights from today's programme.

How can environmental systems be conceptualised in harmony with architecture to support sustainable development?9:00am London time (10:00am Copenhagen time)Compass stage

The talk will focus on creating eco-friendly buildings that support sustainable development.

Fairs will be joined by Susanne Brorson, founder of Studio Susanne Brorson, Kasper Guldager, architect and co-founder at Home.Earth, and James Drinkwater, head of built environment at Laudes Foundation.

How can we design and transform existing buildings for quality and longevity?10:00am London time (11:00am Copenhagen time)Compass stage

Mette Tony, founding partner of Praksis Architects, will discuss how architects can develop existing infrastructure to shape buildings for longevity.

What is the latest research and scientific consensus on health in buildings post-pandemic and beyond?2:00pm London time (3:00pm Copenhagen time)Compass stage

Joseph Allen (pictured), associate professor and director of the Healthy Buildings Programme, and John Macomber, senior lecturer at Harvard University, will present the latest research on human health in buildings post-pandemic and into the future.

Contact to the Outdoors9:00am London time (10:00am Copenhagen time)Daylight Symposium stage

Mandana Sarey Khanie (pictured), assistant professor at the Technical University of Denmark, will lead a discussion titled Image-based Characterisation of View in Virtual Reality.

Also within this session, Femke Beute, an environmental psychologist at LightGreen Health, will deliver a talk titled The Benefits of Windows.

Daylight in Architecture (America)3:00pm London time (4:00pm Copenhagen time)Daylight Symposium stage

Cristin Izquierdo (pictured), partner at Izquierdo Lehmann Architects, will deliver a talk called Central Plans after the Dome.

Following this, Jos Fernando Gmez, founder of Natura Futura Arquitectura, will present a talk called Invisible City: the Identity of Suburbs.

Velux's Build for Life conference takes place online from 15 to 17 November 2021. For details of more architecture and design events, visit Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen x Velux Build for Life

This article was written by Dezeen for Velux as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Day three of Velux's Build for Life conference features talks about designing sustainable buildings that last - Dezeen

MONTREAL, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -Solmax is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire Propex, an industry-leading U.S. geosynthetics manufacturer with a long track record in the construction, transportation, mining, and automotive industries. With this transaction, Solmax reinforces its position as a leading geosynthetics solutions provider.

Jean-Louis Vangeluwe, President of Solmax, commented: "This strategic acquisition enables Solmax to expand its sophisticated geosynthetics product portfolio for the benefit of engineers, distributors, contractors, operators, and others working in the environmental containment and civil infrastructure sectors. As a global leader in the industry, Solmax is accelerating the promotion and awareness of highly technical and specialized geosynthetic solutions, reducing the carbon footprint of conventional building solutions, and mitigating the environmental impact of human activities."

With origins that can be traced back to 1910, Propex is today one of North America's leading geosynthetics providers. An award-winning manufacturer and low-carbon solutions provider, it boasts a storied history and an enviable reputation for innovation, expertise, service excellence and value.

Solmax's geosynthetic solutions are used by major industrial companies in mining, energy, waste management,construction,civil engineering, environmental containment, infrastructure,andtransport, while Propex's infrastructure solutions and systems are used in erosion control applications, construction, transportation infrastructure, and industrial applications.

As industry leaders with a longstanding market presence, Solmax and Propex are both renowned for their geosynthetics expertise, application knowledge, product excellence, and customer service, as well as being recognized as groundbreakers in their respective spaces. Both companies' share a well-aligned vision of protecting the environment in a responsible manner to make the future a better world.

K&L Gates LLP and Jones Day acted as legal advisors to Solmax. Barclays and TD Securities are acting as joint financial advisors, underwriters, joint bookrunners and joint lead arrangers for the Solmax senior credit facilities. Solomon Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor and Stroock acted as legal advisor to Propex.

ABOUT SOLMAX

Solmax is a geosynthetics pioneer, innovator, and leader. With almost five decades'experience, our GSE andTenCateGeosyntheticsacquisitionsmake us one of the world's largest geosynthetics manufacturer. With plants in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, our geosyntheticsare used in critical applications by significant customers in mining, energy, waste management,construction, agriculture and irrigation,civil engineering, environmental containment, infrastructure,andtransport. Our products safeguard the earth from waste and contaminants, and protect investments, helping preserve the integrity and longevity of vital infrastructure in the toughest environments. Our vision is to advance the geosynthetics industry and create products that areaccessibleeverywhere.

Solmax -geosyntheticsthatsupport human progress.Visit us atwww.solmax.com.

SOURCE Solmax

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Solmax acquires Propex to further expand into unique and value-added geosynthetic products and solutions - PRNewswire

The rehabilitated Northern Community Health Center (NCHC), Ngarchelong state, was handed over to the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MHHS) and the people of Palau, through a handover event held at the NCHC on the 15th of November 2021. The rehabilitation has led to safe, welcoming facilities for patients, as well as an attractive working environment for medical staff, leading to more efficient and sustainable healthcare systems required for healthier populations.

Details of the handover event:

The handover event, held at the NCHC on the 15th of November 2021, confirmed the official transfer of ownership of the improved health centers to Palaus Ministry of Health and Human Services. The event was attended by His Excellency Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau; Uong er Etei Mathias Erbai; Robert J. Scaria, Honorary Consul of India to the Republic of Palau; Honourable Richard Nigiratrang, Governor, Ngarchelong State; Scott Yano, Chairperson, PCHC Governing Board; Victoria Maui, Member, PCHC Board; Jean Paul Vion, UNOPS; Pastor Paulus Swei and others. The event included speeches by honorable guests, prayers, a ribbon cutting ceremony and lunch.

Improved health delivery thanks to the project: With a USD$ 1.65 million grant from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, UNOPS supported Palaus Ministry of Health and Human Services to strengthen the healthcare system of Palau by providing adequate facilities to deliver patient-focused care, as well as improved and safe working conditions for medical staff.

Under this collaboration, and in alignment with the United Nations Pacific Strategy (2018-2022), the project fully rehabilitated two Community Health Centers, namely the complete renovation of the Northern and Southern Community Health Centers, as well as the partial rehabilitation of the Western Community Health Center. Following the handover event, the NCHC is completed and handed over to the Ministry of Health and Human Services. The SCHC is also complete and expected to be handed over by the first week of December.

The full rehabilitation of the Northern and Southern Centers included replacing the septic system, cabinetry and related plumbing, electrical works, A/C installation and roofing. Additionally, the centers have been made ready for renewable energy upgrades (photovoltaic systems) and emergency backup power. This is in line with the ambitious agenda of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, to enhance primary care through a staged CHC upgrade approach. Having completed this first rehabilitation stage, UNOPS will be ready to support and advise the Ministry of Health and Human Services in achieving their goals.

Ensuring no one is left behind:

To support Palau in providing happy and purposeful lives for its populations, the project focused on inclusive and equitable health opportunities by tackling the disparities in accessing health facilities that stem from remoteness and socio-economic conditions. To improve health delivery to those in vulnerable situations, the rehabilitation also ensured that the facilities became accessible to people living with disabilities, by ensuring accessibility by wheelchairs, as well as inclusive upgrading of the bathrooms and treatment rooms.

The provision of quality patient-focused care depends on adequate facilities that prioritize sanitation and hygienic conditions. To return quality primary healthcare to the community, the infrastructure solutions delivered by the project focused on improving the provision of basic and critical primary care services locally to residents of the island. This achievement of bringing primary healthcare back to the community level through the rehabilitated CHCs plays an important role in the MHHS strategy to provide preventive care in the local communities, whilst also easing the burden on the hospital, reducing premature death and improving quality of life.

Sustainable solutions for the long term:

Recognizing the important role resilient and green infrastructure solutions hold in tackling climate-induced vulnerabilities of Small Islands Developing States, the rehabilitation of all health centers prioritised resilience and sustainability, as well as the mainstreaming of efficiency in energy performance. This approach is in line with UNOPS belief that smart infrastructure solutions, built to last, can protect the people of Palau from the worlds most difficult challenges, including natural hazards and climate change vulnerabilities.

To ensure infrastructure that is resilient, inclusive and responsive to the needs of users, the project focused on transparency, excellence and accountability for results, seeing infrastructure as a system and understanding the synergies between the physical asset, its environment and the knowledge and institutions which support it. This meant climate proofing the rehabilitation, working closely with stakeholders and using appropriate materials for aggressive coastal environments. This resulted in rehabilitated CHCs that are fit for purpose with longevity and adapted to their environments, leading to sustainable development.

To maximize long term benefits for the community, special attention was paid to capacity building during project implementation. This included a focus on transferring knowledge to local contractors at each stage of construction, mainstreaming health and safety protocols and working closely with the government to develop building codes. The approach aligns with UNOPS values of building national capacity and ownership, as a key foundation of sustainability.

Speaking about the project:

President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., said:On behalf of the People of Palau, I wish to extend my deepest appreciation to UNOPS, the South-South cooperation of the UN India Partnership Fund and the Government and People of the Republic of India for their great partnership and support in the rehabilitation project of the Northern Community Health Center. I strongly believe that this newly-improved infrastructure will provide an accessible, safe, and comfortable space for community members to receive quality and efficient primary healthcare services.

UNOSSC, said:UNOSSC, through the India-UN Fund, was pleased to support Palaus infrastructure to provide better health services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we work to build back better, with more resilient systems and services, the relevance of this support is most evident.

Ms. Samina Kadwani, UNOPS Director for the Pacific, Thailand and Indonesia, said:

UNOPS is glad to be handing over the rehabilitation community health centers to the Ministry of Health and Human Services and people of Palau, in the knowledge that people across Palau now have improved quality health delivery and patient-care. We are proud to have been a part of the South-South cooperation and remain committed to improving the lives of Palauans, by building the future through infrastructure for climate action.

Mr. Jean Paul Vion, UNOPS Construction Management Engineer, Palau, said:

As we hand over the improved Community Health Centers to the people of Palau, I am glad to say that they are truly sustainable. In line with UNOPS values, resilience and climate adaptation were considered throughout the design and construction, ensuring infrastructure solutions that protect against and combat climate change. Equally, the focus on capacity building and institutional strengthening, mainstreamed throughout the project, contributes to developing long term capacity and national ownership, which is the key to sustainability.

The project is thanks to a partnership between the India-UN Development Partnership fund, the Ministry of Health and Human Services in Palau, and UNOPS.

The handover of the second fully refurbished CHC, located in Peleliu, will be held in the first week of December. The event will mark the official handing over of the refurbished centers to the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the people of Palau.

ENDS

Notes to the editors:

Photos of the handover event can be found here - photo credit: EmeralDreams Marketing Services dba Palau Blue Productions

Photos of the broader project can be found here - photo credit: UNOPS

Press contact details:

UNOPS: For media inquiries please contact: Ffion Conlon, Communications and Partnerships Officer, ffionc@unops.org

India-UN Development Partnership Fund: Ines Tofalo, Chief Programme Support Unit, ines.tofalo@unossc.org

MHHS: Lalie Ikluk, Administration Manager, lalie.ikluk@palauhealth.org

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Complete rehabilitation of Palau's Northern Community Health Center leads to improved patient-focused care and strengthened health systems in Palau -...

At the end of September, scientists from the University of Virginiarevealed the discovery of 17 total genes directly implicated in the development of obesity. It is an important breakthrough as the COVID-19 pandemic has only served to escalate this persistent and often overlooked crisis.

Its no secret that rates of obesity prevalence for both child and adult populations have been steadily increasing over the last two decades. In a recent media statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of states in which 35% or more of the population had obesity almost doubled from nine in 2018 to 16 in 2020. Further literature analysis of COVID-19 patients found that children suffering from obesity had greater severity of illness and higher rates of hospitalization.

As this invisible epidemic continues to rage in the shadow of COVID-19, Dr. Eyleen ORourke, Ph.D. and her team have been working to understand the genetic factors behind obesity.

We know of hundreds of gene variants that are more likely to show up in individuals suffering obesity and other diseases. But 'more likely to show up' does not mean causing the disease, said ORourke, an assistant professor of biology and cell biology at the UVA School of Medicines department of cell biology and Robert M. Berne cardiovascular research center. We anticipate that our approach and the new genes we uncovered will accelerate the development of treatments to reduce the burden of obesity.

While the research team was largely composed of members from UVA, additional members represented Swedens Uppsala University, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Together, the researchers were able to comb through hundreds of genes known to be associated with obesity and pinpoint a select few with promising implications.

Anti-obesity therapies are urgently needed to reduce the burden of obesity in patients and the healthcare system, ORourke stated in the press release. Our combination of human genomics with causality tests in model animals promises yielding anti-obesity targets more likely to succeed in clinical trials because of their anticipated increased efficacy and reduced side effects.

Intrigued, BioSpace spoke with ORourke in an effort to learn more about the findings.

Shedding Light on the Unseen

By developing a model of obesity for the oft-studied worm C. elegans, with whom we share a 70% genetic similarity and a comparable weight-gain response to overeating sugar, ORourke and her team screened 293 genes suspected of committing obesity-causing cellular crimes.

Of these, a total of 17 genes stand formally accused: those that are implicated in obesity causation number 14, while three have been shown capable of playing preventative roles.

ORouke noted that obesity is a complex disease, and that progress toward definitive mechanistic answers is slow-going. Even when we get really accurate answers, those answers are restricted to this particular context, she told BioSpace, elaborating that the activity of those genes might change if C. elegans were fed a different, non-high-fructose diet. Now this gene [may not be] doing anything. Not surprising, we have found many cases in which its doing the opposite: Instead of reducing fat levels, its increasing current levels if I change the diet in a different way.

However, since the genes being screened were already associated with obesity, the results are still promising. Even better, blocking the activity of a specific preventative gene appeared to improve the neurolocomotory function and increase longevity in C. elegans, two traits that are negatively influenced by obesity in humans.

This seems to be hope enough to fuel ORourkes drive to uncover more pieces of the human bodys metabolic puzzle. In the meantime, she encourages more expansive research, saying, its important to stay open-minded with respect to the value of lower model systems, and also newer systems, because who says that flies, or mice, or C. elegans offer us the best approximation to human physiology? I'm sure there are a lot of things out there in nature that could be very informative that we're just not looking into.

Obesity: The Invisible Epidemic

Since the Office of the Surgeon General issued a Call to Action in 2001, obesity has been an on-again, off-again talking point. But, lack of publicity isnt the cause of obesity: in fact, the exact causes of obesity are numerous and varied, ranging from available diet options to fitness choices and individual heredity.

This complexity is the reason why, despite Michele Obamas 2008-2016 school health initiatives and copious healthy options on food service menus, the rates of childhood obesity continue to climb. Results from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey showed that approximately 16.1% of children in the U.S. between the ages of 2 and 19 years old were overweight and 19.3% of them had obesity, which includes the 6.1% suffering from severe obesity. A related survey completed over the same time frame evaluated rates of adult obesity and found that the prevalence of adults suffering from the condition was a whopping 42.4%.

If only the buck stopped there. Unfortunately, childhood obesity is likely to develop into adulthood obesity, which in turn increases the risks for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and even some cancers. In total, obesity costs patients and insurers upwards of $147 billion a year. That averages out to $1,429 more in medical costs for each adult suffering from obesity.

Genetics: The Invisible Mastermind

Its common opinion that patients suffering from obesity have only themselves to blame, and this opinion permeates our society from fashion magazines to emergency rooms, even in the most well-meaning cases. However, the complex pathways between interconnected systems that govern the bodys fat storage are yet to be completely understood.

Research has shown that certain environmental factors are undoubtedly in play: social class, education, ethnicity and gender can all affect a given persons access to food, as well as the nutritional value of that food. Furthermore, studies show that experiencing a certain degree of stress can cause the body to modify certain epigenetic markers and that some of these modifications could be both linked to obesity as well as transgenerational inheritance.

In short, this means that obesity is not only less voluntary than often represented in the commercial media, but it could also be heavily influenced by a number of inheritable variables. Even more morose is that the right mix of stress and poor nutrition could introduce these genetic variables into a familys medical history spontaneously meaning that researchers and medical professionals might be staring down the equivalent of one-off genetic changes that could suddenly appear in millions of current and future Americans, without any traceable origin.

Its a sobering thought that necessitates more studies and breakthroughs like this one.

Read more:
Discovery of 17 Genes Implicated in Obesity Could Lead to Breakthrough Treatments - BioSpace