Category Archives: Transhuman News

BioAge Plans Phase 2 Clinical trial in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Clinical development plan supported by potent inhibition of PGD2 DP1 Receptor by BGE-175, activating immune-modulating mechanisms that result in 100% survival in aged preclinical models of coronavirus

BioAges proprietary human aging data links activation of PGD2 DP1 signaling to increased risk of mortality and susceptibility to infections

RICHMOND, Calif., Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioAge Labs, Inc., a biotechnology company developing medicines to treat aging and age-related diseases, today announced that it has in-licensed a clinical-stage therapy with significant promise and potential in treating immune aging in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The compound, BGE-175, is a potent orally administered inhibitor of the prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) DP1 signaling pathway associated with increased risk of mortality, and susceptibility to infections. The company recently generated preclinical data showing significant immune-modulating and anti-viral activity of BGE-175 which resulted in 100 percent survival in a preclinical model of the SARS 1 virus. In addition to fully protecting infected mice from death and improving morbidity, treated mice showed a 10-fold decrease in virus in their lungs. BGE-175 has demonstrated clinical activity and safety in a large number of subjects across multiple clinical trials for another indication.

Aging is the largest risk factor for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, said Kristen Fortney, Ph.D., BioAges Chief Executive Officer. BGE-175 has the potential to restore the function of several key immune mechanisms that become dysregulated with aging, and that are critical to mount an effective response to major immune challenges such as COVID-19, SARS, and pandemic influenza. We plan to advance BGE-175 into a Phase 2 clinical trial in COVID-19 patients to evaluate whether its unique mechanism can improve patient outcomes by directly targeting immune aging.

Dr. Fortney added, Our AI-driven analysis of our proprietary human aging data maps out how the immune system is dysregulated during aging. Beyond COVID-19, BGE-175 has the potential to address other diseases driven by immune aging. BGE-175 is the second in a growing pipeline of promising therapeutics that BioAge will bring forward to treat diseases of aging.

BioAges preclinical data, obtained in collaboration with coronavirus expert Stanley Perlman, M.D., an American Academy of Microbiology fellow, and professor at the University of Iowa, shows that DP1 receptor antagonism elicits a potent protective response in a mouse model of SARS-coronavirus viral challenge.

Dr. Perlman noted, We have found over the past several years thatan age-dependent increase inDP1 signaling contributes to worse outcomes in the context of mouse infection with several human pathogens.We havepreviously shownimproved outcomes when DP1 signaling is genetically blocked, but BGE-175 is the first drug that has the same effect.BGE-175 may help counteract deleterious immune changes that occur with aging.

These preclinical data are particularly impressive and highly differentiating to support the potential of BGE-175 in COVID-19, said Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and co-director of the Global Health & Emerging Pathogens Institute at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. While others in the field have used cellular models, BioAges preclinical data in a coronavirus preclinical model may offer more predictive translation of potential in clinical trials.

The pathways impacted by BGE-175 are linked to lifespan and healthspan in BioAges proprietary human aging data. The prostaglandin pathway, as well as several key components of the immune response to viral challenge, are significantly associated with longevity and multiple functional measures. Inhibition of PGD2 DP1 receptor signaling impacts multiple immune mechanisms, including activation of dendritic cells and NK cells, and reducing neutrophil infiltration. Preclinical studies demonstrate that BGE-175 inhibits neutrophil migration and that DP1 inhibition boosts dendritic cell function, both of which counteract known aspects of immune aging, and are also therapeutically promising for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

BGE-175 has demonstrated clear target engagement with inhibition of PGD2 signaling and safety in a large number of subjects across multiple clinical trials in another indication. Based on its groundbreaking research on the potential of BGE-175 for COVID-19, BioAge was granted a binding Letter of Intent from an undisclosed pharmaceutical company to enter into an exclusive license agreement to develop and commercialize BGE-175 for treatment and prevention of COVID-19 infections in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, for a one-year period BioAge has the exclusive option to license additional rights for other disease indications. Under the terms of the LOI, BioAge will make an upfront payment and contingent development and regulatory milestone payments plus royalties based on annual net sales. BioAge will be responsible for all development, manufacturing and commercialization of BGE-175 for treatment or prevention of COVID-19 infection in the United States, Europe and UK. Further details of the agreement will be released after additional patents applications are filed.

About the BioAge Platform The BioAge platform identifies key drug targets that will impact aging. The Companys proprietary human aging cohorts have blood samples collected up to 45 years ago, with participant -omics data that is tied to extensive medical follow-up records including detailed future healthspan, lifespan and disease outcomes. BioAge has built a systems biology and AI platform that leverages these rich datasets to identify the molecular drivers of age-related pathology. BioAges pipeline of therapies targeting these key pathways will address the significant unmet medical needs of an aging population.

About BioAgeBioAge is a biotechnology company developing proprietary drugs to treat aging and aging-related diseases. Since its founding in 2015, the Company has raised $37 million in venture capital funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, Felicis Ventures and others to back its AI-driven approach to map the molecular pathways that impact human longevity. BioAges mission is to develop a pipeline of therapeutic assets that increase healthspan and lifespan.

Source: BioAge Labs, Inc.

Contact Information:BioAge | peng@bioagelabs.comMedia | swheeler@wheelhouselsa.com

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BioAge Discovers Key Pathway and Identifies Promising Phase 2 Ready Drug to Treat and Reverse Immune Aging, a Root Cause of COVID-19 Morbidity and...

The Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy Market Research Report published by Prophecy Market Insights is an all-inclusive business research study on the current state of the industry which analyzes innovative strategies for business growth and describes significant factors such as top developers/manufacturers, production value, key regions, and growth rate. Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the market will be completely analyzed in this report and it will also quantify the impact of this pandemic on the market.

The research study encompasses an evaluation of the market, including growth rate, current scenario, and volume inflation prospects, based on DROT and Porters Five Forces analyses. The market study pitches light on the various factors that are projected to impact the overall market dynamics of the Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy market over the forecast period (2019-2029).

Regional Overview:

The survey report includes a vast investigation of the geographical scene of the Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy market, which is manifestly arranged into the localities. The report provides an analysis of regional market players operating in the specific market and outcomes related to the target market for more than 20 countries.

Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific

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The facts and data are represented in the Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy report using graphs, pie charts, tables, figures and graphical representations helping analyze worldwide key trends & statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.

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The research report also focuses on global major leading industry players of Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy market report providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, R&D developments, distribution & production capacity, distribution channels, price, cost, revenue and contact information. The research report examines, legal policies, and competitive analysis between the leading and emerging and upcoming market trends.

Longevity and Anti senescence TherapyMarket Key Companies:

The predictions mentioned in the Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy market report have been derived using proven research techniques, assumptions and methodologies. This market report states the overview, historical data along with size, share, growth, demand, and revenue of the global industry.

Detailed analysis of the COVID-19 impact will be given in the report, as our analyst and research associates are working hard to understand the impact of COVID-19 disaster on many corporations, sectors and help our clients in taking excellent business decisions. We acknowledge everyone who is doing their part in this financial and healthcare crisis.

Segmentation Overview:

Global Longevity and Anti-senescence Therapy Market, By Therapy:

Global Longevity and Anti-senescence Therapy Market, By Application:

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy market segments and highlights the latest trending segment and major innovations in the market. In addition to this, it states the impact of these segments on the growth of the market. Apart from key players analysis provoking business-related decisions that are usually backed by prevalent market conditions, we also do substantial analysis of market based on COVID-19 impact, detailed analysis on economic, health and financial structure.

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Longevity and Anti senescence Therapy Market Size The Daily Chronicle - The Daily Chronicle

The report on the Global Cellular Reprogramming Tools Market has been prepared after conducting a comprehensive research through a systematized methodology. These skills are useful for scrutinizing the market on the terms of outlined research guidelines. Mainly, global Cellular Reprogramming Tools market research report covers all the information about the target audience, manufactures, vendors, research papers, products and many more. Keeping a focus on the overall market aspects, and perceptions, this report vastly covers profiles of the companies who have made it big in this particular field along with their sales data and other data. It also suggests the business models, innovations, growth and every information about the big manufacturers that will be present the future market estimates. Every market consists of set of manufacturers, vendors and consumers that gives a definition to the market, its each and every move, achievements. All these are the important subjects required to study the analysis of the global Cellular Reprogramming Tools market.

Get sample copy of Cellular Reprogramming Tools Market report @ https://www.orbispharmareports.com/sample-request/44764

It also includes the major market conditions across the globe such as the product profit, price, production, capacity, demand, supply, as well as market growth structure. In addition, this report offers significant data through the SWOT analysis, investment return data, and investment feasibility analysis. The global Cellular Reprogramming Tools market report also features a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation by analysing information collected from market experts and industry participants in the major points of the market value chain.

Major Company Profiles operating in the Cellular Reprogramming Tools Market:

CelgeneCynataAdvanced Cell TechnologyBIOTIMEOsiris TherapeuticsHuman LongevityFUJIFILM HoldingsSTEMCELL TechnologiesMesoblastAstellas PharmaEVOTECJapan Tissue Engineering

By the product type, the market is primarily split into:

Adult Stem CellsHuman Embryonic Stem CellsInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsOther

By the application, this report covers the following segments:

Drug DevelopmentRegenerative MedicineToxicity TestAcademic ResearchOther

The data offered in global Cellular Reprogramming Tools market report is gathered based on the latest industry news, trends, as well as opportunities. This study offers a separate analysis of the major trends in the existing market, mandates and regulations, micro macroeconomic indicators is also comprised in this report. By doing so, the study estimated the attractiveness of every major segment during the prediction period.

Browse the complete report @ https://www.orbispharmareports.com/covid-19-impact-on-2020-2026-global-and-regional-cellular-reprogramming-tools-industry-production-sales-and-consumption-status-and-prospects-professional-market-research-report-standard-version/

Moreover, the report comprises the analysis of opportunities available in the Cellular Reprogramming Tools market on the global level. It also includes the major market conditions across the globe such as the product profit, price, production, capacity, demand, supply, as well as market growth structure. The annual progression for the global Cellular Reprogramming Tools market in different regions cannot always be listed down as it will keep changing, thus studying and reviewing markets occasionally becomes vital.

In addition, the Cellular Reprogramming Tools market report provides a detailed information about the key market players along with the strategies they implemented to gain market existence and develop themselves. The report includes precise market estimations depending on current market status and future market forecasts.

For Any Query on the Cellular Reprogramming Tools Market: https://www.orbispharmareports.com/enquiry-before-buying/44764

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At Orbispharma we curate the most relevant news stories, features, analysis and research reports on the important challenges undertaken by the pharmaceutical and related sectors. Our editorial philosophy is to bring you sharp, focused and informed perspective of industries, the end users and application of all upcoming trends into the pharma sector. Orbispharma believes in conversations that can bring a change in one of the most crucial economic sectors in the world. With these conversations we wish our customers to make sound business decisions with right business intelligence.

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Cellular Reprogramming Tools Market 2020 (Covid-19 Impact) In-depth Industry Analysis By Types, Applications and Forecast 2026: Celgene, Cynata,...

Hepatocytes in the liver can naturally regenerate, provided the organ is completely healthy. But when the liver is diseased, it has too much scar tissue to nurture the environment hepatocytes need to replenish themselves.

In a new study published in Liver Transplantation, researchers led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine demonstrated that pigs can grow functioning livers in their abdominal lymph nodes after their own hepatocytes are isolated and injected into them. A startup founded by three of the researchers, LyGenesis, is working to bring the method into human clinical trials.

Senior author Eric Lagasse, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at Pitt, first demonstrated a decade ago that healthy liver cells injected into the lymph nodes of mice with malfunctioning livers would regenerate and take over normal liver functions. To further prove out the concept, Lagasse wanted to replicate the work in a larger model.

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So Lagasse and his team took pieces of healthy liver tissue from six pigs while at the same time cutting off the main blood supply to the organ. They then injected the cells into abdominal lymph nodes. All six animals were able to regain normal liver functions, they reported.

When they examined the lymph nodes, the researchers discovered a plentiful supply of hepatocytes, along with bile ducts and vasculature that had formed in the transplanted cells.

"It's all about location, location, location," Lagasse said in a statement. "If hepatocytes get in the right spot and there is a need for liver functions, they will form an ectopic liver in the lymph node."

RELATED: Liver-focused Ambys launches with $140M, Takeda partnership

Regenerative approaches to treating liver disease have generated enthusiasm among private investors. In 2018, for example, Third Rock Ventures launched Ambys Medicines, which is developing both cell and gene therapy approaches to regenerating hepatocytes.

LyGenesis, which was founded in 2017, got a major boost in May of the following year when it pulled in $3 million in a series A round from Juvenescence, a U.K.-based fund that has raised $165 million to support longevity-focused companies. In October of last year, Juvenescence and Longevity Vision Fund handed LyGenesis another $4 million in private financing and convertible notes.

LyGenesis is gearing up to start a phase 2a clinical trial of its technique in people with end-stage liver disease later this year.

The new animal study follows previous work by Lagasse and colleagues demonstrating that liver tissue grown in the lymph nodes of pigs with a form of genetic liver disease could treat the condition effectively. The researchers believe the technique could ultimately help people with a wide range of liver-damaging diseases, including hepatitis and alcoholism.

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Functioning liver cells regenerate in pig lymph nodes, and a human trial is coming - FierceBiotech

These days its easy to feel frazzled and distracted. You may be multi-tasking and not getting enough sleep. Maybe youre anxious. And youre probably not doing enough to help your brain work efficiently. If you want to remain sharp and clear-headed as you age, taking care of your brain should be top of mind, says functional medicine expert Bryce Wylde, author of the newly released book Brainspanners.

Accumulation of toxins is associated with cognitive decline, which makes detoxifying essential.

While the brain is designed to detoxify itself, over time this process may become less efficient. Your brain may also be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of toxins its exposed to from the environment and your diet. Thankfully, there are ways you can support your brains detoxification process, says Wylde. And doing so may increase your Brainspan.

Your lifespan is the number of years youll spend on this planet. Healthspan is the number of years you will live in good health. Brainspan, explains Wylde, is the number of years you will live in good health with the healthiest brain possible.

You probably know how much you weigh, and possibly your cholesterol levels and blood pressure. But Wylde says, most people dont know what their brain is doing. We dont give our brain the attention it deserves. Yet it controls the heart, gut and every organ in the body. We arent taught a lot about how to make it healthier.

Wylde says that some of the more efficient ways to support your brains detox process include: M

While many people only think of folate as a necessary nutrient during pregnancy, it is very active in the brain and central nervous system. It also aids in cellular detoxification. Vitamin B9 is found in many fortified foods, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables including nuts and leafy green vegetables.

Glutathione is the most important detoxification molecule, essential for getting rid of harmful chemicals and metabolic byproducts that are dangerous to the human brain. The body makes glutathione but depending on our genetics, some of us are more efficient than others at making it.

Also, our ability to manufacture glutathione declines with age. Others cant get into the cells. Research has shown that a new compound called Glyteine, now available over the counter as Continual-G, raises the cellular levels of glutathione rapidly, within an hour or two.

Our brains do most of their detoxifying when were in deep, non-REM sleep. Thats when the spaces between the brains cells enlarge, and accumulated waste can be flushed away. This cant happen during waking hours. It would be like a railway crew trying to repair tracks while the trains are running.

Wylde explains that toxins lurk everywhere. These include bleach in the laundry room and chemicals in foods and cosmetics. Youve got to pee, poop, sweat, or breathe out these toxins. When your output is less than your input, your brains health may be compromised.

We spoke to Bryce Wylde about how doing something for your brain, every day, is the best thing you can do to ensure its longevity.

Read more here:
What are you doing to increase your Brainspan? - Longevity LIVE

While there's a genetic component to telomere length and durability, there seem to be a few things we can do to help support our own telomeres. Steven Gundry, M.D., heart surgeon and bestselling author of The Longevity Paradox: How To Die Young at a Ripe Old Age, shared an easy one when he appeared on the mindbodygreen podcast: Make sure you're getting enough vitamin D.

"Human beings with the highest vitamin D levels have the longest telomeres, and people with the lowest vitamin D levels have the [shortest] telomeres," Gundry told mbg co-CEO Jason Wachob, referring to research in the Archives of Medical Science and the Journal of Nutrition on the association between telomere length and vitamin D levels.

It seems that vitamin D, a hormone that's essential for a number of processes in the body, works by increasing the activity of telomerase, the building blocks of telomeres that protect cellular DNA from aging. Gundry goes so far as to say that he thinks it's "the greatest hormone that exists."

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What This Cardiologist Wants You To Know About Vitamin D & Longevity - mindbodygreen.com

The report on the Global Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market has been prepared after conducting a comprehensive research through a systematized methodology. These skills are useful for scrutinizing the market on the terms of outlined research guidelines. Mainly, global Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market research report covers all the information about the target audience, manufactures, vendors, research papers, products and many more. Keeping a focus on the overall market aspects, and perceptions, this report vastly covers profiles of the companies who have made it big in this particular field along with their sales data and other data. It also suggests the business models, innovations, growth and every information about the big manufacturers that will be present the future market estimates. Every market consists of set of manufacturers, vendors and consumers that gives a definition to the market, its each and every move, achievements. All these are the important subjects required to study the analysis of the global Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market.

Get sample copy of Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market report @ https://www.orbispharmareports.com/sample-request/44669

It also includes the major market conditions across the globe such as the product profit, price, production, capacity, demand, supply, as well as market growth structure. In addition, this report offers significant data through the SWOT analysis, investment return data, and investment feasibility analysis. The global Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market report also features a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation by analysing information collected from market experts and industry participants in the major points of the market value chain.

Major Company Profiles operating in the Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market:

Ascend BiopharmaceuticalsImmatics BiotechnologiesHuman LongevityNovadip BiosciencesBioRestorative TherapiesEureka TherapeuticsCytori TherapeuticsAllogene TherapeuticsRegeneusNewLink GeneticsTalaris Therapeutics

By the product type, the market is primarily split into:

Steroid Replacement TherapyStem Cell Transplant

By the application, this report covers the following segments:

HospitalsClinicsAmbulatory Surgical CentersOthers

The data offered in global Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market report is gathered based on the latest industry news, trends, as well as opportunities. This study offers a separate analysis of the major trends in the existing market, mandates and regulations, micro macroeconomic indicators is also comprised in this report. By doing so, the study estimated the attractiveness of every major segment during the prediction period.

Browse the complete report @ https://www.orbispharmareports.com/covid-19-impact-on-2020-2026-global-and-regional-adrenomyeloneuropathy-treatment-industry-production-sales-and-consumption-status-and-prospects-professional-market-research-report-standard-version/

Moreover, the report comprises the analysis of opportunities available in the Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market on the global level. It also includes the major market conditions across the globe such as the product profit, price, production, capacity, demand, supply, as well as market growth structure. The annual progression for the global Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market in different regions cannot always be listed down as it will keep changing, thus studying and reviewing markets occasionally becomes vital.

In addition, the Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment market report provides a detailed information about the key market players along with the strategies they implemented to gain market existence and develop themselves. The report includes precise market estimations depending on current market status and future market forecasts.

For Any Query on the Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market: https://www.orbispharmareports.com/enquiry-before-buying/44669

About Us :

At Orbispharma we curate the most relevant news stories, features, analysis and research reports on the important challenges undertaken by the pharmaceutical and related sectors. Our editorial philosophy is to bring you sharp, focused and informed perspective of industries, the end users and application of all upcoming trends into the pharma sector. Orbispharma believes in conversations that can bring a change in one of the most crucial economic sectors in the world. With these conversations we wish our customers to make sound business decisions with right business intelligence.

Contact Us :

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Adrenomyeloneuropathy Treatment Market 2020 (Covid-19 Impact) In-depth Industry Analysis By Types, Applications and Forecast 2026: Ascend...

I love you. . . when a spouse says it to their husband or wife, its happy words that re-establish over and over again steadfast endearment, affection, loyalty and it rejuvenates that special bond between two people. Three little words you never tire of, regardless of the longevity of your relationship just engaged, newlyweds or 50+ years together hanging in there through thick and thin, hard times and good times when as a couple you saw everything through together. Bills, ailments, illness, worries and lifes challenges, knowing as a team ordained by God, you could take on the world through sickness and health, life and death. That sweet expression of I love you lasts forever and ever and the miles between Heaven and Earth dont change a thing. Love is love and it is precious. And when a parent says it to their son or daughter, regardless of age, and especially if our children temporarily break our heart, those words bring joy, happiness and security. When a child says it to his/her mom or dad again, regardless of age, they are words we never feel are overstated. Love is the greatest gift.

In my case, I truly, absolutely love everybody and I say it a lot! In fact, folks might think I overdo it, but I hope not. When I recently met with a veteran to assign his Dare County Veteran Discount Card and I started to drive away, I said to him, Love ya! and I meant it. It didnt matter to me if I had never seen him before, I was happy to meet him and thank him for his service. After I got home, I thought, Gee, he didnt even know me . . . wonder if he thought I was a little kooky or something! So I texted him to explain that this is me Marsha M. Brown maybe different than a lot of folks for sure, but well-meaning and sincere.

Im sorry and I forgive you offer peace within our soul to know that if we made a mistake, let someone special down or really blew it, we can tell them were sorry and hopefully they can and will forgive us realizing that none of us are perfect. Sometimes we just plain made a mistake, we misunderstood, we truly forgot or we unintentionally stepped out of line. The hope and assurance the disappointment we might have caused will not be held against us makes a world of difference, because the human aspect is plain and simple we goof up sometimes, not because we mean to, not because were mean spirited or selfish and self-centered. And besides, most of the time, when we let someone else down, in retrospect, the act itself hurts us more deeply. Personally, I fall short of the forgiveness of God way too often. I dont study the Word like I should. I dont take as good a care of my body as I should. I say bad words if I step on something that hurts or Im chased by a swarm of wasps trying to get into the truck before I do or if I forget to do something important that bad word slips out as smooth as melted butter and as quick as a duck on a June bug!

Good job! is seldom heard enough in the workplace. Maybe sometimes supervisors or managers think that if they say it too often, the person theyre praising will get a little cocky, overly confident or too sure of themselves so they hold back, but as the voice of experience and for all the close to 40 years I have been a Realtor, I have been privileged to work for a firm on the Outer Banks that I work for today. Years ago, before I went into full times sales, I was a property manager on Hatteras Island Salvo to be exact and my boss, Janice A. Farr, senior vice president of property management at Sun Realty, who doesnt personally care for the title boss, set an example that I have not experienced since.

She offered to help me whenever I needed guidance; she encouraged me to be the best I could be and she praised my work. She wasnt overboard with it with empty words and meaningless compliments, but she fairly and honestly pointed out my good traits as an asset to the company, which kept me wanting to keep on keepin on to make her proud. She was a hero to me in the workplace and beyond and still is. I loved her then and I love her now. To know Janice is to love Janice.

We all need kind words no matter where we work or what we do. We are human after all, and I think God instilled in all of us the ability to lift others up to a higher plane, to help us see our potential, our value, our worthiness as employees, staff and associates and to help us grasp our contribution to making life better for not only ourselves but for others too. Though I am now in real estate sales, the ten years under her direct supervision were ten of the happiest working years of my life. (Note: it was Janice Farrs daddy W. Chris Aydlett Sr.s celebration of life service that I wrote about in Gig Line, The Sanctity of Life.)

Thank you! Two words that express gratitude. A million times . . . I thank you . . . all of you. The first Gig Line I wrote in March 2012 about my sweet Billys coming home from Vietnam. It was the story about how his return, his outlook on life and his maturity as a vet, grew me up! He and I werent dating when he was deployed in 1966, but after his return in March 1968, God brought us together through a tragic event in my life and from that point, he matured and transformed a 17 year old new graduate of Manteo High School into a young woman who suddenly saw life through his eyes. It was then that I learned what sacrifice really meant, what patriotism was really all about and what riches we as Americans have in our veterans. At 17 we were married and it was nothing but the grace and love of God that gave me the honor and privilege of being married to William S. Billy Brown Jr.

What has that got to do with saying thank you to all of you? Ill tell you . . . because when I wrote that first Gig Line, my sweet husband was proud not because it was about him it was because Gig Line brought to the forefront a personal perspective on Vietnam veteran brothers and sisters, some of what they went through and from that time almost eight years ago, I have continued to write about Billy, brotherhood love of our veterans, their sacrifice that unintentionally taking them for granted. Through that, I have been blessed beyond measure.

Thank you to all the veterans who have called, emailed or snail mailed me over these years. My Billy is in Heaven four years now, but Im contacted sometimes by the men and women who read my column who dearly loved their veteran husband, wife, brother or other family member too who is now up there with Billy. Anna, Wendy, Barbara S., Cathy, Therese, Lee B., Barbara L., Liz, Polly, Valerie, Anna, Peggy, Janice and Alline (my Billy was a hunk a hunk of burning love too!) and literally countless others. My one true love inspired me to write Gig Line, a name we created together. Then in reading it, you all touched Billy, which made him happy; then you inspired me to continue to write it and over time, we have become a veteran community all in its own and that my friend has made me very thankful. I am currently in the process of writing a book and I cannot wait until its ready to be out there!

Until next time, you made my Billy proud, which makes you all precious to me. I love you all! Stay healthy, safe and proud of the veteran you love and were loved by and if he or she is no longer with us, thank the good Lord for the time they were. Love the person God created you to be He doesnt mess up! You are special, you are unique and you are the only you there is. Embrace that, okay? Thank you to all our veterans, active duty and military wantabees! And please keep wearing your masks because its helping keep all of us safe!

If you want to talk, or you know a vet or family member who could use some help, please call/text me: 252-202-2058 or email me: giglineheroes@aol.com or for the real expert in the matters of Veteran Affairs, contact our Dare County Veteran Service Officer, Patty OSullivan 252-475-5604 or email her: dcvac@darenc.com Patty is very diligent about follow up phone calls, so if you call and she doesnt answer, please leave a detailed message with your name, phone number and if you would like, the reason for your call she will call you back and she will do everything she can to help you, I promise! Love yall and please stay tuned!

FOR MORE COLUMNS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CHECK OUT OUR OPINION SECTION HERE.

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Gig Line: A few words that can change the world - The Coastland Times - The Coastland Times

Our brains have established methods for recognizing people as close friends or acquaintances, and "the closest ties are built on a substantial investment of time and trust both of which may be challenged by the current pandemic," said Andrea Courtney, a postdoctoral research fellow in psychology at Stanford University in California, who wasn't involved in a newly released review on social bonds. How humans develop and maintain relationships with friends and family is similar to the behaviors of societies in our evolutionary history and those of other primates, according to the review published Tuesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

Although many of us live in cities along with millions of other people, our personal social worlds contain anywhere from 78 to 250 people, with an average of about 154 individuals. That means that most people interact with a small number of other people and those people remain relatively stable over time, according to review author Robin Dunbar, a professor emeritus of evolutionary psychology in the department of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford in England.

These people are organized into layers within social networks, and those layers are dependent on cognitive, emotional and time constraints on our capacities for interaction.

The organization of our cognitive social networks

These networks consist of layers in accordance with relationships of varying quality: People considered to be intimates (family) and close friends are close in proximity and small in number. Types of friends and acquaintances extend further away from someone and grow in numbers.

How both humans and animals bond

The bonding process in both primates and humans is complex and time-consuming, the review said.

When animals are faced with the issue of maintaining group stability amid stresses, the solution is bonded relationships, which help ensure that members will behave similarly to one another and stay together. Primates accomplish this bonding by social grooming an activity that is time-consuming, but can also create a sense of reciprocity, obligation and trust.

Endorphins are fleeting, so their need for constant activation to maintain bonding levels make bonding time-consuming.

Laughing, singing, dancing, storytelling, eating and drinking are activities that, when done with others, can trigger the endorphin system in a way that is time efficient and "grooming-at-a-distance," the review said.

Virtual activities "slow down the rate of decay on relationships, but they won't stop them (from) dying eventually," Dunbar said in an email.

"Face-to-face is necessary for that, it seems. There is something very special about being able to see the whites of their eyes across the table, to reach out and touch them, that no digital media can yet match."

Seven pillars of friendship

Our knowledge of other people, which is built up by being in close contact, helps us bond and increase trust that others will meet our needs.

Emotional and physical closeness

At the core of human and primate friendships are being close in terms of spatial proximity and feeling close by emotional proximity, influenced by the time spent together.

"These ensure that bonded individuals stay together so that they are on hand when support is needed," Dunbar said in the review.

To hold someone in your close friends layer, you need to see them at least once a week; the best friends layer at least once a month; the friends layer at least once a year, Dunbar said.

"Drop below those rates, and the person will slip into the layer below within a few months," he added. "This is because the time you invest in direct interaction with someone determines the sense of emotional closeness you have with them -- and the sense that this is mutual."

The social and health consequences of personal ties

Trust and time available are crucial to social networks. When those are threatened by internal stressors or external threats (like a pandemic), relationships are at risk for declines in emotional strength, major upheavals or ultimately breaking down.

Because of the greater likelihood of forgiveness and inherent bond, family members have appeared to bounce back from the lack of opportunities to interact, Dunbar said. Friendships require more investment for constant connection and are more likely to fade when under threat.

Social breakdowns could have ill effects for our health, well-being and longevity, the review said. The number and quality of close friendships a person has can affect his or her happiness and capacity to recover from illness. Smaller social networks are associated with greater feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can affect rates of disease and death.

In light of the social distancing, quarantining and lockdowns imposed by Covid-19, Dunbar anticipated a few likely effects: a weakening of friendships that could make for awkward reunions; an increased effort to contact old friends after lockdowns; and fear of contracting the virus to reduce how often some people (introverts and the psychologically more cautious) visit places where they would encounter people they don't know.

The inability to assess the behaviors and infection risk of low-rank friends and distant family members could result in smaller, more inverted social networks, Dunbar predicted. Network patterns may return to normal within a year, but some friendship ties might be weakened enough to become acquaintances, the review said.

"Focusing more time on close relationships may boost well-being in the short term," Courtney said in an email. "In fact, recent research has observed a decrease in loneliness following the pandemic this may reflect the fact that many people are now clinging to their closest ties. ... Although physical contact is now much more limited, many of these other (virtual) bonding opportunities are just as abundant as ever."

To keep up relationships, emotional closeness and trust during this time, stay in virtual touch as much as possible, Dunbar suggested.

And remind your loved ones, "I'm still here and thinking of you."

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The pandemic threatens how we naturally grow and benefit from relationships - CNN