Category Archives: Human Longevity

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

Circuit Sport reinvents cycling program

Human Powered Health

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Building on 15 years of bringing the best of North American cycling to a global audience, Circuit Sport announces a powerful reimagining of what a racing team can stand for. The new team and the movement it aims to ignite will be known as Human Powered Health.

Human Powered Health will be a wellness platform built to empower people to take control of their own physical and mental well-being. It will spread the message that cultivating healthier habits and living a more active lifestyle can lead to dramatic improvements in health and wellness.

"Human Powered Health represents more than racing, more than athletics," said Charles Aaron, managing director and founder of Circuit Sport. "It's about reminding people that they have more power over their health than they think. We want to support people, mind and body, and use our platform to inspire them to take small, simple steps towards greater health and well-being."

In previous iterations of its teams, Circuit Sport has continually gone beyond the traditional sports marketing model with health and wellness-minded campaigns like Inspired Bikes, Body Positivity, Healthy Habits, and Longevity.

That will expand and evolve as the Human Powered Health platform grows into a hub for health and wellness content with its athletes as the main mouthpiece. New brand partnerships will allow the team to incorporate data analytics across sleep, nutrition, movement, and health care to support its followers on their health journey.

The team will also launch a Discord channel that will serve as a hub for fans, partners, and clients interested in all things Human Powered Health. Hosted by the team and with regular appearances by professional riders, the channel will be a place to share ideas on how to live healthier lifestyles.

Building for the future

Story continues

Human Powered Health joins the Women's WorldTour in 2022. It is the realization of a dream that began 10 years ago with the formation of the women's program. The move makes Human Powered Health the first co-ed team to send its women to the top division of the sport before its men.

Following a sensational season that included victories in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Denmark, France, and Turkey, the men's program continues in the ProTeam ranks with its sights set firmly on the WorldTour.

"We couldn't take this step without the support of our partners and their shared vision for the future," added Aaron. "We've shown our ability to win bike races around the world but what sustains us is creating connections and empowering people."

Circuit Sport is currently aligning with brands that stand for something bigger than their product, a vital step to building the foundation of Human Powered Health for years to come. These brands, which will be announced in the coming weeks, share the belief that our collective health matters.

In a world navigating a pandemic, and where obesity and heart disease are at all-time highs, there has never been a more important time for each of us to invest in our health and inspire those around us to do the same. Building connections and sharing encouragement and knowledge are pivotal to empowering people to lead healthier lives.

About Circuit Sport

Circuit Sport takes a unique platform approach to sports marketing and management that redefines what a professional cycling team represents. Our teams are more than just a collection of logos on a jersey - we passionately believe that riding a bicycle can improve a person's life. For more information, visit circuitsport.com.

Media contact: Tom Soladay at tsoladay@circuitsport.com

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Introducing Human Powered Health: A Brand at the Intersection of Health, Wellness, and Sports - Yahoo Finance

In 2020, US and Chinese scientists found a way to enable nematode worms to live five times longer than normal by manipulating their genes. Worms are often used in ageing research since weve inherited some of the same genetic circuitry during evolution. Its suggested that targeting some of these conserved genes using drugs could be a way to extend the human lifespan.

But since worms only live for a few weeks, extrapolating the US and Chinese scientists success to humans could be foolhardy. In short, we cant expect to live to 500.

But lets not be greedy. We already live far longer than our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who invariably snuffed it before the age of 40. Should we, though, stop considering life as something that comes to its natural conclusion at 73 (todays average global life expectancy) and devote more of our time to curing old age?

One argument against extending human life beyond the norm is that it would lead to overpopulation, requiring more resources, while creating more waste, carbon emissions and pollution on a planet weve already stressed to breaking point.

Thats not usually what happens when people start living longer, though. Instead, birth rates tend to drop as people have fewer children and have them later in life. We know this because its already been happening for several decades as healthcare has improved.

So even though the global population is growing, its not growing as fast as it once was and in many richer countries, across Europe for example, populations are plateauing or shrinking as the birth rate (the average number of children each woman has) drops below two. The worlds longest-lived nation, Japan, has an average life expectancy of 84 and a birth rate close to one, down from over two in the 1960s when life expectancy was below 70.

So provided people had fewer children, perhaps we could all live a little bit longer maybe as long as people in Japan. In fact, some of todays four-year-olds can already expect a much better innings. In the UK, around a third are predicted to see their 100th birthday due to a trend towards living longer.

Whether those extra years are desirable is another matter though, given theres no indication they would be healthy ones studies from countries where life expectancy has increased have shown mixed results.

Meanwhile, the gulf between life expectancy in richer and poorer countries leads us to suspect that life-extending drugs and technologies will take longer to reach the less-developed nations.

Today, people in some African countries die on average two or three decades before the Japanese. So given the disparities that already exist, is it ethical to have more people living longer in richer countries, where we consume more resources?

If we were going to be fair about it, our first aim should be to increase life expectancy in Africa and the rest of the less-developed parts of the world, and ensure that a longer life doesnt come at the expense of healthy, happy life, right up to the end.

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We could radically extend the human lifespan. Heres why we shouldnt - BBC Science Focus Magazine

The three-part series conveys crucial health messaging and amplifies the voice of people of trans experience

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NoiseFilter an educational platform that addresses health and wellness topics through creative storytelling in conjunction with Access Health Louisiana (AHL) and the AIDS Education Training Center, is pleased to announce a new animation trilogy that conveys crucial health messaging around HIV and HIV medications.

NoiseFilter is hosted by infectious disease physician Dr. MarkAlain Dry and community health expert Dr. Eric Griggs (Doc Griggs). Through podcasts, live streams and animations, they explain complex health topics simply. Dr. Dry is also the Medical Director of Infectious Diseases and Chief Innovation Officer for AHL where he specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Dr. Dry sees patients from across the region at the Pythian clinic in New Orleans.

"Our goal is to change the stigma that remains around HIV," says Dr. Dry. "The colorful and compelling videos use creative exploration into the human body to explain HIV medications and how they protect individuals from transmission."

In the first animation, Undetectable, Untransmittable and Undeniably Fierce! the pair journey inside the body of trans activist and educator Milan Nicole Sherry explaining that people living with HIV and taking their medications, can have the same quality and quantity of life as individuals living without HIV, termed U=U.

In Get in Step with PrEP, the second animation, Milan joins Dr. Dry and Doc Griggs inside Dr. Dry's body explaining how PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, prevents HIV transmission. The key takeaway is that people living without HIV can take PrEP as a defense against autoimmune disease.

The third animation, Little Miss Muffuletta uses the Little Miss Muffet nursery rhyme to explain nPEP or non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis. In this animation an HIV exposure has occurred but nPEP prevents HIV from replicating.

Story continues

The three-part series is available for viewing on the NoiseFilter website https://www.noisefiltershow.com/watch. Access Health is seeking partnerships with organizations, associations, celebrities and influencers to launch a campaign advocating for the animations leading up to World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2021.

"These animations can educate all audiences," says Doc Griggs. "This information has longevity and can be used nationwide to advocate for transgender individuals and teach people about these resources."

About Access Health Louisiana: Access Health Louisiana (AHL) is a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers. Our network of more than 100 providers sees more than 45,000 patients a year in 12 Louisiana parishes. Our mission is simple: To improve the health of the people we serve. We do this by striving for the highest levels of patient care every day. For more information about Access Health Louisiana and the additional services available including STI testing, telemedicine and teletherapy, please visit https://accesshealthla.org.

CONTACT:April Catarella 504-577-7390 april@gambelpr.com

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Animation Series Aims to Educate and Break Down Stigma Surrounding HIV - Yahoo Finance

Xenotransplantation or procedures is not a new concept. The history of animal-to-human transplant experiments has been evolving for centuries. Recently, one such encouraging finding was done by a medical team in the US, New York University Langone Health, who claim to successfully transplant a pigs kidney to a brain-dead human patient. The procedure was termed breakthrough as they used a kidney that had been grown in a genetically-altered-pig. It is considered to be the first successful case where an entire organ was transplanted from a pig to a human. As per healthcare experts, due to the obvious similarities between humans and other primates, particularly baboons or gorillas and the pigs, these are considered to be the most viable donor animals as they share similar DNA. Pigs organs in size, function are anatomically comparable to humans. However, experts cite that there are still significant scientific barriers to the successful implementation of such transplantation, though advances in technology can help to achieve this daunting challenge.Is it a Eureka moment yet?

The recent transplantation of a pig kidney into a human at the New York University Langone Health centre by Doctor Robert Montgomery is a moonshot moment, inform experts.

Terming it as an extraordinary experiment in xenotransplantation, Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman Manipal Hospitals, said, The experiment is done using the most modern technology in editing and genetically modifying the pig so that its organ does not elicit a strong immediate immune response in the host. This experiment could be a potential game changer in our future endeavor to overcome the extreme shortage of organs leading to the death of many people in the transplantation waiting list.

Highlighting the complications in such transplantation, Dr Sunil Shroff, noted Urologist, Managing Trustee, Mohan Foundation and president elect of the Indian Society Of Organ Transplantation informed that xenotransplantation has challenges.

One is there is a natural rejection when you put an animal organ to a human. As the animal tissue is different, so till now, pig heart has been used in a few instances. It is not very reactive so that procedure is done. But, other than that we have not used pigs for anything.

Affirming that this transplant is more unique, Dr Ballal stated that features of this transplant could pave the way for future successful xenotransplants.

First, the problem of hyper acute rejection which is seen with all xenotransplantations was avoided by genetically modifying the carbohydrate moiety of the pig gene so that the pig kidney would not mount a hyper acute response in the host. This turned out to be effective and successful since the kidney worked normally for a few days in the recipient with no evidence of hyperacute rejection clinically or on biopsies of the transplanted kidney. Secondly, the transplant was performed on a brain-dead recipient before switching off the support system so that even if there was an adverse effect on the recipient it would cause no harm since the person was brain dead anyway, he added.

Citing this as a first step or gradual evolution, Dr Shroff said, The experiment has been very innovative and the brain-dead patient is said to be observed for almost 52 hours and he did not seem to have any rejection or any problem. A genetically-modified pig was used to match the protein differences between pigs and humans. But there is a sugar called GAL in pigs which is not present in humans. So the reaction against that is very strong which can lead to hyperacute rejectiona violent immune response that can destroy a transplanted organ in minutes. They have addressed that issue to some extent with this experiment.

However, experts worry about the risks of zoonotic diseases, which will be transmitted into the human population. As both baboons and pig carry known myriad transmittable agents and perhaps many more, which cannot be detected. The bacteria, viruses and fungi may be fairly harmless in their natural host, a baboon or pig, yet extremely toxic--even deadly--in humans. COVID 19 which has changed our world came from an animal reservoir!

Is Zoonotic Disease a Speed Breaker?

Despite the more obvious similarities and pigs being the most viable donor animal for xenotransplantation, they share similar DNA and organs are similar in size and function. The zoonoses or transmission of infections from the host animal to the transplanted human being is a huge risk and challenge.

Explaining the risk, Dr Sunil Prakash, Senior Director, HOD, Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Max Hospital, said, The two types of animal viruses that are especially troublesome are herpes viruses and retroviruses. Both types have already been proven to be rather harmless in monkeys, but fatal to humans. HIV also came from animal reservoirs. Some retroviruses may be latent and lead to disease years after infection. The animal tissues may wear out very soon in humans as the average life of pigs is much less than humans and their organs therefore have a shorter life span. The genes of these animals have to be modified and the human genetic code has to be inserted in their chromosomes successfully. These animals need selective breeding in sterile-controlled environments. The latest xenotransplant by Dr Montogomery has turned the medical world by storm as genetically-modified pig kidney is used in a brain-dead person. The kind of tolerance to a foreign tissue achieved is remarkable. This is leading to the holy grail of transplantation which is achieving graft tolerance without giving immunosuppressive medicines.

Nephrologists also inform that options for kidney ailments are plentiful as the technology like artificial kidney, haemodialysis, stem cell regenerating are looked upon. Still, xenotransplants can be a good alternative as it is costeffective, if it becomes practically viable.

Xenotransplants of pig kidneys to humans can be universally available because the other options will come at a high cost. What the scientific community will have to look at is, how long the pig's kidney lasts in the human being. The longevity of the graft, as the pig's kidney is smaller than the human kidney, that's one, second thing will be the cost of the procedure because we may need to give more kinds of medication to curb the rejection. So, these challenges will be there but the overall cost may likely be less compared to other technologies, Dr Shroff added.

Pig-to-Human Kidney Transplant What Awaits ESRD patients?

As we debate on the new kidney transplant solutions, over two lakh patients in India await organ donation with a mere 15,000 donors available. As per Union Health Ministry estimation, the annual requirement for kidneys could range between two-to-three lakhs with a mere 6,000 transplants occurring in reality. While other statistics indicate that approximately 7500 kidney transplants are performed at 250 kidney transplant centers in India. Of these, 90 percent come from living donors and 10 percent from deceased donors. The data are not as accurate due to the absence of a national transplant registry.

Experts inform that xenotransplantation could be very good news for patients with end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) as there would be no more anxious months of waiting for an organ donor. Disease-free pigs would provide most of the organs. Raised in sterile environments, they would be genetically-altered with human DNA so that the chance of rejection is greatly reduced.

I do believe the NYU experiment would certainly help us in the long-term treatment of end-stage organ failure of different kinds but not of any major benefit for acute critically -ill patients as other modalities of replacement therapy (extra corporeal therapies) are currently available to tide over the acute crisis. The major advances in modern technology in xenotransplantation would be the ability to genetically modify animals so that they do not elicit a very severe immune response in the host human being. Modern science has also brought in a host of different kinds of very powerful immunosuppressive agents which would either prevent or ameliorate different kinds of rejection in the field of transplantation. Advances in the field of organ support by extracorporeal therapy like CRRT for kidney, liver dialysis (MARS therapy) for liver , LVAD for heart and ECMO for lung and heart support can act as a bridge for people with severe organ failure till such time that they get a transplant, Dr Ballal added.

Citing that almost 10 to 12, 000 kidney transplants are done almost every year, Dr Shroff said, Last year was bad due to the pandemic. We did maybe only 5,000 transplants but we need more than 100,000 every year. Every 1 in 10 people in the world has a risk of kidney disease and many transcend to kidney failure due to lack of awareness and early diagnosis. So, we need to take a two-point strategy- one is early diagnosis and prevention and second is to make more organs available. So, in India, we dont even meet one in 10th of the demand or even less. So, thats the tragedy. Many of them die because they do not even get to the hospital, many are not affordable, kidney transplant happens only in corporate hospitals mostly. Only 10-20 percent happens in government hospitals. So, those who cant afford, dont even have a chance of getting a transplant.

Although clinical application of xenotransplantation in the kidney is probably still several years away, newer techniques like Next-Generation Sequencing and sequence- based typing is enabling the researchers to better understand the mysteries of xenotransplants to allow better acceptance of pigs genome in humans. Humanising non-human organs working in tandem with tolerance-inducing protocols, seem to be not far from the future.

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Transplanting kidney of pig to human: Is it really a moonshot moment? - ETHealthworld.com

Dr. Sonya Gordon and Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm.

Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second most-common acquired cardiac disease in dogs.

In its early stage, called the preclinical stage, dogs are apparently healthy to their owners, but beneath the surface, DCM causes a progressive enlarging and weakening of dogs hearts. Over time, dogs with DCM will progress to the diseases clinical phase and develop congestive heart failure (fluid in the lungs).

But what if owners of dogs with DCM had the ability to extend the amount of quality time they spend with their beloved four-legged friends?

Through The REPAIR Study (Rapamycin Treatment inPreclinical Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy), cardiologists at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH) are investigating the use of the drug rapamycin in dogs with preclinical DCM.

Rapamycin, which will be distributed by the Ireland-based company TriviumVet, is a drug that affects both the immune system and metabolism; it has been shown to improve heart function and reverse age-related changes in rodents with heart disease.

The primary objective of our study is to determine if rapamycin is safe for use in dogs with preclinical DCM, as well as to evaluate the effects of this medication on heart size and function in these dogs, said Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, an SATH cardiology resident whose work on The REPAIR Study is part of her residency research.

To complete this study, the SATH is looking to enroll 12 dogs with preclinical DCMno more than six Doberman Pinschers (the breed most commonly affected by DCM) and up to two dogs of any other breed.

Eligible dogs must be older than 3 years, be on a stable dose of pimobendan (Vetmedin) for at least 60 days prior to the screening examination, have no evidence of congestive heart failure, and not be receiving diuretic (furosemide) medication.

We know that despite proof that pimobendan (Vetmedin) can delay the onset of heart failure and death, disease progression is relentless and dogs with DCM are still destined to die from this disease, said Dr. Sonya Gordon, cardiology professor, Eugene Chen Chair in cardiology and principal investigator for The REPAIR Study. Pimobendan treatment works by reducing heart size and improving function, essentially resetting the clock; however, that clock continues to tick. We are optimistic that the addition of rapamycin will yield additional benefits that translate into increased health span and lifespan in dogs with preclinical DCM.

For this study, we require participants to continue to receive pimobendan because it is proven to be beneficial and represents the current standard of care; we are just adding rapamycin, Gordon said. Living longer is great, but the real goal is to live betterthats what health span is all about; it is the part of life when you feel great, even if you have disease.

As a cardiology resident, I see firsthand how devastating DCM is for patients and their owners. While pimobendan is an important medication that has been shown to have significant beneficial effects in dogs with DCM, we must continue to investigate additional therapies with the potential of increasing longevity, as well as enhancing the quality of life in dogs with this heartbreaking disease, Malcolm said.

Those selected to participate in the trial will take a pill three times a week and will be required to visit the SATH for enrollment screening, as well as three additional times over six months.

While this trial will hopefully lead to larger studies, its important for owners to know that if the drug works, their dogs would be eligible to continue to receive chronic treatment with rapamycin, Gordon said.

There will be no cost to owners of dogs participating in this trial; TriviumVet, the sponsor, will cover the costs for diagnostic testing, rapamycin, and Vetmedin for the duration of the study.

This is a really stand-up company. They are all about the dogs and they have a potential game changer here, because if it works its going to have a far-reaching impact, Gordon said. If we move forward with a larger study after this investigational study, Texas A&M will serve as the lead investigational site.

Rapamycin has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human use and has been used safely for decades. While cardiac disease such as DCM is not among the labeled indications for which the drug is currently prescribed in humans, Gordon and Malcolm believe this trial could have important implications in human medicine given the similarities of heart disease among dogs and humans.

We are delighted to be able to bring our proprietary, novel veterinary rapamycin formulation to clinical trials in dogs and cats for a multitude of diseases, said TriviumVet CEO Louise Grubb. Our partnership with Texas A&M for The REPAIR Study has been an incredible synergy given their cardiology expertise and passion for research. The potential of this drug is far-reaching and we look forward to continuing our research with Texas A&M across cardiology and other target disease areas.

Owners with dogs diagnosed with preclinical DCMincluding those diagnosed within the past two yearsthat are interested in enrolling their dogs in this study should email tamucardiology@cvm.tamu.edu with REPAIR Study in the subject line.

For more information, including the list of exclusion criteria, visit the CVMBS Clinical Trials webpage.

Continued here:
Texas A&M Seeks Dogs With Cardiac Condition For Study On Heart Drug - Texas A&M University Today

Longtime host reflects on Raven, a red bandana and the Minnesota institution he helped create.

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. In the mass of people at the Minnesota State Fair are those who arrive just knowing where they are bound.

Big fan; I always watch Minnesota Bound, a visitor tells the affable man in the fishing vest, sitting comfortably on the porch of the little log cabin on the fairgrounds east side.

It makes me feel good, the woman continues. For some reason, it soothes me.

Ron Schara thanks the visitor, smiles, and tells her, We should hire you.

Its a scene that plays out again and again, as fans of the television show Schara launched 26 years ago stop for autographs and Minnesota Bound souvenirs.

If you have money you can go in, Schara jokes with a group heading inside the cabin where his books, calendars and branded clothing are on sale.

The fair porch encounters have been going on for years, but this year is special. Minnesota Bound is about to mark a milestone its 1,000th episode.

Its a feat almost unheard of for a 30-minute, weekly non-news show produced for local television.

Schara credits the shows staying power to a simple formula.

I tell people, I'm not trying to teach you how to catch a fish on Sunday night. We're telling stories about interesting people; we're telling stories about interesting places. That's the secret to the show. Plus, Schara says with a twinkle in his eyes, I'm damn good looking, I mean that didn't hurt.

For years, those good looks were wasted as Schara told his stories as the Minneapolis Star Tribune's first outdoors columnist.

Approached by KARE 11, Schara launched Minnesota Bound as a weekly segment for the station's 10 p.m. newscast.

Then, having found his footing in a new medium, Schara pitched a half-hour show to the station's, then-general manager, who promptly turned him down.

He sent down the message, Can't do it. We can't afford to do that show.

The rejection of Scharas pitch turned out to be a blessing when the GM suggested an alternative.

He said, Well, you produce it, we'll sell it, and I'll buy it from you, and you'll own it, Schara recalls. Bingo!

With ownership, Schara and his first employee, producer/photographer Joe Harewicz, invented a format that's remained, for the most part, intact.

The pair created an outdoors show with an emphasis on storytelling aimed at a broad audience. So, no tips for gutting a deer, but plenty of stories about family hunting and fishing traditions, fall colors, the quirks of wild birds, plus, a weekly cooking segment.

Schara and Harewicz also discovered Minnesota Bounds accidental co-host.

I'm sitting there talking to Joe Harewicz, Schara says. "What should the set look like? Should I sit by the fireplace like all the old outdoor shows? And my wife spouts up and says, Why don't you have Raven sit next to you?

Three generations of Ravens, Scharas beloved black Labradors, co-hosted with their human Schara always referring to his Ravens on-air as the star of the show.

Each Raven wore the signature red bandana Schara initially snagged from a hook in the hallway of his home, simply to provide a contrasting color to Ravens black fur for the camera.

The third Raven died in 2020, two years after Schara retired from his hosting duties and handed the reins to the show's longtime reporter Bill Sherck and Scharas daughter Laura.

The elder Schara remains as a Minnesota Bound contributor, still producing and writing stories that interest him.

I'm so proud of my dad and what he started, Laura Schara says. We hope we carry on that same tradition. That is our goal of keeping the essence of what the show is.

Sherck says it didnt take him long to realize a key to the shows longevity is Ron Scharas authenticity.

Ron gave me advice right when I started, Be yourself, dont try to copy, Sherck recalls. Ron always said, Dont be an expert, be a communicator and do it with heart.

Today, Ron Schara Productions employs two dozen people producing seven different programs scattered over broadcast, cable, and streaming services all spawned by the original.

Sherck stands next to a "Minnesota Bound" poster, featuring Ron Schara and Raven. Their backs are to the camera as they face a glassy lake and the setting sun.

It's one guy and his dog and a very quiet place in Minnesota, Sherck says.

For going on 1,000 episodes, its a place Minnesotans have been happily visiting.

NOTE: A Minnesota Bound 1,000th episode one-hour special will air on KARE 11 on Saturday November 13th at 7 p.m.

Revisit your favorite moments from Boyd Hupperts Land of 10,000 Stories by subscribing to Land of 10,000 Stories: The Complete Collection on YouTube.

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Ron Schara marks 1,000th episode of 'Minnesota Bound,' the show that almost wasn't - KARE11.com

Chhath Puja is one of the most auspicious and important Hindu festivals celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh. The four-day long festival starts from Nahay Khay, followed by Kharna, Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya. This year, the festivities of Chhath Puja began from November 8 and will end on November 11.

Devotees keep a 36-hour long nirjala fast, starting from Kharna, take a holy dip in the Ganges and go to the river banks and ghats to make offerings to the Sun. Celebrated on the Sashti Tithi of Karthik, Shukla Paksha, Chhath is an ancient Vedic festival, performed in reverence to the Sun and is dedicated to Surya Bhagwan (Lord Sun). The devotees observe a four-day-long ceremony to worship the Sun God, which is seen as a symbol of 'One God' and it sustains life on earth.

For ages, the Sun is believed to be the ultimate source of energy and even today, scientists agree with this. According to Hindu mythology, the Sun is known to help cure a variety of diseases such as leprosy and ensure longevity of life.

The devotees seek the blessings of Surya Bhagwan, request them to grant their wishes and pray for their well being, progress and prosperity. The rays of the Sun are extremely important for the existence of human life and, as per the holy text of Atharaveda, the Sun is also believed to destroy death and disease.

The symbol of the Sun represents the King and it is also believed that Lord Rama and Sita had observed a fast during their coronation ceremony after returning to Ayodhya, spending 14 years in exile.

Apart from this, in the Mahabharata, Draupadi is also known to have observed the rituals of the Chhath Puja after noble sage Dhaumya advised her to do so. Since the Sun is a symbol that represents a leader/authority, the Chhath Puja also helped the Pandavas to regain their lost kingdom.

Devotees of the Chhath Puja offer Arghya in a water body and believe that doing this without taking any solid or liquid diet can absorb the Sun's energy into their bodies. The devotees stand in a water body with half the body submerged in the water and perform the puja offering (Arghya).

The process minimises the leak of energy. As per the belief, when Arghya is offered to the Sun, it helps the physic energy to flow up the psychic channel in the spine. This in turn helps the human body become a channel that recycles, conducts and transmits energy in the entire universe. The solar religion of the Vedas says that the Sun is the atma (soul) that dwells in the hearts of all beings.

Sandhya Arghya: On the third day of the Chhath Puja, devotees offer Sandhya Arghya and observe a day-long fast and break it only on the following day after the sunrise. Chhati Maiya, the Sun God and his consorts Usha(Goddess of Dawn) and Pratyusha (Goddess of Dusk) are worshipped on the Chhath Puja Day.

This year, the sunrise and sunset timings for Sandhya Arghya are 6.40 AM and 5.30 PM, respectively.

Usha Arghya: On the fourth and final day, devotees, who observe the vrat, break their fast on Saptami Tithi. They offer prayers and water to the Sun God and seek the blessings of Surya Bhagwan for well being.

For the Usha Arghya, the sunrise time is 6.41 AM and the sunset time is 5.29 PM this year.

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Chhath Puja 2021 Aragh: Sunrise and Sunset time| Everything you need to know - India Today

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. Ron Filippelli, State Colleges current mayor, can still remember the message that appeared on his phone almost to the day 10 years ago.

He cant recall the exact headline, nor the specific wording. But, standing in the lobby of the downtown State Theatre during an intermission, he can still remember what was conveyed: Former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested. He was accused of 40 counts of sex crimes against young boys a number that would eventually increase to 48 counts while several university officials were being investigated for how they handled complaints against him.

The retired academic dean showed the news bulletin to a Penn State trustee. He shook his head, stunned, and walked back to his opera seats.

I remember that day very well, Filippelli said. We were shocked by it. Of course, the opera went on and we stayed and the events started to spiral as they did. Rapidly.

Its been 10 years since Penn State and the small college town of State College watched their insulating bubbles and illusion of security instantly burst. Its been a decade since the university that was a cause for national recognition and local pride transformed into an object of scorn, shame and disappointment.

Those raw emotions have since faded, based on interviews with a half-dozen community leaders and officials. But the Penn State, State College and Centre County communities still havent forgotten those victims or the wrongs that came to light 10 years ago.

I was just frightened and sad, well-known philanthropist and Town & Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith remembered. It was like a bomb you werent expecting.

Newspaper stories, rumors and whispers echoed around the community in the months leading up to Nov. 5, 2011. But thats the day the unthinkable went public, when details began coming into focus and accusations surfaced that made residents skin crawl.

At the time, the town and gown held its collective breath as it wondered what came next. Was this the end of Penn State? Would Happy Valley survive? Could Happy Valley be happy again?

I didnt see how we could weather that economically, acknowledged Bonj Szczygiel, current faculty senate chair and a faculty senator back then, adding she feared the university downsizing.

It was my home, and youre sort of rolling along smoothly and then this bomb goes off.

For months, both the news and an overwhelming sentiment of shame and anger were impossible to avoid. At least 20 news vans descended on downtown State College, with some residents fearful of taking afternoon strolls downtown because of the probability of having a microphone shoved in their faces. The scrolling ticker on CNN, ESPN and every major TV news network always mentioned Dear Old State. And the headlines were ugly, the accusations uglier.

We couldnt escape it, remembered longtime resident Lou Prato, the first director of the Penn State All-Sports Museum. No matter what we did, we couldnt escape it.

Penn State and State College became late-night punchlines, and the community wasnt laughing. Wearing a Penn State sweatshirt in rival territory was an invitation for harassment. Football recruits would ask Penn States commits at national camps why they wanted to go to Pedophile U. Even a full year later, one opposing teams soccer player was suspended for a game against the Nittany Lions after publicly making light of the scandal.

Roger Williams, president of the alumni association at the time, remembered long days in the office. He received more than 4,000 emails and phone calls about Sandusky and Penn States role, and his life revolved around responding to each of those messages.

Hed head over to the office around 5:30 a.m. or 6 and work until it grew dark. He didnt know more than the general public, and he didnt have many answers to many alumnis questions. But he listened. Their words changed, but their state of shock and anger remained.

It was a real crisis, Williams said. I have repeatedly, since that time, referred to this as probably the worst institutional crisis in the history of American higher education.

But Williams didnt share the same dread over the future as some others did. He still remembers one particular phone call with a professor from West Point, one whose daughter was a Penn State freshman at the time. I think youre going to collapse. Im pulling my daughter out. Why should I keep her there?

Williams asked for a day to respond. He researched. He found past cheating scandals that rocked West Point. That wasnt the start of more cheating or the crumbling of an institution, Williams remembered telling the professor. West Point has not folded. Its stronger than ever. The same is true of Penn State. We will endure, we will survive, and well be stronger for it.

The professors daughter stayed at Penn State.

Closure was a slippery thing during the course of the Sandusky scandal.

The county remained in shock for weeks. Penn State officials Tim Curley and Gary Schultz left their university posts Nov. 6 and were arraigned Nov. 7 for failing to report possible abuse. On Nov. 9, head coach Joe Paterno announced he was retiring at the end of the season and, by the end of the day, college footballs patron saint of loyalty and longevity was unceremoniously fired over the phone.

He died two months later. Sandusky was sentenced in the summer of 2012, Penn States football program faced unprecedented sanctions soon thereafter, while fines and sanctions and reputation remained concerns for years. Even now, news of the case hasnt stopped. Sanduskys petition for a new trial was denied in May, and former university President Graham Spanier was released from prison this past August after serving 58 days.

Everything that has happened after Sanduskys (first) trial has drawn a little less attention, Centre County Sheriff Bryan Sampsel said, referring to the crowds that descended on nearby Bellefonte and the county courthouse. People obviously still remember, but its fading a little bit, I guess I would say.

Ten years later, the pain has shifted from open wounds and the forefront of the communitys minds to scars and the back of peoples minds. Penn State and the community did endure. There was no mass flight from Happy Valley, no institutional crumbling. U.S. News & World still ranks Penn State as one of the nations top-25 public universities, it recently surpassed the elusive $1 billion mark in research expenditures, and it has set several fundraising records the last few years by raising more than $1 billion total.

Penn State has weathered the pandemic, financially, better than many of its Big Ten peers. Undergraduate enrollment at University Park is even up 2% this year, in spite of COVID.

Everybody has their own position on what should or should not have been done, Barash Coppersmith said. But this is a remarkable community and university, who are learning more and more how to be good friends and cooperative neighbors.

Sandusky, they said, forced the community to take stock of itself. The monstrous acts of one individual shouldnt prevent thousands of residents from their own good acts, they said. Penn State is still home to Thon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Students and community members can still outdraw hateful speakers at counter-events by 7-to-1 margins. State College and Penn State still receive high marks in how welcoming they are to the LGBTQ community.

Penn State and State College havent forgotten about Sandusky. But it doesnt dominate the conversation anymore. Those interviewed varied in their responses to when that change happened whether it was the chilling acts of Larry Nassar and other school-related sex-abuse scandals, the imprisoning of Sandusky, current political events or even the pandemic.

The lesson that weve learned from Sandusky is that you must always be aware, Szczygiel said. You must never become complacent. Never, never think we are somehow protected in central Pennsylvania from some real-world issues. You can either put your head in the sand and try to ignore it, or you can get involved in problem solving.

That day from 10 years ago cant be erased. Neither can the 45 counts that Sandusky was convicted of.

But, for those who find memories of the events lingering even another decade from now, those interviewed said its important to remember the lessons imparted. Listen, watch your children, and take nothing for granted.

We all need to be reminded that theres light at the end of the tunnel, Barash Coppersmith said. All of us are human with feelings to which were entitled. But its our responsibility to move on and make the improvements that will make a difference. And I believe were in that process in high gear.

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Closure, pain and scars: Where Penn State and State College stand 10 years after the Sandusky scandal - The Philadelphia Inquirer

In comic lore, Eternals (first appearance in "Eternals" #1, July 1976) aren't created by Celestials ex nihilo, but rather are the product of Celestials' experimentations on humanity. They emerged a million years ago when Celestials arrived on Earth and experimented on early humanity to produce both the Eternals and the Deviants, the latter possessing power alongside genetic instability. Eternals areimbued with cosmic energy, resultingin a vast array of unique powers like superhuman strength, flight, the ability to create force blasts, illusions, weaponized energy, to transmute matter and energy if it's powerful and can be done, it's a possible Eternal power. In addition to their ordinary longevity, Eternals can be restored to life upon destruction and essentially regenerated via "the Machine", the Celestial technology that creates the Eternals. Each group of eternals has a Prime Eternal whose powers can be enhanced by the collective creating a Uni-Mind, in essence a psychic meta-Eternal entity that has the powers of all the Eternals creating it.

With all these immense powers, they're subject to the aforementioned unique condition mahd wy'ry as a consequence of their immortality. (Yes, the burden of memory makes them mad and weary, and yes "mad weary" is how the condition is pronounced).In the comics, mahd w'yry is explained as a Celestial mistake (in "Avengers" #361), the product of imbuing human bodies with vast cosmic powers that last over millennia but with human minds and consciousnesses. It reportedly takes centuries to set in once it starts (though it can set in sooner) as the collective weight of experiences and memories take a toll on the Eternals' essentially human minds. The affliction can possibly be held at bay via the Eternals' abilities to share consciousness via the Uni-Mind or via their chosen life mate (in a process called "Gann Josin"), but as Ikaris explains in #361, the primary known cure isis an ancient "rite of cleansing"... the "molecular discorporation" of the increasingly mad Eternal. In effect, the afflicted Eternal's aforementioned death followed by their reconstruction via said "Machine."

Unlike the film, Thena isn't an eternal that suffers from the illness in comic lore. In the aforementioned issue #361, it's Sersi who suffers the disorder and faces destruction and reconstitution (which they ultimately don't do). It's also possible Sprite was affected by the disorder, provoking the idea to use the Dreaming Celestial to turn Sprite human and allow normal aging (instead of Sprite's perpetual childhood visage). It can hypothetically affect any Eternal, however, and the standard solution is a hard reboot of the afflicted Eternal.

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Thena's Mahd W'yry Illness In Eternals Explained - /Film