This Is Your Body And Brain On Artificial Sweeteners - HuffPost
- This Is Your Body And Brain On Artificial Sweeteners HuffPost
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2 years 3 months ago
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
USFDA refuses to approve AbbVie Parkinson's disease therapy ABBV-951, seeks more information
North Chicago: AbbVie Inc said on Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined to approve its Parkinson's disease therapy for adults and had requested for more information on the device used to administer the treatment.
The therapy, ABBV-951, is a formulation of carbidopa-levodopa, the standard of care for the disease. It is administered subcutaneously, or under the skin, through an infusion pump.
The company's application was based on data that showed the therapy significantly extended the time that patients did not observe involuntary movement, compared to orally administered carbidopa-levodopa.
Parkinson's disease causes unintended or uncontrollable movements and is characterized by "off" periods in patients under therapy for a long period.
The U.S. health regulator has not sought additional efficacy and safety trials, the company said, adding it plans to resubmit the marketing application as soon as possible.
Read also: AbbVie raises sales outlook of Skyrizi, Rinvoq to USD 17.5 billion in 2025
Evercore ISI analyst Gavin Gartner said it was an unfortunate decision as the therapy could possibly be one of AbbVie's biggest new product launches over the next year or two.
Analysts have forecast sales of $1.3 billion for AbbVie's therapy in 2028, according to Refinitiv data. The company's shares were marginally lower in morning trade
2 years 3 months ago
News,Industry,Pharma News,Latest Industry News
PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
The cholera emergency is avoidable
The cholera emergency is avoidable
Cristina Mitchell
22 Mar 2023
The cholera emergency is avoidable
Cristina Mitchell
22 Mar 2023
2 years 3 months ago
STAT+: Drugmakers push back on a clever tactic employers use to avoid paying for specialty medicines
In the face of rising drug prices, health plan sponsors have quietly used a clever, but questionable tactic over the past few years to deflect costs. And now, some pharmaceutical companies are pushing back.
The maneuver goes by different names — it’s sometimes called a specialty carve out, or alternative funding – but relies on exploiting charitable programs. It works like this: a health plan sponsor excludes certain expensive specialty medicines from coverage and taps an outside vendor to help patients obtain the drugs for free from patient assistance programs run by drugmakers or foundations.
2 years 3 months ago
Pharma, Pharmalot, drug pricing, Insurance, Pharmaceuticals, STAT+
Health Archives - Barbados Today
First local medicinal cannabis therapeutic facility coming
Despite the naysayers, interest in Barbados’ medicinal cannabis industry is high and the island’s first therapeutic facility is on course to open in the coming year, the head of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) has disclosed.
The BMCLA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Senator Shanika Roberts-Odle said on Tuesday that additional training will also be made available to Barbadians who want in on the industry.
She was speaking on the Appropriation Bill, 2023 in the Upper House when she highlighted the progress made in issuing licences in an industry that she said the Government is pursuing as an economic contributor and also to provide medicine that can bring relief to the suffering of Barbadians.
In addition to the initial two licensees representing nine approved and eight issued licences, an additional six licensees and 10 licences have been approved.
“That is progress in this country in an industry where they said no one would be interested; in an industry where they said we would never be able to make inroads. We are making them,” the BMCLA boss said. “2023-2024 will see us having our first therapeutic facility opened in this country. We already have our first working medicinal cannabis farm up and running.”
She said the BMCLA has also made progress in training, research and development, and reported that the agency’s free, three-term cannabis crash course programme, which is now in its second term, has been well received.
“I am happy to say that it has not just been well subscribed, it has been oversubscribed,” she said.
“And term three of that programme, we are working with the University of the West Indies who, in fact, has one of their own training programmes as it relates to training doctors on the use of medicinal cannabis in the treatment of their patients.”
The Government Senator disclosed that the BMCLA has created a training programme “that would give the best opportunity to Barbadians who want to be involved in that industry”.
“I’m happy to say that we have finally reached an agreement with one of the major educational institutions in this country – which will be announced in the coming two months – to carry out that training for Barbadians to allow them to be able to understand where the international requirements lie and to be able to give them a qualification that they can’t just use in Barbados, they can’t just use in the region, that they can go internationally and be able to present themselves as well studied, well learned and qualified,” she added.
In her contribution which focused on the work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Senator Roberts-Odle sought to dispel the notion that licences to get a foot in the industry are not affordable.
The BMCLA issues licences across several categories and types, under which licensees can cultivate, transport, process, sell, import, export, research and develop medicinal cannabis and medicinal cannabis products.
The authority’s CEO pointed out that licences are valid for five years – which she suggested is longer than in other parts of the world – and payment plans were offered.
“I would argue that I have not seen anywhere else that will allow you to pay on a payment plan. We allow our licensees to give us 60 per cent of the cost of their licence upfront and to pay the remainder over the next three years,” she explained.
For example, Senator Roberts-Odle said, for a tier one licence which costs $29 700, a payment of $17 820 is made up front and the remainder is due over three years.
“You can pay that on a yearly basis which is $3 960, or you can pay that on a monthly basis which is $330. That’s a Courts bill,” she asserted.
(DP)
The post First local medicinal cannabis therapeutic facility coming appeared first on Barbados Today.
2 years 3 months ago
A Slider, Agriculture, Health, Legistlature, Politics
Health Archives - Barbados Today
Spike in fires sends residents rushing for respiratory meds
By Anesta Henry
Pharmacies have recorded an increase in the sale of products to treat upper respiratory issues as Barbadians contend with smoke and ash from cane and grass fires that have been occurring across the country.
President of the Barbados Pharmaceutical Society (BPS) Yolan Pantin told Barbados TODAY on Tuesday that in recent weeks, there has been an increase in the number of people going to pharmacies to purchase over-the-counter medications and have prescriptions filled, as they seek relief from sinus issues and allergic reactions.
“Obviously, because of the situation we have been seeing more people passing through. It depends on what the doctor has written on the prescription and if they are looking for simple things like Histal, antihistamines, and maybe some nasal sprays, depending on how severely they are being affected by the present conditions.
“They are coming with allergies, depending on how long they leave their symptoms, and some persons will receive courses of antibiotics because respiratory tract infection has occurred and that is something that only the doctor deals with,” Pantin said.
She warned Barbadians experiencing respiratory tract infections to treat their symptoms as soon as they show up.
Additionally, Pantin said, individuals should seek medical attention if they do not get relief using over-the-counter medication after three days.
She said the Otrivin nasal spray, in particular, should not be used longer than three days, as doing so could cause “rebound rhinitis where they would actually be hooked on having to use it continuously”.
“If after three days and they find that their symptoms really haven’t dissipated they really should see a physician,” the pharmacist recommended.
Pantin said pharmacies currently have adequate stock to meet the present demand.
While some pharmacies are out of allergy and sinus tablets, people battling with sinusitis can also use the multi-symptom tablets for the time being, since they are basically the same medication, just slightly different strengths.
“Right now, as far as the oral preparations and the nasal sprays that are over-the-counter are concerned, we do have adequate stock on the island,” she said.
Pantin advised those known to suffer from sinusitis, allergies, or asthma who are working in areas affected by the smoke and ash, to resume wearing masks.
“A couple of my customers that have passed through have actually purchased masks because they work in areas close to the smoke and the ash and so on. So, because they do suffer from respiratory problems – some are asthmatics as well – they have chosen to resume wearing masks in order to help with not getting as much smoke inhaled into their lungs and their upper respiratory tract,” she said.
“So, for safety and for your own health, for persons who are compromised with respiratory illnesses of any form, I would advise them until this really dissipates in another two weeks, or unless we get a heavy rainfall, they should resume wearing the masks.”
On Monday, during an interview with Barbados TODAY, Chief Medical Officer Dr The Most Honourable Kenneth George urged asthmatics and people who suffer from allergies and sinus complications to take all precautionary measures to protect themselves amid an increase in cane and grass fires.
While indicating that he had not received reports from polyclinics or the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) regarding an alarming increase in persons reporting to those facilities complaining of health issues due to the environmental hazard, Dr George supported the Ministry of Education’s decision to closely monitor affected schools to protect students and teachers from potentially harmful effects.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
The post Spike in fires sends residents rushing for respiratory meds appeared first on Barbados Today.
2 years 3 months ago
A Slider, Fire, Health, Local News
Health Archives - Barbados Today
Nursery students to take classwork online
The St Stephen’s Nursery School will remain closed for the remainder of the week after the Ministry of Education’s plan to temporarily relocate students to the nearby Anglican Church failed.
Issues including poor lighting and inadequate lunch arrangements at the church were among the challenges identified by parents and by teachers who tried to facilitate classes there.
Arrangements are to be made for students to engage in classwork online and materials will be distributed to parents to keep the children engaged.
On Tuesday following meetings at the St Stephen’s Anglican Church with executive members of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), teachers, president of the Association of Public Primary School Principals Ivan Clarke, staff and parents, Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw said the ministry did not have adequate time to ensure the church was a conducive learning environment.
Teachers and parents also complained of the fact students had to walk through the church’s graveyard to access the bathrooms, inadequate ventilation and difficulty conducting five classes in a confined area. The situation was further aggravated when workers came to dig a grave in the cemetery using a drilling machine. They were later instructed by the funeral director to complete the job when classes were dismissed.
There are 145 students enrolled at the school in four nursery and five reception classes. Only the reception classes could be accommodated at the church.
Meanwhile, due to the environmental issues that caused the school to officially close twice last week and on Monday, Archer-Bradshaw said a plan of action “was quickly put in place so that children would not lose additional teaching time” and the ministry had instructed the principal to contact the priest to use the church.
“On Monday we were told that the situation had not been rectified as had been expected on Friday so we decided to take quick action with regard to getting the children in the space . . . Sometimes things don’t always work out,” said Archer-Bradshaw.
“If we had three or four days to come and inspect and so on, I could understand that, but we decided that we would come and we would try with the space and I want to thank the teachers and principal for actually coming and trying,” she added.
Last week, the BUT reported that the Ministry of Education was working with environmental health officers to address the problem. A neighbour who raised chickens had promised to have the pens cleaned by last Friday. The environmental problem was first raised last Monday when the school closed early and two days later, parents were given the option to collect their children from the school. However, the school remained open.
(SZB)
The post Nursery students to take classwork online appeared first on Barbados Today.
2 years 3 months ago
A Slider, Education, Fire, Health, Local News, school
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Study finds disproportionate percentage of females with unexplained infertility to have gene variants known to cause serious problems
Medical College of Georgia researchers have recently reported that about 17% of women with unexplained infertility also have gene variants known to cause disease, from common conditions like heart disease to rare problems like ALS.
Theirs appears to be the first study to identify an increased prevalence of disease-causing genetic variants in females with unexplained infertility, the team, led by Lawrence C. Layman, MD, reports in the New England Journal of Medicine.
They hypothesized that genetic disease creates a predisposition to infertility and subsequent medical illness and their findings support that link, they write. Females with infertility, for example, have been noted to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
“The connection to diseases has been known, but what has not been known was if there was a genetic connection. That was the purpose of this study,” says Layman, a reproductive endocrinologist and geneticist who is chief of the MCG Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics at Augusta University
The investigators note that while clear, common pathways between infertility and conditions like heart disease, still have not been established, “a strong association between infertility and future disease can still assist in early detection, genetic counseling and intervention.” Fertility could be in effect a “biomarker” for future medical illness, they write.
They sequenced the exomes, which contain the protein-coding regions of genes, of 197 females ages 18 to 40 with unexplained infertility, a percentage that comprises about 30% of infertile females, to look for variants in genes that were known or suspected to cause disease.
Information on the women was pulled from the AMIGOS Trial of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Network, a group of some 900 couples from multiple institutions with no obvious cause for infertility, like problems with ovulation or unhealthy sperm.
They found 6.6% of the females they studied had variants in 59 genes termed “medically actionable,” which means they are likely to cause conditions like heart disease and breast cancer but there are interventions, lifestyle and/or medical, that might remove or at least reduce their risk. By comparison about 2.5% of the general population have been found to have variants in these genes.
An additional 10% of the females had gene variants known to cause disease for which little to no action could be taken to ameliorate the problem, like Parkinson’s disease, Layman says.
They found 14 variants of the medically actionable genes in 13 of the females; one woman had two variants. The most common were those that contribute to cardiovascular disease and cancer, the nation’s top two killers.
Those included relatively well-known variants, like four women with variants of BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are associated with a high risk of breast or ovarian cancer. Six females had variants in five genes associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, things like having a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol levels and irregular heart rhythms, some of which can be lethal.
One female had a variant in the gene MYH11, which is associated with increased risk of a rupture of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body. Numerous rare variants of uncertain significance also were found in the medically actionable genes.
Comparatively large datasets that better represent the entire population, like 50,000 people in the United Kingdom Biobank and nearly 22,000 in the National Human Genome Research Institute-funded eMERGE network, yielded percentages of 2 and 2.5% respectively.
That translates to about a threefold increase in variants in medically actionable genes among the females who were infertile compared with the general population, Layman says.
Additionally, they found 20 variants in 21 other females in genes associated with conditions that likely could not be mitigated, like a dramatically increased risk of developing muscle wasting ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and kidney-destroying polycystic kidney disease, which will ultimately require dialysis and/or a kidney transplant, a finding that requires more study, Layman and his colleagues write.
All told about 17% of the females with unexplained infertility had variants that are known to cause or suspected to cause a future medical illness. They note that their findings are likely relevant only to this group of women.
While more study is needed before moves are made like recommending genetic testing for all females or males with unexplained infertility, the investigators say their findings support the notion that the higher incidence of future medical problems in these women may have a genetic component.
At the moment, genetic testing in infertility is done selectively, such as if the suspected problem points to a genetic cause, like a male having no sperm, which may indicate Klinefelter syndrome, where males are born with an extra copy of the X chromosome that results from a random genetic error.
“We don’t do genetic testing right now because there hasn’t been good evidence for it and it’s not going to be covered by insurance,” Layman says. Their new study provides more evidence that genetic testing might need to be considered a handful of years down the road if findings continue to hold.
“We need to study a lot more people and other people need to do that too,” Layman says.
Another area that needs further exploration is whether some of the gene variants may be causative of both infertility and disease, Layman says. Right now, the only variants familiar to him that appear to have a role in both are cancer-causing BRCA 1 and 2, because they also are involved in meiosis, which is important to sperm and egg formation and function. They also are both involved in repairing double-strand breaks in the DNA, which has been associated with ovarian aging and cancer risk, Layman says.
Another is a variant that causes early menopause, which is known to increase the risk of heart disease, because estrogen is considered protective of the female cardiovascular system.
He hopes the new findings will inspire others to further explore whether the disease-causing variants they found present in these females also are factors in their infertility.
Layman also notes that the database they studied happened to be largely white females, but that infertility is a problem common to both Blacks and whites as well as other races, and needs to be studied in these populations.
Infertility also affects men and women equally, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Reference:
Unexplained Female Infertility Associated with Genetic Disease Variants,New England Journal of Medicine,MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA AT AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY.
2 years 3 months ago
Obstetrics and Gynaecology,Obstetrics and Gynaecology News,Top Medical News,MDTV,Obstetrics and Gynaecology MDTV,MD shorts MDTV,Obstetrics & Gynaecology Shorts,Channels - Medical Dialogues,Latest Videos MDTV,MD Shorts
The basics of the nutrition facts label
The nutrition facts label tells you what is in the food you are eating. It helps you determine if you have a healthy, balanced diet. Every packaged or processed product should have a label. Dr Rivane Chybar Virgo, medical doctor and health and...
The nutrition facts label tells you what is in the food you are eating. It helps you determine if you have a healthy, balanced diet. Every packaged or processed product should have a label. Dr Rivane Chybar Virgo, medical doctor and health and...
2 years 3 months ago
Creating a healthy, balanced plate
MANY PERSONS struggle to eat healthier; they try to kick-start a weight loss journey or find another way to maintain dietary health. However, there are many ways to keep track of your food intake and there is online advice to help you eat healthier...
MANY PERSONS struggle to eat healthier; they try to kick-start a weight loss journey or find another way to maintain dietary health. However, there are many ways to keep track of your food intake and there is online advice to help you eat healthier...
2 years 3 months ago
Beaches Ocho Rios' wellness showcase caters to scores of team members
MORE than 300 team members from Beaches Ocho Rios benefited from a free health and wellness fair staged by the resort in partnership with the St Mary Health Department.
The staff benefited from services including HIV/syphilis testing, pap smears, general medical check-up, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure checks. Presentations were also conducted on sex education, nutrition and fitness as part of the Jamaica Moves initiative.
Beaches Ocho Rios General Manager Charles Blacher, in endorsing the Ministry of Health's commitment to promoting a healthier lifestyle for Jamaicans, said that "having a healthier workforce can lead to increased productivity and positively impact the organisation".
The health fair, spearheaded by the human resources team, also featured a health education booth which garnered the interest of throngs of team members who were shown visual representations of the amount of calories that go into one's body by eating various foods and the exercises required to help to burn unwanted calories.
In addition, the females in attendance were able to get pap smears done. Attendees also received important information on the human papillomavirus (HPV) and screenings available to both youngsters and adults through the St Mary Health Department's education team.
Jardine Vassell, the resort's environment, health and safety manager, shared that the initiative was critical to promoting an appreciation for good health among the team, and that "some team members may not be able to visit health facilities regularly and as a result, the management decided to bring the health professionals to the hotel to facilitate their needs".
Gary Brown, from the landscaping department, lauded the resort and the St Mary Health Department for the partnership, saying, "It is important because not everyone has the time to do many of these checks or even to get the information on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. I listened to all the presentations. They were very informative. I'm very happy I was at work today to benefit from this. It is here for free and so convenient." Brown added that he would also be having his blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked.
Junior accountant at Beaches Ocho Rios Samantha McPherson praised the resort for organising the health fair for the team members and said that it was well-attended and well-appreciated.
"It was very informative and the health professionals really took their time out to help us process the information in a simple way. The HIV/syphilis testing team was very thoughtful and made us feel very relaxed. These are the types of efforts that make Sandals such a great company to work for, and we look forward to more of these events in the future."
2 years 3 months ago
Global Healthy Living Foundation, Association of Women in Rheumatology, and the AIDS Institute To Host Congressional Briefing on Co-Pay Accumulator Programs
In Cooperation with U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA) and Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Event to Review the HELP Copays Act (H.R. 830)
UPPER NYACK, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#accumulators–The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), an international, patient-centered, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illness, in partnership with the Association of Women in Rheumatology and the AIDS Institute, will host on Thursday, March 30, 2023 a Congressional Briefing on copay accumulator programs, the focus of the HELP Copays Act (H.R. 830).
Copay accumulator programs are used by insurance companies to prevent any charitable copay assistance provided by biopharmaceutical manufacturers from counting toward a patient’s deductible or maximum out-of-pocket expenses, forcing patients to pay for their treatment twice. First, patients pay at the pharmacy with the funds from their copay card. They pay again when the copay card has been depleted and their deductible, supposedly, has not been met. These programs most often impact chronic disease patients taking specialty drugs because those products have the highest out-of-pocket costs, have well-funded out-of-pocket support programs, and lack generic or biosimilar medication substitutions. Patients surprised by these programs, buried in their insurance plan’s fine-print, may find that the medication prescribed by their health care provider is suddenly unaffordable.
While sixteen states have passed laws to prevent co-pay accumulator programs, federal law is needed to ensure all patients are protected. GHLF research demonstrates that these laws do not increase health insurance premiums.
Members of the media are invited to attend this event with advanced RSVP.
Event: Congressional Briefing on Copay Accumulator Programs and the HELP Copays Act (H.R. 830)
When: Thursday, March 30, 2023, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: Capitol Visitors Center, HVC-215
Speakers:
- Stephanie Ott, MD, Co-Chair of Advocacy, Association of Women in Rheumatology
- Steven Newmark, JD, MPA, Director of Policy and General Council, Global Healthy Living Foundation
- JP Summers, Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager, Global Healthy Living Foundation
- Stephanie Hengst, Manager of Policy & Research, the AIDS Institute
RSVP: https://bit.ly/CopayAccumulatorCongressionalBriefing
About Global Healthy Living Foundation
The Global Healthy Living Foundation is a U.S. based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, international organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, migraine, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cardiovascular disease) by advocating for improved access to health care and amplifying education and awareness efforts within its social media framework. GHLF is also a staunch advocate for vaccines. The Global Healthy Living Foundation is the parent organization of CreakyJoints®, the international, digital community for millions of people living with arthritis and their supporters worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research in English, Spanish, and French. Our ArthritisPower® (ArthritisPower.org) patient registry has more than 40,000 consented patients who participate in best-in-class patient-reported outcomes research. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GHLF started a Patient Support Program, informed by a patient council made up of people living with a wide range of chronic illnesses, that now serves more than 46,000 subscribers. Via CreakyJoints, GHLF also hosts PainSpot (PainSpot.org), a digital risk-assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, eRheum (eRheum.org), for telehealth and virtual-care support, and a constantly refreshed library of podcasts via the GHLF Podcast Network. GHLF never asks the public for donations. Visit ghlf.org for more information.
Find us online:
Global Healthy Living Foundation: ghlf.orgCreakyJoints Canada: CreakyJoints.caCreakyJoints: CreakyJoints.orgCreakyJoints Español: CreakyJoints.org.esCreakyJoints Australia: CreakyJoints.org.auFacebook: facebook.com/CreakyJoints & facebook.com/GlobalHealthyLivingFoundationTwitter: @GHLForg, @CreakyJoints, #CreakyChats
Instagram: @creaky_joints, @creakyjoints_aus, @creakyjoints_espTikTok: globalhealthylivingfndYouTube: @GHLForg, @CreakyJointsLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ghlf
Contacts
Jessica Daitch
Phone: 917-816-6712
Email: jdaitch@ghlf.org
The post Global Healthy Living Foundation, Association of Women in Rheumatology, and the AIDS Institute To Host Congressional Briefing on Co-Pay Accumulator Programs appeared first on Caribbean News Global.
2 years 3 months ago
Business Wire
Sleep apnea is now covered by the ARS in the Dominican Republic
Three doctors from Santo Domingo agreed that sleep disorder is a problem that has become one of the main causes of death in the nation and, above all, a generator of traffic accidents, divorces, and other illnesses that increase the deterioration of the patient’s health.
Doctors María Arias Peña, Raymundo Hernández, and Plutarco Arias indicated that difficulties in falling asleep also cause poor work performance, increase the chances of suffering strokes and create greater obesity.
Medical professionals said that most road accidents happen because drivers and conductors fall asleep. They indicated that the sleep disorder causes apathy toward sex and that on several occasions it ends in divorce between couples. They explained that sleep apnea, which manifests itself in snoring at night, is more common in people aged 40 and older.
Doctors highlighted that the ARS provides coverage to people who suffer from this health problem. Dr. Plutarco Arias, president of the National Sleep Apnea Institute (INAPS), stressed that this entity continues to advance in the development of its specialized personnel to treat patients suffering from sleep disorders.
2 years 3 months ago
Health, Local
Health Archives - Barbados Today
FIRES WREAK HAVOC
GRASS FIRES STRETCHING RESOURCES OF FIRE SERVICE
By Sheria Brathwaite
The recent uptick in grass fires has been putting the Barbados Fire Service under strain and Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard is pleading with Barbadians to avoid starting fires.
Meanwhile, the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is urging the Ministry of Education to act more promptly in closing schools impacted by heavy smoke.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY on Monday after 8 p.m., at which time crews were still out fighting fires, Maynard expressed concern that many of the grass fires were caused by people, intentionally or otherwise.
“We are definitely extremely concerned because the fires are stretching our resources beyond limit. Just today, we had in excess of 14 fires up to 7 p.m. and now we are still having fires. They are stretching our resources to the limits, [to the point that] the admin staff, the senior officers, everybody had to come out today,” he said.
Maynard said crews were out from as early as 9 a.m. on Monday in Colleton and Greenidges in St Lucy, Pool in St John, Padmore Village and Farm Road in St Philip, and Callenders and Coral Ridge in Christ Church.
So far this year, there have been 176 grass fires, 20 more than during the January to March period last year.
“All are not due to combustion. Some have to deal with human intervention, accidental or otherwise,” Maynard said about the cause of the fires. “So we are encouraging all persons to avoid burning. Those who are doing it intentionally should stop it and those [doing it] unintentionally should avoid burning; because of the dry conditions and high winds, you will lose control of these fires.”
For the past few weeks, classes at several schools have been affected by billowing smoke.
While saying he was concerned about the disruption, president of the BUT Rudy Lovell said the health of those being impacted by the smoke was more important.
He said he was also concerned about how long it took the Ministry of Education to give the directive to close schools in these circumstances.
“Complaints from our members suggest that in some instances, schools remain open for a prolonged period, waiting for official notice from the Ministry of Education to close, and we would want the ministry to establish a protocol which gives the principal of the school the leeway to make decisions in the best interest of the occupants of the school compound,” Lovell said, noting that while principals wait for the green light from the ministry, students and staff “are suffering from smoke inhalation”.
“We know there are a lot of asthmatics and people with other respiratory ailments and we do not want to expose these people unnecessarily to these environmental issues that can be avoided,” the BUT president added.
In a press release, the Ministry of Education advised parents and guardians to ensure their wards walk with medication if they have respiratory illnesses, noting that they should also have a plan to ensure they can collect their children in a timely manner.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
The post FIRES WREAK HAVOC appeared first on Barbados Today.
2 years 3 months ago
A Slider, Fire, Health, Local News
Health Archives - Barbados Today
CMO warns allergy, asthma sufferers to take extra precaution as fires continue
By Anesta Henry
Asthmatics and persons who suffer from allergies and sinus complications have been advised to take all precautionary measures to protect themselves as the country continues to experience a series of cane and grass fires.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. The Most Honourable Kenneth George is also supporting the decision of the Ministry of Education to close affected schools to protect students and teachers from the potentially harmful inhalations.
However, Dr George told Barbados TODAY that he had received no reports from polyclinics or the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) regarding an alarming increase in persons reporting to the facilities complaining of health issues due to the environmental hazard.
“The major persons who would be affected are persons who have some form of allergy. And we know that asthma and sinusitis and sinus headaches and so forth fall into the allergy category and those are the people who should try to protect themselves the most.
“The best way to protect yourself is to leave the area that is close to a site that is burning. We know that that may not always be easy, or it may be easier said than done. Therefore, individuals who can’t get out of the situation, many of you may have masks in your houses because you would have used masks during the COVID pandemic. If you can’t put on a mask, you have to try to lock your houses so that the influx of smoke will not affect you,” he said.
Dr George noted that smoke comprises chemicals which can lead to acute respiratory injury or a reaction that produces bronchial spasms, runny nose and itchy skin.
In recent weeks, the Ministry of Education has had to summon parents and guardians to collect their children after the institutions had to be closed prematurely.
Dr George said even though it may appear to the public that schools are being closed too frequently because of fires, “from a public health perspective, we need to make sure that people are protected.
“We know that asthma kills one or two individuals every year. So it is better to be safe than sorry. I am supportive of the Ministry of Education deciding to close schools, particularly if staff and students are reporting that the environmental conditions are affecting their health. I haven’t received any reports, but the polyclinics are always willing and able to provide any acute care,” Dr George said.
Meanwhile, the CMO recommended that schools establish a treatment plan to guide what measures should be taken to manage students or staff who may experience asthma attacks.
“I think schools should invest in some form of treatment plan for asthma because asthma is so common. Schools should have some area identified as an asthma bay so that they can give some form of acute treatment to persons who are in distress,” he said.
Director of the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) Sabu Best explained that there has been a significant reduction in rainfall in recent weeks, particularly in the St Philip, Christ Church, St Lucy areas and this has led to an increase in grass and cane fires due to the dry topsoil.
Best said that while the grass and cane fires usually last for a few hours, the smoke is likely to travel for many miles.
“This is going to make life a bit complex for residents in Barbados, particularly those living in St Michael and working in the Bridgetown area. We expect that these kinds of conditions are going to continue into April where grass and cane fires will be sparking off because of the dry conditions.
“There is not going to be any rainfall coming in anytime soon and I just want Barbadians to be aware that they can expect to see more fires in days to come and just be prepared. This is not an uncommon thing to be actually happening during the dry season,” Best said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
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2 years 3 months ago
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News Archives - Healthy Caribbean Coalition
Congratulations on the Implementation of Barbados National School Nutrition Policy
HCC OPEN LETTER
THE HONOURABLE KAY MCCONNEY
MINISTER OF EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, BARBADOS
And
SENATOR DR. THE MOST HONOURABLE JEROME WALCOTT
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS BARBADOS
And
DR. THE HONOURABLE SONIA BROWNE
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS BARBADOS
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
BARBADOS NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION POLICY
March 20th, 2023
Dear The Honourable Kay McConney, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, and Dr. The Honourable Sonia Browne,
The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) extends congratulations to the Government of Barbados and the Ministries of Health and Education on the successful launch of the Barbados National School Nutrition Policy in February 2023 and the banning of the sale of beverages containing added sugars, artificial sweeteners or additives in schools beginning in the third term in April 2023. This significant policy action taken by the Government of Barbados delivers on national and regional commitments to tackle childhood overweight and obesity through a package of evidence-based policy measures including banning the sale and marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages in and around school settings. The Barbados National School Nutrition Policy, originally approved by Cabinet in May 2022, realises a commitment made by Honourable Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, at the 39th Summit of CARICOM Heads of Government and State in 2018 when Heads endorsed a number of priorities for the 3rd UN High Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) including: “implementing policies geared to preventing childhood obesity, including health-promoting school environments”.
The HCC, both local and regional members, strongly support this policy measure which complements the recently increased sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) tax at 20% – as part of a wider strategy to combat the urgent health, economic and economic challenges posed by childhood and adult obesity and NCDs in Barbados.
As one of a growing number of countries regionally and globally prioritising NCD prevention through the implementation of regulations which meaningfully change food environments by reducing affordability and availability of ultra-processed foods high in sugars, salts and fats, Barbados is demonstrating tremendous leadership. The Caribbean has the highest NCD mortality rate in the Americas and 40% of these deaths occur prematurely before the age of 70 years affecting our most productive with dire socioeconomic consequences in a time when Caribbean populations are aging and placing significant strain on already vulnerable economies. Obesity is a major underlying factor which contributes to the development of NCDs, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Two-thirds of Barbadians are either living with overweight or obesity and the corresponding figure for Barbadian children is one-third[i] placing these children on a trajectory for health complications in childhood and adolescence and increased risk of NCDs in adulthood.
Unfortunately, these figures show no sign of decline. Per the 2023 edition of the World Obesity Atlas[ii], Barbados is expected to see a 2.6% annual increase in adult obesity and a 4.7% increase in childhood obesity over the period 2020-2035. Overweight and obesity have a profound economic impact through loss of productivity, premature death and health care expenditure. By 2035, this is expected to cost Barbados US $305 million. It is imperative that bold policy action is taken immediately to reverse these alarming trends.
The 20% tax on SSBs and the National School Nutrition Policy are a step in the right direction. At least 73.3% of students aged 13-15 consume at least one carbonated soft drink per day, while 70.9% are not achieving WHO recommended levels of physical activity[iii]. As unhealthy diet and physical activity are major contributors to overweight and obesity, and related NCDs, we commend the National School Nutrition Policy for addressing both of these risk factors. Barbadians – adults and children – have a right to live, grow, work and thrive in environments which support healthy behaviours rather than encouraging unhealthy habits. Since 2016, Barbados has supported three key policy actions recommended by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO and the HCC – 1. Taxation of unhealthy foods while subsidising healthy options; 2. Improving the food (regulating the sale and marketing of ultra-processed foods) and physical activity environments in schools to specifically tackle childhood obesity; and 3. Maintaining support for a regional standard for the labelling of prepackaged foods which includes front of package ‘high-in’ warning labels to empower consumers to identify unhealthy foods and purchase healthier unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Such policy measures, when implemented effectively, create strong regulatory environments which support positive dietary behaviours, help drive product reformulation, and encourage manufacturers and retailers to increase the availability of affordable, healthier food and beverage options. Additionally, Barbados is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), thereby underscoring the important role of government to ensure that those most vulnerable in the population – our children – are protected from continuous exposure to harmful environments that promote consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Finally, HCC commends Barbados’ continued commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society NCD response. The National School Nutrition Policy is a product of the partnership between two Ministries with acknowledged ongoing strong support from civil society through the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.
We applaud the bold and visionary leadership of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministries of Health, Education and local civil society organisations and we pledge our continued support as Barbados implements its National School Nutrition Policy and related policies over the coming months and years.
The Board of Directors, staff and volunteers of the HCC, Technical Advisors and the 100+ HCC CSO Members
View/download the open letter here.
[i] https://data.worldobesity.org/country/barbados-17/report-card.pdf
[ii] https://www.worldobesityday.org/assets/downloads/World_Obesity_Atlas_2023_Report.pdf
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2 years 3 months ago
News, Open Letters & Statements, Slider
PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
PAHO Director calls for greater collaboration between health and economy sectors to improve health and save lives
PAHO Director calls for greater collaboration between health and economy sectors to improve health and save lives
Cristina Mitchell
20 Mar 2023
PAHO Director calls for greater collaboration between health and economy sectors to improve health and save lives
Cristina Mitchell
20 Mar 2023
2 years 3 months ago
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Immune checkpoint inhibitors linked granulomatous small vessel vasculitis accompanied with tubulointerstitial nephritis: Case report
A case report of Immune checkpoint inhibitors associated granulomatous small vessel vasculitis accompanied with tubulointerstitial nephritis was reported and published in the BMC Nephrology.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have provided significant benefits in cancer treatment, but they could develop immune-related adverse events (irAE). ICI-associated renal adverse effects are rare and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is the most common in the renal irAE. However, only a few case reports of renal vasculitis associated with ICI have been reported. In addition, the characteristics of infiltrating inflammatory cells of ICI-associated TIN and renal vasculitis have been uncertain.
Case presentation
A 65-year-old man received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), anti-CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) and anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death 1) antibodies for aggravated metastatic malignant melanoma. About 1 week after the second administration of nivolumab and ipilimumab, acute kidney injury developed. A renal biopsy was performed that showed TIN and non-necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis in interlobular arteries. Massive CD3+ T cells and CD163+ macrophages infiltrated both tubulointerstitium and interlobular arteries. Many infiltrating cells tested positive for Ki-67 and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1), but negative for PD-1. In CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells were predominantly infiltrated, and these cells were positive for Granzyme B (GrB) and cytotoxic granule TIA-1, but negative for CD25, indicating antigen-independent activated CD8+ T cells. Infiltration of CD4+ T cells was noted without obvious CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. His renal dysfunction recovered within 2 months of treatment with prednisolone in addition to discontinuation of nivolumab and ipilimumab.
Researchers herein reported a case of ICI-related TIN and renal granulomatous vasculitis with infiltration of massive antigen-independent activated CD8+ T cells and CD163+ macrophages, and none or few CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells. These infiltrating cells might be a characteristic of the development of renal irAE.
Reference:
Tominaga, K., Takeuchi, K., Takakuma, S. et al. Immune checkpoint inhibitors associated granulomatous small vessel vasculitis accompanied with tubulointerstitial nephritis: a case report. BMC Nephrol 24, 48 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-023-03091-8
2 years 3 months ago
Nephrology,Top Medical News,Nephrology Cases