Author Archives: Danzig

Conspiracy theories are a threat to democracy – Canton Repository

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Charita M. Goshay|The Repository

When I was little, I was a conspiracy theorist.

The shocking assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and thedevastated responses ofthe adults in my small universe,were profound and searing.

It was a traumatic introduction to the wider world.

The circumstances surrounding JFK's death spawneda cottage industry that's still going strong. A 2017 survey conducted by FiveThirtyEight found that 61 percent of Americans still don't believe accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

No one wants to believe history can turn on a moment generated by a single, disaffected, lucky-shot twerp like Oswald, or John Wilkes Booth, James Earl Ray, orGavrilo Princip.

When I was a kid, there were fish-wraptabloids claiming that JFK wasn't really dead, that he actually was a wheelchair-bound vegetable being cared for on one of Aristotle Onassis' private islands.

I wanted to believe it because the alternativewas too hard to accept.Even now, when I see photos of the Kennedys in Dallas, I wish I could reach through time and tell them to get back on theplane.

There were rumors that Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was behindthe crime, and ifnot Johnson, thenFidel Castro, or maybe the mob, or the FBI/CIA/military-industrial complex.

It's a virtual cast of thousands all of whom managed to keep it a secret?

No matter.I gobbled it all downlike Boston baked beans.

But at some point, you have to put away childish things. John F. Kennedy was dead, and no amount of wishing or theorizing was going to bring him back.

For some people, the result of the recent election has become the stuff of conspiracy. Thosearguing that the results are bogus and riggedcannot fathom that more peoplevoted for incumbent President Donald Trump's opponent than for him.

They're ignoring that most down-ballot Republicans won their races. They're dismissing the math which shows that more eligible voters cast ballots this time than in 2016, including in Ohio, where 74 percent of eligible voters, cast a ballot.It's as if the lines of people waiting sometimes forhours to cast their votesnever happened, or thatthe ElectionAssistance Commission, Republican governorsandstate attorneys general, and former Department ofHomeland Security cybersecurity chief Christopher Krebs haven'tpublicly statedthat the Nov. 3 election was the safest ever.

Somesupporters have rejectedthe results of the recounts and the recounts of the recounts despite the dozens oftimes the federal courts have swatted down contentions that something is amiss.It denigrates the poll workers andboards of election stafferswho risked their health to ensure we could exercise our constitutional right to have a say in our government.

Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit unanimously rejectedaccusations of "deep state" chicanery, withTrump-appointed Judge Stephanos Bibas writing:Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here.

We have a transactional president who can't seem to grasp how a judge might place more priority on followingthe law and precedentthan reciprocation for his or her appointment. This presents a serious threat previously seen only in banana republics. We've been so worried about the Russians; now we knowthe call is coming from inside the house.

Latching onto conspiracy theories because things didn't turn out the way you wantedisa rabbit hole that can corkscrewto the point whereit'll turn out that Barack Obama fixed the 1919 World Series, and Hunter Bidenkilled Biggie and Tupac.

History reminds us that many elections have been contested, including Kennedy's own, in which he won the popular vote by just 112,827votes, but capturing the Electoral College 303 to 219. Rumors persist that Kennedy was helped by the Democratic machinein Chicago, where the dead were saidto vote early and often.

Yethis opponent, Richard Nixon, did not weaponize the courts to get his way.

That would come later.

Sowing chaos and doubt when things don't go our way only servesto harm the nation's ability to move forward as it must.

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Conspiracy theories are a threat to democracy - Canton Repository

Cytokinetics Announces Three Presentations at the International Symposium on ALS/MND – GlobeNewswire

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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced three poster presentations at the 31st International Symposium on ALS/MND taking place online from December 9 December 11, 2020.

Title: A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Reldesemtiv in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): COURAGE-ALS Trial DesignSession: Live Poster Session ADate: December 9, 2020Theme: 09 Clinical Trials and Trial DesignPresentation Time: 5:10 5:50 PM GMTPoster Number: CLT-04Poster Presenter: Jeremy M. Shefner, M.D., Ph.D., Lead Investigator of FORTITUDE-ALS, Professor and Chair of Neurology atBarrow Neurological Institute, and Professor and Executive Chair of Neurology at theUniversity of Arizona,Phoenix

Title: Impact of Patient Characteristics on Effect Size in FORTITUDE-ALSSession: Live Poster Session BDate: December 10, 2020Theme: 09 Clinical Trials and Trial DesignPresentation Time: 5:10 5:50 PM GMTPoster Number: CLT-17Poster Presenter: Jeremy M. Shefner, M.D., Ph.D., Lead Investigator of FORTITUDE-ALS, Professor and Chair of Neurology atBarrow Neurological Institute, and Professor and Executive Chair of Neurology at theUniversity of Arizona,Phoenix

Title: People Living with ALS and Their Caregivers Input into Drug Development in EuropeSession: Live Poster Session CTheme: 13 Clinical Management, Support and InformationDate: December 11, 2020Presentation Time: 12:05 12:50 PM GMTPoster Number: CMS-33Poster Presenter: Miriam Galvin, Ph.D., Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin

About Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class muscle activators and next-in-class muscle inhibitors as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which muscle performance is compromised and/or declining. As a leader in muscle biology and the mechanics of muscle performance, the company is developing small molecule drug candidates specifically engineered to impact muscle function and contractility. Cytokinetics is preparing for regulatory interactions for omecamtiv mecarbil, its novel cardiac muscle activator, following positive results from GALACTIC-HF, a large, international Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with heart failure. Cytokinetics is conducting METEORIC-HF, a second Phase 3 clinical trial of omecamtiv mecarbil. Cytokinetics is also developing CK-274, a next- generation cardiac myosin inhibitor, for the potential treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCM). Cytokinetics is conducting REDWOOD-HCM, a Phase 2 clinical trial of CK-274 in patients with obstructive HCM. Cytokinetics is also developing reldesemtiv, a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator for the potential treatment of ALS and other neuromuscular indications following conduct of FORTITUDE-ALS and other Phase 2 clinical trials. The company is considering potential advancement of reldesemtiv to Phase 3 pending ongoing regulatory interactions. Cytokinetics continues its over 20-year history of pioneering innovation in muscle biology and related pharmacology focused to diseases of muscle dysfunction and conditions of muscle weakness.

For additional information aboutCytokinetics, visitwww.cytokinetics.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the Act). Cytokinetics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims the protection of the Act's Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the potential benefits of reldesemtiv, including its ability to represent an additive and complementary approach to increase muscle function; Cytokinetics and its partners research and development activities; the timing of enrollment of patients in Cytokinetics and its partners clinical trials; the design, timing, results, significance and utility of preclinical and clinical results; and the properties and potential benefits of Cytokinetics drug candidates. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, potential difficulties or delays in the development, testing, regulatory approvals for trial commencement, progression or product sale or manufacturing, or production of Cytokinetics drug candidates that could slow or prevent clinical development or product approval; patient enrollment for or conduct of clinical trials may be difficult or delayed; Cytokinetics drug candidates may have adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy; the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies may delay or limit Cytokinetics or its partners ability to conduct clinical trials; and Cytokinetics may be unable to obtain or maintain patent or trade secret protection for its intellectual property; Astellas decisions with respect to the design, initiation, conduct, timing and continuation of development activities for reldesemtiv; standards of care may change, rendering Cytokinetics drug candidates obsolete; competitive products or alternative therapies may be developed by others for the treatment of indications Cytokinetics drug candidates and potential drug candidates may target; and risks and uncertainties relating to the timing and receipt of payments from its partners, including milestones and royalties on future potential product sales under Cytokinetics collaboration agreements with such partners. For further information regarding these and other risks related to Cytokinetics business, investors should consult Cytokinetics filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:CytokineticsDiane WeiserSenior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Investor Relations(415) 290-7757

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Cytokinetics Announces Three Presentations at the International Symposium on ALS/MND - GlobeNewswire

UB researcher co-chairs international panel that revised, expanded guidance for caring for patients with myasthenia gravis – UB Now: News and views…

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A UB researcher recently co-led a panel of 16 international experts on myasthenia gravis (MG) to revise and expand recommendations for managing the disease. Their paper was published in the journal Neurology on Nov. 3.

Gil I. Wolfe, Irvin and Rosemary Smith Chair of the Department of Neurology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB and president of UBMD Neurology, served as co-chair of the panel. He also co-chaired the same panel in 2016 when the guidelines were originally developed.

The new guidance for clinicians is based on the latest evidence in the literature. This updated formal consensus guidance provides recommendations to clinicians caring for MG patients worldwide.

Some wealthy countries have established their own guidelines, but most of the world cannot do that, Wolfe says.The international panel, using the UCLA/RAND Appropriateness Methodology to achieve a formal consensus, hopes to fill that void, providing a treatment/management framework for health care providers, industry, insurers and the patient community.

MG is a rare autoimmune disease affecting neuromuscular function. As many as 60,000 Americans have been diagnosed with MG, and its incidence is increasing as a result of improved diagnostic techniques and an aging population. Symptoms of MG include droopy eyelids; blurred or double vision; difficulty speaking, swallowing and breathing; and muscle weakness.

One of the main revisions to the recommendations encourages thymectomy (surgical removal of the thymus gland) in the largest subpopulation of MG patients. This change is based on a clinical trial for which Wolfe was the principal investigator. Results of that trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2016 and in The Lancet Neurology in 2019.

A new recommendation was also developed for the use of eculizimab, a complement inhibitor that is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for MG.

The panel also revised recommendations for the use of rituximab and methotrexate, as well as for early immunosuppression in ocular MG and MG associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

In addition, there are some warnings in the recommendations pertaining to worsening MG clinical status in regard to certain therapies that have been touted for use in COVID-19, Wolfe says.

A list of panel participants and their institutions is available in the paper.

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UB researcher co-chairs international panel that revised, expanded guidance for caring for patients with myasthenia gravis - UB Now: News and views...

Dr. Tzurei Chen Publishes Chapters on Neurologic and Geriatric Physical Therapy – Pacific University

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Dr. Tzurei Chen recently collaborated with Dr. Kevin Chui to publish two chapters in two textbooks frequently adopted in entry-level physical therapy education and used in clinical practice. Both textbooks are also used by physical therapists as preparatory resources for American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties exams. The first chapter is on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation for select patient populations including those with neurologic dysfunction, amputation, and chronic low back pain. The second chapter is on impaired joint mobility for older adults and addresses all of the elements of patient/client management. Both chapters incorporate the most recent evidence to inform clinical-decision making.

References:

Chen T, Chui K. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. In Martin S, Kessler M, eds. "Neurologic Interventions for Physical Therapy." St. Louis, MO: Saunders; 2020: 294-347.

Chui K, Yen SC, Chen T, Christiansen C. Impaired joint mobility in older adults. In Avers D, Wong R, eds. "Gucciones Geriatric Physical Therapy." St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2020: 344-364.

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Dr. Tzurei Chen Publishes Chapters on Neurologic and Geriatric Physical Therapy - Pacific University

UB researcher co-chairs international panel that expanded guidance for caring for patients with myasthenia gravis – UB News Center

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BUFFALO, N.Y. A University at Buffalo researcher recently co-led a panel of 16 international experts on myasthenia gravis (MG) to revise and expand recommendations for managing the disease. Their paper was published in the journal Neurology on Nov. 3.

Gil I. Wolfe, MD, Irvin and Rosemary Smith Chair of the Department of Neurology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB and president of UBMD Neurology, served as co-chair of the panel. He also co-chaired the same panel in 2016, when the guidelines were originally developed.

The new guidance for clinicians is based on the latest evidence in the literature. This updated formal consensus guidance provides recommendations to clinicians caring for MG patients worldwide.

Some wealthy countries have established their own guidelines, but most of the world cannot do that, Wolfe said.The international panel, using the UCLA/RAND Appropriateness Methodology to achieve a formal consensus, hopes to fill that void, providing a treatment/management framework for health care providers, industry, insurers and the patient community.

MG is a rare autoimmune disease affecting neuromuscular function. As many as 60,000 Americans have been diagnosed with MG, and its incidence is increasing as a result of improved diagnostic techniques and an aging population. Symptoms of MG include droopy eyelids; blurred or double vision; difficulty speaking, swallowing and breathing; and muscle weakness.

One of the main revisions to the recommendations encourages thymectomy (surgical removal of the thymus gland) in the largest subpopulation of MG patients. This change is based on a clinical trial for which Wolfe was the principal investigator. Results of that trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2016 and in The Lancet Neurology in 2019.

A new recommendation was also developed for the use of eculizimab, a complement inhibitor that is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for MG.

The panel also revised recommendations for the use of rituximab and methotrexate, as well as for early immunosuppression in ocular MG and MG associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

In addition, there are some warnings in the recommendations pertaining to worsening MG clinical status in regard to certain therapies that have been touted for use in COVID-19, Wolfe said.

A list of panel participantsand their institutions is available in thepaper.

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UB researcher co-chairs international panel that expanded guidance for caring for patients with myasthenia gravis - UB News Center

Pipeline Therapeutics Appoints Julie Iwashita as Vice President of Clinical Operations – Business Wire

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SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pipeline Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of first-in-class small molecules for neuroregeneration, today announced the appointment of Julie Iwashita as the companys Vice President of Clinical Operations. Ms. Iwashita brings more than 30 years of experience guiding global neurology and other clinical development programs through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other global health authorities.

I am delighted to welcome Julie to Pipeline Therapeutics to spearhead our clinical development efforts, said Carmine Stengone, President & CEO of Pipeline Therapeutics. Julies extensive experience in managing drug candidates through the clinic, across a variety of therapeutic areas, will benefit us greatly as we move our neuroregenerative candidates through clinical studies and assemble the data packages needed for eventual NDA submissions.

I am delighted to be joining the Pipeline team, just as the companys lead program, PIPE-505 for sensorineural hearing loss, is progressing through a proof-of-concept Phase 1/2a study, and as PIPE-307 enters the clinic, both candidates with great potential to help patients with unmet medical needs, said Ms. Iwashita. I believe Pipeline Therapeutics is well-positioned to transform the current treatment of neurological disorders, based on its exciting and proprietary technology covering synaptogenesis, remyelination and axonal repair.

Julie most recently served as Vice President of Clinical Operations for Cirius Therapeutics, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of treatments for liver and metabolic diseases. Previously she served as Executive Director, Clinical Operations at Kodiak Sciences Inc., (NASDAQ: KOD). Prior to Kodiak, Julie served as Executive Director of Clinical Development at Laguna Pharmaceuticals and before that at Sorbent Therapeutics. Prior to Sorbent, Julie was Senior Director of Clinical Development at MAP Pharmaceuticals, Proteolix, Inc. and Affymax, Inc. (OTCMKTS: AFFY). Julie has served as a consultant for multiple private and public biotech companies exploring neurological disorders including age-related macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, and migraine headaches. She has also managed clinical programs at Genitope, Aviron, Amgen and Syntex in therapeutic areas including renal, cardiovascular, and oncology.

Julie holds a bachelors degree in human biology from Stanford University.

About Pipeline Therapeutics

Pipeline Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of first-in-class small molecules for neuroregeneration, including synaptogenesis, remyelination and axonal repair. The company's lead clinical program, PIPE-505, is currently enrolling patients in a phase 1/2a study to treat sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) associated with speech-in-noise disability. The company also has a portfolio of programs addressing a range of neurological disorders, including development candidate PIPE-307 which is focused on remyelination to treat multiple sclerosis. For more information, please visit http://www.pipelinetherapeutics.com.

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Pipeline Therapeutics Appoints Julie Iwashita as Vice President of Clinical Operations - Business Wire

Tilray, Inc. and Hormosan Sign a Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Medical Cannabis Extracts in Germany – Business Wire

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BERLIN & FRANKFURT, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tilray, Inc. (Tilray or the Company) (Nasdaq: TLRY), a leading company in the manufacture, research and distribution of medical cannabis, announced that it has entered into a co-promotion agreement with Hormosan for its full-spectrum cannabis extracts in Germany effective 1 January 2021.

Hormosan is primarily focused on pain therapy and neurology and is part of the Lupin Group, an international entity that sells innovative drugs and generics. Hormosan will support Tilray in its marketing and sales activities of full spectrum cannabis extract in Germany. Through this strategic partnership, the expertise of both Tilray and Hormosan will be leveraged to expand Tilrays presence in the German market.

Tilray launched its full-spectrum cannabis extracts in October 2017 and last expanded the range in May 2020. The range includes an extract with a balanced THC-CBD ratio, a CBD-dominant extract with a low THC content and a pure THC full-spectrum extract. According to the legal regulation, the use of cannabis full-spectrum extracts is not restricted to a specific indication, but the treating doctor decides at their own discretion whether a treatment is suitable. The Tilray extracts are used for chronic pain, spasticity, sleep disorders and a variety of other indications.

"With Hormosan we have gained a partner that has excellent expertise and contacts in the field of pain therapy and neurology and will thus significantly increase the visibility of Tilray's full-spectrum cannabis extracts in the future," explains Sascha Mielcarek, Managing Director Europe at Tilray. This will give physicians and patients even better access to our medical cannabis extracts while supporting our goal of contributing to improved care for patients with medical cannabis."

As one of the leading providers of full-spectrum cannabis extracts, Tilray is an ideal partner for Hormosan. With the co-promotion of medical cannabis extracts, we are expanding our competence and our therapeutic range in the field of pain therapy and neurology, comments Anjan Selz, Managing Director of Hormosan. "It is precisely the complementarity of medical cannabis with existing therapies that opens up promising options for doctors and their patients."

About Tilray

Tilray is one of the world's leading companies in the research, manufacture and distribution of medicinal cannabis and cannabinoids. Tilray has a broad product portfolio and can draw on experience with over 25,000 treated patients in fifteen countries on five continents. Further information can also be found at tilray.de.

About Hormosan

Hormosan Pharma GmbH was founded in Germany over 50 years ago and has been part of the international Lupin Group since 2008. With innovative and generic drugs, Hormosan supports the best possible treatment in the areas of neurology, pain therapy, as well as sexual health and HIV. In doing so, it focuses primarily on the medical needs of patients that have not yet been met, increasing patient benefits and the availability of alternative therapy options. Further information can also be found information at http://www.hormosan.de.

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Tilray, Inc. and Hormosan Sign a Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Medical Cannabis Extracts in Germany - Business Wire

Film review: the immoderate adventures of Oliver Sacks – The Conversation AU

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Review: Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, directed by Ric Burns

Apropos of nothing but a bowl of jello placed before him, a stifled laugh escapes from Oliver Sacks, the famed neurologist, writer and public intellectual.

What are you thinking about? asks a voice offscreen.

Sacks demurs at first or perhaps feigns reluctance then relents.

Until a few years ago, I would wake up at night with an erection. Nothing to do with sexual excitement But it was at times irritatingly persistent. So, I would sometimes cool my turgid penis in orange jello.

Such vignettes from Oliver Sacks: His Own Life reveal the usually shy, but often cheeky and sometimes shockingly honest character of the late Sacks.

Shortly after receiving a fatal diagnosis in January, 2015, Sacks invited documentarian Ric Burns and crew for a series of interviews in his New York City apartment. Sacks second memoir, On the Move, would be published in April. He passed away just a few months later.

Read more: 'I want to stare death in the eye': why dying inspires so many writers and artists

The film is structured around Sacks reading brief passages from his memoir, accompanied by archival footage of the avuncular physician in action. Also interspersed are pithy recollections from fellow neurologists, writers, editors, patients, family and friends.

Rather than retreading previous thoughts on Sacks style of romantic science, its worth considering what the documentary offers that existing memoirs, biographies and other accounts do not.

Firstly, for those unfamiliar with Sacks, the film provides the most efficient but palatable jello anecdotes aside summary of his life, work and character.

Moreover, it reconciles how Sacks seemingly wild contradictions would (eventually) become complements. A recurring theme is that Sacks was immoderate in all directions, living a life that whiplashed between extremes of hedonism and self-discipline.

Sacks possessed a curious mix of extraordinary erudition, voracious appetite and self-destructive tendencies. This was leavened by seemingly boundless empathy for the neurologically marginalised, for whom he so poetically advocated.

Read more: How Oliver Sacks brought readers into his patients' inner worlds

By all accounts, including those of his partner Bill Hayes, Sacks could be painfully shy, yet effusively gregarious when taken by sudden, ebullient outbursts of boyish enthusiasm.

As a young man wracked with anguish regarding his sexuality and unrequited affections, Sacks once resolved never to live with anyone again. So began 35 years of celibacy, when Sacks took on an almost monastic dedication to his work.

However, Sacks first turned to drugs as a sort of compensation, acquiring a fierce amphetamine habit that proved inspiring and corrosive.

Yet Sacks also sought mastery over his body, becoming an exceptional weightlifter.

Oscillating between roles as Dr Squat the athlete, Wolf the speedfreak biker, and Ollie the kindly but unconventional neurologist, Sacks often remained ill at ease.

Perhaps only in his very late years, through his relationship with Hayes including a very late discovery of French kissing on his 76th birthday did Sacks find comfort.

Read more: Oliver Sacks, the brain and God

Born into a typical, Orthodox Jewish, middle-class family during the 1930s, Sacks father, Sam, was an affable GP, while his mother, Elsie, was a highly regarded gynaecologist, and among the first women surgeons in England.

Sacks reports an an uneasy closeness with his mother.

I think she wanted me to be like her. Sometimes, especially when I was very young she would bring a fetus home, and suggest I dissect it. That was not so easy for a child of ten or eleven.

Later, upon discovering Oliver was gay, his mother declared him an abomination. Though they remained close, Sacks lamented that her words haunted me for much of my life.

Sacks and his brother Michael were sent to boarding school during the Battle of Britain. Soon after this harrowing experience Michael was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Sacks became both terrified of him, terrified for him and retreated into a fondness for chemistry.

Only after many years could Sacks work his way back towards contemplating the minds of others.

Famously clumsy, Sacks initially aspired to be a lab scientist, but after numerous calamities was instructed to Get out, see patients, youll do less harm.

His vocational approach as a neurologist often more resembled a naturalist than a clinician. For Sacks, observation and play trumped diagnosis and prescription.

Indeed, in a biography by Lawrence Weschler, Sacks notes his main neurological tool is the ball You can learn much from how patients play.

Read more: Celebrating Oliver Sacks' romantic science and a life now ending

To compress any life let alone one as Forrest Gumpian as Sacks into a two hour film is something of a fools errand.

Hence, narrative compromises were always likely. Sacks travels in Canada, where he briefly tried joining the Royal Canadian Air Force, are skipped entirely.

Similarly, perhaps in deference to a subject granting privileged access during his last days, the documentary veers ever so slightly into hagiography, framing Sacks as a unifying figure between the clinical and experimental neurosciences.

Still, Sacks influence is undeniably staggering, and His Own Life provides a compelling account of the empathetic labours needed for otherwise lost souls to be storied into the world.

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life is in cinemas now.

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Film review: the immoderate adventures of Oliver Sacks - The Conversation AU

Adamas Announces Agreement to Settle Patent Litigation with OsmoticaAs part of this agreement Adamas will acquire the global rights to OSMOLEX ER -…

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EMERYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Inc. (Nasdaq: ADMS), a company dedicated to developing and delivering medicines that make a meaningful difference to people affected by neurological diseases, todayannouncedit hassigned an agreement tosettle its ongoing patent litigation with OsmoticaPharmaceutical US LLC, a subsidiary of OsmoticaPharmaceuticals plc.As a result of this agreement,both partieswilldrop their respective claims relating to thepatentlitigation,and Adamaswillacquire the global rightstoOSMOLEXERfor $7.5 million.The agreement is expected to closeearly in2021.

Adamas current portfolio consists of GOCOVRI (amantadine) extended-release capsules for the treatment of dyskinesia in patients with Parkinsons disease receiving levodopa-based therapy. OSMOLEX ER (amantadine) extended-release tablets is FDA-approved for the treatment for Parkinsons disease and drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions in adult patients.

This settlement agreement removes any further litigation costs and related distraction for Adamas. The acquisition of OSMOLEX ER also expands our presence in Neurology which is part of our long-term growth strategy, said Neil F. McFarlane, Chief Executive Officer. The different FDA-approved indications and pharmacokinetic profiles for GOCOVRI and OSMOLEX ER allow for the treatment of distinct patient populations. We intend to leverage our commercial expertise to unlock the full potential of both products and serve more patients in the wider neurology community.

As part of the acquisition, Adamas will receiveexisting inventory and allrightstoOSMOLEX ER.Parties also entered a supply agreementin whichOsmoticawillbe the sole manufacturer ofOSMOLEXER.Both parties are working together toensurecontinuity ofproductsupplytopatients.

About GOCOVRI

GOCOVRI (amantadine) extended-release capsulesisthe first and only FDA-approved medicine indicated for the treatment of dyskinesia in patients with Parkinsons disease receiving levodopa-based therapy, with or without concomitant dopaminergic medications. It is also the only medicine clinically proven to reduce both dyskinesia and OFF.

Taken once daily at bedtime, GOCOVRI provides an initial lag and a slow rise in amantadine concentration during the night, resulting in a high concentration from the morning and throughout the waking day. Additionally, in the clinical trials, the adjunctive use of GOCOVRI did not require dose changes to dopaminergic therapies. Themost commonly observedadverse reactions with GOCOVRI were hallucinations, dizziness, dry mouth, peripheral edema, constipation, falls and orthostatic hypotension.

For more information about GOCOVRI, please visitwww.GOCOVRI.com.

About OSMOLEXER

OSMOLEX ER,(amantadine)extended-releasetablets, is FDA-approved for the treatment of Parkinsons disease and drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions in adult patients.OSMOLEX ER is contraindicated in patients with end-stage renal disease (i.e., creatinine clearance below 15 mL/min/1.73 m2). The most common adverse reactions reported in 5% of patients at the recommended dosage of immediate-release amantadine were nausea, dizziness/lightheadedness, and insomnia.

For more information about OSMOLEX ER, including the full Prescribing Information, please visit http://www.OSMOLEX.com

About Adamas

At Adamas our vision is clear - to deliver innovative medicines that reduce the burden of neurological diseases on patients, caregivers and society. We are a fully integrated company focused on growing a portfolio of therapies to address a range of neurological diseases. For more information, please visitwww.adamaspharma.com.

Forward-looking statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that may occur in the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements contained in this press release regarding Adamas expectationsregarding the expected timing of the closing of the transaction with Osmotica. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forexample, the completion of the transaction is subject to closing conditions, which if not met or waived, would cause the transaction not to close. Other risks relating to Adamas may be found inAdamas Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2020, particularly under the caption Risk Factors. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Adamas undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as required by law.

Contact:

MediaSarah MathiesonVice President of Corporate Communications510-450-3528smathieson@adamaspharma.com

InvestorsPeter VozzoManaging Director, Westwicke443-213-0505peter.vozzo@westwicke.com

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Adamas Announces Agreement to Settle Patent Litigation with OsmoticaAs part of this agreement Adamas will acquire the global rights to OSMOLEX ER -...

Anatomy of a Play: Tre’Davious White reads Justin Herbert’s mind – Touchdown Wire

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It has been an up-and-down season for Buffalo Bills cornerback TreDavious White. Considered by most to be one of the top cornerbacks in the league entering 2020, White has been managing back and lower body injuries this season, and has not turned in the kind of campaign that Bills fans and the cornerback himself were probably hoping for. But if the Bills do go on to win the AFC East, their narrow win Sunday over the Los Angeles Chargers will be a reason why, and it was White who turned in perhaps the play of the game, reading the mind of rookie quarterback Justin Herbert.

In this breakdown, youll see White read Herberts intentions almost immediately after the snap, and then jump a route working from the other side of the field from his alignment as a Cover 3 cornerback on the outside:

This is a tremendous bit of football savvy and awareness from the cornerback, and it is plays like this that make him one of the best in the NFL.

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Anatomy of a Play: Tre'Davious White reads Justin Herbert's mind - Touchdown Wire

Greys Anatomy: Another Beloved Character Returns – Deadline

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SPOILER ALERT: The story includes a detail about the Dec. 3 episode of Greys Anatomy.

The promo for tonights fourth episode of this seasons ABC hit medical drama Greys Anatomy teased that another person returns from Merediths past.

As Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) continues to battle Covid-19, her dreams have been taking her to a beach where the love of her life, Derek (Patrick Dempsey), is waiting for her. Tonight, someone else Meredith was fond of who tragically died came back to see her. Leaning onto the railing of a lifeguard tower at the beach was George OMalley (T.R. Knight).

Both were surprised but happy to see each other.

It was the first of several dream meetings between Meredith and George, in which they strolled along the beach and his death and funeral.

Related Story'Grey's Anatomy' Shocker: Krista Vernoff, Ellen Pompeo & Patrick Dempsey On Season 17 Premiere's Dream Reunion & More

I was devastated when you died, Meredith said.

You were all cracking up at my funeral, George said in response.George spoke of what he misses about being alive (Dancing til you drop, laughing til you cry, food and textures, the crunch of cereal as you eat it out of the box, thefeel of clean sheets and good pillow at the end of a long day.)

At their final conversation, Meredith told George how much he meant to her.

You changed my life George, she said in one of the episodes most emotional moments, which was soon followed by another, a reunion at the beach of four of Greys original characters, George (Knight), Meredith (Pompeo), Richard (James Pickens Jr.) and Bailey (Chandra Wilson).

Knights appearance is part of a beach motif throughout the pandemic-themed Season 17 of Greys Anatomy designed to bring joy to fans.

It kicked off in the season premiere with the jaw-dropping return of Greys original male lead Dempsey.

Asked after the opener what other beloved characters from Greys past may come back, series executive producer/showrunner Krista Vernoff said:You have to tune in and see who comes to the beach. Itll be a joyful discovery.

Both Dempsey and Knight were original Greys Anatomy cast members alongside Pompeo whose characters were fan favorites. Knight left in Season 5; Dempsey departed in Season 11.

Dempseys McDreamy died after being hit by a semi truck when he pulled over to help a family involved in a car accident. In a similarly selfless act, Knights OMalley jumped in front of a bus to rescue a woman he didnt know. At the time of his exit, Knight said he felt his character had expired after getting less screen time.

In a Q&A with Deadline, Knight and Vernoff tell the backstory of Georges big return and answer burning questions about tonights episode. Read it here.

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Greys Anatomy: Another Beloved Character Returns - Deadline

Anatomy of a Goal: Santos sends Crew to the Eastern Conference Final – Massive Report

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Welcome back to the Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from the Columbus Crews previous match.

For the second match of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, we take a look at Pedro Santos 99th minute goal that gave the Crew a 1-0 win against Nashville SC as part of their 2-0 Eastern Conference Semi-Final win on Sunday.

Here is a look at the goal from Columbuss winger.

The Black & Gold took the field against the expansion team following a week of limited contact due to seven positive COVID-19 results within the team. Despite the reduced practice time, the Crew started the match brightly before fading as the first half went on. Nashville led Columbus 8-4 in shots at the half and looked to be the most dangerous side.

After halftime, the Black & Gold found their footing and went on to control most of the second half, holding Nashville to nine more shots for the second half plus extra time while recording 13 of their own. All that was for naught as neither team was able to find the back of the net. Extra time beckoned in at MAPFRE Stadium.

Santos game winner begins with a throw-in deep in the Crews defensive half.

Milton Valenzuela takes aim for Gyasi Zardes via a long throw.

Zardes jostles for position between Alistair Johnston and Walker Zimmerman as the ball drops in.

Johnston gets a glancing header onto the ball but sends it back toward his own goal.

Lucas Zelarayan waits on Johnstons glancing header as he shields off Dave Romney.

Zelarayan is able to hold off Romney and take possession of the ball. Zardes will make a run on one side of the No. 10 while Santos makes a parallel run up the sideline.

The Argentine attacker gathers the ball and turns toward the Nashville goal while his teammates continue their runs.

Zimmerman regroups to provide defensive pressure leaving Zelarayan with three options. He can play a pass up the sideline to Santos, attempt to beat Romney and Zimmerman off the dribble or send a pass out in front of Zardes.

Holding off Zimmerman, Zelarayan somehow hits an outside-of-the-right-foot pass around Romney and into the path of Zardes.

Zardes sprints toward the ball while Santos continues his run up the sideline.

The attack is on and the Crew reposition. Zardes will continue his diagonal run toward the sideline and the ball. Santos, seeing Zardes run up the sideline, will arc toward the middle of the goal. Luis Diaz heads toward the back post while Darlington Nagbe makes a trailing run to the top and middle of the goal box.

Santos cuts toward the penalty box and Zardes continues his sprint to the ball. Zimmermans run forward and subsequent pressure leave ample open space between the defense and goalkeeper Joe Willis.

Zardes reaches the ball and takes a touch to redirect its path into the goal box. Santos continues his run to the middle of the 18-yard box while Diaz shifts toward the back post.

Zardes approaches the ball and has three options. He can play a long cross toward Diaz, a pass on the ground to Santos or carry the ball closer to the goal.

The Columbus striker sees Santos and hits a low, diagonal pass toward the winger.

Zardes pass goes right between Romneys legs on its path toward Santos.

The ball slides right between Dax McCarty and Johnston as Santos approaches.

Santos plant foot slides out front under him as he goes to hit a first-touch shot on goal.

The Portuguese is still able to connect, sending the ball toward the post furthest from Willis.

Willis dives too late and the ball rolls under his outstretched arms...

...and into the back of the net!

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Anatomy of a Goal: Santos sends Crew to the Eastern Conference Final - Massive Report

Anatomy of Olivier Giroud’s perfect hat-trick and how it tells the story of his career – Telegraph.co.uk

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Such was the aesthetic quality of Olivier Girouds perfect hat-trick in Seville that it almost felt like a shame when he scored his fourth of the night from the penalty spot.

A mere penalty could never compare to the beauty of the other three the left-foot sweep, the right-foot dink and the glanced header but then again Giroud has always been a striker capable of mingling the exquisite with the efficient.

Girouds four-goal haul, coming one week after his late winner against Rennes, served as another emphatic reminder to Frank Lampard that he is far from finished as an attacking force. Giroud may be 34 now, but he does not look it and he certainly does not play like it.

It seems that every time Lampard tries to gently squeeze Giroud out of the picture, the Frenchman responds by making himself undroppable. It is a mark of his professionalism as much as his footballing quality that he continually fights back from the fringes, refusing to accept that he is a player of the past.

It was an amazing solo performance and he deserves all the accolades, said Lampard. He is up there with the greats of French football with the international goals he scores for France and hes reliable, full-stop, for us and for France. There is not a player who all his team-mates could be happier for.

Each of Girouds goals against Sevilla told their own story of his striking ability. They also provided little insights into why he has enjoyed such long-lasting success. The first, for example, when he received the ball on his right foot and finished powerfully with his left, was evidence of his balance and his close control in the penalty box.

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Anatomy of Olivier Giroud's perfect hat-trick and how it tells the story of his career - Telegraph.co.uk

Anatomy of a K drama Scene: Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin’s ‘candle’ Crash Landing on You moment is truly underrated – PINKVILLA

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In the latest edition of Anatomy of a K-drama Scene, we look at an underrated romantic moment between Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin in Crash Landing on You where the former uses a scented candle to find the latter.

Crash Landing on You has already reached cult status, even though if it just aired between 2019 to 2020. One of the biggest reasons why CLOY became such a worldwide hit is because of the palpable chemistry shared between Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin as star-crossed lovers. While Bin played the reserved North Korean captain Ri Jung-hyuk, Ye-jin portrayed the confident South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri.

*SPOILERS ALERT* In today's pick for Anatomy of a K-drama Scene, we take a look at one of the underrated romantic sequences between Jung-hyuk and Se-ri which would flutter the coldest of hearts. While their reunion and kissing sequences are the perfect K-drama moments, we're specifically talking about the scented candle moment from CLOY Ep 5. For some context, as Se-ri heads to the market during her free time, she gets separated from her ladies squad, is lost and finds it hard to trace back Jung-hyuk's address. Moreover, as it's late at night, her sense of direction is even more diluted.

When Jung-hyuk finds out that Se-ri has gotten lost, he cycles his way quickly to the market but can't seem to find her. Eventually, he remembers her obsession with scented candles and buys one, lighting it and holding it high above his head in the hopes of Se-ri walking towards the light. With Davichi's Sunsetfrom CLOY OST as the perfect background score, Se-ri's worrisome face changes into a moment of reflection as she realises its Jung-hyuk, who comes as a literal knight in shining armour rescuing her, always at the right place and at the right time. As she walks towards him, Jung-hyuk breathes a sigh of relief and says, "This time, it's not just a candle but a scented one. Right?" To which, Se-ri smiles bright and says back a simple, "Right."

This scene may seem like a simple cutesy moment between the two main leads but holds a much more meaningful stance as it conveys how important Se-ri has become for Jung-hyuk. Especially, knowing the fact that the two can't be together given the literal 'border' problem between them. Yet, when knowing that Se-ri is in trouble, Jung-hyuk drops everything and goes searching for her. While stoic in nature, you see a change in Jung-hyuk thanks to Se-ri. On the other hand, Se-ri, who has had her fair share of forgettable flings find a safe space in Jung-hyuk, confirming that he'll be there for her, no matter what.

An underrated moment which has so many thoughts and emotions. And, that's all because of a scented candle.

Watch Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin's 'scented candle' moment HERE.

ALSO READ: Anatomy of a K drama Scene: How food was used as a symbol of Kim Seon Ho's love confession to Suzy in Start Up

What did you think of Ri Jung-hyuk and Yoon Se-ri's scented candle moment in Crash Landing on You? Loved it or hated it? Share your thoughts with Pinkvilla in the comments section below.

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Anatomy of a K drama Scene: Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin's 'candle' Crash Landing on You moment is truly underrated - PINKVILLA

How TV shows are handling COVID-19 stories: The good, the bad and the just plain sad – USA TODAY

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Elaine Swann, lifestyle expert and founder of The Swann School of Protocol, explains how to turn down a social gathering politely during the pandemic. USA TODAY

Network TV is back, but just like everything else in our new reality, it looks a little different.

The COVID-19 pandemic has touched nearly every aspect of our lives, and Hollywood is no exception. The beginning of the pandemic in the spring shut downfilming of nearly all TV showsdue to safety concerns. Over the summer, series began to inch back into production (although not all of them made it), and those set in the present day were left with a harrowingdecision: Whether to include the pandemic in the fictional stories.

While bringing the global tragedy into a medium that is designed forentertaining and escapist is not for all, some TV series writers have chosen to dive headfirst into pandemic storylines, (Others, includingChuck Lorre's CBS sitcoms, are ignoring it entirely, which sacrifices realism for comfortand has its own benefits and problems). A few series are able to find empathy, humor and catharsis in the COVID-19 era.But for others, bringing a deadly pandemic into the mix isill-advised, terrible behavior modelingand a huge downer.

The Season 17 premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" picks up one month into the pandemic, and it's all-hands-on-deck as Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and the rest of the Grey Sloan doctors find themselves on the frontlines of a new era.(Photo: ABC)

No TV show that decided to include the pandemic is really excelling right now. Instead, most aretreading water or sinking into an abyss.On ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," NBC's "Superstore" and "This Is Us,"COVID-19 is incorporated with only some exploitation and occasional awkwardness. But others, including NBC's trio of "Chicago" series, "All Rise" on CBS and even usual ripped from the headlinesstalwart "Law & Order: SVU," adding coronavirus stories spells disaster.

More: 2020 TV premieres: Here's when your favorite show returns, and your next addiction starts

One of the biggest issues TV characters face is one of the biggest issues confronting the public:How to follow safety guidelines. Sure, behind the scenes studios are spending millions following strict protocols on set. But once the cameras start rolling, mask-wearing, testingand physical distance are hit or miss.

From an artistry standpoint, it's understandable that directors don't want to cover up the bottom half of an actor's face, hampering their performance and muffling the sound of the dialogue. It's also hard to shoot most scenes if everyone is sitting six feet apart, or main characters from different households never congregate in person.

So when Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay)of "SVU" wears her mask into a hospital but then takes it off to interview an unmasked domestic violence victim while leaning over her bed, it makes sense if you know what goes into good TV. But it is terrible modeling for public health.

Detective Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavin) gets his temperature checked in a Season 22 episode of "Law and Order: SVU."(Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

On medicalshows, the mask issue is even more distracting. Would the doctors and nurses ofGaffney Chicago Medical Center, the setting for "Chicago Med," really remove their masks when inside the hospital, as if their front-line co-workers were less likely to have the virus, andnotamong the most exposed members of the population?

There is a sad realism to the irregular safety measures and masking on the series not everyone is following guidelines perfectly, or at all. But it seems woefully irresponsible to portray such behavioron TV shows with wide audiences, as if confirming our private beliefsthat our friends and family can't infect us at a time when cases nationwide are surging, in large part due to private gatherings.

If they can't model ethical behavior, TV shows should at least tell compelling stories about COVID-19. But some aren't even doing that much.

On "Grey's," a series familiar with death, catastrophe and extreme emotions, incorporating COVID-19 into the lives of the Grey Sloanstaff feels more natural than most other series, if still odd. Giving Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) the virus also somehow works, considering there is no tragedy the poor protagonist has not suffered in the show's 17 seasons. It is tough to watch the doctors cry out in pain when patients die, but it is not relentless.

The most successful series on the comedy side is"Superstore," whereincorporating the new normal is relatively seamless. Theemployees at a Walmart-like big box store, are (like doctors on "Grey's") front-line workers. The season premiere captureshow corporations praised their "essential" employees while not actually protecting them. Jokes about toilet paper shortages, "Tiger King" and masks work here, too, mostly because the long-running sitcom has built up enough trust with its audience to find the funny in our international nightmare.

With less of a direct connection to COVID-19, other series struggle to balance regular storylines and pandemic events.ABC's"The Conners"and "Black-ish," have characters working on the front lines,but swing too often fromjokes tosober conversations. Crime and lawyer series "SVU," CBS's two "FBI" series and "All Rise" turn the pandemic into a backdrop for business-as-usual mysteries and court cases, but it doesn't feel organic for so much to remain unchanged in those fictional worlds other than the occasional mask or temperature check.

Colton Dunn as Garrett and Kaliko Kauahi as Sandra on "Superstore."(Photo: Greg Gayne/NBC)

Somewhere in the middle are series like NBC's "This Is Us," which at different pointsembrace or ignorethe pandemic, whichever is most convenient for the storytelling.Quarantining together speeds up Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Madison's (Caitlin Thompson) relationship, for instance. But when Rebecca (Mandy Moore) wanders, without a mask, into a restaurant of umasked workers and patrons (would it even be open for indoor dining?), no comment is made about the risk to her as a senior.

More: 'This Is Us' Season 5 premiere recap: How the Pearsons deal with 2020

The problem is, the pandemic isn't over, so writers have jumpedinto a major plot twist with no idea how it will end. There is no benefit of hindsight to aid storytelling choices,and there is no easy way to predictchanges wrought by our new reality.

The unfortunate truth is that even the best pandemic TV is still pandemic TV sad, uncomfortable and listlessly waiting for it to end.

More: Chuck Lorre adds fifth CBS comedy to his TV empire, adjusting to pandemic protocols along the way

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How TV shows are handling COVID-19 stories: The good, the bad and the just plain sad - USA TODAY

Outside the stereotype: Local actor the first Native American on Greys Anatomy – Albuquerque Journal

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................................................................

Mesa is aiming to change that narrative with his recurring role as James Chee on ABCs long-running series, Greys Anatomy.

Robert I. Mesa.

Its definitely a huge deal, Mesa says of the role. Im overwhelmed by it. Im a representative of the first Native American on the series.

On the series, Chee is a surgical intern who started near the beginning of the pandemic at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial.

Due to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Chee and his fellow medical school graduates were sent to their residency programs earlier than the standard start date.

Mesa (Navajo/Soboba) began filming in October in Los Angeles.

A fan of Greys Anatomy for years, Mesa describes being on set as crazy/beautiful.

Greg Germann, left and Robert I. Mesa in a scene from Greys Anatomy.

Theres nearly 20 years of history with this series, he says. Being inside the iconic Grey Sloan Memorial was humbling. I also am proud to be playing an indigenous character outside of the stereotypes for Native Americans.

Mesa is represented by Mitchell Talent in Albuquerque and Los Angeles.

Carissa Mitchell says when casting for the 17th season of Greys Anatomy began, producers were reaching out to her in hopes of finding Native American actors.

The cool thing about the New Mexico film market is that the casting directors are so good at representing all people, Mitchell says. The fact that this is a first for this TV series is huge. Robs been working in the market for years. Its great to see this opportunity come to life.

Mitchell says New Mexico has always been diverse within the film industry.

The fact that the series wanted to move forward with Native American actors is a good sign, Mitchell says. Thats so forward thinking.

One could call Mesa a renaissance man, as he is actor, artist and photographer.

Born on the Navajo Nation, he grew up in foster care, which took him to homes all over the country.

He moved to Santa Fe when he was 18 and met his family which consists of Maura Dhu Studi.

I met all of their friends and began my journey as an artist, he says. I left to New York for a bit where I was doing theater.

Later, photography took him to Shanghai and Japan.

Then, a TV series took him to New Zealand.

The past two years, I was focusing on theater, he says. My family is supportive of what I do and I dont feel any pressure from them. We all have our paths.

The first episode featuring Chee has aired and Mesa wasnt expecting the response hes had.

He says as people watched the show, theyd reach out to him about it.

One thing that was really sweet from people was that they are long-time viewers and were waiting to see an indigenous person on it, he says.

They are looking at me and my character as a point of inspiration. I take a whole lot of pride of being New Mexican and from the Navajo Nation. Its a crazy time right now and I hope that this gives people some excitement.

Mesa says children will be able to see themselves in Chee.

It gives you hope that you can possibly do that, he says. They can act or become a doctor. Its wonderful to make that next step.

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Outside the stereotype: Local actor the first Native American on Greys Anatomy - Albuquerque Journal

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ dedicates season 17 to healthcare workers during COVID-19 – Daily Cardinal

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Loyal fans of the prime-time medical drama Greys Anatomy were rewarded for their patience when the 17th season premiered on Thursday, Nov. 12. The anxiously awaited return of the longest-running prime-time medical drama in America was well received by its audience with 5.7 million total views. The unexpected hiatus between seasons 16 and 17 left fans hanging with no real finale. The shows production was abruptly stopped with 4 episodes to finish the 16th season last March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to protect the staff and actors of the show, the decision was made to discontinue filming, making Greys the first prime-time show to do so.

The emotional two-hour special focused on how Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital was handling the arrival of COVID-19. The timeline was pushed back to the beginning of the pandemic, before the public knew the details it does now. It gave the viewers an idea of how the medical community was dealing with the influx of critically ill patients and the emotional toll it took on the medical staff. Granted, this is still televised drama, but this popular ABC series has been known to incorporate sticky issues in their storylines such as domestic abuse, transgender rights and drug addiction. Bringing COVID-19 to the forefront of the new season seemed appropriate and timely.

The premiere starts with the Chief of Grey-Sloan Memorial, Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) explaining to Dr. Richard Weber (James Pickens Jr.) the new protocols the hospital needs to follow, due to the pandemic.

They did an excellent job of showing the harsh reality of what goes on behind the scenes of hospitals and the mental toll it takes on healthcare workers. Although there are some lighthearted and funny moments, they never let the audience forget the seriousness and extremity behind what is going on in the world right now. The writers continuously touch upon the rising death toll, while also highlighting a new perspective: how much doctors are giving up in order to help others. Not only are they sacrificing their health and safety, but many are being separated from their families, due to their exposure to the virus. The average viewer does not understand this reality unless dealing with it personally. Those watching get a powerful dose of emotion that comes in response to how doctors are coping with the stress, separation and hard work.

After almost two decades, this season premiere topped the charts for the most eye-opening and captivating of them all. Krista Vernoff, the showrunner for Greys Anatomy, felt like the show had an obligation to tell the stories of frontline medical workers during this national crisis. This pandemic is breaking people, its breaking doctors, and we have an opportunity to help drive home the costs to the medical community, said Vernoff during an interview with EW.

Not only was the crisis fitting for the entire country, but specifically for the setting of the show, Seattle. This city was one of the first hit and had to cope with the crisis early on. Lockdowns and deaths were real and evident, making the storyline even more legitimate.

On set, protocols had to be adjusted for the actors to return to filming. Alternative camera lenses are used to give the appearance the characters are closer together than they actually are. Intimate scenes are conducted without kissing and the set has asked actors to stay in designated pods during production, even the staff works in shifts. Zones are tested differently based on their amount of exposure: red zone, three times a week. Yellow and green zones, once a week. Its a precaution that allows for constant transparency on set, but also, you know, the minimal amount of times a swab has to be stuck up your nose, as reported in Esquire.

Ellen Pompeo, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey, told People magazine in an interview, that she was dedicating Season 17 to "all who have fallen and to everyone of you who by the grace of God is still standing," adding, "This season is for you with humility and a bit of humor to get us through and endless amounts of gratitude. I hope we do you proud." She may not be a doctor, but she plays one on TV. The viewers who have enjoyed the shows particular brand of medical drama would like to thank those who are bringing us our weekly fix of Greys Anatomy. Although there is a lull between Nov. 19 and Jan. 9, we will patiently await the return of our favorite medical drama, it was sorely missed!

There are rumors saying this is Greys Anatomys final season, and if it is, it will certainly go out with a bang. It will go out standing up for the medical community, which it has successfully has done for decades. People need to be informed about the seriousness of this crisis, and Greys Anatomy cast and staff can walk away with their heads held high, knowing they have fulfilled their duty.

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'Grey's Anatomy' dedicates season 17 to healthcare workers during COVID-19 - Daily Cardinal

‘Grey’s Anatomy’: The Friendship-Turned-Romance That Never Should Have Happened – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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What happens when you get controversialGreys Anatomycharacter Izzie Stevens who many fanshated and the iconic character George OMalley whose death stillhauntsfans?

It seems you get confusion. Some thought they made a cute adorable couple, while others thought the pairing was pointless and ruined the concept that men and women can just be friends.

Add to that drama involving the actorsT.R. Knight andKatherine Heiglboth surrounding the show, and you have a pretty interesting conversation on your hands. Izzie seemed to have a habit of strange romantic relationships. Almost like it was a running joke with the writers. OMalley was also married to Callie Torres, and Heigl strongly feels that her character would have respected thatbond.

Are OMalley and Stevens a pointless relationship that destroyed a good friendship, or was the randomness of their hook-up the point? The writers showed that, much like real-life, sometimes things just happen, and they dont need to have a point. And if the relationship was so meaningless, why are people discussing it all these years later?

Heigl was really excited about the idea when it was first pitched. I was really excited about it in the beginning because, obviously, I got to work more with my best friend, and thats awesome, Heigl explained toEntertainment Weeklyin 2010.

But when the relationship quickly fizzled out, she wondered what the point was. Even their couples nickname was awful When I found out our little nickname was Gizzie, I knew it was over, I was like, Were going to have to move on because thatsnothot. Thats not, like, Brangelina.'

Ratings had dipped a bit in Greys fourth season, and sometimes writers want to create some buzz. Knight and Heigl were good friends outside the show, and maybe the writers thought that would translate, but up to that point, Izzie and been somewhat of an uptight goodie-goodie, and it seemed strange. Heigl toldVanity Fairin a 2007 interview.

They really hurt somebody, and they didnt seem to be taking a lot of responsibility for it. It was a ratings ploy, she explained, It was absolutely something that shocked people it wasnt predictable, and people didnt see it coming.

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Why Derek and Meredith Made Sense But Merluca Doesnt

Bustlelists them in the top 11Greys Anatomycouples you wanted to break up. AndVulture ranked every relationship on Greys Anatomy, and they ended up46th. Not high praise.

While conventional wisdom ranks their relationship as a mistake, theres still aReddit thread that argues the merits of their relationship. Also, when Katherine Heigl talks about her worst memories of the show, that does not even make thelist. So why all the hate?

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'Grey's Anatomy': The Friendship-Turned-Romance That Never Should Have Happened - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Couple who lost son, 5, to cancer will livestream to bring cheer and ‘bring people together’ – CT Insider

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WEST HAVEN Even though they tragically lost their 51/2-year-old son Mickey to cancer in 2016, Mark and Rachel Macholl still have faith.

So with all the strife in the world today concerning the pandemic and political division, the Macholls have decided to bring some of their lightness to the world through a livestream called Believe that will be take place at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in December on the Mickeys Fight Facebook page. To see the livestream, like the Facebook page. Their sons, Trey, 13, and Tyce, 10, will make guest appearances.

As in everything they do, Mickey will be present in spirit, they said. The Macholls now live in North Carolina, but grew up in West Haven and still have many family ties in the city. When their book Mickeys Fight was released in 2019, they traveled to to West Haven to hold a book signing at Duffys Tavern.

We want something to bring people together, Mark Macholl said in an interview from North Carolina.

Mickey, a kid described as outgoing, full of personality, will be there not only in spirit, but in the material. In the first episode, the family was to read one of three childrens books Mark Macholl has written this first one, The Brothers Christmas, originally was penned to comfort Trey, who would always get sad around holidays since his brothers death. Its one of three adventure books featuring three brothers.

During the livestreams, someone will receive a free, autographed copy of Mickeys Fight from the Macholls, talking about Mickeys brave, painful fight against cancer and their fight to allow parents the option of integrative care involving small doses of traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy, with the addition of vitamins, oils and other natural substances. For readers who have been awaiting the sequel to Mickeys Fight, they will read an excerpt from the forthcoming book, 2 a.m.

Our biggest goal is to raise awareness of childhood cancer, Rachel Macholl said. Ultimately, we want to form a movement for integrative medicine.

The Macholls say they keep Mickey in their everyday lives, but in a happy way. But the livestream wont be sad and the audience will be able to weigh in with their holiday stories and beliefs.

On a personal level, its a way to share Mickey with anyone who hasnt met him, Mark Macholl said of bringing Mickey into the livestream. With all he went through, I couldnt live with myself (and not include him). I dont want Mickey to have died in vain.

The livestream topics will be centered around the couples faith in Jesus Christ and adult belief in the giving idea known as Santa. They say they have inspiring stories that support their beliefs.

Sharing Christmas stories from our family, our aim is to stir up that childhood belief that sadly is often lost with age, Mark Macholl said. With everything going on in this crazy world, we thought people could use some Christmas spirit now, more than ever.

The couple has stories to back up their beliefs, such as one year when Mickey was sick, the boys wanted a gaming system and were debating whether a Play Station or an Xbox. The family had been struggling with money because of the illness and Mickeys brothers changed their wish to the family collecting enough money to cover Mickeys treatments, they said.

Out of the blue - they still dont know from where - they got both, Mark Macholl said.

Mickeys battle with cancer was high-profile in the community and so many gave so generously as the family struggled to pay the bills and for treatment, the Macholls said.

The Macholls have said they did not always agree with Mickeys cancer treatment. Today their goal is to raise awareness and ultimately, to establish a Mickeys Fight Foundation, to change laws and eventually be able to open a wellness center offering integrative medicine through a doctor.

Mickeys illness was discovered almost by accident when he slipped in the tub, then woke up the next morning and threw up. His parents brought him to the hospital thinking he might have ruptured his spleen.

While both parents contributed to the book, it is largely made up of the text from Facebook posts that Mark Macholl used to inform family, friends and the interested public during the journey. The book reads like a diary.

At first their situation tested the Macholls faith in God, but by the end that faith was even stronger.

That faith is only fueled by the afterlife they said Mickey described to them as he was dying and the signs they have received of his continued presence. Mark Macholl will talk about the latter in his next book, which will serve as a guide to grief.

In Mickeys Fight, the parents write about how two days before passing, Mickey said he had a glimpse of heaven and said he saw his brother. It turns out the Macholls had experienced a miscarriage earlier in their marriage, but had never told their sons. Then Mickey began naming kids they had seen during treatments at various hospitals, although he didnt know their names then.

When Mickey was passing there were so many affirmations that Heaven exists, Mark Macholl said.

In terms of Mickeys continued presence, Mark Macholl tells a story in the book of how a couple of days after his sons passing he ran out to get the family dinner and lost it once he was alone. He went in to get the food and when he came out there was a childs handprint the size and shape of Mickeys hand on the inside of the drivers-side window. Mark Macholl said a song that always made him think of Mickey came on and he could feel the presence of another person. When he went to put his arm around the seat to drive, Mark Macholl felt little fingers on his arm, he said.

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Couple who lost son, 5, to cancer will livestream to bring cheer and 'bring people together' - CT Insider

Has 2020 Been Stressing You Out? Try This MDs 5 Tips for Finding More Calm – Well+Good

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If youve made it through 2020 without feeling stressed, congratsyoure a magician. For the rest of us, this tumultuous year has been trying enough to leave even the most positive of people looking for some support.

Since deep breaths and telling yourself to calm down only go so far, we asked Bindiya Gandhi, MD, whos double board-certified in family medicine and integrative medicine, to share her most impactful advice on how to actually managestress.

We are constantly exposed to stress, but our stress load is intensified because of the pandemic, Dr. Gandhi says. I encourage everyone to learn some techniques they can use later in life. My hope is after this pandemic is over, we will have become a stronger, more resilient society with better stress-management skills. Hows that for a positive outlook?

Dr. Gandhi says that some amounts of stress will always be normal (because life wont suddenly be worry-free once the calendar turns to 2021), but learning how to manage it is the key. From adjusting your diet and lifestyle to recommendations on the high-quality Solgar supplements to take, keep reading for the stress-less techniques you can implement ASAP.

Stress might make you want to down a whole box of cookies and a bottle of red, but turning to sugar, alcohol, or caffeine could actually make things worse, according to Dr. Gandhi.

When youre stressed, you usually experience a spike in the hormone cortisol, which can cause sugar cravings and sleep issues, she says. The trouble is, caffeine also increases cortisol, so its like throwing fuel on the fire: Youre stressed, so you dont sleep, so you drink coffee, which can increase your stress (and your sugar cravings), and the cycle repeats.

You might think a glass of wine would help break the cycle (alcohol makes people sleepy, right?), but Dr. Gandhi says think again. Alcohol disrupts your circadian rhythm and inhibits you from getting good, deep REM sleep, which is why its best to avoid when youre already feeling overwhelmed, she says. Instead, opt for some herbal tea and a savory snack during your wind-down time, and your sleep schedule (and your hormones) will thank you.

Yes, endorphins make people happy, but aside from the physical stress-relieving side effects of working out, adding more movement into your day gives you an opportunity to focus your energy on something positive, rather than dwelling on any negatives (looking at you, 2020).

Whether its a brisk walk in the park, a few yoga asanas, some lunges, or even training for a run, [routine] moderate exercises will decrease your cortisol production, help you sleep better at night, and elevate your mood, Dr. Gandhi says. Can you feel those endorphins already?

Dr. Gandhi is a big fan of using supplements to help with occasional stress, and often recommends them to her patients looking for support in facing less-than-stellar emotions.

If you want to stock your medicine cabinet with mood-supporting supplements, start with Solgar Stress & Anxiety Relief Tablets, which contain ashwagandha (an adaptogen that a 2012 study showed to support a healthy cortisol response) and saffron (which studies have shown can help maintain a positive mood).*

Some other heavy hitters in the stress-management game? Magnesium (which a 2017 review of 18 different studies showed can help with occasional anxiety), B vitamins, and 5-HTP.* Dr. Gandhi explains that 5-HTP is an amino acid thats a precursor to serotonin (the feel-good hormone), so it promotes a calm, relaxed mood.* The more you know.

Another of Dr. Gandhis go-tos for decreasing cortisol? Meditation. And regardless of what that looks like for you, anything from a quiet walk around the block (spending time outdoors is another big one on Dr. Gandhis list of chill-out techniques) to a full-on guided mediation session can help promote those feelings of calm youre after.

Taking time to implement silence for a few minutes a day goes a long way, Dr. Gandhi says. It changes the projection of your day and significantly decreases your cortisol production over the long term.

Now, you probably cant quit your job and move to a tropical island in the name of eliminating stress, but you can be intentional about scheduling time in your day to do things that make you happy.

Whether its reading, singing, or just playing with your dog, take a moment to take inventory of what makes you feel most joyfulthen find a way to do more of that thing every day, even if its just for five minutes. Heres to heading into 2021 with less stress, and more joy.

Photo: Getty/Westend61

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Has 2020 Been Stressing You Out? Try This MDs 5 Tips for Finding More Calm - Well+Good