Archive for the ‘Hormone Clinic’ Category

In late March, shortly after New York state closed nonessential businesses and asked people to stay home, Ashley Laderer began waking each morning with a headache.

The pressure was so intense it felt like my head was going to explode, said the 27-year-old freelance writer from Long Island.

She tried spending less time on the computer and taking over-the-counter pain medication, but the pounding kept on a drumbeat accompanying her equally incessant worries about COVID-19.

Every day, I lived in fear that I was going to get it, and I was going to infect my whole family, she said.

After a month and a half, Laderer saw a neurologist. But the doctor found no physical cause. An MRI scan was clear.

He asked: Are you under a lot of stress?

People who never had the coronavirus have been reporting puzzling, seemingly unrelated symptoms: excruciating headaches, hair loss, upset stomach for weeks on end, sudden outbreaks of shingles and flare-ups of autoimmune disorders.

Theres a common thread: chronic stress. A growing body of research shows high stress over an extended time can drastically alter physical function and affect nearly every organ.

Surveys have found increasing rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts during the pandemic. But many medical experts said its too soon to measure the related physical symptoms, which generally appear months after the stress begins.

Still, some early research points to an uptick. Data from FAIR Health, a nonprofit database that provides cost information to the health industry and consumers, showed slight to moderate increases in the percentage of medical claims related to conditions triggered or worsened by stress, like multiple sclerosis and shingles. The portion of claims for the autoimmune disease lupus showed one of the biggest increases 12%.

Perhaps the strongest indicator comes from doctors reporting a growing number of patients with symptoms for which they cant determine a cause.

Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal, a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist, used to see about five patients a week with stress-related hair loss. Since mid-June, that number has jumped to 20 or 25, Khetarpal said.

In Houston, at least a dozen patients have told fertility specialist Dr. Rashmi Kudesia theyre having irregular menstrual cycles, changes in cervical discharge and breast tenderness, despite normal hormone levels.

Stress also is the culprit dentists are pointing to for increases in people with teeth grinding, tooth fractures and TMJ.

When the body feels unsafe whether from a physical threat or fear the brain signals adrenal glands to pump stress hormones. Adrenaline and cortisol flood the body, activating the fight-or-flight response. They also disrupt bodily functions that arent necessary for immediate survival, like digestion and reproduction.

When the danger is over, the hormones return to normal. But during times of chronic stress, the body keeps pumping out stress hormones, leading to increased inflammation throughout the body.

Studies link chronic stress to heart disease, muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues and even physical shrinking of the area of the brain associated with memory and learning. Some people develop new allergic reactions, said Kate Harkness, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Queens University in Ontario.

For Alex Kostka, pandemic-related stress brought on mood swings, nightmares and jaw pain. Hed been working at a Whole Foods coffee bar in New York City about a month before the pandemic hit, suddenly anointing him an essential worker. As deaths soared, Kostka kept riding the subway to work, interacting with co-workers and working longer hours for a $2-an-hour pay increase. It left the 28-year-old feeling constantly unsafes.

It was hard not to break down on the subway the minute I got on it, Kostka said.

He began waking in the middle of the night with pain from clenching his jaw.

By the end of summer, he started using the seven free counseling sessions his employer offered. That helped, he said. But as the sessions run out, he worries the symptoms might return if hes unable to find a therapist covered by his insurance.

With chronic stress, seeing a doctor can address physical symptoms. But the root is mental, medical experts say. That means the solution will often involve stress-management techniques such as:

Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit health newsroom, is an editorially independent part of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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Pandemic stress taking its toll on healthy people - Chicago Sun-Times

Sleep is an essential part of the day and without getting the proper rest, it is hard to overcome the stress and the exertion which the body does all day. This sleep time is the bodys resting phase where it prepares itself for the next day. Thats why there are so many sleep aid products available in the market which help in including sleep. All of them are based on melatonin which is a naturally occurring hormone, responsible for sleep regulation. But when a person experiences sleep-related troubles, it means that his body is not making a sufficient amount of this hormone and, he needs a melatonin supplement. All of this makes sense but a new study has highlighted the link between these melatonin supplements and the deadly coronavirus.

According to this new study, melatonin supplements can actually help to fight against the coronavirus is currently involved in a global pandemic. This study is now published in the journal PLOS Biology.

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It investigated the patients who attended the Cleveland clinic from the start of this pandemic to June. Among these people, those who were using some type of melatonin supplement were less likely to diagnose positive for the coronavirus. This risk of coronavirus was 30% less for them as compared to people who dont take melatonin supplements. This risk was calculated after adjusting a number of variables for example age, health status, diet, alcohol and, smoking habits.

This study has discovered new molecular pathways, which are common in both COVID-19 and some other medical conditions. So, it implies that medicines that are FDA approved for treating those other medical conditions can also be tested on COVID-19 patients, assuming that it will help them heal.

For example, the research team identified proteins that were causing respiratory distress as well as sepsis in Covid patients. These two conditions are behind all Covid related complications and death in all patients.

Identifying more of such connections, they were finally able to shortlist 34 medicines which were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating a number of diseases. All of these medicines were also helpful to heal chronic Covid symptoms.

All the data from patients was checked through an AI platform which is designed by Lerner Research Institute. It analyzed all the details collected from patients who attended this clinic which includes their history of medicines and supplements.

This connection between melatonin supplements and coronavirus risk is new and rare. There is absolutely no other study discussing this relation or coronaviruss connection with other hormones. However, it doesnt imply that people should start taking the melatonin supplements on their own as protection against coronavirus.

Previously, when the anti-Covid benefits of hydroxychloroquine came into the limelight, people rushed to the pharmacies and started taking these medicines even without consulting a doctor. Previous US President endorsed it on national television which led people to believe that this medicine will probably save them from the virus, however, this reckless use of hydroxychloroquine ended up with various deaths reported.

Only a randomized clinical-based trial on melatonin supplements given to COVID-19 patients can reveal its true benefits and how it might help in treatment. Unless that trial is done, taking melatonin supplements on your own is not recommended.

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Melatonin Supplements and Coronavirus are Weirdly Linked With Each Other - TheHealthMania

When the children at Sophia Drakes primary school in rural Wales used to talk about what superpower theyd like, she always told them she wanted to be a shapeshifter. But I didnt want to be an animal. I didnt want to be Spider-Man or Muhammad Ali, I just wanted to change into a woman.

Drake was born biologically male. For as long as she can remember, she felt different and uncomfortable, and experimented with whatever identities and fads she could in an effort to belong. Video games saved her. When she discovered them as a child, she found she could get lost in a world where she could embody any character she liked. They took me to places where I didnt have all those issues and problems; I wasnt this confused child, I could pick who I wanted to be, she told me.

While she was growing up, Drake didnt really know what transgender was, aside from something everyone laughed about in the playground when Nadia was on Big Brother or Chandlers dad was on Friends. Her experiments with makeup and cross-dressing were always secret. When she left home for university, she developed an eating disorder and lost half her body weight in a year. Controlling her food intake fed the fantasy that she could finally shapeshift, after all. It made me feel like I had power, for the first time in my life. In 2016, she married her girlfriend, hoping the discomfort would somehow go away. It never did.

Outwardly I was this confused, shy, reserved young adult. But internally, the person I wanted to be was very different. She found that internal person impossible to suppress. That was natural, that was innate, that was me. This, she splayed her palms across her face that people saw, was the mask. I didnt want to live as a fake person.

After she got divorced, in early 2018, Drake, now working in the games industry, was determined to transition as quickly as she could. She devoured whatever information she could find on Reddit pages such as asktransgender, transgenderuk and transtimelines, and specialist forums for trans women such as Susans Place. The nearest NHS gender identity clinic told her they had a two-year waiting list for an appointment. Some people are on the waiting list for four years, she said. Thats a long time to ask someone to put their life on pause. The point where you get the referral its taken you years, often, to get to that point.

The same year, she found the online, private GenderGP service, and had some consultations via Skype with doctors who prescribed her hormone replacement therapy. She pays about 50 a month for her hormone treatment, and will need to continue with it for the rest of her life.

Drake sought out videos of facial feminisation surgery, in which trans women had their masculine features hairlines, jaws and brows reduced and remodelled. On the Channel 4 programme Embarrassing Bodies, she watched the maxillofacial surgeon Keith Altman transform the face of a transgender patient. Its an expensive procedure, and not available on the NHS in most of the UK, but for some trans women, it can be life-changing.

I first met Drake a year ago, when she was 31, six days before she was to undergo facial feminisation surgery. She was curled up in an armchair at her parents house, a converted barn in St Asaph in north Wales that used to belong to her grandparents. Her hair was pulled back by tortoiseshell sunglasses, and she wore mascara but no other makeup. She was dressed in pink Converse and a patterned shirt dress, and constantly played with her hair, her coffee cup and her ring. Her handheld games console lay on the walnut coffee table.

For Drake, the surgery was about correcting her face so that, when she looked in the mirror, she no longer felt the profound discomfort of gender dysphoria. Im not trying to make a supermodel face, I just want to see the person I always saw in my head, she said.

By and large, facial feminisation is a process of subtraction. For Drake, it is the removal of the changes that testosterone made to her face during puberty. For Keith Altman, the maxillofacial surgeon, it is the removal of bone, skin and cartilage. Facial feminisation is not considered cosmetic surgery. Its goal is to reconstruct the face, not to improve it aesthetically. In his NHS work, Altman could remake your forehead if you smashed it against a dashboard in a car accident. In his private practice, he treats a different kind of trauma: the trauma of not being read as female.

Facial feminisation is a growing industry, with private clinics springing up across the globe over the past decade. It costs twice as much as genital surgery, which used to be considered the standard procedure for gender reassignment, and has been available on the NHS since 1966. People who have undergone facial procedures say they can make an equal, if not greater, difference to a trans persons life, as the face is where gender is first read. Those who can afford it can buy the capacity to pass to go through public life without being identified as trans, without everyone knowing their business.

Drake manages a global competition for independent games developers, a job that involves travelling around the world and speaking on panels to audiences of up to 1,000 people. She is proud of being trans, she told me, and her public-facing job means her transition could never be secret. But it takes her to places where being trans can mean being very exposed.

She said she has faced aggressive transphobic comments, and lots of stares: Sometimes quite disgusting stares. The greatest pain comes when people with no malicious intent misgender her. When you are called to get on a plane and someone calls you sir thats a huge dysphoria trigger. Its like a sickening in your stomach, a pit, a crunching. I find it hard to breathe. To discover that she has not passed is to be reminded that her identity may still exist only in her mind, and not the minds of other people.

Passing means that you probably dont get stared at, pestered, misgendered. Which means you can go through an entire day, maybe, without having a major bout of dysphoria. When youve spent your whole life with dysphoria, thats massive. It means you just get on with your life.

Drake described gender dysphoria as a deep longing to be comfortable. The American Psychological Associations diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM-5) defines it as a difference between your experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, and significant distress or problems functioning. Untreated gender dysphoria is associated with a higher risk of depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Some trans people argue that the DSM-5 definition pathologises people when it should not, and that trans is an identity, not an illness. The medical anthropologist Eric Plemons, who specialises in the politics and practice of trans medicine and surgery, told me the current definition of gender dysphoria is an improvement, and that it replaces much more pathologising things that came before it. With gender identity disorder, the identity itself was the disorder. Gender dysphoria is more about moving the problem into the social [arena]. In other words, people are suffering not from their identity, but the stress it causes them in the world. But those codes and diagnoses are currently needed in most cases for trans people to get access to the resources they need, which is unfortunate, Plemons said.

Drake had to take out a bank loan to cover two-thirds of the 14,500 cost of her facial feminisation surgery. But she saw it as vital to her wellbeing, as mental health surgery. She recognised how lucky she was to be able to afford a procedure that she could not get on the NHS. When it comes to the whole inequality in transgender treatment in the UK, I think its just short of criminal, she said.

Drake had no definite idea of how she would look after the surgery. In one sense, I expect to see the person I always wanted to be, to be comfortable, to feel euphoria, a relief from dysphoria. But in the long term, I expect to feel nothing. What does the everyday person think when they look in the mirror and see their face? Its their face.

Under angled hexagonal lights in a Brighton operating theatre in early October 2019, Drake was covered by green surgical draping that exposed only her lower face. As the surgeon, Keith Altman, prised back her cheek with a stainless steel retractor and peered inside her mouth, beams from the three bulbs fixed to his glasses illuminated the furthest interior reaches of her jawbone. From the thick brows above their surgical masks, it was evident that the two surgeons, two anaesthetists and two doctors observing were all men.

Taped to the wall above the nurses station were black-and-white portraits of the patient. In one, she looked directly into the camera with a calm determination in her eyes, bleached-blond hair, an elegant nose, full lips and dimpled cheeks. Another, above it, was shot in profile. Her jaw looked square, and her brow jutted in a prominent ridge. It was Drakes profile that threw into relief the reality that she had been born biologically male.

Altman has operated on the faces of more than 100 trans women in the past 10 years. They have ranged in age from 18 to almost 70, and include a barrister, several academics and three airline pilots. They are generally white, and wealthy enough to afford the typical 20,000-25,000 cost of facial feminisation surgery. Altman is one of only a handful of British surgeons to specialise in it.

The week before Drakes surgery, Altman operated on someone who had a thyroid shave, forehead reduction, brow lift and scalp advance (bringing the hairline forward), jaw angle shave, lip lift, cheek implants and rhinoplasty. She was on the table for seven hours. (By comparison, Drake was having pretty light work done, which was why her surgery was cheaper than average.)

Drake would undergo four procedures that morning. The mandibular angle reduction, to make the jaw narrower and the face more slender, was the first. Altman made a swift incision inside her mouth and pulled back the thin skin covering her lower jaw. A surgical nurse handed him a drill with a stainless steel bit. Music on, he declared, and soon the sound of There She Goes by the Las was wafting through the room, above the gentle whirr of Altmans drill.

When the job was done, Altman flicked his green surgical glove into a bin and left the theatre for a coffee break while the anaesthetist moved the breathing tube from Drakes nose to her mouth. Next, her brow bone would be shaved, a section of her forehead would be filed, and her hairline would be moved down. The whole procedure would take two-and-a-half hours.

When a trans woman called Candice had breast implants and genital surgery in California in 1982, she returned to her surgeon, Darrell Pratt, a few months later to say that it had had no impact on how other people perceived her in everyday life, because her face looked masculine. Pratt asked a colleague, the San Francisco-based maxillofacial surgeon Douglas Ousterhout, if there was anything he could do for his patient.

Ousterhout busied himself in the study of early-20th-century physical anthropology. He examined 1,500 male and female skulls in search of a clinical, craniofacial basis for the maleness people were apparently seeing in Candices face. He noted differences in jaws, upper lips, foreheads and chins. (Male chins are 17% longer than female chins, according to his calculations.) He considered mathematical takes on beauty, the golden ratio of pleasing proportions first theorised in ancient Greece. The formula for femininity he came up with has formed the basis for facial work ever since.

While there is no doubt that testosterone does change skulls in puberty, how much is up for discussion. Mathematical formulas for beauty have fallen out of fashion, and surgeons have different opinions about what kind of work can be done to a skull to make a face look feminine. There are no standard clinical protocols, and the 120 pages of guidelines published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health contains a single line on FFS. It says only that there are no criteria for standards of care for facial surgery, but that mental health professionals can play an important role in helping their clients to make fully informed decisions about the timing and implications of such procedures.

Sophia Drake spent six years playing in secret with apps that make faces look more masculine or feminine, creating folders full of gender-transformed selfies and hiding them on her computer. There are sites, such as virtualffs.co.uk, that are specifically aimed at trans women, and will, for a fee, apply Ousterhout-like principles to photos. Im not trying to make myself beautiful, Drake said. I see testosterone as a poison in my body, a poison that I had to deal with for 20 years. I want to put my face to the way it would have been if testosterone had never been pumping through my body. And thats it.

Altman talked me through his working principles over coffee before Drakes surgery. Youre not doing this to beautify or rejuvenate, youre doing it to feminise, he said. If you have an attractive male face, youll end up with an attractive female face. I asked what he meant by attractive symmetrical? and he replied without missing a beat. No. I mean pleasing. What we feel is attractive. Of course, its subjective.

A female face has rounder edges and fewer angles, Altman explained. You have a more obtuse angle between your forehead and your nose here, he said, smoothing a finger between the middle of his brows. High cheekbones, a curved jawline, pointed chin. Lack of an Adams apple. Nice skin. No hair on the face, generally. And then theres the female hairline, a low hairline. The focus of his work was to bring attention to the eyes. If you file off the forehead, it looks as though the eyes have come forward, and raising the brow opens up the eyes.

Altman came to this field relatively late in his career, which has largely been spent in the NHS, remaking the faces of people who have been in car accidents, or breaking and remaking peoples jaws in orthodontic surgery. Ten years ago, a London-based GP began referring trans women to him. He contacted a surgeon in Antwerp who was experienced in facial feminisation surgery, and who invited Altman over to watch him at work. After two visits to Belgium, he began operating on his own patients in the UK.

The greatest accolade his patients can give him is to tell him that no one calls them sir any more. Thats what I want to hear. Not Im beautiful. They dont stick out. They blend in. They dont want to be going, Im a woman!, flying a flag. They can quietly go about their business, without risk of violence.

Altman was gearing up to hand his practice over to his trainee, Nikhil Maini. Demand remains steady. Many of his patients travel from Northern Ireland, where the procedure is covered by the NHS. But the lack of provision in the rest of the country leaves desperate people open to exploitation. He has heard of several trans women who have had consultations with so-called fly-in-fly-out doctors: surgeons from overseas who might not have a licence to practise in the UK, but see prospective patients in hotel rooms and offer cut-price surgery abroad.

He was confident about Drakes forthcoming surgery. She looks pretty good anyway. Shes got a nice nose. She could get away without having this done, he rubbed his jawbone but the forehead, she does need. Youll see the difference there and then on the table. I cant remember anyone whos been really upset with the outcome, he added. And certainly no one has ever said they want to be a man again.

On 28 October 2013, a thread appeared on the Susans Place message board titled Ive stopped HRT today. It had been posted by Joanna Holford, a trans woman who had had facial feminisation surgery with Altman the year before. Holford has been documenting her transition on her YouTube channel since 2012.

I pass as female but often with a second glance or prolonged look, her post read. Im tired of the stress and constant insecurity and I am not sure I can take it any more. She had written two lists, for and against detransitioning. The against column included the line: Giving up on my dream of being a fun and vivacious woman.

She decided against, in the end. She now recognises the post as a low point, triggered by the loneliness of being single for the first time in a decade and moving to a new city, and the suspicion that, despite having had facial surgery, she still wasnt always read as female.

After the surgery, Holford had moved to London to be by herself, just completely anonymous, and go stealth I hate that term, but thats what they call it, she told me. She was finding her feet enjoying life, even when a series of small incidents rattled her. She noticed people staring at her on the tube. A female colleague who had always been friendly came into work one day and blanked her. Then there was a man who looked Holford up and down in the staff canteen, then turned away, only to look back and stare again. And the time she overheard a man from another department asking the woman at the desk next to Holford whether Holford was a man or a woman, and whether she felt uncomfortable sitting so close to her.

I just died. I couldnt work out what Id done wrong. I suddenly rechecked myself. Is there something wrong with my hormones? Am I sitting in the wrong way? Is the lighting really bad? Is my clothing really bad?

Even after more surgery, and even though her videos are shared on message boards as an example of a transition to be envied, Holford still finds passing a daily effort, a daily chore. The gender dysphoria she felt before her transition has transmuted into a real, chronic paranoia. FFS isnt the golden ticket to passing. It definitely helps. If youre able to afford to do it, Id always say its a good idea. But there are so many other elements to passing: the way you handle yourself, the way you speak, the clothes that you choose, the belief you have in yourself.

Holford accepts that facial feminisation surgery perpetuates the idea that there is such a thing as a normal female face, that there is a standard expectation of what a woman should look like, and that any woman who falls outside of that is less feminine. She said the pressures women are under to look a certain way were unfair. Not just for trans women, but for women in general. There are women with heavy brows and square jaws but they still look absolutely beautiful in their own way. It puts completely unfair pressure on cisgendered women I think its awful but for trans women its double, and youd do anything just to feel like you fit in. Just to feel you can get on with your life. Because you dont want to keep fighting all the time. If this is going to help, why wouldnt you do it?

Some trans people object to facial feminisation surgery on the grounds that it reinforces a culture that cant accept trans people, instead of challenging it. Many trans women choose not to alter their bodies with surgery. In 2015, while Caitlyn Jenners feminised face was on the cover of Vanity Fair, the actor Laverne Cox began using the #TransIsBeautiful hashtag, starting a movement for trans people to be accepted without surgical intervention. Juno Roche, author of Trans Power, argues that being recognisably trans means refusing to allow gender norms to control you. The history of the trans journey is a cis male, hetrosexual, often white, middle-aged, middle-class doctor saying hes going to make you look as close in proximity to a woman so that you can pass without being noticed, so you can blend into the background, Roche told me.

Facial feminisation has allowed for the creation of a kind of two-tier system where, on the whole, the most successful trans people are beautiful people that pass, Roche continued. People who are proud to be trans, and those people who cant afford the surgery, fall into a separate category. Thats most people. And we have to create safety for everyone. It impacts on so many people, not just trans people.

Roche understands the appeal of facial surgery for so many trans women. If somebody wants to have an easy life, then boy, trans people deserve an easy life. This is a tough gig. But the truth is, if testosterone has shaped your face, it will have shaped your shoulders, your shoulder-to-hip ratio. It will have shaped your hands. Where does it stop?

There was no more easy chatter between the doctors when Altman returned to the theatre to operate on Drakes brow and forehead. This was the most difficult part of the surgery. It would remove the parts of Drakes face she thought were most male, the features she hated so much. Altman brushed sterile aqueous iodine over her face and hair, rendering her first rusty red and then yellow. He made an incision into her hairline with a swift, steady hand.

He drew back her skin in either direction from her hairline until it gathered in folds on one side at the tip of her nose, and draped back across her crown on the other. With a tiny steel mallet and a chisel, Altman set to work carefully chipping away her brow bone, before filing it with a tiny drill bit. Then he stopped, and everyone in theatre craned in to see the difference.

When he was satisfied with the result, Altman changed his gloves and turned his attention to her forehead. The MRI on the lightbox showed Drake had a large sinus cavity with a thin wall; the challenge was to saw the bone down without perforating the sinus, and the best way to do this was to remove part of her forehead entirely. Altman drew a 5cm by 3cm rectangle on to her skull with marker pen. He sliced into it with another fine tool, then prised out the section of bone. He held it in his hand as he filed it back, turning a flat plane into a gentle curve. When he put it back in place, he pulled the skin over it, tilting his head to the side to check his work. Finally, the piece of forehead was fixed back in the skull with two 4mm titanium plates, which his trainee, Maini, secured using a tiny screwdriver. Drakes skin was smoothed back for a last time. Good, Altman nodded.

The final procedures were on Drakes brow and hairline. First, the brow was lifted and anchored by two stitches. Then Altman drew in a new hairline, a centimetre below Drakes natural one, and sliced out the excess strip of skin. He fixed the hairline in place with a ladder of surgical staples at her temples and blue stitching along the top of her forehead, with a practised tilt of his wrist. Altman was right I could see the difference there and then on the operating table. Drake protruding brow bone, which she had struck with the side of her index finger when she told me about the poison of testosterone, was gone.

Altman gently rinsed the blood from Drakes hair, and wrapped her head in a tight bandage before she was wheeled out of theatre. That went well, he said, as he pulled the black-and-white portraits of Drakes old face down from the theatre wall.

The moment Drake opened her eyes in recovery, she asked the nurse beside her to take her picture, but she fell back asleep immediately. By the time she was properly awake and back in her hospital room, the Face ID on her iPhone no longer worked because her face was so swollen.

Drake had been warned that recovery could be difficult. For the first couple of days, whenever she got out of bed, she would vomit the blood that had collected in her stomach from the surgery inside her mouth. When she finally felt ready to eat, using her jaw was agony; she lived on soups, sorbets and mushed-up jelly. Drains collected the fluid that was accumulating under her skin.

But, two months later, Drake was delighted with the results. I met her in a busy cafe near Euston station when she was in London for work. The change was almost imperceptible to me, at first. But I could soon detect a new poise: her face seemed narrower, and strangely her shoulders did, too. Her dimples were more prominent, her eyes looked brighter and more expressive. There was a faint, pale pink sliver of a scar along her hairline, mostly covered by the dark roots of her fringe.

It was just enough, without being too much, she told me. The hairline frames my face better. I find that my eyes arent sunken, theyre further out. I feel that Ive got a lot more expression in my eyebrows now. Other people spot this she cupped her hands around her jaw more than I do. But when I go back and look at old pictures, I see a massive difference.

The biggest change was in Drakes demeanour. She no longer sat with her arms across her chest or played with her jewellery. She was open, at ease, comfortable.

Its made me so much happier. Calmer. I can sit and relax in ways Im not sure Ive ever been able to, she said. I dont walk around any more worrying that people are looking at me, and looking at my brow bone.

She once feared wearing too much makeup would draw attention to her brow, but now accentuated her eyes with flicked eyeliner. Where she once might have been met with stares, she told me she now gets nothing. For the first time, shes confident enough to go shopping and try on clothes in womens changing rooms as long as there are private cubicles. Before, there was a constant feeling of not wanting to make other people uncomfortable, a self-censorship. Now, I dont need to worry.

The sole NHS youth gender clinic in England and Wales has experienced an average 40% annual increase in referrals over the past four years, with many of their child patients asking for puberty blockers so their bodies will not go through the kinds of changes Drake has spent thousands of pounds trying to address. Perhaps, in the future, the availability and acceptance of hormone treatment will mean there will be fewer people requiring or wanting facial procedures. Drake thinks there may always be a need for it, because there will always be people like her who understand who they are later in life.

Facial surgery was only one step in a long journey for Drake. Things will tighten up, obviously the scar will slowly reduce over time. We wont see the full effects until next year, she said. But the authentic Sophia Drake she is looking for in the mirror is still several procedures away. On my face, Im 75% there. I still have things I want to do on my body. She nodded. Im planning other surgeries.

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'I just want to see the person I always saw in my head': the story of a face - The Guardian

Patients with advanced hormone receptorpositive, HER2-negative breast cancer still face acquired resistance, even with the most effective agents, namely CDK4/6 inhibitors, which have demonstrated unprecedented overall survival (OS) benefit in the metastatic setting. Investigators in the field, however, are continuing to explore pathways implicated in resistance, said Komal Jhaveri, MD, explaining that FGFR inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, and selective estrogen receptor downregulators (SERDs) are just a few of the therapeutic classes under investigation in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Were really trying to understand how to appropriately treat our patients and [determine] the next line of therapy for a patient who progresses on a CDK4/6 inhibitor. [To that end], were trying to understand the genomic alterations and the next-generation sequencing data from tissue and plasma to better address that question, Jhaveri, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in New York, New York, said in an interview with OncLive.

Before diving into some of the novel combinations under investigation, she spoke to the profound effects that CDK4/6 inhibitors have had on the field.

The unprecedented, near doubling if not more of progression-free survival compared with endocrine therapy alone in the first-line setting has certainly changed our treatment paradigm, Jhaveri said. For patients who havent seen a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the first line, even in the second-line setting, weve been able to show a statistically significant progression-free [survival] benefit, justifying the use of this class of agents in the first- or second-line settings.

At the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2019, two approved CDK4/6 inhibitorsribociclib (Kisqali) and abemaciclib (Verzenio)were shown to prolong OS as well. According to findings from the phase 3 MONALEESA-3 trial (NCT02422615), the median OS was not reached with ribociclib versus 40 months with fulvestrant (Faslodex) alone in postmenopausal women with advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (HR, 0.724; 95% CI, 0.568-0.924;P=.00455).1 These data were presented shortly after the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, where findings from the MONALEESA-7 trial (NCT02278120) showed that the median OS was not reached with ribociclib versus 40.9 months (95% CI, 37.8-not reached), with endocrine therapy alone as first-line therapy in premenopausal women with advanced hor-mone receptorpositive, HER2-negative breast cancer (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.95; P=.00973) (TABLE1,2).2

Table. Efficacy Results in MONALEESA Trials1,2

Moreover, in the phase 3 MONARCH 2 trial (NCT02107703), abemaciclib led to a median OS of 46.7 months versus 37.3 months with fulvestrant alone in patients with advanced hormone receptorpositive, HER2-negative breast cancer who progressed on prior endocrine therapy (HR, 0.757; 95% CI, 0.606-0.945; P=.01).3 Such findings have set the stage for investigation into combinations with CDK4/6 inhibi-tors and novel targets, such as FGFR, explained Jhaveri.

There is some [indication] from the PALOMA-3 [NCT01942135] and MONALEESA-2 [NCT01958021] trials, and other preclinical data, that perhaps FGFR1 amplification is a mechanism of resistance [to CDK4/6 inhibitors] and a benefit [might be seen] if one were to potentially target it with an FGFR inhibitor, said Jhaveri.

Jhaveri also pointed to research led by Carlos Arteaga, MD, director of the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate dean of Oncology Programs at UT Southwestern Medical Center, which suggests a potential role for triplet therapy with an FGFR inhibitor and CDK4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy.

Such research is being investigated in a phase 1 trial (NCT03238196) evaluating the addition of erdafitinib (Balversa) to palbociclib (Ibrance) and fulvestrant in women with FGFR-amplified estrogen receptor (ER)positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. To be eligible for enrollment, patients must have had at least 1 line of therapy in the metastatic setting. Notably, prior CDK4/6 inhibition will not serve as an exclusion criterion. As such, the preliminary results from the trial, which will be presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, will not only illustrate the activity of the triplet in an FGFR-amplified population but also potentially inform the utility of continuing CDK4/6 inhibition upon progression.

There are many important questions that were still now trying to understand in the clinic, and these research efforts are underway, including whether theres a role for continuing CDK4/6 beyond progression, said Jhaveri. The paradigm that we use in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is that targeting the HER2 pathway remains important and we continue anti-HER2 therapy beyond progression. The same is not yet clear for the utilization of CDK4/6 inhibitors beyond CDK4/6 [progression]. Thats something were actively evaluating in ongoing trials, such as MAINTAIN [NCT02632045].

Another approach under investigation is that of combined PI3K and CDK4/6 inhibition, explained Jhaveri.

CDK4/6 is downstream of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, so if one were to consider dually vertically inhibiting these pathways together, we might be able to see better synergistic activity, she said.

Key trials in this regard include PASTOR (NCT02599714), PIPA (NCT02389842), LeeBLet (NCT02154776), and TRINITI-1 (NCT02732119), among others.

ESR1 mutations are another viable target, arising in approximately 30% of women who have received prior aromatase inhibitors. Oral SERDs are currently the subject of investigation in this setting, but whether they will pan out, either as single agents or in combination, has yet to be determined, said Jhaveri.

Although the data are still in early stages, findings from a phase 1/1b trial (NCT02734615) indicated that the oral SERD LSZ102 was well tolerated and was active in combination with ribociclib or alpelisib (Piqray) in patients withER-positive breast cancer who had progressed on endocrine therapy. In the 3-arm study, investigators evaluated LSZ102 alone (arm A), in combination with ribociclib (arm B), and in combination with alpelisib (arm C). In arm A, LSZ102 elicited an objective response rate of 1.3%, a clinical benefit rate of 9.1%, and a medi-an progression-free survival of 1.8 months (95% CI, 1.7-2).4

In arm B, the addition of LSZ102 to ribociclib led to a 15.8% ORR and a CBR of 35.5%; the median PFS was 6.2 months (95% CI, 4.4-6.4). The combination of LSZ102 and alpelisib demonstrated an objective response rate of 5.4%, a clinical benefit rate of 18.9%, and a median progression-free survival of 3.5 months (95% CI, 1.8-5.5).

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Novel Combinations Carry CDK4/6 Inhibitors Into the Future in HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer - OncLive

The winning Cervical Traction Units Market report makes available the current and forthcoming technical and financial details of the industry. Few of the chief insights of this business report include; distinct analysis of the market drivers & restraints, major market players involved like industry, detailed analysis of the market segmentation & competitive analysis. It estimates CAGR values in percentages which help to know the rise or fall occurring in the market for particular product for the specific forecast period. Global Cervical Traction Units Market report also encompasses strategic profiling of key players in the market, systematic analysis of their core competencies & draws a competitive landscape for the market.

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The Cervical Traction Units Market report can be better employed by both traditional and new players in the industry for complete knowhow of the market. The industry analysis report brings into focus important industry trends, market size, market share estimates, and sales volume that assist industry to speculate the strategies to increase return on investment (ROI). Moreover, the market document holds a substantial importance when it is about explaining market definition, classifications, applications and engagements. With the study of competitor analysis conducted in this Cervical Traction Units Market report, industry can get fluency of the strategies of key players in the market that includes new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, and acquisitions.

Market Analysis: Global Cervical Traction Units Market

Global Cervical Traction Units market is rising gradually with a substantial CAGR of XX% in the forecast period of 2019-2026. This rise in market value can be attributed in increase in awareness and concerns regarding the health of patients, increasing prevalence of growth hormone disorders and high expenditure in healthcare sector.

The following manufacturers are covered in this report:

Chattanooga Group

Fisiotech

V2U Healthcare

BTL

PHYSIOMED ELEKTROMEDIZIN AG

ITO

Chinesport

OG Wellness Technologies

MINATO MEDICAL SCIENCE

Bird & Cronin

Huntex Corporation

Orthoservice

Cervical Traction Units Breakdown Data by Type

Electronic

Manual

Cervical Traction Units Breakdown Data by Application

Hospital

Clinic

Rehabilitation Centers

Nursing Homes

Other

Regional and Country-level Analysis

The Cervical Traction Units market is analysed and market size information is provided by regions (countries).

The key regions covered in the Cervical Traction Units market report are North America, Europe, China and Japan. It also covers key regions (countries), viz, the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc.

The report includes country-wise and region-wise market size for the period 2015-2026. It also includes market size and forecast by Type, and by Application segment in terms of production capacity, price and revenue for the period 2015-2026.

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Key Benefits of the report:

-This report provides an extensive analysis of the current and emerging market trends and dynamics in the global Cervical Traction Units market.

-In-depth analysis is conducted by constructing market estimations for the key market segments between 2020 and 2027.

-This report entails the detailed quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations through 2020-2027, which assists in identifying the prevailing market opportunities.

-Extensive analysis of the market is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring the top competitors within the market framework

-Comprehensive analysis of all regions is provided that determines the prevailing opportunities in these geographies.

The report segments the Cervical Traction Units market on the basis of product type, application, and geography. On the basis of product type, it includes plastic bar cable markers, clip-on cable markers, printed adhesive cable markers, and electronic marker. On the basis of application, it is segmented into IT & telecom, energy & utility, manufacturing, construction, and others. Based on geography, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Breakdown Data by Type

Electronic

Manual

Cervical Traction Units Breakdown Data by Application

Hospital

Clinic

Rehabilitation Centers

Nursing Homes

Other

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Table of Contents: Cervical Traction Units Market

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Market Landscape

Part 05: Pipeline Analysis

Part 06: Market Sizing

Part 07: Five Forces Analysis

Part 08: Market Segmentation

Part 09: Customer Landscape

Part 10: Regional Landscape

Part 11: Decision Framework

Part 12: Drivers And Challenges

Part 13: Market Trends

Part 14: Vendor Landscape

Part 15: Vendor Analysis

Part 16: Appendix

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Cervical Traction Units Market Analysis, Technologies & Forecasts to 2028 - The Think Curiouser

The winning 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales Market report makes available the current and forthcoming technical and financial details of the industry. Few of the chief insights of this business report include; distinct analysis of the market drivers & restraints, major market players involved like industry, detailed analysis of the market segmentation & competitive analysis. It estimates CAGR values in percentages which help to know the rise or fall occurring in the market for particular product for the specific forecast period. Global 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales Market report also encompasses strategic profiling of key players in the market, systematic analysis of their core competencies & draws a competitive landscape for the market.

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The 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales Market report can be better employed by both traditional and new players in the industry for complete knowhow of the market. The industry analysis report brings into focus important industry trends, market size, market share estimates, and sales volume that assist industry to speculate the strategies to increase return on investment (ROI). Moreover, the market document holds a substantial importance when it is about explaining market definition, classifications, applications and engagements. With the study of competitor analysis conducted in this 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales Market report, industry can get fluency of the strategies of key players in the market that includes new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, and acquisitions.

Market Analysis: Global 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales Market

Global 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales market is rising gradually with a substantial CAGR of XX% in the forecast period of 2019-2026. This rise in market value can be attributed in increase in awareness and concerns regarding the health of patients, increasing prevalence of growth hormone disorders and high expenditure in healthcare sector.

Key Players:

The major players that are operating in the global 3-Way Infusion Extension Line market are

EffeEmme

Bicakcilar

Mediplus

Aries

Balton

MULTIMEDICAL

Micsafe Medical

Segment by Length

18cm

21cm

Others

Segment by Application

Hospital

Clinic

Others

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Key Benefits of the report:

-This report provides an extensive analysis of the current and emerging market trends and dynamics in the global 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales market.

-In-depth analysis is conducted by constructing market estimations for the key market segments between 2020 and 2027.

-This report entails the detailed quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations through 2020-2027, which assists in identifying the prevailing market opportunities.

-Extensive analysis of the market is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring the top competitors within the market framework

-Comprehensive analysis of all regions is provided that determines the prevailing opportunities in these geographies.

The report segments the 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales market on the basis of product type, application, and geography. On the basis of product type, it includes plastic bar cable markers, clip-on cable markers, printed adhesive cable markers, and electronic marker. On the basis of application, it is segmented into IT & telecom, energy & utility, manufacturing, construction, and others. Based on geography, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Segment by Length

18cm

21cm

Others

Segment by Application

Hospital

Clinic

Others

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Table of Contents: 3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales Market

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Market Landscape

Part 05: Pipeline Analysis

Part 06: Market Sizing

Part 07: Five Forces Analysis

Part 08: Market Segmentation

Part 09: Customer Landscape

Part 10: Regional Landscape

Part 11: Decision Framework

Part 12: Drivers And Challenges

Part 13: Market Trends

Part 14: Vendor Landscape

Part 15: Vendor Analysis

Part 16: Appendix

Contact Us

Beathan Report,

4004 W Lake Sammamish,

Pkway B9 Redmond,

WA 98052 United States.

Tel: +44 115 888 3028

Web: http://www.beathanreports.com

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At Beathan Report, we understand that the research we provide is only as good as the outcome it inspires. These reports are generated by well-renowned publishers on the basis of the data acquired from an extensive research and credible business statistics. Thats why we are proud to provide the widest range of research products, multilingual 24/7 customer support and dedicated custom research services to deliver the insights you need to achieve your goals. Take a look at few of our aspects that makes Beathan Report an asset to your business.

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3-Way Infusion Extension Line Sales Market : Opportunities, Demand and Forecasts, 2020-2025 - The Think Curiouser

Hormone therapy is one of the many types of treatment used in the fight against breast cancer. Hormone therapy helps address breast cancers that are affected by hormones like progesterone and estrogen. With such cancers, the breast cancer cells have receptor proteins that attach to estrogen and progesterone to help the cancer cells grow. Hormone therapy treatments, also called endocrine therapy, help stop the hormones from attaching to receptors. The therapy also can decrease the bodys production of certain hormones.

The Mayo Clinic says hormone therapy is only used for breast cancers that are found to have receptors for estrogen or progesterone. Doctors refer to these types of cancers as estrogen receptor positive (ER positive) or progesterone receptor positive (PR positive). Doctors who specialize in analyzing blood and body tissue will study a sample of cancer cells to see if they have receptors for estrogen or progesterone.

It is important not to mistake hormone therapy for breast cancer with menopausal hormone therapy, which is sometimes called hormone replacement therapy, advises the National Cancer Institute. With menopause treatments, progesterone and estrogen may be used to relieve symptoms of menopause. Cancer hormone treatment does the opposite. The therapy blocks the growth of ER or PR positive breast cancer cells. Typically, drugs are used to stop estrogen and progesterone from helping breast cancer cells grow; otherwise, drugs or surgery will be used to keep the ovaries from making these hormones. Radiation therapy aimed at the ovaries also may help stop hormone production.

Various drugs may be used during the course of hormone therapy. These include aromatase inhibitors that block estrogen production. Other drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators bind to estrogen receptors to prevent estrogen from attaching to cancer cells.

The NCI notes that research has shown that adjuvant hormone therapy after surgery for ER-positive breast cancer causes reduced risks of breast cancer recurrence, including new breast cancer in the other breast, for at least five years. Sometimes hormone therapy can be used to prevent breast cancer in women who are at increased risk of developing the disease.

The Mayo Clinic says that an oncologist will determine the type of hormone therapy that will be right for a particular type of receptor positive breast cancer. There are some side effects of hormone therapy that depend on the type of treatment. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, loss of libido, and risk of blood clots may be possible. Doctors can weigh the risk between the benefits and side effects of hormone therapy.

In addition to chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, hormone therapy may help some patients overcome a breast cancer diagnosis.

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Hormone therapy is an option to treat breast cancer - WV News

From breathwork to walking, positive affirmations to writing letters, these are the acts of self care those in the know are doing at the moment

Back in March, pre-lockdown, we spoke to doctors and health experts about the steps they were taking to stay well at a time when uncertainty was flying around about Covid19. They filled us in on the best ways to prepare ourselves for the months ahead, from the supplements they were taking to breathwork techniques to stay calm. Armed with a wealth of knowledge we felt better prepared to take on the next few months.

With more than half of the UK on local lockdown according to Sky News, we caught up with wellness experts on what theyre doing to stay mentally and physically fit as we live in the midst of the second wave.

Prior to lockdown I took regular breaks abroad and spent time socialising with friends as a way to decompress from work. When this was no longer an option I found myself doing little else but working. Our (now virtual) clinic has been busier than ever over the last few months and I'm grateful that we are in a position to be able to continue to support our clients, old and new, but I am also more aware than ever of the importance of taking time out for myself. I now plan ahead and block out 'restorative time' in my diary to ensure I commit to it. I have been accused (more than once!) of being a workaholic so this isn't as easy as it sounds!

Before lockdown my workouts were varied; in a typical week I'd do spin, play tennis, go to the gym and work out at home with my trainer. During lockdown, this stopped and I upped my online PT sessions. I still do five sessions a week with my trainer - four of those are training and one is a stretch session in an effort to compensate for so much time spent at my computer.

I also take my dog Lily for walks twice a day which is great for helping me maintain a routine. The impacts of nature and natural light on our health and wellbeing cannot be underestimated.

I'm a nutritionist so of course supplements form a part of my health routine! I'm currently taking personalised supplements from Bioniq. I love their concept as they take regular blood tests and tailor your nutritional supplements based on your unique needs. I'm particularly keen to ensure my levels of vitamin D, C and zinc are optimal throughout the winter. I also take Omega 3 essential fats.

At this time of year, like many of us, I gravitate towards warming comfort foods. I like to batch cook stews and soups using my Ninja Foodi Max Multi-Cooker which does EVERYTHING! I try to eat seasonally as much as possible which is made easier thanks to weekly organic vegetable box deliveries from Riverford.

I aim to meditate daily and I find it makes such a difference to my state of mind when I do. My go-to meditation app is Meya which uses sound wave therapy to help get you into a meditative state and make you more receptive to affirmations. I alternate between this app and a meditation process known as 'Isha Kriya' that I learnt when I spent time at the yoga centre Isha Life Ashram in India last year.

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I regularly use a magnesium spray (Better You Magnesium Oil Spray, 13), lotion (Neom Organics Perfect Night's Sleep Magnesium Body Butter, 36) or bath soak (Westlab Pure Magnesium Flakes, 6.99) to try to counteract the effects of the stress hormone cortisol which leaches magnesium from the system.

MORE GLOSS: The best magnesium supplements

I take Symprove as this bolsters immunity by improving the quality and diversity of our own gut microbiome and prevents nasty bugs from sticking in the system (I also eat/drink one of kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut or sourdough bread on an alternating daily basis as they are food sources of pro- and pre-biotics).

As well as Heights' Smart Supplement for brain health, which also contains vitamin C, at the beginning of lockdown I was taking a high dose vitamin C supplement (Micro Liposomal C by Allergy Research Group, 29.81) but I took a break from that over the summer because I only add extra when it's cold and flu season. I'll start taking Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C 100mg, 39.99, now that we are entering the season again.

I cannot over-emphasise the importance of taking this for a host of reasons including anti-inflammation, cancer prevention and the fact that lack of it is associated with higher mortality rates with Covid 19.

MORE GLOSS: The best vitamin D supplements to support immunity

For mood and self-care I love the Aromatherapy Associates Rose range, particularly the Bath and Shower Oil, 49, which I apply to my major organs (heart, lungs, liver and kidneys) after dry body brushing, and also the Oil to Milk Body Cleanser, 26, that feels like a hug in a bottle! Immersing yourself in warm water or feeling lovely textures on your skin releases the bonding hormone oxytocin which can help alleviate loneliness or lack of physical affection.

MORE GLOSS: Skin hunger: how lack of touch in lockdown affects us

I only use non-toxic candles such as soy, coconut or beeswax. My favourites include Neom Organics, Bamford or Gold and Black.

MORE GLOSS: Long-lasting scented candles that are worth every penny

My phone is always on silent and I never watch the news and only very occasionally read it - it is too stress-inducing and repeatedly looking at bad news has been shown to cause PTSD. I keep up to date by getting the headlines from my husband or friends as the human interaction with loved ones counteracts all the negativity!

I invested in a Peloton during lockdown as I was getting way too sedentary doing so much more work on my laptop than I used to when I walked from meeting to meeting in central London. It has changed my life! I use it in the morning to boost productivity or in the evening to create a boundary between work and life. Along with this I have been using a foam roller to pinpoint and release tension in my body - either from a day at the desk or due to the stress of the global situation.

There have been a lot of reports of shallow, rapid breathing or even breath-holding due to stress. I focus on my breath throughout the day or if I meditate and make sure the exhale is longer than the inhale.

MORE GLOSS: 6 breathing techniques to help you calm anxiety

I always wear a face mask if I go out to the shops or a restaurant (which is rare). They get washed at 60c after maximum four hours use. I used to wear gloves and wipe everything that entered our home but since we know more about the mechanisms of Covid19 contagion (breath particles more than droplets), I have relaxed on that but always wash my hands thoroughly and/or use Neals Yard Organic Natural Defence Hand Rub, 5.75, after contact with anything outside my home.

Buy Dr Tara Swart's book The Source: Open your Mind, Change your Life

Affirmations are a powerful way to speak to our sub-conscious which is where our self-confidence and self-love are formed. I listen to an affirmation playlist when Im lying in bed as Im waking up or while Im doing my skincare routine in the morning. You can find them on YouTube or have I have a collection on my website too. You dont have to actively listen and it still does the job which is great.

I've been doing breathwork sessions with Breathe With James. I always cry the next day; its a really powerful tool for releasing emotions. Emotions and trauma sit within our body and shaking therapy and breathwork unlock the trauma, release and let it go essential after the year we've all had!

MORE GLOSS: Shaking is the stress-busting trend that everyone can benefit from

I wasnt a runner at all, but its really changed my relationship with my body. My cardiovascular health is improving and so is my mental clarity. Its great for setting yourself goals and also understanding how your body is different each day. Some days Ill run two KM and Im done and another day Ill do 11 KM. Its a good reminder to listen to your body. I dont think we check in with our bodies in the same way when youre doing a HIIT class whereas with running youre really aware of how youre feeling and being able to be at one with you body

Im really getting into CBD at the moment; I started using it as drops and I was instantly relaxed. I love CBD drinks too, especially Meda. It relaxes and makes me feel much calmer. I get really bad anxiety and it has definitely helped me in recent months.

MORE GLOSS: CBD - the cannabis supplement taking the wellness world by storm

My bedtime routine really helps me feel well at the moment. At 6pm I light incense bought from Amazon as my signal to wind down from the day. Im an early to bed person I can be asleep by 9:20 pm. I read before bed and it makes me such a nice tired. Watching anything too stimulating gives me a really disturbed sleep and I feel my body naturally wants to be away from my phone before bed. Scrolling aimlessly makes me feel uncentred and I dont sleep well if I do that, so putting my phone on aeroplane mode really improves my sleep.

Find Roxie's positive affirmation playlist on her website

I make sure I go for daily walks, especially if I dont feel like it or its miserable outside. Luckily for me, theres a park nearby and it only takes 20 minutes to walk there and around it, it helps me feel like I can focus again and stops me feeling so fatigued and burnt out. I never take my phone when I go for my walk because I know Im only going to be 20 minutes. It helps with mindfulness, noticing whats going on around you, the change in seasons, the smells, it all helps you feel more connected and grounded.

Another thing I started doing at the start of lockdown, and something Ive continued doing is sending letters again. Writing by hand especially, because you have to think about your thoughts and put them down carefully to avoid having to scribble something out, not like on a computer where you can delete and add as you please. Its more mindful and thoughtful. It helps you feel more of a connection to the person youre writing to and theres nothing better than receiving a handwritten letter by family or friends.

Ive never been a smoothie person, I admit however Ive been getting a weekly local veg box for years, but Ive found that even working from home Im so busy that I just dont always have time to cook something nutritious. So I can just throw some of my fruit and veg into a blender and make a smoothie, it really gives me peace of mind knowing Ive at least had some fruit and vegetables on a daily basis even when Im run off my feet.

I really like giving myself time to have a bath, with bubbles and I use the Healthspan Magnesium Bath Soak, it makes it feel like a ritual, setting your bath up exactly how you like it so you can just soak and relax. Rituals are fantastic for making us feel grounded and its all about giving yourself some mental space and time in the bath.

Find out more about Dr Meg Arroll on her website

MORE GLOSS: SAD: The experts' toolbox for boosting your happiness levels

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What wellness experts are doing to stay... well at the moment - Get The Gloss

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Lisa C. Searle began attending an Assemblies of God church in 9th grade, not too long after she began volunteering at a Goldsboro, North Carolina, hospital helping mothers of newborns. The experience in the labor and delivery unit only strengthened her resolve to someday become a midwife who could help women deliver their babies.

After graduating from high school, Searle entered Barton Nursing School in nearby Wilson. As she neared completion of her studies, she realized she needed practical gynecological office experience in order to realize her midwife dream. Even before she graduated, a womens health clinic hired her in 1995. But Searle faced a dilemma: she would be assisting in women undergoing surgical abortions.

Although such a job conflicted with her religious beliefs, Searle tried to justify accepting the position: it paid good money and she would gain valuable health-care experience to further her career. Searle kept her new employment a secret from her parents.

I was in a rebellious phase, Searle recalls. I was young, and for the first time I felt like I could make my own decisions and do what I wanted to do.

But the more she worked at the facility, the more miserable Searle became. She already had stopped attending church before taking the job.

All they did was abortions, Searle says of the clinic. I really struggled with the babies I saw. There was so much sadness and darkness in the recovery room.

A solution seemed to come in 2000 with federal government approval of a two-part drug that induces a chemical abortion at home. A pregnant female first takes mifepristone (RU-486), which blocks the effects of progesterone, a hormone that prepares the lining of the uterus for a fertilized egg. One or two days later, the woman takes a second drug, misoprostol, which expels the developing baby from the uterus.

The RU-486 abortion is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional abortion. Of the estimated 1 million abortions that will happen in the U.S. this year, 400,000 are expected to be the chemically induced type in a clients residence, rather than a surgical abortion at a facility.

The facility granted Searles request that she be put in charge of the program administering the abortion pills. That way, she reasoned, she wouldnt have to see the aborted babies.

By 2005, married to her husband, Michael, and pregnant with their son Costin, Searle left the profession she had known for a decade. She felt she couldnt work in an industry that destroyed babies as she felt one moving inside her.

Still, the heaviness didnt lift.

I was buried in guilt and shame, disgusted with myself, remembers Searle, now 47. It was a very dark time in my life. I was far, far from God.

Ultimately, Searle cried out to God for forgiveness, which put her on the road to recovery. In 2009, the Searles began attending Church Alive in Fuquay Varina southwest of Raleigh.

Searle didnt reveal her secret past life with founding co-pastor Laura A. Lee until a year ago. Lee convinced her to speak about it in March on a womens ministries panel at the church.

Three years ago, Searle went through a Bible study with former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson, which brought her more healing. Searle says Johnsons ministry And Then There Were None provides multiple phases of healing retreats for those who have been damaged or exploited by the abortion industry. A counselor is available by phone anytime.

Johnson, who wrote the book Unplanned which details her transformation into becoming an anti-abortion activist urged Searle to become involved in abortion pill reversal.

Starting in 2013, Searle spent four years as a nurse manager of a pregnancy resource center. For two years, she worked as a nurse consultant for the hotline, before being hired a year ago at Heartbeat International. As health care team manager, she oversees the Abortion Pill Rescue Network. Heartbeat International, which is affiliated with 2,700 pregnancy care centers around the world, has administered the Abortion Pill Reversal Network since 2012.

In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the use of mifepristone and misoprostol an additional three weeks up to 70 days into a pregnancy.

However, pregnant women still have a last resort if they decide to not end their pregnancy soon after taking the first pill.

Females who have misgivings after ingesting the first dose can call the around-the-clock hotline and be referred by a trained nurse or consultant to a medical provider in her area. That physician will start the pregnant woman on a medication called progesterone, which can safely reverse the effects of mifepristone. If intervention can occur within 48 hours of taking the first pill, this will reverse the effects of the abortion pill for two-thirds of the cases. More than 1,000 babies have been saved as a result of the abortion pill reversal. There is no increased risk of harm to the baby caused by taking the drug, doctors say.

Heartbeat's Abortion Pill Rescue Network from Heartbeat International on Vimeo.

Searle, who with her husband also has an 8-year-old son, Asher, no longer advocates keeping quiet about the topic.

So many Christians dont talk about abortion, but we need to be real, Searle says. We need to teach our children and congregations that it is not just a sin, not just against Gods will, but it is the taking of a human life.

Lee, 48, agrees, noting that an estimated one in four church-attending women has had an abortion. Church Alive recently raised over $40,000 toward the purchase an ultrasound machine for a local pregnancy care center, which will show expectant mothers a detailed image of their unborn child.

Meanwhile, Searles urges Christian women struggling emotionally with a past abortion to seek help. SaveOne is an AG-affiliated abortion recovery ministry.

It is so important that people do not suffer in silence because of the shame and guilt that abortion causes, Searle says.

Photo: Lisa Searle (far right) spoke on a panel that included (from left) Sarah Johnson, Keisha Spivey, Laura Lee, and Susan Ross.

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(USA) Official Web Site | Reversing Abortion - AG News

Nadine Dirks is an intersectional feminist, writer, and advocate for sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In this opinion piece, she shares her views on unsafe abortions as a public health issue.

Researchers have referred to unsafe abortions as a preventable pandemic one that affects the health and lives of women, transgender people, and non-binary individuals alike.

It is a global health and human rights issue that is not treated with the seriousness that it deserves. Through a reproductive justice lens, there are many intersecting issues that have caused this pandemic.

One of the reasons that people seek unsafe abortions to begin with is the stigma associated with family planning. We see this stigma and discrimination playing out in federal government cuts and pledges to defund organizations such as Planned Parenthood, which works to ensure womens health and right to autonomy.

When world leaders stigmatize organizations that allow for equal access to family planning, citizens cannot expect to see positive changes in societal attitudes and behavior.

Even where contraceptive services do exist, women may not be able to access them safely and avoid pregnancy. For example, they may be faced with pro-life protesters lobbying outside organizations, hurling insults and referring to people as baby killers for providing or accessing the healthcare that they know is right for them be it condoms, contraception, or a safe abortion.

If you would like to check your registration status or register to vote, we have added some useful links at the bottom of this article.

Alongside abortions, organizations such as Planned Parenthood also provide many other services. These include:

By defunding organizations such as Planned Parenthood, we have to face the fact that we are putting members of our community at risk of health complications, and that extends beyond allowing women to choose and access the services they need.

Abortions remain one of the most stigmatized medical procedures worldwide yet according to the Guttmacher Institute, nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States will have an abortion by age 45.

Statistics also indicate higher rates of abortion among Black women and Hispanic women. Why is that? It is likely due to a lack of adequate contraceptive care given to women of color and a lack of disposable income to fork out on contraceptive methods, compared with white women.

Also, due to discrimination and racism in the medical field, healthcare professionals often overlook and ignore the medical needs of women of color sometimes going as far as assuming that Black people have higher pain thresholds than white people.

Abortion and access to other contraception methods is a political, human rights, and reproductive justice issue, underpinned by a lack of comprehensive sexual education in schools.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for instance, found that in most states, fewer than half of high schools and just 1 in 5 middle schools teach all the essential sex education topics recommended by the CDC.

So, with only 4% of the recommended topics being taught in Arizona, for example, it is not surprising that people are wildly uninformed and lack the necessary tools and education to even ask for what they need in terms of contraception.

And even if a person knows that they want contraception, how are they expected to assert themselves and speak from a place of autonomy when their sexual and reproductive health education has either been stigmatized or avoided altogether? People can hardly be expected to access different methods of contraception safely if they are not first made aware of which options are available to them.

This lack of education and conservative outlook on sexual education furthers the culture of stigma. In such a culture, reports have shown that people feel that they cannot have conversations or ask questions because they fear being ostracized by their communities, either on religious or conservative grounds or due to prejudice, patriarchal views, or a lack of education on matters of sexual health.

As some researchers point out, Abortion stigma is usually considered a concealable stigma: It is unknown to others unless disclosed, and it is characterized by secrecy.

Furthermore, studies show that community members disapprove of abortion and that a womans age or marital status could exacerbate judgment, with younger or unmarried women bearing the brunt of these attitudes.

Sadly, a lack of information does not reduce the incidence of unprotected sex or rates of abortion. It does, however, mean that the abortions that people are accessing are more likely to be unsafe or unregulated.

An ample body of existing data suggests that, on a global level, restrictive abortion laws and a lack of education about contraceptive methods are associated with a higher rate of unsafe abortions.

For instance, physicians from Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, MA, warn that in the absence of education about contraception and the availability of legal and safe abortion, desperate women, facing the financial burdens and social stigma of unintended pregnancy and believing they have no other option, will continue to risk their lives by undergoing unsafe abortions.

Furthermore, a lack of education could mean that people miss key details in spotting an unsafe abortion versus a safe one. Some may even intentionally lean toward unsafe options because it may seem more concealed than going to a clinic during the day in the middle of the city center.

Unsafe abortions come with many potential health hazards, including infections, infertility, hemorrhages, and even death. They are also often performed in facilities that are not adequately equipped, or the procedure may be carried out by someone who lacks the necessary skillset. The tools or methods they use may also be outdated, unhygienic, or traumatic. Another concern is that these unsafe procedures may also be unnecessarily invasive due to the provider not being trained to safely administer healthcare.

Specifically, the World Health Organization (WHO) list uterine perforation (caused when the uterus is pierced by a sharp object) and damage to the genital tract and internal organs as some of the well-documented complications of unsafe abortions.

Issues of reproductive justice have deep, complex roots. On the surface, it may seem as though we have rights and are free to make our own choices, but many of us are still unable to access services due to our gender, race, sexual identity, or class. What good is a Constitution if some people can access services while others cannot?

Seemingly, in recent years, womens SRHR have become even more controversial in the U.S.

In an attempt to control a persons right to choose an abortion, limitations have been implemented that restrict the allocation of other federal and state funds, such as funds for STI testing and treatment and sex education in 12 states, according to the Guttmacher Institute. This causes further issues in addition to unintended pregnancies, limiting peoples access to STI testing and treatments.

With the looming possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned, cis women, transwomen, and nonbinary folk alike are left fighting once again for the autonomy of their own bodies.

Attempting to control what people do with their bodies entirely erases the SRHR and reproductive justice work being done worldwide. It undermines not only human rights but also the 21 million American women who are likely in need of publicly supported contraceptive services and supplies, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

These intersecting issues of education, stigma, discrimination, healthcare, and reproductive justice are all at play in the upcoming U.S. election. With SRHR being under threat, it is now more important than ever for people in the U.S. to play their part in supporting human rights by casting their vote.

To check your voter registration status, click here to visit the website of VoteAmerica, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout. They can also help you register to vote, vote by mail, request an absentee ballot, or find your polling place.

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Election 2020: The importance of sexual and reproductive rights - Medical News Today

Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market report would come handy to understand the competitors in the market and give an insight into sales, volumes, revenues in the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Industry & will also assists in making strategic decisions. The report also helps to decide corporate product & marketing strategies. It reduces the risks involved in making decisions as well as strategies for companies and individuals interested in the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics industry. Both established and new players in Infantile Spasms Therapeutics industries can use the report to understand the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market.

In Global Market, the Following Companies Are Covered:

Get a Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-sample/14850449

Analysis of the Market:

An infantile spasm (IS), also known as West Syndrome, is a specific type of seizure seen in an epilepsy syndrome of infancy and childhood. West Syndrome is characterized by infantile spasms, developmental regression, and a specific pattern on electroencephalography (EEG) testing called hypsarrhythmia (chaotic brain waves). The onset of infantile spasms is usually in the first year of life, typically between 4-8 months. The seizures primarily consist of a sudden bending forward of the body with stiffening of the arms and legs; some children arch their backs as they extend their arms and legs. The condition is usually observed in 2% of childhood epilepsies and 25% of epilepsies that start in the first year of life.

The global infantile spasms therapeutics market is growing at a slow pace. This is due to the increased availability of generic drugs and less approved therapies in the market and the less awareness of the disease and the available treatment options, especially in the low- and middle-income countries.

The classification of Infantile Spasms Therapeutics includes Oral, Injection. The proportion of Injection in 2016 is about 45%, and the proportion of Oral in 2016 is about 55%.

Based on application, the nitinol medical devices market is segmented into Hospital, Clinic and others. Clinic segment accounted for larger market share in terms of sales in 2016, Clinic segmented accounted for more than 45% of the market share in 2016.

United States is the largest consumption place, with a consumption market share nearly 83% in 2016. Following United States, Europe is the second largest consumption place with the consumption market share of 12.6% in 2016.

The US market is dominated by two approved products H.P. Acthar Gel (adrenocorticotropin hormone) and Sabril (vigabatrin). Sabril was the first drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009 and H.P. Acthar Gel (adrenocorticotropin hormone) was approved for infantile spasms in 2010. Both have Orphan Drug Exclusivity (ODE) in the US.

In the future, the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics will have a good future; the price fluctuation has relationship with the raw material. The technology will more mature and the industry is more dispersion.

Market Analysis and Insights: Global Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market

In 2019, the global Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market size was USD 138.9 million and it is expected to reach USD 178.4 million by the end of 2026, with a CAGR of 3.6% during 2021-2026.

Global Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Scope and Market Size

Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market is segmented by Type, and by Application. Players, stakeholders, and other participants in the global Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market will be able to gain the upper hand as they use the report as a powerful resource. The segmental analysis focuses on revenue and forecast by Type and by Application in terms of revenue and forecast for the period 2015-2026.

Segment by Type, the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market is segmented into Oral, Injection, etc.

Segment by Application, the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market is segmented into Hospital, Clinic, etc.

Regional and Country-level Analysis

The Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market is analysed and market size information is provided by regions (countries).

The key regions covered in the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market report are North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Central & South America, etc.

The report includes country-wise and region-wise market size for the period 2015-2026. It also includes market size and forecast by Type, and by Application segment in terms of revenue for the period 2015-2026.

Competitive Landscape and Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market Share Analysis

Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market competitive landscape provides details and data information by vendors. The report offers comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on revenue by the player for the period 2015-2020. It also offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on revenue (global and regional level) by player for the period 2015-2020. Details included are company description, major business, company total revenue and the revenue generated in Infantile Spasms Therapeutics business, the date to enter into the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market, Infantile Spasms Therapeutics product introduction, recent developments, etc.

The major vendors include Mallinckrodt, H. Lundbeck, Insys Therapeutics, Orphelia Pharma, Valerion Therapeutics, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Anavex Life Sciences, Retrophin, GW Pharmaceuticals, etc.

This report focuses on the global Infantile Spasms Therapeutics status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics development in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Central & South America.

Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market Breakdown by Types:

Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market Breakdown by Application:

Critical highlights covered in the Global Infantile Spasms Therapeutics market include:

The information available in the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market report is segmented for proper understanding. The Table of contents contains Market outline, Market characteristics, Market segmentation analysis, Market sizing, customer landscape & Regional landscape. For further improving the understand ability various exhibits (Tabular Data & Pie Charts) has also been used in the Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market report.

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In the end, Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Industry report provides the main region, market conditions with the product price,profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rateand forecast etc. This report also Present newproject SWOT analysis,investment feasibility analysis, andinvestment return analysis.

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Infantile Spasms Therapeutics Market 2020 to Flourish with an Impressive CAGR of XX% in the year 2026, Market Size & Growth, Also Includes Market...

With the recent confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court on Monday night, many Americans will most likely lose their access to affordable health care in the near future. And this is particularly disturbing to North Carolinians because, for almost a decade, Republican leadership in the states legislature has refused to expand Medicaid, despite support from voters on both parties. The Center for American Progress, an independent, nonpartisan policy institute, and NORC at the University of Chicago conducted a survey with 1,528 LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals in June.

In states that have not expanded Medicaid, the rate of LGBTQIA+ adults who are uninsured is 20 percent, the results state, adding that LGBTQIA+ adults making less than $45,000 a year are the ones most prominently affected. According to this survey, transgender folks and people with disabilities bear the brunt of the high cost of health care, as 51% of transgender individuals and 40% of people with disabilities who needed medical care postponed it due to cost, and 40% of transgender individuals and 30% of people with disabilities postponed preventative screenings due to cost.

A Greensboro-based virtual clinic with a focus on LGBTQ health hopes to support those living in the margins of society by providing virtual health care services to anyone living in North Carolina. Founded by Chief Operating Officer Jamie Clarke and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Subrata John Guha, the LGBTQ Clinic was conceptualized specifically with the health care needs of LGBTQIA+ people in mind.

If you have a phone, iPad, or computer, you can come see us, Guha said. You dont have to go anywhere just be seen where you are comfortable, and take a proactive approach for your health.

According to Clark and Guhas research, there are approximately 420,000 people that identify as LGBTQIA+ in North Carolina, and of those, 30,000 identify specifically as transgender. Clarke is one of those 30,000. Unfortunately, Clarke knows all too well the barriers that other trans people face when seeking health care.

I had a lot of problems getting comfortable, comprehensive medical care, she said. Not just about [Hormone Replacement Therapy] or sexual health, but about Jamie as a whole person, which encompasses all of those things and my day-to-day medical needs.

She said that the LGBTQIA+ community, as a whole, are not very trusting of doctors. As a transgender woman, she has experienced first-hand what that is like to be treated differently because of her gender identity. At age 35, Clarke decided that she wanted to begin transitioning by starting HRT, so like any other patient, she asked her doctor for more information.

I was dealing with a local doctor and asked to have my hormone levels checked, as I was getting bloodwork done anyway, she said. And they were like, well, why would you want to do that? And I was like, so I can start HRT, and she said, Oh, I am not comfortable doing that.

This experience led Clarke to switch to Dr. Guha. During her interview with him, she felt comfortable enough to ask about starting HRT because he was honest, straightforward, and extremely easy to talk to.

Clarke said when she told him that she was interested in starting HRT, he told her that he wasnt too familiar with it, so he had to do some more research to make sure he was doing it properly.

As we got to know each other, I was explaining to him that sometimes, I was at the point where I wanted to go online and figure out how to do it myself. But he was like thats probably not safe, Clarke said. And there are a whole lot of people that are in that exact boat. So, we are trying to take the stigma out of LGBTQIA+ health.

With The LGBTQ Clinic, Clarke and Guha said they are trying to create a movement toward community-based, equalized health care by building relationships with clients in a convenient and accessible format.

In the telemedicine space, typically what you get is a five-minute visit, sometimes not even by video but as a phone call, Clarke said. Our visits are 15 minutes long, and we strongly encourage getting to know your doctor, and vice versa, because you always get the same care provider.

Clarke described the LGBTQ Clinic as everything one would expect at a visit to their regular health care provider, only virtually.

One of our marketing specialists was like, think about it as going to the doctors office, not getting deadnamed, and you dont have to sit on the crunchy paper in a germ pool, Clarke said.

Guha explained that the LGBTQ Clinic could basically replace ones primary care doctor because it is all-encompassing and that everyone, not just LGBTQIA+ people, could receive health care services.

I can write a virtual prescription to your pharmacist, any pharmacist we are basically like walking into your doctors office but all virtual, Guha said. We cant administer shots, but if it can be self-administered, then I can prescribe it, and you can pick it up.

However, Guha said he makes sure he is thorough with each patient he sees.

When someone comes in, I dont just write a prescription for testosterone, he said. I want that lab work, and I would want to see the patient again after the lab work [results came back] to go over it and then provide the prescription.

The LGBTQ Clinic isnt Guhas first foray into providing fast and accessible health care services to people. Guha said he helped start FastMed back in the ancient ages of 2010, but sold out of it in 2014-2015 after the business was acquired by a venture capitalist. As a heterosexual, cisgender man, Guha said he believes that everyone should have the same access to health care and be treated equally, which is why he was more than happy to help start this clinic.

Guha takes pride in his informed approach to LGBTQIA+ health, as he follows the guidelines put out by the University of California at San Francisco and its Department of Internal Medicines sub-department, which is specifically tailored for the LGBTQIA+ community.

In the last five years, this premier medical center started putting out clinical protocols that established guidelines and state of the art, the scope of practice protocols, he noted.

Launching the LGBTQ Clinic hasnt been easy but has been a labor of love for both Clarke and Guha.

We are really excited about it, she said. Being in Greensboro, and with it being such a large college town, the need is absolutely there. One of the hardest things we are having problems with is trying to have conversations with influencers or people that can get the message out for us. I dont want to be a sponsored ad; I want to be a trusted resource.

Clarke said North Carolinas 2016 controversial Bathroom Bill was a big part of their discussion, and it was a driving factor as to why we would create this clinic specifically.

We dont have time for the noise, Clarke said of the recent politicizing of health care. We just want to provide quality health care to as many people that need it as we can...Its also about bringing some respectability to a state like North Carolina, where there is a lot of uncertainty about this particular issue.

Whoever is elected president in November, we will still be here, she added.

Clarke said each 15-minute virtual session costs $78 per visit, which she said is cheaper than the $150 that is usually charged by the local larger medical centers.

We are looking to do a subscription plan, but because we are so new, we are still testing the market, Guha said, adding that The LGBTQ Clinic will soon accept insurance coverage from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Cigna, United Care, and others.

We are actively pursuing the credentialing process, and its just a waiting game, Clarke said.

I am guessing in the next 30-60 days, and the reason why it is taking so long, as you probably already know, is because of COVID, Guha added.

Presently, there are two doctors (including Guha) and one nurse practitioner on staff at The LGBTQ Clinic. Clarke said she is looking for support from local LBGTQIA+ community leaders but makes it clear that they are not trying to buy their way into the community. Clarke and Guha said they arent in the business of just making a quick buck; they want to establish the LGBTQ Clinic as a long-term resource.

Health care should not be any different or any less quality because you are in the LGBTQ community, she said. We are trying to provide and be a voice to the movement. With a 30-veteran of the health care industry to say that your health care is no different or more valuable than anyone elses, that is the real distinction here."

For more information, visit the website and follow The LGBTQ Clinic on social media (Instagram and Facebook, @lgbtq.clinic)

Read the rest here:
New virtual clinic aims to provide accessible, inclusive health care to LGBTQIA+ North Carolinians - Yes! Weekly

CHENNAI: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal problems in women aged 15 to 45 years. It is caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, which creates problems in your ovaries leading to infertility, development of cysts, and irregular periods.

During the menstrual cycle, ovaries produce eggs. But for women with PCOS, the production and release of eggs will not occur. Most of the women get confused between PCOS and PCOD. Both of these are related to menstrual problems but are not the same.

They have a very minute difference. Though both the conditions are caused by hormonal imbalance, but PCOD (polycystic ovary disease) is not considered serious. Women who have PCOD may have similar symptoms of PCOS but they can ovulate regularly and do not have fertility issues.

But, PCOS is a metabolic disorder more severe than PCOD. Women who have PCOS have a high risk of developing cardiovascular issues, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and fertility. Common causes of PCOS and PCOD are genetic, lifestyle, insulin resistance, and inflammation.

SYMPTOMS OF PCOS

PCOS can be managed by following these guidelines:

There is no cure for PCOS and PCOD but both diseases can be easily managed by specific medications, healthy lifestyle and healthy diet.

Divya PurushoThamsanonutritionclinic The writer is founder and chief nutritionist at Sano Holistic Nutrition Clinic

Read the original:
Polycystic ovaries need your attention - The New Indian Express

NEW YORK October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Eleni Andeopoulou, breast oncologist at Weill Cornell Medical Center, was featured, along with Professor of biomedical engineering Claudia Fischbach, in the Cornell Daily Sun.

According to Prof. Fischbach, breast cancer arises from abnormal cells that develop from errors in the genetic code, the Sun reported, adding that these mutations can cause the cells to grow uncontrollably in the breast tissue, resulting in a clump of cells called a tumor.

According to Dr. Andreopoulou, what makes breast cancer so dangerous is its malignant heterogeneity certain cancers are hardwired to invade, migrate and spread, the Sun reported.

It follows a pattern of dynamic evolution the disease is not static, Andreopoulou told the Sun. Its the nature, and the biology of each tumor. Each cancer diagnosis is unique for each individual.

Everything from the tumors genetic makeup to a patients hormone balance and lifestyle choices can affect the clinical course of the disease, as well as how well patients might respond to certain treatments, Andreopoulou said, the Sun reported.

The treatment of breast cancer is often guided by the types of receptors on a patients tumor cells, according to Andreopoulou, the Sun reported, noting that one subtype hormone-receptor positive breast cancer means that tumor cells have receptors for hormones required for their growth, like estrogen or progesterone.

According to Andreopoulou, tumors with hormone receptors can be more effectively treated, because drugs that cut off hormone supply to these tumor cells used in tandem with drugs targeting cell growth and division can halt the progression of the cancer, the Sun reported.

Other breast cancer subtypes that lack both hormone receptors and a specific growth-promoting protein, HER2, respond to fewer drugs, and require a more aggressive treatment approach thats mainly limited to chemotherapy, which is toxic to cells, Andreopoulou told the Sun.

Advancements in technology are also helping patients continue their treatment during the COVID pandemic. Weill Cornell physicians collaborated with the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine to employ HoloLens a 3D mixed reality device that broadcasts holograms over physical space, the Sun reported, noting that while her physicians assistant wore the HoloLens headset during a patient visit, Andreopoulou could broadcast live clinical records from her computer at home while voicing her insights through videoconference, allowing her to continue providing care as close as [possible to her] being physically there.

Andreopoulou told the Sun, For us, piloting this project has been significant progress forward in how we can maintain safe [breast cancer] patient care without interrupting the integrity and the importance of multidisciplinary care. Thats what technology is all about.

Developments are also being made in the way patients tumors are studied, through organoids, tissue cultures that replicate the complexity of a patients own cells while outside the body, the Sun reported, noting that if grown using a patients tumor cells, the organoid can be used to support rapid drug testing, which can ultimately fast-track the development of effective therapies and broaden the spectrum of patients that can be treated, according to Andreopoulou.

Because of its wide array of applications, organoids can be used to further understand why some patients respond poorly to chemotherapy, develop novel strategies to identify these patients in the clinic and create alternate treatments to improve patient outcomes, the Sun reported.

Andreopoulou told the Sun, We integrate technology into patient care very early on with all the amazing possibilities we have now tumor sequencing, learning more and expanding our knowledge. Were trying to exploit all these opportunities by tailoring treatment to the molecular vulnerabilities that patients have.

Fischbach told the Sun, Being trained as an interdisciplinary scientist is going to be important not just for cancer research, but for everything. You need to be able to bring in all of these different aspects in order to move forward.

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Dr. Eleni Andreopoulou on Breast Cancer Awareness Month - The National Herald

SAN DIEGO - Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (Viking) (NASDAQ: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, today announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020, and provided an update on its clinical pipeline and other corporate developments.

Highlights from the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020: 'The third quarter at Viking was highlighted by continued pipeline progress, with enrollment now ongoing in two important clinical programs,' stated Brian Lian, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Viking Therapeutics. 'The Phase 2b VOYAGE study of our lead NASH program, VK2809, continues and we anticipate completion of enrollment in the first half of 2021. In addition, at the EASL conference in August, we presented new data from the prior 12-week study of VK2809, demonstrating consistent liver fat reductions across high risk subgroups, as well as durable efficacy maintained four weeks after completion of dosing. With respect to our VK0214 program for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, we are excited to have moved this important program into the clinic, with the announcement of a Phase 1 SAD/MAD study in healthy subjects. Pending successful completion, in 2021 we plan to initiate a Phase 1b study in patients with X-ALD. Both of these clinical trials continue to advance despite disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, to support both of these programs, we continue to judiciously manage our balance sheet and ended the quarter with $255 million in cash.'

Pipeline and Corporate Highlights

Phase 2b VOYAGE study of VK2809 in biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis continues. VK2809 is an orally available small molecule agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor that possesses selectivity for liver tissue, as well as the beta receptor subtype, and has demonstrated promising therapeutic potential in a range of lipid disorders, including NASH. The company's ongoing Phase 2b VOYAGE trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study designed to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of VK2809 in patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH and fibrosis ranging from stages F1 to F3. The study is targeting enrollment of approximately 340 patients across five treatment arms: 1.0 mg daily; 2.5 mg daily; 5.0 mg every other day; 10.0 mg every other day and placebo. The primary endpoint of the study will evaluate the relative change in liver fat content, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) from baseline to Week 12 in subjects treated with VK2809, as compared to placebo. Secondary objectives include evaluation of histologic changes assessed by hepatic biopsy after 52 weeks of dosing.

Despite disruption from the coronavirus pandemic, the majority of our U.S. clinical sites are open for enrollment. The company plans to expand the number of clinical sites over the next few months to include over 80 U.S. clinical sites and more than 90 sites globally. The company anticipates completion of enrollment in the first half of 2021.

New data from VK2809 Phase 2 trial highlighted during podium presentation at EASL 2020. New data from the company's prior 12-week Phase 2 study evaluating VK2809 in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hypercholesterolemia were highlighted during an oral presentation at the 2020 EASL meeting. The newly reported data demonstrated that patients treated with VK2809 experienced highly durable, statistically significant reductions in liver fat content that were maintained at Week 16, four weeks after completion of dosing in the 12-week study. The results showed that among VK2809-treated patients, the median reduction in liver fat content was 45.4% at Week 16, compared to an 18.7% reduction for placebo (p=0.0053). Additionally, at Week 16, 70.4% of all VK2809-treated patients maintained a response, defined as experiencing 30% relative reduction from baseline in liver fat content (p=0.0083). Of note, 100% of patients receiving 5 mg daily doses of VK2809 maintained a response at Week 16.

Additionally, new analyses of Week 12 study results demonstrated significant reductions in liver fat content among patients receiving VK2809 as compared to placebo regardless of the presence of common risk factors for NASH, including baseline levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) above the upper limit of normal (ALT > xULN), body mass index (BMI) 30, hypertension and Hispanic ethnicity.

The overall results from this study, including these new durability data, as well as the observed consistent efficacy across high risk subgroups, provide strong rationale for further development of VK2809 in the setting of NASH, and may indicate opportunities for multiple dosing strategies, including chronic, intermittent, or the potential cycling of treatment modalities.

Initiated Phase 1 trial evaluating VK0214 for the treatment of X-ALD. VK0214 is a novel, orally available thyroid receptor beta agonist being evaluated as a potential treatment for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), a devastating disease for which there is currently no therapeutic treatment. To date, findings from in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that administration of VK0214 results in a significant reduction of very long chain fatty acids in both plasma and tissue, key biomarkers of disease, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit.

During the third quarter, the company advanced this program into clinical development by initiating a Phase 1 first-in-human trial. The Phase 1 trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) study in healthy subjects. The primary objectives of the study include evaluation of the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple oral doses of VK0214, as well as the identification of VK0214 doses for further clinical development in the setting of X-ALD. Upon successful completion of the SAD/MAD study, the company plans in 2021 to advance this program into a proof-of-concept trial in patients with X-ALD.

Balance sheet remains strong with over $255 million in cash. Viking completed the third quarter of 2020 with $255.3 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

About Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel, orally available, first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for the treatment of metabolic and endocrine disorders. Viking's research and development activities leverage its expertise in metabolism to develop innovative therapeutics designed to improve patients' lives. The company's clinical programs include VK2809, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the treatment of lipid and metabolic disorders, which is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b study for the treatment of biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. In a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and elevated LDL-C, patients who received VK2809 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in LDL-C and liver fat content compared with patients who received placebo. The company is also developing VK0214, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the potential treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). VK0214 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial. The company holds exclusive worldwide rights to a portfolio of five therapeutic programs, including those noted above, which are based on small molecules licensed from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Viking Therapeutics, Inc., under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Viking's expectations regarding its development activities, timelines and milestones, including the company's expected timing for the potential initiation and completion of clinical studies in X-ALD for VK0214 and plans for completion of the company's VOYAGE Phase 2b study, as well as the company's goals and plans regarding VK0214, VK2809 and their respective prospects. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the success, cost and timing of Viking's product candidate development activities and clinical trials, including those for VK2809 and VK0214; risks that prior clinical and preclinical results may not be replicated; risks regarding regulatory requirements; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks that are described in Viking's most recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Viking's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including the risk factors set forth in those filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Viking disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Contact:

Michael Morneau

Tel: 858-704-4660

Email: mmorneau@vikingtherapeutics.com

Excerpt from:
Viking Therapeutics : Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update - marketscreener.com

During lockdown, many women lost access to contraceptives as well as abortion services, leading to unwanted pregnancies. Bangalore-based obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Shobha Gudi, Professor & Head of Department at St. Philomena's Hospital, who is also the Chairperson of the Family Welfare Committee for Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) spoke at length about female reproductive health and things women should consider while opting for contraceptive methods. Here is a lowdown of the conversationHow has the pandemic impacted womens health and reproductive health at a broader level?The pandemic has had a major impact on family planning and welfare services from the month of March. Data indicates that 26 million additional couples in India were not able to access contraception, with 1.9 million additional unintended pregnancies. Safe abortion services have also been impacted.

Family welfare and contraception services were affected due to limited capacity at clinics and hospitals, as well as personal fear of infection, or lack of transport. There were also supply limitations, meaning pharmacies needed to be open in sufficient numbers with adequate contraceptive stock. Thus, only a small percentage of women were able to access contraceptive care. However, tremendous efforts have been made by the Government to address this situation. The first priority has been to safeguard the health of women who are already pregnant and to ensure safe deliveries. The Government declared family planning care as an essential service, which corroborates with FOGSIs statements in the released GCPRs (good clinical practice guidelines). Contraceptive care should never be denied to any women seeking it. Fortunately, all the services are recovering, and everyone is geared up now to provide family planning services.

Can you explain FOGSIs strategies to counter this extraordinary situation? FOGSI has declared family planning services as essential. Essential care refers to care that is necessary for a good health outcome for mothers and their children, not only for optimum quality of life but also saving their lives as it will prevent unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. We have also facilitated the provision of more counselling to clients, immediately after delivery, miscarriage, and post-partum.

There is also a need to plug or seal the leaking bucket, by firstly ensuring more couples take contraception, and secondly preventing couples already on contraception from discontinuing. One way to address this is to offer newer and modern methods of contraception, thus increasing the basket of choice.

Are there contraceptive options with a longer lasting effect, to help ensure couples on contraception do not discontinue?Certainly. Multiple methods are long-acting. One option is sterilization though surgical services such as tubectomy and vasectomy. There are also other long-acting contraceptive options which have the same efficacy as sterilization but are reversible. These include intrauterine devices or IUDs (these release copper into the reproductive system) as well as levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems (LNG-IUS). Another option is injectable contraceptives, which have to be administered every 3 months, intramuscularly. One need not necessarily visit the hospital to take this injection. If you have a prescription, the injection can be administered by a local nurse instead of seeking a specialized clinic, or can even be self-administered as in the subcutaneous version.

Implants, which are also long-acting reversible contraceptives, are matchstick like devices containing Etonorgestrel. This device is subdermal, placed under the skin by the doctor. It needs to be changed only once in three years. These have been used by millions of women across the globe, but are available for widescale use in India this year.

How safe is contraception for long-term use in family planning? Are there any harmful contraceptives / techniques you want to raise an alarm about?Generally, all contraceptives are safe. They are well-researched. As long as the method chosen is suitable to the patient and as per the eligibility criteria laid out by WHO, contraception is extremely safe.

However, some women may be at high-risk or not suited for certain contraceptives. These are rare situations, but I will discuss a few examples of such situations. A woman may have malignancy or cancer such as breast cancer. Since this cancer is hormone dependent, it is very important that a woman doesnt become pregnant, as pregnancy increases the aggressive behaviour of the tumour. Contraceptives must also be chosen carefully. Hormonal contraceptive options should be avoided, and we would instead advise methods such as an IUD, until the woman is fully treated. To provide another example, it is important to rule out thrombosis or blood-clotting in women, as such women should not opt for the combined pill which contains estrogen. In the event of any disease of the uterus that causes it to become enlarged, for example, fibroids, we avoid prescribing IUD and usually prescribe hormonal contraceptives. Also, for women who are diabetic or hypertensive, we tend to avoid hormonal contraceptives, unless these disease conditions are very well-controlled.

The bottom-line is that medical eligibility criteria must be applied correctly and we should fine-tune contraceptive methods advised accordingly, and allow a choice of safe methods to the woman. Once she picks her preferred option from a basket of safe choices, thats the battle more or less won. The next battle is she should start and continue it, thus meeting the unmet contraception need.

Going beyond contraception, what are some other aspects of family planning you would like to call out?We have a high propensity towards advising self-care for women we counsel them towards protection against sexually transmitted diseases and prevention of unintended pregnancies through contraceptive methods. But the patient also has to be taught and trained on picking up pregnancy as early as possible by knowing the signs and symptoms. They should also ensure to test it, through easily available home test kits.

It is important women are aware that teleconsultation can play a huge role. Short-acting reversible contraceptives can be easily prescribed during a teleconsultation without any need to visit the doctor in-person, via email or phone. Whatever platform the doctor and patient choose, it should be reliable, and encrypted, ensuring patient confidentiality. Of course, there are still certain cases, with long-acting reversible contraceptives, where face-to-face meetings are required, such as if the patient is choosing an IUD device.

Finally, every couple should understand that emergency contraception is available as an option, both directly over the counter and through prescription too. This should be considered when no contraception was used or when the contraceptive method failed at the time of intercourse. These have a 90% and more protection guarantee from unintended pregnancies. When couples use this option, they also receive counselling so they can opt for an ongoing reliable method of contraception.

How has teleconsultation changed the way pregnancies are handled?

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Some women may be at high-risk or not suited for certain contraceptives - Times of India

Getting an appointment with your doctor isnt as easy as it was pre Covid. Non-urgent operations are being cancelled or postponed. Frustratingly, although most of us understand the need for current measures, many people have been left anxious, uncomfortable or in no small amount of pain.

Doctors were already overworked, with mere minutes per appointment to assess, diagnose and prescribe medication. In my clinic, appointments take up to an hour in complicated cases, so Ive a huge amount of respect and sympathy for GPs who are consistently pressed for time.

A question arising between herbalists at the moment is whether we can fill some of these gaps left in our healthcare system. Practitioners of Western Herbal Medicine are trained to use the same diagnostic methods recognised within the NHS. A practitioner of this type of herbal medicine will usually call themselves a medical herbalist, and will often be a member of a group such as NIMH (National Institute of Medical Herbalists) or CPP (College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy).

This is the discipline I chose to train in, because Im a big advocate of herbal medicine being used alongside primary care. Were trained to examine the patient the way your doctor would, to read blood tests, to understand what symptoms signal alarm and when to send our patients back to their doctor because further tests are necessary. Were happy to liaise with your GP, to write to them when necessary and we understand how to use herbs safely alongside your medication. Knowing our limitations and knowing what we can treat safely is part of our training.

Considering the times, when many are avoiding hospitals, doctors surgeries or being offered phone consults without physical examinations, perhaps its time to widen our approach to healthcare.

For many people local to my clinic, this is the norm. Theyll pop by to ask my advice about an unusual rash, a snotty cold, a sudden period of anxiety, a hormone issue or an old ache in their knee thats becoming bothersome. Some want to know if its something they can help themselves with before burdening their doctor while others just want to stay away from medication or surgery for as long as possible.

Now, especially in recent months, the reasons for these visits are often based on fear. Fear of Covid, fear appointments arent available, fear they cant be or havent been examined. Fear that the surgery on that knee has been cancelled and walking is becoming increasingly difficult. Addressing this fear has become a large part of my job.

For example, Ive helped people with skin problems that they couldnt get anyone else to look at. One lady had varicose vein surgery scheduled, to help manage the sore, itchy skin around her lower legs. When this was cancelled, she feared shed be living with it indefinitely and was delighted to hear that I work with herbs to strengthen the veins, as well as address the sore skin directly.

For joint pain, we have a multitude of topical and oral remedies that can make a significant different to mobility. In the past, weve been able to help a lady who couldnt raise her arms above her head to wash her hair, a man who couldnt walk without sticks and another who was kept awake by his carpal tunnel syndrome. In all three of these cases, the patient cancelled their surgery because of the success of their herbal treatment.

In addition to this, we offer sublingual B12 for those who cant get injections, ear wax softeners for people who cant get their ears syringed and a multitude of other things. If your routine appointments are cancelled, your local herbalist may be able to offer an alternative until they are reinstated.

I was trained by herbalists that worked within and alongside primary care and while our medicines are traditional, I can assure you that our approach is modern. The National Institute of Medical Herbalists can direct you to a suitably qualified practitioner. If we can help, we will and if we cant well always fight to make sure youre in the capable hands of a doctor who can.

For more information or to make an appointment with Nicola, contact her clinic on 01524 413733.

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Medical herbalist Nicola Parker can work with your GP to ease the fear of health issues. - Lancaster Guardian

Oct. 26, 2020 12:00 UTC

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) today announced enrollment of the first patient into the dose-escalation cohort of the combination arm of the phase 1 trial (NCT03845166) evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumor activity of XL092 alone and in combination with atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ) in patients with advanced solid tumors. XL092 is an investigational, next-generation oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets VEGF receptors, MET, AXL, MER and other kinases implicated in the growth and spread of cancer.

This exciting update follows promising preclinical findings presented at the ENA Symposium suggesting that XL092, like cabozantinib, promotes an immune-permissive environment that may result in synergies with immune checkpoint inhibitors; however, as seen in the ongoing phase 1 study, XL092 has a much shorter pharmacokinetic half-life that may help physicians in managing tolerability, said Gisela Schwab, M.D., President, Product Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Exelixis. Enrolling the first patient into the combination therapy part of this trial is an important step forward in the development of XL092 as we explore how it may improve outcomes for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers and build on the success of our cabozantinib oncology franchise.

Initiated in February 2019, the dose-escalation evaluation of the XL092 monotherapy arm of the phase 1 trial is ongoing. Once the recommended doses of both single-agent XL092 and XL092 in combination with atezolizumab are established, the trial will begin to enroll expansion cohorts for patients with clear cell and non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, hormone-receptor positive breast cancer and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

More information about this trial is available at ClinicalTrials.gov.

About XL092

XL092 is a next-generation oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets VEGF receptors, MET, AXL, MER and other kinases implicated in cancers growth and spread. In designing XL092, Exelixis sought to build upon the experience and target profile of cabozantinib, the companys flagship medicine, while improving key characteristics, including clinical half-life. XL092 is the first internally discovered Exelixis compound to enter the clinic following the companys reinitiation of drug discovery activities.

About CABOMETYX (cabozantinib)

In the U.S., CABOMETYX tablets are approved for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC and for the treatment of patients with HCC who have been previously treated with sorafenib. CABOMETYX tablets have also received regulatory approvals in the European Union, Japan and additional countries and regions worldwide. In 2016, Exelixis granted Ipsen exclusive rights for the commercialization and further clinical development of cabozantinib outside of the United States and Japan. In 2017, Exelixis granted exclusive rights to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited for the commercialization and further clinical development of cabozantinib for all future indications in Japan. Exelixis holds the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize cabozantinib in the United States.

Important Safety Information

Warnings and Precautions

Hemorrhage: Severe and fatal hemorrhages occurred with CABOMETYX. The incidence of Grade 3 to 5 hemorrhagic events was 5% in CABOMETYX patients in RCC and HCC studies. Discontinue CABOMETYX for Grade 3 or 4 hemorrhage. Do not administer CABOMETYX to patients who have a recent history of hemorrhage, including hemoptysis, hematemesis, or melena.

Perforations and Fistulas: Gastrointestinal (GI) perforations, including fatal cases, occurred in 1% of CABOMETYX patients. Fistulas, including fatal cases, occurred in 1% of CABOMETYX patients. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of perforations and fistulas, including abscess and sepsis. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who experience a Grade 4 fistula or a GI perforation.

Thrombotic Events: CABOMETYX increased the risk of thrombotic events. Venous thromboembolism occurred in 7% (including 4% pulmonary embolism) and arterial thromboembolism in 2% of CABOMETYX patients. Fatal thrombotic events occurred in CABOMETYX patients. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who develop an acute myocardial infarction or serious arterial or venous thromboembolic event requiring medical intervention.

Hypertension and Hypertensive Crisis: CABOMETYX can cause hypertension, including hypertensive crisis. Hypertension occurred in 36% (17% Grade 3 and <1% Grade 4) of CABOMETYX patients. Do not initiate CABOMETYX in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Monitor blood pressure regularly during CABOMETYX treatment. Withhold CABOMETYX for hypertension that is not adequately controlled with medical management; when controlled, resume at a reduced dose. Discontinue CABOMETYX for severe hypertension that cannot be controlled with anti-hypertensive therapy or for hypertensive crisis.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 63% of CABOMETYX patients. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 11% of CABOMETYX patients. Withhold CABOMETYX until improvement to Grade 1 and resume at a reduced dose for intolerable Grade 2 diarrhea, Grade 3 diarrhea that cannot be managed with standard antidiarrheal treatments, or Grade 4 diarrhea.

Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (PPE): PPE occurred in 44% of CABOMETYX patients. Grade 3 PPE occurred in 13% of CABOMETYX patients. Withhold CABOMETYX until improvement to Grade 1 and resume at a reduced dose for intolerable Grade 2 PPE or Grade 3 PPE.

Proteinuria: Proteinuria occurred in 7% of CABOMETYX patients. Monitor urine protein regularly during CABOMETYX treatment. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who develop nephrotic syndrome.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ): ONJ occurred in <1% of CABOMETYX patients. ONJ can manifest as jaw pain, osteomyelitis, osteitis, bone erosion, tooth or periodontal infection, toothache, gingival ulceration or erosion, persistent jaw pain, or slow healing of the mouth or jaw after dental surgery. Perform an oral examination prior to CABOMETYX initiation and periodically during treatment. Advise patients regarding good oral hygiene practices. Withhold CABOMETYX for at least 3 weeks prior to scheduled dental surgery or invasive dental procedures, if possible. Withhold CABOMETYX for development of ONJ until complete resolution.

Impaired Wound Healing: Wound complications occurred with CABOMETYX. Withhold CABOMETYX for at least 3 weeks prior to elective surgery. Do not administer CABOMETYX for at least 2 weeks after major surgery and until adequate wound healing is observed. The safety of resumption of CABOMETYX after resolution of wound healing complications has not been established.

Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS): RPLS, a syndrome of subcortical vasogenic edema diagnosed by characteristic findings on MRI, can occur with CABOMETYX. Evaluate for RPLS in patients presenting with seizures, headache, visual disturbances, confusion, or altered mental function. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who develop RPLS.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: CABOMETYX can cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating CABOMETYX and advise them to use effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months after the last dose.

Adverse Reactions

The most commonly reported (25%) adverse reactions are: diarrhea, fatigue, decreased appetite, PPE, nausea, hypertension, and vomiting.

Drug Interactions

Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: If coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors cannot be avoided, reduce the CABOMETYX dosage. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice.

Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: If coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inducers cannot be avoided, increase the CABOMETYX dosage. Avoid St. Johns wort.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed during CABOMETYX treatment and for 4 months after the final dose.

Hepatic Impairment: In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, reduce the CABOMETYX dosage. CABOMETYX is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information https://cabometyx.com/downloads/CABOMETYXUSPI.pdf.

About Exelixis

Founded in 1994, Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) is a commercially successful, oncology-focused biotechnology company that strives to accelerate the discovery, development and commercialization of new medicines for difficult-to-treat cancers. Following early work in model system genetics, we established a broad drug discovery and development platform that has served as the foundation for our continued efforts to bring new cancer therapies to patients in need. Our discovery efforts have resulted in four commercially available products, CABOMETYX (cabozantinib), COMETRIQ (cabozantinib), COTELLIC (cobimetinib) and MINNEBRO (esaxerenone), and we have entered into partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies to bring these important medicines to patients worldwide. Supported by revenues from our marketed products and collaborations, we are committed to prudently reinvesting in our business to maximize the potential of our pipeline. We are supplementing our existing therapeutic assets with targeted business development activities and internal drug discovery all to deliver the next generation of Exelixis medicines and help patients recover stronger and live longer. Exelixis is a member of the Standard & Poors (S&P) MidCap 400 index, which measures the performance of profitable mid-sized companies. For more information about Exelixis, please visit http://www.exelixis.com, follow @ExelixisInc on Twitter or like Exelixis, Inc. on Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements related to: Exelixis belief that the immune-permissive environment promoted by XL092 may result in synergies with immune checkpoint inhibitors and that XL092s shorter pharmacokinetic half-life may help physicians in managing tolerability; the potential for XL092 to improve outcomes for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers and build on the success of Exelixis cabozantinib oncology franchise; and Exelixis plans to reinvest in its business to maximize the potential of the companys pipeline, including through targeted business development activities and internal drug discovery. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements and are based upon Exelixis current plans, assumptions, beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: complexities and the unpredictability of the regulatory review and approval processes in the U.S. and elsewhere; Exelixis continuing compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; the potential failure of XL092 or the combination of XL092 and atezolizumab to demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in NCT03845166 and in future trials; uncertainties inherent in the product development process; the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Exelixis research and development operations, including Exelixis ability to initiate new clinical trials and clinical trial sites, enroll clinical trial patients, conduct trials per protocol, and conduct drug research and discovery operations and related activities; the costs of conducting clinical trials, including the ability or willingness of Exelixis collaboration partners to invest in the resources necessary to complete the trials; Exelixis dependence on third-party vendors for the development, manufacture and supply of XL092; Exelixis ability to protect its intellectual property rights; market competition; changes in economic and business conditions; and other factors affecting Exelixis and its development programs discussed under the caption Risk Factors in Exelixis Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 6, 2020, and in Exelixis future filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Exelixis as of the date of this press release, and Exelixis undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as required by law.

Exelixis, the Exelixis logo, CABOMETYX, COMETRIQ and COTELLIC are registered U.S. trademarks. MINNEBRO is a Japanese trademark.

TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) is a registered trademark of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201026005160/en/

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Exelixis Announces First Patient Enrolled in Phase 1 Trial Cohort Evaluating XL092 in Combination with Atezolizumab in Patients with Advanced Solid...

This connection between mental health and physical health has been seen in many communities, but the pandemic may be highlighting them within the transgender community.

Sam Ford/THE REVIEW For transgender individuals, the pandemic has brought about additional barriers to accessing healthcare.

BY SIMON GLOVER Copy Desk Chief

No one likes the doctors office. Between the smell of sanitizer and nitrile gloves, the pricks of needles and the cold feeling of a stethoscope on an unprepared back, feelings of anxiety are inevitable. For transgender individuals, this feeling can multiply with anxiety surrounding whether or not they will be listened to, taken care of and generally treated with compassion.

This is something that Samwell Cleary, a neuroscience major at the university, stated he must deal with every doctor appointment as a trans man.

Cleary says discussing his trans identity with cisgender physicians regularly feels infantalizing. He feels that the transgender community is often referred to as a collective other and that individual needs can be ignored.

I am a privileged middle class white trans man with supportive parents and insurance living in Massachusetts, one of the most advanced states in both anti-discrimination policy and healthcare, Cleary said. Yet still, my treatment experience as a trans person was a series of debacles founded in systemic barriers put in place to bar trans people from accessing their vital healthcare without rigorous vetting by cis people for their validity, wealth and acceptability.

Kelly Nichols, lead clinician and director of the Newark Planned Parenthood Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy Program, sees the product of this discrimination firsthand at work.

I know that many trans folks experience healthcare discrimination, Nichols said. Because of that, I personally feel even more determined to provide a healthy, safe space for folks. I think people in general should just have a more basic understanding of really what transgender healthcare entails, what a lot of barriers are for folks and how to break down those barriers.

One such rule that allows for such discrimination is the recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rollback of health care discrimination rules, announced on June 19 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Center for Transgender Equality explains on its website that this will eliminate the protections for transgender people experiencing discrimination in health care settings and/or by insurance companies denying transition-related care, as well as to weaken nondiscriminatory access to health care for those with Limited English Proficiency.

Though the long-term repercussions of this rollback and the pandemic on the transgender community is yet to be seen, the effects are already being noticed, according to Rachael Richter, the gender affirming care service coordinator for Planned Parenthood in Southern Pennsylvania.

My biggest concern is how trans and gender diverse individuals are being impacted by the pandemic, Richter said. Many people in our country are experiencing economic hardship, exacerbated mental health symptoms and challenging living or social situations.

The Trump administration has removed many protections from the transgender community. This includes the elimination of sexual orientation data on foster youth and foster and adoptive parents and guardians and rejecting proposals to collect gender identity data declaring that the federal Title IX rule requires schools to ban transgender students from participating in school sports and rolling back protections of transgender people from discrimination by homeless shelters receiving federal funds.

The Trump-Pence administration has shown time and again their hostility towards trans people, and their unwillingness to protect or expand access to health care, Richter said. These particularly unstable and challenging times make attacks on health care from the administration that much more harmful, and marginalized groups more vulnerable.

Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization focusing on connecting transgender people to resources they need, as well as to a peer-support hotline to aid people in crisis. The organization reported to The Washington Post that the number of calls they receive on the crisis hotline has increased by 40% since the start of the pandemic in America.

The peak volume of calls happened in the weeks following the removal of federal healthcare protection for transgender individuals.

Theres definitely a power dynamic in healthcare offices, Nichols said. I think people need to know that many trans folks dont feel comfortable going to seek health care for things that are completely unrelated to their being transgender because of discrimination and lack of education.

In 2017, the Center for American Progress found that 29% of transgender people interviewed said a doctor or other health care provider refused to see them because of their actual or perceived gender identity.

Of those surveyed, 23% stated that a doctor or other health care provider intentionally misgendered them or used the wrong name. 21% said that a doctor or other health care provider used harsh or abusive language when treating them. 29% said they experienced unwanted physical contact from a doctor or other health care provider (such as fondling, sexual assault, or rape).

Richter explained that it could get worse with the protection rollbacks, and amidst a global pandemic, the transgender community needs all the protection it can get.

Doctors offices are always a place I now have to be tentative around, Cleary said.

He explained that he has been able to access trans-friendly medical institutions, but even then it is not always perfect.

I have had experiences where doctors in essence dont know how to treat me, Cleary said. I have been deadnamed repeatedly or misgendered by people who were literally facilitating my top surgery to alleviate my dysphoria.

The academic journal LGBT Health released a study explaining that Transgender Medicaid Beneficiaries (TMBs) had more chronic conditions than CMBs (Cisgender Medicaid Beneficiaries), including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, despite a greater observed proportion of TMBs being younger than the observed portion of CMBs. Both of these conditions are listed by the Centers for Disease Control as a condition that severely increases the rate of hospitalization of COVID-19.

After launching our teleservices at Planned Parenthood of Delaware, I actually have seen an increase in transgender patients seeking gender affirming hormone therapy, Nichols said. People in general actually feel really anxious about going to a health care providers office, and those kinds of errors are eliminated when people can be in a place where theyre comfortable.

This connection between mental health and physical health has been seen in many communities, but the pandemic may be highlighting them within the transgender community.

Stress, according to a statement on The Cleveland Clinics website, causes your body to produce greater levels of the stress hormone cortisol. In short spurts, cortisol can boost your immunity by limiting inflammation. But over time, your body can get used to having too much cortisol in your blood. And this opens the door for more inflammation In addition, stress decreases the bodys lymphocytes the white blood cells that help fight off infection. The lower your lymphocyte level, the more at risk you are for viruses.

According to an article co-written by six researchers and posted through The Lancet, a general medical journal, as a marginalized group, inequalities faced by transgender individuals in policies and social aspects, such as legislated policies based on binary gender norms, could increase the risk of illness and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. These increased risks are due to the lack of specialized health-care professionals, the barriers to access healthcare for transgender individuals and gender-based violence outside of healthcare settings as well.

These new rules threaten to undermine health care access and coverage for transgender people, as well as lesbian, gay and bisexual people, who already experience discrimination, Richter said. Continued rollbacks to critical protections that prevent discrimination will only further exacerbate these unacceptable statistics.

Education, as asserted by many of these studies, is the first step toward fixing these inequalities. COVID-19 has laid bare the disparities that transgender individuals must face every day, but some, like Cleary, worry that the issues they face will not go away with a vaccine.

In general, there is a tone of hesitation and unfamiliarity where the people that get to decide my fate in regards to my medical transition blatantly have very little knowledge about the true realities of what its like to be trans, Cleary said.

Follow this link:
COVID-19 widens disparities in transgender healthcare The Review - University of Delaware Review

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Viking Therapeutics(NASDAQ:VKTX)Q32020 Earnings CallOct 28, 2020, 4:30 p.m. ET

Operator

Welcome to the Viking Therapeutics 2020 third-quarter financial results conference call. [Operator instructions] As a reminder, this call is being recorded today, October 28, 2020. I would now like to turn the conference over to Viking's Manager of Investor Relations Stephanie Diaz. Please go ahead, Stephanie.

Stephanie Diaz -- Investor Relations Officer

Hello, and thank you all for participating in today's call. Joining me today is Brian Lian, Viking's president and CEO; and Greg Zante, senior vice president of finance. Before we begin, I'd like to caution that comments made during this conference call today, October 28, 2020, will contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, concerning the current beliefs of the company, which involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ from these statements, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any statement made today.

I encourage you to review all of the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning these and other matters. I'll now turn the call over to Brian Lian for his initial comments.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Stephanie, and thanks to everyone listening on the webcast or by phone. Today, we'll provide an overview of our third-quarter financial results, as well as an update on recent progress and developments with our pipeline programs and operations. I will begin with an update on our lead thyroid hormone beta receptor agonist program, VK2809. During the third quarter, we continued enrollment of patients in our Phase 2b VOYAGE study in biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis.

As of the end of the quarter, the majority of our U.S. clinical sites were open for patient enrollment, though coronavirus-related disruptions continued to impact site operations. We are currently in the process of expanding the number of clinical sites in the U.S. and internationally, and we continue to expect completion of enrollment in the first half of 2021.

With respect to our second thyroid hormone beta receptor agonist, VK0214, during the third quarter, we achieved a significant milestone by advancing this compound into clinical development. In September, we announced the initiation of a Phase 1 trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of VK0214 in healthy subjects. Following completion of this study, we plan to initiate a Phase 1b study in patients with X-link adrenoleukodystrophy. We are excited to be advancing this important program as patients suffering with X-ALD currently have no approved therapeutic options.

I'll provide additional detail on our development activities after we review our third-quarter financial results. With that, I'll turn the call over to Greg Zante, Viking's senior vice president of finance.

Greg Zante -- Senior Vice President of Finance

Thanks, Brian. In conjunction with my comments, I'd like to recommend that participants refer to Viking's Form 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we expect to file later today for additional details. I'll now go over our financial results for the third quarter and first nine months ended September 30, 2020, beginning with the results for the quarter. Our research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2020, were $7.1 million, compared to $5.3 million for the same period in 2019.

The increase was primarily due to increased expenses related to our clinical studies, salaries and benefits and stock-based compensation, partially offset by decreased expenses related to preclinical studies and services provided by third-party consultants. Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2020, were $2.7 million, compared to $2.2 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily due to increased expenses related to stock-based compensation, salaries and benefits and insurance expenses, partially offset by decreased expenses related to legal services and travel. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, Viking reported a net loss of $9.3 million or $0.13 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.7 million or $0.08 per share in the corresponding period in 2019.

The increase in net loss and net loss per share for the three months ended September 30, 2020, was primarily due to increases in research and development and general and administrative expenses noted previously, as well as decreased interest income due to the decline in interest rates throughout the third quarter of 2020 as compared to prevailing interest rates during the third quarter of 2019. I'll now go over the results for the first nine months of 2020. Our research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, were $22.9 million, compared to $17.1 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily due to increased expenses related to our clinical studies, manufacturing for our drug candidates, salaries and benefits and stock-based compensation, partially offset by decreased expenses related to services provided by third-party consultants and preclinical studies.

Our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, were $8.5 million, compared to $6.7 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily due to increased expenses related to stock-based compensation, salaries and benefits and insurance expenses, partially offset by decreased expenses related to services provided by third-party consultants, professional fees and travel. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Viking reported a net loss of $28.5 million or $0.39 per share, compared to a net loss of $18.3 million or $0.25 per share in the corresponding period in 2019. The increase in net loss and net loss per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was primarily due to the increases in research and development and general and administrative expenses noted previously, as well as decreased interest income due to the decline in interest rates throughout the first nine months of 2020 as compared to prevailing interest rates during the first nine months of 2019.

Turning to the balance sheet. At September 30, 2020, Viking held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $255.3 million, compared to $275.6 million as of December 31, 2019. This concludes my financial review, and I'll now turn the call back over to Brian.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Greg. I'll now provide an update on our recent development activities, beginning with our lead program, VK2809 for the treatment of NASH and fibrosis. VK2809 is an orally available small molecule agonist of the thyroid homeowner receptor that possesses selectivity for liver tissue, as well as the beta receptor subtype. Clinical data to date have demonstrated that VK2809 has compelling potency, selectivity, safety and tolerability profile that may provide benefit in a range of metabolic disorders, including NASH.

Our enthusiasm for this program stems in part from the results of our previously completed 12-week Phase 2 trial in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hypercholesterolemia. These data demonstrated that patients receiving VK2809 experienced statistically significant reductions in liver fat content, as well as improvements in LDL cholesterol, achieving the study's main efficacy objectives. On exploratory measures, evaluating other plasma lipids, such as triglycerides, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a), treatment with VK2809 also resulted in significant reductions. Importantly, these results were achieved without any serious adverse events being reported among patients receiving VK2809 or placebo.

In the third quarter, additional follow-up data from this trial were presented in an oral presentation at the international liver conference, or EASL. The newly reported data demonstrated that patients treated with VK2809 experienced durable, statistically significant reductions in liver fat content that were maintained at week 16, four weeks after completion of the 12-week treatment period in the study. Specifically, VK2809 treated patients maintained a statistically significant 45% median reduction in liver fat content at week 16, compared to a 19% reduction among patients receiving placebo. Additionally, at week 16, 70% of VK2809-treated patients maintained a response, defined as experiencing a greater than or equal to 30% relative reduction of liver fat content from baseline.

Notably, 100% of patients receiving 5 milligrams of VK2809 dose daily maintained a response at week 16. In addition to these durability results, new analyses of week 12 study results demonstrated significant reductions in liver fat content among patients receiving VK2809 as compared to placebo regardless of the presence of common NASH risk factors, including baseline levels of ALT above the upper limit of normal, a body mass index greater than or equal to 30, hypertension or Hispanic ethnicity. The overall data from this study, including these new findings of durability and efficacy in high-risk subgroups, support the underlying promise of VK2809 for the treatment of NASH and fibrosis. In addition, we believe the broad efficacy observed on key lipid measures may indicate cardiometabolic benefits in this setting, an important advantage as compared to mechanisms that may lead to elevations in lipids known to increase cardiovascular risk.

Based on these positive Phase 2 results, last year, we initiated the Phase 2b trial to assess VK2809 in the setting of NASH. This study called VOYAGE is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial designed to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of VK2809 in patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH and fibrosis. The study is targeting enrollment of approximately 340 patients across five treatment arms. The target population includes patients with F2 and F3 fibrosis, as well as up to 25% with F1 fibrosis.

Primary end point of the study will evaluate the change in liver fat content as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction from baseline to week 12 in subjects treated with VK2809 as compared to subjects receiving placebo. Secondary objectives include evaluation of histologic changes assessed by hepatic biopsy after 52 weeks of treatment. During the quarter, we continued to enroll patients in the U.S. despite the headwinds created by the COVID pandemic.

The majority of our U.S. sites are open for enrollment, and we expect to open ex U.S. sites imminently. In addition, we plan to add further sites for enrollment with a plan to ultimately list over 90 sites globally.

We expect to complete enrollment in VOYAGE during the first half of 2021. I will now turn to our second clinical program, VK0214, for the potential treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or X-ALD. VK0214, like VK2809 is an orally available small molecule thyroid hormone receptor agonist that possesses selectivity for the beta receptor subtype. In preclinical studies, VK0214 was shown to potently activate thyroid hormone beta receptor, leading to improvement in several in vitro measures that suggest potential benefit in X-ALD.

Additional data from in vivo studies have demonstrated that administration of VK0214 produces a significant and durable reduction of very long-chain fatty acids in both plasma and tissue. In part as a result of these important findings, VK0214 has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of X-ALD. In the third quarter, we announced the initiation of a Phase 1 first-in-human study of VK0214. This trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending and multiple ascending dose study in healthy volunteers.

The primary objectives of the study include evaluation of the safety and tolerability of single and multiple oral doses of VK0214, as well as the identification of doses for further clinical development in the setting of X-ALD. Investigators will also assess the pharmacokinetics of VK0214, following single and multiple oral doses. Upon successful completion of the ascending dose trial, we plan to initiate a Phase 1b study of VK0214 in patients with X-ALD. We currently expect this study to begin in the first half of 2021.

With two ongoing clinical programs, it is important to maintain a strong financial position, and we continue to carefully manage our cash resources. As Greg stated during the financial discussion, we ended the third quarter with approximately $255 million in cash, and we believe this balance provides the runway required to complete both ongoing trials, as well as a number of additional clinical milestones. In conclusion, our primary focus in the third quarter was on the continued execution of our two clinical programs. In our 52-week Phase 2b VOYAGE trial evaluating VK2809 in patients with NASH and fibrosis, the majority of our planned clinical sites are open for enrollment, and we plan to open additional sites in the coming months.

We expect to complete enrollment in the first half of 2021. With respect to VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, we were very pleased in the third quarter to move this important program into the clinic. We are currently executing a Phase 1 single ascending and multiple ascending dose study and plan to initiate a Phase 1b study in patients with X-ALD in the first half of 2021. To support these trials, as well as a number of other key objectives, we continue to judiciously manage our cash balance, which remains strong at $255 million as of the end of the third quarter.

This concludes our prepared comments for today. Thanks again for joining us, and we'll now open the call for questions. Operator?

Operator

Thank you. [Operator instructions] Our first question comes from Joon Lee from Truist Securities. Please go ahead.

Joon Lee -- Truist Securities -- Analyst

Hi, Brian. Thanks for taking -- thanks for the update and taking my question. I have a question on the additional data you presented at EASL, which I think is notable for a more robust liver fat reduction in patients with higher baseline ALT, where the placebo effects were suppressed in the higher ALT group. I'm going to guess that the elevated baseline ALT is more in line with the demographics that you're enrolling in the Phase 2b VOYAGE.

Was the powering of VOYAGE factoring in this data stratification specifically? Or was it based on all the patients -- that effects you saw in all the patients in the earlier study? And the second question is the durability that you saw, 16 weeks, does that change how you might strategize around your Phase 3 development plans, given this durability in terms of the frequency of dosing.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Joon, thanks for the questions. As far as the subgroups that we looked at in the 12-week study, that didn't change our powering assumptions for the 52-week study. We were looking at overall assessments on histologic changes for the powering assumptions. We just thought it was really interesting when you look at pretty much every subset that we could identify that might represent higher risk or typical NASH phenotype that there wasn't any difference in efficacy.

And I think we had another slide in there about baseline liver fat as well. And it just seemed to be pretty consistent across ALT, BMI, baseline liver fat, hypertension, all of those factors, baseline glucose as well. But we didn't use that for powering anything. And as far as your second question, what was the second question? Durability.

Yes. No, we just think that that's pretty interesting. It's useful scientific data for understanding the kinetics of liver fat changes. It doesn't feed into our Phase 3 or future development plans, but it is a really interesting finding.

It indicates that you don't necessarily need sustained dosing. You might be able to pursue an intermittent strategy, that type of thing. But it didn't really change anything. We had expected there to be good durability based on the mechanism and the robustness of the initial signal.

Joon Lee -- Truist Securities -- Analyst

Thank you.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Joon.

Operator

The next question comes from Derek Archila from Stifel. Please go ahead.

Derek Archila -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst

Hey, guys. And congrats on the progress. Just two from us. Just kind of thoughts on the recruitment right now.

I know you're saying and still guiding to completing enrollment by the first half of 2021. I think having some conversations with some of your competitors, they seem to have more challenges with enrollment. So I just want to get a sense of how much does your time line take into effect for kind of COVID and where we are and some of the kind of worsening conditions in the EU, where I think you're going to potentially open sites. So I just want to get your comments on that.

And then second, just give us a sense of the regulatory pathway in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy and what that looks like? And could we see data from that Phase 1b study sometime toward the end of 2021? Thanks.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Yeah. Thanks, Derek. As far as the enrollment in the Phase 2b study, I don't want to understate the challenges. And so it didn't mean to make it sound like we're having a super easy time with it.

It's really, really difficult. I think it's difficult to cross the board for everybody. But when we look at the site operations, the screening pipeline, that sort of thing, we still think we can do this in the first half of 2021. And that could change if there are statewide lockdowns like we saw earlier this year, but we don't see that right now.

What's really interesting in looking at the individual sites, they're maintaining pretty open operations despite the surges in certain parts of the country. And I think that weighs more on patient psychology than site operations now compared to back in March and April. But it's very, very difficult. And we're still expecting to complete enrollment in the first half of '21, but very, very difficult.

As far as the registration path and X-ALD, we hope to get into patients in the first half of the year that provided we get through the multiple ascending dose portion of the ongoing study. And if things go well, it's possible we'd have data next year. I don't know. It's possible we could be certainly later in the year.

And then we plan to talk to the FDA about what the next steps look like. We would expect the end points and registration to be more functionally oriented, not biomarker oriented, but we won't know for sure until we have those conversations.

Derek Archila -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst

Terrific. Thanks, and congrats again on the progress.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Derek.

Operator

The next question comes from Steve Seedhouse from Raymond James. Please go ahead.

Ryan Deschner -- Raymond James -- Analyst

This is Ryan on for Steve Seedhouse. Brian, I'm just wondering if you have a timeline for presenting any additional data from the Phase 2a study. Obviously, after the 16-week study or potentially a publication. And are you guys planning on having -- presenting any data at AASLD this year?

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Ryan. No, we're not going to have anything at AASLD. We do have a manuscript in preparation on the 12-week study. Most of the bigger journals are prioritizing COVID right now.

So it has maybe slowed that process down a little bit, but we do intend to submit that in the relatively near term. As far as additional data, no plans today to have additional data from that study. I think we've presented pretty much everything useful that we could present there, but maybe there could be some more in the publication.

Ryan Deschner -- Raymond James -- Analyst

Thanks, Brian.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks.

Operator

The next question comes from Matthew Luchini from BMO. Please go ahead.

Matthew Luchini -- BMO Capital Markets -- Analyst

Hi, guys. Thanks for taking the question, and congrats on the progress. So just a couple from me. I guess, first, on the ex U.S.

sites that are going to be opening up, I think when we last connected on the last quarter update, it sounded like those were perhaps a little bit more near term than just kind of opening up this quarter. So just wondering if there were any bottlenecks there that prevented those sites from actually coming online until it seems like the end of the year? And then secondarily, on 0214, for the SAD/MAD data, should we expect that to -- how should we expect that data to be communicated when it comes out? Would that be just press release? Would -- are you holding that for a medical conference of some sort? Yeah, please, on those two.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Sure. Thanks, Matt. So on the ex U.S. side, yes, those have been slower than we had hoped to come online primarily due to administrative items.

We had to submit a couple of documents. We had to correct a couple of typos in one document that required a more substantial resubmission of those documents than we had originally planned. It's just -- but nothing major. It was really pretty minor administrative stuff.

And I don't know, it's hard for us to judge how much of that is just COVID-related with delayed communication time lines between our regulatory liaison and the European regulatory agencies. But that could also play a little bit to those -- the kind of slow time line there. But I would say we'll be opening some European sites here imminently. So I think we're on track there.

As far as the VK0214 SAD and MAD data, we would hope to have some of those results in the first half of the year. And good question on the disclosure strategy, I mean, minimally, a press release, but depending on what the day look like, we might try to submit something to a later conference in 2021. But I think that will be driven on what we see. If there's anything really exciting or interesting, we might want to save that for a conference.

But I would say, minimally a press release though.

Matthew Luchini -- BMO Capital Markets -- Analyst

OK. And then just one last one, if I could, on the numbers. Both operating expenses have been quite flat now through three quarters this year. And I guess we've been expecting perhaps a little bit more of a step-up as things had picked up with the Phase 2b.

So just wondering how should we -- we should be thinking about at least maybe the last quarter of the year? And anything you can say loose or otherwise as we start thinking forward to '21. With that, I'll get back in the queue. Thanks so much.

Greg Zante -- Senior Vice President of Finance

Matt, Greg here. Yes, I think -- yes, they have been a little bit flat, but we do expect them to continue to increase from here as the trial continues along. So I think nothing to read into the flatness through this point. I think it will continue to pick up going forward here.

We always try to be conservative on the estimates, but I think it is certainly going to tick up.

Matthew Luchini -- BMO Capital Markets -- Analyst

OK. Great. Congrats on the progress.

OK. Great. Thanks, guys, for the questions, and congrats on the progress.

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Matt.

Operator

The next question comes from Michael Morabito from Chardan Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Michael Morabito -- Chardan Capital Markets -- Analyst

Hi, guys. I just had a question here. I wanted to know if there was anything put into place for the VOYAGE trial to track patients who at any point during the trial test positive for a COVID during the trial. And if there's any kind of a protocol that you put in place for what would constitute rationale for excluding patients that have been affected by COVID, do you have anything like that in place?

Brian Lian -- President and Chief Executive Officer

Read more:
Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) Q3 2020 Earnings Call Transcript - Motley Fool

The winning Hemodialysis Powder Solution Market report makes available the current and forthcoming technical and financial details of the industry. Few of the chief insights of this business report include; distinct analysis of the market drivers & restraints, major market players involved like industry, detailed analysis of the market segmentation & competitive analysis. It estimates CAGR values in percentages which help to know the rise or fall occurring in the market for particular product for the specific forecast period. Global Hemodialysis Powder Solution Market report also encompasses strategic profiling of key players in the market, systematic analysis of their core competencies & draws a competitive landscape for the market.

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Baxter

Rockwell Medical

Fresenius

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Renacon Pharma

Chief Medical Supplies

Farmasol

Weigao

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Jiangxi Sanxin Medtec

Competitive Landscape

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Following are the segments covered by the report are:

Hemodialysis Concentrates

Hemodialysis Dry Powder

By Application:

Public Hospital

Private Clinic

Nursing Home

Personal Care

Others

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Table of Contents: Hemodialysis Powder Solution Market

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Market Landscape

Part 05: Pipeline Analysis

Part 06: Market Sizing

Part 07: Five Forces Analysis

Part 08: Market Segmentation

Part 09: Customer Landscape

Part 10: Regional Landscape

Part 11: Decision Framework

Part 12: Drivers And Challenges

Part 13: Market Trends

Part 14: Vendor Landscape

Part 15: Vendor Analysis

Part 16: Appendix

Contact Us

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Tel: +44 115 888 3028

Web: http://www.chronicalmarketresearch.com

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At Chronical Market Research, we understand that the research we provide is only as good as the outcome it inspires. These reports are generated by well-renowned publishers on the basis of the data acquired from an extensive research and credible business statistics. Thats why we are proud to provide the widest range of research products, multilingual 24/7 customer support and dedicated custom research services to deliver the insights you need to achieve your goals. Take a look at few of our aspects that makes Chronical Market Research an asset to your business.

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Novartis

Pfizer, Inc.

AbbVie Inc.

Allergan plc

Eli Lilly and Company

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

AstraZeneca

Biogen

Eisai Co., Ltd.

INmuneBIO

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-Comprehensive analysis of all regions is provided that determines the prevailing opportunities in these geographies.

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Breakdown Data by Type

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Memantine

Combination Drugs

Dementia and Alzheimers Disease Treatment Breakdown Data by Application

Hospital

Clinic

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Table of Contents: Dementia and Alzheimers Disease Treatment Market

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Market Landscape

Part 05: Pipeline Analysis

Part 06: Market Sizing

Part 07: Five Forces Analysis

Part 08: Market Segmentation

Part 09: Customer Landscape

Part 10: Regional Landscape

Part 11: Decision Framework

Part 12: Drivers And Challenges

Part 13: Market Trends

Part 14: Vendor Landscape

Part 15: Vendor Analysis

Part 16: Appendix

Contact Us

Chronical Market Research,

4004 W Lake Sammamish,

Pkway B9 Redmond,

WA 98052 United States.

Tel: +44 115 888 3028

Web: http://www.chronicalmarketresearch.com

About Us

At Chronical Market Research, we understand that the research we provide is only as good as the outcome it inspires. These reports are generated by well-renowned publishers on the basis of the data acquired from an extensive research and credible business statistics. Thats why we are proud to provide the widest range of research products, multilingual 24/7 customer support and dedicated custom research services to deliver the insights you need to achieve your goals. Take a look at few of our aspects that makes Chronical Market Research an asset to your business.

More:
Dementia and Alzheimers Disease Treatment Market with Current Trends Analysis 2020-2027 - The Think Curiouser

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CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

With tickets costing 15, the event will take place on Thursday, November 12 between 7pm and 9pm.

Those attending the webinar will get the chance to hear from women's health experts on various topics from the comfort of their own homes.

The event will focus on how women can maintain intimate health, ranging from managing common symptoms and being alert for abnormal symptoms to looking after sexual health and sexual satisfaction.

There will also be talks about help to maintain continence, achieving balance with a natural approach as well as a practical food preparation demonstration.

This will be such an interesting and informative event that will address sensitive and intimate issues concerning women but in a friendly and relaxed environment, said Dr Gail Ball, who provides Womens Health Services at Bella Vou Pantiles Clinic.

Attendees are encouraged to engage and interact with the experts and to ask questions. Bring your drink and a friend and enjoy a break with us.

The guest speakers at the event will include:

All the proceeds from the ticket sales will go towards Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Endometriosis UK to help and raise awareness of the charities and the women it supports.

All leading medical experts encourage women to talk and to not be tentative or embarrassed if they need to ask sensitive questions.

It is more than likely that your health expert or doctor would have heard it all before anyway and that your condition is pretty common.

For example, a lot of women may end up unexpectedly wetting themselves whilst out for a run or while theyre laughing.

But contrary to what many people may think, NHS figures say that between 3 and 6 million people in the UK have some degree of urinary incontinence.

Sensitive health concerns can range from natural body quirks to potentially life-threatening conditions.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Hormone imbalance, for example, is a common condition among women and can be associated with illnesses such as diabetes and thyroid conditions.

If left untreated, hormone imbalance can result in other medical conditions too such as growth disorders and reproductive disorders as well as tiredness, acne, hair growth, hair loss, weight gain and weight loss.

And then of course we have cervical cancer that occurs most often in women over age 30.

Did you know that the most important risk factor for cervical cancer is chronic infection by certain types of the HPV, which is passed through intimate skin-to-skin contact, during sex with someone who has the virus?

Other risk factors include smoking, having a weakened immune system, having had a chlamydia infection, being overweight, being exposed to or taking certain hormone treatments, and not having regular cervical cancer screening tests.

All of these subjects and more will be addressed at the Womens Intimate Health Webinar .

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Bella Vou Pantiles Clinic combines cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments as well as clinical excellence with luxury, comfort, and discretion for its clients.

Clinics like Bella Vou are seeing a surge in appointments as a growing number of patients are turning to private treatment to beat rationing and delays at the NHS, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to figures released in August by healthcare tech company Medefer, over 15 million people are currently waiting for treatment on the NHS's 'hidden waiting list' - that amounts to almost four times higher than the official 3.9million.

The official waiting list of the NHS shows the number of patients yet to have their first hospital appointment after a GP referral.

It stands at 3.9million and that has so far remained fairly constant during the pandemic. But that doesnt apply to long waits that have increased substantially.

Endometriosis is another disorder that may not easily get diagnosed or can get misdiagnosed by GPs due to time restraints.

This condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining on the inside of a uterus or womb grows outside of the uterus or womb where it doesn't belong.

This in turn may lead to swelling and bleeding. Around one in ten women endure unrelenting pain as a direct result of endometriosis that affects every aspect of their lives each day.

Click here to visit Bella Vou Pantiles Clinics official website .

Read more from the original source:
Talking taboos around womens health - Kent Online

By MARK J. SANDERS Contributing Writer

Brenda Allen, her mother, her sister and a first cousin were all diagnosed with breast cancer over a three-year period.

DAR/Paul Davis

Brenda Allen considers herself fortunate to be a successful survivor of breast cancer, and shes using the lessons learned through her path to recovery to make the most of her life every day.

Brenda, 62, is married to Tom Allen, and both of them are well-known and well-loved retired teachers from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District.

Brenda taught in a number of different roles and locations for 34 years, including music at the elementary and fifth and sixth grade school, vocal music director at the junior and senior high, SINGS instructor, grant administrator and administrator at Lake Road Elementary and Poplar Bluff Junior High.

She first learned of her cancer diagnosis seven years ago, in July 2013. While seeing her doctor for an ear infection, she remembered that her mother had recently had a mammogram, so she decided to do the same on that day.

Her mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer, and Brenda said it was a contributing factor in her mothers eventual passing.

After her doctors visit, she left town for a trip, and when she returned home, she found she had received many unanswered calls from Kneibert Clinic.

I was pretty sure the news was not good, she said.

The mammogram revealed a lump that was thought to be contained within a milk duct. She chose to go to the St. Lukes Hospital Womens Center in St. Louis, where she saw the same doctor as her mother for a needle biopsy.

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The biopsy verified the cancer diagnosis, and Brenda was scheduled for a lumpectomy. However, the procedure revealed the cancer was not contained and was more invasive than initially detected.

She was away on another trip, this time to Dauphin Island, Alabama, when St. Lukes called with the bad news about the lumpectomy results. When she returned, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy in September 2013.

This time, the results were much more positive. She needed neither chemotherapy nor radiation as a follow-up to the surgery, and her lymph nodes were not affected, either. The only follow-up treatment was hormone therapy for the next five years.

I was very fortunate, she said. Im likely to put some things off, but women need to take their mammograms seriously.

Although she described her recovery from surgery as relatively easy I went back to work a week after she did undergo genetic counseling. Brenda, her mother, her sister and a first cousin were all diagnosed with breast cancer over a three-year period.

In doing extensive research on her family tree, Brenda discovered her mothers aunt and that aunts granddaughter had both died of breast cancer. The granddaughter was only 35 at the time of her passing.

Brenda was tested for all possible genetic markers indicating further risk of future cancer, but they all came back negative. She described this as a big relief not only for her but also for her own daughter and granddaughter.

After five years of follow-up screenings, she was released as cancer-free.

Brendas advice for other women facing their own breast cancer diagnosis is to not go through any of it alone.

Every woman has a friend who has been through this, she said. Brenda had a close friend who had already survived breast cancer, so she called and asked her to be her cancer mentor.

Youre overwhelmed with all the information the doctors give you, and you dont always know what it all means, she said. You need a friend who can walk with you down that road.

One way Brenda was enjoying retirement this year was to hike the Katy Trail in mid-Missouri. She said the experience of losing her own parents, her in-laws, and a close uncle over the past seven years provided strong motivation to stay active and reach for her goals.

Speaking of her loved ones who have passed, she said, They all spoke of things they wanted to do and said, I wish I had done that.

Hiking the Katy Trail was something I always wanted to do, but I still can.

Read the original post:
Brenda Allen faced the fight of her life -- breast cancer. She found support in those who have traveled this road before. - darnews.com

Dataintelo, one of the worlds prominent market research firms has announced a novel report on the Endometriosis market. The report is integrated with imperative insights on the market which will support the clients to make precise business decisions. This research will help both existing and new aspirants for Global Endometriosis Market to figure out and study market requirements, market size, and competition. The report incorporates data regarding the supply and demand situation, the competitive scenario, and the challenges for market growth, market opportunities, and the threats encountered by key players during the forecast period of 2020-2027.

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Impact of COVID-19

The report also incorporates the impact of the ongoing global crisis i.e. COVID-19 on the Endometriosis market and explains how the future is going to unfold for the global market. The report also provides an analysis of the effects of the pandemic on the global economy. The outbreak has directly affected production and demand disrupted the demand and supply chain. The report also computes the financial impact on firms and financial markets. Dataintelo has accumulated insights from various delegates of the industry and got involved in the primary and secondary research to offer the clients data & strategies to combat the market challenges during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Some of the major companies that are covered in this report:

AbbVieAstraZenecaBayer HealthCarePfizerAddex TherapeuticsAstellas PharmaDebiopharmElexoPharmEndoCeuticsEuroscreenForendo PharmaKissei PharmaceuticalNeurocrine BiosciencesNippon ShinyakuTakedaBayer AGNeurocrine Biosciences

*Note: Additional companies can be included on request

The market scenario is likely to be fairly competitive. To analyze any market with simplicity the market is fragmented into the following segments:

By Application:

Hospital UseClinic UseOther

By Type:

Gonadotropins Releasing Hormone AgonistsNon-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory DrugsProgestinOral Contraceptive Pills

By Geographical Regions

Asia Pacific: China, Japan, India, and Rest of Asia PacificEurope: Germany, the UK, France, and Rest of EuropeNorth America: The US, Mexico, and CanadaLatin America: Brazil and Rest of Latin AmericaMiddle East & Africa: GCC Countries and Rest of Middle East & Africa

Segmenting the market into smaller components helps in analyzing the dynamics of the market with more clarity. Another key component that is integrated into the report is the regional analysis to assess the global presence of the Endometriosis market. You can also opt for a yearly subscription of all the updates on the Endometriosis market.

Below is the TOC of the report:

Executive Summary

Assumptions and Acronyms Used

Research Methodology

Endometriosis Market Overview

Global Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast by Type

Global Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast by Application

Global Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast by Sales Channel

Global Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast by Region

North America Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast

Latin America Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast

Europe Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast

Asia Pacific Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast

Asia Pacific Endometriosis Market Size and Volume Forecast by Application

Middle East & Africa Endometriosis Market Analysis and Forecast

Competition Landscape

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Read the original here:
Comprehensive Analysis On Endometriosis Market Based On Types And Application - The Think Curiouser